Lord, we tremble, for we know How the fierce malicious foe, Wheeling round his watchful flight, Keeps them ever in his sight: Spread thy pinions, King of kings! Hide them safe beneath thy wings; Lest the ravenous bird of prey Stoop, and bear the brood away.
XXV. JEHOVAH JESUS
My song shall bless the Lord of all, My praise shall climb to his abode; Thee, Saviour, by that name I call, The Great Supreme, the Mighty God.
Without beginning or decline, Object of faith and not of sense; Eternal ages saw him shine,
He shines eternal ages hence.
As much, when in the manger laid, Almighty ruler of the sky, As when the six days' work he made Filled all the morning stars with joy.
Of all the crowns Jehovah bears, Salvation is his dearest claim;
That gracious sound well pleased he hears, And owns Emmanuel for his name.
A cheerful confidence I feel,
My well-placed hopes with joy I see; My bosom glows with heavenly zeal, To worship him who died for me.
As man, he pities my complaint, His power and truth are all divine; He will not fail, he cannot faint; Salvation's sure, and must be mine.
XXVI. ON OPENING A PLACE FOR SOCIAL PRAYER
JESUS! where'er thy people meet, There they behold thy mercy-seat; Where'er they seek thee, thou art found, And every place is hallowed ground.
For thou, within no walls confined, Inhabitest the humble mind;
Such ever bring thee where they come, And going take thee to their home.
Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few! Thy former mercies here renew; Here to our waiting hearts proclaim The sweetness of thy saving name.
Here may we prove the power of prayer, To strengthen faith, and sweeten care; To teach our faint desires to rise, And bring all heaven before our eyes.
Behold, at thy commanding word We stretch the curtain and the cord; Come thou, and fill this wider space, And bless us with a large increase.
Lord, we are few, but thou art near, Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear; Oh rend the heavens, come quickly down, And make a thousand hearts thine own.
XXVII. WELCOME TO THE TABLE THIS is the feast of heavenly wine, And God invites to sup; The juices of the living Vine Were pressed to fill the cup.
Oh! bless the Saviour, ye that eat, With royal dainties fed;
Not heaven affords a costlier treat, For Jesus is the bread.
The vile, the lost, he calls to them; Ye trembling souls, appear! The righteous in their own esteem Have no acceptance here.
Approach, ye poor, nor dare refuse The banquet spread for you; Dear Saviour, this is welcome news, Then I may venture too.
Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw,
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.
Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright; And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.
While Moses stood with arms spread wide, Success was found on Israel's side; But when through weariness they failed, That moment Amalek prevailed.
Have you no words? Ah! think again, Words flow apace when you complain, And fill your fellow-creature's ear With the sad tale of all your care.
Were half the breath thus vainly spent To Heaven in supplication sent,
Your cheerful song would oftener be, "Hear what the Lord has done for me."
XXX. THE LIGHT AND GLORY OF THE WORD
THE Spirit breathes upon the Word,
And brings the truth to sight;
Precepts and promises afford
A sanctifying light.
A glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun; It gives a light to every age, It gives, but borrows none.
The hand that gave it still supplies The gracious light and heat; His truths upon the nations rise, They rise, but never set.
Let everlasting thanks be thine For such a bright display
As makes a world of darkness shine With beams of heavenly day.
My soul rejoices to pursue The steps of him I love,
Till glory break upon my view In brighter worlds above.
XXXI. ON THE DEATH OF A MINISTER
His master taken from his head, Elisha saw him go;
And in desponding accents said, "Ah, what must Israel do?"
But he forgot the Lord who lifts The beggar to the throne; Nor knew that all Elijah's gifts Would soon be made his own.
What! when a Paul has run his course, Or when Apollos dies,
Is Israel left without resource? And have we no supplies?
Yes, while the dear Redeemer lives, We have a boundless store,
And shall be fed with what he gives Who lives for evermore.
XXXII. THE SHINING LIGHT
My former hopes are fled, My terror now begins; I feel, alas! that I am dead In trespasses and sins.
Ah, whither shall I fly?
I hear the thunder roar;
The law proclaims destruction nigh, And vengeance at the door.
When I review my ways, I dread impending doom:
But sure a friendly whisper says, "Flee from the wrath to come."
I see, or think I see,
A glimmering from afar;
A beam of day, that shines for me, To save me from despair.
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