Permits a vile worm of the dust,
With God to commune as a friend;
To hope his forgiveness as just,
And look for his love to the end.
3 It says to the mountains, " depart,"
That stand between God and the soul;
It binds up the broken in heart,
And makes wounded consciences whole; Bids sins of a crimson-like dye
Be spotless as snow, and as white; And raises the sinner on high,
To dwell with the angels of light.
HYMN 126. C. M.
Faith Superior to Sense.
Sare gifts we highly prize,
IGHT, hearing, feeling, taste and smell,
But these may downward lead to hell,
While faith to heav'n doth rise.
2 More piercing than the eagle's sight,
Faith views the world unknown;
Surveys the glorious realms of light,
And JESUS on the throne.
3 It hears the mighty voice of God,
And ponders what he saith!
His word and works, his gifts and rod,
Have each a voice to faith.
4 It feels the touch of heav'nly pow'r,
And from the boundless source,
Derives fresh vigor ev'ry hour
To run its daily course.
5 The truth and goodness of the LORD
Are suited to its taste;
Mean is the worldling's pamper'd board;
To faith's perpetual feast.
6 Till saving faith possess the mind,
In vain of sense we boast;
We are but senseless, tasteless, blind,
And deaf, and dead, and lost.
HYMN 127. Sevens and Sixes.
Divine Light breaking into the Sou!.
SOMETIMES a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing on his wings;
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.
2 In holy contemplation,
We sweetly then pursue,
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new:
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E'en let th' unknown to-morroty
Bring with it what it may.
3 It can bring with it nothing
But he will bear us thro',
Who gives the lilies clothing,
Will clothe his people too:
Beneath the spreading heav'ns,
No creature but is fed;
And he who feeds the ravens,
Will give his children bread,
4 Tho' vine nor fig-tree neither
Their wonted fruit should bear,
Tho' all the fields should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there ;
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice; For while in him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.
Christ revealed in a Soul slain by the Law.
MOTE by the law I'm justly slain,
Great God, behold my case!
Pity a sinner fill'd with pain,
Nor drive me from thy face.
2 Dread terrors fright my guilty soul,
Thy justice all in flames,
Gives sentence on this heart so foul,
So hard, so full of crimes.
3 'Tis trembling hardness that I feel;
I fear, but can't relent,
Perhaps of endless death the seal :
Oh, that I could repent!
4 My pray'rs, my tears, my vows are vile,
My duties black with guilt;
On such a wretch can mercy smile
Tho' Jesu's blood was spilt ?
5 Speechless I sink to endless night,
I see an op'ning hell;
But lo! what glory strikes my sight!
Such glory who can tell!
6 Enrapt in these bright beams of peace, I feel a gracious God:
Swell, swell the note: Oh, tell his grace; Sound his high praise abroad!
7 Now rise, my soul, adore and love,
Leave sin and hell behind;
Give all thy pow'rs to heav'n above,
And praise th' eternal mind.
HYMN 129. L. M.
On the Hardness of the Heart.
OH, for a glance of heav'nly day,
To take the stubborn stone away;
And thaw with beams of love divine,
This heart, this frozen heart of mine.
2 The rocks can rend, the earth can quake;
The sea can roar, the mountains shake;
Of feeling all things show some sign,
But this unfeeling heart of mine.
3 Thy judgments, Lord, unmov'd I hear,
(Amazing thought!) which devils fear;
Goodness and wrath in vain combine,
To stir this stupid heart of mine.
4 To hear the sorrow thou hast felt,
Dear Lord, an adamant would melt;
But I can read each moving line,
And nothing move this hear of mine.
5 But pow'r divine can do the deed,
And much to feel that pow'r I need;
Thy Spirit can from dross refine,
And move and melt this heart of mine.
6 Then, dearest Lord, thy Spirit give,
And make my drooping heart revive;
No longer then shall I repine,
No longer mourn this heart of mine.
7 But anthems dwell upon my tongue,
And this shall ever be my song,
'Twas nought but sov'reign love divine,
That mov'd this stupid heart of mine.
HYMN 130.
Christ's Ascension.
HAIL the day that sees him rise,
Ravish'd from our wishful eyes;
Christ awhile to mortals giv❜n,
Re-ascends his native heav'n;
There the pompous triumph waits,
"Lift your heads, eternal gates!
"Wide unfold the radiant scene,
"Take the King of glory in!"
2 Him, tho' highest heav'n receives,
Still he loves the earth he leaves;
Tho' returning to his throne,
Still he calls mankind his own;
Still for us he intercedes,
Prevalent his death he pleads;
Next himself prepares a place,
Harbinger of human race.
3 Master, (may we ever say)
Taken from our world away;
See thy faithful servants, see,
Ever gazing up to thee:
Grant, tho' parted from our sight,
High above yon azure height,
Grant our souls may thither rise,
Foll'wing thee beyond the skies.
4 Ever upward let us move,
Wafted on the wings of love,
Looking when our Lord shall come,
Longing for a happier home.
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