ATHER of mercies! in thy word
What heav'nly glory shines!
For ever be thy name ador'd,
For such heart-gladd'ning lines.
Here, light descending from above,
Directs our stumbling feet;
Here, promised life, and peace, and love,
Our largest wishes meet.
The counsels of redeeming grace,
These sacred truths unfold;
And here displayed, the Saviour's face
Our eyes by faith behold.
Here, the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around,
And life and everlasting joys,
Attend the blissful sound.
E praise the goodness of the Lord;
In thanks for his unerring word;
'Tis there our Father's love we trace,
In great and precious promises.
There see the Son for us fulfil
The counsels of his Father's will;
And there we hear the voice of God,
Announcing peace by Jesus' blood.
Our steadfast hopes through Jesus rise,
Above all perishable joys;
Our hearts ascend to his abode;
Our life is hid with Christ in God.
32.
WEET gospel book! my eyes
In thee, the image of my Lord;
From thine instructive page I learn
The joys his presence will afford.
When, 'midst the throng celestial placed,
The bright Original I see,
From which thy sacred page was traced,
Sweet book! I've no more need of thee.
But till he come, thou shalt supply
His place, and tell me of his love;
I'll read with faith's discerning eye,
And get a taste of joys above.
HAT glory, in the sacred page,
Shines from the Heavenly Sun!
The light of life to every age
He gives, but borrows none.
Jehovah's brightness! he supplies
This gospel light and heat:
His truths upon the nations rise;
They rise, but never set.
Lord, everlasting thanks be thine,
For such a blest display;
As makes this world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.
O! when the morning sun
Begins his brilliant way,
His beams through many nations run,
And life and light convey.
But where the gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light;
It quickens sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind new sight.
How perfect is Thy word,
And all thy judgments just:
Thy promises how sure, O Lord!
To faith, and hope, and trust!
How perfect (yet how plain!)
Thy laws of love are given!
There we can never search in vain,
But learn the truths of heaven.
OLY Bible, thou art ours;
Hours, with all thy heavenly powers;
Ours, to teach us whence we came;
Ours, to lead us to the Lamb.
Ours, to chide us when we rove—
Lead us back and make us love:
Thou art ours to guide our feet;
Ours, to judge, condemn, acquit.
Ours, to comfort in distress,-
Quell our fears, support and bless :
Ours, to show--by living faith
Man can triumph over death.
Ours, to tell of joys to come,
Ours, to guide towards heaven our home:
Through thy tidings, book of God!
We are saved by Jesus' blood,
OD, who in various methods told JHis mind and will to saints of old, Sent his own Son with truth and grace, To teach us in these latter days. God's grace is in his word express'd; Able to make us wise and blest: The doctrines are divinely true, Fit for reproof and comfort too. Herein we read and learn his love, In kind epistles from above; And by this deed of gift is given, The bright inheritance of heaven.
OW precious is the book divine,
HOW
By inspiration given !
Bright as a lamp its precepts shine,
To guide our souls to heaven.
It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts,
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, love, and joy, it still imparts,
And quells our rising fears.
This lamp, through all the tedious night.
Of life, shall guide our way;
Till we enjoy the clearer light
Of an eternal day.
HEN Israel through the desert passed
God in his pillar led the way:
Guiding them through the dreary waste;
Changing their darkness into day;
So Jesus in the Gospel word
Is for our light and guidance given;
Shining with day-spring beams abroad;
Leading through worldly wilds to heaven.
His promises rejoice our hearts;
He keeps our wandering footsteps right:
Knowledge and pleasure he imparts;
And fills our souls with sweet delight.
Thus, through the wilderness we come,
Still leaning on the Lord we love,
Towards New Jerusalem, our home;
The promised rest of saints above.
LOVE the sacred book of God:
No other can its place supply;
It points me to the saints' abode;
It gives me wings, and bids me fly!
Therein I trace my title clear,
To glories that will ne'er decay:
My Lord! O when will he appear,
And bear his servant far away.
There I shall need "the book" no more,
To show me "whom I have believed;"
When, safe on heavenly Canaan's shore,
I'm by the Lord himself received.
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