Excellency of the Scriptures. 7th P. M.
(Psalm cxix. 103-105.)
1 DEARER, Lord, Thy statutes far
Than the world's best treasures are:
Gold or honey I esteem
Dross and dust, compared with them.
2 Like a lamp, whene'er I stray,
Shining bright upon my way,
Let Thy pure and lively word
Still its quick'ning light afford.
3 Humble, teachable, and mild,
Meekly, like a little child,
At my gracious Saviour's feet
Let me take my daily seat.
4 Save, O save me, I am Thine,
To Thy ways my heart incline;
Ever let Thy holy word
Light, and life, and peace afford.
Excellency of the Scriptures. L. M.
(Psalm cxix. 127-134.)
1 O HOW I love Thy holy word;
Thy gracious covenant, O Lord;
It guides and keeps me in Thy way :
I think upon it night and day.
2 What are the mines of shining wealth;
The strength of youth, the bloom of health?
What are all joys, compared with those
Thine everlasting word bestows?
3 Long unafflicted, undismay'd,
In pleasure's path secure I stray'd:
Thou mad'st me feel Thy chast'ning rod,
And straight I turn'd me to my God.
4 O hadst Thou left me unchastis'd,
Thy precept I had still despis'd:
But now Thy word is my delight,
And makes my prospects calm and bright.
73. For profitable use of the Scriptures. C. M.
1 LONG have we heard the joyful sound
Of Thy salvation, Lord,
Yet still how weak our faith is found,
How slow to learn Thy word!
2 Oft we frequent Thy holy place,
Yet hear almost in vain;
Such faint impressions of Thy grace,
Our languid powers retain.
3 How cold and feeble is our love!
How negligent our fear!
How low our hopes of joys above!
How few affections there!
4 Great God! Thy sovereign aid impart,
To give Thy word success;
Write all its precepts on our hearts,
And deep its truths impress.
74. Christ's second coming. (Luke xxi. 27.) 9th P. M.
1 LO! He comes with clouds descending,
Once for favour'd sinners slain,
Thousand thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of His train :
Hallelujah! mortals! catch their joyful strain.
2 Every eye shall now behold Him,
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at nought and sold him,
Pierced and nail'd Him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, shall the true Messiah see.
3 Blest redemption, long expected!
See! His solemn pomp to share,
All His saints, by man rejected,
Rise to meet Him in the air:
Hallelujah! see the Son of God is there.
4 Yea, Amen! let all adore Thee;
High on Thine eternal throne:
Saviour! worlds bow down before Thee;
Claim the kingdoms for Thine own:
Hallelujah! come and make Thy glories known.
75. Glory of God in Creation. (Psalm xix.) L. M.
1 THE heav'ns declare Thy glory, Lord;
In ev'ry star Thy wisdom shines,
But when our eyes behold Thy word,
We read Thy name in fairer lines.
2 The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days Thy pow'r confess,
But the blest volume Thou hast writ
Reveals Thy justice and Thy grace.
3 Sun, moon, and stars convey Thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand;
So when Thy truth began its race
It touch'd and glanc'd on evr'y land.
4 Nor shall Thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world Thy truth has run;
Till Christ has all the nations blest,
That see the light or feel the sun.
5 Great sun of righteousness arise!
Bless the dark world with heav'nly light;
Thy gospel makes the simple wise,
The laws are pure, Thy judgments right.
6 Thy noblest wonders here we view
In souls renew'd, and sins forgiv'n;
Forgive our sins, our souls renew,
And make Thy word our guide to heav'n.
God the Deliverer. (Psalm cxxiv.) 1st P. M. 1 IF the Lord had not heard, may Israel now say, When Satan's vile hosts rose on us as prey :
Had Jehovah refus'd in our cause to engage, They had swallow'd us quick overwhelm'd in their rage.
2 But blessed be God, the fountain of grace,
He commands-and our foes their prey must release;
The toils are all broken; to freedom we spring! And the Lord our salvation and ruler we sing.
Collect for God's Ministers. L. M.
(1 Cor. iv. 1.)
1 FATHER of mercies, bow Thine ear,
Attentive to our earnest prayer;
We pray for those who plead for Thee;
Successful pleaders may they be.
2 Clothe them with energy divine,
And let the words they speak be Thine:
And may our earnest heed be given,
As though we heard a voice from heaven.
3 Teach them to sow the heav'nly seed;
Teach them Thy chosen flock to feed;
Teach them immortal souls to gain,
And Thy pure gospel to maintain.
4 Let list'ning multitudes around
Hear from their lips the joyful sound:
In humble strains Thy grace implore;
And own Thy Spirit's living power.
For Grace in Christ. (Matt. xi. 2—15.) L.M.
1 O SAVIOUR, is Thy promise fled?
Nor longer doth Thy grace endure,
To heal the sick and raise the dead,
And preach the gospel to the poor?
2 Come, Jesus, come! return again,
With brighter beams Thy servants bless,
Who long to feel Thy perfect reign,
And share Thy kingdom's happiness.
3 Redeemer, come! and as of yore
The prophet went to clear thy way,
A harbinger, Thy feet before,
A dawning to Thy brighter day;
4 So now may grace with heavenly shower,
Our stony hearts for truth prepare;
Sow in our souls the seeds of power,
Then come and reap Thy harvest there.
All men Sinners. (Psalm xiv.) C. M.
1 FOOLS in their hearts have said
"There is no God" to fear;
Corrupt are they, but not afraid,
Though vengeance draweth near.
2 The Lord from heaven look'd down,
To see if any sought
.To gain a heavenly crown,
But none His will have wrought.
3 Who shall restore our race,
So sunk in guilt and woe
From Sion's hill, abounding grace
To penitents shall flow.
4 Bring back, O Lord, Thy sheep;
The captive soul restore :
Then Jacob shall no longer weep,
Nor Israel murmur more
Universal Corruption of Man. 4th C. M.
(Psalm liii.)
THE Lord look'd all around
Upon man's favor'd race,
If any might be found
Who sought their Maker's face;
But every single soul was seen
Corrupt, polluted, and unclean.
2 Have they not learnt to flee
From heaven's avenging rod;
Their sinfulness to see,
And fear a righteous God?
In vain His warning voice is heard;
They hate and scorn His gracious word.
O that the day were come
Salvation's promis'd day!
When God shall bring them home,
And wash their sins away:
Then Israel shall lift up her voice
And Judah's ransom'd sons rejoice.
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