Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 26

5 Our breath is forfeited by sin To G.o.d's revenging law; We own thy grace, immortal King, In every gasp we draw.

6 G.o.d is our sun, whose daily light Our joy and safety brings: Our feeble flesh lies safe at night Beneath his shady wings.

Hymn 2:9.

G.o.dly sorrow arising from the sufferings of Christ.

1 Alas! and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die?

Would he devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?

2 [Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, thine, And bath'd in its own blood, While all expos'd to wrath divine The glorious Sufferer stood.]

3 Was it for crimes that I had done He groan'd upon the tree?

Amazing pity! grace unknown!

And love beyond degree!

4 Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in, When G.o.d the mighty Maker dy'd For man the creature's sin.

5 Thus might I hide my blus.h.i.+ng face While his dear cross appears, Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt my eyes to tears.

6 But drops of grief can ne'er repay The debt of love I owe; Here, Lord, I give myself away, 'Tis all that I can do.

Hymn 2:10.

Parting with carnal joys.

1 My soul forsakes her vain delight, And bids the world farewell Base as the dirt beneath my feet, And mischievous as h.e.l.l.

2 No longer will I ask your love, Nor seek your friends.h.i.+p more; The happiness that I approve Lies not within your power.

3 There's nothing round this s.p.a.cious earth That suits my large desire; To boundless joy and solid mirth My n.o.bler thoughts aspire.

4 [Where pleasure rolls its living flood, From sin and dross refin'd, Still springing from the throne of G.o.d, And fit to cheer the mind.

5 Th' Almighty Ruler of the sphere, The glorious and the great, Brings his own all-sufficience there, To make our bliss complete.]

6 Had I the pinions of a dove, I'd climb the heavenly road; There sits my Saviour dress'd in love, And there my smiling G.o.d.

Hymn 2:11.

The same.

1 Send the joys of earth away, Away ye tempters of the mind, False as the smooth deceitful sea, And empty as the whistling wind.

2 Your streams were floating me along Down to the gulf of black despair, And whilst I listen'd to your song, Your streams had e'en convey'd me there.

3 Lord, I adore thy matchless grace, That warn'd me of that dark abyss, That drew me from those treacherous seas, And bid me seek superior bliss.

4 Now to the s.h.i.+ning realms above I stretch my hands, and glance mine eyes; O for the pinions of a dove To bear me to the upper skies.

5 There from the bosom of my G.o.d Oceans of endless pleasure roll; There would I fix my last abode, And drown the sorrows of my soul.

Hymn 2:12.

Christ is the substance of the Levitical priesthood.

1 The true Messiah now appears, The types are all withdrawn; So fly the shadows and the stars Before the rising dawn.

2 No smoking sweets, nor bleeding lambs, Nor kid, nor bullock slain, Incense and spice of costly names Would all be burnt in vain.

3 Aaron must lay his robes away; His mitre and his vest, When G.o.d himself comes down to be The offering and the priest.

4 He took our mortal flesh to show The wonders of his love; For us he paid his life below, And prays for us above.

5 "Father, (he cries) forgive their sins, "For I myself have dy'd,"

And then he shews his open'd veins, And pleads his wounded side.

Hymn 2:13.

The creation, preservation, dissolution, and restoration of this world.

1 Sing to the Lord that built the skies, The Lord that rear'd this stately frame; Let half the nations sound his praise, And lands unknown repeat his Name.

2 He form'd the seas, and form'd the hills, Made every drop and every dust, Nature and time with all their wheels, And push'd them into motion first.

3 Now from his high imperial throne He looks far down upon the spheres; He bids the s.h.i.+ning orbs roll on, And round he turns our hasty years.

4 Thus shall this moving engine last Till all his saints are gather'd in, Then for the trumpet's dreadful blast To shake it all to dust again!

5 Yet when the sound shall tear the skies, And lightning burn the globe below, Saints, you may lift your joyful eyes, There's a new heaven and earth for you.

Hymn 2:14.

The Lord's day; or, Delight in ordinances.

1 Welcome, sweet day of rest, That saw the Lord arise; Welcome to this reviving breast, And these rejoicing eyes!

2 The King himself comes near, And feasts his saints to-day, Here we may sit, and see him here, And love, and praise, and pray.

3 One day amidst the place Where my dear G.o.d hath been, Is sweeter than ten thousand days Of pleasurable sin.

4 My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this, And sit and sing herself away To everlasting bliss.

Hymn 2:15.

The enjoyment of Christ; or, Delight in wors.h.i.+p.

1 Far from my thoughts, vain world, be gone, Let my religious hours alone; Fain would my eyes my Saviour see, I wait a visit, Lord, from thee.