Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 45

2 The Lord reveals his face, And smiling from above, Sends down the gospel of his grace, Th' epistles of his love.

3 These sacred words impart Our Maker's just commands; The pity of his melting heart, And vengeance of his hands.

4 [Hence we awake our fear, We draw our comfort hence; The arms of grace are treasur'd here, And armour of defence.

5 We learn Christ crucify'd, And here behold his blood: All arts and knowledges beside Will do us little good.]

6 We read the heavenly word, We take the offer'd grace, Obey the statutes of the Lord, And trust his promises.

7 In vain shall Satan rage Against a book divine; Where wrath and lightning guard the page, Where beams of mercy s.h.i.+ne.

Hymn 2:121.

The law and gospel distinguished.

1 The law commands, and makes us know What duties to our G.o.d we owe; But 'tis the gospel must reveal Where lies our strength to do his will.

2 The law discovers guilt and sin, And shews how vile our hearts have been; Only the gospel can express Forgiving love and cleansing grace.

3 What curses doth the law denounce Against the man that fails but once!

But in the gospel Christ appears Pardoning the guilt of numerous years.

4 My soul, no more attempt to draw Thy life and comfort from the law, Fly to the hope the gospel gives; The man that trusts the promise lives.

Hymn 2:122.

Retirement and meditation.

1 My G.o.d, permit me not to be A stranger to myself and thee; Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove Forgetful of my highest love.

2 Why should my pa.s.sions mix with earth, And thus debase my heavenly birth?

Why should I cleave to things below, And let my G.o.d, my Saviour go?

3 Call me away from flesh and sense, One sovereign word can draw me thence; I would obey the voice divine, And all inferior joys resign.

4 Be earth with all her scenes withdrawn, Let noise and vanity be gone; In secret silence of the mind, My heaven, and there my G.o.d I find.

Hymn 2:123.

The benefit of public ordinances.

1 Away from every mortal care, Away from earth our souls retreat; We leave this worthless world afar, And wait and wors.h.i.+p near thy seat.

2 Lord, in the temple of thy grace We see thy feet, and we adore; We gaze upon thy lovely face, And learn the wonders of thy power.

3 While here our various wants we mourn, United groans ascend on high, And prayer bears a quick return Of blessings in variety.

4 [If Satan rage and sin grow strong, Here we receive some cheering word; We gird the gospel armour on To fight the battles of the Lord.

5 Or if our spirit faints and dies, (Our conscience gall'd with inward stings) Here doth the righteous sun arise With healing beams beneath his wings.]

6 Father, my soul would still abide Within thy temple, near thy side; But if my feet must hence depart Still keep thy dwelling in my heart.

Hymn 2:124.

Moses, Aaron, and Joshua.

1 'Tis not the law of ten commands On holy Sinai given, Or sent to men by Moses' hands, Can bring us safe to heaven.

2 'Tis not the blood which Aaron spilt, Nor smoke of sweetest smell, Can buy a pardon for our guilt, Or save our souls from h.e.l.l.

3 Aaron the priest resigns his breath At G.o.d's immediate will; And in the desert yields to death Upon th' appointed hill.

4 And thus on Jordan's yonder side The tribes of Israel stand, While Moses bow'd his head and dy'd Short of the promis'd land.

5 Israel rejoice, now Joshua * leads, He'll bring your tribes to rest; So far the Saviour's name exceeds The ruler and the priest.

* Joshua, the same with Jesus, and signifies a Saviour.

Hymn 2:125.

Faith and repentance; unbelief and impenitence.

1 Life and immortal joys are given To those that mourn the sins they've done, Children of wrath made heirs of heaven By faith in G.o.d's eternal Son.

2 Woe to the wretch that never felt The inward pangs of pious grief, But adds to all his crying guilt The stubborn sin of unbelief.

3 The law condemns the rebel dead, Under the wrath of G.o.d he lies, He seals the curse on his own head, And with a double vengeance dies.

Hymn 2:126.

G.o.d glorified in the gospel.

1 The Lord, descending from above, Invites his children near, While power and truth and boundless love Display their glories here.

2 Here in thy gospel's wondrous frame Fresh wisdom we pursue; A thousand angels learn thy Name Beyond whate'er they knew.

3 Thy Name is writ in fairest lines, Thy wonders here we trace; Wisdom thro' all the mystery s.h.i.+nes, And s.h.i.+nes in Jesu's face.

4 The law its best obedience owes To our incarnate G.o.d; And thy revenging justice shows Its honours in his blood.

6 But still the l.u.s.tre of thy grace Our warmer thoughts employs, Gilds the whole scene with brighter rays, And more exalts our joys.

Hymn 2:127.

Circ.u.mcision and baptism.

(Written only for those who practise infant baptism.)

1 Thus did the sons of Abrah'm pa.s.s Under the b.l.o.o.d.y seal of grace; The young disciples bore the yoke, Till Christ the painful bondage broke.