Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 38

Redemption by Christ.

1 When the first parents of our race Rebell'd and lost their G.o.d, And the infection of their sin Had tainted all our blood;

2 Infinite pity touch'd the heart Of the eternal Son, Descending from the heavenly court He left his Father's throne.

3 Aside the Prince of glory threw His most divine array, And wrapt his G.o.dhead in a veil Of our inferior clay.

4 His living power, and dying love Redeem'd unhappy men, And rais'd the ruins of our race To life and G.o.d again.

5 To thee, dear Lord, our flesh and soul We joyfully resign, Bless'd Jesus, take us for thy own, For we are doubly thine.

6 Thine honour shall for ever be The business of our days, For ever shall our thankful tongue Speak thy deserved praise.

Hymn 2:79.

Praise to the Redeemer.

1 Plung'd in a gulph of dark despair We wretched sinners lay, Without one cheerful beam of hope, Or spark of glimmering day.

2 With pitying eyes, the Prince of Grace Beheld our helpless grief, He saw, and (O amazing love!) He ran to our relief.

3 Down from the s.h.i.+ning seats above With joyful haste he fled, Enter'd the grave in mortal flesh, And dwelt among the dead.

4 He spoil'd the Powers of darkness thus, And brake our iron chains; Jesus has freed our captive souls From everlasting pains.

5 [In vain the baffled prince of h.e.l.l His cursed projects tries, We that were doom'd his endless slaves, Are rais'd above the skies.]

6 O for this love, let rocks and hills Their lasting silence break, And all harmonious human tongues The Saviour's praises speak.

7 [Yes, we will praise thee, dearest Lord, Our souls are all on flame, Hosanna round the s.p.a.cious earth To thine adored Name.

8 Angels, a.s.sist our mighty joys, Strike all your harps of gold; But when you raise your highest notes His love can ne'er be told.]

Hymn 2:80.

G.o.d's awful power and goodness.

1 O the Almighty Lord!

How matchless is his power!

Tremble, O earth, beneath his word, And all the heavens adore.

2 Let proud imperious kings Bow low before his throne, Crouch to his feet, ye haughty things, Or he shall tread you down.

3 Above the skies he reigns, And with amazing blows He deals unsufferable pains On his rebellious foes.

4 Yet, everlasting G.o.d, We love to speak thy praise; Thy sceptre's equal to thy rod, The sceptre of thy grace.

5 The arms of mighty love Defend our Sion well, And heavenly mercy walls us round From Babylon and h.e.l.l.

6 Salvation to the King That sits enthron'd above; Thus we adore the G.o.d of might, And bless the G.o.d of love.

Hymn 2:81.

Our sin the cause of Christ's death.

1 And now the scales have left mine eyes, Now I begin to see; O the curs'd deeds my sins have done!

What murderous things they be!

2 Were these the traitors, dearest Lord, That thy fair body tore?

Monsters, that stain'd those heavenly limbs With floods of purple gore?

3 Was it for crimes that I had done My dearest Lord was slain When justice seiz'd G.o.d's only Son, And put his soul to pain?

4 Forgive my guilt, O Prince of peace, I'll wound my G.o.d no more; Hence from my heart, ye sins, be gone, For Jesus I adore.

5 Furnish me, Lord, with heavenly arms From grace's magazine, And I'll proclaim eternal war With every darling sin.

Hymn 2:82.

Redemption and protection from spiritual enemies.

1 Arise my soul, my joyful powers, And triumph in my G.o.d, Awake, my voice, and loud proclaim His glorious grace abroad.

2 He rais'd me from the deeps of sin, The gates of gaping h.e.l.l, And fix'd my standing more secure Than 'twas before I fell.

3 The arms of everlasting love Beneath my soul he plac'd, And on the rock of ages set My slippery footsteps fast.

4 The city of my bless'd abode Is wall'd around with grace Salvation for a bulwark stands To s.h.i.+eld the sacred place.

5 Satan may vent his sharpest spite, And all his legions roar, Almighty mercy guards my life, And bounds his raging power.

6 Arise, my soul, awake, my voice, And tunes of pleasure sing, Loud hallelujahs shall address My Saviour and my King.

Hymn 2:83.

The pa.s.sion and exaltation of Christ.

1 Thus saith the Ruler of the skies, "Awake, my dreadful sword; "Awake, my wrath and smite the man, "My fellow," saith the Lord.

2 Vengeance receiv'd the dread command, And armed down she flies, Jesus submits t' his Father's hand, And bows his head and dies.

3 But O! the wisdom and the grace That join with vengeance now!

He dies to save our guilty race, And yet he rises too.

4 A person so divine was he Who yielded to be slain, That he could give his soul away, And take his life again.

5 Live, glorious Lord, and reign on high, Let every nation sing, And angels sound with endless joy The Saviour and the King.