Fain would 1 feed among thy fheep, Among them reft, among them fleep. 3 Why fhould thy bride, appear like one Who turns afide to paths unknown? My conftant feet would never rove, Would never feek another love. [4 The footsteps of thy flocks I feeThy fweeteft paftures, here they be, A wond'rous feaft thy love prepares, Bought with thy wounds, and groans and tears. 5 His dearest flefh he makes my food, And bids me drink his richest blood, Here to thefe hills my foul will come, 'Till my beloved lead me home.}
LXVIII. Banquet of love, Sol. Song ii. 1, 2,
BEHOLD the Rofe of Sharon bere,
The Lily which the vallies bear! Behold the free of Life, which gives Refreshing fruit and healing leaves ! 2 Among the thorns fo lilies fhine, Among wild gourds the noble vine; So, in my eyes, my Saviour proves, A midft a thousand meatier loves. 3 Beneath his cooling fhade I ft. To fhield me from the 'burning heat; Of heav'nly fruit he fpread a feaft, To feed my eyes and pleafe my taste. 4 Kindly he brought me to the place Where ftood the banquet of his grace; He faw me faint and o'er my head The banner of his love he spread. 5 With living bread and gen'rous wine, He cheard this linking heart of mine; And op'ning his own heart to me, He thew'd his thoughts, how kind they be.
60, Never let my Lord depart! Lie down, and reft upon my heart; I charge my fins not once to move. Difturb, nor wake, nor grieve my love.
LXIX. Chrift appearing to his Church and fecking her company, Sol. Song, ii. 1, 9, 10, 11, &c.
HE voice of my beloved founds
Over the rocks and rifing grounds;
1 O'er hills of guilt and feas of grief, He leaps, he flies to my relief!
2 Now through the veil of flefh I fee, With eyes of love he looks on me; Now in the gofpel's cleareft glafs He fhews the beautics of his face. 3 Gently he draws my heart along, Both with his beauties and his tongue; Rife, faith my Lord, make hafte away. No mortal joys are worth thy tay. 4 The Jewith wint'ry ftate is gone. The miks are fled the Spring comes on, The facred Turtle Dove we hear Proclaim the new, the joyful year. 5 Th Immortal Vine of heav'nly root, Bicfoms and buds, and gives her fruit; Lo! we are come to taste the wine; Our fouls rejoice and bless the Vine. 6 And when we hear our Jeus fay Rile up, my love and hafe away! Our hearts would fain out-fly the wind, And leave all earthly loves behind.
LXX. Chrift inviting and the Church answering the invitation, Sol. Song ii. 14, 16, 17.
TARK! the redeemer from on high,
HSweetly invites his fav 'rites nigh;
From caves of darknefs and of doubt, He gently speaks and calls us out. 2 My dove who hideft in the rock, Thine heart almost noith farrow broke, Lift up thy face forget thy fear, And let thy voice delight mine ear. .
Thy voice to me founds ever fweet ; My graces in thy count'nance meet: Though the wain world thy face despise, 'Ti. bright and comely in mine eyes.
Dear Lord our thankful heart recives The hope thine invitation gives:
To thee our joyful lipshall raile The voice of prayer and of praife:]
Is I am my Love's and he is miné; Our hearts our hopes our paffions join : Nor let a motion nor a word.
Nor thought arife, to grieve my Lord.
6 My foul to pastures für he leads, Among the lilies where he feeds, Among the faints, (whofe robes are white Wafh'd in his blood) is his delight.
Till the day break and fhadows ñce, "Till the fweet dawning light I fee, Thine eyes to me-waid often turn, Nor let my foul in darkneís mourn. 8 Be like a hart on mountains green, Leap o'er the hills of fear and fin; Nor guilt, nor unbelief divide My Love, my Saviour from my fide.}
LXXI. Chrift found in the freet, und brought to the Cburck, Sol. Song, in. 1,2,3, 4, 5.
FTEN! feek my Lord by night. Jew, my love my, foul's delight
With warm defire, and reflefs thought I feek him oft, but find him not. 2 Then I arife and fearch the street, Till I my Lord, my Saviour meet ! I alk the watchmen of the night, Where did you fee my foul's delight? 3 Sometimes I find him in my way, Directed by a heav'nly ray; leap for joy to fee his face,
And hold him faft in mine embrace. 14 1 bring him to my mother's home. (Nor does my Lord refufe to came) To Zion's facred chambers where My foul firft drew the vital air.
5 He gives me there his bleeding heart, Pierc'd for my fake with deadly fmart I give my foul to him, and there Our loves their mutual tokens fhare.] 61 charge you all, ye earthly toys, Approach not to disturb my joys; Nor fin nor hell, come near my heart, To caufe my Saviour to depart.
LXXII. Coronation of Chrift and Efpoufals of the Church, Sol. Song, iii. 2.
UGHTERS of Zion come behold The crown of honor and of gold, Which the glad church, with joy, unknown, Plac'd on the head of Solomon.
2 Jefus thou everlasting King, Accept the tribute which we bring; Accept the well-deferv'd renown, And wear our praises as thy crown. 3 L ev'ry act of worship be Like cur efpoufals, Lord to thee; Like the sear hour, when from above, We first receiv'd thy pledge of love,
4 The gladnefs of that happy day, Our hearts would with it long to ftay: Nor let our faith forfake its hold, Nor comfort fink nor love grow cold. 5 O! let each minute as it flies, Increafe thy praife, improve our joys, 'Till we are rais'd to fing thy name At the great fupper of the Lamb. 6 O that the months would roll away, And bring that coronation-day!
The King of Grace, fhali fill the throne, With all his Father's glories on.
LXXIII. The Church's beauty in the eyes o Chrift Sol. Song, iv. I, 10, 11, 7, 8, 9.
IND is the fpeech of Chrift, our Lord,
Kaffection founds in ev'ry word; Lo, thou art fair my love, he cries. Not the young doves have sweeter eyes, [2 Saveet are thy lips, thy pleofing voice Salutes mine ear with fecret joys; No fpice jo much delights the fmell, Nor milkiner honey taftes forwell.f 3 Thou art all fair, my bride to me; I will behold no pot in thee: What mighty wonders love performs; And puts a comelinefs on worms!
4 Defii'd and loathfome as we are, He makes us white, and calls us fair; Adorns us with that heav'nly dress,. His graces and his righteousness. 5 My fifter and my poupe he cries Bound to my hear. by var'ous ties: The pawrful love my heart retains In frong delight and ple fing chains. 6 He calls me from the leopard's den Erom the wide world of beafts and men,
« PreviousContinue » |