Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 44

How glorious to behold The servants waiting round his throne, The ivory and the gold.

2 But, mighty G.o.d, thy palace s.h.i.+nes With far superior beams; Thine angel-guards are swift as winds, Thy ministers are flames.

3 [Soon as thine only Son had made His entrance on this earth, A s.h.i.+ning army downward fled To celebrate his birth.

4 And when oppress'd with pains and fears On the cold ground he lies, Behold a heavenly form appears T' allay his agonies.]

5 Now to the hands of Christ our King Are all their legions given; They wait upon his saints, and bring His chosen heirs to heaven.

6 Pleasure and praise run thro' their host To see a sinner turn; Then Satan has a captive lost, And Christ a subject born.

7 But there's an hour of brighter joy, When he his angels sends Obstinate rebels to destroy, And gather in his friends.

8 O! could I say, without a doubt, There shall my soul be found, Then let the great archangel shout, And the last trumpet sound.

Hymn 2:114.

Christ's death, victory and dominion.

1 I sing my Saviour's wondrous death; He conquer'd when he fell: _'Tis finish'd_, said his dying breath, And shook the gates of h.e.l.l.

2 _'Tis finish'd_, our Immanuel cries, The dreadful work is done; Hence shall his sovereign throne arise, His kingdom is begun.

3 His cross a sure foundation laid For glory and renown, When thro' the regions of the dead He pa.s.s'd to reach the crown.

4 Exalted at his Father's side Sits our victorious Lord; To heaven and h.e.l.l his hands divide The vengeance or reward.

5 The saints from his propitious eye Await their several crowns, And all the sons of darkness fly The terror of his frowns.

Hymn 2:115.

G.o.d the avenger of his saints; or, His kingdom.

1 High as the heavens above the ground Reigns the Creator G.o.d; Wide as the whole creation's bound Extends his awful rod.

2 Let princes of exalted state To him ascribe their crown, Render their homage at his feet, And cast their glories down.

3 Know that his kingdom is supreme, Your lofty thoughts are vain; He calls you G.o.ds, that awful name, But ye must die like men.

4 Then let the sovereigns of the globe Not dare to vex the just; He puts on vengeance like a robe, And treads the worms to dust.

5 Ye judges of the earth, be wise, And think on heaven with fear; The meanest saint that you despise Has an avenger there.

Hymn 2:116.

Mercies and thanks.

1 How can I sink with such a prop As my eternal G.o.d, Who bears the earth's huge pillars up, And spreads the heavens abroad?

2 How can I die while Jesus lives, Who rose and left the dead?

Pardon and grace my soul receives From mine exalted head.

3 All that I am, and all I have Shall be for ever thine, Whate'er my duty bids me give My cheerful hands resign.

4 Yet if I might make some reserve, And duty did not call, I love my G.o.d with zeal so great That I should give him all.

Hymn 2:117.

Living and dying with G.o.d present.

1 I cannot bear thine absence, Lord, My life expires if thou depart; Be thou, my heart, still near my G.o.d, And thou, my G.o.d, be near my heart.

2 I was not born for earth and sin, Nor can I live on things so vile; Yet I would stay my Father's time, And hope and wait for heaven a while.

3 Then, dearest Lord, in thine embrace Let me resign my fleeting breath, And with a smile upon my face Pa.s.s the important hour of death.

Hymn 2:118.

The priesthood of Christ.

1 Blood has a voice to pierce the skies _Revenge_, the blood of Abel cries; But the dear stream when Christ was slain Speaks _Peace_ as loud from ev'ry vein.

2 Pardon and peace from G.o.d on high, Behold he lays his vengeance by, And rebels that deserv'd his sword, Become the favourites of the Lord.

3 To Jesus let our praises rise, Who gave his life a sacrifice; Now he appears before his G.o.d, And for our pardon pleads his blood.

Hymn 2:119.

The holy scriptures.

1 Laden with guilt, and full of fears, I fly to thee, my Lord, And not a glimpse of hope appears, But in thy written word.

2 The volume of my Father's grace Does all my griefs a.s.suage: Here I behold my Saviour's face Almost in every page.

3 [This is the field where hidden lies The pearl of price unknown, That merchant is divinely wise Who makes the pearl his own.]

4 [Here consecrated water flows To quench my thirst of sin; Here the fair tree of knowledge grows, Nor danger dwells therein.]

5 This is the Judge that ends the strife, Where wit and reason fail; My guide to everlasting life, Thro' all this gloomy vale.

6 O may thy counsels, mighty G.o.d, My roving feet command; Nor I forsake the happy road That leads to thy right-hand.

Hymn 2:120.

The law and gospel joined in scripture.

1 The Lord declares his will, And keeps the world in awe; Amidst the smoke on Sinai's hill Breaks out his fiery law.