Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 24

2 But O what condescending ways He takes to teach his heavenly grace!

My eyes with joy and wonder see What forms of love he bears for me.

3 [The "Angel of the covenant" stands With his commission in his hands, Sent from his Father's milder throne, To make the great Salvation known.]

4 Great Prophet let me bless thy Name; By thee the joyful tidings came, Of wrath appeas'd, of sins forgiven, Of h.e.l.l subdu'd, and peace with heaven.]

5 [My bright Example, and my Guide, I would be walking near thy side; O let me never run astray, Nor follow the forbidden way!]

6 [I love my Shepherd, he shall keep My wandering soul among his sheep: He feeds his flock, he calls their names, And in his bosom bears the lambs.]

7 [My surety undertakes my cause, Answering his Father's broken laws; Behold my soul at freedom set; My surety paid the dreadful debt.]

8 [Jesus, my great High Priest has dy'd, I seek no sacrifice beside; His blood did once for all atone, And now it pleads before the throne.]

9 [My advocate appears on high, The Father lays his thunder by; Not all that earth or h.e.l.l can say, Shall turn my Father's heart away.]

10 [My Lord, my Conqu'ror and my King, Thy sceptre and thy sword I sing; Thine is the victory, and I sit A joyful subject at thy feet.]

11 [Aspire my soul, to glorious deeds, The "Captain of salvation" leads; March on, nor fear to win the day, Tho' death and h.e.l.l obstruct the way.

12 Should death and h.e.l.l, and powers unknown Put all their forms of mischief on, I shall be safe; for Christ displays Salvation in more sovereign ways.]

Hymn 1:150. As the 149th Psalm.

The same.

1 Join all the glorious names Of wisdom, love, and power, That ever mortals knew, That angels ever bore: All are too mean To speak his worth, Too mean to set My Saviour forth.

2 But O what gentle terms, What condescending ways Doth our Redeemer use To teach his heavenly grace!

Mine eyes with joy And wonder see What forms of love He bears for me.

3 [Array'd in mortal flesh He like an angel stands, And holds the promises And pardons in his hands: Commission'd from His Father's throne To make his grace To mortals known.]

4 [Great Prophet of my G.o.d, My tongue would bless thy Name; By thee the joyful news Of our salvation came.

The joyful news Of sins forgiven, Of h.e.l.l subdu'd, And peace with heaven.]

5 [Be thou my counsellor, My pattern and my guide, And thro' this desert land Still keep me near thy side: O let my feet Ne'er run astray, Nor rove nor seek The crooked way.]

6 [I love my Shepherd's voice, His watchful eyes shall keep My wandering soul among The thousands of his sheep: He feeds his flock, He calls their names, His bosom bears The tender lambs.]

7 [To this dear surety's hand Will I commit my cause; He answers and fulfils His Father's broken laws: Behold my soul At freedom set!

My surety paid The dreadful debt.]

8 [Jesus my great high Priest Offer'd his blood and dy'd; My guilty conscience seeks No sacrifice beside: His powerful blood Did once atone; And now it pleads Before the throne.]

9 [My Advocate appears For my defence on high, The Father bows his ear, And lays his thunder by: Not all that h.e.l.l Or sin can say Shall turn his heart, His love away.]

10 [My dear Almighty Lord, My Conqu'ror and my King, Thy sceptre and thy sword, Thy reigning grace I sing: Thine is the power; Behold I sit In willing bonds Before thy feet.]

11 [Now let my soul arise, And tread the tempter down My captain leads me forth To conquest and a crown.

A feeble saint Shall win the day, Tho' death and h.e.l.l Obstruct the way.]

12 Should all the hosts of death, And powers of h.e.l.l unknown, Put their most dreadful forms Of rage and mischief on; I shall be safe, For Christ displays Superior power, And guardian grace.

End of the First Book.

Hymns.

Book 2.

Composed on Divine Subjects.

Hymn 2:1.

A song of praise to G.o.d from Great Britain.

1 Nature with all her powers shall sing G.o.d the Creator and the King; Nor air, nor earth, nor skies, nor seas Deny the tribute of their praise.

2 [Begin to make his glories known, Ye seraphs that sit near his throne; Tune your harps high, and spread the sound To the creation's utmost bound.

3 All mortal things of meaner frame, Exert your force and own his Name; Whilst with our souls and with our voice We sing his honours and our joys.]

4 [To him be sacred all we have From the young cradle to the grave: Our lips shall his loud wonders tell, And every word a miracle.]

5 [This northern isle, our native land, Lies safe in G.o.d th' Almighty's hand: Our foes of victory dream in vain, And wear the captivating chain.

6 He builds and guards the British throne, And makes it gracious like his own, Makes our successive princes kind, And gives our dangers to the wind.]

7 Raise monumental praises high To him that thunders thro' the sky, And with an awful nod or frown Shakes an aspiring tyrant down.

8 [Pillars of lasting bra.s.s proclaim The triumphs of th' eternal Name; While trembling nations read from far The honours of the G.o.d of war.]

9 Thus let our flaming zeal employ Our loftiest thoughts and loudest songs Britain p.r.o.nounce with warmest joy Hosanna from ten thousand tongues.

10 Yet, mighty G.o.d, our feeble frame Attempts in vain to reach thy Name; The strongest notes that angels raise Faint in the wors.h.i.+p and the praise.

Hymn 2:2.

The death of a sinner.

1 My thoughts on awful subjects roll, d.a.m.nation and the dead; What horrors seize the guilty soul Upon a dying bed!

2 Lingering about these mortal sh.o.r.es, She makes a long delay, Till like a flood with rapid force Death sweeps the wretch away.

3 Then swift and dreadful she descends Down to the fiery coast, Amongst abominable fiends, Herself a frightful ghost.