VII.

The eternal Godhead of the Son. A Christmas hymn, of which it has been well remarked, that it is written“ in a strain of noble simplicity, expressive of a confidence the most remote from presumption, and such as a heart at peace with God alone could enjoy or utter.”]

My son fraise shallo that name, ichty G

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

Filld 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.

VIII.

[Invitation to the Lord's Table, a communion hymn — simple and affecting. The trembling consciousness of a soul sensible of sin, and awakening to the perception of its condition, is touchingly, yet encouragingly portrayed.]

This is the feast of heavenly wine,

And God invites to sup;
The juices of the living Vine

Were press’d to fill the cup.

O 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.

If guilt and sin afford a plea,

And may obtain a place,
Surely the Lord will welcome me,

And I shall see his face.

IX.

· [The sufferings of the Redeemer, and love their cause; a sacramental hymn. “ Who,” it has been asked, “ can read and understand this, without feeling as if he could at such a moment forsake all, take up his cross, and follow the Saviour ?” May this feeling never prove a passing aspiration a momentary elevation of the temperature merely of devotion- such as few fail to experience at the Lord's table, but which speedily sinks again in the cold atmosphere of worldly thought.]

The Saviour, what a noble flame

Was kindled in his breast,
When hasting to Jerusalem,

He march'd before the rest !

Good-will to men, and zeal for God,

His every thought engross; .
He longs to be baptised with blood, *

He pants to reach the cross.

With all his sufferings full in view,

And woes to us unknown,
Forth to the task his spirit flew;

'Twas love that urged him on.

Lord, we return thee what we can !

Our hearts shall sound abroad,
Salvation to the dying Man,

And to the rising God !

And while thy bleeding glories here

Engage our wondering eyes,
We learn our lighter cross to bear,

And hasten to the skies.

X.

[The influences of grace in sanctifying and interpreting gospel ordinances for the edification of the believer. The versification of this hymn possesses uncommon ease and suavity. The last verse is most exquisite, both in thought and language.]

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 thee still supplies

The gracious light and heat;
His truths upon the nations rise,
They rise, but never set.

* Luke, xii. 50.

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 breaks upon my view

In brighter worlds above.

" XI. [Comforts of the gospel in sanctifying affliction. A composition peculiarly affecting, from its personal experiences and allusions. How can heavenly longing be more fervently expressed than in the beautiful close of this hymn ?]

O how I love thy holy word,
Thy gracious covenant, O Lord !
It guides me in the peaceful way;
I think upon it all the day.

What are the mines of shining wealth,
The strength of youth, the bloom of health;
What are all joys compared with those
Thine everlasting word bestows !

Long unafflicted, undismay'd,
In pleasure's path secure I stray'd;
Thou madest me feel thy chastening rod,*
And straight I turn'd unto my God.

What though it pierced my fainting heart,
I bless'd thine hand that caused the smart :
It taught my tears awhile to flow,
But saved me from eternal woe.

Oh! hadst thou left me unchastised,
Thy precept I had still despised;
And still the snare in secret laid,
Had my unwary feet betray'd.

* Psalm cxix. 71.

I love thee, therefore, O my God,
And breathe towards thy dear abode;
Where, in thy presence fully blest,
Thy chosen saints for ever rest.

XII. [The inward delights of the Christian in gospel meditation and fellowship. On this head how exquisitely touching is the second stanza! the more so that an actual incident in his life proves that here Cowper wrote, as he ever does on religion, from the heart.]

LORD, my soul with pleasure springs,

When Jesus' name I hear;
And when God the Spirit brings

The word of promise near :
Beauties, too, in holiness,

Still delighted I perceive ;
Nor have words that can express

The joys thy precepts give.

Clothed in sanctity and grace,

How sweet it is to see
Those who love thee as they pass,

Or when they wait on thee !
Pleasant, too, to sit and tell

What we owe to love divine ;
Till our bosoms grateful swell,

And eyes begin to shine.

Those the comforts I possess,

Which God shall still increase,
All his ways are pleasantness, *

And all his paths are peace.
Nothing Jesus did or spoke,

Henceforth let me ever slight;
For I love his easy yoke,f

And find his burden light.

* Prov. iii. 17.

+ Matt. xi, 30.