Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 46

2 By milder ways doth Jesus prove His Father's covenant, and his love; He seals to saints his glorious grace, And not forbids their infant race.

3 Their seed is sprinkled with his blood, Their children set apart for G.o.d, His Spirit on their offspring shed, Like water pour'd upon the head.

4 Let every saint with cheerful voice In this large covenant rejoice; Young children in their early days Shall give the G.o.d of Abrah'm praise.

Hymn 2:128.

Corrupt nature from Adam.

1 Bless'd with the joy of innocence Adam, our father, stood, Till he debas'd his soul to sense, And ate th' unlawful food.

2 Now we are born a sensual race, To sinful joys inclin'd; Reason has lost its native place, And flesh enslaves the mind.

3 While flesh and sense and pa.s.sion reigns, Sin is the sweetest good: We fancy music in our chains, And so forget the load.

4 Great G.o.d, renew our ruin'd frame, Our broken powers restore, Inspire us with a heavenly flame, And flesh shall reign no more.

5 Eternal Spirit, write thy law Upon our inward parts, And let the second Adam draw His image on our hearts.

Hymn 2:129.

We walk by faith, not by sight.

1 'Tis by the faith of joys to come We walk thro' deserts dark as night; Till we arrive at heaven our home, Faith is our guide, and faith our light.

2 The want of sight she well supplies, She makes the pearly gates appear; Far into distant worlds she pries, And brings eternal glories near.

3 Cheerful we tread the desert thro', While faith inspires a heavenly ray, Tho' lions roar, and tempests blow, And rocks and dangers fill the way.

4 So Abrah'm, by divine command, Left his own house to walk with G.o.d; His faith beheld the promis'd land, And fir'd his zeal along the road.

Hymn 2:130.

The new creation.

1 Attend while G.o.d's exalted Son Doth his own glories shew; "Behold I sit upon my throne Creating all things new.

2 "Nature and sin are pa.s.s'd away, And the old Adam dies; "My hands a new foundation lay, "See the new world arise.

3 "I'll be a sun of righteousness "To the new-heavens I make; "None but the new-born heirs of grace "My glories shall partake."

4 Mighty Redeemer, set me free From my old state of sin; O make my soul alive to thee, Create new powers within.

5 Renew mine eyes, and form mine ears, And mould my heart afresh; Give me new pa.s.sions, joys and fears, And turn the stone to flesh.

6 Far from the regions of the dead, From sin, and earth, and h.e.l.l, In the new-world that grace has made I would for ever dwell.

Hymn 2:131.

The excellency of the Christian religion.

1 Let everlasting glories crown Thy head, my Saviour and my Lord; Thy hands have brought salvation down, And writ the blessings in thy word.

2 [What if we trace the globe around, And search from Britain to j.a.pan, There shall be no religion found So just to G.o.d, so safe for man.]

3 In vain the trembling conscience seeks Some solid ground to rest upon; With long despair the spirit breaks, Till we apply to Christ alone.

4 How well thy blessed truths agree!

How wise and holy thy commands!

Thy promises how firm they be!

How firm our hope and comfort stands!

5 [Not the feign'd fields of heathenish bliss Could raise such pleasures in the mind; Nor does the Turkish paradise Pretend to joys so well refin'd.]

6 Should all the forms that men devise a.s.sault my faith with treacherous art, I'd call them vanity and lies And bind the gospel to my heart.

Hymn 2:132.

The offices of Christ.

1 We bless the Prophet of the Lord, That comes with truth and grace; Jesus, thy Spirit and thy word Shall lead us in thy ways.

2 We reverence our High Priest above, Who offer'd up his blood, And lives to carry on his love, By pleading with our G.o.d.

3 We honour our exalted King, How sweet are his commands!

He guards our souls from h.e.l.l and sin By his almighty hands.

4 Hosanna to his glorious Name, Who saves by different ways; His mercies lay a sovereign claim To our immortal praise.

Hymn 2:133.

The operations of the Holy Spirit.

1 Eternal Spirit! we confess And sing the wonders of thy grace; Thy power conveys our blessings down From G.o.d the Father and the Son.

2 Enlighten'd by thine heavenly ray Our shades and darkness turn to day; Thine inward teachings make us know Our danger and our refuge too.

3 Thy power and glory works within, And breaks the chains of reigning sin, Doth our imperious l.u.s.ts subdue, And forms our wretched hearts anew.

4 The troubled conscience knows thy voice, Thy cheering words awake our joys; Thy words allay the stormy wind, And calm the surges of the mind.

Hymn 2:134.

Circ.u.mcision abolished.

1 The promise was divinely free, Extensive was the grace; "I will the G.o.d of Abrah'm be, "And of his numerous race."

2 He said; and with a b.l.o.o.d.y seal Confirm'd the words he spoke; Long did the Sons of Abrah'm feel The sharp and painful yoke.