Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 15

2 [Life is the hour that G.o.d has given To 'scape from h.e.l.l, and fly to heaven, The day of grace, and mortals may Secure the blessings of the day.]

3 The living know that they must die, But all the dead forgotten lie, Their memory and their sense is gone, Alike unknowing and unknown.

4 [Their hatred and their love is lost, Their envy bury'd in the dust; They have no share in all that's done Beneath the circuit of the sun.]

5 Then what my thoughts design to do, My hands, with all your might pursue, Since no device, nor work is found, Nor faith, nor hope beneath the ground.

6 There are no acts of pardon past In the cold grave to which we haste, But darkness, death, and long despair Reign in eternal silence there.

Hymn 1:89.

Youth and judgment, Eccles. 11. 9.

1 Ye sons of Adam, vain and young, Indulge your eyes, indulge your tongue, Taste the delight your souls desire, And give a loose to all your fire.

2 Pursue the pleasures ye design, And cheer your hearts with songs and wine, Enjoy the day of mirth; but know There is a day of judgment too.

3 G.o.d from on high beholds your thoughts, His book records your secret faults; The works of darkness you have done Must all appear before the sun.

4 The vengeance to your follies due Should strike your hearts with terror thro': How will ye stand before his face, Or answer for his injur'd grace?

5 Almighty G.o.d, turn off their eyes From these alluring vanities; And let the thunder of thy word Awake their souls to fear the Lord.

Hymn 1:90.

The same.

1 Lo the young tribes of Adam rise, And thro' all nature rove, Fulfil the wishes of their eyes, And taste the joys they love.

2 They give a loose to wild desires, But let the sinners know, The strict account that G.o.d requires Of all the works they do.

3 The Judge prepares his throne on high, The frighted earth and seas Avoid the fury of his eye, And flee before his face.

4 How shall I bear that dreadful day, And stand the fiery test?

I give all mortal joys away To be for ever blest.

Hymn 1:91.

Advice to youth; or, Old age and death in an unconverted state, Eccles. 12. 1 7. Isa. 65. 20.

1 Now in the heat of youthful blood Remember your Creator G.o.d, Behold the months come hastening on When you shall say, "My joys are gone."

2 Behold, the aged sinner goes, Laden with guilt and heavy woes Down to the regions of the dead, With endless curses on his head.

3 The dust returns to dust again, The soul in agonies of pain Ascends to G.o.d, not there to dwell, But hears her doom, and sinks to h.e.l.l.

4 Eternal King! I fear thy Name, Teach me to know how frail I am; And when my soul must hence remove, Give me a mansion in thy love.

Hymn 1:92.

Christ the wisdom of G.o.d, Prov. 8. 1 22-32.

1 Shall wisdom cry aloud And not her speech be heard?

The voice of G.o.d's eternal word, Deserves it no regard?

2 "I was his chief delight, "His everlasting Son, "Before the first of all his works, "Creation, was begun.

3 ["Before the flying clouds, "Before the solid land, "Before the fields, before the floods, "I dwelt at his right hand.

4 "When he adorn'd the skies, "And built them I was there "To order where the sun should rise, "And marshal every star.

5 "When he pour'd out the sea, "And spread the flowing deep, "I gave the flood a firm decree, "In its own bounds to keep.]

6 "Upon the empty air The earth was balanc'd well; "With joy I saw the mansion where "The sons of men should dwell.

7 "My busy thoughts at first "On their salvation ran, "Ere sin was born, or Adam's dust "Was fas.h.i.+oned to a man.

8 "Then come, receive my grace, "Ye children, and be wise; "Happy the man that keeps my ways; "The man that shuns them dies."

Hymn 1:93.

Christ, or wisdom, obeyed or resisted, Prov. 8. 31 35 36.

1 Thus saith the wisdom of the Lord, "Bless'd is the man that hears my word, "Keeps daily watch before my gates, "And at my feet for mercy waits.

2 "The soul that seeks me shall obtain "Immortal wealth and heavenly gain; "Immortal life is his reward, "Life, and the favour of the Lord.

3 "But the vile wretch that flies from me "Doth his own soul an injury; Fools that against my grace rebel "Seek death, and love the road to h.e.l.l."

Hymn 1:94.

Justification by faith, not by works; or, The law condemns, grace justifies, Rom. 3. 19-22.

1 Vain are the hopes the sons of men On their own works have built; Their hearts by nature all unclean, And all their actions guilt.

2 Let Jew and Gentile stop their mouths Without a murmuring word, And the whole race of Adam stand Guilty before the Lord.

3 In vain we ask G.o.d's righteous law To justify us now, Since to convince and to condemn Is all the law can do.

4 Jesus, how glorious is thy grace, When in thy name we trust, Our faith receives a righteousness That makes the sinner just.

Hymn 1:95.

Regeneration, John 1. 13. and 3. 3 &c.

1 Not all the outward forms on earth, Nor rites that G.o.d has given, Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth, Can raise a soul to heaven.

2 The sovereign will of G.o.d alone Creates us heirs of grace; Born in the image of his Son, A new peculiar race.