5 Faith into vision shall be brought, Hope shall in full enjoyment die; And patience in possession end
In the bright world of bliss on high. RIPPON's Coll.
Praise in Prosperity and Adversity.
RAISE to God, immortal praise,
For the love that crowns our days;
Bounteous Source of ev'ry joy,
Let thy praise our songs employ.
2 For the blessings of the field,
For the stores the gardens yield,
For the vine's exalted juice,
For the gen'rous olive's use;
3 Flocks that whiten all the plain,
Yellow sheaves of ripen'd grain,
Clouds that drop their fatt'ning dews,
Suns that temp'rate warmth diffuse
4 All that spring with bounteous hand
Scatters o'er the smiling land:
All that lib'ral autumn pours
From her rich o'erflowing stores;
5 These to thee, our God, we owe,
Source, whence all our blessings flow;
And for these our souls shall raise
Grateful vows and solemn praise.
6 Yet should rising whirlwinds tear
From its stem, the op'ning ear;
Should the fig-tree's blasted shoot
Drop its green untimely fruit;
7 Should the vine put forth no more,
Nor the olive yield her store;
Though the sick'ning flocks should fall,
And the herds desert the stall;
8 Yet to thee our souls shall raise
Grateful vows and solemn praise;
And, when ev'ry blessing's flown,
Love thee for thyself alone.
HYMN 444. L. M.
Faith in God in a Time of Distress. Habakkuk iii. 17, 18.
HOULD famine o'er the mourning field
Extend her desolating reign;
Nor spring her blooming beauties yield, Nor autumn swell the rip'ning grain : 2 Should lowing herds and bleating sheep Around their famish'd master die ; And hope itself expiring weep, Whilst life deplores its last supply; 3 Amidst the dark, the deathful scene, If I can say, The Lord is mine, The joy shall triumph o'er the pain, And glory dawn, though life decline. 4 The God of my salvation lives, My nobler life he will sustain His word immortal vigour gives, Nor shall my hope or trust be vain. 5 Thy presence, Lord, can cheer my heart, Though ev'ry earthly comfort die; Thy love can bid my pain depart, And raise my sacred pleasures high. 6 O let me hear thy blissful voice, Inspiring life and joys divine! The barren desert shall rejoice; 'Tis paradise if thou be mine.
HYMN 445. L. M.
Faith in God's Names.
ING to the Lord, who loud proclaims,
His various and his saving names;
O may they not be heard alone,
But by our sure experience known.
2 The great Jehovah be ador'd,
Th' eternal, all-sufficient Lord;
He through the world most high confess'd,
By whom 'twas form'd, and is possess'd.
3 Awake, our noblest pow'rs, to bless
The God of Abrah'm, God of peace;
Now by a dearer title known,
Father and God of Christ his Son,
4 Through ev'ry age, his gracious ear
Is open to his servants' pray'r;
Nor can one humble soul complain
That he hath sought his God in vain.
5 What unbelieving heart shall dare,
In whispers to suggest a fear?
While still he owns his ancient name,
The same his pow'r, his love the same.
6 To thee our souls in faith arise,
To thee we lift expecting eyes;
And boldly through the desert tread,
For God will guard where God shall lead. DODDRIDGE.
HYMN 446. C. M.
The Brazen Serpent.
So did the Hebrew prophet raise
The brazen serpent high;
The wounded felt immediate ease,
The sick forebore to die.
2 "Look upward in th' expiring hour,
And live," the prophet cries;
But Christ performs a nobler cure,
When faith lifts up her eyes.
3 High on the cross the Saviour hung;
High in the beav'ns he reigns;
Here sinners, by the serpent stung,
Look, and forget their pains.
4 When God's own Son is lifted up,
A dying world revives ;
The Jew bebolds the blessed hope,
Th' expiring Gentile lives.
O let our lips and lives express
The holy gospel we profess;
So let our works and virtues shine,
To prove the doctrine all divine.
2 Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The honours of our Saviour God;
When the salvation reigns within,
And grace subdues the pow'r of sin.
3 Our flesh and sense must be deny'd,
Passion and envy, lust and pride;
Whilst justice, temp'rance, truth and love,
Our inward piety approve.
4 Religion bears our spirits up,
Whilst we expect that blessed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on his word.
The Reward of faithful Servants.
HERE is a glorious world on high,
Resplendent with eternal day;
Faith views the blissful prospect nigh,
And God's own word reveals the way.
2 There shall the servants of the Lord
With never-fading lustre shine;
Surprising honour! large reward,
Conferr'd on man by love divine !
3 How happy then the truly wise,
Who learn and keep the sacred road!
How happy they whom Heaven employs,
To turn rebellious men to God-
4 To win them from the fatal way,
Where erring folly thoughtless roves;
And that blest righteousness display,
Which Jesus wrought, and God approves !
5 The shining firmament shall fade,
And sparkling stars resign their light;
But these shall know no change nor shade,
For ever fair, for ever bright.
6 No fancied joy beyond the sky,
No fair delusion is reveal'd;
'Tis God that speaks, who cannot lie,
And and all his word must be fulfill'd.
7 And shall not these cold hearts of ours
Be kindled at the glorious view?
Come, Lord, awake our active pow'rs,
Our feeble dying strength renew.
8 On wings of faith and strong desire
O may our spirits daily rise;
And reach at last the shining choir,
In the bright mansions of the skies! MRS. STEELE
HYMN 449. C. M.
Death and Heaven.
THERE is a house not made by hands,
Eternal and on high;
And here my spirit waiting stands,
Till God shall bid it fly.
2 Shortly this prison of my clay
Must be dissolv'd and fall;
Then, ob, my soul, with joy obey
Thy heav'nly Father's call.
3 "Tis be, by his almighty grace,
That forms thee fit for heav'n;
And, as an earnest of the place,
Has his own Spirit giv❜n.
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