Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 33

4 My name is printed on his breast; His book of life contains my name; I'd rather have it there impress'd Than in the bright records of fame.

5 When the last fire burns all things here, Those letters shall securely stand, And in the Lamb's fair book appear, Writ by th' eternal Father's hand.

6 Now shall my minutes smoothly run, Whil'st here I wait my Father's will; My rising and my setting sun Roll gently up and down the hill.

Hymn 2:51.

G.o.d the Son equal with the Father.

1 Bright King of Glory, dreadful G.o.d!

Our spirits bow before thy seat, To thee we lift an humble thought, And wors.h.i.+p at thine awful feet.

2 [Thy power hath form'd, thy wisdom sways All nature with a sovereign word; And the bright world of stars obeys The will of their superior Lord.]

3 [Mercy and truth unite in one, And smiling sit at thy right-hand; Eternal justice guards thy throne, And vengeance waits thy dread command.]

4 A thousand seraphs strong and bright Stand round the glorious Deity; But who amongst the sons of light Pretends comparison with thee?

5 Yet there is one of human frame, Jesus, array'd in flesh and blood, Thinks it no robbery to claim A full equality with G.o.d.

6 Their glory s.h.i.+nes with equal beams; Their essence is for ever one, Tho' they are known by different names The Father G.o.d, and G.o.d the Son.

7 Then let the name of Christ our King With equal honours be ador'd; His praise let every angel sing, And all the nations own their Lord.

Hymn 2:52.

Death dreadful or delightful.

1 Death! 'tis a melancholy day To those that have no G.o.d, When the poor soul is forc'd away To seek her last abode.

2 In vain to heaven she lifts her eyes, But guilt, a heavy chain, Still drags her downward from the skies To darkness, fire, and pain.

3 Awake and mourn, ye heirs of h.e.l.l, Let stubborn sinners fear, You must be driven from earth, and dwell A long for-ever there.

4 See how the pit gapes wide for you, And flashes in your face, And thou, my soul, look downwards too, And sing recovering grace.

5 He is a G.o.d of sovereign love That promis'd heaven to me, And taught my thoughts to soar above, Where happy spirits be.

6 Prepare me, Lord, for thy right-hand, Then come the joyful day, Come death, and some celestial band, To bear my soul away.

Hymn 2:53.

The pilgrimage of the saints; or, Earth and heaven.

1 Lord! what a wretched land is this That yields us no supply!

No cheering fruits no wholesome trees, Nor streams of living joy!

2 But p.r.i.c.king thorns thro' all the ground And mortal poisons grow, And all the rivers that are found With dangerous waters flow.

3 Yet the clear path to thine abode Lies thro' this horrid land; Lord! we would keep the heavenly road, And run at thy command.

4 [Our souls shall tread the desert thro'

With undiverted feet; And faith and flaming zeal subdue The terrors that we meet.]

5 [A thousand savage beasts of prey Around the forest roam; But Judah's lion guards the way, And guides the strangers home.]

6 [Long nights and darkness dwell below, With scarce a twinkling ray; But the bright world to which we go Is everlasting day.]

7 [By glimmering hopes and gloomy fears We trace the sacred road, Thro' dismal deeps and dangerous snares We make our way to G.o.d.]

8 Our journey is a th.o.r.n.y maze, But we march upward still; Forget these troubles of the ways, And reach at Zion's hill.

9 [See the kind angels at the gates, Inviting us to come; There Jesus the fore-runner waits To welcome travellers home.]

10 There on a green and flowery mount Our weary souls shall sit, And with transporting joys recount The labours of our feet.

11 [No vain discourse shall fill our tongue, Nor trifles vex our ear, Infinite grace shall be our song, And G.o.d rejoice to hear.]

12 Eternal glories to the King That brought us safely thro'; Our tongues shall never cease to sing, And endless praise renew.

Hymn 2:54.

G.o.d's presence is light in darkness.

1 My G.o.d, the spring of all my joys, The life of my delights, The glory of my brightest days, And comfort of my nights.

2 In darkest shades if he appear, My dawning is begun; He is my soul's sweet morning star And he my rising sun.

3 The opening heavens around me s.h.i.+ne With beams of sacred bliss, While Jesus shews his heart is mine, And whispers, "I am his!"

4 My soul would leave this heavy clay At that transporting word, Run up with joy the s.h.i.+ning way T' embrace my dearest Lord.

5 Fearless of h.e.l.l and ghastly death!

I'd break thro' every foe; The wings of love, and arms of faith Should bear me conqueror thro'.

Hymn 2:55.

Frail life and succeeding eternity.

1 Thee we adore, eternal Name, And humbly own to thee, How feeble is our mortal frame!

What dying worms are we!

2 [Our wasting lives grow shorter still As months and days increase; And every beating pulse we tell Leaves but the number less.

3 The year rolls round, and steals away The breath that first it gave; Whate'er we do, where'er we be, We're travelling to the grave.

4 Dangers stand thick thro' all the ground To push us to the tomb, And fierce diseases wait around To hurry mortals home.