HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, From PASSAGES in the OLD TESTAMENT.
[]I. Enoch's Piety and Tranſlation, Geneſis V. 24. Hebrews XI. 5.
1
ETERNAL GOD, our wond'ring Souls
Admire thy matchleſs Grace;
That thou wilt walk, that thou wilt dwell,
With Adam's worthleſs Race.
2
O lead me to that happy Path,
Where I my GOD may meet;
Tho' Hoſts of Foes begird it round,
Tho' Briars wound my Feet.
[2]3
Chear'd with thy Converſe I can trace
The Deſart with Delight:
Thro' all the Gloom one Smile of thine
Can diſſipate the Night.
4
Nor ſhall I thro' eternal Days
A reſtleſs Pilgrim roam:
Thy Hand, that now directs my Courſe,
Shall ſoon convey me home.
5
I aſk not Enoch's rapt'rous Flight
To Realms of heav'nly Day:
Nor ſeek Elijah's fiery Steeds,
To bear this Fleſh away.
6
Joyful my Spirit will conſent
To drop its mortal Load,
And hail ‖ the ſharpeſt Pangs of Death,
That break its Way to GOD.
II. GOD'S gracious Approbation of a religious Care of our Families, Geneſis xviii. 19.
1
FATHER of Men, thy Care we bleſs,
Which crowns our Families with Peace:
From thee they ſprung, and by thy Hand
Their Root, and Branches are ſuſtain'd.
2
To GOD, moſt worthy to be prais'd,
Be our domeſtick Altars rais'd;
Who, Lord of Heaven, ſcorns not to dwell
With Saints in their obſcureſt Cell.
3
To thee may each united Houſe
Morning, and Night, preſent its Vows:
[3] Our Servants there, and riſing Race
Be taught thy Precepts, and thy Grace.
4
O may each future Age proclaim
The Honours of thy glorious Name;
While pleas'd, and thankful, we remove
To join the Family above.
III. ABRAHAM'S Interceſſion for SODOM. Ge⯑neſis xviii. 32.
For a Faſt Day.
1
GREAT GOD! did pious Abram pray
For Sodom's vile abandon'd Race?
And ſhall not all our Souls be rous'd
For Britain to implore thy Grace?
2
Baſe as we are, does not thine Eye
Its choſen Thouſands here ſurvey;
Whoſe Souls, deep humbled, mourn the [Crouds,
Who walk in Sin's deſtructive Way?
3
O Judge ſupreme, let not thy Sword
The righteous with the wicked ſmite:
Nor bury in promiſcuous Heaps
Rebels, and Saints thy chief Delight.
4
For theſe thy Children ſpare the Land;
Avert the Thunders big with Death;
Nor let the Seeds of latent ‡ Fire
Be kindled by thy flaming Breath.
5
On! be not angry, mighty GOD,
While Duſt and Aſhes ſeek thy Face!
But gently bending from thy Throne,
Renew, and ſtill increaſe the Grace.
[4]6
JESUS the Interceſſor hear,
And for his Sake thy Grace impart,
Which, while it ſtops the fiery Stream,
Diſſolves the moſt obdurate Heart.
7
Sodom ſhall change to Zion then,
And heavenly Dews be ſcatter'd round,
That Plants of Paradiſe may ſpring,
Where baleful ‖ Poyſons curs'd the Ground.
IV. JACOB'S Vow. Geneſis xxviii. 20.-22.
1
O GOD of Jacob, by whoſe Hand
Thine Iſrael ſtill is fed,
Who thro' this weary Pilgrimage
Haſt all our Fathers led:
2
To thee our humble Vows we raiſe,
To thee addreſs our Prayer,
And in thy kind and faithful Breaſt
Depoſite all our Care.
3
If thou thro' each perplexing Path
Wilt be our conſtant Guide;
If thou wilt daily Bread ſupply,
And Raiment wilt provide;
4
If thou wilt ſpread thy Shield around,
Till theſe our Wand'rings ceaſe,
And at our Father's lov'd Abode
Our Souls arrive in Peace;
5
To thee, as to our Covenant-GOD,
We'll our whole ſelves reſign;
And count that not our Tenth alone,
But all we have is thine.
V. The Hand of the LORD upon the Cattle. Exodus ix. 3.
[5]1
THE Creatures, LORD, confeſs thy Hand,
Thro' Earth and Sky, thro' Sea & Land;
And all their meaneſt Orders ſhare
Their Maker's Pity, and his Care.
2
O look from thine exalted Throne,
And hear our panting Cattle moan;
Prone § o'er th' untaſted Food they lye,
Groan out their Agonies, and dye.
3
What have theſe harmleſs Creatures done
To draw this ſore Chaſtiſement down?
'Tis human Guilt for Vengeance calls,
And heavy on the Herds it falls.
4
From them to us the Stroke might paſs,
And mow down Thouſands of our Race:
Till Deſolation reign'd around,
Our Cities void, untill'd our Ground.
5
Prevent the Ruin by thy Grace,
And melt our Hearts to ſeek thy Face:
Bleſt Fruit of thy correcting Rod
To loſe our Beaſts, and find our GOD.
VI. ISRAEL and AMALEK. Exodus xvii. 11.
For a Faſt-Day.
1
OUR Banner is th' Eternal GOD,
Nor will we yield to Fear;
Amidſt ten thouſand fierce Aſſaults,
His mighty Aid is near.
[6]2
To him the Hands of Faith we ſtretch,
And plead experienc'd Grace;
To him the Voice of Prayer we raiſe,
Nor will he hide his Face.
3
No more, proud Amalek, thy Boaſt,
"GOD'S Arm is feeble grown".
His Sword ſhall lop off every Hand,
That dares inſult his Throne.
4
Awake, tremendous Judge, awake,
Our Nation's Cauſe to plead;
Nor let thine Iſrael's Foes, and thine
By Wickedneſs ſucceed.
5
Our fainting Hands, how ſoon they droop!
But thou the weak canſt raiſe;
And in the Mount of Prayer canſt leave
An Altar to thy Praiſe.
VII. Againſt following a Multitude to do Evil. Exodus XXIII. 2.
1
LORD, when Iniquities abound,
And growing Crimes appear;
We view the Deluge riſing round
With Sorrow, and with Fear.
2
Yet when its Waves moſt fiercely beat,
And ſpread Deſtruction wide,
Thy Spirit can a Standard raiſe
To ſtem ‡ the roaring Tide.
3
May thy triumphant Arm awake
Thy ſacred Cauſe to plead;
[7] And let the Multitude confeſs,
That thou art GOD indeed.
4
Their Hearts ſhall in a Moment turn,
Like Water by thy Hand;
One Word ſhall bow their ſtubborn Necks
To own thy high command.
5
Our feeble Souls at leaſt ſupport,
And there thy Power diſplay;
Then Multitudes ſhall ſtrive in vain
To draw us from thy Way.
VIII. CHRIST'S Interceſſion typified by AARON'S Breaſtplate. Exodus xxviii. 29.
1
NOW let our chearful Eyes ſurvey
Our great High-Prieſt above,
And celebrate his conſtant Care,
And ſympathetic Love.
2
Tho' rais'd to a ſuperior Throne,
Where Angels bow around,
And high o'er all the ſhining Train
With matchleſs Honours crown'd;
3
The Names of all his Saints he bears
Deep graven on his Heart;
Nor ſhall the meaneſt Chriſtian ſay,
That he hath loſt his Part.
4
Thoſe Characters ſhall fair abide,
Our everlaſting Truſt,
When Gems, and Monuments, and Crowns
Are moulder'd down to Duſt.
[8]5
So, Gracious Saviour, on my Breaſt,
May thy dear Name be worn,
A ſacred Ornament and Guard,
To endleſs Ages borne.
IX. Who is on the Lord's Side? Exodus xxxii. 26.
1
WHAT Boſom mov'd with pious Zeal
Does for its GOD'S Diſhonour feel?
What Heart with generous Ardor glows
To plead his Cauſe againſt his Foes?
2
Great GOD, what Boſom can be cold?
What Coward muſt not here grow bold?
While Honour, Intereſt, Truth, and Love
Concur our inmoſt Souls to move?
3
Around thy Standard, Lord, we preſs,
Thine injur'd Honour to redreſs,
And with determin'd Voice demand
The Signal of thy conqu'ring Hand.
4
Thou ſhalt theſe ſacred Weapons bleſs,
And lead thro' War to endleſs Peace;
Not Death itſelf our Souls ſhall dread,
For thine own Arm ſhall raiſe the Dead.
X. GOD'S Preſence deſireable. Exodus xxxiii. 15.
1
IMMENSE, eternal GOD!
How marvellous thy Name!
Thy Preſence all abroad
Pervades ‖ all Nature's Frame;
[9] Heav'n, Earth, and Air,
And the dark Cell,
Where Devils dwell
In long Deſpair.
2
Yet thou haſt choſen Ways
To make thy Preſence known,
To Fav'rites of thy Grace,
To upright Souls alone:
This Glory, LORD,
My Soul would ſee,
This Grace to me,
My GOD, afford.
3
If thou thy Luſtre vail
The Charms of Nature fade;
All wither'd, weak, and pale,
They bow their languid Head:
My Father, ſhine;
For thou canſt give
The Dead to live
By Beams divine.
4
Ev'n Eden's bliſsful Lands
Would in thine Abſence mourn;
But thou wild Afric's § Sands
To Paradiſe canſt turn.
If GOD be there
The Gloom is bright;
But Noon is Night,
Till thou appear.
[10]5
Come, for my Spirit glows
With infinite Deſire!
Strong Love impatient grows,
And ſets my Heart on Fire.
My Father, come;
That Preſence give
On which I live;
Or call me home.
XI. MOSES'S View of the divine Glory. Exod. xxxiii. 18.
1
WITH humble Pleaſure, Lord, we trace
The ancient Records of thy Grace;
And our own Conſolation draw
From what thy Servant Moſes ſaw.
2
May we behold thy Glory ſhine,
With gentle Beams of Love divine;
And hear thy ſecret Voice proclaim
The various Wonders of thy Name.
3
If feeble Nature faint t' endure
A Voice ſo ſweet, a Ray ſo pure;
Its Diſſolution would delight,
While Death would wear a Form ſo bright.
4
Death ſhall unvail that World above,
Where the dear Children of thy Love,
Attemper'd ‡ all to heavenly Day,
Bear, and reflect th' immediate Ray.
XII. The Proclamation of GOD'S Name to Moſes, or divine Mercy and Juſtice. Exod. xxxiv. 6,-8.
[11]1
ATTEND, my Soul, the Voice divine,
And mark what beaming Glories ſhine
Around thy condeſcending GOD!
To us, to us, he ſtill proclaims
His awful, his endearing Names:
Attend, and ſound them all abroad.
2
"JEHOVAH I, the ſov'reign Lord,
"The mighty GOD, by Heav'n ador'd,
"Down to the Earth my Footſteps bend:
"My Heart the tend'reſt Pity knows,
"Goodneſs full-ſtreaming overflows,
"And Grace and Truth ſhall never End.
3
"My Patience long can Crimes endure;
"My pard'ning Love is ever ſure,
"When penitential Sorrow mourns;
"To Millions thro' unnumber'd Years,
"New Hope and new Delight it bears;
"Yet Wrath againſt the Sinner burns."
4
Make Haſte, my Soul, the Viſion meet,
All proſtrate at thy Sov'reign's Feet,
And drink the tuneful Accents in;
Speak on, my Lord; repeat the Voice;
Diffuſe theſe Heart-expanding Joys,
Till Heav'n compleat the rapt'rous Scene.
XIII. The GOD of Spirits ſought to ſupply Vacancies in the Congregations of his People Numbers xxvii. 15,-17.
[12]1
FATHER of Spirits, from thy Hand
Our Souls immortal came;
And ſtill thine Energy ‡ divine
Supports th' ethereal ‖ Flame.
2
By thee our Spirits all are known;
And each remoteſt Thought
Lies wide expanded to his Eye,
By whom their Powers were wrought.
3
To thee, when mortal Comforts fail,
Thy Flock deſerted flies;
And, on th' eternal Shepherds Care,
Our chearful Hope relies.
4
When o'er thy faithful Servants Duſt,
Thy dear Aſſemblies mourn,
In ſpeedy Tokens of thy Grace,
O Iſrael's GOD, return.
5
The Powers of Nature all are thine,
And thine the Aids of Grace;
Thine Arm has borne thy Churches up
Thro' every riſing Race.
6
Exert thy ſacred Influence here,
And here thy Suppliants bleſs,
And change, to Strains of chearful Praiſe,
Their Accents of Diſtreſs.
[13]7
With faithful Heart, with ſkilful Hand,
May this thy Flock be fed;
And with a ſteady growing Pace
To Zion's Mountain led.
XIV. The Lord's People his Portion. Deuteron. xxxii. 9.
1
SOV'REIGN of Nature, all is thine,
The Air, the Earth, the Sea:
By thee the Orbs celeſtial § ſhine,
And Cherubs live by thee.
2
Rich in thine own Eſſential Store,
Thou call'ſt forth Worlds at Will:
Ten thouſand, and ten thouſand more
Would hear thy Summons ſtill.
3
What Treaſure wilt thou then confeſs?
And thine own Portion call?
What by peculiar Right poſſeſs,
Imperial Lord of all?
4
Thine Iſrael thou wilt ſtoop to claim,
Wilt mark them out for thine:
Ten thouſand Praiſes to thy Name
For Goodneſs ſo divine!
5
That I am thine, my Soul would boaſt,
And boaſt its Claim to thee;
Nor ſhall GOD'S Property be loſt
Nor GOD be torn from me.
XV. The Eternal GOD his People's Refuge, and Support. Deut. xxxiii. 27.
[14]1
BEHOLD the great eternal GOD,
Spreads everlaſting Arms abroad,
And calls our Souls to ſhelter there.
Wonders of mingled Power and Grace
To all his Iſrael he diſplays,
Guarded from Danger, and from Fear.
2
Thither my feeble Soul ſhall fly
When Terrors preſs, and Death is nigh,
And there will I delight to dwell:
On that high Tower I rear my Head
Serene, nor knows my Heart to dread,
Amidſt ſurrounding Hoſts of Hell.
3
The Shadow of th' Almighty's Wings
Compoſure unmoleſted brings,
While threat'ning Horrors round me croud;
In vain the Storms of rattling Hail
The Walls of this Retreat aſſail,
And the wild Tempeſt roars aloud.
4
In louder Strains my fearleſs Tongue
Shall warble its victorious Song,
My Father's Graces to proclaim;
He bears his Infant Off-ſpring on
To Glory radiant as his Throne,
And Joys eternal as his Name.
XVI. The Happineſs of GOD'S Iſrael. Deut, xxxiii. 29.
1
O Iſrael, bleſt beyond Compare!
Unrival'd all thy Glories are:
And calls thine Intereſt all his own.
2
He is thy Saviour; He thy Lord;
His Shield is thine; and thine his Sword:
Review in Extacy of Thought
The grand Redemption he has wrought.
3
From Satan's Yoke he ſets thee free,
Opens thy Paſſage thro' the Sea;
He thro' the Deſart is thy Guide,
And Heav'n, for Canaan, will provide.
4
Not Jacob's Sons of old could boaſt
Such Favours to their choſen Hoſt;
Their Glories, which thro' Ages ſhine,
Are but dim Shades, and Types of thine.
5
Celeſtial Spirit, teach our Tongue
Sublimer Strains than Moſes ſung,
Proportion'd to the ſweeter Name
Of GOD the SAVIOUR, and the LAMB.
XVII. Support in the gracious Preſence of GOD under the Loſs of Miniſters, and other uſeful Friends. Joſhua i. 2, 4, 5.
1
NOW let our mourning Hearts revive,
And all our Tears be dry.
Why ſhould thoſe Eyes be drown'd in Grief,
Which view a Saviour nigh?
2
What tho' the Arm of conqu'ring Death
Does GOD'S own Houſe invade?
What tho' the Prophet, and the Prieſt
Be number'd with the Dead?
[16]3
Tho' earthly Shepherds dwell in Duſt,
The Aged, and the Young,
The watchful Eye in Darkneſs clos'd,
And mute th' inſtructive Tongue;
4
Th' eternal Shepherd ſtill ſurvives
New Comfort to impart;
His Eye ſtill guides us, and his Voice
Still animates our Heart.
5
"Lo, I am with you, ſaith the Lord,
"My Church ſhall ſafe abide;
"For I will ne'er forſake my own,
"Whoſe Souls in me confide."
6
Thro' every Scene of Life, and Death,
This Promiſe is our Truſt;
And this ſhall be our Children's Song,
When we are cold in Duſt.
XVIII. GOD inſenſibly withdrawn. Judges xvi. 20.
1
A Preſent GOD is all our Strength,
And all our Joy and Hope;
When he withdraws, our Comforts dye,
And every Grace muſt droop.
2
But flattering Trifles charm our Hearts
To court their falſe Embrace,
Till juſtly this neglected Friend
Averts his angry Face.
3
He leaves us, and we miſs him not;
But go preſumptuous on,
Till baffled, wounded, and enſlav'd,
We learn, that GOD is gone.
[17]4
And what, my Soul, can then remain
One Ray of Light to give?
Sever'd from him, their better Life,
How can his Children live?
5
Hence all ye painted Forms of Joy,
And leave my Heart to mourn!
I would devote theſe Eyes to Tears,
Till chear'd by his Return.
6
Look back, my Lord, and own the place,
Where once thy Temple ſtood;
For lo, its Ruins bear the mark
Of rich atoning Blood.
XIX. EBENEZER, or GOD'S helping Hand re⯑view'd and acknowledged. 1 Sam. vii. 12.
For New-Years Day.
1
MY helper GOD! I bleſs his Name:
The ſame his Power, his Grace the ſame.
The Tokens of his friendly Care
Open, and crown, and cloſe the Year.
2
I 'midſt ten thouſand Dangers ſtand,
Supported by his guardian Hand;
And ſee, when I ſurvey my Ways,
Ten thouſand Monuments of Praiſe.
3
Thus far his Arm has led me on;
Thus far I make his Mercy known;
And, while I tread this deſart Land,
New Mercies ſhall new Songs demand.
4
My greateful Soul, on Jerdan's Shore,
Shall raiſe one ſacred Pillar more:
Then bear, in his bright Courts above,
Inſcriptions of immortal Love.
XX. The Saint encouraging himſelf in the LORD his GOD. 1 Sam. xxx. 6.
[18]1
JEHOVAH, 'tis a glorious Name:
Still pregnant with Delight;
It ſcatters round a chearful Beam,
To gild the darkeſt Night.
2
What tho' our mortal Comforts fade,
And drop like with'ring Flowers?
Nor Time nor Death can break that Band,
Which makes Jehovah our's.
3
My Cares, I give you to the Wind,
And ſhake you off like Duſt;
Well may I truſt my All with him,
With whom my Soul I truſt.
XXI. Support in GOD'S Covenant under do⯑meſtick Troubles. 2 Sam. xxiii. 5.
1
MY GOD, the Cov'nant of thy Love
Abides for ever ſure,
And in its matchleſs Grace I feel
My Happineſs ſecure.
2
What tho' my Houſe be not with thee
As Nature could deſire?
To nobler Joys, than Nature gives,
Thy Servants all aſpire.
3
Since thou, the everlaſting GOD,
My Father art become;
Jeſus my Guardian, and my Friend,
And Heav'n my final Home;
4
I welcome all thy ſov'reign Will;
For all that Will is Love:
[19] And, when I know not what thou doſt,
I wait the Light above.
5
Thy Cov'nant in the darkeſt Gloom
Shall heav'nly Rays impart,
Which, when my Eye-lids cloſe in Death,
Shall warm my chilling Heart.
XXII. Support in GOD'S Covenant in the near Views of Death. 2 Sam. xxiii. 1. and 5. compared.
1
'TIS Mine, the Cov'nant of his Grace;
And every Promiſe mine!
All ſprung from everlaſting Love,
And ſeal'd by Blood divine.
2
On my unworthy favour'd Head
Its Bleſſings all unite;
Bleſſings more numerous than the Stars,
More laſting, and more bright.
3
Death, thou mayſt tear this Rag of Fleſh,
And ſink my fainting Head,
And lay my Ruins in the Grave,
Among my Kindred Dead:
4
But Death and Hell in vain ſhall ſtrive
To break that ſacred Reſt,
Which GOD's expiring Children feel,
While leaning on his Breaſt.
5
Th' enlarged Soul thou canſt not reach,
Nor rend from Chriſt away;
Tho' o'er my mould'ring Duſt thou boaſt,
The Triumphs of a Day.
[20]6
The Night is paſt, my Morning dawns;
My Cov'nant GOD deſcends,
And wakes that Duſt to join my Soul
In Bliſs that never ends.
7
That Cov'nant the laſt Accent claims
Of this poor falt'ring Tongue;
And that ſhall the firſt Notes employ
Of my celeſtial Song.
XXIII. Rejoicing in our Covenant Engagements to GOD. 1 Chron. xv. 15.
1
O Happy Day, that fix'd my Choice
On thee, my Saviour, and my GOD!
Well may this glowing Heart rejoice,
And tell its Raptures all abroad.
2
O happy Bond, that ſeals my Vows
To him who merits all my Love!
Let chearful Anthems ‖ fill his Houſe,
While to that ſacred Shrine § I move.
3
'Tis done; the great Tranſaction's done:
I am my Lord's, and he is mine:
He drew me, and I follow'd on,
Charm'd to confeſs the Voice divine.
4
Now reſt my long divided Heart,
Fix'd on this bliſsful Centre, reſt;
With Aſhes who would grudge to part
When call'd on Angels Bread to feaſt?
5
High Heav'n, that heard the ſolemn Vow,
That Vow renew'd ſhall daily hear;
[21] Till in Life's lateſt Hour I bow,
And bleſs in Death a Bond ſo dear.
XXIV. GOD'S ſtirring up the Spirit of CY⯑RUS to redeem ISRAEL. Ezra i. 1. com⯑pared with Iſaiah xlv. 1.-4.
1
TH' eternal GOD! his Name how great!
How deep his Counſels! how compleat!
The Hearts of Kings his Power can ſway;
His Word unconſcious § they obey.
2
Summon'd of old in diſtant Days
To ſerve his Schemes, and ſhew his Praiſe,
Cyrus, illuſtrious Prince, appears,
His People frees, his Temple rears.
3
Thro' Legions arm'd he breaks his Way,
And tramples Gen'rals down like Clay;
The Bars of Steel he cuts in twain,
And brazen Gates oppoſe in vain.
4
But to Jehovah's Accents mild
The Hero pliant as a Child,
Lays the new Cares of Empire by,
Till Zion riſe, and ſhine on high.
5
Thus, mighty GOD, ſhall every Heart,
(If thou thine Influence there exert)
Throw its own fondeſt Schemes aſide,
And follow where thy Hand ſhall guide.
6
The foremoſt Sons of Fame ſhall boaſt
To raiſe thy Temples from their Duſt;
Princes ſhall ſhout thy Name aloud,
And new-born Prieſts thine Altars croud.
XXV. A Glance from GOD bringing us down to the Solitude of the Grave. Job vii. 8.
[22]1
SOV'REIGN of Life, before thine Eye,
Lo! mortal Men by thouſands dye!
One Glance from thee at once brings down
The proudeſt Brow, that wears a Crown.
2
Baniſh'd at once from human Sight
To the dark Grave's unchanging Night,
Impriſon'd in that duſty Bed,
We hide our ſolitary Head.
3
The friendly Band ‡ no more ſhall greet,
Accents familiar once, and ſweet:
No more the well-known Features trace,
No more renew the fond Embrace.
4
Yet if my Father's faithful Hand
Conduct me thro' this gloomy Land,
My Soul with Pleaſure ſhall obey,
And follow, where he leads the Way.
5
He nobler Friends, than here I leave,
In brighter ſurer Worlds can give;
Or by the Beamings of his Eye
A loſt Creation well ſupply.
XXVI. The Impoſſibility of Proſpering while we harden ourſelves againſt GOD. Job ix. 4.
1
THE Great Jehovah! who ſhall dare
With him to tempt unequal War?
What Heart of Steel ſhall dare t'oppoſe
And league among his hard'ned Foes?
[23]2
At his Command the Lightnings dart,
And ſwift transfix § the rebel Heart:
Earth trembles at his Look, and cleaves,
And Legions ſink in living Graves.
3
Where are the haughty Monarchs now,
Who ſcorn'd his Word with lowring Brow?
Where are the Trophies of their Reigns?
Or where their Ruin's laſt Remains?
4
See Pharaoh ſinking in the Tide!
See Babel's Tyrant, mad with Pride,
Graze with the Beaſts! hear Herod roar,
While Worms his Deity devour!
5
See from the Turrets of the Skies
Tall Cherubs ſink, no more to riſe;
And trace their Rank on Thrones of Light
By heavier Chains, and darker Night.
6
Great GOD! and ſhall this Soul of mine
Preſume to challenge Wrath divine?
Trembling I ſeek thy Mercy-Seat,
And lay my Weapons at thy Feet.
XXVII. The great Journey. Job xvi. 22.
1
BEHOLD the Path that Mortals tread
Down to the Regions of the dead!
Nor will the fleeting Moments ſtay,
Nor can we meaſure back our Way.
2
Our Kindred and our Friends are gone;
Know, O my Soul, this Doom thine own;
Feeble as theirs my mortal Frame,
The ſame my Way, my Houſe the ſame.
[24]3
From vital Air, from chearful Light,
To the cold Grave's perpetual Night,
From Scenes of Duty, Means of Grace,
Muſt I to GOD'S Tribunal paſs.
4
Important Journey! awful View!
How great the Change! the Scenes how new
The golden Gates of Heav'n diſplay'd,
Or Hell's fierce Flames, and gloomy Shade,
5
Awake, my Soul; thy Way prepare,
And loſe in this each mortal Care;
With ſteady Feet that Path be trod,
Which thro' the Grave conducts to GOD.
6
Jeſus, to thee my ALL I truſt:
And if thou call me down to Duſt
I know thy Voice, I bleſs thy Hand,
And dye in Smiles at thy Command.
7
What was my Terror, is my Joy;
Theſe Views my brighteſt Hopes employ
To go, e'er many Years are o'er,
Secure I ſhall return no more.
XXVIII. The Penitent brought back from [...] Pit. Job xxxiii. 27. 28.
1
THE LORD from his exalted Throne,
In Majeſty array'd,
Looks with a melting Pity down
On all, that ſeek his Aid.
2
When, touch'd with penitent Remorſe,
Our Follies paſt we mourn,
With what a Tenderneſs of Love
He meets our firſt Return!
[25]3
From Heav'n he ſent his only Son
To ranſom us with Blood,
To ſnatch us from the burning Pit,
When on it's Brink we ſtood.
4
From Death and Hell he leads us up
By a delightful Way;
And the bright Beams of endleſs Life
Does round our Path diſplay.
5
Great GOD, we wonder, and adore;
And, to exalt ſuch Grace,
We long to learn the Songs of Heav'n
E'er yet we reach the Place.
XXIX. Communing with our Hearts. Pſal. iv. 4.
1
RETURN, my roving Heart, return,
And chaſe theſe ſhadowy Forms no more;
Seek out ſome Solitude to mourn,
And thy forſaken GOD implore.
2
Wiſdom and Pleaſure dwell at home;
Retir'd, and ſilent ſeek them there:
True Conqueſt is ourſelves t' o'ercome,
True Strength to break the Tempter's Snare.
3
And thou, my GOD, whoſe piercing Eye
Diſtinct ſurveys each deep Receſs,
In theſe abſtracted Hours draw nigh,
And with thy Preſence fill the Place.
4
Thro' all the Mazes ‡ of my Heart
My Search let heav'nly Wiſdom guide,
[26] And ſtill it's radiant Beams impart,
Till all be ſearch'd, and purified.
5
Then with the Viſits of thy Love
Vouchſafe my inmoſt Soul to chear;
Till ev'ry Grace ſhall join to prove
That GOD hath fix'd his Dwelling there.
XXX. GOD'S Name the Encouragement of our Faith. Pſalm ix. 10.
1
SING 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
Let great Jehovah be ador'd,
Th' Eternal, All-ſufficient LORD,
He thro' 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 Abram, GOD of Peace;
Now by a dearer Title known,
Father and GOD of CHRIST his Son.
4
Thro' ev'ry Age his gracious Ear
Is open to his Servants Pray'r,
Nor can one humble Soul complain,
That it has ſought it's 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.
[27]6
To thee our Souls in Faith ariſe,
To thee we lift expecting Eyes;
And boldly thro' the Deſart tread,
For GOD will guard, where GOD ſhall lead.
XXXI. Triumph in GOD'S Protection. Pſalm xviii. 2.
1
LEGIONS of Foes beſet me round,
While marching o'er this dang'rous Ground;
Yet in Jehovah's Aid I truſt,
And in his Pow'r ſuperior boaſt.
2
My Buckler he: His Shield is ſpread
To cover this defenceleſs Head:
Now let the fierceſt Foes aſſail,
Their Darts, I count, as rattling Hail.
3
He is my Rock, and he my Tow'r;
The Baſe ‖ how firm! the Walls how ſure!
The Battlements how high they riſe!
And hide their Summits § in the Skies.
4
Deliv'rances to GOD belong;
He is my Strength, and he my Song;
The Horn of my Salvation he,
And all my Foes diſpers'd ſhall flee.
5
Thro' the long March my Lips ſhall ſing
My great Protector, and my King,
Till Zion's Mount my Feet aſcend,
And all my painful Warfare end.
6
Rais'd on the ſhining Turrets there
Thro' all the Proſpect wide, and fair,
[28] A Land of Peace his Hoſts ſurvey,
And bleſs the Grace, that led the Way.
XXXII. Support in Death. Pſalm xxiii. 4.
1
BEHOLD the gloomy Vale,
Which thou, my Soul, muſt tread,
Beſet with Terrors fierce and pale,
That leads thee to the Dead.
2
Ye pleaſing Scenes, Adieu*,
Which I ſo long have known:
My Friends, a long Farewel to you,
For I muſt paſs alone.
3
And thou, beloved Clay,
Long Partner of my Cares,
In this rough Path art torn away
With Agony and Tears.
4
But ſee a Ray of Light,
With Splendors all divine,
Breaks thro' theſe doleful Realms of Night,
And makes it's Horrors ſhine.
5
Where Death and Darkneſs reigns,
Jehovah is my Stay:
His Rod my trembling Feet ſuſtains,
His Staff defends my Way.
6
Dear Shepherd, lead me on;
My Soul diſdains to fear;
Death's gloomy Phantoms all are flown,
Now Life's great LORD is near.
XXXIII. The Good Man's Proſpect for Time and Eternity. Pſalm xxiii. 6.
[29]1
MY Soul triumphant in the LORD
Shall tell its Joys abroad;
And march with holy Vigour on,
Supported by it's GOD.
2
Thro' all the winding Maze ‡ of Life,
His Hand hath been my Guide,
And in that long experienc'd Care
My Heart ſhall ſtill confide.
3
His Grace thro' all the Deſart flows
An unexhauſted Stream:
That Grace on Zion's ſacred Mount
Shall be my endleſs Theme ‖.
4
Beyond the choiceſt Joys of Earth
Theſe diſtant Courts I love;
But O! I burn with ſtrong Deſire
To view thy Houſe above.
5
Mingled with all the ſhining Band
My Soul would there adore;
A Pillar in thy Temple fix'd,
To be remov'd no more.
XXXIV. The Goodneſs which GOD has wrought, and laid up for his People. Pſal. xxxi. 19.
1
OUR Souls with pleaſing Wonder view
The Bounties of thy Grace;
How much beſtow'd; How much reſerv'd
For them that ſeek thy Face!
[30]2
Thy lib'ral Hand with worldly Bliſs
Oft makes their Cup run o'er;
And in the Cov'nant of thy Love
They find diviner Store.
3
Here Mercy hides their num'rous Sins;
Here Grace their Souls renews;
Here thine own reconciled Face
Doth heav'nly Beams diffuſe.
4
But O! what Treaſures yet unknown
Are lodg'd in Worlds to come?
If theſe th' Enjoyments of the Way,
How happy is their Home?
5
And what ſhall mortal Worms reply?
Or how ſuch Goodneſs own?
But 'tis our Joy that, LORD, to thee
Thy Servants Hearts are known.
6
Thine Eyes ſhall read thoſe grateful Thoughts,
No Language can expreſs:
Yet when our liv'lieſt Thanks we pay,
Our Debts do moſt increaſe.
7
Since Time's too ſhort, All-gracious GOD,
To utter half thy Praiſe,
Loud to the Honour of thy Name
Eternal Hymns we'll raiſe.
XXXV. Reliſhing the divine Goodneſs. Pſalm xxxiv. 8, 9.
1
TRIUMPHANT, LORD, thy Goodneſs
Thro' all the wide celeſtial Plains; [reigns
And it's full Streams redundant flow
Down to th' Abodes of Men below.
[31]2
Thro' Nature's Works it's Glories ſhine:
The Cares of Providence are thine:
And Grace erects our ruin'd Frame
A fairer Temple to thy Name.
3
O give to ev'ry human Heart
To taſte, and feel how good thou art!
With grateful Love, and rev'rend Fear,
To know, how bleſt thy Children are.
4
Let Nature burſt into a Song:
Ye echoing Hills, the Notes prolong:
Earth, Seas, and Stars your Anthems raiſe,
All vocal ‡ with your Maker's Praiſe.
5
Ye Saints, with Joy the Theme perſue;
Its ſweeteſt Notes belong to you;
Choſe by this condeſcending King
For ever round his Throne to ſing.
XXXVI. GOD'S ſaying to the Soul, that he is its Salvation. Pſalm xxxv. 3.
1
SALVATION! O melodious Sound
To wretched dying Men!
Salvation, that from GOD proceeds,
And leads to GOD again.
2
Reſcu'd from Hell's eternal Gloom,
From Fiends § and Fires, and Chains:
Rais'd to a Paradiſe of Bliſs,
Where Love and Glory reigns.
[32]3
But O! may a degen'rate Soul,
Sinful and weak as mine,
Preſume to raiſe a trembling Eye
To Bleſſings ſo divine?
4
The Luſtre of ſo bright a Bliſs
My feeble Heart o'erbears;
And Unbelief almoſt perverts
The Promiſe into Tears.
5
My Saviour GOD, no Voice but thine
Theſe dying Hopes can raiſe:
Speak thy Salvation to my Soul,
And turn its Tears to Praiſe.
6
My Saviour GOD, this broken Voice
Tranſported ſhall proclaim,
And call on all th' Angelick Harps
To ſound ſo ſweet a Name.
XXXVII. GOD'S Complacency in the Proſperity of his Servants. Pſalm xxxv. 27.
1
THE LORD with Pleaſure views his Saints,
And calls them all his own,
And low he bows to their Complaints,
And pities ev'ry Groan.
2
In all the Joys, they here poſſeſs,
He takes a tender Part;
And, when they riſe to heav'nly Bliſs,
Complacence fills his Heart.
3
My GOD, are all my Pleaſures thine,
My Comforts thy Delight?
O be thy Happineſs divine
Moſt precious in my Sight.
[33]4
They moſt in all thy Bliſs ſhall ſhare,
Whoſe Hearts can love thee moſt;
O could I vie in Ardor there
With all th' Angelic Hoſts.
XXXVIII. The Days of the Upright known to GOD, and their everlaſting Inheritance. Pſalm xxxvii. 18.
1
TO thee, my GOD, my Days are known;
My Soul enjoys the Thought:
My Actions all before thy Face,
Nor are my Faults forgot.
2
Each ſecret Breath Devotion vents
Is vocal to thine Ear;
And all my Walks of daily Life
Before thine Eye appear.
3
The vacant Hour, the active Scene
Thy Mercy ſhall approve;
And ev'ry Pang of Sympathy,
And ev'ry Care of Love.
4
Each golden Hour of beaming Light
Is gilded by thy Rays;
And dark Affliction's midnight Gloom
A preſent GOD ſurveys.
5
Full in thy View thro' Life I paſs,
And in thy View I dye;
And, when each mortal Bond is broke,
Shall find my GOD is nigh.
6
Strip'd of it's little earthly all
My Soul in Smiles ſhall go;
[34] And in a heav'nly Heritage
It's Father's Bounty know.
XXXIX. Our Deſire and Groaning before GOD, when proceeding from the greateſt Diſtreſs. Pſal. xxxviii. 9. 10.
1
MY Soul, the awful Hour will come,
Apace it paſſeth on
To bear this Body to the Tomb,
And thee to Scenes unknown.
2
My Heart, long lab'ring with its Woes,
Shall pant and ſink away;
And you, my Eye-lids, ſoon ſhall cloſe
On the laſt glim'ring Ray.
3
Whence in that Hour ſhall I receive
A Cordial for my Pain,
When, if Earth's Monarchs were my Friends,
Thoſe Friends would weep in vain?
4
Great King of Nature, and of Grace,
To thee my Spirit flies,
And opens all its deep Diſtreſs
Before thy pitying Eyes.
5
All its Deſires to thee are known,
And ev'ry ſecret Fear,
The Meaning of each broken Groan
Well notic'd by thine Ear.
6
O fix me by that mighty Pow'r,
Which to ſuch Love belongs,
Where Darkneſs veils the Eye no more,
And Groans are chang'd to Songs.
XL. GOD magnified by thoſe that love his Sal⯑vation. Pſalm xl. 16.
[35]1
GOD of Salvation, we adore
Thy ſaving Love, thy ſaving Pow'r;
And to our utmoſt Stretch of Thought
Hail the Redemption thou haſt wrought.
2
We love the Stroke, that breaks our Chain,
The Sword, by which our Sins are ſlain;
And, while abas'd in Duſt we bow,
We ſing the Grace, that lays us low.
3
Periſh each Thought of human Pride:
Let GOD alone be magnified:
His Glory let the Heav'ns reſound
Shouted from Earth's remoteſt Bound.
4
Saints, who his full Salvation know,
Saints, who but taſte it here below,
Join ev'ry Angel's Voice to raiſe
Continu'd never-ending Praiſe.
XLI. The Triumph of Chriſt in the Cauſe of Truth, Meekneſs, and Righteouſneſs. Pſalm xlv. 3. 4.
1
LOUD to the Prince of Heav'n
Your chearful Voices raiſe!
To him your Vows be giv'n,
And fill his Courts with Praiſe.
With conſcious Worth
All-clad in Arms,
All-bright in Charms,
He ſallies forth.
[36]2
Gird on thy conqu'ring Sword,
Aſcend thy ſhining Car *,
And march, Almighty LORD,
To wage thy holy War.
Before his Wheels
In glad Surprize
Ye Valleys, riſe,
And ſink, ye Hills.
3
Fair Truth, and ſmiling Love,
And injur'd Righteouſneſs
In thy Retinue move,
And ſeek from th [...] Redreſs:
Thou in their Cauſe
Shalt proſp'rous ride,
And far and wide
Diſpenſe thy Laws.
4
Before thine awful Face
Millions of Foes ſhall fall,
The Captives of thy Grace,
That Grace, which conquers all.
The World ſhall know,
Great King of Kings,
What wond'rous Things
Thine Arm can do.
5
Here to my willing Soul
Bend thy triumphant Way;
Here ev'ry Foe controul,
And all thy Pow'r diſplay.
My Heart, thy Throne,
Bleſt Jeſus, ſee
Bows low to thee,
To thee alone.
XLII. Quietneſs under Affliction a proper Acknow⯑ledgment of GOD. Pſalm xlvi. 10.
[37]1
PEACE, 'tis the LORD Jehovah's Hand,
That blaſts our Joys in Death;
Changes the Viſage once ſo dear,
And gathers back our Breath.
2
'Tis he, the Potentate ſupreme
Of all the Worlds above,
Whoſe ſteady Counſels wiſely rule,
Nor from their Purpoſe move.
3
'Tis he, whoſe Juſtice might demand
Our Souls a Sacrifice;
Yet ſcatters with unwearied Hand
A thouſand rich Supplies.
4
Our Cov'nant GOD and FATHER he
In CHRIST our bleeding LORD;
Whoſe Grace can heal the burſting Heart
With one reviving Word.
5
Fair Garlands of immortal Bliſs
He weaves for ev'ry Brow;
And ſhall tumultuous Paſſions riſe,
If he correct us now?
6
Silent I own Jehovah's Name;
I kiſs thy ſcourging Hand;
And yield my Comforts, and my Life
To thy ſupreme Command.
XLIII. The Year crowned with the divine Good⯑neſs. Pſalm lxv. 11.
For New-Year's Day.
[38]1
ETERNAL Source of ev'ry Joy!
Well may thy Praiſe our Lips employ,
While in thy Temple we appear,
Whoſe Goodneſs crowns the circling Year.
2
Wide as the Wheels of Nature roll
Thy Hand ſupports the ſteady Pole:
The Sun is taught by thee to riſe,
And Darkneſs when to veil the Skies.
3
The flow'ry Spring at thy Command
Embalms the Air, and paints the Land;
The Summer Rays with Vigour ſhine
To raiſe the Corn, and chear the Vine.
4
Thy Hand in Autumn richly pours
Thro' all our Coaſts redundant Stores;
And Winters, ſoft'ned by thy Care,
No more a Face of Horror wear.
5
Seaſons, and Months, and Weeks, and Days
Demand ſucceſſive Songs of Praiſe;
Still be the chearful Homage paid
With opening Light, and evening Shade.
6
Here in thy Houſe ſhall Incenſe riſe,
As circling Sabbaths bleſs our Eyes;
Still will we make thy Mercies known,
Around thy Board, and round our own.
7
O may our more harmonious Tongues
In Worlds unknown perſue the Songs;
[39] And in thoſe brighter Courts adore,
Where Days and Years revolve no more.
XLIV. Rebels againſt the ſupreme Sovereign admo⯑niſhed. Pſalm lxvi. 7.
1
THE Lord of Glory reigns ſupremely great,
And o'er Heav'ns Arches builds his royal Seat.
Thro' Worlds unknown his ſov'reign Sway extends,
Nor Space nor Time his boundleſs Empire ends.
His Eye beholds th' Affairs of ev'ry Nation,
And reads each Thought through his immenſe Creation.
2
Lightnings, and Storms his mighty Word obey,
And Planets roll, where he has mark'd their Way:
Unnumber'd Cherubs vail'd before him ſtand,
At his firſt Signal all their Wings expand;
His Praiſe gives Harmony to all their Voices,
And ev'ry Heart through the full Choir ‡ re⯑joices.
3
Rebellious Mortals, ceaſe your Tumults vain,
Nor longer ſuch unequal War maintain:
Let Clay with Fellow-Clay in Combate ſtrive,
But dread to brave the Pow'r, by which you live:
With contrite Hearts fall proſtrate & adore him,
For, if he frowns, ye periſh all before him.
XLV. GOD the Happineſs of his People, and their Support in the extremeſt Diſtreſs. Pſalm lxxiii. 25, 26.
[40]1
MY GOD, whoſe all-pervading ‖ Eye
Views Earth beneath, and Heav'n above,
Witneſs, if here, or there thou ſeeſt
An Object of mine equal Love.
2
Not the gay Scenes, where mortal Men
Perſue their Bliſs, and find their Woe,
Detain my riſing Heart, which ſprings
The nobler Joys of Heav'n to know.
3
Not all the faireſt Sons of Light,
That lead the Army round thy Throne,
Can bound its Flight; it preſſeth on,
And ſeeks it's Reſt in GOD alone.
4
Fix'd near th' immortal Source of Bliſs,
Dauntleſs and joyous it ſurveys
Each Form of Horror and Diſtreſs,
That Earth, combin'd with Hell, can raiſe.
5
This feeble Fleſh ſhall faint, and dye;
This Heart renew its Pulſe no more;
Ev'n now it views the Moment nigh,
When Life's laſt Movements all are o'er.
6
But come, thou vanquiſh'd King of Dread,
With thine own Hand thy Pow'r deſtroy;
'Tis thine to bear my Soul to GOD,
My Portion, and eternal Joy.
XLVI. The Rage of Enemies reſtrained, and over⯑ruled to the divine Glory. Pſalm lxxvi. 10.
Thankſgiving for the Suppreſſion of the Rebellion. 1746.
[41]1
ACCEPT, great GOD, thy Britain's Songs,
While grateful Joy unites our Tongues
To own the Work, thy Hand has done:
Thy Hand has cruſh'd our cruel Foes,
When in rebellious Troops they roſe,
And ſwore to tread our Glory down.
2
With Hell confed'rate on their Side,
People and Prince their Rage defied,
And in proud Hope devour'd us all:
Thy Hand its Banner has diſplay'd,
Beckon'd its Hero to our Aid,
And in one Day their Legions fall.
3
Thus ſhalt thou ſtill maintain thy Throne,
And prove, that thou art GOD alone,
Tho' Earth, and Hell new Efforts try:
'Midſt all the Tumult, they can raiſe,
Envenom'd Wrath exalts thy Praiſe,
Till huſh'd at thy Rebuke it dye.
4
So ſwell the Surges ‡ of the Sea,
And roar in their impetuous Way,
As they would deluge Earth again;
So ſtrike they on th' unſhaken Rock,
Daſh'd by the Fierceneſs of their Shock,
And foam to feel their Fury vain.
XLVII. GOD furniſhing a Table in the Wil⯑derneſs. Pſalm lxxviii. 19. 20.
[42]1
PARENT of univerſal Good!
We own thy bounteous Hand,
Which does ſo rich a Table ſpread,
Ev'n in this deſart Land.
2
Struck by thy Pow'r the flinty Rocks
In guſhing Torrents flow;
The feather'd Wand'rers of the Air
Thy guiding Inſtinct know.
3
The pregnant Clouds at thy Command
Rain down delicious Bread;
And by light Drops of pearly Dew
Are num'rous Armies fed.
4
Supported thus, thine Iſrael march'd
The promis'd Land to gain:
And ſhall thy Children now begin
To ſeek their GOD in vain?
5
Are all thy Stores exhauſted now?
Or does thy Mercy fail?
That Faith ſhould languiſh in our Breaſts
And anxious Cares prevail?
6
Ye baſe unworthy Fears, be gone,
And wide diſperſe in Air;
Then may I feel my Father's Rod,
When I ſuſpect his Care.
XLVIII. GOD'S ſpeaking Peace to his People. Pſalm lxxxv. 8.
[43]1
UNITE, my roving Thoughts, unite
In Silence ſoft and ſweet:
And thou, my Soul, ſit gently down
At thy great Sov'reign's Feet.
2
Jehovah's awful Voice is heard,
Yet gladly I attend;
For lo! the everlaſting GOD
Proclaims himſelf my Friend.
3
Harmonious Accents to my Soul
The Sounds of Peace convey;
The Tempeſt at his Word ſubſides,
And Winds, and Seas obey.
4
By all its Joys, I charge my Heart
To grieve his Love no more;
But, charm'd by Melody divine,
To give its Follies o'er.
XLIX. The Church the Birth-place of the Saints, and GOD'S Care of it. Pſalm lxxxvii. 5.
On opening a new Place of Worſhip.
1
AND will the great Eternal GOD
On Earth eſtabliſh his Abode?
And will he from his radiant Throne,
Avow our Temples for his own?
2
We bring the Tribute of our Praiſe,
And ſing that condeſcending Grace,
[44] Which to our Notes will lend an Ear,
And call us ſinful Mortals near.
3
Our Father's watchful Care we bleſs,
Which guards our Synagogues in Peace,
That no tumultuous Foes invade,
To fill our Worſhippers with Dread.
4
Theſe Walls we to thy Honour raiſe;
Long may they eccho with thy Praiſe;
And thou deſcending fill the Place
With choiceſt Tokens of thy Grace.
5
Here let the great Redeemer reign
With all the Graces of his Train;
While Pow'r divine his Word attends
To conquer Foes, and chear his Friends.
6
And in the great deciſive Day,
When GOD the Nations ſhall ſurvey,
May it before the World appear,
That Crowds were born to Glory here.
L. The Goſpel Jubilee. Pſalm lxxxix. 15. com⯑pared with Levit. xxv. and Iſa. lxi. 2.
1
LOUD let the tuneful Trumpet ſound,
And ſpread the joyful Tidings round;
Let ev'ry Soul with Tranſport hear,
And hail the LORD'S accepted Year.
Ye Debtors, whom he gives to know,
That you ten thouſand Talents owe,
When humbled at his Feet ye fall,
Your gracious LORD forgives them all.
[45]3
Slaves, that have borne the heavy Chain
Of Sin and Hell's tyrannic Reign,
To Liberty aſſert your Claim,
And urge the great Redeemer's Name.
4
The rich Inheritance you loſt,
Reſtor'd, improv'd, you now may boaſt;
Fair Salem your Arrival waits,
To golden Streets, and pearly Gates.
5
Her bleſt Inhabitants no more
Bondage, and Poverty deplore:
No Debt, but Love immenſely great,
Whoſe Joy ſtill riſes with the Debt.
6
O happy Souls that know the Sound!
GOD'S Light ſhall all their Steps ſurround;
And ſhew that Jubilee begun,
Which thro' eternal Years ſhall run.
LI. GOD the Dwelling-Place of his People thro' all Generations. Pſalm xc. 1.
1
THOU, LORD, thro' ev'ry changing Scene
Haſt to thy Saints a Refuge been:
Thro' ev'ry Age, Eternal GOD,
Their pleaſing Home, their ſafe Abode.
2
In thee our Fathers ſought their Reſt;
In thee our Fathers ſtill are bleſt;
And, while the Tomb confines their Duſt,
In thee their Souls abide, and truſt.
3
Lo, we are ris'n, a feeble Race,
A while to fill our Fathers Place;
Our helpleſs State with Pity view,
And let us ſhare their Refuge too.
[46]4
Thro' all the thorny Paths we trace
In this uncertain Wilderneſs,
When Friends deſert, and Foes invade,
Revive our Heart, and guard our Head.
5
So when this Pilgrimage is o'er,
And we muſt dwell in Fleſh no more,
To thee our ſep'rate Souls ſhall come,
And find in thee a ſurer Home.
6
To thee our Infant Race we leave;
Them may their Father's GOD receive;
That Voices yet unform'd may raiſe
Succeeding Hymns of humble Praiſe.
LII. Reflections on our Waſte of Years. Pſal. xc. 9.
For New-Year's Day.
1
REMARK, my Soul, the narrow Bounds
Of the revolving Year!
How ſwift the Weeks compleat their Rounds,
How ſhort the Months appear!
2
So faſt Eternity comes on,
And that important Day,
When all that mortal Life has done
GOD'S Judgment ſhall ſurvey.
3
Yet like an idle Tale we paſs
The ſwift-advancing Year;
And ſtudy artful Ways t'increaſe
The Speed of its Career.
4
Waken, O GOD, my trifling Heart
Its great Concern to ſee;
That I may act the Chriſtian Part,
And give the Year to thee.
[47]5
So ſhall their Courſe more grateful roll,
If future Years ariſe;
Or this ſhall bear my ſmiling Soul
To Joy, that never dies.
LIII. Joy and Proſperity from the Preſence and Bleſſing of GOD. Pſalm xc. 17.
1
SHINE on our Souls, Eternal GOD,
With Rays of Beauty, ſhine:
O let thy Favour crown our Days,
And all their Round be thine.
2
Did we not raiſe our Hands to thee,
Our Hands might toil in vain;
Small Joy Succeſs itſelf could give,
If thou thy Love reſtrain.
3
With thee let ev'ry Week begin,
With thee each Day be ſpent,
For thee each fleeting Hour improv'd,
Since each by thee is lent.
4
Thus chear us thro' this deſart Road,
Till all our Labours ceaſe;
And Heav'n refreſh our weary Souls
With everlaſting Peace.
LIV. The Mutability of the Creation, and the Im⯑mutability of GOD. Pſalm cii. 25-28.
1
GREAT Former of this various Frame!
Our Souls adore thine awful Name;
And bow and tremble while they praiſe
The Ancient of Eternal Days.
[48]2
Thou, LORD, with unſurpriz'd Survey
Saw'ſt Nature riſing Yeſterday;
And, as To-morrow, ſhall thine Eye
See Earth, and Stars in Ruin lye.
3
Beyond an Angel's Viſion bright,
Thou dwell'ſt in ſelf-exiſtent Light;
Which ſhines with undiminiſh'd Ray,
While Suns, and Worlds in Smoke decay.
4
Our Days a tranſient Period run,
And change with ev'ry circling Sun;
And in the firmeſt State we boaſt
A Moth can cruſh us into Duſt.
5
But let the Creatures fall around:
Let Death conſign us to the Ground:
Let the laſt gen'ral Flame ariſe,
And melt the Arches of the Skies:
6
Calm as the Summer's Ocean, we
Can all the Wreck ‡ of Nature ſee,
While Grace ſecures us an Abode,
Unſhaken as the Throne of GOD.
LV. The Frailty of human Nature, and GOD'S gracious Regard to it. Pſalm ciii. 14.
1
LORD, we adore thy wond'rous Name,
And make that Name our Truſt,
Which rais'd at firſt this curious Frame,
From mean, and lifeleſs Duſt.
2
By Duſt ſupported, ſtill it ſtands,
Wrought up to various Forms,
Prepar'd by thy creating Hands
To nouriſh mortal Worms.
[49]3
A while theſe frail Machines endure,
The Fabrick of a Day;
Then know their vital Pow'rs no more,
But moulder back to Clay.
4
Yet, LORD, whate'er is felt or fear'd,
This Thought is our Repoſe,
That he, by whom this Frame was rear'd,
Its various Weakneſs knows.
5
Thou view'ſt us with a pitying Eye,
While ſtrugling with our Load;
In Pains and Dangers thou art nigh,
Our Father, and our GOD.
6
Gently ſupported by thy Love,
We tend to Realms of Peace;
Where ev'ry Pain ſhall far remove,
And ev'ry Frailty ceaſe.
LVI. GOD adored for his Goodneſs, and his won⯑derful Works, to the Children of Men. Pſalm cvii. 31.
1
YE Sons of Men, with Joy record
The various Wonders of the LORD;
And let his Pow'r, and Goodneſs ſound
Thro' all your Tribes the Earth around.
2
Let the high Heav'ns your Songs invite,
Thoſe ſpacious Fields of brilliant Light;
Where Sun, and Moon, and Planets roll,
And Stars, that glow from Pole to Pole.
3
Sing Earth in verdant Robes array'd,
Its Herbs and Flow'rs, its Fruit and Shade;
[50] Peopled with Life of various Forms,
Fiſhes, and Fowl, and Beaſts, and Worms.
4
View the broad Sea's majeſtick Plains,
And think how wide its Maker reigns;
That Band remoteſt Nations joins,
And on each Wave his Goodneſs ſhines.
5
But O! that brighter World above,
Where lives and reigns incarnate Love!
GOD'S only Son in Fleſh array'd,
For Man a bleeding Victim ‖ made.
6
Thither, my Soul, with Rapture ſoar;
There in the Land of Praiſe adore;
This Theme demands an Angel's Lay §,
Demands an undeclining Day.
LVII. The holy Soul returning to its Reſtin a grate⯑ful Senſe of divine Bounties. Pſa. cxvi. 7.
1
RETURN my Soul, and ſeek thy Reſt
Upon thy heav'nly Father's Breaſt:
Indulge me, LORD, in that Repoſe,
The Soul which loves thee only knows.
2
Lodg'd in thine Arms I fear no more
The Tempeſt's Howl, the Billows Roar:
Thoſe Storms muſt ſhake th' Almighty's Seat,
Which violate the Saints Retreat.
3
Thy Bounties, LORD, to me ſurmount
The Pow'r of Language to recount;
From Morning Dawn, the ſetting Sun
Sees but my Work of Praiſe begun.
[51]4
The Mercies, all my Moments bring,
Aſk an Eternity to ſing;
What Thanks thoſe Mercies can ſuffice,
Which thro' Eternity ſhall riſe?
5
Rich in ten thouſand Gifts poſſeſs'd,
In future Hopes more richly bleſs'd,
I'll ſit and ſing, till Death ſhall raiſe
A Note of more proportion'd Praiſe.
LVIII. Deliverance celebrated. Pſalm cxvi. 8.
1
LOOK back, my Soul, with grateful Love
On what thy GOD has done;
Praiſe him for his unnumber'd Gifts,
And praiſe him for his Son.
2
How oft has his indulgent Hand
My flowing Eye-Lids dried,
And reſcu'd from impending Death,
When I in Danger cried!
3
When on the Bed of Pain I lay,
With Sickneſs ſore oppreſs'd,
How oft has he aſſwag'd my Grief,
And lull'd my Eyes to Reſt!
4
Back from Deſtruction's yawning Pit
At his Command I came;
He fed th' expiring Lamp anew,
And rais'd its feeble Flame.
5
My broken Spirit he has chear'd,
When torn with inward Grief;
And, when Temptations preſs'd me ſore,
Has brought me ſwift Relief.
[52]6
My Soul from everlaſting Death
Is by his Mercy brought,
To tell in Zion's ſacred Gates
The Wonders he has wrought.
7
Still will I walk before his Face,
While he this Life prolongs;
Till Grace ſhall all its Work compleat,
And teach me heav'nly Songs.
LIX. Deliverance celebrated, and good Reſolutions formed. Pſalm cxvi. 8, 9.
1
GREAT Source of Life, our Souls confeſs
The various Riches of thy Grace;
Crown'd with thy Mercy we rejoice,
And in thy Praiſe exalt our Voice.
2
By thee Heav'ns ſhining Arch was ſpread;
By thee were Earth's Foundations laid,
And all the Charms of Mens Abode
Proclaim the wiſe, the gracious GOD.
3
Thy tender Hand reſtores our Breath,
When trembling on the Verge of Death;
Gently it wipes away our Tears,
And lengthens Life to future Years.
4
Theſe Lives are ſacred to the LORD;
Kindled by him, by him reſtor'd;
And while our Hours renew their Race,
Still would we walk before his Face.
5
So when by him our Souls are led
Thro' unknown Regions of the Dead,
[53] With Joy triumphant ſhall they move
To Seats of nobler Life above.
LX. Praiſe for Recovery from Sickneſs. Pſalm cxviii. 18, 19.
1
SOV'REIGN of Life, I own thy Hand
In ev'ry chaſt'ning Stroke;
And, while I ſmart beneath thy Rod,
Thy Preſence I invoke.
2
To thee in my Diſtreſs I cried,
And thou haſt bow'd thine Ear,
Thy pow'rful Word my Life prolong'd,
And brought Salvation near.
3
Unfold, ye Gates of Righteouſneſs,
That, with the pious Throng,
I may record my ſolemn Vows,
And tune my grateful Song.
4
Praiſe to the LORD, whoſe gentle Hand
Renews our lab'ring Breath:
Praiſe to the LORD, who makes his Saints
Triumphant ev'n in Death.
5
My GOD, in thine appointed Hour
Thoſe heav'nly Gates diſplay,
Where Pain, and Sin, and Fear, and Death
For ever flee away.
6
There, while the Nations of the Bleſs'd
With Raptures bow around,
My Anthems to deliv'ring Grace
In ſweeter Strains ſhall ſound.
LXI. Regard to Scripture preſſed upon young Per⯑ſons, that they may cleanſe their Way. Pſalm cxix. 9.
[54]1
INDULGENT GOD, with pitying Eye
The Sons of Men ſurvey,
And ſee how youthful Sinners ſport
In a deſtructive Way.
2
Ten thouſand Dangers lurk around
To bear them to the Tomb;
Each in an Hour may plunge them down,
Where Hope can never come.
3
Reduce, O LORD, their wand'ring Minds,
Amus'd with airy Dreams,
That heav'nly Wiſdom may diſpell,
Their viſionary Schemes.
4
With holy Caution may they walk,
And be thy Word their Guide;
Till each, the Deſart ſafely paſs'd,
On Zion's Hill abide.
LXII. Deſires of being quickned by the Word of GOD. Pſalm cxix. 25.
1
WITH Pity, LORD, thy Servant view,
As in the Duſt I lye,
Nor, while I raiſe my plaintive ‖ Voice,
Diſdain the broken Cry.
2
Fain would I mount on Eagles Wings,
And view thy lovely Face;
[55] But cumb'rous Burdens drag me down
From thine ador'd Embrace.
3
Thy quick'ning Energy diffuſe
O'er all my inmoſt Frame;
And animate theſe languid Lips
To celebrate thy Name.
4
Thy living Word has Wonders wrought,
Thoſe Wonders here renew;
And pour freſh Vigour thro' my Soul,
While I its Glory view.
5
From thee, Great ever-flowing Spring,
Let vital Streams deſcend;
And chear me to begin thoſe Songs,
Which Death ſhall never end.
LXIII. Human Perfection no where to be found. Pſalm cxix. 96.
1
PERFECTION! 'Tis an empty Name,
Nor can repay our Cares;
And he, that ſeeks it here below,
Muſt end the Search with Tears.
2
Great David on his royal Throne,
The beauteous, and the ſtrong,
Rich in the Spoils of conquer'd Foes,
Amidſt the applauding Throng,
3
With all his Mind's capacious Pow'rs,
Perſu'd the Shade in vain;
Nor heard it his melodious Voice,
Or Harp's Angelick Strain.
[56]4
From publick to domeſtick Scenes
Th' impatient Monarch turns;
The Friend, the Huſband, and the Sire ‖
In ſad Succeſſion mourns.
5
At length thy Law, Eternal GOD,
He thro' his Tears deſcrys *,
And, wrapt amidſt thoſe ſacred Folds,
He finds the heav'nly Prize.
6
There will I ſeek Perfection too,
Where David's GOD is known:
Nor envy, with this Volume bleſt,
His Treaſures, and his Throne.
LXIV. Beholding Tranſgreſſors with Grief. Pſalm cxix. 136, 158.
1
ARISE, my tend'reſt Thoughts ariſe;
To Torrents melt my ſtreaming Eyes;
And thou, my Heart, with Anguiſh feel,
Thoſe Evils, which thou canſt not heal.
2
See human Nature ſunk in Shame;
See Scandals pour'd on Jeſus Name;
The Father wounded thro' the Son;
The World abus'd; the Soul undone.
3
See the ſhort Courſe of vain Delight
Cloſing in everlaſting Night;
In Flames, that no Abatement know,
Tho' briny Tears for ever flow.
4
My GOD, I feel the mournful Scene;
My Bowels yearn o'er dying Men;
[57] And fain my Pity would reclaim,
And ſnatch the Fire-brands from the Flame.
5
But feeble my Compaſſion proves,
And can but weep, where moſt it loves:
Thine own all-ſaving Arm employ,
And turn theſe Drops of Grief to Joy.
LXV. The wandering Sheep recovered. Pſalm cxix. 176.
1
LORD, we have wander'd from thy Way;
Like folliſh Sheep, have gone aſtray;
Our pleaſant Paſtures we have left,
And of their Guard our Souls bereft ‡.
2
Expos'd to Want, expos'd to Harm;
Far from our gentle Shepherd's Arm;
Nor will theſe fatal Wand'rings ceaſe,
Till thou reveal the Paths of Peace.
3
O ſeek thy thoughtleſs Servants, LORD,
Nor let us quite forget thy Word;
Our erring Souls do thou reſtore,
And keep us, that we ſtray no more.
LXVI. The weeping Seed-Time, and joyful Harveſt. Pſalm cxxvi. 5, 6.
1
THE dark'ned Sky! how thick it lowrs!
Troubled with Storms, and big with Show'rs;
No chearful Gleam of Light appears,
But Nature pours forth all her Tears.
[58]2
Yet let the Sons of Grace revive;
GOD bids the Soul, that ſeeks him, live,
And from the gloomieſt Shade of Night
Calls forth a Morning of Delight.
3
The Seeds of Extacy unknown
Are in theſe water'd Furrows ſown;
See the green Blades how thick they riſe,
And with freſh Verdure bleſs our Eyes.
4
In ſecret Foldings they contain
Unnumber'd Ears of golden Grain;
And Heav'n ſhall pour its Beams around,
Till the ripe Harveſt load the Ground.
5
Then ſhall the trembling Mourner come,
And find his Sheaves, and bear them home:
The Voice long broke with Sighs ſhall ſing,
Till Heav'n with Hallelujahs ring.
LXVII. Thanks to GOD for his ever-enduring Goodneſs. Pſalm cxxxvi. 1.
For New-Year's Day.
1
HOUSE of our GOD, with chearful An⯑thems ring,
While all our Lips and Hearts his Graces ſing;
The op'ning Year his Graces ſhall proclaim,
And all its Days be vocal with his Name.
The Lord is good, his Mercy never-ending;
His Bleſſings in perpetual Show'rs deſcending.
2
The Heav'n of Heav'ns he with his Bounty fills:
Ye Seraphs bright on ever-blooming Hills
[59] His Honours ſound; you to whom Good alone,
Unmingled, ever-growing has been known.
Thro' your immortal Life, with Love increaſing,
Proclaim your Maker's Goodneſs never-ceaſing.
3
Thou Earth, enlightned by his Rays divine,
Pregnant with Graſs, & Corn, & Oil, & Wine,
Crown'd with his Goodneſs, let thy Nations meet,
And lay their Crowns at his paternal Feet:
With grateful Love, that lib'ral Hand confeſſing,
Which thro' each Heart diffuſeth ev'ry Bleſſing.
4
Zion enrich'd with his diſtinguiſh'd Grace,
Bleſt with the Rays of thine Emanuel's Face,
Zion, Jehovah's Portion, and Delight,
Grav'n on his Hands, and hourly in his Sight,
In ſacred Strains exalt that Grace excelling,
Which makes thy humble Hill his choſen Dwelling.
5
His Mercy never ends; the Dawn, the Shade
Still ſee new Bounties thro' new Scenes diſplay'd:
Succeeding Ages bleſs this ſure Abode,
And Children lean upon their Father's GOD.
The deathleſs Soul thro' its immenſe Duration
Drinks from this Source immortal Conſolation.
6
Burſt into Praiſe, my Soul; all Nature join;
Angels and Men in Harmony combine:
While human Years are meaſur'd by the Sun,
And while Eternity its Courſe ſhall run,
His Goodneſs, in perpetual Show'rs deſcending,
Exalt in Songs, and Raptures never-ending.
LXVIII. GOD's ſtrengthening the Souls of his praying People. Pſalm cxxxviii. 3.
[60]1
MY Soul, review the trembling Days,
In which my GOD I ſought;
I cry'd aloud for Aid divine,
And Aid divine he brought.
2
Thro' all my weak and fainting Heart
His ſecret Strength he ſpread,
And claſp'd me in his Arms of Love,
And rais'd my drooping Head.
3
He call'd himſelf my Cov'nant GOD,
His Promiſes he ſhew'd;
And wide diſplay'd their ſolemn Seal
In the great Surety's Blood.
4
I heard his People ſhout around,
And join'd their chearful Song;
And ſaw from far the ſhining Seats,
Which to his Saints belong.
5
My GOD, what inward Strength thou giv'ſt
I to thy Service vow;
And in thy Strength would upward march,
Till at thy Throne I bow.
LXIX. Singing in the Ways of GOD. Pſalm cxxxviii. 5.
1
NOW let our Voices join,
To form one pleaſant Song:
Ye Pilgrims in Jehovah's Ways,
With Muſick paſs along.
[61]2
How ſtreight the Path appears,
How open, and how fair!
No lurking Gins t'entrap our Feet;
No fierce Deſtroyer there:
3
But Flow'rs of Paradiſe
In rich Profuſion ſpring;
The Sun of Glory gilds the Path,
And dear Companions ſing.
4
See Salem's golden Spires
In beauteous Proſpect riſe;
And brighter Crowns than Mortals wear,
Which ſparkle thro' the Skies.
5
All Honour to his Name,
Who drew the ſhining Trace;
To him, who leads the Wand'rers on,
And chears them with his Grace.
6
Reduce the Nations, LORD,
Teach all their Kings thy Ways,
That Earth's full Choir the Notes may ſwell,
And Heav'n reſound the Praiſe.
LXX. The innumerable Mercies of GOD thankfully acknowledged. Pſalm cxxxix. 17, 18.
1
IN glad Amazement, LORD, I ſtand
Amidſt the Bounties of thy Hand;
How numberleſs thoſe Bounties are!
How rich, how various, and how fair!
2
But O! what poor Returns I make!
What lifeleſs Thanks I pay thee back!
[62] LORD, I confeſs with humble Shame,
My Off'rings ſcarce deſerve the Name.
3
Fain would my lab'ring Heart deviſe
To bring ſome nobler Sacrifice:
It ſinks beneath the mighty Load.
What ſhall I render to my GOD?
4
To him I conſecrate my Praiſe,
And vow the Remnant of my Days;
Yet what at beſt can I pretend,
Worthy ſuch Gifts from ſuch a Friend?
5
In deep Abaſement, LORD, I ſee
My Emptineſs and Poverty:
Enrich my Soul with Grace divine,
And make it worthier to be thine.
6
Give me at length an Angel's Tongue,
That Heav'n may eccho with my Song;
The Theme, too great for Time, ſhall be
The Joy of long Eternity.
LXXI. Praiſing GOD through the whole of our Exiſtence. Pſalm cxlvi. 2.
1
GOD of my Life, thro' all its Days
My grateful Pow'rs ſhall ſound thy Praiſe;
The Song ſhall wake with op'ning Light,
And warble to the ſilent Night.
2
When anxious Cares would break my Reſt,
And Griefs would tear my throbbing Breaſt,
Thy tuneful Praiſes rais'd on high
Shall check the Murmur, and the Sigh.
[63]3
When Death o'er Nature ſhall prevail,
And all its Pow'rs of Language fail,
Joy thro' my ſwimming Eyes ſhall break,
And mean the Thanks I cannot ſpeak.
4
But O! when that laſt Conflict's o'er,
And I am chain'd to Fleſh no more,
With what glad Accents ſhall I riſe
To join the Muſick of the Skies!
5
Soon ſhall I learn th' exalted Strains,
Which eccho o'er the heav'nly Plains;
And emulate with Joy unknown
The glowing Seraphs round thy Throne.
6
The chearful Tribute will I give,
Long as a deathleſs Soul can live;
A Work ſo ſweet, a Theme ſo high
Demands, and crowns Eternity.
LXXII. The Meek beautified with Salvation. Pſalm cxlix. 4.
1
YE humble Souls, rejoice,
And chearful Triumphs ſing;
Wake all your Harmony of Voice,
For Jeſus is your King.
2
That meek and lowly Lord,
Whom here your Souls have known,
Pledges the Honour of his Word
T' avow you for his own.
3
He brings Salvation near,
For which his Blood was paid:
How beauteous ſhall your Souls appear
Thus ſumptuouſly array'd!
[64]4
Sing, for the Day is nigh,
When near your Leader's Seat
The talleſt Sons of Pride ſhall lye,
The Footſtool of your Feet.
5
Salvation, Lord, is thine;
And all thy Saints confeſs
The royal Robes, in which they ſhine,
Were wrought by ſov'reign Grace.
LXXIII. The Reproofs of Wiſdom mingled with Promiſes, and Threatnings to reclaim wandering Sinners. Proverbs i. 23.
1
HARK! for 'tis Wiſdom's Voice,
That breaks in gentle Sound:
Liſten, ye Sons of Earth and Sin,
And gather all around.
2
What tho' ſhe ſpeaks Rebukes,
That pierce the Soul with Smart;
True Love thro' all her Chaſt'nings runs
By Pain to mend the Heart.
3
"Ye that have wander'd long
"In Sin's deſtructive Ways,
"Turn, turn the heav'nly Charmer cries,
"And ſeize the offer'd Grace.
4
"I know your Souls are weak,
"And mortal Efforts vain
"To grapple with the Prince of Hell,
"And break his curſed Chain.
5
"But I'll my Spirit pour
"In Torrents from above,
[65] "To arm you with ſuperior Strength,
"And melt your Hearts in Love.
6
"Come while theſe Offers laſt,
"Ye Sinners, and be wiſe:
"He lives, who hears this friendly Call,
"But he that ſlights it, dies."
LXXIV. The Voice of CHRIST addreſſed to the Children of Men. Proverbs viii. 4.
1
NOW let the liſt'ning World around
In ſilent Rev'rence hear;
While from on high the Saviour's Voice
Thus ſtrikes th' attentive Ear.
2
"To you, O Sons of Men, I call;
"And from my lofty Throne
"Reclin'd in gentle Pity bow▪
"To bring Salvation down.
3
"Ye thoughtleſs Sinners, hear my Voice,
"Attend my Words and live;
"My Words conduct to ſolid Joys,
"And endleſs Bleſſings give.
4
"Each faithful Miniſter is ſent
"This Meſſage to proclaim;
"In ev'ry various Providence
"The Language is the ſame.
"And could the pale forgotten Dead,
"Tho' deep in Duſt they lye,
"Ariſe in viſionary Crouds,
"They'd join the ſolemn Cry.
[66]6
"Forgetful Mortals, yet be wiſe,
"While o'er the Grave ye ſtand;
"Leſt long-neglected Love provoke
"The Vengeance of my Hand.
7
"In glad Submiſſion bow ye down,
"Nor ſteel that ſtubborn Heart;
"'Till mine inexorable Voice
"Pronounce the Word, Depart."
8
Bleſt Jeſus, may thy Spirit breathe
On Souls, which elſe muſt dye;
For, till thy Grace reflect the Sound,
Thy Word in vain will cry.
LXXV. The Encouragement young Perſons have to ſeek, and love CHRIST. Prov. viii. 17.
1
YE Hearts with youthful Vigour warm,
In ſmiling Crouds draw near,
And turn from ev'ry mortal Charm,
A Saviour's Voice to hear.
2
He, LORD of all the Worlds on high,
Stoops to converſe with you;
And lays his radiant Glories by
Your Friendſhip to perſue.
3
"The Soul that longs to ſee my Face
"Is ſure my Love to gain;
"And thoſe, that early ſeek my Grace,
"Shall never ſeek in vain."
4
What Object, LORD, my Soul ſhould move,
If once compar'd with thee?
[67] What Beauty ſhould command my Love,
Like what in Chriſt I ſee?
5
Away, ye falſe deluſive Toys,
Vain Tempters of the Mind!
'Tis here I fix my laſting Choice,
And here true Bliſs I' find.
LXXVI. The Houſe and Feaſt of Wiſdom. Prov. ix. 1,-6.
1
SEE the fair Structure Wiſdom rears,
Her Meſſengers attend;
And charm'd by her perſuaſive Voice,
To her your Footſteps bend.
2
"Hear me, ye ſimple ones ſhe cries,
"That lur'd * by Folly ſtray,
"And languiſh to eternal Death
"In her deteſted Way.
3
"Enter my hoſpitable Gate,
"And all my Banquet ſhare;
"For heav'nly Wine ſurrounds my Board,
"And Angels Food is there.
4
"Freely of every Dainty taſte,
"Taſte, and for ever live;
"And mingle with your Joys the Hopes
"Of all a God can give.
5
"But if ſeduc'd by Folly's Arts,
"Ye ſeek her poiſ'nous Food;
"Know, that the dreadful Moment haſts,
"Which pays the Feaſt with Blood."
LXXVII. The Excellency of the Righteous, with Regard to their Temper. Prov. xii. 26. Part 1ſt.
[68]1
HOW glorious, LORD, art thou!
How bright thy Splendors ſhine!
Whoſe Rays reflected gild thy Saints
With Ornaments divine.
2
With Lowlineſs, and Love,
Wiſdom and Courage meet;
The grateful Heart, the chearful Eye,
How rev'rend and how ſweet!
3
In Beauties ſuch as theſe,
Thy Children now are dreſt;
But brighter Habits ſhall they wear
In Regions of the Bleſt.
4
In Nature's barren Soil,
Who could ſuch Glories raiſe?
We own, O GOD, the Work is thine,
And thine be all the Praiſe.
LXXVIII. The Excellency of the Righteous, with Regard to their Relations, Employments, Pleaſures, and Hopes. Prov. xii. 26. Part 2d.
1
O Iſrael, thou art bleſt;
Who may with thee compare!
Thine Excellencies ſtand confeſs'd;
How bright thy Glories are!
2
O GOD of Iſrael, hear,
And make this Bliſs our own;
[69] Make us the Children of thy Care,
The Members of thy Son.
3
Thus honour'd, thus employ'd,
By theſe great Motives fir'd,
Be Paradiſe on Earth enjoy'd,
And brighter Hopes inſpir'd.
Thy People, LORD, we love;
Their GOD our Souls embrace;
So may we find in Worlds above
Among thy Saints a Place.
LXXIX. Walking with GOD, or being in his Fear all the Day long. Proverbs xxiii. 17.
1
THRICE happy Souls, who born from Heav'n,
While yet they ſojourn here,
Thus all their Days with GOD begin,
And ſpend them in his Fear!
2
So may our Eyes with holy Zeal
Prevent the dawning Day;
And turn the ſacred Pages * o'er,
And praiſe thy Name and pray.
3
Midſt hourly Cares may Love preſent
It's Incenſe to thy Throne;
And while the World our Hands employs,
Our Hearts be thine alone.
4
As ſanctified to nobleſt Ends
Be each Refreſhment ſought;
[70] And by each various Providence
Some wiſe Inſtruction brought.
5
When to laborious Duties call'd,
Or by Temptations try'd,
We'll ſeek the Shelter of thy Wings,
And in thy Strength confide.
6
As diff'rent Scenes of Life ariſe,
Our grateful Hearts would be
With thee, amidſt the ſocial Band,
In Solitude with thee.
7
At Night we lean our weary Heads
On thy paternal Breaſt;
And, ſafely folded in thine Arms,
Reſign our Pow'rs to reſt.
8
In ſolid pure Delights, like theſe,
Let all my Days be paſt;
Nor ſhall I then impatient wiſh,
Nor ſhall I fear, the laſt.
LXXX. The obſtinate Sinner alarmed. Proverbs xxix. 1.
1
NOW let the Sons of Belial ‡ hear
The Thunders of the LORD;
Unfold their long rebellious Ear,
And tremble at his Word.
2
Now let the Iron-Sinew bow,
And take his eaſy Yoke;
Leſt ſudden Vengeance lay it low,
By one reſiſtleſs Stroke.
[71]3
Tho' yet the great Phyſician wait,
And healing Balm be found;
One Hour may ſeal their endleſs Fate,
And fix a deadly Wound.
4
Swift may thy Mercy, LORD, ariſe,
E'er Juſtice ſtop their Breath;
And lighten theſe deluded Eyes,
That ſleep the Sleep of Death.
LXXXI. GOD'S reaſonable Expectations from his Vineyard. Iſaiah v. 1. 7.
1
THE Vineyard of the LORD how fair!
Planted by his peculiar Care:
Behold its Branches ſpread, and fill
The Borders of his ſacred Hill.
2
His Eye has mark'd the choſen Ground;
His mighty Hand has fenc'd it round;
His Servants by his Order wait,
To watch and aid its tender State.
3
But when the Vintage he demands
For all the Labour of their Hands,
What Cluſters does his Vine produce?
The Grapes are wild; and ſour the Juice.
4
Well might he tear its Fence away,
And leave it to the Beaſts of Prey,
Might give it to the Wild again,
And charge his Clouds to ceaſe their Rain.
5
But ſpare our Land, our Churches ſpare,
Thy Vengeance long-provok'd forbear;
[72] Let the true Vine its Influence give,
And bid our with'ring Branches live.
LXXXII. Iſaiah's Obedience to the heavenly Viſion. Iſaiah vi. 8.
1
OUR GOD aſcends his lofty Throne,
Array'd in Majeſty unknown;
His Luſtre all the Temple fills,
And ſpreads o'er all th' ethereal ‡ Hills.
2
The holy, holy, holy LORD,
By all the Seraphim ador'd,
And, while they ſtand beneath his Seat,
They veil their Faces, and their Feet.
3
And can a ſinful Worm endure
The Preſence of a GOD ſo pure?
Or theſe polluted Lips proclaim,
The Honours of ſo grand a Name?
4
O for thine Altar's glowing Coal,
To touch my Lips, to fire my Soul,
To purge the ſordid Droſs away,
And into Cryſtal turn my Clay.
5
Then if a Meſſenger thou aſk,
A Lab'rer for the hardeſt Taſk,
Thro' all my Weakneſs, and my Fear,
Love ſhall reply, "Thy Servant's here".
6
Nor ſhould my willing Soul complain,
Tho' all it's Efforts ſeem'd in vain;
It ample Recompence ſhall be,
But to have wrought, my GOD, for thee.
LXXXIII. The Stupidity of Iſrael, and of Britain lamented. Iſaiah vi. 9-12.
For a Faſt-Day.
[73]1
LORD, when thine Iſrael we ſurvey,
We in their Crimes diſcern our own;
And if thou turn our Pray'r away,
Our Mis'ry muſt, like their's, be known.
2
To us thy Prophets have been ſent,
With Words of Terror and of Love;
But nor the Vengeance, nor the Grace
Ten thouſand ſtubborn Hearts will move.
3
Our Eyes are blind, and deaf our Ears;
Our Hearts are hard'ned into Stone;
As we would bear thy Mercy out,
And leave a Way for Wrath alone.
4
Juſtly our GOD might give us up
To Plague and Famine and the Sword;
Till Towns and Cities rich and fair
Lay deſolate without a Lord.
5
O'er bleeding Wounds of ſlaughter'd Friends
Rivers of helpleſs Grief might flow,
Till the fierce Conqu'ror's haughty Rage
Drag'd us to Chains and Slaughter too.
6
But ſpare a Nation long thine own,
And ſhew new Miracles of Grace;
'Tis thine to heal the Deaf and Blind,
And wake the Dead to Life and Praiſe.
LXXXIV. Confederate Nations defied by thoſe who ſanctify GOD. Iſaiah viii. 9-14.
For a Faſt-Day.
[74]1
GREAT GOD of Hoſts, attend our Pray'r,
And make the Britiſh Iſles thy Care:
To thee we raiſe our ſuppliant Cries,
When angry Nations round us riſe.
2
Fain would they tread our Glory down,
And in the Duſt defile our Crown,
Deluge our Houſes with our Blood,
And burn the Temples of our GOD.
3
But 'midſt the Thunder of their Rage,
We thy Protection would engage:
O raiſe thy ſaving Arm on high,
And bring renew'd Deliv'rance nigh.
4
May Britain, as one Man, be led
To make the LORD her Fear and Dread;
Our Souls no other Fear ſhall know,
Tho' Earth were leagu'd with Hell below.
5
Give Ear, ye Countries from afar;
Ye proud aſſociate Nations, hear;
While fix'd on him, who rules the Sky,
Our Hearts your threatned War defy.
6
Ye People, gird your ſelves in vain,
Your ſcatter'd Force unite again;
Again ſhall all that Force be broke,
When GOD with us ſhall deal the Stroke.
7
Now he records our humble Tears,
With ardent Vows for future Years,
[75] And deſtines for approaching Days
Victorious Shouts, and Songs of Praiſe.
8
Emanuel's Land ſhall ſafe remain,
Bleſt with its Saviour's gentle Reign;
Till ev'ry hoſtile Rumour ceaſe
In the fair Realms of perfect Peace.
LXXXV. CHRIST the Steward of GOD'S Family. Iſaiah xxii. 22-24. compared with Revel. iii. 7.
1
WITH what Delight I raiſe mine Eyes,
And view the Courts, where Jeſus dwells!
Jeſus, who reigns beyond the Skies,
And here below his Grace reveals.
2
Of David's royal Houſe the Key
Is borne by that majeſtick Hand;
Manſions and Treaſures there I ſee
Subjected all to his Command.
3
He ſhuts, and Worlds might ſtrive in vain
The mighty Obſtacle to move;
He looſes all their Bars again,
And who ſhall ſhut the Gates of Love?
4
Fix'd in Omnipotence he bears
The Glories of his Father's Name,
Suſtains his People's weighty Cares,
Thro' ev'ry changing Age the ſame.
5
My little All I there ſuſpend,
Where the whole Weight of Heav'n is hung:
Secure I reſt on ſuch a Friend,
And into Raptures wake my Tongue.
LXXXVI. The rich Proviſion and happy Effects of the Goſpel. Iſaiah xxv. 6-9.
[76]1
BEHOLD our GOD, he owns his Name;
Jehovah all our Songs proclaim
With Shouts of Wonder and of Joy:
Long have we waited for his Grace,
No longer now his Love delays
For Zion his own Armt' employ.
2
We charge our Souls the Joy to feel:
We charge our Tongues his Praiſe to tell:
Th' Almighty Saviour! This is he!
He pours his Streams of Grace abroad,
Till all the Earth confeſs the GOD,
And Lands remote his Glory ſee.
3
Dainties how rich his Stores afford!
How pure the Wine, that crowns his Board!
While welcome Nations flock around:
He takes the Veil of Grief away;
Thro' thickeſt Shades he darts the Day,
And not one weeping Eye is found.
4
All-conqu'ring Death, no longer boaſt
O'er Millions humbled in the Duſt;
Our GOD with Scorn thy Triumph ſees:
Soon as he aims one Shaft * at thee,
Swallow'd and loſt in Victory,
Thine Empire, and thy Name ſhall ceaſe.
LXXXVII. The peaceful State of the Soul, that truſteth in GOD. Iſaiah xxvi. 3.
[77]1
WEARY and weak and faint,
I caſt mine Eyes around;
My Joints all tremble, and my Feet
Sink deep in miry Ground.
2
Deſpairing Help below,
To Heav'n I raiſe my Cries;
GOD hears, and his almighty Arm
Out-ſtretches from the Skies.
3
I on that Arm repoſe,
And all my Fears are o'er;
New Strength diffus'd thro' all my Soul
Aſſiſts its vital Pow'r.
4
My Mind in perfect Peace
Thy guardian Care ſhall keep:
I'll yield to gentle Slumbers now,
For thou canſt never ſleep.
5
Happy the Souls alone,
On thee ſecurely ſtay'd!
Nor ſhall they be in Life alarm'd,
Nor be in Death diſmay'd.
LXXXVIII. Iſrael's Obſtinacy under GOD'S lifted Hand. Iſaiah xxvi. 11.
1
LORD, when thy Hand is lifted up,
The wicked will not ſee;
But they ſhall ſee with glowing Shame,
Tho' they obdurate be.
[78]2
How few the weighty Stroke regard,
And ſeek their Maker's Face!
In vain may Providence correct,
If not inforc'd by Grace.
3
Exert thy mighty Influence, LORD,
And melt the ſtony Breaſt;
Then ſhall thy Juſtice be ador'd,
Thy Mercy ſtand confeſs'd.
4
The Scorner then ſhall mourn in Duſt,
And put his Sins away,
No more reſiſt his Maker's Hands,
But lift his own to pray.
LXXXIX. GOD'S quickening the Dead. Iſaiah xxvi. 19.
1
THE Ever-living GOD
Th' expiring Church ſhall raiſe;
Our Hearts his Promiſes receive,
And wake a Shout of Praiſe.
2
Death ſhall not always reign,
Where Grace hath fix'd its Throne;
His ſoft Compaſſion views the Duſt,
He once hath call'd his own.
3
"Yes," ſaith the GOD of Truth,
"My Dead ſhall live again;
"The Foe ſhall ſee their Leader's Breath
"Reanimate the Slain.
4
"The Dew of Heaven ſhall fall
"In rich Abundance round,
[79] "And a redundant Harveſt riſe
"To cloath the teeming Ground.
5
"Now from your Duſt awake,
"And burſt into a Song;
"Then ſpurn the Earth, and mount the Skies
"In a triumphant Throng."
6
Thy Zion, LORD, believes
A Promiſe ſo divine,
And looks thro' all her flowing Tears
To ſee the Glory ſhine.
XC. The Godly Man's Ark. Iſaiah xxvi. 20.
1
IT is my Father's Voice;
And O! how ſweet the Sound!
It makes mine inmoſt Pow'rs rejoice,
My trembling Heart rebound.
2
"Mark, the black Tempeſt lours,
"And gathers round the Sky;
"Retire and ſhun the ſweeping Show'rs
"Of Indignation nigh.
3
"Come, my dear Children, come,
"And ſeek your Father's Arms;
"There is your Shelter, there your Home,
"'Midſt all theſe dire Alarms.
4
"Enter at his Command;
"Cloſe in your Ark remain;
"And wait the Signal of his Hand
"To call you forth again.
5
"The Moments to beguile
"A chearful Song begin;
[80] "Nor let the roaring Thunders ſpoil
"The Harmony within.
6
"E'er long the Sky ſhall clear,
"The Clouds be chas'd away,
"And Grace ſhall ſhine in Radiance fair
"Thro' an eternal Day."
XCI. Laying hold on GOD'S Strength, that we may be at Peace with him. Iſaiah xxvii. 5.
1
THUS ſaith Jehovah from his Seat,
"Who ſhall preſume my Wrath to meet?
"What Rebel-Men or Angels dare
"To wage with me unequal War?
2
"Cloſe let the Thorns and Briars ſtand
"In thick Array on either Hand;
"Forth ſhall my flaming Terrors fly;
"At once they kindle, blaze and dye.
3
"Preſumptuous Sinners, yet be wiſe
"E'er this o'erwhelming Ruin riſe;
"Your vain tumultuous Efforts ceaſe,
"And ſeek in ſuppliant Crouds for Peace".
4
Great GOD, we bleſs the gentle Sound,
And bow ſubmiſſive to the Ground;
Thy proſtrate Foes let Pity raiſe,
And form a People to thy Praiſe.
5
His thund'ring Storms are ſilent now;
Calm are the Terrors of his Brow,
Since Jeſus makes the Father known,
Our guardian Shield, our chearing Sun.
XCII. The divine Goodneſs in moderating Affic⯑tions. Iſaiah xxvii. 8.
[81]1
GREAT Ruler of all Nature's Frame,
We own thy Pow'r divine:
We hear thy Breath in ev'ry Storm,
For all the Winds are thine.
2
Wide as they ſweep their ſounding Way,
They work thy ſov'reign Will;
And aw'd by thy majeſtick Voice
Confuſion ſhall be ſtill.
3
Thy Mercy tempers ‖ ev'ry Blaſt
To them that ſeek thy Face;
And mingles with the Tempeſt's Roar
The Whiſpers of thy Grace.
4
Thoſe gentle Whiſpers let me hear,
Till all the Tumult ceaſe;
And Gales of Paradiſe ſhall lull
My weary Soul to Peace.
XCIII. GOD waiting to be gracious. Iſaiah xxx. 18.
1
WAIT on the LORD, ye Heirs of Hope,
And let his Word ſupport your Souls:
Well can he bear your Courage up,
And all your Foes and Fears controul.
2
He waits his own well-choſen Hour
Th' intended Mercy to diſplay;
[82] And his paternal Bowels move,
While Wiſdom dictates the Delay.
3
With mingled Majeſty and Love
At length he riſes from his Throne;
And, while Salvation he commands,
He makes his People's Joy his own.
4
Bleſt are the humble Souls, that wait
With ſweet Submiſſion to his Will;
Harmonious all their Paſſions move,
And in the midſt of Storms are ſtill.
5
Still, till their Father's well-known Voice
Wakens their Silence into Songs:
Then Earth grows vocal with his Praiſe,
And Heav'n the grateful Shout prolongs.
XCIV. The different Views of good and bad Men in Times of publick Danger. Iſaiah xxxiii. 14-17.
1
SEE, the Deſtruction is begun,
And Heaps of Ruin ſpread the Ground;
With haſty Strides it marches on,
And ſcatters Conſternation round.
2
Sinners in Zion take th' Alarm,
The Hypocrites aſtoniſh'd cry,
Who with devouring Flames can dwell?
Who in eternal Burnings lie?
3
GOD'S gracious Voice the Saint revives,
How ſweet the heav'nly Accents ſound!
"Dwell thou on high, my Child," he ſays,
"Where Rocks ſhall guard thee all around.
[83]4
"There ſhall my Hand thy Wants ſupply,
"Thy Water and thy Bread are ſure;
"There ſhall my Viſits make thee glad,
"While theſe alarming Scenes endure.
5
"Then, led in joyous Triumph forth,
"Thine Eyes the diſtant Land ſhall view,
"Shall ſee thy King in Beauty dreſt,
"And ſhare his royal Honours too".
6
My Soul the Oracle receives,
And feels its Energy to chear;
A promis'd Heav'n, a preſent GOD
Forbids my Grief, forbids my Fear.
XCV. GOD the Defence of his People from in⯑vading Enemies. Iſaiah xxxiii. 21-23.
1
THE glorious LORD! his Iſrael's Hope!
How well he bears their Courage up!
How wide his ſaving Pow'r extends!
His princely Titles will we ſing,
Our Judge, our Law-giver, our King,
He guards his Subjects as his Friends.
2
Around the Mountain where they dwell,
Lo, at his Word new Waters ſwell
To deluge the invading Foe!
Open'd by him that rules the Skies,
Mark the broad Rivers how they riſe,
And with what rapid Strength they flow!
3
To gain the well-defended Shores
In vain the Galley ſpreads its Oars,
And the proud Ship her Sails diſplays:
[84] The Sails are rent, the Maſts are broke,
The ſhatter'd Oars all drop their Stroke,
And Lightnings thro' the Tacklings blaze.
4
Shout your Hoſannas to the LORD:
Thus ſhall he ſtill his Zion guard,
Till the laſt Foe be trampled down:
High as the Heav'ns exalt his Praiſe;
High as the Heav'ns his Hand ſhall raiſe
The Soul, that here his Grace hath known.
XCVI. The High-Way to Zion. Iſaiah xxxv. 8, 9, 10.
1
SING, ye Redeemed of the LORD,
Your great Deliv'rer ſing:
Pilgrims for Zion's City bound,
Be joyful in your King.
2
See the fair Way his Hand hath rais'd;
How holy, and how plain!
Nor ſhall the ſimpleſt Trav'lers err,
Nor aſk the Track in vain.
3
No rav'ning Lion ſhall deſtroy,
Nor lurking Serpent wound;
Pleaſure and Safety, Peace and Praiſe
Thro' all the Path are found.
4
A Hand divine ſhall lead you on
Thro' all the bliſsful Road;
Till to the ſacred Mount you riſe,
And ſee your ſmiling GOD.
5
There Garlands of immortal Joy
Shall bloom on ev'ry Head,
[85] While Sorrow Sighing and Diſtreſs
Like Shadows all are fled.
6
March on in your Redeemer's Strength;
Purſue his Footſteps ſtill;
And let the Proſpect chear your Eye,
While lab'ring up the Hill.
XCVII. The Greatneſs and Majeſty of GOD, and the Meanneſs of the Creatures. Iſaiah xl. 15, 16, 17.
1
YE weak Inhabitants of Clay,
Ye trifling Inſects of a Day,
Low in your native Duſt bow down
Before th' Eternal's awful Throne.
2
With trembling Heart, with ſolemn Eye,
Behold JEHOVAH ſeated high;
And ſearch, what worthy Sacrifice
Your Hands can give, your Thoughts deviſe.
3
Let Lebanon her Cedars bring
To blaze before the ſov'reign King,
And all the Beaſts, that on it feed,
As Victims at his Altar bleed.
4
Loud let ten thouſand Trumpets ſound,
And call remoteſt Nations round,
Aſſembled on the crowded Plains,
Princes and People, Kings and Swains.
5
Join'd with the Living, let the Dead
Riſing the Face of Earth o'erſpread;
And, while his Praiſe unites their Tongues,
Let Angels eccho back the Songs.
[86]6
The Drop, that from the Bucket falls,
The Duſt, that hangs upon the Scales,
Is more to Sky and Earth and Sea,
Than all this Pomp, O GOD, to thee.
XCVIII. The timorous Saint encouraged by the Aſſurance of the divine Preſence and Help. Iſaiah xli. 10.
1
AND art thou with us, gracious LORD,
To diſſipate our Fear?
Doſt thou proclaim thyſelf our GOD,
Our GOD for ever near?
2
Doth thy right Hand, which form'd the Earth,
And bears up all the Skies,
Stretch from on high its friendly Aid,
When Dangers round us riſe?
3
Doſt thou a Father's Bowels feel
For all thy humble Saints?
And in ſuch tender Accents ſpeak
To ſoothe their ſad Complaints?
4
On this Support my Soul ſhall lean,
And baniſh ev'ry Care;
The gloomy Vale of Death muſt ſmile,
If GOD be with me there.
5
While I his gracious Succour prove
'Midſt all my various Ways,
The darkeſt Shades, thro' which I paſs,
Shall eccho with his Praiſe.
XCIX. The Humiliation and Exaltation of GOD'S Iſrael. Iſaiah xli. 14, 15.
[87]1
AMAZING Grace of GOD on high!
And will the LORD look down
On Sinners, while in Duſt they lie,
And dread his awful Frown?
2
Weaker than Worms, O LORD, are we,
And viler far than they;
Yet in theſe Reptiles * weak and vile
Doſt thou thy Pow'r diſplay.
3
Jehovah's ſov'reign Voice is heard,
The Worm lifts up its Head,
And Mountains, that would cruſh it down,
Before the Worm are fled.
4
Thou holy One, thine Iſrael's King,
Thou our Redeemer art,
Nor ſhall the Bleſſings of thy Hand
From thy Redeem'd depart.
5
Thy Love ſhall its own Work fulfil,
And Grace ſhall riſe on Grace,
Till Worms of Earth around thy Throne
With Angels find a Place.
C. The Wilderneſs transformed, or the happy Effects of the Goſpel. Iſaiah xli. 18, 19. compared with xxxv. 1, 2. xi. 6-9. lv. 13, &c.
1
AMAZING beauteous Change!
A World created new!
[88] My Thoughts with Tranſport range
The lovely Scene to view;
In all I trace,
Saviour divine,
The Work is thine,
Be thine the Praiſe.
2
See Cryſtal Fountains play
Amidſt the burning Sands;
The River's winding Way
Shines thro' the thirſty Lands:
New Graſs is ſeen,
And o'er the Meads
Its Carpet ſpreads
Of living Green.
3
Where pointed Brambles grew,
Entwin'd with horrid Thorn,
Gay Flow'rs for ever new
The painted Fields adorn;
The bluſhing Roſe,
And Lilly there,
In Union fair
Their Sweets diſcloſe.
4
Where the bleak Mountain ſtood
All bare and diſarray'd,
See the wide-branching Wood
Diffuſe its grateful Shade;
Tall Cedars nod,
And Oaks and Pines
And Elms and Vines
Confeſs the GOD.
5
The Tyrants of the Plain
Their ſavage Chaſe give o'er,
[89] No more they rend the Slain,
And thirſt for Blood no more;
But Infant Hands
Fierce Tigers ſtroak,
And Lions yoke
In flow'ry Bands.
6
O when, Almighty LORD,
Shall theſe glad Scenes ariſe,
To verify thy Word,
And bleſs our wond'ring Eyes!
That Earth may raiſe,
With all its Tongues,
United Songs
Of ardent Praiſe.
CI. The Blind and Weak led and ſupported in GOD'S Ways. Iſaiah xlii. 16.
1
PRAISE to the radiant Source of Bliſs,
Who gives the Blind their Sight,
And ſcatters round their wond'ring Eyes
A Flood of ſacred Light.
2
In Paths unknown he leads them on
To his divine Abode,
And ſhews new Miracles of Grace
Thro' all the heav'nly Road.
3
The Ways all rugged and perplex'd
He renders ſmooth and ſtraight,
And ſtrengthens ev'ry feeble Knee
To march to Zion's Gate.
4
Thro' all the Path I'll ſing his Name,
Till I the Mount aſcend,
[90] Where Toils and Storms are known no more,
And Anthems never end.
CII. GOD calling his Iſrael by Name, and lead⯑ing them thro' Water and Fire. Iſa. xliii. 1, 2.
1
LET Jacob to his Maker ſing,
And praiſe his great redeeming King;
Call'd by a new, a gracious Name,
Let Iſrael loud his GOD proclaim.
2
He knows our Souls in all their Fears,
And gently wipes our falling Tears,
Forms trembling Voices to a Song,
And bids the feeble Heart be ſtrong.
3
Then let the Rivers ſwell around,
And riſing Floods o'erflow the Ground;
Rivers and Floods and Seas divide,
And Homage pay to Iſrael's Guide.
4
Then let the Fires their Rage diſplay,
And flaming Terrors bar the Way;
Unburnt, unſing'd he leads them thro',
And makes the Flames refreſhing too.
CIII. The Riches of pardoning Grace celebrated. Iſaiah xliv. 22, 23.
[91]1
LET Heav'n burſt forth into a Song;
Let Earth reflect the joyful Sound;
Ye Mountains, with the Eccho ring,
And ſhout, ye Foreſts all around.
2
The LORD his Iſrael hath redeem'd,
Hath made his mourning People glad,
And the rich Glories of his Name
In their Salvation hath diſplay'd.
3
Unnumb'red Sins, like ſable Clouds,
Veil'd ev'ry chearful Ray of Joy,
And Thunders murmur'd thro' the Gloom,
While Lightnings pointed to deſtroy.
4
He ſpoke, and all the Clouds diſpers'd,
And Heav'n unveil'd its ſhining Face,
The whole Creation ſmil'd anew,
Deck'd in the golden Beams of Grace.
5
Iſrael, return with humble Love,
Return to thy Redeemer's Breaſt,
And charm'd by his melodious Voice,
Compoſe thy weary Pow'rs to reſt.
CIV. The little Succeſs which attended the perſonal Miniſtry of CHRIST. Iſaiah xlix. 4.
1
AND doth the Son of GOD complain,
"Lo, I have ſpent my Strength in vain,
And ſtretch'd my Hands whole Days and Years
To thoſe, who ſlight my Words and Tears".
[92]2
O ſtubborn Hearts, that could withſtand
Such Efforts from a Saviour's Hand!
O gracious Saviour, who would bleed,
When Words and Tears could not ſucceed!
3
Fall down, my Soul, in humble Woe,
That thou haſt wrong'd his Goodneſs ſo:
Now let his Grace reſiſtleſs move
To melt the ſtubborn Flint to Love.
4
All-glorious LORD, march forth and reign,
And reap the Fruit of all thy Pain;
And, till a nobler Scene appear,
Begin the happy Conqueſt here.
CV. GOD'S Captives releaſed; applied to ſpiritual Deliverances. Iſaiah li. 14, 15.
1
CAPTIVES of Iſrael, hear,
Who now as Exiles ‡ mourn;
See your Almighty GOD appear
To haſten your Return.
2
Jehovah is his Name;
LORD of celeſtial Hoſts:
Let Heav'n that ſaving Pow'r proclaim
In which his Iſrael truſts.
3
Tho' helpleſs now ye lie,
As in a Dungeon thrown,
When parch'd with painful Thirſt ye cry,
And when your Bread is gone,
4
Deliv'rance comes apace;
Ye ſhall not there expire;
[93] Prepare to ſing redeeming Grace
With his triumphant Choir.
5
He ſmote the raging Sea
'Midſt its tumultuous Roar,
And pav'd his choſen Troops a Way
Safe to its diſtant Shore.
6
In him let Iſrael hope,
At whoſe ſupreme Command
Graves yield their breathleſs Captives up,
And Seas become dry Land.
CVI. The Cup of Fury exchanged for the Cup of Bleſſings. Iſaiah li. 22.
1
THE LORD, our LORD, how rich his Grace!
What Stores of ſov'reign Love
For humble Souls, that ſeek his Face,
And to his Footſtool move!
He pleads the Cauſe of all his Saints,
When Foes againſt them riſe;
He liſtens to their ſad Complaints,
And wipes their ſtreaming Eyes.
3
He takes away that dreadful Cup
Of Fury and of Plagues,
Which Juſtice ſentenc'd them to drink,
And wring the bitter Dregs.
4
He gave it to their Saviour's Hand,
And fill'd it to the Brim;
Their Saviour drank the liquid Death,
That they might live by him.
[94]5
"Now take the Cup of Life, he cries,
"Where heav'nly Bleſſings flow:
"Drink deep, nor fear to drain the Spring,
"To which the Draught ye owe".
6
We drink, and feel our Life renew'd,
And all our Woes forget:
We drink, till that tranſporting Hour,
When we our Lord ſhall meet.
CVII. The holy City purified and guarded. Iſaiah lii. 1, 2.
1
TRIUMPHANT Zion, lift thy Head
From Duſt and Darkneſs and the Dead;
Tho' humbled long, awake at length,
And gird thee with thy Saviour's Strength.
2
Put all thy beauteous Garments on,
And let thy various Charms be known;
The World thy Glories ſhall confeſs,
Deck'd in the Robes of Righteouſneſs.
3
No more ſhall Foes unclean invade,
And fill thy hallow'd Walls with Dread;
No more ſhall Hell's inſulting Hoſt
Their Vict'ry, and thy Sorrows boaſt.
4
GOD from on high thy Groans will hear;
His Hand thy Ruins ſhall repair;
Rear'd and adorn'd by Love divine,
Thy Tow'rs and Battlements ſhall ſhine.
5
Grace ſhall diſpoſe my Heart and Voice
To ſhare, and eccho back her Joys;
Nor will her watchful Monarch ceaſe
To guard her in eternal Peace.
CVIII. GOD'S Government, Zion's Joy. Iſaiah lii.-7.
[95]1
YE Subjects of the LORD, proclaim
The royal Honours of his Name;
Jehovah reigns, be all your Song.
'Tis he, thy GOD, O Zion, reigns,
Prepare thy moſt harmonious Strains
Glad Hallelujahs to prolong.
2
Ye Princes, boaſt no more your Crowns,
But lay the glitt'ring Trifles down
In lowly Honour at his Feet;
A Span your narrow Empire bounds,
He reigns beyond created Rounds,
In ſelf-ſufficient Glory great.
3
Tremble, ye Pageants of a Day,
Form'd like your Slaves of brittle Clay,
Down to the Duſt your Sceptres bend:
To everlaſting Years he reigns,
And undiminiſh'd Pomp maintains,
When Kings and Suns and Time ſhall end.
4
So ſhall his favour'd Zion live;
In vain confed rate Nations ſtrive
Her ſacred Turrets to deſtroy;
Her Sov'reign ſits enthron'd above,
And endleſs Pow'r, and endleſs Love
Enſure her Safety, and her Joy.
CIX. Divine Mercies and Judgments compared. Iſaiah liv. 7, 8.
1
IN thy Rebukes, All-gracious GOD,
What ſoft Compaſſion reigns!
[96] What gentle Accents of thy Voice
Aſſuage thy Children's Pains!
2
"When I correct my choſen Sons,
"A Father's Bowels move:
"One tranſient Moment bounds my Wrath,
"But endleſs is my Love".
3
Our Faith ſhall look thro' ev'ry Tear,
And view thy ſmiling Face,
And Hope amidſt our Sighs ſhall tune
An Anthem to thy Grace.
4
Gather at length my weary Soul
To join thy Saints above;
For I would learn a Song of Praiſe
Eternal as thy Love.
CX. Divine Teachings, and their happy Conſequences. Iſaiah liv. 13.
1
BRIGHT Source of intellectual Rays,
Father of Spirits, and of Grace,
O dart with Energy unknown
Celeſtial Beamings from thy Throne.
2
Thy ſacred Book we would ſurvey,
Enlight'ned with that heav'nly Day,
And aſk thy Spirit, with the Word,
To teach our Souls to know the LORD.
3
So ſhall our Children learn the Road
That leads them to their Fathers GOD;
And, form'd by Leſſons ſo divine,
Shall Infant Minds with Knowledge ſhine.
[97]4
So ſhall the haughtieſt Soul ſubmit
With Children plac'd at Jeſus Feet:
The noiſy Swell of Pride ſhall ceaſe,
And thy ſweet Voice be heard in Peace.
CXI. Fruitful Showers, Emblems of the ſalutary Effects of the Goſpel. Iſaiah lv. 10, 11, 12.
1
MARK the ſoft-falling Snow,
And the diffuſive Rain;
To Heav'n, from whence it fell,
It turns not back again,
But waters Earth
Thro' ev'ry Pore,
And calls forth all
Its ſecret Store.
2
Array'd in beauteous Green
The Hills and Valleys ſhine,
And Man and Beaſt is fed
By Providence divine;
The Harveſt bows
Its golden Ears,
The copious Seed
Of future Years.
3
"So," ſaith the GOD of Grace,
"My Goſpel ſhall deſcend,
"Almighty to effect
"The Purpoſe I intend;
"Millions of Souls
"Shall feel its Pow'r,
[98] "And bear it down
"To Millions more.
4
"Joy ſhall begin your March,
"And Peace protect your Ways,
"While all the Mountains round
"Eccho melodious Praiſe;
"The vocal Groves
"Shall ſing the GOD,
"And ev'ry Tree
"Conſenting nod".
CXII. Comfort for pious Parents, who have been bereaved of their Children. Iſaiah lvi. 4, 5.
1
YE mourning Saints, whoſe ſtreaming Tears
Flow o'er your Children dead,
Say not in Tranſports of Deſpair,
That all your Hopes are fled.
2
While cleaving to that darling Duſt,
In fond Diſtreſs ye lie,
Riſe, and with Joy and Rev'rence view
An heav'nly Parent nigh.
3
Tho', your young Branches torn away,
Like wither'd Trunks ye ſtand,
With fairer Verdure ſhall ye bloom,
Touch'd by th' Almighty's Hand.
4
"I'll give the Mourners, ſaith the LORD,
"In mine own Houſe a Place;
"No Names of Daughters and of Sons
"Could yield ſo high a Grace.
[99]5
"Tranſient and vain is ev'ry Hope,
"A riſing Race can give;
"In endleſs Honour and Delight
"My Children all ſhall live."
6
We welcome, LORD, thoſe riſing Tears,
Thro' which thy Face we ſee,
And bleſs thoſe Wounds, which thro' our Heart [...]
Prepare a Way for Thee.
CXIII. The Stranger entertained in GOD's Houſe of Prayer. Iſaiah lvi. 6, 7. compared with Matt. xxi. 13. and Eph. ii. 19.
1
GREAT Father of Mankind,
We bleſs that wond'rous Grace,
Which could for Gentiles find
Within thy Courts a Place.
How kind the Care
Our GOD diſplays,
For us to raiſe
An Houſe of Pray'r!
2
Tho' once eſtranged far,
We now approach the Throne;
For Jeſus brings us near,
And makes our Cauſe his own:
Strangers no more,
To thee we come,
And find our Home,
And reſt ſecure.
3
To thee our Souls we join,
And love thy ſacred Name;
[100] No more our own, but thine,
We triumph in thy Claim;
Our Father King,
Thy Cov'nant-Grace
Our Souls embrace,
Thy Titles ſing.
4
Here in thy Houſe we feaſt
On Dainties all divine;
And, while ſuch Sweets we taſte,
With Joy our Faces ſhine.
Incenſe ſhall riſe
From Flames of Love,
And GOD approve
The Sacrifice.
5
May all the Nations throng
To worſhip in thy Houſe;
And thou attend the Song,
And ſmile upon their Vows;
Indulgent ſtill,
Till Earth conſpire
To join the Choir
On Zion's Hill.
CXIV. Peace proclaimed, and the Fruit of the Lips created by a gracious GOD. Iſaiah lvii. 19.
1
HARK! for the great Creator ſpeaks;
In Silence let the Earth attend;
And when his Words of Grace are heard,
In grateful Adoration bend.
[101]2
"'Tis I create the Fruit of Praiſe,
"And give the broken Heart to ſing
"Peace, heav'nly Peace, my Lips proclaim,
"Pleas'd with the happy News they bring".
3
Receive the Tidings with Delight,
Ye Gentile Nations from afar;
And you, the Children of his Love,
Whom Grace hath brought already near.
4
To theſe, to thoſe his ſov'reign Hand
Its healing Energy imparts:
Peace, Peace be eccho'd from your Tongues,
And eccho'd from conſenting Hearts.
5
Enjoy the Health, which GOD hath wrought,
Nor let the daily Tribute ceaſe,
Till chang'd for more exalted Songs
In Regions of eternal Peace.
CXV. The Duty of remonſtrating againſt Sin, when Judgments are threatned. Iſaiah lviii. 1.
1
THY Judgments cry aloud,
O ever-righteous GOD,
And in the Sight of all our Land
Thou lifteſt up thy Rod.
2
Aloud thy Servants cry,
Commiſſion'd from thy Throne,
And like a Trumpet raiſe their Voice
To make thy Judgments known.
3
But who that Cry attends,
And makes his Safety ſure?
[102] Rock'd by the Tempeſt, they ſhould flee,
They ſleep the more ſecure.
4
Another Trumpet, LORD,
The ſtupid Slumb'rers need;
Nor will they hear a feebler Voice
Than that, which wakes the Dead.
CXVI. Unſucceſsful Faſts accounted for. Iſaiah lviii. 3. compared with v. 4-8.
For a Faſt-Day.
1
O! Where is ſov'reign Mercy gone?
Whither is Britain's GOD withdrawn?
That thro' long Years ſhe ſhould complain,
She faſts, and mourns, and cries in vain?
2
Haſt thou not ſeen her ſuppliant Bands
Thro' all her Coaſts extend their Hands?
Or has their oft-repeated Pray'r
Eſcap'd thine ever-liſt'ning Ear?
3
Thine Ear hath heard, thine Eye hath ſeen;
But Guilt hath ſpread a Cloud between;
And riſing ſtill before thy Face,
Averts thy long-intreated Grace.
4
Diſpel that Cloud by Rays divine,
And cauſe thy chearing Face to ſhine;
Our Iſle ſhall ſhout from Shore to Shore,
And dread encroaching Foes no more.
5
Our Light ſhall like the Morning ſpring;
Healing and Joy our GOD ſhall bring;
Juſtice ſhall in our Front appear,
And Glory gather up our Rear.
CXVII. The Standard of the Spirit lifted up. Iſaiah lix. 19.
[103]1
GOD of the Ocean, at whoſe Voice
The threatning Floods are heard no more,
Behold their Madneſs and their Noiſe,
And ſilence the tumultuous Roar.
2
Here Streams of pois'nous Error ſwell;
There rages Vice in ev'ry Form;
They join their Tide, led on by Hell,
And Zion trembles at the Storm.
3
Almighty Spirit, raiſe thine Arm,
And lift the Saviour's Standard high;
Thy People's Hearts with Vigour warm,
And call thy choſen Legions nigh.
4
Wak'd by thy well-known Voice they come,
And round the ſacred Banner throng:
Zion, prepare the Conqu'ror Room,
While Triumph burſts into a Song.
5
"The LORD on high, when Billows roar,
"Superior Majeſty diſplays,
"And by one Breath of ſov'reign Pow'r
"Huſhes the Noiſe of foaming Seas".
CXVIII. The Glory of the Church in the latter Day. Iſaiah lx. 1.
1
O Zion, tune thy Voice,
And raiſe thy Hands on high;
Tell all the Earth thy Joys,
And boaſt Salvation nigh.
[104] Chearful in GOD,
Ariſe and ſhine,
While Rays divine
Stream all abroad,
2
He gilds thy mourning Face
With Beams that cannot fade;
His all-reſplendent Grace
He pours around thy Head;
The Nations round
Thy Form ſhall view,
With Luſtre new
Divinely crown'd.
3
In Honour to his Name
Reflect that ſacred Light;
And loud that Grace proclaim,
Which makes thy Darkneſs bright:
Perſue his Praiſe,
Till ſov'reign Love
In Worlds above
The Glory raiſe.
4
There on his holy Hill
A brighter Sun ſhall riſe,
And with his Radiance fill
Thoſe fairer purer Skies;
While round his Throne
Ten thouſand Stars
In nobler Spheres ‡
His Influence own.
CXIX. GOD the everlaſting Light of the Saints above. Iſaiah lx. 20.
[105]1
YE golden Lamps of Heav'n *, farewel,
With all your feeble Light:
Farewel, thou ever-changing Moon,
Pale Empreſs of the Night.
2
And thou refulgent Orb of Day ‡
In brighter Flames array'd,
My Soul, that ſprings beyond thy Sphere,
No more demands thine Aid.
3
Ye Stars are but the ſhining Duſt
Of my divine Abode,
The Pavement of thoſe heav'nly Courts,
Where I ſhall reign with GOD.
4
The Father of eternal Light
Shall there his Beams diſplay;
Nor ſhall one Moment's Darkneſs mix
With that unvaried Day.
5
No more the Drops of piercing Grief
Shall ſwell into mine Eves;
Nor the Meridian ‖ Sun decline
Amidſt thoſe brighter Skies.
6
There all the Millions of his Saints
Shall in one Song unite,
And Each the Bliſs of all ſhall view
With infinite Delight.
CXX. GOD intreated for Zion. Iſaiah lxii. 6, 7.
For a Faſt-Day; or A Day of Prayer for the Revival of Religion.
[106]1
INDULGENT Sov'reign of the Skies,
And wilt thou bow thy gracious Ear?
While feeble Mortals raiſe their Cries,
Wilt thou, the great Jehovah, hear?
2
How ſhall thy Servants give thee Reſt,
Till Zion's mould'ring Walls thou raiſe?
Till thine own Pow'r ſhall ſtand confeſs'd,
And make Jeruſalem a Praiſe?
3
For this, a lowly ſuppliant Croud
Here in thy ſacred Temple wait:
For this, we lift our Voices loud,
And call, and knock at Mercy's Gate.
4
Look down, O GOD, with pitying Eye,
And view the Deſolation round;
See what wide Realms in Darkneſs lie,
And hurl their Idols to the Ground.
5
Loud let the Goſpel-Trumpet blow,
And call the Nations from afar;
Let all the Iſles their Saviour know,
And Earth's remoteſt Ends draw near.
6
Let Babylon's proud Altars ſhake,
And Light invade her darkeſt Gloom;
The Yoke of Iron-Bondage break,
The Yoke of Satan, and of Rome.
[107]7
With gentle Beams on Britain ſhine,
And bleſs her Princes, and her Prieſts;
And by thine Energy divine
Let ſacred Love o'erflow their Breaſts.
8
Triumphant here let Jeſus reign,
And on his Vineyard ſweetly ſmile;
While all the Virtues of his Train
Adorn our Church, adorn our Iſle.
9
On all our Souls let Grace deſcend,
Like heav'nly Dew in copious Show'rs,
That we may call our GOD our Friend,
That we may hail Salvation ours.
10
Then ſhall each Age and Rank agree
United Shouts of Joy to raiſe;
And Zion, made a Praiſe by Thee,
To Thee ſhall render back the Praiſe.
CXXI. A Nation born in a Day; or The rapid Progreſs of the Goſpel deſired. Iſaiah lxvi. 8.
1
BEHOLD with pleaſing Extacy
The Goſpel-Standard lifted high,
That all the Nations from afar
May in the great Salvation ſhare.
2
Why then, Almighty Saviour, why
Do wretched Souls in Millions die?
While wide th' infernal Tyrant reigns
O'er ſpacious Realms in pond'rous ‡ Chains.
[108]3
And ſhall he ſtill go on to boaſt,
Thy Croſs its Energy hath loſt?
And ſhall thy Servants ſtill complain,
Their Labours, and their Tears are vain?
4
Awake, all-conqu'ring Arm, awake,
And Hell's extenſive Empire ſhake;
Aſſert the Honours of thy Throne,
And call this ruin'd World thine own.
5
Thine all-ſucceſsful Pow'r diſplay;
Produce a Nation in a Day;
For at thy Word this barren Earth
Shall travail with a gen'ral Birth.
6
Swift let thy quick'ning Spirit breathe
On theſe Abodes of Sin and Death;
That Breath ſhall bow ten thouſand Minds,
Like waving Corn before the Winds.
7
Scarce can our glowing Hearts endure
A World, where thou art known no more;
Transform it, LORD, by conqu'ring Love,
Or bear us to the Realms above.
CXXII. Backſliding Iſrael invited to return to GOD. Jerem. iii. 12, 13.
1
BACKSLIDING Iſrael, hear the Voice
Of thy forgiving GOD,
Nor force ſuch Goodneſs to exert
The Terrors of the Rod.
2
Thus ſaith the LORD, "My Mercy flows
"An unexhauſted Stream,
[109] "And after all its Millions ſav'd,
"Its Sway is ſtill ſupreme.
3
"One Moment's Wrath with weighty Cruſh
"Might ſink you quick to Hell;
"Yet Mercy points the happy Path,
"Where Life and Glory dwell.
4
"Own but the Follies thou haſt done,
"And mourn thy Sins in Duſt,
"And ſoon thy trembling Heart ſhall learn
"To hope and love and truſt".
5
All-gracious GOD, thy Voice we own;
And, proſtrate at thy Feet,
Our Souls in humble Silence wait
A Pardon there to meet.
CXXIII. The Goodneſs of GOD acknowledged in giving Paſtors after his own Heart. Jerem. iii. 15.
At the Settlement of a Miniſter.
1
SHEPHERD of Iſrael, Thou doſt keep
With conſtant Care thy humble Sheep;
By thee inferior Paſtors riſe
To feed our Souls, and bleſs our Eyes.
2
To all thy Churches ſuch impart,
Modell'd by thine own gracious Heart;
Whoſe Courage Watchfulneſs and Love
Men may atteſt, and GOD approve.
3
Fed by their active tender Care,
Healthful may all thy Sheep appear,
[110] And, by their fair Example led,
The Way to Zion's Paſtures tread.
4
Here haſt thou liſt'ned to our Vows,
And ſcatter'd Bleſſings on thy Houſe;
Thy Saints are ſuccour'd, and no more
As Sheep without a Guide deplore.
5
Compleatly heal each former Stroke,
And bleſs the Shepherd, and the Flock;
Confirm the Hopes thy Mercies raiſe,
And own this Tribute of our Praiſe.
CXXIV. GOD's gracious Methods of adopting Love. Jerem. iii. 19.
1
AMAZING Plan of ſov'reign Love!
And doth our GOD look down
On Rebels, whom his Wrath might doom
To periſh at his Frown?
2
Doth he project a wond'rous Scheme
In ſuch a Way to ſave,
That Juſtice, Majeſty, and Grace
May one joint Triumph have?
3
One Look the ſtubborn Hearts ſubdues,
And at his Feet they fall;
They own their Father with Delight,
And he receives them all.
4
Number'd amongſt his deareſt Sons,
The pleaſant Land they ſhare;
On Earth ſecur'd by Pow'r divine,
Till crown'd with Glory there.
[111]5
Father, in thine Embraces lodg'd
Our Heav'n begun we feel,
And wait the Hour, which thou ſhalt mark
Thy Counſels to fulfill.
CXXV. Creatures vain, and GOD the Salva⯑tion of his People. Jerem. iii. 23.
1
HOW long ſhall Dreams of Creature-Bliſs
Our flatt'ring Hopes employ,
And mock our fond deluded Eyes
With viſionary Joy ‡?
2
Why from the Mountains and the Hills
Is our Salvation ſought,
While our eternal Rock's forſook,
And Iſrael's GOD forgot?
3
The living Spring neglected flows
Full in our daily View,
Yet we with anxious fruitleſs Toil
Our broken Ciſterns hew.
4
Theſe fatal Errors, Gracious GOD,
With gentle Pity ſee:
To Thee our roving Eyes direct,
And fix our Souls on Thee.
CXXVI. Invitation to return to the LORD, and put away Abominations. Jerem. iv. 1, 2.
1
IT is the LORD of Glory calls,
O let his Iſrael hear:
[112] "Stop, ye Revolters, in your Courſe,
"And hearken, and come near.
2
"What tho' in Sin's deluſive Paths
"Ye from your Youth have ſtray'd;
"What tho' my Meſſages of Love
"Have been with Scorn repay'd;
3
"At laſt return, and Grace divine
"Your Wand'rings ſhall forget?
"If loyal Zeal and Love dethrone
"Each Idol from its Seat.
4
"Return, and dwell ſecure on Earth,
"As in your LORD's Embrace,
"Till in the Land of perfect Joy
"Ye find a nobler Place".
5
Father of Mercies, lo, we come
Subdu'd by ſuch a Call:
O let the Hand of Grace divine
Reduce, and bleſs us all.
6
So will we teach the World that Love,
Which we are made to ſee,
And Wand'rers ſhall with us return,
And bleſs themſelves in Thee.
CXXVII. Miſimproved Priviledges, and diſap⯑pointed Hopes. Jerem. viii. 20.
1
ALAS, how faſt our Moments fly!
How ſhort our Months appear!
How ſwift thro' various Seaſons haſts
The ſtill revolving Year!
[113]2
Seaſons of Grace, and Days of Hope▪
While Jeſus waiting ſtands,
And ſpreads the Bleſſings of his Love
With wide-extended Hands.
3
But O! how ſlow our ſtupid Souls
Theſe Bleſſings to ſecure!
Bleſſings, which thro' eternal Years
Unwith'ring ſhall endure.
4
Beneath the Word of Life we die;
We ſtarve amidſt our Store;
And what Salvation ſhould impart
Heightens our Ruin more.
5
Pity this Madneſs, GOD of Love,
And make us truly wiſe:
So from the pregnant Seeds of Grace
Shall glorious Harveſts riſe.
CXXVIII. Glorying in GOD alone. Jerem. ix. 23, 24.
1
THE righteous LORD, ſupremely great,
Maintains his univerſal State;
O'er all the Earth his Pow'r extends;
All Heav'n before his Footſtool bends.
2
Yet Juſtice ſtill with Pow'r preſides,
And Mercy all his Empire guides;
Such Works are pleaſing in his Sight,
And ſuch the Men of his Delight.
3
No more, ye Wiſe, your Wiſdom boaſt:
No more, ye Strong, your Valour truſt:
[114] Nor let the Rich ſurvey his Store,
Elate * with Heaps of ſhining Ore.
4
Glory, my Soul, in this alone,
That GOD, thy GOD, to thee is known,
That thou haſt own'd his ſov'reign Sway,
That thou haſt felt his chearing Ray.
5
My Wiſdom Wealth and Pow'r I find
In one Jehovah all combin'd;
On him I fix my roving Eyes,
Till all my Soul in Rapture riſe.
6
All elſe, which I my Treaſure call,
May in one fatal Moment fall;
But what his Happineſs can move,
Whom GOD the bleſſed deigns ‖ to love?
CXXIX. Jeremiah's Tears over the captive Flock. Jerem. xiii. 15-17.
1
FLOW on, my Tears, in riſing Streams,
Ye briny Fountains, flow;
While haughty Sinners ſteel their Hearts,
Nor will Jehovah know.
2
The Flock of GOD is captive led
In Satan's heavy Chains;
Led to the Borders of the Pit,
Where endleſs Horror reigns.
3
Look back, ye Captives, and invoke
Jehovah's ſaving Aid;
[115] Give him the Glory of his Name,
Whoſe Hand your Nature made.
4
O turn, e'er yet your erring Feet
On Death's dark Mountain fall;
Cry, and your gentle Shepherd's Ear
Will hearken to your Call.
5
Then ſhall thoſe Hearts with Pleaſure ſpring▪
Which now in Sorrow melt;
And deep Repentance yield a Joy
Proud Guilt hath never felt.
6
Almighty Grace, exert thy Pow'r,
And turn theſe Slaves of Sin;
And, when they bring thy Tribute due,
Shall their own Bliſs begin.
CXXX. Giving Glory to GOD, before Darkneſs comes upon us. Jerem. xiii. 16.
1
THE ſwift-declining Day,
How faſt its Moments fly!
While Ev'ning's broad and gloomy Shade
Gains on the weſtern Sky.
2
Ye Mortals, mark its Pace,
And uſe the Hours of Light;
And know, its Maker can command
An inſtantaneous ‡ Night.
3
His Word blots out the Sun
In its meridian Blaze;
[116] And cuts from ſmiling vig'rous Youth
The Remnant of its Days.
4
On the dark Mountain's Brow
Your Feet ſhall quickly ſlide;
And from its airy Summit daſh
Your momentary Pride.
5
Give Glory to the LORD,
Who rules the whirling Sphere *;
Submiſſive at his Footſtool bow,
And ſeek Salvation there.
6
Then ſhall new Luſtre break
Thro' Horror's darkeſt Gloom,
And lead you to unchanging Light,
In a celeſtial Home.
CXXXI. The fatal Conſequences of forſaking the Hope of Iſrael. Jerem. xvii. 13, 14.
1
GREAT Object of thine Iſrael's Hope,
Its Saviour, and its Praiſe,
Attend, while we to thee devote
The Remnant of our Days.
2
How wretched they that leave the LORD,
And from his Word withdraw,
That loſe his Goſpel from their Sight,
And wander from his Law!
3
O thou eternal Spring of Good,
Whence living Waters flow,
[117] Let not our thirſty erring Souls
To broken Ciſterns go.
4
Like Characters inſcrib'd in Duſt
Are Sinners borne away;
And all the Treaſures, they can boaſt,
The Portion of a Day.
5
But, LORD, to Thee my Heart ſhall turn
To heal it, and to ſave;
The Joys, that from thy Favour flow,
Shall bloom beyond the Grave.
CXXXII. CHRIST, the Lord our Righteouſneſs. Jerem. xxiii. 6.
1
SAVIOUR divine, we know thy Name,
And in that Name we truſt;
Thou art the LORD our Righteouſneſs,
Thou art thine Iſrael's Boaſt.
2
Guilty we plead before thy Throne,
And low in Duſt we lie,
Till Jeſus ſtretch his gracious Arm
To bring the guilty nigh.
3
The Sins of one moſt righteous Day
Might plunge us in Deſpair;
Yet all the Crimes of num'rous Years
Shall our great Surety clear.
4
That ſpotleſs Robe, which he hath wrought,
Shall deck us all around;
Nor by the piercing Eye of GOD
One Blemiſh ſhall be found.
[118]5
Pardon and Peace and lively Hope
To Sinners now are giv'n;
Iſrael and Judah ſoon ſhall change
Their Wilderneſs for Heav'n.
6
With Joy we taſte that Manna now,
Thy Mercy ſcatters down;
We ſeal our humble Vows to Thee,
And wait the promis'd Crown.
CXXXIII. The Efficacy of GOD's Word. Jerem. xxiii. 29.
1
WITH rev'rend Awe, tremendous LORD,
We hear the Thunders of thy Word;
The Pride of Lebanon it breaks:
Swift the celeſtial Fire deſcends,
The flinty Rock in Pieces rends,
And Earth to its deep Centre ſhakes.
2
Array'd in Majeſty divine
Here Sanctity, and Juſtice ſhine,
And Horror ſtrikes the Rebel thro';
While loud this awful Voice makes known
The Wonders, which thy Sword hath done,
And what thy Vengeance yet ſhall do.
3
So ſpread the Honours of thy Name;
The Terrors of a GOD proclaim;
Thick let the pointed Arrows fly;
Till Sinners, humbled in the Duſt,
Shall own the Execution juſt,
And bleſs the Hand by which they die.
[119]4
Then clear the dark tempeſtuous Day,
And radiant Beams of Love diſplay;
Each proſtrate Soul let Mercy raiſe:
So ſhall the bleeding Captives feel
'Thy Word, which gave the Wound, can heal,
And change their Groans to Songs of Praiſe.
CXXXIV. The Poſſibility of dying this Year. Jerem. xxviii. -16-.
For New-Year's Day.
1
GOD of my Life, thy conſtant Care
With Bleſſings crowns each op'ning Year;
This guilty Life doſt thou prolong,
And wake anew mine annual Song.
2
How many precious Souls are fled
To the vaſt Regions of the Dead,
Since from this Day the changing Sun
Thro' his laſt yearly Period run?
3
We yet ſurvive; but who can ſay
Or thro' the Year, or Month, or Day,
I will retain this vital Breath;
Thus far at leaſt in League with Death?
4
That Breath is thine, Eternal GOD;
'Tis thine to fix my Soul's Abode;
It holds its Life from thee alone,
On Earth, or in the World unknown.
5
To thee our Spirits we reſign;
Make them and own them ſtill as thine;
[120] So ſhall they ſmile, ſecure from Fear,
Tho' Death ſhould blaſt the riſing Year.
6
Thy Children, eager to be gone,
Bid Time's impetuous Tide roll on,
And land them on that blooming Shore,
Where Years and Death are known no more.
CXXXV. GOD's Complacency in his Thoughts of Peace towards his People. Jerem. xxix. 11.
1
VILER than Duſt, O LORD, are we;
And doth thine Anger ceaſe?
And doth thy gracious Heart o'erflow
With Purpoſes of Peace?
2
And doſt thou with Delight reflect
On what thy Grace ſhall do?
And with Complacency of Soul
Enjoy the diſtant View?
3
And can thine often-injur'd Love
So kind a Meſſage ſend,
That thou to all our length'ned Woes
Wilt give th' expected End?
4
Why droop our Hearts? Why flow our Eyes,
While ſuch a Voice we hear?
Why riſe our Sorrows and our Fears,
While ſuch a Friend is near?
5
To all thine other Favours add
A Heart to truſt thy Word,
And Death itſelf ſhall hear us ſing,
While reſting on the LORD.
CXXXVI. The impudent Rebellion of the Jewiſh Refugees at Pathros. Jer. xliv. 16, 17, 28.
[121]1
WHOSE Words againſt the LORD are ſtout?
Or who preſume to ſay,
"That ſov'reign Law, which GOD proclaims,
"I dare to diſobey"?
2
Ten thouſand Actions ev'ry where
The impious Language ſpeak;
Yet Pow'r omnipotent ſtands by,
Nor do its Thunders break.
3
But O! the dreadful Day draws near,
When GOD'S avenging Hand
Shall ſhew, if feeble Mortals Breath,
Or GOD'S own Word ſhall ſtand.
4
My Soul, with proſtrate Rev'rence fall
Before the Voice divine;
And all thine Int'reſt, and thy Pow'rs
To its Command reſign.
5
Speak, mighty Lord; thy Servant waits
The Purport of thy Will:
My Heart with ſecret Ardour glows
Its Mandates * to fulfill.
6
Let the vain Sons of Belial boaſt,
Their Tongues and Thoughts are free;
My nobleſt Liberty I own,
When ſubject moſt to Thee.
CXXXVII. Aſking the Way to Zion, in order to joining in Covenant with GOD. Jerem. l. 5.
[122]1
ENQUIRE, ye Pilgrims, for the Way,
That leads to Zion's Hill,
And thither ſet your ſteady Face
With a determin'd Will.
2
Invite the Strangers all around
Your pious March to join;
And ſpread the Sentiments you feel
Of Faith and Love divine.
3
Come, let us to his Temple haſte,
And ſeek his Favour there,
Before his Footſtool humbly bow,
And pour our ſervent Pray'r.
4
Come, let us join our Souls to GOD
In everlaſting Bands,
And ſeize the Bleſſings he beſtows
With eager Hearts and Hands.
5
Come, let us ſeal without Delay
The Cov'nant of his Grace;
Nor ſhall the Years of diſtant Life
Its Memory efface.
6
Thus may our riſing Offspring haſte
To ſeek their Fathers GOD,
Nor e'er forſake the happy Path
Their youthful Feet have trod.
CXXXVIII. Searching and trying our Ways. Lament. iii. 40.
[123]1
THY piercing Eye, O GOD, ſurveys
The various Windings of our Ways;
Teach us their Tendency to know,
And judge the Paths in which we go.
2
How wild, how crooked have they been!
A Maze of Fooliſhneſs and Sin!
With all the Light we vainly boaſt,
Leaving our Guide, our Souls are loſt.
3
Had not thy Mercy been our Aid
So fatally our Feet had ſtray'd,
Stern Juſtice had its Pris'ners led
Down to the Chambers of the Dead.
4
O turn us back to Thee again,
Or we ſhall ſearch our Ways in vain;
Shine, and the Path of Life reveal,
And bear us on to Zion's Hill.
5
Roll on, ye ſwift-revolving Years,
And end this Round of Sins and Cares
No more a Wand'rer would I roam,
But near my Father fix at Home.
CXXXIX. The Breath of our Noſtrils taken in the Pits of the Enemy, applied to CHRIST. Lament. iv. 20.
1
BLEST Saviour, to my Heart more dear
Than balmy Gales of vital Air,
[124] Were thy Soul-chearing Preſence gone,
What Uſe of Breath, unleſs to groan?
2
Thy Father's royal Hand hath ſhed
In rich Profuſion on thy Head
Ten thouſand Graces; Thou alone
Canſt ſhare, and canſt adorn his Throne.
3
But ſee the Sov'reign captive led,
Snar'd in the Pit, which Traitors made,
Fetter'd with ignominious Bands,
And murder'd by rebellious Hands.
4
Ye Saints, to your expiring King
Your tributary Sorrows bring:
In loyal Crowds aſſemble round,
And bathe in Tears each precious Wound.
5
But from the Caverns of the Grave
He ſprings, omnipotent to ſave;
The captive King aſcends and reigns,
And drags his conqu'red Foes in Chains.
6
Beneath his Shade our Souls ſhall live
In all the Rapture Heav'n can give;
Where Zion never ſhall deplore,
And Heathens vex his Church no more.
CXL. Of lamenting national Sins. Ezek. ix. 4-6.
For a Faſt-Day.
1
O Righteous GOD, thou Judge ſupreme,
We tremble at thy dreadful Name,
And all our crying Guilt we own
In Duſt and Tears before thy Throne.
[125]2
So manifold our Crimes have been,
Such Crimſon Tincture dyes our Sin,
That, could we all its Horrors know,
Our ſtreaming Eyes with Blood might flow.
3
Britain, the Land thine Arm hath ſav'd,
That Arm moſt impiouſly hath brav'd ‡;
Britain, the Iſle its GOD hath lov'd,
A Rebel to that Love hath prov'd.
4
Eſtrang'd from reverential Awe
We trample on thy ſacred Law;
And, tho' ſuch Wonders Grace hath done,
Anew we crucify thy Son.
5
Juſtly might this polluted Land
Prove all the Vengeance of thy Hand;
And bath'd in Heav'n thy Sword might come
To drink our Blood, and ſeal our Doom.
6
Yet haſt thou not a Remnant here,
Whoſe Souls are fill'd with pious Fear?
O bring thy wonted Mercy nigh,
While proſtrate at thy Feet they lie.
7
Behold their Tears, attend their Moan,
Nor turn away their ſecret Groan:
With theſe we join our humble Pray'r;
Our Nation ſhield, our Country ſpare.
8
But if the Sentence be decreed,
And our dear native Land muſt bleed,
By thy ſure Mark may we be known,
And ſave in Life or Death Thine own.
CXLI. The Iniquity of ſacrificing GOD's Chil⯑dren; or The Evil of a bad or neglected Educa⯑tion. Ezek. xvi. 20, 21 ‡.
[126]1
BEHOLD, O Iſrael's GOD,
From thine exalted Throne,
And view the deſolate Abode,
Thou once haſt call'd thine own.
2
The Children of thy Flock,
By early Cov'nant thine,
See how they pour their bleeding Souls
On ev'ry Idol's Shrine ‖!
3
To Indolence and Pride
What piteous Victims made!
Cruſh'd in their Parents fond Embrace,
And by their Care betray'd.
4
By Pleaſure's poliſh'd Dart
What Numbers here are ſlain!
What Numbers there for Slaughter bound
In Mammon's golden Chain!
5
O let thine Arm awake,
And daſh the Idols down!
O call the Captives of their Pow'r
Thy Treaſure, and thy Crown.
6
Thee let the Fathers own,
And Thee the Sons adore,
[127] Join'd to the Lord by ſolemn Vows
To be forgot no more.
CXLII. The Humility and Submiſſion of a Peni⯑tent. Ezek. xvi. 63.
1
O Injur'd Majeſty of Heav'n,
Look from thy holy Throne,
While proſtrate Rebels own with Grief
What Treaſons they have done.
2
Thy Grace, where Sin abounded moſt,
Reigns with ſuperior Sway;
And Pardons bought with Jeſus' Blood
To Rebels doth diſplay.
3
While Love its grateful Anthems tunes,
Tears mingle with the Song;
My Heart with tender Anguiſh bleeds,
That I ſuch Grace ſhould wrong.
4
How ſhall I lift theſe guilty Eyes
To mine offended Lord?
Or how, beneath his heavieſt Strokes,
Pronounce one murm'ring Word?
5
Remorſe and Shame my Lips have ſeal'd;
But O! my Father, ſpeak;
And all the Harmony of Heav'n
Shall thro' the Silence break.
CXLIII. GOD bringing his People into the Cove⯑nant under the Rod. Ezek. xx. 37.
1
HOW gracious and how wiſe
Is our chaſtiſing GOD!
[128] And O! how rich the Bleſſings are,
Which bloſſom from his Rod!
2
He lifts it up on high
With Pity in his Heart,
That ev'ry Stroke his Children feel
May Grace and Peace impart.
3
Inſtructed thus they bow,
And own his ſov'reign Sway;
They turn their erring Foctſteps back
To his forſaken Way.
4
His Cov'nant-Love they ſeek,
And ſeek the happy Bands,
That cloſer ſtill engage their Hearts▪
To honour his Commands.
5
Dear Father, we conſent
To Diſcipline divine;
And bleſs the Pains, that make our Souls
Still more compleatly thine.
CXLIV. GOD's Condeſcenſion in becoming the Shepherd of Men. Ezek. xxxiv. 31.
1
AND will the Majeſty of Heav'n
Accept us for his Sheep?
And with a Shepherd's tender Care
Such worthleſs Creatures keep?
2
And will he ſpread his guardian Arms
Round our defenceleſs Head?
And cauſe us gently to lie down
In his refreſhing Shade?
[129]3
And will he lead our weary Souls
To that delightful Scene,
Where Rivers of Salvation flow
Thro' Paſtures ever green?
4
What Thanks can mortal Men repay
For Favours great as Thine?
Or how can Tongues of feeble Clay
Proclaim ſuch Love divine?
5
Eternal GOD, how mean are we!
How richly gracious Thou!
Our Souls, o'erwhelm'd with humble Joy,
In ſilent Tranſports bow.
CXLV. Seeking to GOD for the Communication of his Spirit. Ezek. xxxvi. 37.
1
HEar, gracious Sov'reign, from thy Throne,
And ſend thy various Bleſſings down:
While by thine Iſrael Thou art ſought,
Attend the Pray'r thy Word hath taught.
2
Come, Sacred Spirit, from above,
And fill the coldeſt Heart with Love;
Soften to Fleſh the rugged Stone,
And let thy godlike Pow'r be known.
3
Speak thou, and from the haughtieſt Eyes
Shall Floods of pious Sorrow riſe;
While all their glowing Souls are borne
To ſeek that Grace, which now they ſcorn:
4
O let a holy Flock await
Num'rous around thy Temple-Gate,
[130] Each preſſing on with Zeal to be
A living Sacrifice to Thee.
5
In Anſwer to our ſervent Cries,
Give us to ſee thy Church ariſe;
Or, if that Bleſſing ſeem too great,
Give us to mourn its low Eſtate.
CXLVI. Ezekiel's Viſion of the dry Bones, Ezek. xxxvii. 3.
1
LOOK down, O LORD, with pitying Eye;
See Adam's Race in Ruin lie;
Sin ſpreads its Trophies o'er the Ground,
And ſcatters ſlaughter'd Heaps around.
2
And can theſe mould'ring Corpſes live?
And can theſe periſh'd Bones revive?
That, Mighty GOD, to Thee is known;
That wond'rous Work is all thine own.
3
Thy Miniſters are ſent in vain
To propheſy upon the Slain;
In vain they call, in vain they cry,
Till thine almighty Aid is nigh.
4
But if thy Spirit deign to breathe,
Life ſpreads thro' all the Realms of Death;
Dry Bones obey thy pow'rful Voice;
They move, they waken, they rejoice.
5
So when thy Trumpet's awful Sound
Shall ſhake the Heav'ns, and rend the Ground,
Dead Saints ſhall from their Tombs ariſe,
And ſpring to Life beyond the Skies.
CXLVII. The Waters of the Sanctuary healing the dead Sea ‡. Ezek. xlvii. 8, 9.
[131]1
GREAT Source of Being and of Love,
Thou wat'reſt all the Worlds above,
And all the Joys we Mortals know
From thine exhauſtleſs Fountain flow.
2
A ſacred Spring at thy Command
From Zion's Mount, in Canaan's Land,
Beſide thy Temple, cleaves the Ground,
And pours its limpid Stream around.
3
The limpid Stream with ſudden Force
Swells to a River in its Courſe;
Thro' deſart Realms its Windings play,
And ſcatter Bleſſings all the Way.
4
Cloſe by its Banks in Order fair
The blooming Trees of Life appear;
Their Bloſſoms fragrant Odours give,
And on their Fruit the Nations live.
5
To the dead Sea the Waters flow,
And carry Healing as they go;
Its poys'nous Dregs their Pow'r confeſs,
And all its Shores the Fountain bleſs.
6
Flow, wond'rous Stream with Glory crown'd,
Flow on to Earth's remoteſt Bound;
And bear us on thy gentle Wave
To him, who all thy Virtues gave.
CXLVIII. TEKEL; or The Sinner weighed in GOD's Balances, and found wanting. Daniel v. 27.
[132]1
RAISE, thoughtleſs Sinner, raiſe thine Eye;
Behold GOD's Balance lifted high;
There ſhall his Juſtice be diſplay'd,
And there thy Hope and Life be weigh'd.
2
See in one Scale his perfect Law;
Mark with what Force its Precepts draw:
Wouldſt thou the awful Teſt ſuſtain,
Thy Works how light! thy Thoughts how vain!
3
Behold the Hand of GOD appears
To trace theſe dreadful Characters;
"Tekel, thy Soul is wanting found,
"And Wrath ſhall ſmite thee to the Ground".
4
Let ſudden Fear thy Nerves unbrace;
Let Horror ſhake thy tott'ring Knees ‡;
Thro' all thy Thoughts let Anguiſh roll,
And deep Repentance melt thy Soul.
5
One only Hope may yet prevail;
Chriſt hath a Weight to turn the Scale;
Still doth the Goſpel publiſh Peace,
And ſhew a Saviour's Righteouſneſs.
6
Great GOD, exert thy Pow'r to ſave;
Deep on the Heart theſe Truths engrave;
The pond'rous Load of Guilt remove,
That trembling Lips may ſing thy Love.
CXLIX. The Backſlider recollecting himſelf in his Afflictions. Hoſea ii. 6, 7.
[133]1
THE LORD, how kind are all his Ways,
When moſt they ſeem ſevere!
He frowns, and ſcourges, and rebukes,
That we may learn his Fear.
2
With Thorns he fences up our Path,
And builds a Wall around,
To guard us from the Death, that lurks
In Sin's forbidden Ground.
3
When other Lovers, ſought in vain,
Our fond Addreſs deſpiſe,
He opens his indulgent Arms
With Pity in his Eyes.
4
Return, ye wand'ring Souls, return,
And ſeek his tender Breaſt;
Call back the Mem'ry of the Days,
When there you found your Reſt.
5
Behold, O LORD, we fly to Thee,
Tho' Bluſhes veil our Face,
Conſtrain'd our laſt Retreat to ſeek
In thy much-injur'd Grace.
CL. The Advantages of ſeeking the Knowledge of GOD. Hoſea vi. 3.
1
SHINE forth, Eternal Source * of Light,
And make thy Glories known;
[134] Fill our enlarg'd adoring Sight
With Luſtre all thine own.
2
Vain are the Charms, and faint the Rays
The brighteſt Creatures boaſt;
And all their Grandeur, and their Praiſe
Is in thy Preſence loſt.
3
To know the Author of our Frame
Is our ſublimeſt Skill:
True Science is to read thy Name,
True Life t' obey thy Will.
4
For this I long, for this I pray,
And foll'wing on perſue,
Till Viſions of eternal Day
Fix and compleat the View.
CLI. Inconſtancy in Religion. Hoſea vi. 4.
1
PERPETUAL Source of Light and Grace,
We hail thy ſacred Name:
Through ev'ry Year's revolving Round
Thy Goodneſs is the ſame.
2
On us, all-worthleſs as we are,
It wond'rous Mercy pours;
Sure as the Heav'ns eſtabliſh'd Courſe,
And plenteous as the Show'rs.
3
Inconſtant Service we repay,
And treach'rous Vows renew;
Falſe as the Morning's ſcatt'ring Cloud,
And tranſient as the Dew.
4
In flowing Tears our Guilt we mourn,
And loud implore thy Grace
[135] To bear our feeble Footſteps on
In all thy righteous Ways.
5
Arm'd with this Energy divine
Our Souls ſhall ſtedfaſt move,
And with increaſing Tranſport preſs
On to thy Courts above.
6
So by thy Pow'r the Morning Sun
Perſues his radiant Way,
Brightens each Moment in his Race,
And ſhines to perfect Day.
CLII. Gratitude the Spring of true Religion. Hoſea xi. 4.
1
MY GOD, what ſilken Cords are thine!
How ſoft, and yet how ſtrong!
While Pow'r and Truth and Love combine
To draw our Souls along.
2
Thou ſaw'ſt us cruſh'd beneath the Yoke
Of Satan and of Sin:
Thy Hand the Iron-Bondage broke
Our worthleſs Hearts to win.
3
The Guilt of twice ten thouſand Sins
One Moment takes away;
And Grace, when firſt the War begins,
Secures the crowning Day.
4
Comfort thro' all this Vale of Tears
In rich Profuſion flows,
And Glory of unnumber'd Years
Eternity beſtows.
[136]5
Drawn by ſuch Cords we onward move,
Till round thy Throne we meet;
And, Captives in the Chains of Love,
Embrace our Conqu'ror's Feet.
CLIII. The Relentings of GOD's Heart over his backſliding People. Hoſea xi. 7, 8, 9.
1
YE Sinners on Backſliding bent,
GOD'S gracious Call attend;
Shall not Compaſſion ſo divine
Each ſtubborn Spirit bend?
2
"How ſhall I give mine Iſrael up
"To Ruin and Deſpair?
"How pour down Show'rs of flaming Wrath,
"And make a Sodom there?
3
"My Bowels ſtrong Relentings feel;
"My Heart is pain'd within:
"I will not all my Wrath exert,
"Nor viſit all their Sin.
4
"The Mercy of a GOD reſtrains
"The Thunders of his Hand:
"Come, ſeek Protection from that Pow'r,
"Which you can ne'er withſtand'.
5
With trembling Haſte, O GOD, to Thee
Let Sinners wing their Flight;
As Doves, when Birds of Prey preſue,
Down on their Windows light.
6
Father, we ſeek thy gracious Arm,
All melted at thy Voice:
[137] O may thy Heart, that feels our Woes,
In our Return rejoice.
CLIV. GOD's Controverſy by Fire. Amos iv. 11.
On Occaſion of a dreadful Fire.
1
ETERNAL GOD, our humbled Souls
Before thy Preſence bow:
With all thy Magazines of Wrath,
How terrible art Thou!
2
Fan'd by thy Breath whole Sheets of Flame
Do like a Deluge pour;
And all our Confidence of Wealth
Lies mould'red in an Hour.
3
Led on by Thee in horrid Pomp
Deſtruction rears its Head;
And black'ned Walls, and ſmoking Heaps
Thro' all the Street are ſpread.
4
LORD, in the Duſt we lay us down,
And mourn thy righteous Ire ‡;
Yet bleſs the Hand of guardian Love,
That ſnatch'd us from the Fire.
5
O that the hateful Dregs of Sin
Like Droſs had periſh'd there,
That in fair Lines our purged Souls
Might thy bright Image bear.
6
So ſhall we view with dauntleſs Eyes
The laſt tremendous Day,
When Earth and Seas, and Stars and Skies
In Flames ſhall melt away.
CLV. Britain unreformed by remarkable Deliver⯑ances. Amos iv. 11.
For a Faſt-Day.
[138]1
YES, Britain ſeem'd to Ruin doom'd,
Juſt like a burning Brand;
Till ſnatch'd from fierce ſurrounding Flames
By GOD'S indulgent Hand.
2
"Once more (he ſays) I will ſuppreſs
"The Wrath, that Sin would wake;
"Once more my Patience ſhall attend,
"And call my Britain back".
3
But who this Clemency reveres?
Or feels this melting Grace?
Who ſtirs his languid Spirit up
To ſeek thine awful Face?
4
On Days like theſe we pour our Cries,
And at thy Feet we mourn;
Then riſe to tempt thy Wrath again,
And to our Sins return.
5
Our Nation far from GOD remains,
Far, as in diſtant Years;
And the ſmall Remnant, that is found,
A dying Aſpect wears.
6
Chaſt'ned and reſcu'd thus in vain,
Thy righteous Hand ſevere
Into the Flames might hurl us back,
And quite conſume us there.
[139]7
So by the Light our Burning gives
Might neighb'ring Nations read,
How terrible thy Judgments are,
And learn our Guilt to dread.
8
Yet, 'midſt the Cry of Sins like ours,
Incline thy gracious Ear;
And thine own Children's feeble Cry
With ſoft Compaſſion hear.
9
O by thy ſacred Spirit's Breath
Kindle a holy Flame;
Refine the Land, thou might'ſt deſtroy,
And magnify thy Name.
CLVI. Preparing to meet GOD. Amos iv. 12, 13.
1
HE comes, thy GOD, O Iſrael, comes;
Prepare thy GOD to meet:
Meet him in Battle's Force array'd,
Or humbled at his Feet.
2
He form'd the Mountains by his Strength;
He makes the Winds to blow;
And all the ſecret Thoughts of Man
Muſt his Creator know.
3
He ſhades the Morning's op'ning Rays;
He ſhakes the ſolid World;
And Stars and Angels from their Seats
Are by his Thunder hurl'd.
4
Eternal Sov'reign of the Skies,
And ſhall thine Iſrael dare
In mad Rebellion to ariſe,
And tempt th' unequal War?
[140]5
Lo, Nations tremble at thy Frown,
And faint beneath thy Rod;
Cruſh'd by its gentleſt Movement down,
They fall, Tremendous GOD.
6
Avert the Terrors of thy Wrath,
And let thy Mercy ſhine;
While humble Penitence and Pray'r
Approve us truly thine.
CLVII. Jonah's Faith recommended. Jonah ii. 4.
1
LORD, we have broke thy holy Laws,
And ſlighted all thy Grace;
And juſtly thy vindictive Wrath▪
Might caſt us from thy Face.
2
Yet while ſuch Precedents appear
Mark'd in thy ſacred Book,
We from theſe Depths of Guilt and Fear
Will to thy Temple look.
3
To Thee, in our Redeemer's Name,
We raiſe our humble Cries;
May theſe our Pray'rs, perfum'd by him,
Like grateful Incenſe riſe.
4
O never may our hopeleſs Eyes
An abſent GOD deplore,
Where the dear Temples of thy Love
Shall ſtand reveal'd no more.
5
Far from thoſe Regions of Deſpair
Appoint our Souls a Place;
Where not a Frown thro' endleſs Years
Shall veil thy lovely Face.
CLVIII. GOD's Controverſy with Britain ſtated and pleaded. Micah vi. 1, 2, 3.
For a Faſt-Day.
[141]1
LISTEN, ye Hills; ye Mountains, hear;
Jehovah vindicates his Laws:
Trembling in Silence at his Bar,
Thou Earth, attend thy Maker's Cauſe.
2
Iſrael appear; preſent thy Plea;
And charge th [...] Almighty to his Face;
Say, if his Rules oppreſſive be;
Say, if defective be his Grace.
3
Eternal Judge, the Action ceaſe;
Our Lips are ſeal'd in conſcious Shame;
'Tis ours, in Sackcloth to confeſs,
And thine, the Sentence to proclaim.
4
Ten thouſand Witneſſes ariſe,
Thy Mercies, and our Crimes appear
More than the Stars that deck the Skies,
And all our dreadful Guilt declare.
5
How ſhall we come before thy Face,
And in thine awful Preſence bow?
What Offers can ſecure thy Grace,
Or calm the Terrors of thy Brow?
6
Thouſands of Rams in vain might bleed;
Rivers of Oil might blaze in vain;
Or the Firſt-born's devoted Head
With horrid Gore thine Altar ſtain.
7
But thine own Lamb, All-gracious GOD,
Whom impious Sinners dar'd to ſlay,
[142] Hath ſov'reign Virtue in his Blood
To purge the Nation's Guilt away.
8
With humble Faith to that we fly;
With that be Britain ſprinkled o'cr;
Trembling no more in Duſt we lie,
And dread thy Hand and Bar no more.
CLIX. Hearing the Voice of GOD's Rod. Micah vi. 9.
1
ATTEND, my Soul, with rev'rend Awe
The Dictates of thy GOD;
Silent and trembling hear the Voice
Of his appointed Rod.
2
Now let me ſearch and try my Ways,
And proſtrate ſeek his Face,
Conſcious of Guilt before his Throne
In Duſt my Soul abaſe.
3
Teach me, my GOD, what's yet unknown,
And all my Crimes forgive;
Thoſe Crimes would I no more repeat,
But to thy Honour live.
4
My wither'd Joys too plainly ſhew,
That all on Earth is vain;
In GOD my wounded Heart confides
True Reſt and Bliſs to gain.
5
Father, I wait thy gracious Call,
To leave this mournful Land,
And bathe in Rivers of Delight,
That flow at thy right Hand.
CLX. GOD's incomparable Mercy admired. Micah vii. 18, 19, 20.
[143]1
SUPREME in Mercy, who ſhall dare
With thy Compaſſion to compare?
For thine own Sake wilt thou forgive,
And bid the trembling Sinner live.
2
Millions of our Tranſgreſſions paſt
Cancell'd behind thy Back are caſt;
Thy Grace, a Sea without a Shore,
O'erflows them, and they riſe no more.
3
And leſt new Legions ſhould invade,
And make the pardon'd Soul afraid,
Our inbred Luſts thou wilt ſubdue,
And form degen'rate Hearts anew.
4
Our Leader GOD, our Songs proclaim;
We lift our Banners in his Name;
With Songs of Triumph forth we go,
And level the gigantick Foe.
5
His Truth to Jacob ſhall prevail;
His Oath to Abram cannot fail;
The Hope of Saints in ancient Days,
Which Ages yet unborn ſhall praiſe.
CLXI. The impoveriſhed Saint rejoicing in GOD. Habakkuk iii. 17, 18.
1
SO firm the Saint's Foundations ſtand,
Nor can his Hopes remove;
Suſtain'd by GOD'S almighty Hand,
And ſhelter'd in his Love.
[144]2
Fig-Trees and Olive-P [...]nts may fail,
And Vines their Fruit deny,
Famine thro' all his Fields prevail,
And Flocks and Herds may die.
3
GOD is the Treaſure of his Soul,
A Source of ſacred Joy,
Which no Afflictions can controul,
Nor Death itſelf deſtroy.
4
LORD, may we feel thy chearing Beams,
And taſte thy Saints Repoſe;
We will not mourn the periſh'd Streams,
While ſuch a Fountain flows.
CLXII. GOD's afflicted Poor truſting in his Name. Zephaniah iii. 12.
1
PRAISE to the Sov'reign of the Sky,
Who from his lofty Throne
Looks down on all that humble lie,
And calls ſuch Souls his own.
2
The haughty Sinner he diſdains,
Tho' Gems his Temples crown;
And from the Seat of Pomp and Pride
His Vengeance hurls him down.
3
On his afflicted pious Poor
He makes his Face to ſhine;
He fills their Cottages of Clay
With Luſtre all divine.
4
Among the meaneſt of thy Flock
There let my Dwelling be,
Rather than under gilded Roofs,
If abſent, LORD, from Thee.
[145]5
Poor and afflicted tho' we are,
In thy ſtrong Name we truſt;
And bleſs the Hand of ſov'reign Love,
Which lifts us from the Duſt.
CLXIII. GOD comforting and rejoicing over Zion. Zeph. iii. 16, 17.
1
YES, 'tis the Voice of Love divine!
And O! how ſweet the Accents ſound!
Afflicted Zion, riſe and ſhine,
Fair Mourner, proſtrate on the Ground.
2
The mighty GOD, thy glorious King,
Tender to pity, ſtrong to ſave,
Hath ſworn he will Salvation bring,
Tho' Sorrow preſs thee to the Grave.
3
He all a Father's Pleaſure knows
To fold thee in his dear Embrace;
His Heart with ſecret Joy o'erflows,
And chearful Smiles adorn his Face.
4
At length the inward Extacy
In heav'nly Muſick breaks its Way *;
Jehovah leads the Harmony,
And Angels teach their Harps the Lay ‡.
5
Fain would my Lips the Chorus ‖ join,
And tell the liſt'ning World my Joys,
But Condeſcenſion ſo divine
In Silence ſwallows up my Voice.
CLXIV. Practical Reflections on the State of our Fathers. Zechariah i. 5.
[146]1
HOW ſwift the Torrent rolls,
That bears us to the Sea!
The Tide, that bears our thoughtleſs Souls
To vaſt Eternity!
2
Our Fathers, where are they,
With all they call'd their own?
Their Joys and Griefs, and Hopes and Cares,
And Wealth and Honour gone.
3
But Joy or Grief ſucceeds
Beyond our mortal Thought,
While the poor Remnant of their Duſt
Lies in the Grave forgot.
4
There, where the Fathers lie,
Muſt all the Children dwell;
Nor other Heritage poſſeſs
But ſuch a gloomy Cell.
5
GOD of our Fathers, hear,
Thou everlaſting Friend!
While we, as on Life's utmoſt Verge ‡,
Our Souls to Thee commend.
6
Of all the pious Dead
May we the Footſteps trace,
Till with them in the Land of Light
We dwell before thy Face.
CLXV. Joſhua the High-Prieſt's Change of Raiment, applied to Chriſtian Priviledges. Zech. iii. 4.
[147]1
ETERNAL King, thy Robes are white
In ſpotleſs Rays of heav'nly Light;
Adoring Angels round are ſeen,
Yet in thy Preſence are not clean.
2
When then are we, the Sons of Earth,
That draw Pollution from our Birth?
Our fleſhly Garments, LORD, how mean!
O'erſpread with hateful Spots of Sin.
3
Hail to that condeſcending Grace,
Which ſhews a Saviour's Righteouſneſs!
Eternal Honours to that Name,
Which covers all our Guilt and Shame!
4
His Blood, an overflowing Sea,
Shall purge our deepeſt Stains away:
Our Souls, renew'd by Grace divine,
Shall in their LORD'S Reſemblance ſhine.
5
Yet, while theſe Rags of Fleſh we wear,
Pollution will again appear.
Come, Death, and eaſe me of the Load:
Come, Death, and bear my Soul to GOD.
6
The King of Heav'n will there beſtow
A richer Robe, than Monarchs know,
Dreſs all his Saints in glitt'ring White;
Not Joſhua's Mitre ſhone ſo bright.
7
The Grave its Trophies ſhall reſign;
Chriſt will the mould'ring Duſt refine;
[148] And Death, the laſt of Foes, ſhall be
Swallow'd and loſt in Victory.
8
My Faith, on tow'ring Pinions borne,
Anticipates that glorious Morn;
And with celeſtial Raptures ſtrong,
Gives mortal Lips th' immortal Song.
CLXVI. Joſhua the High-Prieſt's Zeal and Fi⯑delity rewarded with a Station among the Angels. Zech. iii. 6, 7.
For the Ordination of a Miniſter.
1
GREAT LORD of Angels, we adore
The Grace, that builds thy Courts below;
And thro' ten thouſand Sons of Light
Stoops to regard what Mortals do.
2
Amidſt the Waſtes of Time and Death
Succeſſive Paſtors thou doſt raiſe
Thy Charge to keep, thy Houſe to guide,
And form a People for thy Praiſe.
3
The heav'nly Natives with Delight
Hover around the ſacred Place;
Nor ſcorn to learn from mortal Tongues
The Wonders of redeeming Grace.
4
At length, diſmiſs'd from feeble Clay,
Thy Servants join th' angelick Band;
With them thro' diſtant Worlds they fly,
With them before thy Preſence ſtand.
5
O glorious Hope! O bleſt Employ!
Sweet Lenitive ‡ of Grief and Care!
[149] When ſhall we reach thoſe radiant Courts,
And all their Joy and Honour ſhare?
6
Yet while theſe Labours we perſue,
Thus diſtant from thy heav'nly Throne,
Give us a Zeal and Love like their's,
And half their Heav'n ſhall here be known.
CLXVII. The compleating of the ſpiritual Temple. Zech. iv. 7.
1
SING to the LORD above,
Who deigns on Earth to raiſe
A Temple to his Love,
A Monument of Praiſe.
Ye Saints around,
Thro' all its Frame,
Its Builder's Name
Harmonious ſound.
2
He form'd the glorious Plan,
And its Foundation laid,
That GOD might dwell with Man,
And Mercy be diſplay'd;
His Son he ſent,
Who, great and good,
Made his own Blood
The ſweet Cement.
3
Beneath his Eye and Care
The Edifice ſhall riſe
Majeſtick ſtrong and fair,
And ſhine above the Skies.
[150] There ſhall he place
The poliſh'd Stone,
Ordain'd to crown
This Work of Grace.
CLXVIII. The Error of deſpiſing the Day of ſmall Things. Zech. iv. 10-.
1
"WHat haughty Scorner, ſaith the Lord,
"Shall humble Things deſpiſe,
"When he beholds them with Delight,
"Who reigns beyond the Skies?
2
"I from a Chaos dark and wild ‡
"Made Heav'ns bright Hoſt appear:
"I from the ſmall unnotic'd Seeds
"The loftieſt Cedars rear.
3
"From Eden's Duſt I Adam form'd,
"The nobleſt human Frame;
"And in his humble Sons diſplay
"The Honours of my Name.
4
"From Fiſhermen, in Number few,
"In human Arts untaught,
"All the wide Realms, my Church can boaſt,
"My potent Hand hath brought.
5
"The pious Poor, by Men deſpis'd,
"In deareſt Bonds are mine;
"Once hardly dreſt in humble Weeds ‖,
"They now like Angels ſhine".
6
LORD, if ſuch Trophies rais'd from Duſt
Thy ſov'reign Glory be,
[151] Here in my Heart thy Pow'r may find
Materials fit for Thee.
CLXIX. Priſoners delivered from the Pit by the Blood of the Covenant. Zech. ix. 11.
1
YE Pris'ners, who in Bondage lie,
In Darkneſs and the Pit,
Behold the Grace that ſets us free,
And to that Grace ſubmit.
2
The Tidings of Deliv'rance hear,
Confeſs the Cov'nant good,
And bleſs the Ranſom GOD hath found
In our Emanuel's Blood.
3
Juſtice no more aſſerts its Claim
Your forſeit Lives to take;
But ſmiling Mercy quick deſcends
Your heavy Chains to break.
4
We walk at large, and ſing the Hand,
To which we Freedom owe;
And drink thoſe Rivers with Delight,
Which thro' this Deſart flow.
5
He, that hath Liberty beſtow'd,
Will give a Kingdom too;
He, that hath loos'd the Bonds of Death,
The Path of Life will ſhow.
CLXX. The Fountain of Life. Zech. xiii. 1.
1
HAIL, everlaſting Spring!
Celeſtial Fountain, hail!
[152] Thy Streams Salvation bring,
The Waters never fail:
Still they endure,
And ſtill they flow
For all our Woe
A ſov'reign Cure.
2
Bleſt be his wounded Side,
And bleſt his bleeding Heart,
Who all in Anguiſh died
Such Favours to impart.
His ſacred Blood
Shall make us clean
From ev'ry Sin,
And fit for GOD.
3
To that dear Source of Love
Our Souls this Day would come;
And thither from above,
LORD, call the Nations home;
That Jew and Greek
With rapt'rous Songs
On all their Tongues
They Praiſe may ſpeak.
CLXXI. GOD's Name profaned, when his Table is treated with Contempt. Malachi. i. 12.
Applied to the Lord's Supper.
1
MY GOD, and is thy Table ſpread?
And does thy Cup with Love o'erflow?
Thither be all thy Children led
And let them all its Sweetneſs know.
[153]2
Hail ſacred Feaſt, which Jeſus makes!
Rich Banquet of his Fleſh and Blood!
Thrice happy he, who here partakes
That ſacred Stream, that heav'nly Food!
3
Why are its Dainties all in vain
Before unwilling Hearts diſplay'd?
Was not for you the Victim ſlain?
Are you forbid the Children's Bread?
4
O let thy Table honour'd be,
And furniſh'd well with joyful Gueſts;
And may each Soul Salvation ſee,
That here its ſacred Pledges taſtes.
5
Let Crouds approach with Hearts prepar'd;
With Hearts inflam'd let all attend;
Nor, when we leave our Father's Board,
The Pleaſure, or the Profit end.
6
Revive thy dying Churches, LORD,
And bid our drooping Graces live;
And more that Energy afford,
A Saviour's Blood alone can give.
CLXXII. GOD's gracious Regard to active At⯑tempts to revive Religion. Mal. iii. 16, 17.
1
THE LORD on mortal Worms looks down
From his celeſtial Throne;
And, when the Wicked ſwarm around,
He well diſcerns his own.
2
He ſees the tender Hearts, that mourn
The Scandals of the Times;
[154] And join their Efforts to oppoſe
The wide-prevailing Crimes.
3
Low to the ſocial Band he bows
His ſtill-attentive Ear;
And, while his Angels ſing around,
Delights their Voice to hear.
4
The Chronicles of Heav'n ſhall keep
Their Words in Tranſcript fair;
In the Redeemer's Book of Life
Their Names recorded are.
5
"Yes, (ſaith the Lord) the World ſhall know
"Theſe humble Souls are mine:
"Theſe, when my Jewels I produce,
"Shall in full Luſtre ſhine.
6
"When Deluges of fiery Wrath
"My Foes away ſhall bear,
"That Hand, which ſtrikes the Wicked thro',
"Shall all my Children ſpare".
CLXXIII. CHRIST the Sun of Righteouſneſs. Malachi iv. 2.
1
TO Thee, O GOD, we Homage pay,
Source of the Light that rules the Day;
Who, while he gilds all Nature's Frame,
Reflects thy Rays, and ſpeaks thy Name.
2
In louder Strains we ſing that Grace,
Which gives the Sun of Righteouſneſs;
Whoſe nobler Light Salvation brings,
And ſcatters Healing from his Wings.
[155]3
Still on our Hearts may Jeſus ſhine
With Beams of Light and Love divine;
Quick'ned by him our Souls ſhall live,
And chear'd by him ſhall grow and thrive.
4
O may his Glories ſtand confeſs'd
From North to South, from Eaſt to Weſt:
Succeſsful may his Goſpel run
Wide as the Circuit of the Sun.
5
When ſhall that radiant Scene ariſe,
When, fix'd on high in purer Skies,
Chriſt all his Luſtre ſhall diſplay
On all his Saints thro' endleſs Day?
HYMNS From PASSAGES in the NEW TESTAMENT.
[156]HYMN CLXXIV. The Ax laid to the Root of unfruitful Trees, Matthew iii. 10.
1
THE LORD into his Vineyard comes
Our various Fruit to ſee;
His Eye, more piercing than the Light,
Examines ev'ry Tree.
2
Tremble, ye Sinners, at his Frown,
If barren ſtill ye ſtand;
And fear that keenly-wounding Ax,
Which arms his awful Hand.
3
Cloſe to the Root behold it laid
To make Deſtruction ſure:
Who can reſiſt the mighty Stroke?
Or who the Fire endure?
[157]4
LORD, we adore thy ſparing Love,
Thy long-expecting Grace;
Elſe had we low in Ruin fall'n,
And known no more our Place.
5
Succeeding Years thy Patience waits;
Nor let it wait in vain;
But form in us abundant Fruit,
And ſtill this Fruit maintain.
CLXXV. The Light of good Examples, the moſt effectual Way to glorify GOD. Matt. v. 16.
1
GREAT Teacher of thy Church, we own
Thy Precepts all divinely wiſe:
O may thy mighty Pow'r be ſhown
To fix them ſtill before our Eyes.
2
Deep on our Hearts thy Law engrave,
And fill our Breaſts with heav'nly Zeal,
That, while we truſt thy Pow'r to ſave,
We may that ſacred Law fulfill.
3
Adorn'd with ev'ry heav'nly Grace
May our Examples brightly ſhine,
And the ſweet Luſtre of thy Face
Reflected beam from each of Thine.
4
Theſe Lineaments ‡, divinely fair,
Our heav'nly Father ſhall proclaim;
And Men, that view his Image there,
Shall join to glorify his Name.
CLXXVI. Providential Bounties ſurveyed and improved. Matthew v. 45.
[158]1
FAther of Lights, we ſing thy Name,
Who kindleſt up the Lamp of Day ‡;
Wide as he ſpreads his golden Flame,
His Beams thy Pow'r and Love diſplay.
2
Fountain of Good, from Thee proceed
The copious Drops of genial * Rain;
Which thro' the Hills, and thro' the Meads
Revive the Graſs, and ſwell the Grain.
3
Thro' the wide World thy Bounties ſpread;
Yet Millions of our guilty Race,
Tho' by thy daily Bounty fed,
Affront thy Law, and ſpurn thy Grace.
4
Not ſo may our forgetful Hearts
O'erlook the Tokens of thy Care;
But what thy lib'ral Hand imparts
Still own in Praiſe, ſtill aſk in Pray'r.
5
So ſhall our Suns more grateful ſhine,
And Show'rs in ſweeter Drops ſhall fall,
When all our Hearts and Lives are Thine,
And Thou, our GOD, enjoy'd in all.
6
Jeſus, our brighter Sun, ariſe;
In plenteous Show'rs thy Spirit ſend;
Earth then ſhall grow a Paradiſe,
And in the heav'nly Eden end.
CLXXVII. Secret Prayer. Matthew vi. 6.
[159]1
FATHER divine, thy piercing Eye
Shoots thro' the darkeſt Night;
In deep Retirement thou art nigh,
With Heart-diſcerning Sight.
2
There ſhall that piercing Eye ſurvey
My duteous Homage paid,
With ev'ry Morning's dawning Ray,
And ev'ry Ev'ning's Shade.
3
O may thine own celeſtial Fire
The Incenſe ſtill inflame;
While my warm Vows to Thee aſpire,
Thro' my Redeemer's Name.
4
So ſhall the Viſits of thy Love
My Soul in ſecret bleſs;
So ſhalt thou deign in Worlds above
Thy Suppliant to confeſs.
CLXXVIII. Seeking firſt the Kingdom of GOD, &c. Matthew vi. 33.
1
NOW let a true Ambition riſe,
And Ardour fire our Breaſt,
To reign in Worlds above the Skies
In heav'nly Glories dreſt.
2
Behold Jehovah's royal Hand
A radiant Crown diſplay,
Whoſe Gems with vivid Luſtre ſhine,
While Stars and Suns decay.
[160]3
Away each grov'ling anxious Care
Beneath a Chriſtian's Thought!
I ſpring to ſeize immortal Joys,
Which my Redeemer bought.
4
Ye Hearts with youthful Vigour warm,
The glorious Prize perſue;
Nor ſhall ye want the Goods of Earth,
While Heav'n is kept in View.
CLXXIX. Pardon ſpoken by CHRIST. Matthew ix. -2.
1
MY Saviour, let me hear thy Voice
Pronounce theſe Words of Peace;
And all my warmeſt Pow'rs ſhall join
To celebrate the Grace.
2
With gentle Smiles call me thy Child,
And ſpeak my Sins forgiv'n;
The Accents mild ſhall charm mine Ear
All like the Harps of Heav'n.
3
Chearful, where-e'er thy Hand ſhall lead,
The darkeſt Path I'll tread;
Chearful I'll quit theſe mortal Shores,
And mingle with the Dead.
4
When dreadful Guilt is done away,
No other Fears we know;
That Hand, which ſcatters Pardons down,
Shall Crowns of Life beſtow.
CLXXX. The relapſing Daemoniack. Matthew xii. 43-45.
[161]1
SOv'reign of Heav'n, thine Empire ſpreads
O'er all the Worlds on high;
And at thy Frown th' infernal Pow'rs
In wild Confuſion fly.
2
Like Lightning from his glitt'ring Throne
The great Arch-Traytor fell,
Driv'n with enormous Ruin down
To Infamy and Hell.
3
Permitted now to range at large,
And traverſe ‡ Earth and Air,
O'er captive human Souls he reigns,
And boaſts his Kingdom there.
4
Yet thence thy Grace can drive him out
With one almighty Word;
O ſend thy potent Sceptre forth,
And reign victorious, LORD.
5
Let wretched Pris'ners be releas'd
The ſmiling Light to view;
Nor let the vanquiſh'd Foe return
Their Bondage to renew.
6
May Grace compleat that wond'rous Work,
Which thine own Pow'r begun,
And fill from Satan's gloomy Realms,
The Kingdom of thy Son.
CLXXXI. The Faith of the Syrophenician Wo⯑man recommended. Matthew xv. 26, 27.
[162]1
ALL-conqu'ring Faith, how high it roſe,
When Heav'n itſelf might ſeem t'oppoſe!
All-gracious Lord, who didſt appear
Moſt merciful, when moſt ſevere!
2
Thus at thy Feet our Souls would fall,
And loudly thus for Mercy call;
"Thou Son of David, Pity ſhew,
"And ſave us from th' infernal Foe".
3
Tho' viler than the Brutes we be,
Our longing Eyes would wait on thee,
Who doſt to Dogs this Grace afford
To taſte the Crumbs beneath thy Board.
4
But thou the humble Soul wilt raiſe,
And all its Sorrows turn to Praiſe:
Each ſelf-abaſing broken Heart
Shall with thy Children ſhare a Part.
CLXXXII. The Church built on a Rock, and ſecured againſt the Gates of Hell. Matt. xvi. 18.
1
NOW let the Gates of Zion ſing,
And challenge all her ſpiteful Foes:
She triumphs in her Saviour King,
In him, who from the Dead aroſe.
2
He is the Rock, on whom we reſt,
And firm on that Foundation ſtand;
[163] Divine Compaſſion fills his Breaſt,
His Word is ſure, and ſtrong his Hand.
3
Hell and its Hoſt may rage in vain;
Vain are their Counſels, and their Pow'r;
Grim Death may marſhall all his Train,
And boaſt the Conqueſt of an Hour.
4
Breathleſs and pale his Servants lie,
And know their former Place no more;
Their Children raiſe his Praiſes high,
And o'er their Fathers Duſt adore.
5
Their Fathers Duſt the LORD ſhall raiſe,
And burſt the Barriers of the Grave;
Parents and Children join his Praiſe,
Who thro' Eternity can ſave.
CLXXXIII. CHRIST'S Transfiguration. Matt. xvii. 4-.
1
WHen at this Diſtance, Lord, we trace
The various Glories of thy Face,
What Tranſport pours o'er all our Breaſt,
And charms our Cares, and Woes to Reſt!
2
With Thee in the obſcureſt Cell
On ſome bleak Mountain would I dwell,
Rather than pompous Courts behold,
And ſhare their Grandeur and their Gold.
3
Away, ye Dreams of mortal Joy!
Raptures divine my Thoughts employ:
I ſee the King of Glory ſhine;
I feel his Love, and call him Mine.
[164]4
On Taber ‡ thus his Servants view'd
His Luſtre, when transform'd he ſtood;
And, bidding earthly Scenes farewell,
Cried, "LORD, 'tis pleaſant here to dwell".
5
Yet ſtill our elevated Eyes
To nobler Viſions long to riſe;
That grand Aſſembly would we join,
Where all thy Saints around thee ſhine.
6
That Mount how bright! Thoſe Forms how fair!
'Tis good to dwell for ever there.
Come, Death, dear Envoy ‖ of my GOD,
And bear me to that bleſt Abode.
CLXXXIV. The Grace of CHRIST in miniſtring to Men, and dying for them. Matt. xx. 28.
1
SAVIOUR of Men, and Lord of Love,
How ſweet thy gracious Name!
With Joy that Errand we review,
On which thy Mercy came.
2
While all thine own angelick Bands
Stood waiting on the Wing,
Charm'd with the Honour to obey
The Word of ſuch a King;
3
For us mean wretched ſinful Men
Thou laid'ſt that Glory by,
Firſt in our mortal Fleſh to ſerve,
Then in that Fleſh to die.
[165]4
Bought with thy Service and thy Blood,
We doubly, LORD, are Thine;
To thee our Lives we would devote,
To thee our Death reſign.
5
Bleſt Man, who in thy Cauſe conſumes
His vig'rous Days with Zeal!
Then with the laſt ſlow Ebb of Blood
Is call'd thy Truth to Seal!
CLXXXV. CHRIST'S compaſſionate Readineſs to gather Souls. Matt. xxiii. 37, 38.
1
SEE how the Lord of Mercy ſpreads
His gentle Hands abroad;
And warns us of the circling Foes,
That thirſt to drink our Blood!
2
"Fly to the Shelter of my Arms,
"And dwell ſecure from Fear;
"Nor Earth nor Hell ſhall pluck you thence,
"Or reach, and wound you there".
3
With anxious Heart the Parent-Bird
Thus calls her Offspring round,
When horrid Vulturs beat the Air,
And Slaughter ſtains the Ground.
4
The trembling Brood, by Nature taught,
Fly to the known Retreat;
Beneath her downy Wings are ſafe,
And find the Shelter ſweet.
5
But Men, alas! more thoughtleſs Men
Refuſe to lend an Ear;
[166] Their only Refuge madly fly,
And rather die, than hear.
6
They ſpurn the Saviour's offer'd Grace
Till they his Wrath inflame;
Then De [...]on lays them low
In Agony, and Shame.
CLXXXVI. The Abounding of Iniquity, and Cold⯑neſs of Chriſtian Love. Matt. xxiv. 12.
For a Faſt-Day.
1
ALAS for Britain, and her Sons!
What hath ſhe not to fear?
The Sins, that ruin'd Salem once,
O how triumphant here!
2
Alas the ſtrong o'erflowing Tide!
How fiercely doth it rage!
And each foreboding Symptom joins
In terrible Preſage.
3
Yet who hath Eyes that can diſcern?
Or who an Ear to hear?
Whoſe Heart is trembling for the Ark,
Or for his Country dear?
4
Cold is the Love of chriſtian Breaſts,
If chriſtian Breaſts remain;
And dying the laſt Sparks of Zeal,
Or its laſt Efforts vain.
5
Of Britain, oft chaſtis'd and ſav'd,
What ſhall the End be found?
[167] Shall not the Sword, that waves ſo long,
Inflict the deeper Wound?
O ſtay thine Arm, All-gracious GOD;
Thy Spirit largely pour;
He can the Streams of Guilt reſtrain,
And dying Love reſtore.
CLXXXVII. The final Sentence, and Happineſs of the Righteous. Matt. xxv. 34.
ATTEND mine Ear; my Heart rejoice;
While Jeſus from his Throne,
Begirt with all th' angelick Hoſts,
Makes his laſt Sentence known.
When Sinners curſed from his Face
To raging Flames are driv'n,
His Voice, with Melody divine,
Thus calls his Saints to Heav'n.
"Bleſt of my Father, all draw near,
"Receive the large Reward;
"And riſe with Raptures to poſſeſs
"The Kingdom Love prepar'd.
"E'er Earth's Foundations firſt were laid,
"This ſov'reign Purpoſe wrought,
"And rear'd thoſe Palaces divine,
"To which you now are brought.
"There ſhall you reign unnumber'd Years,
"Protected by my Pow'r,
"While Sin and Hell, and Pains and Cares
"Shall vex your Souls no more".
[168]6
Come, dear majeſtick Saviour, come,
This Jubilee proclaim,
And teach us Accents fit to praiſe
So great, ſo dear a Name.
CLXXXVIII. Relieving CHRIST in his poor Saints. Matt. xxv. 40.
1
JESUS, my Lord, how rich thy Grace!
Thy Bounties how compleat!
How ſhall I count the matchleſs Sum?
How pay the mighty Debt?
2
High on a Throne of radiant Light
Doſt Thou exalted ſhine;
What can my Poverty beſtow,
When all the Worlds are Thine?
3
But thou haſt Brethren here below,
The Partners of thy Grace,
And wilt confeſs their humble Names
Before thy Father's Face.
4
In them Thou may'ſt be cloath'd, and fed,
And viſited, and chear'd,
And in their Accents of Diſtreſs
My Saviour's Voice is heard.
5
Thy Face with Rev'rence and with Love
I in thy Poor would ſee;
O let me rather beg my Bread,
Than hold it back from Thee.
CLXXXIX. The final Sentence, and Miſery of the Wicked. Matt. xxv. 41.
[169]1
AND will the Judge deſcend?
And muſt the Dead ariſe?
And not a ſingle Soul eſcape
His all-diſcerning Eyes?
2
And from his righteous Lips
Shall ſuch a Sentence ſound?
And thro' the Millions of the Damn'd
Spread black Deſpair around?
3
"Depart from me, Accurs'd,
"To everlaſting Flame,
"For rebel Angels firſt prepar'd,
"Where Mercy never came".
4
How will my Heart endure
The Terrors of that Day,
When Earth and Heav'n before his Face
Aſtoniſh'd ſhrink away?
5
But e'er that Trumpet ſhakes
The Manſions of the Dead,
Hark from the Goſpel's gentle Voice
What joyful Tidings ſpread!
6
Ye Sinners, ſeek his Grace,
Whoſe Wrath ye cannot bear;
Fly to the Shelter of his Croſs,
And find Salvation there.
7
So ſhall that Curſe remove,
By which the Saviour bled,
[170] And the laſt awful Day ſhall pour
His Bleſſings on your Head.
CXC. CHRIST'S Submiſſion to his Father's Will. Matt. xxvi. 42.
1
"FATHER divine, (the Saviour cried,
While Horrors preſs'd on ev'ry Side,
And proſtrate on the Ground he lay)
"Remove this bitter Cup away.
2
"But if theſe Pangs muſt ſtill be borne,
"Or helpleſs Man be left forlorn,
"I bow my Soul before thy Throne,
"And ſay, Thy Will, not mine be done".
3
Thus our ſubmiſſive Souls would bow,
And, taught by Jeſus, lie as low;
Our Hearts, and not our Lips alone,
Would ſay, Thy Will, not ours be done.
4
Then, tho' like him in Duſt we lie,
We'll view the bliſsful Moment nigh,
Which, from our Portion in his Pains,
Calls to the Joy in which he reigns.
CXCI. Reflections on the Diſciples forſaking CHRIST, when he was betrayed. Matt. xxvi. -56.
1
BEHOLD the Son of GOD'S Delight;
His Smiles how ſweet! His Rays how bright!
A Friend of Tenderneſs unknown:
To the laſt Breath he lov'd his own.
[171]2
But lo! his Friends, his Brethren dear
Fled, when they ſaw his Danger near;
And not one gen'rous Heart remains
To ſhield his Life, or ſhare his Pains.
3
So frail is Man; ſo frail are we,
When unſupported, LORD, by Thee;
Thus ſhrinks our Faith; thus droops our Love,
And thus our Vows abortive prove.
4
Bleſt Jeſus, thine own Pow'r impart,
And bind in Cords of Love my Heart:
The Fugitive no more ſhall flee,
But keep thro' Death its Hold on Thee.
CXCII. CHRIST'S Complaint of his Father's forſaking him on the Croſs. Matt. xxvii. 46.
1
WHAT doleful Accents do I hear?
What piercing Cry invades mine Ear?
Loaded with Shame, and bath'd in Blood,
Who calls to a forſaking GOD?
2
Amazing and Heart-rending Sight!
'Tis his own Darling and Delight,
Who once in his Embraces lay,
Dearer than all the Sons of Day!
3
Yet when this Jeſus died for me,
Diſtended on the curſed Tree,
GOD ſtood afar, nor would afford
One pitying Look, one chearing Word.
4
What then, my Soul, muſt thou have felt,
If preſs'd with all thy Load of Guilt,
[172] Beneath whoſe Weight the Saviour cries,
Who form'd the Earth, and built the Skies?
5
But in that dark tremendous Hour,
Unconquer'd Faith exerts its Pow'r;
My GOD, my Father, cried aloud,
And Heav'n th' endearing Name avow'd.
6
From Death, from Earth he rais'd his Son,
And gave him for his Croſs a Throne;
Triumphant there the Suff'rer reigns,
And reaps the Harveſt of his Pains.
7
Eternal Raptures there are known;
Nor flows the Joy on him alone,
But for his Sake the LORD hath ſwore,
To leave the meaneſt Saint no more.
CXCIII. The ſame. Matt. xxvii. 46.
1
MY Saviour, didſt Thou die for me?
For me ſend forth that bitter Cry?
With bleeding Heart thy Wounds I ſee,
Prepar'd at thy Command to die.
2
By all thine Anguiſh on the Croſs,
When GOD thy Father ſtood afar,
Rich in thy temporary Loſs,
Thy Church is brought for ever near.
3
From far the Beamings of thy Throne
Reviv'd my ſympathizing Heart;
Thy Love made Sinners Griefs thine own,
Mine in thy Joys muſt take its Part.
4
Midſt all the Splendours of thy Reign,
Think on the Sorrows thou haſt felt;
[173] Nor let a Mourner weep in vain,
For whom thy precious Blood was ſpilt.
5
While thro' Earth's darkeſt Gloom I tread,
Dart to my Soul a chearing Ray;
And on the Confines of the Dead
Thy Pow'r, as Lord of Life, diſplay.
CXCIV. The Angel's Reply to the Women, that ſought CHRIST. Matt. xxviii. 5, 6.
1
YE humble Souls, that ſeek the Lord,
Chaſe all your Fears away;
And bow with Pleaſure down to ſee
The Place where Jeſus lay.
2
Thus low the Lord of Life was brought;
Such Wonders Love can do;
Thus cold in Death that Boſom lay,
Which throb'd, and bled for you.
3
A Moment give a Looſe to Grief,
Let grateful Sorrows riſe,
And waſh the bloody Stains away
With Torrents from your Eyes.
4
Then raiſe your Eyes, and tune your Songs,
The Saviour lives again;
Not all the Bolts and Bars of Death
The Conqu'ror could detain.
5
High o'er th' angelick Bands he rears
His once diſhonour'd Head;
And thro' unnumber'd Years he reigns,
Who dwelt among the Dead.
[174]6
With Joy like his ſhall ev'ry Saint
His empty Tomb ſurvey;
Then riſe with his aſcending Lord,
Thro' all his ſhining Way.
CXCV. CHRIST ever preſent with his Miniſters and Churches. Matt. xxviii. -20.
1
WIDE o'er all Worlds the Saviour reigns;
Unmov'd his Pow'r and Love remains;
And on his Arm his Church ſhall reſt.
Fair Zion, joyful in her King,
Thro' ev'ry changing Age ſhall ſing,
With his perpetual Preſence bleſt.
2
Tyrannick Death, in vain thy Rage,
Thy Triumphs new in ev'ry Age
O'er the firſt Heroes of his Hoſt;
Conſcious of more than mortal Aid,
Our bleeding Hearts are not diſmay'd,
But an immortal Leader boaſt.
3
Tho' buried deep in Duſt they lie,
Whoſe tuneful Voices rais'd on high
Led the ſweet Anthems to his Name;
The Children learn the Fathers Song,
And unform'd Tongues ſhall ſtill prolong
The ever-preſent Saviour's Fame.
4
The preſent Saviour, He ſhall give
Millions of future Saints to live,
And croud the Temples of his Grace:
[175] The preſent Saviour, lo! he comes
To call whole Legions from their Tombs,
And teach their Duſt ſublimer Praiſe.
CXCVI. Departed Saints aſleep. Mark v. 39.
1
"WHY flow theſe Torrents of Diſtreſs?
(The gentle Saviour cries)
"Why are my ſleeping Saints ſurvey'd
"With unbelieving Eyes?
2
"Death's feeble Arm ſhall never boaſt,
"A Friend of Chriſt is ſlain;
"Nor o'er their meaner Part in Duſt
"A laſting Pow'r retain.
3
"I come, on Wings of Love I come,
"The Slumb'rers to awake;
"My Voice ſhall reach the deepeſt Tomb,
"And all its Bonds ſhall break.
4
"Touch'd by my Hand in Smiles they riſe;
"They riſe to ſleep no more;
"But rob'd with Light, and crown'd with Joy
"To endleſs Day they ſoar".
5
Jeſus, our Faith receives thy Word;
And, tho' fond Nature weep,
Grace learns to hail the pious Dead,
And emulate their Sleep.
6
Our willing Souls thy Summons wait
With them to reſt and praiſe;
So let thy much-lov'd Preſence chear
Theſe ſeparating Days.
CXCVII. The Struggle between Faith and Unbe⯑lief. Mark ix. 24.
[176]1
JESUS, our Souls delightful Choice,
In Thee believing we rejoice;
Yet ſtill our Joy is mix'd with Grief,
While Faith contends with Unbelief.
2
Thy Promiſes our Hearts revive,
And keep our fainting Hopes alive;
But Guilt and Fears and Sorrows riſe,
And hide the Promiſe from our Eyes.
3
O let not Sin and Satan boaſt,
While Saints lie mourning in the Duſt;
Nor ſee that Faith to Ruin brought,
Which thine own gracious Hand hath wrought.
4
Do Thou the dying Spark inflame;
Reveal the Glories of thy Name;
And put all anxious Doubts to Flight,
As Shades diſpers'd by op'ning Light.
CXCVIII. CHRIST'S condeſcending Regard to little Children. Mark x. 14.
1
SEE Iſrael's gentle Shepherd ſtand
With all-engaging Charms;
Hark how he calls the tender Lambs,
And folds them in his Arms!
2
"Permit them to approach, (he cries)
"Nor ſcorn their humble Name;
"For 'twas to bleſs ſuch Souls as theſe,
"The Lord of Angels came".
[177]3
We bring them, LORD, in thankful Hands,
And yield them up to Thee;
Joyful, that we ourſelves are Thine,
Thine let our Offspring be.
4
Ye little Flock, with Pleaſure hear;
Ye Children, ſeek his Face;
And fly with Tranſport to receive
The Bleſſings of his Grace.
5
If Orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian Care we truſt,
That Care ſhall heal our bleeding Hearts,
While weeping o'er their Duſt.
CXCIX. Chriſtian Watchfulneſs. Mark xiii. 37.
1
AWAKE, my drowſy Soul, awake,
And view the threat'ning Scene:
Legions of Foes encamp around,
And Treach'ry lurks within.
2
'Tis not this mortal Life alone
Theſe Enemies aſſail;
All thine eternal Hopes are loſt,
If their Attempts prevail.
3
Now to the Work of GOD awake;
Behold thy Maſter near;
The various, arduous Taſk perſue
With Vigour and with Fear.
4
The awful Regiſter goes on,
Th' Account will ſurely come,
And op'ning Day, or cloſing Night
May bear me to my Doom.
[178]5
Tremendous Thought! How deep it ſtrikes!
Yet like a Dream it flies,
Till GOD's own Voice the Slumbers chaſe
From theſe deluded Eyes.
CC. The Nativity of Chriſt. Luke ii. 10-12.
1
HALL Progeny ‡ divine!
Hail Virgin's wondrous Son!
Who, for that humble Shrine,
Didſt quit th' Almighty's Throne:
The Infant Lord
Our Voices ſing,
And be the King
Of Grace ador'd.
2
Ye Princes, diſappear,
And boaſt your Crowns no more;
Lay down your Sceptres here,
And in the Duſt adore:
Where Jeſus dwells,
The Manger bare
In Luſtre far
Your Pomp excells.
3
With Bethlem's Shepherds mild
The Angels bow their Head;
And round the ſacred Child
Their guardian Wings they ſpread;
They knew, that where
Their Sov'reign lies
In low Diſguiſe
Heav'n's Court is there.
[179]4
Thither, my Soul, repair,
And early Homage pay
To thy Redeemer fair,
As on his natal § Day.
I kiſs thy Feet;
And, Lord, would be
A Child like Thee,
Whom thus I greet.
CCI. The Angels Song at Chriſt's Birth. Luke ii. 13, 14.
1
HIGH let us ſwell our tuneful Notes,
And join th' angelick Throng;
For Angels no ſuch Love have known
T' awake a chearful Song.
2
Good-Will to ſinful Men is ſhewn,
And Peace on Earth is giv'n;
For lo! th' incarnate Saviour comes
With Meſſages from Heav'n.
3
Juſtice and Grace with ſweet Accord
His riſing Beams adorn;
Let Heav'n and Earth in Conſort join,
Now ſuch a Child is born.
4
Glory to GOD in higheſt Strains
In higheſt Worlds be paid;
His Glory by our Lips proclaim'd,
And by our Lives diſplay'd.
5
When ſhall we reach thoſe bliſsful Realms,
Where Chriſt exalted reigns,
[180] And learn of the celeſtial Choir
Their own immortal Strains?
CCII. Simeon's Song and Declaration to the Vir⯑gin Mary. Luke ii. 30-35.
1
OUR Eyes Salvation ſee,
Prepar'd by Grace divine:
How wide its Splendours are diffus'd!
How bright its Glories ſhine!
2
Thro' diſtant Heathen Lands
It darts a vivid Ray,
And to the Realms, where Saian reign'd,
Imparts celeſtial Day.
3
The Iſrael of the LORD
In Chriſt their Glory boaſt,
And on the Honours of his Name
Their whole Salvation truſt.
4
By him ſhall Millions riſe
To an immortal Crown,
And Millions, that his Grace deſpiſe,
Shall ſink in Ruin down.
5
Our Reck'ning is begun,
And on th' Account will go,
Till clos'd in everlaſting Joy
Or never-ending Woe.
CCIII. CHRIST's Meſſage. Luke iv. 18, 19.
1
HARK the glad Sound! The Saviour comes,
The Saviour promis'd long!
[181] Let ev'ry Heart prepare a Throne,
And ev'ry Voice a Song.
2
On him the Spirit largely pour'd
Exerts its ſacred Fire;
Wiſdom and Might, and Zeal and Love
His holy Breaſt inſpire.
3
He comes the Pris'ners to releaſe
In Satan's Bondage held;
The Gates of Braſs before him burſt,
The Iron Fetters yield.
4
He comes from thickeſt Films of Vice
To clear the mental Ray,
And on the Eye-Balls of the Blind
To pour celeſtial Day.
5
He comes the broken Heart to bind,
The bleeding Soul to cure,
And with the Treaſures of his Grace
T' inrich the humble Poor.
6
His Silver Trumpets publiſh loud
The Jub'lee of the LORD ‡;
Our Debts are all remitted now,
Our Heritage reſtor'd.
7
Our glad Hoſannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy Welcome ſhall proclaim;
And Heav'n's eternal Arches ring
With thy beloved Name.
CCIV. The recovered Daemoniack, an Emblem of a converted Sinner. Luke viii. 35.
[182]1
JESUS, we own thy ſaving Pow'r,
And thy victorious Hand;
Hell's Legions tremble at thy Feet,
And fly at thy Command.
2
O'er Souls, by Paſſions Uproar fill'd
With Anarchy § unknown,
The nob'er Pow'rs, reſtor'd by Thee,
Aſcend their peaceful Throne.
3
No more they rend their Clothing off;
No more their Wounds repeat;
But gentle and compos'd they wait
Attentive at thy Feet.
4
O'er Thouſands more, where Satan rules,
May we ſuch Triumphs ſee;
And be their reſcu'd Souls and ours
Devoted, LORD, to Thee.
CCV. The good Samaritan. Luke x. 30-37.
1
FATHER of Mercies, ſend thy Grace
All-pow'rful from above
To form in our obedient Souls
The Image of thy Love.
2
O may our ſympathizing Breaſts
That gen'rous Pleaſure know
[183] Kindly to ſhare in others Joy,
And weep for others Woe!
3
When the moſt helpleſs Sons of Grief
In low Diſtreſs are laid,
Soft be our Hearts their Pains to feel,
And ſwift our Hands to aid.
4
So Jeſus look'd on dying Men,
When thron'd above the Skies,
And 'midſt th' Embraces of his GOD
He felt Compaſſion riſe.
5
On Wings of Love the Saviour flew
To raiſe us from the Ground,
And made the richeſt of his Blood
A Balm for ev'ry Wound.
CCVI. The Care of the Soul, the one Thing need⯑ful. Luke x. 42-.
1
WHY will ye laviſh out your Years
Amidſt a thouſand trifling Cares?
While in this various Range of Thought
The one Thing needful is forgot?
2
Why will ye chaſe the fleeting Wind,
And famiſh an immortal Mind?
While Angels with Regret look down
To ſee you ſpurn a heav'nly Crown?
3
Th' Eternal GOD calls from above,
And Jeſus pleads his bleeding Love;
Awaken'd Conſcience gives you Pain;
And ſhall they join their Pleas in vain?
[184]4
Not ſo your dying Eyes ſhall view
Thoſe Objects, which ye now perſue;
Not ſo ſhall Heav'n and Hell appear,
When the deciſive Hour is near.
5
Almighty GOD, thy Pow'r impart
To fix Convictions on the Heart;
Thy Pow'r unveils the blindeſt Eyes,
And makes the haughtieſt Scorner wiſe.
CCVII. Mary's Choice of the better Part. Luke x. -42.
1
BESET with Snares on ev'ry Hand,
In Life's uncertain Path I ſtand:
Saviour divine, diffuſe thy Light
To guide my doubtful Footſteps right.
2
Engage this roving treach'rous Heart
To fix on Mary's better Part;
To ſcorn the Trifles of a Day
For Joys, that none can take away.
3
Then let the wildeſt Storms ariſe;
Let Tempeſts mingle Earth and Skies;
No fatal Shipwreck ſhall I fear,
But all my Treaſures with me bear.
4
If thou, my Jeſus, ſtill be nigh,
Chearful I live, and joyful die:
Secure, when mortal Comforts flee,
To find ten thouſand Worlds in Thee.
CCVIII. CHRIST'S little Flock comforted with the Views of a Kingdom. Luke xii. 32.
[185]1
YE little Flock, whom Jeſus feeds,
Diſmiſs your anxious Cares;
Look to the Shepherd of your Souls,
And ſmile away your Fears.
2
Tho' Wolves and Lions prowl around,
His Staff is your Defence:
'Midſt Sands and Rocks your Shepherd's Voice
Calls Streams and Paſtures thence.
3
Your Father will a Kingdom give,
And give it with Delight;
His feebleſt Child his Love ſhall call
To triumph in his Sight.
4
Ten thouſand Praiſes, LORD, we bring
For ſure Supports like theſe:
And o'er the pious Dead we ſing
Thy living Promiſes.
5
For all we hope, and they enjoy,
We bleſs a Saviour's Name;
Nor ſhall that Stroke diſturb the Song,
Which breaks this mortal Frame.
CCIX. Providing Bags, that wax not old, &c. Luke xii. 33.
1
THESE mortal Joys, how ſoon they fade!
How ſwift they paſs away!
The dying Flow'r reclines its Head,
The Beauty of a Day!
[186]2
The Bags are rent, the Treaſures loſt,
We fondly call'd our own:
Scarce could we the Poſſeſſion boaſt,
And ſtrait we found it gone.
3
But there are Joys that cannot die,
With GOD laid up in Store;
Treaſure beyond the changing Sky,
Brighter than golden Ore.
4
To that my riſing Heart aſpires,
Secure to find its Reſt,
And glories in ſuch wide Deſires
Of all their Wiſh poſſeſs'd.
5
The Seeds, which Piety and Love
Have ſcatter'd here below,
In the fair fertile Fields above
To ample Harveſts grow.
6
The Mite my willing Hands can give
At Jeſus' Feet I lay;
Grace ſhall the humble Gift receive,
And Heav'n at large repay.
CCX. The active Chriſtian. Luke xii. 35-38.
1
YE Servants of the LORD,
Each in his Office wait,
Obſervant of his heav'nly Word,
And watchful at his Gate.
2
Let all your Lamps be bright,
And trim the golden Flame;
Gird up your Loins, as in his Sight,
For awful is his Name.
[187]3
Watch, 'tis your Lord's Command;
And while we ſpeak, he's near:
Mark the firſt Signal of his Hand,
And ready all appear.
4
O happy Servant he
In ſuch a Poſture found!
He ſhall his Lord with Rapture ſee,
And be with Honour crown'd.
5
Chriſt ſhall the Banquet ſpread
With his own royal Hand,
And raiſe that fav'rite Servant's Head
Amidſt th' angelick Band.
CCXI. Room at the Goſpel-Feaſt. Luke xiv. 22.
1
THE King of Heav'n his Table ſpreads,
And Dainties crown the Board;
Not Paradiſe with all its Joys
Could ſuch Delight afford.
2
Pardon and Peace to dying Men,
And endleſs Life are giv'n,
And the rich Blood, that Jeſus ſhed
To raiſe the Soul to Heav'n.
3
Ye hungry Poor, that long have ſtray'd
In Sin's dark Mazes, come:
Come from the Hedges and Highways,
And Grace ſhall find you Room.
4
Millions of Souls in Glory now
Were fed, and feaſted here;
And Millions more, ſtill on the Way,
Around the Board appear.
[188]5
Yet is his Houſe and Heart ſo large,
That Millions more may come;
Nor could the wide aſſembling World
O'er-fill the ſpacious Room.
6
All Things are ready; come away,
Nor weak Excuſes frame;
Croud to your Places at the Feaſt,
And bleſs the Founder's Name.
CCXII. The preſent and future State of the Saint and Sinner compared. Luke xvi. 25.
1
IN what Confuſion Earth appears!
GOD's deareſt Children bath'd in Tears;
While they, who Heav'n itſelf deride,
Riot in Luxury and Pride.
2
But patient let my Soul attend,
And, e'er I cenſure, view the End:
That End how diff'rent who can tell?
The wide Extremes of Heav'n and Hell.
3
See the red Flames around him twine,
Who did in Gold and Purple ſhine!
Nor can his Tongue one Drop obtain
T' allay the Scorching of his Pain.
4
While round the Saint, ſo poor below,
Full Rivers of Salvation flow;
On Abram's Breaſt he leans his Head,
And banquets on celeſtial Bread.
5
Jeſus, my Saviour, let me ſhare
The meaneſt of thy Servants Fare:
[189] May I at laſt approach to taſte
The Bleſſings of thy Marriage-Feaſt.
CCXIII. Rebels againſt CHRIST executed. Luke xix. 27.
1
HE comes; the royal Conqu'ror comes;
His Legions fill the Sky;
Angelick Trumpets rend the Tombs,
And loud proclaim him nigh.
2
Ye rebel Hoſts, how vain your Rage
Againſt this ſov'reign Lord?
What Madneſs bears you on t' engage
The Terrors of his Sword?
3
"Bring forth (he cries) thoſe Sons of Pride,
"That ſcorn'd my gentle Sway,
"To prove the Arm they once defy'd
"Omnipotent to ſlay".
4
Tremendous Scene of Wrath divine!
How wide the Vengeance ſpreads!
His pointed Darts of Light'ning ſhine
Round their defenceleſs Heads.
5
Now let the Rebels ſeek that Face,
From which hey cannot flee?
And thou, my Soul, adore the Grace,
That ſweetly conquer'd thee.
CCXIV. The Redeemer's Tears wept over leſt Souls. Luke xix. 41, 42.
1
WHAT venerable Sight appears?
The Son of GOD diſſolv'd in Tears!
[190] Trace, O my Soul, with ſad Surprize,
The Sorrows of a Saviour's Eyes.
2
For whom, bleſt Jeſus, we would know,
Doth ſuch a ſacred Torrent flow?
What Brother, or what Friend of thine,
Is grac'd and mourn'd with Drops divine?
3
Nor Brother there, nor Friend I ſee,
But Sons of Pride and Cruelty;
Who like rapacious Tigers ſtood
Inſatiate panting for thy Blood.
4
Dear Lord, and did thy guſhing Eyes
Thus ſtream o'er dying Enemies?
And can thy Tenderneſs forget
The Sinner humbled at thy Feet?
5
With deep Remorſe our Bowels move,
That we have wrong'd ſuch matchleſs Love;
Thy gentle Pity, Lord, diſplay,
And ſmile theſe trembling Fears away.
6
Give us to ſhine before thy Face,
Eternal Trophies of thy Grace;
Where Songs of Praiſe thy Saints employ,
And mingle with a Saviour's Joy.
CCXV. Departed Saints living to GOD. Luke xx. -38.
1
THrice happy State, where Saints ſhall live
Around their Father's Throne,
In ev'ry Joy, that Heav'n can give,
And live to GOD alone!
[191]2
Unnumber'd Bands of kindred Minds,
That dwelt in feeble Clay,
Us and our Woes have left behind
To reign in endleſs Day.
3
Immortal Vigour now they breathe,
And all the Air is Peace;
They chide our Tears, that mourn the Death,
Which brought their Souls Releaſe.
4
Thus ſhall the Grace of Chriſt prevail,
Till all his Choſen meet;
And not the meaneſt Servant fail
His Houſhold to compleat.
5
To that bleſt Goal ‡ with ardent Haſte
Our active Souls would tend;
Nor feel their Sorrows, as they paſs'd
To ſuch a bliſsful End.
CCXVI. CHRIST'S Admonition to, and Care of Peter under approaching Trials. Luke xxii. 31, 32.
1
HOW keen the Tempter's Malice is!
How artful, and how great!
Tho' not one Grain ſhall be deſtroy'd,
Yet will he ſift the Wheat.
2
But GOD can all his Pow'r controul,
And gather-in his Chain;
And, where he ſeems to triumph moſt,
The captive Soul regain.
[192]3
There is a Shepherd kind and ſtrong,
Still watchful for his Sheep;
Nor ſhall th [...] infernal Lion rend,
Whom he vouchſafes to keep.
4
Bleſt Jeſus, intercede for us,
That we may fall no more;
O raiſe us, when we proſtrate lie,
And Comfort loſt reſtore.
5
Thy ſecret Energy impart,
That Faith may never fail;
But, 'midſt whole Show'rs of fiery Darts,
That temper'd Shield prevail.
6
Secur'd ourſelves by Grace divine,
We'll guard our Brethren too;
And, taught their Frailties by our own,
Our Care of them renew.
CCXVII. CHRIST'S Prayer for his Enemies. Luke xxiii. 34.
1
A LOUD I ſing the wond'rous Grace,
Chriſt to his Murd'rers bare;
Which made the tort'ring Croſs its Throne,
And hung its Trophics there.
2
Father, forgive, his Mercy cried
With his expiring Breath,
And drew eternal Bleſſings down
On thoſe, who wrought his Death.
3
Then may I hope for Pardon too,
Tho' I have pierc'd the Lord;
[193] Bleſt Jeſus, in my Favour ſpeak
That all-prevailing Word.
4
I knew not what my Madneſs did,
While I remain'd thy Foe:
Soon as I ſaw the Wounds were Thine,
My Tears began to flow.
5
Melted by Goodneſs ſo divine,
I would its Footſteps trace;
And, while beneath thy Croſs I ſtand,
My fierceſt Foes embrace.
CCXVIII. The Reſurrection of CHRIST. Luke xxiv. 34.
1
YES, the Redeemer roſe;
The Saviour left the Dead;
And o'er our helliſh Foes
High rais'd his conqu'ring Head:
In wild Diſmay
The Guards around
Fell to the Ground,
And ſunk away.
2
Lo, the angelick Bands
In full Aſſembly meet,
To wait his high Commands,
And worſhip at his Feet:
Joyful they come,
And wing their Way
From Realms of Day
To ſuch a Tomb.
[194]3
Then back to Heav'n they fly,
And the glad Tidings bear:
Hark! as they ſoar on high
What Muſick fills the Air!
Their Anthems ſay,
"Jeſus who bled
"Hath left the Dead;
"He roſe to-day".
4
Ye Mortals, catch the Sound,
Redeem'd by him from Hell;
And ſend the Eccho round
The Globe on which you dwell:
Tranſported cry,
"Jeſus who bled
"Hath left the Dead
"No more to die".
5
All-hail, triumphant Lord,
Who ſav'ſt us with thy Blood!
Wide be thy Name ador'd,
Thou riſing, reigning God!
With Thee we riſe,
With Thee we reign,
And Empires gain
Beyond the Skies.
CCXIX. The Goſpel firſt preached at Jeruſalem. Luke xxiv.-47.
1
"GO, (ſaith the Lord) proclaim my Grace
"To all the Sons of Adam's Race,
"Pardon for ev'ry crimſon Sin,
"And at Jeruſalem begin.
[195]2
"There, where my Blood, not fully dry,
"Stands warm upon Mount Calvary;
"That Blood ſhall purge away their Guilt,
"By whom ſo lately it was ſpilt.
3
"Now let the daring Rebels turn,
"And o'er their bleeding Sov'reign mourn;
"Their bleeding Sov'reign ſhall forgive,
"And bid the Rebels look and live".
4
Is this thy Voice, All-gracious Lord?
And did the Rebels hear thy Word?
And did they fall beneath thy Feet,
And on their Knees Forgiveneſs meet?
5
Then may I hope for Mercy too;
Such Love can my hard Heart ſubdue,
And give this guilty Soul a Place
Among theſe Captives of thy Grace.
6
Here be it daily mine Employ
To bathe thy Wounds with Tears of Joy,
Till 'midſt the new Jeruſalem
In one full Choir we ſing thy Name.
CCXX. GOD's Love to the World in ſending CHRIST for its Redemption. John iii. 16.
1
SING to the LORD a new melodious Song:
Aſſiſt the Choir, ye Tribes of ev'ry Tongue:
Wide as the World his ſov'reign Mercy reigns;
Wide as the World reſound the rapt'rous Strains.
Ye Angels, join the joyful Acclamation,
And ſing the Love, that brings to Men Salvation.
[196]2
His gracious Eye beheld in full Survey
Where Adam's Race in mingled Ruin lay:
No human Aid the Danger could avert:
No Angel's Hand could ſoothe the raging Smart:
In his own Breaſt divine Compaſſion riſes,
And the grand ſcheme the court of Heav'n ſurpriſes.
3
GOD's only Son with peerleſs ‡ Glories bright,
His Father's faireſt Image and Delight,
Juſtice and Grace the Victim have decreed,
To wear our Fleſh, and in that Fleſh to bleed.
Proſtrate in Duſt, ye Sinners, all adore him,
And tremble, while your Hearts rejoice before him.
4
The wondrous work is done; the cov'nant ſtood,
And Jeſus expiates human Guilt with Blood;
Nail'd to the Tree he bows his ſacred Head;
A mangled Corps he ſojourns with the Dead;
Riſing, the Goſpel ſends thro' ev'ry Nation;
Sinners believe, and gain compleat Salvation.
5
Father of Grace, accept our humble Praiſe;
O let it run thro' everlaſting Days!
And Thou, Bleſt Saviour, ſpotleſs Lamb of GOD,
Accept the Souls dear-ranſom'd with thy Blood;
And to thoſe Songs, form all our feeble Voices,
In which the choir round thy bright throne rejoices.
CCXXI. The Spirit's Influences compared to living Water. John iv. 10.
1
BLEST Jeſus, Source of Grace divine;
What Soul-refreſhing Streams are Thine!
[197] O bring theſe healing Waters nigh,
Or we muſt droop, and fall, and die.
2
No Traveller thro' deſart Lands,
'Midſt ſcorching Suns, and burning Sands,
More eager longs for cooling Rain,
Or pants the Current to obtain.
3
Our longing Souls aloud would ſing,
Spring up, celeſtial Fountain, ſpring;
To a redundant River ſlow,
And chear this thirſty Land below.
4
May this bleſt Torrent near my Side
Thro' all the Deſart gently glide;
Then in Emanuel's Land above
Spread to a Sea of Joy and Love.
CCXXII. The Chriſtian's ſecret Feaſt. John iv. 32.
1
WE praiſe the LORD for heav'nly Bread,
With which immortal Souls are fed:
We praiſe Thee for that heav'nly Feaſt,
Which Jeſus with Delight could taſte.
2
He, while he ſojourn'd here below,
Had Meat, which Strangers could not know:
That Meat he to his People gives,
And he that taſtes the Banquet lives.
3
So let me live, ſuſtain'd by Grace,
Regal'd with Fruits of Righteouſneſs:
Enter my Heart, All-gracious LORD,
And ſup with me, and deck thy Board.
[198]4
Devotion, Faith, and zealous Love,
And Hope, that bears the Soul above,
Be theſe my Dainties, till I riſe,
And taſte the Joys of Paradiſe.
CCXXIII. The Paralytick at Betheſda. John v. 6.
1
BEHOLD the great Phyſician ſtands,
Whoſe Skill is ever ſure;
And loud he calls to dying Men,
And free he offers Cure.
2
And will ye hear his gracious Voice,
While ſore diſeas'd ye lie?
Or will ye all his Grace deſpiſe,
And trifle till ye die?
3
Bleſt Jeſus, ſpeak the healing Word,
And inward Vigour give;
Then rais'd by Energy divine
Shall helpleſs Mortals live.
4
With chearful Pace our trembling Feet
In thy bleſt Paths ſhall run,
Till Zion's healthful Hill they gain,
Where no Complaint is known.
CCXXIV. GOD's Purpoſes effectual, and CHRIST's Invitations ſincere. John vi. 37.
1
IS there a Sight in Earth or Heav'n
Can ſuch Delight impart,
As Jeſus' wide-extended Arms,
And ſoftly-melting Heart?
[199]2
"All that my heav'nly Father gives
"Shall come (the Saviour cries)
"And ev'ry weakeſt Soul, that comes,
"Find Favour in mine Eyes.
3
"I'll not reject him with Diſdain,
"Nor hurl him down to Hell;
"But folded in my kind Embrace
"He ſafe and bleſt ſhall dwell".
4
Hearken, ye dying Sinners all;
All haſten, while ye hear;
For Crouds of wretched Souls at once
May find their Refuge there.
5
I hear thy Voice, and I obey;
Low at thy Feet I fall;
Nor ſhall the Tempter's Voice prevail
Againſt the Saviour's Call.
CCXXV. CHRIST's Invitation to thirſty Souls John vii. 37.
1
THE Lord of Life exalted ſtands,
Aloud he cries, and ſpreads his Hands:
He calls ten thouſand Sinners round,
And ſends a Voice from ev'ry Wound.
2
"Attend, ye thirſty Souls, draw near,
"And ſatiate all your Wiſhes here:
"Behold the living Fountain flows
"In Streams as various as your Woes.
3
"An ample Pardon here I give,
"And bid the ſentenc'd Rebel live,
[200] Shew him my Father's ſmiling Face,
And lodge him in his dear Embrace.
4
I purge from Sin's deteſted Stain,
And make the Crimſon white again,
Lead to celeſtial Joys refin'd,
And laſting as the deathleſs Mind.
5
Muſt I anew my Pity prove?
Witneſs the Words of melting Love,
The guſhing Tear, the lab'ring Breath,
And all theſe Scars of bleeding Death".
6
Bleſt Saviour, I can doubt no more;
I hear, and wonder, and adore:
Panting I ſeek that Fountain-Head,
Whence Waters ſo divine proceed.
7
Clear Spring of Life, flow on, and roll
With growing Swell from Pole to Pole,
Till Flow'rs and Fruits of Paradiſe
Round all the winding Current riſe.
8
Still near thy Stream may I be found,
Long as I tread this earthly Ground;
Chear with thy Wave Death's gloomy Shade,
Then thro' the Fields of Canaan ſpread.
CCXXVI. True Liberty given by CHRIST. John viii. 36.
1
HArk! for 'tis GOD's own Son that calls
To Life and Liberty;
Tranſported fall before his Feet,
Who makes the Pris'ners free.
[201]2
The curſed Bonds of Sin he breaks,
And breaks old Satan's Chain:
Smiling he deals thoſe Pardons round,
Which free from endleſs Pain.
3
Into the captive Heart he pours
His Spirit from on high;
We loſe the Terrors of the Slave,
And Abba, Father, cry.
4
Shake off your Bonds, and ſing his Grace;
The Sinner's Friend proclaim;
And call on all around to ſeek
True Freedom by his Name.
5
Walk on at large, till you attain
Your Father's Houſe above;
There ſhall you wear immortal Crowns,
And ſing redeeming Love.
CCXXVII. The ſame. John viii. 36.
1
AND ſhall we ſtill be Slaves,
And in our Fetters lie,
When ſummon'd by a Voice divine
T' aſſert our Liberty?
2
Did the great Saviour bleed
Our Freedom to obtain,
That we ſhould trample on his Blood,
And glory in our Chain?
3
Alas, the ſordid Mind!
How all its Pow'rs are broke!
Proud of a Tyrant's haughty Sway,
And practis'd to the Yoke!
[202]4
Divine Redeemer, hear,
Thy ſov'reign Pow'r impart,
And let thy gen'rous Spirit wake
True Ardour in our Heart.
5
Then ſhall the Sons of Death,
That in the Dungeon lie,
Spring to the Throne of pard'ning Grace,
And Abba, Father, cry.
CCXXVIII. CHRIST the Door. John x. 9.
1
AWAKE our Souls, and bleſs his Name,
Whoſe Mercies never fail;
Who opens wide a Door of Hope
In Achor's gloomy Vale ‡.
2
Behold the Portal wide diſplay'd,
The Buildings ſtrong and fair;
Within are Paſtures freſh and green,
And living Streams are there.
3
Enter, my Soul, with chearful Haſte,
For Jeſus is the Door;
Nor fear the Serpent's wily Arts,
Nor fear the Lion's Roar.
4
O may thy Grace the Nations lead,
And Jews and Gentiles come,
All trav'ling thro' one beauteous Gate
To one eternal Home.
CCXXIX. Abundant Life by CHRIST our Shepherd. John x. -10.
[203]1
PRaiſe to our Shepherd's gracious Name,
Who on ſo kind an Errand came;
Came, that by him his Flock might live,
And more abundant Life receive.
2
Hail great Emanuel from above,
High ſeated on thy Throne of Love!
O pour the vital Torrent down,
Thy People's Joy, their Lord's Renown.
3
Scarce half alive we ſigh and cry;
Scarce raiſe to Thee our languid Eye;
Kind Saviour, let our dying State
Compaſſion in thy Heart create.
4
The Shepherd's Blood the Sheep muſt heal;
O may we all its Influence feel;
Till inward deep Experience ſhew,
Chriſt can begin a Heav'n below.
CCXXX. CHRIST's Sheep deſcribed. John x. 27.
1
THY Flock, with what a tender Care,
Bleſt Jeſus, doſt thou keep?
Fain would my weak, my wand'ring Soul
Be number'd with thy Sheep.
2
Gentle and tractable and plain
My Heart would ever be,
Averſe to harm, propenſe to help,
And faithful ſtill to Thee.
[204]3
The gentle Accents of thy Voice
My liſt'ning Soul would hear;
And, by the Signals of thy Will,
I all my Courſe would ſteer.
4
I follow where my Shepherd leads,
And mark the Path he drew;
My Shepherd's Feet Mount Zion tread,
And I ſhall reach it too.
CCXXXI. The Happineſs and Security of CHRIST'S Sheep. John x. 28.
1
MY Soul, with Joy attend
While Jeſus Silence breaks;
No Angel's Harp ſuch Muſick yields,
As what my Shepherd ſpeaks.
2
"I know my Sheep, (he cries)
"My Soul approves them well:
"Vain is the treach'rous World's Diſguiſe,
"And vain the Rage of Hell.
3
"I freely feed them now
"With Tokens of my Love,
"But richer Paſtures I prepare,
"And ſweeter Streams above.
4
"Unnumber'd Years of Bliſs
"I to my Sheep will give;
"And, while my Throne unſhaken ſtands,
"Shall all my Choſen live.
5
"This tried almighty Hand
"Is rais'd for their Defence:
[205] "Where is the Pow'r ſhall reach them there?
"Or what ſhall force them thence"?
6
Enough, my Gracious Lord,
Let Faith triumphant cry;
My Heart can on this Promiſe live,
Can on this Promiſe die.
CCXXXII. CHRIST's Sheep given by the Father, and guarded by Omnipotence. John x. 29, 30.
1
IN one harmonious chearful Song,
Ye happy Saints, combine;
Loud let it ſound from ev'ry Tongue,
The Saviour is divine.
2
The leaſt, the feebleſt of the Sheep
To him the Father gave;
Kind is his Heart the Charge to keep,
And ſtrong his Arm to ſave.
3
In Chriſt th' Almighty Father dwells,
And Chriſt and he are One;
That Rebel-Pow'r, which Chriſt aſſails,
Attacks th' eternal Throne.
4
That Hand, which Heav'n and Earth ſuſtains,
And bars the Gates of Hell,
And rivets Satan down in Chains,
Shall guard his Choſen well.
5
Now let th' infernal Lion roar,
How vain his Threats appear!
When he can match Jehovah's Pow'r,
I will begin to fear.
CCXXXIII. The attractive Influence of a crucified Saviour. John xii. 32.
[206]1
BEHOLD th' amazing Sight,
The Saviour lifted high!
Behold the Son of GOD'S Delight
Expire in Agony!
2
For whom, for whom, my Heart,
Were all theſe Sorrows borne?
Why did he feel that piercing Smart,
And meet that various Scorn?
3
For Love of us he bled,
And all in Torture died:
'Twas Love, that bow'd his fainting Head,
And op'd his guſhing Side.
4
I ſee, and I adore
In Sympathy of Love:
I feel the ſtrong attractive Pow'r
To lift my Soul above.
5
Drawn by ſuch Cords as theſe,
Let all the Earth combine
With chearful Ardour to confeſs
The Energy divine.
6
In Thee our Hearts unite,
Nor ſhare thy Griefs alone,
But from thy Croſs perſue their Flight
To thy triumphant Throne.
CCXXXIV. CHRIST'S myſterious Conduct to be unfolded hereafter. John xiii. 7.
1
JESUS, we own thy ſov'reign Hand,
Thy faithful Care we own;
[207] Wiſdom and Love are all thy Ways,
When moſt to us unknown.
2
By Thee the Springs of Life were form'd,
And by thy Breath are broke,
And good is ev'ry awful Word,
Our gracious Lord hath ſpoke.
3
To Thee we yield our Comforts up,
To Thee our Lives reſign;
In Straits and Dangers rich and ſafe,
If we and ours are Thine.
4
Thy Saints in earlier Life remov'd
In ſweeter Accents ſing;
And bleſs the Swiftneſs of their Flight,
That bore them to their King.
5
The Burdens of a lengthen'd Day
With Patience we would bear;
Till Ev'ning's welcome Hour ſhall ſhew,
We were our Maſter's Care.
CCXXXV. CHRIST'S Pity and Conſolation for his troubled Diſciples. John xiv. 1-3.
1
PEACE, all ye Sorrows of the Heart,
And all my Tears be dry;
That Chriſtian ne'er can be forlorn,
That views his Jeſus nigh.
2
"Let not your Boſoms throb, (he ſays)
"Nor be your Souls afraid:
"Truſt in your GOD'S almighty Name,
"And truſt your Saviour's Aid.
[208]3
"Fair Manſions in my Father's Houſe
"For all his Children wait;
"And I, your elder Brother, go
"To open wide the Gate.
4
"And if I thither go before
"A Dwelling to prepare,
"I ſurely ſhall return again,
"That I may fix you there.
5
"United in eternal Love,
"My Choſen ſhall remain,
"And with rejoicing Hearts ſhall ſhare
"The Honours of my Reign".
6
Yes, Lord; thy gracious Words we hear,
And cordial Joys they bring:
Frail Nature may extort a Groan,
But Faith ſhall learn to ſing.
CCXXXVI. The Chriſtian's Life connected with that of CHRIST. John xiv. -19.
1
THE Cov'nant of a Saviour's Love
Shall ſtand for ever good,
And thus his Life ſhall guard the Souls,
He purchas'd with his Blood.
2
"I live for ever, (ſaith the Lord)
"And you ſhall therefore live;
"Receive with Pleaſure ev'ry Pledge
"My Pow'r and Love can give".
3
We own the Promiſe, Prince of Grace,
Tho' earthly Helpers die;
[209] And animate our fainting Hearts,
While Chriſt our Friend is nigh.
4
The King of Fears can do no more
Than ſtop our mortal Breath;
But Jeſus gives a nobler Life,
That cannot yield to Death.
CCXXXVII. Abiding in CHRIST neceſſary to our Fruitfulneſs. John xv. 4.
1
LORD of the Vineyard, we adore
That Pow'r and Grace divine,
Which plants our wild, our barren Souls
In Chriſt the living Vine.
2
For ever may they there abide,
And from that vital Root
Be Influence ſpread thro' ev'ry Branch
To form and feed the Fruit.
3
Shine forth, my GOD, the Cluſters warm
With Rays of ſacred Love;
Till Eden's Soil, and Zion's Streams
The gen'rous Plant improve.
CCXXXVIII. Our Prayers effectual, when we abide in CHRIST, and his Word abideth in us. John xv. 8.
1
HALL; gracious Saviour, All-divine!
Myſterious, ever-living Vine!
To Thee united may we live,
And nouriſh'd by thine Influence thrive.
[210]2
Still may our Souls in Thee abide,
Torn by no Tempeſts from thy Side;
Nor from its Place within our Heart
Thy Promiſe, or thy Law depart.
3
Then ſhall our Pray'rs accepted riſe,
Thro' Thee a grateful Sacrifice;
And all our Sighs before thy Throne
Deſcend in ample Bleſſings down.
4
In ſilent Hope our Souls ſhall wait
Their Penſion from thy Mercy's Gate;
Nor can our Lips or Hearts expreſs
A Wiſh proportion'd to thy Grace.
CCXXXIX. Continuing in CHRIST'S Love. John XV. 9.
1
TO all his Flock, what wond'rous Love
Doth our kind Shepherd bear?
As he to his great Father's Heart,
So we to his are dear.
2
So ſure, ſo conſtant, and ſo ſtrong
Do his Endearments prove:
O may their Energy prevail
To fix us in his Love.
3
No more let my divided Heart
From this bleſt Center turn;
But, fir'd by ſuch all-potent Rays,
With Flames immortal burn.
4
Deſcend, and all thy Pow'r diſplay,
And all thy Love reveal;
[211] That the warm Streams of Jeſus' Blood
This frozen Heart may feel.
CCXL. The Apoſtles and Chriſtians choſen by CHRIST to bring forth permanent Fruit. John xv. 16.
1
I Own, my GOD, thy ſov'reign Grace,
And bring the Praiſe to Thee;
If Thou my choſen Portion art,
Thou firſt haſt choſen me.
2
My gracious Counſellor and Guide
Will hear me when I pray;
Nor, while I urge a Saviour's Name,
Will frown my Soul away.
3
Bleſt Jeſus, animate my Heart
With Beams of heav'nly Love,
And teach that cold unthankful Soil
The heav'nly Seed t' improve.
4
In copious Show'rs thy Spirit ſend
To water all the Ground;
So to the Honour of thy Name
Shall laſting Fruit be found.
CCXLI. Peace in CHRIST amidſt Tribulations. John xvi. 33.
1
HEnceforth let each believing Heart
From anxious Sorrows ceaſe:
Tho' Storms of Trouble rage around,
In Jeſus we have Peace.
[212]2
His Blood from Wrath to come redeems,
And his almighty Grace,
By bitt'reſt Draughts of deep Diſtreſs,
Its healing Pow'r diſplays.
3
Jeſus, our Captain, march'd before
To lead us to the Fight;
And now he reacheth out the Crown
With heav'nly Glories bright.
4
Lord, 'tis enough; thy Voice we hear;
That Crown by Faith we ſee:
No Sorrows ſhall o'erwhelm our Souls,
Since none divide from Thee.
CCXLII. CHRIST ſanctifying himſelf, that his People may be ſanctified. John xvii. 19.
1
BEHOLD the bleeding Lamb of GOD,
Our ſpotleſs Sacrifice!
By Hands of barb'rous Sinners ſeiz'd,
Nail'd to the Croſs he dies.
2
Bleſt Jeſus, whence this ſtreaming Blood,
And whence this foul Diſgrace?
Whence all theſe pointed Thorns, that rend
Thy venerable Face?
3
"I ſanctify myſelf (he cries)
"That thou may'ſt holy be;
"Come, trace my Life; come, view my Death,
"And learn to copy Me".
4
Dear Lord, we pant for Holineſs,
And inbred Sin we mourn:
[213] To the bright Path of thy Commands
Our wand'ring Footſteps turn.
5
Not more ſincerely would we wiſh
To climb the heav'nly Hill,
Than here with all our utmoſt Pow'r
Thy Model to fulfill.
CCXLIII. Meditations on the Sepulchre in the Garden. John xix. 41.
1
THE Sepulchres, how thick they ſtand
Thro' all the Road on either Hand!
And burſt upon the ſtartling Sight
In ev'ry Garden of Delight!
2
Thither the winding Alleys tend;
There all the flow'ry Borders end;
And Forms, that charm'd the Eyes before,
Fragrance and Muſick are no more.
3
Deep in that damp and ſilent Cell
My Fathers, and my Brethren dwell;
Beneath its broad and gloomy Shade
My Kindred, and my Friends are laid.
4
But, while I tread the ſolemn Way,
My Faith that Saviour would ſurvey,
Who deign'd to ſojourn in the Tomb,
And left behind a rich Perfume.
5
My Thoughts with Extacy unknown,
While from his Grave they view his Throne,
Thro' mine own Sepulchre can ſee
A Paradiſe reſerv'd for me.
CCXLIV. CHRIST aſcending to his Father and GOD, and ours. John xx. 17.
[214]1
IN Raptures let our Hearts aſcend
Our heav'nly Seats to view,
And grateful trace that ſhining Path,
Our riſing Saviour drew.
2
"Up to my Father, and my GOD,
"I go; (the Conqu'ror cries)
"Up to your Father, and your GOD,
"My Brethren, lift your Eyes".
3
And doth the Lord of Glory call
Such Worms his Brethren dear?
And doth he point to Heav'n's high Throne,
And ſhew our Father there?
4
And doth he teach my ſinful Lips
That tuneful Sound, my GOD?
And breathe his Spirit on my Heart
To ſhed his Grace abroad?
5
O World, produce a Good like this,
And thou ſhalt have my Love;
Till then, my Father claims it all,
And Chriſt, who dwells above.
6
Dear Jeſus, call this willing Soul,
That ſtruggles with its Clay;
And fain would leave this weary Load
To wing its airy Way.
CCXLV. The Diſciples Joy at CHRIST'S Ap⯑pearance to them after his Reſurrection. John xx. 19, 20.
[215]1
COME, our indulgent Saviour, come,
Illuſtrious Conqu'ror o'er the Tomb:
Here thine aſſembled Servants bleſs,
And fill our Hearts with ſacred Peace.
2
O come Thy-ſelf, moſt gracious Lord,
With all the Joy thy Smiles afford;
Reveal the Luſtre of thy Face,
And make us feel thy vital Grace.
3
With Rapture kneeling round we greet
Thy pierced Hands, thy wounded Feet;
And from the Scar, that marks thy Side,
We ſee our Life's warm Torrent glide.
4
Enter our Hearts, Redeemer bleſt;
Enter, thou ever-honour'd Gueſt,
Not for one tranſient Hour alone,
But there to fix thy laſting Throne.
5
Own this mean Dwelling as Thine own;
And; when our Life's laſt Hour is come,
Let us but die, as in thy Sight,
And Death ſhall vaniſh in Delight.
CCXLVI. Appeal to CHRIST for the Sincerity of Love to him. John xxi. 15.
1
DO not I love Thee, O my Lord?
Behold my Heart and ſee;
[216] And turn each curſed Idol out,
That dures to rival Thee.
2
Do not I love Thee from my Soul?
Then let me Nothing love:
Dead be my Heart to ev'ry Joy,
When Jeſus cannot move.
3
Is not thy Name melodious ſtill
To mine attentive Ear?
Doth not each Pulſe with Pleaſure bound
My Saviour's Voice to hear?
4
Haſt Thou a Lamb in all thy Flock,
I would diſdain to feed?
Haſt Thou a Foe, before whoſe Face
I fear thy Cauſe to plead?
5
Would not mine ardent Spirit vie ‡
With Ange's round the Throne,
To execute thy ſacred Will,
And make thy Glory known?
6
Would not my Heart pour forth its Blood
In Honour of thy Name?
And challenge the cold Hand of Death
To damp th' immortal Flame?
7
Thou know'ſt I love Thee, Deareſt Lord:
But O! I long to ſoar
Far from the Sphere of mortal Joys,
And learn to love Thee more.
CCXLVII. Zeal for the Cauſe of CHRIST; or Peter and John following their Maſter. John xxi. 18-20 ‖.
[217]1
BLeſt Men, who ſtretch their willing Hands,
Submiſſive to their Lord's Commands,
And yield their Liberty and Breath
To him, that lov'd their Souls in Death!
2
Lead me to ſuffer, and to die,
If Thou, my gracious Lord, art nigh:
One Smile from Thee my Heart ſhall fire,
And teach me ſmiling to expire.
3
If Nature at the Trial ſhake,
And from the Croſs or Flames draw back,
Grace can its ſeeble Courage raiſe,
And turn its Tremblings into Praiſe.
4
While ſcarce I dare, with Peter, ſay,
"I'll boldly tread the bleeding Way",
Yet in thy Steps, like John, I'd move
With humble Hope, and ſilent Love.
CCXLVIII. CHRIST exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour. Acts v. 31.
1
EXALTED Prince of Life, we own
The royal Honours of thy Throne:
'Tis fix'd by GOD's Almighty Hand,
And Seraphs bow at thy Command.
[218]2
Exalted Saviour, we confeſs
The ſov'reign Triumphs of thy Grace;
Where Beams of gentle Radiance ſhine,
And temper Majeſty divine.
3
Wide thy reſiſtleſs Sceptre ſway,
Till all thine Enemies obey:
Wide may thy Croſs its Virtue prove,
And conquer Millions by its Love.
4
Mighty to vanquiſh, and forgive!
Thine Iſrael ſhall repent and live,
And loud proclaim thy healing Breath,
Which works their Life, who wrought thy Death.
CCXLIX. The Believer committing his departing Spirit to JESUS. Acts vii. 59.
1
O Thou, that haſt Redemption wrought,
Patron of Souls, thy Blood hath bought,
To Thee our Spirits we commit,
Mighty to reſcue from the Pit.
2
Millions of bliſsful Souls above,
In Realms of Purity and Love,
With Songs of endleſs Praiſe proclaim
The Honours of thy faithful Name.
3
When all the Pow'rs of Nature fail'd,
Thine ever-conſtant Care prevail'd;
Courage and Joy thy Friendſhip ſpoke,
When ev'ry mortal Bond was broke.
4
We on that Friendſhip, Lord, repoſe,
The healing Balm of all our Woes;
[219] And we, when ſinking in the Grave,
Truſt thine Omnipotence to ſave.
5
O may our Spirits by thy Hand
Be gather'd to that happy Band,
Who, 'midſt the Bleſſings of thy Reign,
Loſe all Remembrance of their Pain.
6
In Raptures there divinely ſweet
Give us our Kindred-Souls to meet,
And wait with them that brighter Day,
Which all thy Triumph ſhall diſplay.
CCL. PETER's Admonition to SIMON MAGUS. Acts viii. 21-24.
1
SEARCHER of Hearts, before thy Face
I all my Soul diſplay;
And conſcious of its innate ‡ Arts
Intreat thy ſtrict Survey.
2
If lurking in its inmoſt Folds
I any Sin conceal,
O let a Ray of Light divine
The ſecret Guile reveal.
3
If tinctur'd with that odious Gall
Unknowing I remain,
Let Grace, like a pure ſilver Stream,
Waſh out th' accurſed Stain.
4
If in theſe fatal Fetters bound
A wretched Slave I lie,
Smite off my Chains, and wake my Soul
To Light and Liberty.
[220]5
To humble Penitence and Pray'r
Be gentle Pity giv'n,
Speak ample Pardon to my Heart,
And ſeal its Claim to Heav'n.
CCLI. The Deſcent of the Spirit, or his Influences deſired. Acts x. 44.
1
GREAT Father of each perfect Gift,
Behold thy Servants wait;
With longing Eyes, and lifted Hands
We flock around thy Gate.
2
O ſhed abroad that royal Gift,
Thy Spirit from above,
To bleſs our Eyes with ſacred Light,
And fire our Hearts with Love.
3
With ſpeedy Flight may he deſcend,
And ſolid Comſort bring,
And o'er our languid Souls extend
His all-reviving Wing.
4
Bleſt Earneſt of eternal Joy,
Declare our Sins forgiv'n;
And bear with Energy divine
Our raptur'd Thoughts to Heav'n.
5
Diffuſe, O GOD, theſe copious Show'rs,
That Earth its Fruit may yield,
And change this barren Wilderneſs
To Carmel's flow'ry Field §.
CCLII. The Word of Salvation ſent to us. Acts xiii. 26.
[221]1
AND why do our admiring Eyes
Theſe Goſpel-Glories ſee?
And whence, doth ev'ry Heart reply,
Salvation ſent to me?
2
In fatal Shades of Midnight Gloom
Ten thouſand Wretches ſtray;
And Satan blinds ten thouſand more
Amidſt the Blaze of Day.
3
Millions of raging Souls beneath
In endleſs Anguiſh hear
Harmonious Sounds of Grace transform'd
To Ecchos of Deſpair.
4
And doſt Thou, LORD, ſubdue my Heart,
And ſhew my Sins forgiv'n,
And bear thy Witneſs to my Part
Amongſt the Heirs of Heav'n?
5
As the Redeemed of the LORD,
We ſing the Saviour's Name;
And, while the long Salvation laſts,
Its ſov'reign Grace proclaim.
CCLIII. The Unknown GOD. Acts xvii. 23.
1
THOU, mighty LORD, art GOD alone,
A King of Majeſty unknown;
And all thy dazling Glories riſe
Beyond the Reach of Angels Eyes.
[222]2
Yet thro' this Earth thy Works proclaim
Some Notice of thy rev'rend Name;
And, where thy gracious Goſpel ſhines,
We read it in the faireſt Lines.
3
But O! how few of Adam's Race
Have learn'd thy Nature and thy Ways!
While thouſands, ev'n in Lands of Light,
Are buried in Egyptian Night.
4
They tread thy Courts, thy Word they hear,
And to thy ſolemn Rites draw near;
Yet, tho' Salvation ſeems ſo nigh,
Becauſe they know not GOD, they die.
5
Send thy victorious Goſpel forth
Wide from theſe Regions of the North;
And thro' thy Churches Grace impart
To write thy Name on ev'ry Heart.
CCLIV. GOD's Command to all Men to repent. Acts xvii. 30.
1
REPENT, the Voice celeſtial cries,
Nor longer dare delay:
The Wretch that ſcorns the Mandate * dies,
And meets a fiery Day.
2
No more the ſov'reign Eye of GOD
O'erlooks the Crimes of Men;
His Heralds are diſpatch'd abroad
To warn the World of Sin.
3
The Summons reach thro' all the Earth;
Let Earth attend and fear:
[223] Liſten, ye Men of royal Birth,
And let their Vaſſals ‡ hear.
4
Together in his Preſence bow,
And all your Guilt confeſs;
Accept the offer'd Saviour now,
Nor trifle with the Grace.
5
Bow, e'er the awful Trumpet ſound,
And call you to his Bar;
For Mercy knows th' appointed Bound,
And turns to Vengeance there.
6
Amazing Love, that yet will call,
And yet prolong our Days!
Our Hearts ſubdu'd by Goodneſs fall,
And weep, and love, and praiſe.
CCLV. Paul's Sollicitude to finiſh his Courſe with Joy. Acts xx. 24.
1
ASSIST us, LORD, thy Name to praiſe
For this rich Goſpel of thy Grace;
And, that our Hearts may love it more,
Teach them to feel its vital Pow'r.
2
With Joy may we our Courſe perſue,
And keep the Crown of Life in View;
That Crown, which in one Hour repays
The Labour of ten thouſand Days.
3
Should Bonds or Death obſtruct our Way,
Unmov'd their Terrors we'll ſurvey;
And the laſt Hour improve for Thee,
The laſt of Life, or Liberty.
[224]4
Welcome thoſe Bonds, which may unite
Our Souls to their ſupreme Delight!
Welcome that Death, whoſe painful Strife
Bears us to Chriſt our better Life.
CCLVI. Paul preaching and Felix trembling. Acts xxiv. 25.
1
GREAT Sov'reign of the human Heart,
Thy mighty Energy impart,
Which darts at once thro' Breaſts of Steel,
And makes the nether Milſtone
the hardeſt Hearts, Job xli. 24.
feel.2
Let Sinners tremble at thy Word,
Struck by the Terrors of the LORD;
And, while they tremble, let them flee,
And ſeek their Help, their Life from Thee.
3
O let them ſeize the preſent Day,
Nor riſk Salvation by Delay:
To-morrow, LORD, to Thee belongs;
This Night may vindicate thy Wrongs.
4
This Night may ſtop their fleeting Breath,
And ſeal them to eternal Death,
May veil Redemption from their Sight,
And give them Flames inſtead of Light.
5
Or ſhould ſucceeding Years remain,
Years, with their Sabbaths, all in vain
Before their darken'd Eyes may roll,
And more obdurate leave the Soul.
6
Great Saviour, let thy Pity riſe,
And make the wretched Triflers wiſe;
[225] Leſt Pangs and Tremblings felt in vain
Haſten and feed immortal Pain.
CCLVII. Help obtained of GOD. Acts xxvi. 22-.
For New-Year's-Day.
1
GREAT GOD, we ſing that mighty Hand,
By which ſupported ſtill we ſtand:
The op'ning Year thy Mercy ſhews;
That Mercy crowns it, till it cloſe.
2
By Day, by Night, at Home, Abroad,
Still are we guarded by our GOD,
By his inceſſant Bounty fed,
By his unerring Counſel led.
3
With grateful Hearts the Paſt we own;
The Future, all to us unknown,
We to thy guardian Care commit,
And peaceful leave before thy Feet.
4
In Scenes exalted or depreſs'd
Thou art our Joy, and Thou our Reſt:
Thy Goodneſs all our Hopes ſhall raiſe,
Ador'd thro' all our changing Days.
5
When Death ſhall interrupt theſe Songs,
And ſeal in Silence mortal Tongues,
Our Helper GOD, in whom we truſt,
In better Worlds our Souls ſhall boaſt.
CCLVIII. Treaſuring up Wrath by deſpiſing Mercy. Romans ii. 4, 5.
1
UNgrateful Sinners, whence this Scorn
Of long-extended Grace?
[226] And whence this Madneſs, that inſults
Th' Almighty to his Face?
2
Is it becauſe his Patience waits,
And pitying Bowels move,
You multiply audacious Crimes,
And ſpurn his richeſt Love?
3
Is all the treaſur'd Wrath ſo ſmall,
You labour ſtill for more,
Tho' not eternal rolling Years
Can e'er exhauſt the Store?
4
Swift doth the Day of Vengeance come,
That muſt your Sentence ſeal;
And righteous Judgment now unknown
In all its Pomp reveal.
5
Alarm'd and melted at thy Voice,
Our conquer'd Hearts would bow;
And, to eſcape the Thund'rer then,
Embrace the Saviour now.
CCLIX. The Love of GOD ſhed abroad in the Heart by the Spirit. Rom. v. 5.
1
DESCEND, immortal Dove;
Spread thy kind Wings abroad,
And, wrapt in Flames of holy Love,
Bear all my Soul to GOD.
2
Jeſus my Lord reveal
In Charms of Grace divine,
And be thyſelf the ſacred Seal,
That Pearl of Price is mine.
[227]3
Behold my Heart expands
To catch the heav'nly Fire;
It longs to feel the gentle Bands,
And groans with ſtrong Deſire.
4
Thy Love, my GOD, appears,
And brings Salvation down,
My Cordial thro' this Vale of Tears,
In Paradiſe my Crown.
CCLX. Chriſtians quickened and raiſed by the Spirit. Rom. viii. 11.
1
WHY ſhould our mourning Thoughts [delight
To grovel in the Duſt?
Or why ſhould Streams of Tears unite
Around th' expiring Juſt?
2
Did not the Lord our Saviour die,
And triumph o'er the Grave?
Did not our Lord aſcend on high,
And prove his Pow'r to ſave?
3
Doth not the ſacred Spirit come,
And dwell in all the Saints?
And ſhould the Temples of his Grace
Reſound with long Complaints?
4
Awake, my Soul, and like the Sun
Burſt thro' each ſable Cloud;
And thou, my Voice, tho' broke with Sighs,
Tune forth thy Songs aloud.
5
The Spirit rais'd my Saviour up,
When he had bled for me;
[228] And ſpite of Death and Hell ſhall raiſe
Thy pious Friends and thee.
6
Awake, ye Saints, that dwell in Duſt,
Your Hymns of Vict'ry ſing;
And let his dying Servants truſt
Their ever-living King.
CCLXI. GOD's Readineſs to give all Things ar⯑gued from the Gift of his Son. Rom. viii. 32.
1
NOW let my Soul with Tranſport riſe,
And range thro' Earth, and mount the ſkies,
And view each various Form of Good,
Where Angels hold their high Abode.
2
I give my Thoughts unbounded Scope;
On equal Pinions ſoars my Hope;
My Faith at nobleſt Objects aims,
And what ſhe ſees, ſhe humbly claims.
3
Hath not the bounteous King of Heav'n
From his Embrace already giv'n
That Son of his eternal Love,
Who fill'd the brighteſt Throne above?
4
Behold his Hand on Jeſus laid!
Behold that Lamb a Victim made!
And what ſhall Mercy hold too good
For Sinners, ranſom'd with his Blood?
5
My Soul, with heav'nly Faith embrace
The ſacred Cov'nant of his Grace;
Then in delightful Silence wait
The Iſſues of a Love ſo great.
CCLXII. Believing with the Heart, and confeſſing with the Mouth, neceſſary to Salvation. Rom. x. 6-10.
[229]1
AND is Salvation brought ſo near,
Where ſinful Men expiring lie?
Triumph, my Soul, the Sound to hear,
And ſhout it joyous to the Sky.
2
I aſk not, who to Heav'n ſhall ſcale,
That Chriſt the Saviour thence may come;
Or who Earth's inmoſt Depths aſſail
To bring him from the dreary Tomb.
3
From Heav'n on Wings of Love he flew,
And Conqu'ror from the Tomb he ſprung:
My Heart believes the Witneſs true,
And dictates to my faithful Tongue.
4
I ſing Salvation brought ſo near,
No more on Earth expiring lie;
I teach the World my Joys to hear,
And ſhout them to the ecchoing Sky.
CCLXIII. The living Sacrifice. Rom. xii. 1.
1
AND will th' eternal King
So mean a Gift regard?
That Off'ring, LORD, with Joy we bring,
Which thine own Hand prepar'd.
2
We own thy various Claim,
And to thine Altar move,
The willing Victims of thy Grace,
And bound with Cords of Love.
[230]3
Deſcend, celeſtial Fire,
The Sacrifice inflame;
So ſhall a grateful Odour riſe
Thro' our Redeemer's Name.
CCLXIV. The near Approach of Salvation, an Engagement to Diligence and Love. Rom. xiii. 11.
1
AWake, ye Saints, and raiſe your Eyes,
And raiſe your Voices high;
Awake, and praiſe that ſov'reign Love,
That ſhews Salvation nigh.
2
On all the Wings of Time it flies;
Each Moment brings it near;
Then welcome each declining Day!
Welcome each cloſing Year!
3
Not many Years their Round ſhall run,
Nor many Mornings riſe,
E'er all its Glories ſtand reveal'd
To our admiring Eyes.
4
Ye Wheels of Nature, ſpeed your Courſe;
Ye mortal Pow'rs, decay;
Faſt as ye bring the Night of Death,
Ye bring eternal Day.
CCLXV. The GOD of Peace bruiſing Satan. Rom. xvi. 20-.
1
YE Armies of the living GOD,
In his all-conqu'ring Name,
[231] Lift up your Banners, and aloud
Your Leader's Grace proclaim.
2
What tho' the Prince of Hell invade
With Show'rs of fiery Darts,
And join, to the fierce Lion's Roar,
The Serpent's wily Arts?
3
Jeſus, who leads his Hoſts to War,
Shall tread the Monſter down,
And ev'ry faithful Soldier ſhare
The Triumph and the Crown.
4
So Iſrael on the haughty Necks
Of Canaan's Tyrants trod,
And ſung their Joſhua's conqu'ring Sword,
And ſung their faithful GOD ‡.
CCLXVI. CHRIST our Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, and Redemption. 1 Corinth. i. 30, 31.
1
MY GOD, aſſiſt me, while I raiſe
An Anthem of harmonious Praiſe;
My Heart thy Wonders ſhall proclaim,
And ſpread its Banners in thy Name.
2
In Chriſt I view a Store divine:
My Father, all that Store is Thine;
By Thee prepar'd, by Thee beſtow'd;
Hail to the Saviour, and the GOD!
3
When gloomy Shades my Soul o'er-ſpread,
"Let there be Light" th' Almighty ſaid;
[232] And Chriſt, my Sun, his Beams diſplays,
And ſcatters round celeſtial Rays.
4
Condemn'd thy Criminal I ſtood,
And awful Juſtice aſk'd my Blood;
That welcome Saviour from thy Throne
Brought Righteouſneſs and Pardon down.
5
My Soul was all o'er-ſpread with Sin,
And lo! his Grace hath made me clean:
He reſcues from th' infernal Foe,
And full Redemption will beſtow.
6
Ye Saints, aſſiſt my grateful Tongue:
Ye Angels, warble back my Song:
For Love like this demands the Praiſe
Of heav'nly Harps, and endleſs Days.
CCLXVII. Being joined to CHRIST, and one Spirit with him. 1. Cor. vi. 17.
1
MY Saviour, I am Thine
By everlaſting Bands;
My Name, my Heart I would reſign,
My Soul is in thy Hands.
2
To Thee I ſtill would cleave
With ever-growing Zeal;
Let Millions tempt me Chriſt to leave,
They never ſhall prevail.
3
His Spirit ſhall unite
My Soul to him, my Head;
Shall from me to his Image bright,
And teach his Path to tread.
[233]4
Death may my Soul divide
From this Abode of Clay;
But Love ſhall keep me near his Side
Thro' all the gloomy Way.
5
Since Chriſt and we are One,
What ſhould remain to fear?
If he in Heav'n hath fix'd his Throne,
He'll fix his Members there.
CCLXVIII. The tranſitory Nature of the World, an Argument for chriſtian Moderation. 1 Cor. vii. 29, 30, 31.
1
SPRING up, my Soul, with ardent Flight,
Nor let this Earth delude thy Sight
With glitt'ring Trifles gay and vain:
Wiſdom divine directs thy View
To Objects ever grand and new,
And Faith diſplays the ſhining Train.
2
Be dead, my Hopes, to all below;
Nor let unbounded Torrents flow,
When mourning o'er my wither'd Joys:
So this deceitful World is known;
Poſſeſs'd I call it not mine own,
Nor glory in its painted Toys.
3
The empty Pageant rolls along;
The giddy unexperienc'd Throng
Perſue it with enchanted Eyes;
[234] It paſſeth in ſwift March away,
Still more and more its Charms decay,
Till the laſt gaudy Colour dies *.
4
My GOD, to Thee my Soul ſhall turn;
For Thee my nobleſt Paſſions burn,
And drink in Bliſs from Thee alone:
I fix on that unchanging Home,
Where never-fading Pleaſures bloom,
Freſh ſpringing round thy radiant Throne.
CCLXIX. GOD's Fidelity in moderating Temp⯑tations. 1 Cor. x. 13.
1
NOW let the Feeble all be ſtrong,
And make Jehovah's Arm their Song:
His Shield is ſpread o'er ev'ry Saint,
And thus ſupported, who ſhall faint?
2
What tho' the Hoſts of Hell engage
With mingled Cruelty and Rage?
A faithful GOD reſtrains their Hands,
And chains them down in Iron Bands.
3
Bound by his Word he will diſplay
A Strength proportion'd to our Day;
And, when united Trials meet,
Will ſhew a Path of ſafe Retreat.
4
Thus far we prove that Promiſe good,
Which Jeſus ratified with Blood:
[235] Still is He gracious, wiſe, and juſt,
And ſtill in him let Iſrael truſt.
CCLXX. Bearing the Image of the earthy and the heavenly Adam. 1 Cor. xv. 49.
1
WITH flowing Eyes and bleeding Hearts
A blaſted World ſurvey!
See the wide Ruin Sin hath wrought
In one unhappy Day!
2
Adam, in GOD's own Image form'd,
From GOD and Bliſs eſtrang'd,
And all the Joys of Paradiſe
For Guilt and Horror chang'd!
3
Ages of Labour and of Grief
He mourn'd his Glory loſt;
At length the goodlieſt Work of Heav'n
Sunk down to common Duſt.
4
O fatal Heritage bequeath'd
To all his helpleſs Race!
Thro' the thick Maze of Sin and Woe
Thus to the Grave we paſs.
5
But, O my Soul, with Rapture hear
The ſecond Adam's Name;
And the celeſtial Gifts, he brings
To all his Seed, proclaim.
6
In Holineſs and Joy compleat
He reigns to endleſs Years,
And each adopted choſen Child
His ſplendid Image wears.
[236]7
What tho' in mortal Life they mourn?
What tho' by Death they fall?
Jeſus in one triumphant Day
Transforms and crowns them all.
8
Praiſe to his rich myſterious Grace!
Ev'n by our Fall we riſe;
And gain, for earthly Eden loſt,
A heav'nly Paradiſe.
CCLXXI. Miniſters comforted, that they may com⯑fort others. 2 Cor. i. 4.
1
FOUNTAIN of Comfort and of Love,
Thy Streams, how free they flow!
Firſt water all the World above,
Then viſit us below!
2
From Chriſt, the Head, what Grace deſcends
To cheriſh ev'ry Part!
He ſhares his Joys with all his Friends,
For all have ſhar'd his Heart.
3
What tho' the Sorrows here they feel
Are manifold and great?
He brings new Conſolations ſtill,
As various, and as ſweet.
4
He ſhews our num'rous Sins forgiv'n,
And ſhews our Cov'nant-GOD;
He witneſſeth our Right to Heav'n,
The Purchaſe of his Blood.
5
Tho' Earth and Hell againſt us join,
In Him we are ſecure;
[237] Our Diadems ſhall brighter ſhine
For all we now endure.
6
On ev'ry faithful Shepherd's Breaſt,
LORD, ſend theſe Comforts down;
That they may lead thy Flock to Reſt,
Which their own Souls have known.
CCLXXII. GOD's delivering Goodneſs acknow⯑ledged, and truſted. 2 Cor. i. 10.
A Song for the 5th of November.
1
PRAISE to the LORD, whoſe mighty Hand
So oft reveal'd hath ſav'd our Land;
And, when united Nations roſe,
Hath ſham'd and ſcourg'd our haughtieſt Foes.
2
When mighty Navies from afar
To Britain waſted floating War,
His Breath diſpers'd them all with Eaſe,
And ſunk their Terror in the Seas ‡.
3
While for our Princes they prepare
In Caverns deep a burning Snare;
He ſhot from Heav'n a piercing Ray,
And the dark Treach'ry brought to Day §.
4
Princes and Prieſts again combine
New Chains to forge, new Snares to twine;
Again our gracious GOD appears,
And breaks their Chains, and cuts their Snares.
[238]5
Obedient Winds at his Command
Convey his Hero to our Land;
The Sons of Rome with Terror view,
And ſpeed their Flight, when none perſue ‖.
6
Such great Deliv'rance GOD hath wrought,
And down to us Salvation brought;
And ſtill the Care of Guardian-Heav'n
Secures the Bliſs itſelf hath giv'n.
7
In Thee we truſt, Almighty LORD,
Continu'd Reſcue to afford:
Still be thy pow'rful Arm made bare,
For all thy Servants Hopes are there.
CCLXXIII. Miniſters a ſweet Savour, whether of Life or Death. 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16.
1
PRAISE to the LORD on high,
Who ſpreads his Triumphs wide!
While Jeſus' fragrant Name
Is breath'd on ev'ry Side:
Balmy and rich
The Odours riſe,
And fill the Earth,
And reach the Skies.
2
Ten thouſand dying Souls
Its Influence feel and live;
Sweeter than vital Air
The Incenſe they receive:
They breathe anew,
And riſe and ſing
Jeſus the Lord,
Their conqu'ring King.
[239]3
But Sinners ſcorn the Grace,
That brings Salvation nigh;
They turn their Face away,
And faint, and fall, and die:
So ſad a Doom,
Ye Saints, deplore,
For O! they fall
To riſe no more.
4
Yet, wiſe and mighty GOD,
Shall all thy Servants be,
In thoſe, who live or die,
A Savour ſweet to Thee:
Supremely bright
Thy Grace ſhall ſhine,
Guarded with Flames
Of Wrath divine.
CCLXXIV. GOD ſhining into the Heart. 2 Cor. iv. 6.
1
PRAISE to the LORD of boundleſs Might,
With uncreated Glories bright!
His Preſence gilds the Worlds above;
Th' unchanging Source of Light and Love.
2
Our riſing Earth his Eye beheld,
When in ſubſtantial Darkneſs veil'd;
The ſhapeleſs Chaos, Nature's Womb,
Lay buried in eternal Gloom ‡.
3
Let there be Light, JEHOVAH ſaid,
And Light o'er all its Face was ſpread:
[240] Nature, array'd in Charms unknown,
Gay with its new-born Luſtre ſhone.
4
He ſees the Mind, when loſt it lies
In Shades of Ignorance and Vice;
And darts from Heav'n a vivid § Ray,
And changes Midnight into Day.
5
Shine, mighty GOD, with Vigour ſhine,
On this benighted Heart of mine;
And let thy Glories ſtand reveal'd,
As in the Saviour's Face beheld.
6
My Soul reviv'd by Heav'n-born Day,
Thy radiant Image ſhall diſplay,
While all my Faculties unite
To praiſe the LORD, who gives me Light.
CCLXXV. The Goſpel Treaſure in earthen Veſſels, 2 Cor. iv. 7.
1
HOW rich thy Bounty, King of Kings!
Thy Favours how divine!
The Bleſſings which thy Goſpel brings,
How ſplendidly they ſhine!
2
Gold is but Droſs, and Gems but Toys,
Should Gold and Gems compare;
How mean, when ſet againſt thoſe Joys,
Thy pooreſt Servants ſhare?
3
Yet all theſe Treaſures of thy Grace
Are lodg'd in Urns ‡ of Clay;
[241] And the weak Sons of mortal Race
Th' immortal Gifts convey.
4
Feebly they liſp thy Glories forth;
Yet Grace the Vict'ry gives:
Quickly they moulder back to Earth;
Yet ſtill thy Goſpel lives.
5
Such Wonders Pow'r divine effects;
Such Trophies § GOD can raiſe;
His Hand from crumbling Duſt erects,
Long Monuments of Praiſe.
CCLXXVI. Living to him, who died for us. 2 Cor. v. 14, 15.
1
MY Lord, didſt Thou endure ſuch Smart
My Life, when forfeited, to ſave?
And didſt Thou bear upon thy Heart
My Name, when riſing from the Grave?
2
Am I in thy Remembrance ſtill,
'Midſt all the Glories of thy Throne?
To form thy Servant to thy Will,
And fix my Dwelling near thine own?
3
What can a feeble Worm repay
For Love ſo infinite as Thine?
The Torrent bears my Soul away,
Th' impetuous Stream of Grace divine ‡.
[242]4
To Thee, my Lord, it bears me on;
Self ſhall be deify'd § no more;
By Self betray'd, by Self undone,
I live by thy recov'ring Pow'r.
5
Accept a Soul ſo dearly bought,
Bought by thy Life upon the Tree;
A Soul which, by thy Spirit taught,
Knows no Delight, but ſerving Thee.
CCLXXVII. GOD the Author of Conſolation. 2 Cor. vii. 6.
1
THE LORD, how rich his Comforts are!
How wide they ſpread! How high they riſe!
He pours in Balm to bleeding Hearts,
And wipes the Tears from flowing Eyes.
2
I have no Hope, my Spirit cried,
Juſt trembling on the Brink of Hell;
I am thy Hope, the LORD replied,
My Love ſecures its Fav'rites well.
3
My grateful Soul ſhall ſpeak his Praiſe,
Who turns its Tremblings into Songs;
And thoſe that mourn ſhall learn from me,
Salvation to our GOD belongs.
CCLXXVIII. Satan's Strong-Holds caſt down by the Goſpel. 2 Cor. x. 4, 5.
1
SHOUT, for the Battlements are fall'n,
Which Heav'n itſelf defy'd!
[243] Th' aſpiring Tow'rs, diſmantled ‡ all,
Now ſpread their Ruins wide!
2
Thy wondrous Trumpets, Prince of Peace,
Sent forth their mighty Sound;
The Strength of Jericho was ſtruck,
And totter'd to the Ground §.
3
No more proud Reas'nings ſhall diſpute
What Truth divine declares;
No more Self-Righteouſneſs to plead
Its own Perfection dares.
4
No Strength our ruin'd Pow'rs can boaſt
Thy Precepts to fulfill:
No Liberty we aſk or wiſh
For our rebellious Will.
5
The Gates we open to admit
The Saviour's gentle Sway:
Bleſt Jeſus, 'tis thy Right to reign,
Our Pleaſure to obey.
6
Each Thought in ſweet Subjection held
Thy ſov'reign Pow'r ſhall own;
And ev'ry Traitor ſhall be ſlain,
That dares diſpute the Throne.
CCLXXIX. The Chriſtian Farewel. 2 Cor. xiii. 11.
1
THY Preſence, Everlaſting GOD,
Wide o'er all Nature ſpreads abroad;
Thy watchful Eyes, which cannot ſleep,
In ev'ry Place thy Children keep.
[244]2
While near each other we remain,
Thou doſt our Lives and Souls ſuſtain;
When abſent, happy if we ſhare
Thy Smiles, thy Counſels, and thy Care.
3
To Thee we all our Ways commit,
And ſeek our Comforts near thy Feet;
Still on our Souls vouchſafe to ſhine,
And guard and guide us ſtill as Thine.
4
Give us in thy beloved Houſe
Again to pay our grateful Vows;
Or, if that Joy no more be known,
Give us to meet around thy Throne.
CCLXXX. Living while in the Fleſh by Faith in CHRIST, who loved us, &c. Galat. ii. 20.
1
MY Jeſus, while in mortal Fleſh
I hold my frail Abode,
Still would my Spirit reſt on Thee,
Its Saviour, and its God.
2
By hourly Faith in Thee I live
'Midſt all my Griefs and Snares;
And Death, encounter'd in thy Sight,
No Form of Horror wears.
3
Yes, Thou haſt lov'd this ſinful Worm,
Haſt giv'n thyſelf for me,
Haſt bought me from eternal Death,
Nail'd to the bloody Tree.
4
On thy dear Croſs I fix mine Eyes,
Then raiſe them to thy Seat;
Till Love diſſolve mine inmoſt Soul,
At its Redeemer's Feet.
[245]5
Be dead, my Heart, to worldly Charms;
Be dead to ev'ry Sin;
And tell the boldeſt Foes without,
That Jeſus reigns within.
6
My Life with his connected ſtands,
Nor aſks a ſurer Ground;
He keeps me in his gracious Arms,
Where Heav'n itſelf is found.
CCLXXXI. A filial Temper the Work of the Spirit, and a Proof of Adoption. Galat. iv. 6.
1
SOV'REIGN of all the Worlds on high,
Allow my humble Claim;
Nor, while a Worm would raiſe its Head,
Diſdain a Father's Name.
2
My Father GOD! How ſweet the Sound!
How tender, and how dear!
Not all the Melody of Heav'n
Could ſo delight the Ear.
3
Come, ſacred Spirit, ſeal the Name
On mine expanding Heart;
And ſhew, that in Jehovah's Grace
I ſhare a filial Part.
4
Chear'd by a Signal ſo divine,
Unwav'ring I believe;
Thou know'ſt I Abba, Father, cry,
Nor can the Sign deceive.
5
On Wings of everlaſting Love
The Comforter is come;
[246] All Terrors at his Voice diſperſe,
And endleſs Pleaſures bloom.
CCLXXXII. Chriſtian Sympathy. Galat. vi. 2.
1
HAIL, everlaſting Prince of Peace!
Hail, Governor divine!
How gracious is thy Sceptre's Sway!
What gentle Laws are thine!
2
His tender Heart with Love o'erflow'd,
Love ſpoke in ev'ry Breath;
Vig'rous it reign'd thro' all his Life,
And triumph'd in his Death.
3
All theſe united Charms he ſhews,
Our frozen Souls to move;
This Proof of Love to him demands,
That we each other love.
4
O be the ſacred Law fulfill'd
In ev'ry Act, and Thought;
Each angry Paſſion far remov'd,
Each ſelfiſh View forgot.
5
Be thou, my Heart, dilated wide
By thy Redeemer's Grace;
And in one Graſp of fervent Love
All Earth and Heav'n embrace.
CCLXXXIII. Bleſſing GOD for ſpiritual Bleſ⯑ſings in CHRIST. Ephes. i. 3.
1
LOUD be thy Name ador'd,
Thy Titles ſpread abroad,
[247] Of Chriſt our glorious Lord
The Father and the GOD!
Thro' ſuch a Son,
Thy Churches Head,
Thine Honours ſpread
O'er Worlds unknown.
2
Ten thouſand Gifts of Love
From Thee thro' him deſcend;
And bear our Souls above
To Joys that never end:
To Heav'n they ſoar,
Suſtain'd by GOD,
And thro' the Road
His Arm adore.
3
Ten thouſand Songs of Praiſe
Shall by the Saviour riſe,
And thro' eternal Days
Shall eccho round the Skies.
New Shouts we'll give,
And loud proclaim
The honour'd Name,
By which we live.
CCLXXXIV. The grand Scheme of the Goſpel. Ephes. i. 9, 10, 11-.
1
WE ſing the deep myſterious Plan,
Which GOD devis'd e'er Time began;
At length diſclos'd in all its Light.
We bleſs the wond'rous Birth of Love,
Which beams around us from above,
With Grace ſo free, and Hope ſo bright.
[248]2
Here has the wiſe eternal Mind
In Chriſt, their common Head, conjoin'd
Gentiles and Jews, and Earth and Heav'n.
Thro' him, from the great Father's Throne,
Rivers of Bliſs come rolling down,
And endleſs Peace and Life are giv'n.
3
No more the awful Cherubs guard
The Tree of Life with flaming Sword,
To drive aſar Man's trembling Race;
At Salem's pearly Gates they ſtand,
And ſmiling wait (a friendly Band!)
To welcome Strangers to the Place.
4
While we expect that glorious Sight,
Love ſhall our Hearts with theirs unite,
And ardent Hope our Boſoms raiſe:
From Earth's dark Vale, and Tongues of Clay,
To thoſe reſplendent Realms of Day,
We'll try to ſend the ſounding Praiſe.
CCLXXXV. The heavenly Inheritance made known by the Spirit. Eph. i. 18.
1
COME, Thou celeſtial Spirit, come,
And call my roving Paſſions home;
To mine enlighten'd Eyes diſplay
The Heritage of heav'nly Day.
2
My GOD, that Heritage is Thine:
How rich, how glorious, how divine!
How far above all mortal Things,
The little Pride of Courts and Kings.
3
Of endleſs Joy th' unbounded Store,
Why is its Luſtre known no more?
[249] Away, ye Miſts of envious Night,
That veil Salvation from my Sight!
4
Shine forth, Almighty Saviour, ſhine;
Shew the bright World, and ſhew it mine;
Then Paradiſe on Earth ſhall ſpring,
And mortal Worms like Angels ſing.
CCLXXXVI. Salvation by Grace. Eph. ii. 5.
1
GRACE! 'tis a charming Sound,
Harmonious to my Ear!
Heav'n with the Eccho ſhall reſound,
And all the Earth ſhall hear.
2
Grace firſt contriv'd a Way
To ſave rebellious Man,
And all the Steps that Grace diſplay,
Which drew the wond'rous Plan.
3
Grace taught my wand'ring Feet
To tread the heav'nly Road,
And new Supplies each Hour I meet,
While preſſing on to GOD.
4
Grace all the Work ſhall crown
Thro' everlaſting Days;
It lays in Heav'n the topmoſt Stone,
And well deſerves the Praiſe.
CCLXXXVII. Chriſtians riſen and exalted with CHRIST to heavenly Places. Eph. ii. 5, 6.
1
STUPENDOUS Grace! and can it be
Deſign'd for Rebels ſuch as we?
[250] O let our ardent Praiſes riſe,
High as our Hopes beyond the Skies!
2
This Fleſh, by righteous Vengeance ſlain,
Might ever in the Duſt remain:
Theſe guilty Spirits ſent to dwell
'Midſt all the Flames and Fiends
evil Spirits.
of Hell.3
But lo! incarnate Love deſcends;
Down to the Sepulchre it bends;
Riſing, it tears the Bars away,
And ſprings to its own native Day.
4
Then was our Sepulchre unbar'd;
Then was our Path to Glory clear'd;
Then, if that Saviour be our own,
Did we aſcend a heav'nly Throne.
5
A Moment ſhall our Joy compleat,
And fix us in that ſhining Seat,
Bought by the Pangs our Lord endur'd,
And by unchanging Truth ſecur'd.
6
O may that Love, in Strains ſublime,
Be ſung to the laſt Hour of Time!
And let Eternity confeſs,
Thro' all its Rounds, the matchleſs Grace.
CCLXXXVIII. Nearneſs to GOD thro' CHRIST. Eph. ii. 13.
1
AND are we now brought near to God,
Who once at Diſtance ſtood?
And to effect this glorious Change
Did Jeſus ſhed his Blood?
[251]2
O for a Song of ardent Praiſe
To bear our Souls above!
What ſhould allay our lively Hope,
Or damp our flaming Love?
3
Draw us, O LORD, with quick'ning Grace,
And bring us yet more near;
Here may we ſee thy Glories ſhine,
And taſte thy Mercies here.
4
O may that Love, which ſpread thy Board,
Diſpoſe us for the Feaſt;
May Faith behold a ſmiling GOD
Thro' Jeſus' bleeding Breaſt.
5
Fir'd with the View, our Souls ſhall riſe
In ſuch a Scene as this,
And view the happy Moment near,
That ſhall compleat our Bliſs.
CCLXXXIX. The Inſtitution of a Goſpel-Miniſtry from CHRIST. Eph. iv. 11, 12.
For an Ordination.
1
FATHER of Mercies, in thine Houſe
Smile on our Homage, and our Vows;
While with a grateful Heart we ſhare
Theſe Pledges of our Saviour's Care.
2
The Saviour, when to Heav'n he roſe
In ſplendid Triumph o'er his Foes,
Scatter'd his Gifts on Men below,
And wide his royal Bounties flow.
[252]3
Hence ſprung th' Apoſtles honour'd Name,
Sacred beyond heroick Fame;
Hence dictates the Prophetick Sage;
And hence the Evangelick Page.
4
In lowlier Forms to bleſs our Eyes
Paſtors from hence, and Teachers riſe;
Who, tho' with feebler Rays they ſhine,
Still gild a long-extended Line.
5
From Chriſt their varied Gifts derive,
And fed by Chriſt their Graces live:
While, guarded by his potent Hand,
'Midſt all the Rage of Hell they ſtand.
6
So ſhall the bright Succeſſion run
Thro' the laſt Courſes of the Sun;
While unborn Churches by their Care
Shall riſe and flouriſh large and fair.
7
Jeſus our Lord their Hearts ſhall know,
The Spring, whence all theſe Bleſſings flow:
Paſtors and People ſhout his Praiſe
Thro' the long Round of endleſs Days.
CCXC. CHRIST the Head of the Church. Eph. iv. 15, 16.
1
JESUS, I ſing thy matchleſs Grace,
That calls a Worm thine own;
Gives me among thy Saints a Place
To make thy Glories known.
2
Allied to Thee our vital Head,
We act, and grow, and thrive:
[253] From Thee divided, each is dead,
When moſt he ſeems alive.
3
Thy Saints on Earth, and thoſe above
Here join in ſweet Accord;
One Body all in mutual Love,
And Thou, our common Lord.
4
O may my Faith each Hour derive
Thy Spirit with Delight;
While Death and Hell in vain ſhall ſtrive
This Bond to diſunite.
5
Thou the whole Body wilt preſent
Before thy Father's Face;
Nor ſhall a Wrinkle or a Spot
Its beauteous Form diſgrace.
CCXCI. Love to others urged from CHRIST'S Love in giving himſelf a Sacrifice. Eph. v. 2.
1
NOW be that Sacrifice ſurvey'd,
That Ranſom which the Saviour paid;
That Sight familiar to my View,
Yet always wond'rous, always new.
2
The Lamb of GOD, that groan'd and bled,
And gently bow'd his dying Head;
While Love to Sinners fir'd his Heart,
And conquer'd all the killing Smart.
3
Bleſt Jeſus, while thy Grace I ſing,
What grateful Tribute ſhall I bring,
That Earth and Heav'n and Thou mayſt ſee
My Love to him, who died for me?
[254]4
That Off'ring, Lord, thy Word hath taught,
Nor be thy new Command forgot,
That, if their Maſter's Death can move,
Thy Servants ſhould each other love.
5
When to thy ſacred Croſs we fly,
There let each ſavage Paſſion die;
While the warm Streams of Blood divine
Melt our cold Hearts to Love like thine.
CCXCII. The Wiſdom of redeeming Time. Eph. v. 15, 16.
1
GOD of Eternity, from Thee
Did Infant Time his Being draw;
Moments and Days and Months and Years
Revolve by thine unvaried Law.
2
Silent and ſlow they glide away;
Steady and ſtrong the Current flows,
Loſt in Eternity's wild Sea,
The boundleſs Gulf, from whence it roſe.
3
With it the thoughtleſs Sons of Men
Before the rapid Stream are borne
On to that everlaſting Home,
Whence not one Soul can e'er return.
4
Yet while the Shore on either Side
Preſents a gaudy flatt'ring Shew,
We gaze, in fond Amazement loſt,
Nor think to what a World we go.
5
Great Source of Wiſdom, teach my Heart
To know the Price of ev'ry Hour;
[255] That Time may bear me on to Joys
Beyond its Meaſure, and its Pow'r.
CCXCIII. CHRIST'S Love to the Church in giving himſelf for it, &c. Eph. v. 25, 26, 27.
1
BRidegroom of Souls, how rich thy Love!
How gen'rous, how divine!
Our inmoſt Hearts it well may move,
While thus our Voices join.
2
Deform'd and wretched once we lay,
Worthy thy Hate and Scorn;
Yet Love like thine could find a Way
To reſcue and adorn.
3
Thou art our Ranſom; from thy Veins
A wond'rous Fountain flows
To waſh thy Bride from all her Stains,
And heal our deepeſt Woes.
4
Transform'd by thee, ev'n here below
Thy Church is bright and fair:
But O! how glorious ſhall ſhe ſhew,
When Jeſus ſhall appear!
5
Thine Eye ſhall all her Form ſurvey
With infinite Delight,
Confeſs'd, in that illuſtrious Day,
Unblemiſh'd in thy Sight.
CCXCIV. CHRIST'S Service, the Fruit of our Labours on Earth. Phil. i. 22.
1
MY gracious Lord, I own thy Right
To ev'ry Service I can pay;
[256] And call it my ſupreme Delight
To hear thy Dictates and obey.
2
What is my Being, but for Thee,
Its ſure Support, its nobleſt End?
Thine ever-ſmiling Face to ſee,
And ſerve the Cauſe of ſuch a Friend?
3
I would not breathe for worldly Joy,
Or to increaſe my worldly Good;
Nor future Days or Pow'rs employ
To ſpread a ſounding Name abroad.
4
'Tis to my Saviour I would live;
To Him, who for my Ranſom died,
Nor could untainted Eden give
Such Bliſs, as bloſſoms at his Side.
5
His Work my hoary Age ſhall bleſs,
When youthful Vigour is no more;
And my laſt Hour of Life confeſs
His Love hath animating Pow'r.
CCXCV. The Happineſs of departing, and being with CHRIST. Phil. i. 23.
1
WHILE on the Verge of Life I ſtand,
And view the Scene on either Hand,
My Spirit ſtruggles with its Clay,
And longs to wing its Flight away.
2
Where Jeſus dwells my Soul would be;
It ſaints my much-lov'd Lord to ſee:
Earth, twine no more about my Heart,
For 'tis far better to depart.
[257]3
Come, ye angelick Envoys §, come,
And lead the willing Pilgrim home:
Ye know the Way to Jeſus' Throne,
Source of my Joys, and of your own.
4
That bleſſed Interview, how ſweet!
To fall tranſported at his Feet!
Rais'd in his Arms to view his Face,
Thro' the full Beamings of his Grace!
5
To ſee Heav'ns ſhining Courtiers round,
Each with immortal Glories crown'd!
And, while his Form in each I trace,
Belov'd, and loving all t' embrace!
6
As with a Seraph's Voice to ſing!
To fly as on a Cherub's Wing!
Performing with unwearied Hands
A preſent Saviour's high Commands!
7
Yet with theſe Proſpects full in Sight,
I'll wait thy Signal for my Flight;
For, while thy Service I perſue,
I find my Heav'n begun below.
CCXCVI. Preſſing on in the Chriſtian Race. Phil. iii. 12-14.
1
AWAKE, my Soul, ſtretch ev'ry Nerve,
And preſs with Vigour on:
A heav'nly Race demands thy Zeal,
And an immortal Crown.
[258]2
A Cloud of Witneſſes around
Hold thee in full Survey:
Forget the Steps already trod,
And onward urge thy Way.
3
'Tis GOD'S all-animating Voice,
That calls thee from on high;
'Tis his own Hand preſents the Prize
To thine aſpiring Eye.
4
That Prize with peerleſs Glories bright,
Which ſhall new Luſtre boaſt,
When Victors Wreaths § and Monarchs Gem.
Shall blend in common Duſt.
5
Bleſt Saviour, introduc'd by thee
Have I my Race begun;
And crown'd with Vict'ry at thy Feet
I'll lay mine Honours down.
CCXCVII. GOD ſupplying the Neceſſities of his People. Phil. iv. 19, 20.
1
MY GOD, how chearful is the Sound,
How pleaſant to repeat?
Well may that Heart with Pleaſure bound,
Where GOD hath fix'd his Seat?
2
What Want ſhall not our GOD ſupply
From his redundant Stores?
What Streams of Mercy from on high
An Arm almighty pours?
3
From Chriſt, the ever-living Spring,
Theſe ample Bleſſings flow:
[259] Prepare, my Lips, his Name to ſing,
Whoſe Heart hath lov'd us ſo.
4
Now to our Father and our GOD
Be endleſs Glory giv'n,
Thro' all the Realms of Man's Abode,
And thro' the higheſt Heav'n.
CCXCVIII. Thanks for being made meet for the heavenly Inheritance. Coloſs. i. 12.
1
ALL-Glorious GOD, what Hymns of Praiſe
Shall our tranſported Voices raiſe?
What flaming Love and Zeal is due,
While Heav'n ſtands open to our View?
2
Once we were fall'n, and O how low!
Juſt on the Brink of endleſs Woe;
Doom'd to a Heritage in Hell,
Where Sinners all in Darkneſs dwell.
3
But lo, a Ray of chearful Light
Scatters the horrid Shades of Night!
Lo, what triumphant Grace is ſhewn
To Souls impov'riſh'd and undone!
4
Far, far beyond theſe mortal Shores
A bright Inheritance is ours;
Where Saints in Light our Coming wait
To ſhare their holy bliſsful State.
5
If ready dreſt for Heav'n we ſhine,
Thine are the Robes, the Crown is thine:
May endleſs Years their Courſe prolong,
While "Thine the Praiſe" is all our Song.
CCXCIX. Angels and Chriſtians united in CHRIST as their common Head. Coloſs. ii. 10.
[260]1
HAIL to Emanuel's ever-honour'd Name!
Spread it, ye Angels, thro' Heav'n's ſacred Frame.
Ye ſcepter'd Cherubim, before his Throne,
And flaming Seraphim, bow humbly down.
He is your Head; With proſtrate Awe adore him,
And lay with Joy your radiant Crowns before him.
2
Array'd in his refulgent Beams ye ſhine,
And draw Exiſtence * from his Source divine;
Grateful ye wait the Signal of his Hand,
Honour'd too highly by his leaſt Command:
In him th' indwelling Deity admiring,
And to his brighter Image ſtill aſpiring.
3
Mortals with you in chearful Homage join,
And bring their Anthems to Emanuel's Shrine;
Mean as we are, with Sins and Griefs beſet,
We glory, that in him we are compleat.
He is our Head, and we with you adore him,
And pour our wants, our joys, our hearts before him.
4
We ſing the Blood, that ranſom'd us from Hell;
We ſing the Graces, that in Jeſus dwell;
Led by his Spirit, guarded by his Hand,
Our Hopes anticipate your goodly Land;
Still his incarnate Deity admiring,
And with Heav'ns Hierarchy ‖ in Praiſe conſpiring.
CCC. Chriſtians, as riſen with CHRIST, exhorted to ſeek Things above. Coloſs. iii. 1.
[261]1
HEARKEN, ye Children of your GOD;
Ye Heirs of Glory, hear;
For Accents ſo divine as theſe
Might charm the dulleſt Ear.
2
Baptiz'd into your Saviour's Death
Your Souls to Sin muſt die;
With Chriſt your Lord ye live anew,
With Chriſt aſcend on high.
3
There at his Father's Hand he ſits
Enthron'd divinely fair;
Yet owns himſelf your Brother ſtill,
And your Forerunner there.
4
Riſe from theſe earthly Trifles, riſe
On Wings of Faith and Love;
Jeſus your choiceſt Treaſure lies,
And be your Hearts, above.
5
But Earth and Sin will drag us down,
When we attempt to fly;
LORD, ſend thy ſtrong attractive Force
To raiſe and fix us high.
CCCI. The Proſperity of the Church, the Life of a faithful Miniſter. 1 Theſs. iii. 8.
1
BLEST Jeſus, bow thine Ear,
While we intreat thy Love;
O come, and all our Hearts poſſeſs,
And our beſt Paſſions move.
[262]2
May we ſtand faſt in Thee,
Tho' Storms and Tempeſts beat;
And in thy Guardian Arms obtain
A calm and ſafe Retreat.
3
Still be thy Truth maintain'd,
And ſtill thy Word obey'd,
And to the Merits of thy Blood
A conſtant Homage paid.
4
So ſhall thy Shepherds live,
And raiſe their chearful Head,
And in ſuch Bleſſings on their Flock
Confeſs their Toils repaid.
CCCII. Comfort on the Death of pious Friends 1 Theſs. iv. 17, 18.
1
TRanſporting Tidings which we hear!
What Muſick to the pious Ear!
Chriſt loves each humble Saint ſo well,
He with his Lord ſhall ever dwell.
2
Bleſt Jeſus, Source of ev'ry Grace,
From far to view thy ſmiling Face,
While abſent thus by Faith we live,
Exceeds all Joys, that Earth can give.
3
But O! what Extacy unknown
Fills the wide Circle round thy Throne,
Where ev'ry rapt'rous Hour appears
Nobler than Millions of our Years!
4
Millions by Millions multiplied
Shall ne'er thy Saints from thee divide;
[263] But the bright Legions live and praiſe
Thro' all thine own immortal Days.
5
O happy Dead, in Thee that ſleep,
While o'er their mould'ring Duſt we weep!
O faithful Saviour, who ſhalt come
That Duſt to ranſom from the Tomb!
6
While thine unerring Word imparts
So rich a Cordial to our Hearts,
Thro' Tears our Triumphs ſhall be ſhown,
Tho' round their Graves, and near our own.
CCCIII. CHRIST glorified and admired in his Saints at the great Day. 2 Theſs. i. 10.
1
YE Heav'ns, with Sounds of Triumph ring;
Ye Angels, burſt into a Song;
Jeſus deſcends, victorious King,
And leads his ſhining Train along.
2
Ye Saints that ſleep in Duſt, ariſe;
Let Joy re-animate your Clay;
Spring to your Saviour thro' the Skies,
And round his Throne your Homage pay.
3
Then let the Sons of Heav'n draw nigh,
While to th' aſtoniſh'd Hoſts you tell,
How feeble Mortals roſe ſo high
From Graves and Worms, from Sin and Hell.
4
Tell them, in Accents like their own,
What an incarnate God could do;
Then point to Jeſus on the Throne,
And boaſt, that Jeſus died for you.
[264]5
Tranſported, they no more can hear;
Their Voices catch the ſacred Name;
Harmonious to his Father's Ear,
Jeſus the God, their Harps proclaim.
6
Sin hath its dire ‡ Incurſions made,
That Thou might'ſt prove thy Pow'r to ſave;
And Death its Enſigns wide diſplay'd,
That Thou might'ſt triumph o'er the Grave.
CCCIV. CHRIST ſeen of Angels. 1 Tim. iii. 16.
1
O Ye immortal Throng
Of Angels round the Throne,
Join with our feeble Song
To make the Saviour known:
On Earth ye knew
His wond'rous Grace,
His beauteous Face
In Heav'n ye view.
2
Ye ſaw the Heav'n-born Child
In human Fleſh array'd,
Benevolent and mild,
While in the Manger laid;
And Praiſe to GOD,
And Peace on Earth,
For ſuch a Birth,
Proclaim'd aloud.
3
Ye in the Wilderneſs
Beheld the Tempter ſpoil'd,
Well known in ev'ry Dreſs,
In ev'ry Combat foil'd;
[265] And joy'd to crown
The Victor's Head,
When Satan fled
Before his Frown.
4
Around the bloody Tree
Ye preſs'd with ſtrong Deſire,
That wond'rous Sight to ſee,
The Lord of Life expire;
And, could your Eyes
Have known a Tear,
Had drop'd it there
In ſad Surprize.
5
Around his ſacred Tomb
A willing Watch ye keep;
Till the bleſt Moment come
To rouſe him from his Sleep:
Then roll'd the Stone,
And all ador'd
Your riſing Lord
With Joy unknown.
6
When all array'd in Light
The ſhining Conqu'ror rode,
Ye hail'd his rapt'rous Flight
Up to the Throne of GOD;
And wav'd around
Your golden Wings,
And ſtruck your Strings
Of ſweeteſt Sound.
7
The warbling Notes perſue,
And louder Anthems raiſe;
While Mortals ſing with you
Their own Redeemer's Praiſe;
[266] And thou, my Heart,
With equal Flame,
And Joy the ſame,
Perform thy Part.
CCCV. The Stability of the divine Foundation, and its double Inſcription. 2 Tim. ii. 19.
1
TO Thee, great Architect on high,
Immortal Thanks be paid,
Who, to ſupport thy ſinking Saints,
This firm Foundation laid.
2
Fix'd on a Rock thy Goſpel ſtands,
And braves § the Rage of Hell;
And, while the Saviour's Hand protects,
His Blood cements it well.
3
Here will I build my final Hope;
Here reſt my weaty Soul;
Majeſtick ſhall the Fabrick
Building.
riſe,Till Glory crown the whole.
4
Deep on my Heart, All-gracious LORD,
Engrave its double Seal;
Which, while it ſpeaks thy honour'd Name,
Its ſacred Uſe may tell.
5
Dear by a thouſand tender Bonds
Thy Saints to Thee are known;
And, conſcious what a Name they bear,
Iniquity they ſhun.
CCCVI. Perſecution to be expected by every true Chriſtian. 2 Tim. iii. 12.
[267]1
GREAT Leader of thine Iſrael's Hoſt,
We ſhout thy conqu'ring Name;
Legions of Foes beſet Thee round,
And Legions fled with Shame.
2
A Vict'ry glorious and compleat
Thou by thy Death didſt gain;
So in thy Cauſe may we contend,
And Death itſelf ſuſtain.
3
By our illuſtrious Gen'ral fir'd,
We no Extremes would fear;
Prepar'd to ſtruggle and to bleed,
If thou, our Lord, be near.
4
We'll trace the Footſteps thou haſt drawn
To Triumph and Renown;
Nor ſhun thy Combate and thy Croſs,
May we but ſhare thy Crown.
CCCVII. The Chriſtian Scheme of Salvation worthy of GOD. Hebrews ii. 10.
1
IMMORTAL GOD, on Thee we call,
The great Original of all;
Thro' Thee we are, to Thee we tend,
Our ſure Support, our glorious End.
2
We praiſe that wiſe myſterious Grace,
That pitied our revolted Race,
And Jeſus, our victorious Head,
The Captain of Salvation made.
[268]3
He, thine eternal Love decreed,
Should many Sons to Glory lead;
And ſinful Worms to him are giv'n,
A Colony to people Heav'n.
4
Jeſus for us, (O gracious Name!)
Encounter'd Agony and Shame:
Jeſus, the glorious and the great,
Was by dire * Suff'rings made compleat.
5
A Scene of Wonders here we ſee,
Worthy thy Son, and worthy Thee:
And while this Theme employs our Tongues,
All Heav'n unites its ſweeteſt Songs.
CCCVIII. Satan and Death conquered by the Death of CHRIST. Heb. ii. 14, 15.
1
SATAN, the dire Invader, came
Our new-made World t'annoy:
And Death march'd dreadful in his Rear
His Captives to deſtroy.
2
Caught in his Snares our Father ſunk;
With him his Children fell;
And Death his fatal Shaft ‡ prepar'd
To ſmite them down to Hell.
3
Jeſus with pitying Eye beheld,
And left his ſtarry Crown;
Turn'd his own Weapons on the Foe,
And mow'd his Legions down.
[269]4
By Death the Saviour Death diſarm'd,
That we in Light may ſhine;
And fix'd this great myſterious Law,
That Duſt ſhould Duſt refine.
5
No more the pointed Shaft we fear,
Nor dread the Monſter's Boaſt;
No more the pious Dead we mourn,
As Friends for ever loſt.
6
Their Tongues, Great Prince of Life, ſhall join
With our recover'd Breath,
And all th'immortal Hoſts, t' aſcribe
Our Vict'ry to thy Death.
CCCIX. An immediate Attention to GOD's Voice required. Heb. iii. 15.
1
THE LORD Jehovah calls,
Be ev'ry Ear inclin'd;
May ſuch a Voice awake each Heart,
And captivate the Mind.
2
If He in Thunder ſpeaks,
Earth trembles at his Nod;
But gentle Accents here proclaim
The condeſcending GOD.
3
O harden not your Hearts,
But hear his Voice To-day;
Leſt, e'er To-morrow's earlieſt Dawn,
He call your Souls away.
4
Almighty GOD, pronounce
The Word of conqu'ring Grace;
[270] So ſhall the Flint diſſolve to Tears,
And Scorners ſeek thy Face.
CCCX. The eternal Sabbath. Heb. iv. 9.
1
LORD of the Sabbath, hear our Vows
On this thy Day, in this thy Houſe;
And own, as grateful Sacrifice,
The Songs, which from the Deſart riſe.
2
Thine earthly Sabbaths, LORD, we love;
But there's a nobler Reſt above;
To that our lab'ring Souls aſpire
With ardent Pangs of ſtrong Deſire.
3
No more Fatigue, no more Diſtreſs;
Nor Sin nor Hell ſhall reach the Place;
No Groans to mingle with the Songs,
Which warble from immortal Tongues.
4
No rude Alarms of raging Foes;
No Cares to break the long Repoſe;
No midnight Shade, no clouded Sun,
But ſacred high eternal Noon.
5
O long-expected Day, begin;
Dawn on theſe Realms of Woe and Sin:
Fain would we leave this weary Road,
And ſleep in Death to reſt with GOD.
CCCXI. CHRIST our Forerunner, and the Foun⯑dation of our Hope. Heb. vi. 19, 20.
1
JESUS the Lord our Souls adore,
A painful Suff'rer now no more;
[271] High on his Father's Throne he reigns
O'er Earth, and Heav'n's extenſive Plains.
2
His Race for ever is compleat;
For ever undiſturb'd his Seat;
Myriads of Angels round him fly,
And ſing his well-gain'd Victory.
3
Yet 'midſt the Honours of his Throne,
He joys not for himſelf alone;
His meaneſt Servants ſhare their Part,
Share in that royal tender Heart.
4
Raiſe, raiſe, my Soul, thy raptur'd Sight
With ſacred Wonder and Delight;
Jeſus thine own Forerunner ſee
Enter'd beyond the Veil for thee.
5
Loud let the howling Tempeſt yell,
And foaming Waves to Mountains ſwell,
No Shipwreck can my Veſſel fear,
Since Hope hath fix'd its Anchor here.
CCCXII. The evil Conſcience purified by the Blood of JESUS. Heb. ix. 13, 14.
1
BLeſt be the Lamb, whoſe Blood was ſpilt
To ſprinkle Conſcience from its Guilt;
To eaſe its Pains, to calm its Fears,
And purchaſe Grace for future Years.
2
Cleans'd by this all-atoning Blood
We joy in free Acceſs to GOD,
The living GOD, before whoſe Face
Sinners in vain ſhall ſeek a Place.
[272]3
Rouſe thee, my Soul, to ſerve him ſtill
With cordial Love, with active Zeal:
Serve him, like his own Son divine,
Who made his Life the Price of thine.
4
Bleſt Jeſus, introduc'd by Thee,
The Father's ſmiling Face I ſee;
And ſtrengthen'd by thy Grace alone,
Theſe grateful Services are done.
5
Then muſt my Debt from Day to Day
Grow with each Service that I pay;
So grows my Joy, Dear Lord, to be
Thus more and more in Debt to Thee.
CCCXIII. Death and Judgment appointed to all. Heb. ix. 27.
1
HEAV'N has confirm'd the great Decree,
That Adam's Race muſt die:
One gen'ral Ruin ſweeps them down,
And low in Duſt they lie.
2
Ye living Men, the Tomb ſurvey,
Where you muſt quickly dwell;
Hark how the awful Summons ſounds
In ev'ry Fun'ral Knell!
3
Once you muſt die, and once for all;
The ſolemn Purport weigh;
For know, that Heav'n and Hell are hung
On that important Day.
4
Thoſe Eyes, ſo long in Darkneſs veil'd,
Muſt wake the Judge to ſee,
[273] And ev'ry Word, and ev'ry Thought
Muſt paſs his Scrutiny.
5
O may I in the Judge behold
My Saviour and my Friend,
And far beyond the Reach of Death
With all his Saints aſcend.
CCCXIV. CHRIST'S ſecond Appearance, &c. Heb. ix. 28.
1
BEHOLD the Son of GOD appears,
And in his Fleſh our Sins he bears;
The Victim at GOD'S Altar ſtood
To expiate Guilt by Groans and Blood.
2
But lo, a ſecond Time he comes
To ſhake the Earth, and rend the Tombs;
Theſe Heav'ns before him melt away,
And Sun and Stars in Smoke decay.
3
Yet 'midſt this gen'ral Wreck and Dread,
Ye Saints, with Triumph lift the Head;
With glad Surprize your Saviour meet,
Who comes to make your Bliſs compleat.
4
My Soul, an Happineſs ſo great
With pleaſing Expectation wait;
And while I dwell upon the Thought,
Be Earth and all its Toys forgot.
5
My Saviour GOD, what Grace is thine,
Which gives a Proſpect ſo divine!
Come, bleſſed Day, and teach our Tongues
How Angels warble out their Songs.
CCCXV. Liberty to enter thro' the Veil by the Blood of CHRIST. Heb. x. 19-22.
[274]1
APPROACH, ye Children of your GOD;
Fav'rites of Heav'n, draw near;
Enter the Holieſt with Delight,
Tho' his own Ark be there.
2
Paſs thro' the Veil, the Saviour's Fleſh,
That new and living Way,
And Majeſty enſhrin'd ‡ in Love
Shall gentle Beams diſplay.
3
Jeſus with Sin-atoning Blood
The Throne hath ſprinkled o'er;
His fragrant Incenſe ſpreads its Cloud,
And Juſtice flames no more.
4
Approach with Boldneſs and with Joy,
But ſpotleſs all draw near;
Pure be your Lives from ev'ry Stain,
And ev'ry Conſcience clear.
5
So ſhall the Bleſſings of his Grace
On all your Souls diſtill,
Till each a royal Prieſt appears
On his celeſtial Hill.
CCCXVI. GOD's Fidelity to his Promiſes. Heb. x. -23.
1
THE Promiſes I ſing,
Which ſov'reign Love hath ſpoke;
[275] Nor will th' eternal King
His Words of Grace revoke;
They ſtand ſecure,
And ſtedfaſt ſtill;
Not Zion's Hill
Abides ſo ſure.
2
The Mountains melt away
When once the Judge appears,
And Sun and Moon decay,
That meaſure Mortals Years;
But ſtill the ſame
In radiant Lines
The Promiſe ſhines
Thro' all the Flame.
3
Their Harmony ſhall ſound
Thro' mine attentive Ears,
When Thunders cleave the Ground,
And diſſipate the Spheres;
'Midſt all the Shock
Of that dread Scene
I ſtand ſerene,
Thy Word my Rock.
CCCXVII. The Day approaching, a Motive to Love and Worſhip. Heb. x. 24. 25.
1
THE Day approacheth, O my Soul,
The great deciſive Day,
Which from the Verge of mortal Life
Shall bear thee far away.
2
Another Day more awful dawns;
And lo, the Judge appears;
[276] Ye Heav'ns, retire before his Face,
And ſink, ye darken'd Stars.
3
Yet does one ſhort preparing Hour,
One precious Hour remain;
Rouſe thee, my Soul, with all thy Pow'r,
Nor let it paſs in vain.
4
With me my Brethren ſoon muſt die,
And at that Bar appear;
Now be our Intercourſe improv'd
To mutual Comfort here.
5
For this, thy Temple, LORD, we throng;
For this, thy Board ſurround;
Here may our Service be approv'd,
And in thy Preſence crown'd.
CCCXVIII. Abraham's Faith in leaving his Country at the divine Command. Heb. xi. 8.
1
NOW let our Songs proclaim abroad
Th' unchanging Name of Abram's GOD;
In him let Abram's Children boaſt,
Their Father's ever-living LORD,
His Shield, his Friend, his great Reward,
Who never can deceive their Truſt.
2
Call'd by thy Voice, with joyful Speed
He went, where thou waſt pleas'd to lead,
Unknowing in the Path he trod;
His Land, his Kindred ſtrove in vain
The pious Pilgrim to detain,
Propt on the Promiſe of his GOD.
[277]3
So at thy Word the Saint foregoes
Each tender Tie, which Nature knows,
And hears no other Voice but thine;
Marches, where thou ſhalt point the Way,
Where thou ſhalt pitch his Tent, will ſtay,
And learns his Iſaac to reſign.
4
At length, ſtill faithful to thine own,
Thou call'ſt him to a World unknown,
Thro' Paths untrod by mortal Feet;
Smiling he owns thy Voice in Death,
Gives to the Air his fleeting Breath,
And finds the Road to Abram's Seat.
CCCXIX. The GOD of the Patriarchs pre⯑paring them a City. Heb. xi. 16.
1
I Am thy GOD, JEHOVAH ſaid
To Abram, and his choſen Seed;
And ſtill the ſame Relation owns
To each of Abram's faithful Sons.
2
Sov'reign of Heav'n, what Works of Love
So grand a Title ſhall approve?
What ſplendid Gifts will GOD beſtow,
That all its high Import may know?
3
Not the rich Flocks and Herds that feed
Round Abram's Tents in Mamre's Mead,
Not Joſeph's Chariot, nor the Throne,
Iv'ry and Gold of Solomon.
4
Not Canaan's Plains a Lot can prove
Proportion'd to Jehovah's Love;
[278] Not Zion's ſacred Mountain, where
His Temple glitter'd like a Star.
5
O'er Zion's Mount, o'er Canaan's Plains,
Oppreſſion now, and Horror reigns;
And where the Throne of David ſtood,
His ruin'd Sepulchre is view'd.
6
'Tis in the Heav'n of Heav'ns alone
Thou mak'ſt thy wond'rous Friendſhip known;
A City there thy Hand prepares,
Fix'd, as thine own eternal Years.
7
Long as they reign before thy Face,
The bliſsful Nations ſhall confeſs,
Thy ſov'reign Love has there beſtow'd
Salvation worthy of a GOD.
CCCXX. Moſes's wiſe Choice. Heb. xi. 26.
1
MY Soul, with all thy waken'd Pow'rs
Survey the heav'nly Prize;
Nor let theſe glitt'ring Toys of Earth
Allure thy wand'ring Eyes.
2
The ſplendid Crown, which Moſes ſought,
Still beams around his Brow;
Tho' ſoon great Pharoah's ſcepter'd Pride
Was taught by Death to bow.
3
The Joys and Treaſures of a Day
I chearfully reſign;
Rich in that large immortal Store,
Secur'd by Grace divine.
[279]4
Let Fools my wiſer Choice deride,
Angels and GOD approve;
Nor Scorn of Men, nor Rage of Hell
My ſtedfaſt Soul ſhall move.
5
With ardent Eye that bright Reward
I daily will ſurvey;
And in the blooming Proſpect loſe
The Sorrows of the Way.
CCCXXI. Acting, as ſeeing him, who is Inviſi⯑ble. Heb. xi.-27.
1
ETERNAL, and Immortal King,
Thy peerleſs ‡ Splendors none can bear,
But Darkneſs veils Seraphick Eyes,
When GOD with all his Luſtre's there.
2
Yet Faith can pierce the awful Gloom,
The great Inviſible can ſee;
And with its Tremblings mingle Joy
In fix'd Regards, Great GOD, to Thee.
3
Then ev'ry tempting Form of Sin,
Sham'd in thy Preſence, diſappears;
And all the glowing raptur'd Soul
The Likeneſs it contemplates wears.
4
O Ever-conſcious to my Heart,
Witneſs to its ſupreme Deſire,
Behold it preſſeth on to Thee,
For it hath caught the heav'nly Fire.
5
This one Petition would it urge,
To bear Thee ever in its Sight;
[280] In Life, in Death, in Worlds unknown,
Its only Portion and Delight.
CCCXXII. Subjection to GOD, the Father of our Spirits. Heb. xii.-9.
1
ETERNAL Source of Life and Thought,
Be all beneath thyſelf forgot;
Whilſt Thee, great Parent-Mind, we own
In proſtrate Homage round thy Throne.
2
Whilſt in themſelves our Souls ſurvey
Of Thee ſome faint reflected Ray,
They wond'ring to their Father riſe;
His Pow'r how vaſt! His Thoughts how wiſe!
3
Behold us as thine Offspring, LORD,
And do not caſt us off abhor'd;
Nor let thy Hand, ſo long our Joy,
Be rais'd in Vengeance to deſtroy.
4
O may we live before thy Face,
The willing Subjects of thy Grace;
And thro' each Path of Duty move
With filial Awe, and filial Love.
CCCXXIII. The Immutability of CHRIST▪ Heb. xiii. 8.
1
WIth Tranſport, Lord, our Souls proclaim
Th' immortal Honours of thy Name:
Aſſembled round our Saviour's Throne
We make his ceaſeleſs Glories known.
[281]2
High on his Father's royal Seat
Our Jeſus ſhone divinely great,
E'er Adam's Clay with Life was warm'd,
Or Gabriel's nobler Spirit form'd.
3
Thro' all ſucceeding Ages He
The ſame hath been, the ſame ſhall be:
Immortal Radiance gilds his Head,
While Stars and Suns wax old and fade.
4
The ſame his Pow'r his Flock to guard;
The ſame his Bounty to reward;
The ſame his Faithfulneſs and Love
To Saints on Earth, and Saints above.
5
Let Nature change and ſink and die;
Jeſus ſhall raiſe his Choſen high,
And fix them near his ſtable Throne
In Glory changeleſs as his own.
CCCXXIV. Watching for Souls in the View of the great Account. Heb. xiii.-17.
For the Ordination of a Miniſter.
1
LET Zion's Watchmen all awake,
And take th' Alarm they give;
Now let them from the Mouth of GOD
Their ſolemn Charge receive.
2
'Tis not a Cauſe of ſmall Import
The Paſtor's Care demands;
But what might fill an Angel's Heart,
And fill'd a Saviour's Hands.
[282]3
They watch for Souls, for which the Lord
Did heav'nly Bliſs forego §;
For Souls, which muſt for ever live
In Raptures, or in Woe.
4
All to the great Tribunal haſte,
Th' Account to render there;
And ſhouldſt thou ſtrictly mark our Faults,
LORD, how ſhould we appear?
5
May they that Jeſus, whom they preach,
Their own Redeemer ſee;
And watch thou daily o'er their Souls,
That they may watch for Thee.
CCCXXV. The Chriſtian perfected by divine Grace through CHRIST. Heb. xiii. 20, 21.
1
FATHER of Peace, and GOD of Love,
We own thy Pow'r to ſave;
That Pow'r, by which our Shepherd roſe
Victorious o'er the Grave.
2
We triumph in that Shepherd's Name,
Still watchful for our Good;
Who brought th' eternal Cov'nant down,
And ſeal'd it with his Blood.
3
So may thy Spirit ſeal my Soul,
And mould it to thy Will;
That my fond Heart no more may ſtray,
But keep thy Cov'nant ſtill.
[283]4
Still may we gain ſuperior Strength,
And preſs with Vigour on,
Till full Perfection crown our Hopes,
And fix us near thy Throne.
CCCXXVI. Chriſtians begotten to GOD as the Firſt-Fruits of his Creatures. James i. 18.
1
NOW to that ſov'reign Grace,
Whence all our Comforts ſpring,
Let the whole new-begotten Race
Their chearful Praiſes bring.
2
His Will firſt made the Choice;
His Word the Change hath wrought;
In him our Father we rejoice,
Nor be the Name forgot.
3
LORD, for this matchleſs Love,
Thou mak'ſt thy Children ſee,
May we from all thy Creatures prove
As the Firſt-fruits to Thee.
4
Sacred to Thee alone
Be all theſe Pow'rs of mine,
Then in the nobleſt Senſe mine own,
When moſt entirely Thine.
CCCXXVII. Looking into the perfect Law of Liberty and continuing in it. James i. 25.
1
BEHOLD the Glaſs the Goſpel lends,
That Men themſelves may view:
[284] How free from Stain its Surface is!
How poliſh'd, and how true!
2
Behold that wiſe, that perfect Law,
Which nobleſt Freedom gives;
O may it all our Souls refine,
And ſanctify our Lives!
3
Not with a tranſient Glance ſurvey'd,
And in an Hour forgot,
But deep inſcrib'd on ev'ry Heart,
To reign o'er ev'ry Thought.
4
Great Author of each perfect Gift,
Thy ſov'reign Grace diſplay,
That theſe rebellious roving Pow'rs
May hearken and obey.
5
Inſpir'd by Thee, our feeble Souls
Shall paſs victorious on;
As the faint dawning Light improves
To all the Blaze of Noon.
CCCXXVIII. James's Advice to Sinners. James iv. 7, 8.
1
YE Sinners, bend your ſtubborn Necks
Beneath the Yoke divine;
In low Submiſſion bow ye down
Before his ſacred Shrine.
2
In pious Streams your Follies mourn,
And ſeek his injur'd Grace;
And wait with broken bleeding Hearts
The Op'nings of his Face.
[285]3
Reſiſt the Tempter's fierce Attacks,
And he ſhall ſpeed his Flight:
Draw near to GOD, and his Embrace
Shall fold you with Delight.
4
Ye Sinners, cleanſe your ſpotted Hands,
And purge your Hearts from Sin;
Here fix your long-divided Views,
And Peace ſhall reign within.
5
Bleſt Saviour, draw us by thy Love,
And fix us by thy Pow'r;
When we have felt theſe ſweet Conſtraints,
Our Souls ſhall rove no more.
CCCXXIX. The Vanity of worldly Schemes infer⯑red from the Unceriainty of Life. James iv. 13, 14, 15.
1
TO-MORROW, LORD, is thine,
Lodg'd in thy ſov'reign Hand;
And if its Sun ariſe and ſhine,
It ſhines by thy Command.
2
The preſent Moment flies,
And bears our Life away;
O make thy Servants truly wiſe,
That they may live to-day.
3
Since on this winged Hour
Eternity is hung,
Waken by thine Almighty Pow'r
The Aged and the Young.
4
One Thing demands our Care;
O be it ſtill perſu'd!
[286] Leſt, ſlighted once, the Seaſon fair
Should never be renew'd.
5
To Jeſus may we fly
Swift as the Morning-Light,
Leſt Life's young golden Beams ſhould die
In ſudden endleſs Night.
CCCXXX. Rejoicing in an unſeen Saviour. 1 Peter i. 8.
1
MINE inward Joys, ſuppreſs'd too long,
Extatick burſt into a Song:
From Chriſt, tho' now unſeen, they riſe,
And reach his Throne beyond the Skies.
2
His Glories ſtrike the wond'ring Sight
Of all the firſt-born Sons of Light;
Beyond the Seraphim they ſhine,
Unrivall'd all, and all divine.
3
Yet mortal Worms his Friendſhip boaſt,
And make his ſaving Name their Truſt:
Jeſus, my Lord, I know him well;
He reſcu'd me from Death and Hell.
4
This ſinful Heart from GOD eſtrang'd
His new-creating Pow'r hath chang'd,
And, mingling with each ſecret Thought,
Maintains the Work, which firſt it wrought.
5
He gives to ſee his Father's Face;
He gives my Soul to thrive in Grace,
And brings the Views of Glory down,
The Beamings of my heav'nly Crown.
[287]6
Thus entertain'd, while here below
Unſpeakable my Tranſports grow;
New Joys in ſwift Succeſſion roll,
And Glory fills my ſilent Soul.
CCCXXXI. The Heart purified to Love unfeigned by the Spirit. 1 Peter i. 22.
1
GREAT Spirit of immortal Love,
Vouchſafe our frozen Hearts to move;
With Ardour ſtrong theſe Breaſts inflame
To all that own a Saviour's Name.
2
Still let the heav'nly Fire endure
Fervent and vig'rous, true and pure:
Let ev'ry Heart and ev'ry Hand
Join in the dear fraternal Band ‡.
3
Celeſtial Dove, deſcend, and bring
The ſmiling Bleſſings on thy Wing;
And make us taſte thoſe Sweets below,
Which in the bliſsfull Manſions grow.
CCCXXXII. Taſting that the Lord is gracious. 1 Pet. ii. 3.
1
YES, it is ſweet to taſte his Grace,
Who bought us with his Blood;
My Soul prefers the Reliſh ſtill
To all created Good.
2
O how I love that vital Word,
Which taught me firſt to live!
[288] Thirſt for that uncorrupted Milk,
That I may grow and thrive!
3
All gracious LORD, inſtruct us more
Thy ſaving Gifts to know:
And let our inmoſt Hearts rejoice,
That thou haſt lov'd us ſo.
4
Open thy Stores with lib'ral Hand,
That we may daily feaſt;
And let each dying Soul around
The ſweet Salvation taſte.
CCCXXXIII. Coming to CHRIST as a living Stone. 1 Pet. ii. 4, 5.
WITH Extaſy of Joy
Extoll his glorious Name,
Who rais'd the ſpacious Earth,
And rais'd our ruin'd Frame;
He built the Church
Who built the Sky,
Shout and exalt
His Honours high.
2
See the Foundation laid
By Pow'r and Love divine;
Jeſus, his Firſt-born Son,
How bright his Glories ſhine!
Low he deſcends,
In Duſt he lies,
That from his Tomb
A Church might riſe.
[289]3
But he for ever lives;
Nor for himſelf alone,
Each Saint new Life derives
From this myſterious Stone;
His Influence darts
Thro' ev'ry Soul,
And in one Houſe
Unites the whole.
4
To him with Joy we move;
In him cemented ſtand;
The living Temple grows,
And owns the Founder's Hand:
That Structure, LORD,
Still higher raiſe,
Louder to ſound
Its Builder's Praiſe.
5
Deſcend, and ſhed abroad
The Tokens of thy Grace,
And with more radiant Beams
Let Glory fill the Place;
Our joyful Souls
Shall proſtrate fall,
And own, our GOD
Is All in All.
CCCXXXIV. CHRIST the Corner-Stone. 1 Pet. ii. 6. compared with Iſaiah xxviii. 16, 17.
1
LORD, doſt thou ſhew a Corner-Stone
For us to build our Hopes upon,
That the fair Edifice may riſe
Sublime in Light beyond the Skies?
[290]2
We own the Work of ſov'reign Love;
Nor Death nor Hell thoſe Hopes ſhall move,
Which fix'd on this Foundation [...]and,
Laid by thine own Almighty Hand.
3
Thy People long this Stone have tried,
And all the Pow'rs of Hell defy'd;
Floods of Temptation beat in vain;
Well doth this Rock the Houſe ſuſtain.
4
When Storms of Wrath around prevail,
Whirlwind and Thunder, Fire and Hail,
'Tis here our trembling Souls ſhall hide,
And here ſecurely they abide.
5
While they that ſcorn this precious Stone,
Fond of ſome Quickſand of their own,
Borne down by weighty Vengeance die,
And buried deep in Ruin lie.
CCCXXXV. CHRIST precious to the Believer. 1 Pet. ii. 7-.
1
JESUS, I love thy charming Name;
'Tis Muſick to mine Ear;
Fain would I ſound it out ſo loud,
That Earth and Heav [...]n ſhould hear.
2
Yes, Thou art precious to my Soul,
My Tranſport, and my Truſt:
Jewels to Thee are gaudy Toys,
And Gold is ſordid Duſt.
3
All my capacious Pow'rs can wiſh
In Thee doth richly meet:
[291] Nor to mine Eyes is Light ſo dear,
Nor Friendſhip half ſo ſweet.
4
Thy Grace ſtill dwells upon my Heart,
And ſheds its Fragrance there;
The nobleſt Balm of all its Wounds,
The Cordial of its Care.
5
I'll ſpeak the Honours of thy Name
With my laſt lab'ring Breath;
Then ſpeechleſs claſp Thee in mine Arms,
The Antidote of Death.
CCCXXXVI. Noah preſerved in the Ark, and the Believer in CHRIST. 1 Pet. iii. 20, 21.
1
THE Deluge, at th' Almighty's Call,
In what impetuous Streams it fell!
Swallow'd the Mountains in its Rage,
And ſwept a guilty World to Hell.
2
In vain the talleſt Sons of Pride
Fled from the cloſe-perſuing Wave;
Nor could their mightieſt Tow'rs defend,
Nor Swiftneſs 'ſcape, nor Courage ſave.
3
How dire the Wreck! How loud the Roar!
How ſhrill the univerſal Cry
Of Millions in the laſt Deſpair
Re-eccho'd from the louring Sky!
4
Yet Noah, humble happy Saint,
Surrounded with the choſen Few,
Sat in his Ark, ſecure from Fear,
And ſang the Grace that ſteer'd him thro.
[292]5
So may I ſing, in Jeſus ſafe,
While Storms of Vengeance round me fall,
Conſcious how high my Hopes are fix'd,
Beyond what ſhakes this earthly Ball.
6
Enter thine Ark, while Patience waits,
Nor ever quit that ſure Retreat:
Then the wide Flood, which buries Earth,
Shall waft thee to a fairer Seat.
7
Nor Wreck nor Ruin there is ſeen;
There not a Wave of Trouble rolls;
But the bright Rainbow round the Throne ‡
Seals endleſs Life to all their Souls.
CCCXXXVII. The ungodly warned of their final Appearance. 1 Pet. iv. -18.
1
BEHOLD GOD'S great incarnate Son
In Majeſty comes flying down!
Hark! for his Trumpet's awful Sound
Awakes the Dead, and cleaves the Ground!
2
So ſolemn ſhall the Judgment be,
And ſo ſevere the Scrutiny,
That, by his Merit tried alone,
The Saint himſelf would be undone.
3
Where then, ye Sons of Belial ‖, where
Will your aſtoniſh'd Souls appear?
How will ye ſhun his piercing Sight?
Or how reſiſt his matchleſs Might?
[293]4
Up to the pointed Mountains fly,
And gain the Confines of the Sky;
There ſhall ye meet celeſtial Fire,
While Mountains melt before his Ire §.
5
Call on the rending Earth to ſave,
And in its Center ſearch a Grave;
The Judge ſhall well diſcern thee there,
And drag thee trembling to his Bar.
6
Deck thee around with Fraud and Lyes,
And put on ev'ry fair Diſguiſe;
Soon ſhall thy painted Form be known
Amidſt ten thouſand of his own.
7
Gird thee in Arms his Wrath t'oppoſe,
And league with Millions of his Foes;
Soon would the rebel band expire,
Like crackling Thorns amidſt the Fire.
8
One only Way may yet be found;
Submiſſive bow ye to the Ground;
His Croſs a Refuge will afford
From all the Terrors of his Sword.
CCCXXXVIII. Humbling ourſelves under GOD's mighty Hand. 1 Pet. v. 6.
1
BENEATH thy mighty Hand, O GOD,
Our Souls we proſtrate low;
Shine forth with radiant gentle Beams,
That we thy Name may know.
2
Thy Hand this various Frame produc'd,
And ſtill ſupports it well;
[294] That Hand with Juſtice and with Eaſe
Might ſmite our Souls to Hell.
3
Conſcious of Meanneſs and of Guilt,
We in the Duſt would lie;
Stretch forth thy condeſcending Arm,
And lift the humble high.
4
So in the Temples of thy Grace
We'll ſov'reign Mercy own,
And, when we ſhine above the Stars,
Extol thy Grace alone.
5
The more thou raiſe ſuch ſinful Duſt,
The lower would it fall;
For leſs than nothing, LORD, are we,
And Thou art All in All.
CCCXXXIX. The ſame. For a Faſt-Day.
1
OUr Souls with Rev'rence, LORD, bow down
Struck by the Splendors of thy Throne;
Humbled, while in thy Houſe we ſtand,
Beneath thy great tremendous Hand.
2
That Hand, which bears the ſteady Pole,
While Nature's Wheels unwearied roll;
That Hand, which gives each Creature Food,
And fills the World with various Good:
3
That Hand, which pierc'd thy darling Son
To expiate Crimes, that we had done:
That Hand, which ſcatters Grace abroad
To turn thy Foes to Sons of GOD.
4
But O! with what diſtracted Rage
Have we preſum'd that Hand t' engage!
[295] And, while long Patience hath been ſhewn,
Struggled to force thy Vengeance down!
5
Here might thy Wrath begin to flame,
And vindicate thine injur'd Name:
Till the [...]ed Thunders of thy Hand
Had dealt Deſtruction round our Land.
6
With humble Hearts our GOD we meet:
O raiſe the Suppliants at thy Feet!
And let that glorious Arm this Day
Embrace the Rebels it might ſlay.
CCCXL. GOD's Care a Remedy for ours. 1 Pet. v. 7.
1
HOW gentle GOD'S Commands!
How kind his Precepts are!
"Come, caſt your Burdens on the LORD,
"And truſt his conſtant Care".
2
While Providence ſupports,
Let Saints ſecurely dwell;
That Hand, which bears all Nature up,
Shall guide his Children well.
3
Why ſhould this anxious Load
Preſs down your weary Mind?
Haſte to your heav'nly Father's Throne,
And ſweet Refreſhment find.
4
His Goodneſs ſtands approv'd
Down to the preſent Day;
I'll drop my Burden at his Feet,
And bear a Song away.
CCCXLI. Eſtabliſhment in Religion from the GOD of Grace, &c. 1 Pet. v. 10, 11.
[296]1
HOW rich thy Favours, GOD of Grace!
How various and divine!
Full as the Ocean they are pour'd,
And bright as Heav'n they ſhine.
2
He to eternal Glory calls,
And leads the wondrous Way
To his own Palace, where he reigns
In uncreated Day.
3
Jeſus, the Herald of his Love,
Diſplays the radiant Prize,
And ſhews the Purchaſe of his Blood
To our admiring Eyes.
4
He perfects what his Hand begins,
And Stone on Stone he lays;
Till firm and fair the Building riſe,
A Temple to his Praiſe.
5
The Songs of everlaſting Years
That Mercy ſhall attend,
Which leads thro' Suff'rings of an Hour
To Joys, that never end.
CCCXLII. The Circumſtances of CHRIST'S ſe⯑cond Appearing. 2 Pet. iii. 11, 12.
1
MY waken'd Soul, extend thy Wings
Beyond the Verge of mortal Things;
See this vain World in Smoke decay,
And Rocks and Mountains melt away.
[297]2
Behold the fiery Deluge roll
Thro' Heav'n's wide Arch from Pole to Pole:
Pale Sun, no more thy Luſtre boaſt;
Tremble and fall, ye ſtarry Hoſt.
2
This Wreck of Nature all around,
The Angel's Shout, the Trumpet's Sound
Loud the deſcending Judge proclaim,
And eccho his tremendous Name.
4
Children of Adam, all appear
With Rev'rence round his awful Bar;
For, as his Lips pronounce, ye go
To endleſs Bliſs, or endleſs Woe.
5
LORD, to mine Eyes this Scene diſplay
Frequent thro' each revolving Day,
And let thy Grace my Soul prepare
To meet its full Redemption there.
CCCXLIII. The Importance of being prepared for CHRIST'S ſecond Appearing. 2 Pet. iii. 14.
'BEHOLD I come, (the Saviour cries,)
"With winged Speed I come;
"My Voice ſhall call your Souls away
"To their eternal Home.
2
"Awake, Ye Sons of Sloth, awake;
"Your vain Amuſements ceaſe,
"And ſtrive with your united Pow'rs,
"That ye be found in Peace.
3
"Seize the bleſt Hour with ardent Haſte,
"Nor ſlight this peaceful Word,
[298] "Leſt your affrighted Souls in vain
"Fly from my flaming Sword.
4
"Happy the Man, whoſe ready Heart
"Obeys the ſacred Call;
"And ſhelters in my Cov'nant-Grace
"His everlaſting All".
5
Bleſt Jeſus, whoſe All-ſearching Eye
Mine inmoſt Pow'rs can ſee,
Doſt Thou not know my willing Soul
Hath lodg'd that All with Thee?
6
Theſe eager Eyes thy Signal wait;
My dear Redeemer, come:
I rove a weary Pilgrim here,
And long to be at Home.
CCCXLIV. Growing in Grace, &c. 2 Pet. iii. 18.
1
PRAISE to thy Name, Eternal GOD,
For all the Grace Thou ſhed'ſt abroad;
For all thine Influence from above
To warm our Souls with ſacred Love.
2
Bleſt be thy Hand, which from the Skies
Brought down this Plant of Paradiſe,
And gave its heav'nly Glories Birth,
To deck this Wilderneſs of Earth.
3
But why does that celeſtial Flow'r
Open, and thrive, and ſhine no more?
Where are its balmy Odours fled?
And why reclines its beauteous Head?
4
Too plain alas! the Languor ſhews
Th' unkindly Soil in which it grows;
[299] Where the black Froſts and beating Storm
Wither and rend its tender Form.
5
Unchanging Sun, thy Beams diſplay
To drive the Froſts and Storms away;
Make all thy potent Virtues known
To chear a Plant, ſo much thine own.
6
And thou, bleſt Spirit, deign to blow
Freſh Gales of Heav'n on Shrubs below;
So ſhall they grow, and breathe abroad
A Fragrance grateful to our GOD.
CCCXLV. Experimental Knowledge communicated. 1 John i. 1-3.
1
JESUS, mine Advocate above,
Let me not hear of Thee alone,
But make the Wonders of thy Love
By deep Experience ſweetly known.
2
On Thee my Soul would fix its Eyes;
My Lips would taſte thy heav'nly Grace;
Then would I raiſe thine Honours high,
And teach a thouſand Tongues thy Praiſe.
3
The ſacred Flame from Heart to Heart
Should with a rapid Progreſs run;
Till each in GOD could boaſt his Part,
Thro' ſweet Communion with his Son.
4
Thus may the Servants of the LORD
Feel the Salvation they proclaim;
And thus may Crowds receive the Word,
And eccho back the Saviour's Name.
CCCXLVI. Communion with GOD and CHRIST. 1 John i. -3.
[300]1
OUR heav'nly Father calls,
And Chriſt invites us near;
With both our Friendſhip ſhall be ſweet,
And our Communion dear.
2
GOD pities all my Griefs;
He pardons ev'ry Day;
Almighty to protect my Soul,
And wiſe to guide my Way.
3
How large his Bounties are!
What various Stores of Good
Diffus'd from my Redeemer's Hand,
And purchas'd with his Blood!
4
Jeſus, my living Head,
I bleſs thy faithful Care;
Mine Advocate before the Throne,
And my Forerunner there.
5
Here fix, my roving Heart;
Here wait, my warmeſt Love,
Till the Communion be compleat
In nobler Scenes above.
CCCXLVII. The Privileges of Saints by the Blood of JESUS. 1 John i. 7.
1
MY various Pow'rs, awake
To ſound redeeming Grace;
To him, that waſh'd us in his Blood,
Aſcribe eternal Praiſe.
[301]2
What tho' our Guilt appears
Dy'd in a Crimſon Grain?
The Stream, that flows from Jeſus' Side,
Shall purge away the Stain.
3
'Midſt all our various Forms
We in this Center meet;
Our Hearts, cemented by his Blood,
Shall taſte Communion ſweet.
4
Then let us walk in Light,
Like Chriſt, whoſe Name we wear;
And, as the Pledge of endleſs Bliſs,
Our Father's Image bear.
CCCXLVIII. The Blood of CHRIST cleanſing from all Sin. 1 John i. -7.
1
MY Sins, alas! how foul the Stains!
How deep, and O how wide!
O'er my polluted Soul they ſpread,
In double Crimſon dy'd.
2
How ſhall I ſtand before that GOD,
In whoſe All-piercing Sight
Some Shades of Darkneſs ſeem to veil
The pureſt Sons of Light?
3
Where ſhall I waſh theſe Spots away,
And make my Nature clean?
Since Drops of penitential Grief
Are tinctur'd ſtill with Sin.
4
Behold a Torrent all divine
Flows from the Saviour's Side,
[302] And ſtrangely bears a cryſtal Stream
Amidſt the purple Tide *.
5
Here will I bathe my ſpotted Soul,
And make it pure and fair;
Till not the Eye of GOD diſcern
One ſoul Pollution there.
6
Then, dreſt in Robes of ſnowy White,
I'll join the ſhining Band,
And learn new Anthems to the Lamb,
While round his Throne we ſtand.
CCCXLIX. Having the Son, and having Life in him. 1 John v. 12.
1
O Happy Chriſtian, who can boaſt,
"The Son of GOD is mine"!
Happy, tho' humbled in the Duſt,
Rich in this Gift divine.
2
He lives the Life of Heav'n below,
And ſhall for ever live;
Eternal Streams from Chriſt ſhall flow,
And endleſs Vigour give.
3
That Life we aſk with bended Knee,
Nor will the LORD deny;
Nor will celeſtial Mercy ſee
Its humble Suppliants die.
4
That Life obtain'd, for Praiſe alone
We wiſh continu'd Breath;
And taught by bleſt Experience own,
That Praiſe can live in Death.
CCCL. CHRIST the Firſt and the Laſt, humbled [...] Death, and exalted to an eternal Triumph over it. Revelation i. 17, 18.
[303]1
WHat Myſt'ries, Lord, in thee combine!
Jeſus, once mortal, yet divine!
The Firſt, the Laſt; the End, the Head;
The Source of Life among the Dead.
2
O Love, beyond the Stretch of Thought!
What matchleſs Wonders hath it wrought!
My Faith, while ſhe the Grace declares,
Trembles beneath the Load ſhe bears.
3
Hail, royal Conqu'ror o'er the Grave,
Tender to pity, ſtrong to ſave!
For ever live, for ever reign,
And proſp'rous may thy Throne remain!
4
Thy Saints, obedient to thy Word,
With humble Joy ſurround thy Board;
And, long as Time perſues its Race,
Proclaim thy Death, and ſhout thy Grace.
5
In the full Choir, where Angels join
Their Harps of Melody divine,
Thy Death inſpires a Song of Praiſe,
New thro' thy Life's eternal Days.
CCCLI. The Keys of Death and the unſeen World in CHRIST'S Hand. Rev. i. 18.
1
HAIL to the Prince of Life and Peace,
Who holds the Keys of Death and Hell!
[304] The ſpacious World unſeen is his,
And ſov'reign Pow'r becomes him well.
2
In Shame and Torment once he died;
But now he lives for evermore:
Bow down, ye Saints, around his Seat,
And, all ye Angel-Bands, adore.
3
So live for ever, Glorious Lord,
To cruſh thy Foes, and guard thy Friends;
While all thy choſen Tribes rejoice,
That thy Dominion never ends.
4
Worthy thy Hand to hold the Keys,
Guided by Wiſdom, and by Love;
Worthy to rule o'er mortal Life,
O'er Worlds below, and Worlds above.
5
When Death thy Servants ſhall invade,
When Pow'rs of Hell thy Church annoy,
Controul'd by Thee, their Rage ſhall help
The Cauſe, they labour'd to deſtroy.
6
For ever reign, victorious King:
Wide thro' the Earth thy Name be known;
And call my longing Soul to ſing
Sublimer Anthems near thy Throne.
CCCLII. CHRIST'S Care of Miniſters and Churches. Rev. ii. 1.
1
WE bleſs th' eternal Source of Light,
Who makes the Stars to ſhine;
And, thro' this dark beclouded World,
Diffuſeth Rays divine.
[305]2
We bleſs the Churches ſov'reign King,
Whoſe golden Lamps we are;
Fix'd in the Temples of his Love
To ſhine with Radiance fair.
3
Still be our Purity preſerv'd;
Still fed with Oil the Flame;
And in deep Characters inſcrib'd
Our heav'nly Maſter's Name.
4
Then, while between our Ranks he walks
And all our State ſurveys,
His Smiles ſhall with new Luſtre deck
The People of his Praiſe.
CCCLIII. The Chriſtian Warrior animated and crowned. Rev. ii. 10.
1
HARK! 'Tis our heav'nly Leader's Voice
From his triumphant Seat:
'Midſt all the War's tumultuous Noiſe,
How pow'rful, and how ſweet!
2
"Fight on, my faithful Band, (he cries)
"Nor fear the mortal Blow:
"Who firſt in ſuch a Warfare dies
"Shall ſpecdieſt Vict'ry know.
3
"I have my Days of Combate known,
"And in the Duſt was laid,
"But thence I mounted to my Throne,
"And Glory crowns my Head.
4
"That Throne, that Glory you ſhall ſhare;
"My Hands the Crown ſhall give;
[306] "And you the ſparkling Honours wear,
"While GOD himſelf ſhall live".
5
Lord, 'tis enough; our Boſoms glow
With Courage, and with Love:
Thine Hand ſhall bear thy Soldiers thro',
And raiſe their Heads above.
6
My Soul, while Deaths beſet me round,
Erects her ardent Eyes,
And longs, thro' ſome illuſtrious Wound,
To ruſh and ſeize the Prize.
CCCLIV. The Pillar in GOD's heavenly Temple with its Inſeription. Rev. iii. 12.
1
ALL-HAIL, victorious Saviour, hail!
I bow to thy Command;
And own, that David's roval Key
Well fits thy ſov'reign Hand.
2
Open the Treaſures of thy Love,
And ſhed thy Gifts abroad;
Unveil to my rejoicing Eyes
The Temple of my GOD.
3
There as a Pillar let me ſtand
On an eternal Baſe §;
Uprear'd by thine almighty Hand,
And poliſh'd by thy Grace.
4
There deep engraven let me bear
The Title of thy GOD;
And mark the new Jeruſalem,
As my ſecure Abode.
[307]5
In laſting Characters inſcribe
Thine own beloved Name,
That endleſs Ages there may read
The great Emanuel's Claim.
6
Lead on, my Gen'ral, I deſy
What Earth or Hell can do;
Thy Conduct, and this glorious Hope
Shall bear thy Soldier thro'.
CCCLV. GOD's Covenant unchangeable, or The Rainbow round about the Throne. Rev. iv.-3. compared with Gen. ix. 13-17.
1
SUPREME of Beings, with Delight
Our Eyes ſurvey this heav'nly Sight;
And trace with Admiration ſweet
The beaming Splendors of thy Feet.
2
Jaſper and Sapphire ſtrive in vain
To paint the Glories of thy Train;
Thy Robes all ſtream eternal Light,
Too pow'rful for a Cherub's Sight.
3
Yet round thy Throne the Rainbow ſhines,
Fair Emblem of thy kind Deſigns:
Bright Pledge, that ſpeaks thy Cov'nant ſure
Long as thy Kingdom ſhall endure.
4
No more ſhall Deluges of Woe
Thy new-created World o'erflow;
Jeſus, our Sun, his Beams diſplays,
And glids the Clouds with beauteous Rays.
5
No Gems ſo bright, no Forms ſo fair;
Mercy and Truth ſtill triumph there:
[308] Thy Saints ſhall bleſs the peaceful Sign,
When Stars and Suns forget to ſhine.
6
Ev'n here, while Storms and gloomy Shade,
And Horrors all the Scene o'erſpread,
Faith views the Throne with piercing Eye,
And boaſts, the Rainbow ſtill is nigh.
CCCLVI. Victory over Satan by the Blood of the Lamb, and the Word of the Teſtimony of his Servants. Rev. xii. 11.
1
SEE the old Dragon from his Throne
Sink with enormous Ruin down!
Baniſh'd from Heav'n, and doom'd to dwell
Deep in the fiery Gloom of Hell!
2
Ye Heav'ns with all your Hoſts, rejoice:
Ye Saints, in Conſort lend your Voice:
Approach your Lord's victorious Seat,
And tread the Foe beneath your Feet.
3
But whence a Conqueſt ſo divine
Gain'd by ſuch feeble Hands as mine?
Or whence can ſinful Mortals boaſt
O'er Satan and his rebel Hoſt?
4
'Twas from thy Blood, Thou ſlaughter'd Lamb,
That all our Palms and Triumphs came;
Thy Croſs, thy Spear inflicts the Stroke,
By which the Monſter's Head is broke.
5
Thy faithful Word our Hope maintains
Thro' all our Combate and our Pains;
The Accents of thy heav'nly Breath
Thy Soldiers bear thro' Wounds and Death.
[309]6
Triumphant Lamb, in Worlds unknown,
With Tranſport round thy radiant Throne,
Thy happy Legions, all compleat,
Shall lay their Laurels at thy Feet.
CCCLVII. The Song of Moſes and the Lamb. Rev. xv. 3.
1
ISRAEL, thy Tribute bring
To GOD'S victorious Name;
The Song of Moſes ſing,
Of Moſes and the Lamb:
Improve his Lays ‡;
The Theme exceeds,
And nobler Deeds
Demand our Praiſe.
2
The Prince of Hell aroſe
With impious Rage and Pride,
And 'midſt our num'rous Foes
Our feeble Pow'r defy'd;
"I will o'ertake,
"And I deſtroy,
"My Hand with Joy
"Shall force thee back".
3
Thy Hand, Almighty LORD,
Thy trembling Iſrael ſaves;
Thine unreſiſted Word
Divides the threatning Waves:
Thy Hoſts paſs o'er;
The Foe o'erthrown
Sinks like a Stone
To riſe no more.
[310]4
Our Triumphs we prepare,
And chearful Anthems raiſe;
Jehovah's Arm made bare
Demands immortal Praiſe;
And while we ſing,
Ye Shores, proclaim
His wondrous Name,
Ye Deſarts, ring.
5
Thro' all the Wilderneſs
Thy Preſence, LORD, ſhall lead;
And bring us to the Place,
Thy ſov'reign Love decreed;
Thoſe bliſsful Plains,
Where all around
Hoſannas ſound,
And Tranſport reigns.
CCCLVIII. The Conqueſt of Death and Grief by Views of the heavenly State. Rev. xxi. 4.
1
LIFT up, ye Saints, your weeping Eyes,
Suſpend your Sorrows and your Sighs;
Turn all your Groans to joyful Songs,
Which Jeſus dictates to your Tongues.
2
Thus ſaith the Saviour from his Throne,
"Behold all former Things are gone,
"Paſt like an anxious Dream away,
"Chas'd by the golden Beams of Day.
3
"See in celeſtial Pomp array'd
"A new-created World diſplay'd;
"Mark with what Light its Proſpects ſhine!
"How grand, how various, how divine!
[311]4
"There mine own gentle Hand ſhall dry
"Each Tear from each o'erflowing Eye,
"And open wide my friendly Breaſt
"To lull the weary Soul to Reſt.
5
"No more ſhall Grief aſſail your Heart,
"No boding Fear, no piercing Smart;
"For ever there my People dwell
"Beyond the Range of Death and Hell".
6
Vain King of Terrors, boaſt no more
Thine ancient wide-extended Pow'r;
Each Saint in Life with Chriſt his Head
Shall reign, when thou thyſelf art dead.
CCCLIX. CHRIST the Root and Offspring of David, and the Morning-Star. Rev. xxii -16.
1
ALL-HAIL, myſterious King!
Hail, David's ancient Root!
Thou righteous Branch, which thence didſt ſpring,
To give the Nations Fruit.
2
Our weary Souls ſhall reſt
Beneath thy grateful Shade;
Our thirſting Lips Salvation taſte;
Our fainting Hearts are glad.
3
Fair Morning-Star, ariſe,
With living Glories bright,
And pour on theſe awak'ning Eyes
A Flood of ſacred Light.
4
The horrid Gloom is fled,
Pierc'd by thy beauteous Ray;
[312] Shine, and our wand'ring Footſteps lead
To everlaſting Day.
CCCLX. CHRIST'S Invitations ecchoed back &c. Rev. xxii. 17.
1
HOW free the Fountain flows
Of endleſs Life and Joy!
That Spring, which no Confinement knows,
Whoſe Waters never cloy!
2
How ſweet the Accents ſound
From the Redeemer's Tongue!
"Aſſemble, all ye Nations round,
"In one obedient Throng.
3
"The Spirit bears the Call
"To all the diſtant Lands;
"The Church, the Bride reflects it back,
"While Jeſus waiting ſtands.
4
"Ho, ev'ry thirſty Soul,
"Approach the ſacred Spring;
"Drink, and your fainting Spirits chear,
"Renew the Draught, and ſing.
5
"Let all, that will, approach;
"The Water freely take;
"Free from mine op'ning Heart it flows,
"Your raging Thirſt to ſlake".
6
With thankful Hearts we come
To taſte the offer'd Grace;
And call on all that hear to join
The Trial, and the Praiſe.
CCCLXI. The Chriſtian rejoicing in the Views of Death and Judgment. Rev. xxii. 20.
[313]1
"BEHOLD I come, (the Saviour cries)
"On Wings of Love I fly"
So come, Dear Lord, (my Soul replies)
And bring Salvation nigh.
2
Come, looſe theſe Bonds of Fleſh and Sin;
Come, end my Pains and Cares;
Bear me to thy ſerene Abode
Beyond the Clouds and Stars.
3
I greet the Meſſengers of Death,
By which Thou call'ſt me Home;
But doubly greet that joyful Hour,
When Thou thyſelf ſhalt come.
4
Come, plead thy Father's injur'd Cauſe,
And make thy Glory ſhine;
Come, rouſe thy Servants mould'ring Duſt,
And their whole Frame refine.
5
O come amidſt th' Angelick Hoſts
Their humble Name to own;
And bear the full Aſſembly back
To dwell around thy Throne.
6
With winged Speed, Redeemer dear,
Bring on th' illuſtrious Day:
Come, leſt our Spirits droop and faint
Beneath thy long Delay.
HYMNS ON PARTICULAR OCCASIONS, AND IN UNCOMMON MEASURES.
[314]HYMN CCCLXII. A Morning HYMN, to be uſed at awaking and riſing.
1
AWAKE, my Soul, to meet the Day;
Unfold thy drowſy Eyes,
And burſt the pond'rous Chain, that loads
Thine active Faculties.
2
GOD'S guardian Shield was round me ſpread
In my defenceleſs Sleep:
Let him have all my waking Hours,
Who doth my Slumbers keep.
3
[The Work of each immortal Soul
Attentive Care demands;
[315] Think then what painful Labours wait
The faithful Paſtor's Hands.]
4
My Moments fly with winged Pace,
And ſwift my Hours are hurl'd;
And Death with rapid March comes on
T' unveil th' eternal World.
5
I for this Hour muſt give Account
Before GOD'S awful Throne;
Let not this Hour neglected paſs,
As Thouſands more have done.
6
Pardon, O GOD, my former Sloth,
And arm my Soul with Grace;
As, riſing now, I ſeal my Vows
To proſecute thy Ways.
7
Bright Sun of Righteouſneſs, ariſe;
Thy radiant Beams diſplay,
And guide my dark bewilder'd Soul
To everlaſting Day.
CCCLXIII. An Evening HYMN, to be uſed when compoſing oneſelf to ſleep.
I.
INTERVAL of grateful Shade,
Welcome to my weary Head!
Welcome Slumbers to mine Eyes,
Tir'd with glaring Vanities!
My great Maſter ſtill allows
Needful Periods of Repoſe:
By my heav'nly Father bleſt
Thus I give my Pow'rs to Reſt;
[316] Heav'nly Father! gracious Name!
Night and Day his Love the ſame:
Far be each ſuſpicious Thought,
Ev'ry anxious Care forgot:
Thou, mine ever-bounteous GOD,
Crown'ſt my Days with various Good:
Thy kind Eye, that cannot ſleep,
Theſe defenceleſs Hours ſhall keep:
Bleſt Viciſſitude to me!
Day and Night I'm ſtill with Thee.
II.
What tho' downy Slumbers flee,
Strangers to my Couch and me?
Sleepleſs well I know to reſt,
Lodg'd within my Father's Breaſt.
While the Empreſs of the Night
Scatters mild her Silver Light;
While the vivid Planets ſtray
Various thro' their myſtick Way;
While the Stars unnumber'd roll
Round the ever-conſtant Pole;
Far above theſe ſpangled Skies
All my Soul to GOD ſhall riſe;
'Midſt the Silence of the Night
Mingling with thoſe Angels bright,
Whoſe harmonious Voices raiſe
Ceaſeleſs Love and ceaſeleſs Praiſe:
Thro' the Throng his gentle Ear
Shall my tuneleſs Accents hear;
From on high doth he impart
Secret Comfort to my Heart.
He in theſe ſereneſt Hours
Guides my intellectual Pow'rs,
[317] And his Spirit doth diffuſe,
Sweeter far than Midnight Dews,
Lifting all my Thoughts above
On the Wings of Faith and Love.
Bleſt Alternative to me,
Thus to ſleep, or wake, with Thee!
III.
What if Death my Sleep invade?
Should I be of Death afraid?
Whilſt encircled by thine Arm,
Death may ſtrike, but cannot harm.
What if Beams of op'ning Day
Shine around my breathleſs Clay?
Brighter Viſions from on high
Shall regale my mental Eye.
Tender Friends awhile may mourn
Me from their Embraces torn;
Dearer better Friends I have
In the Realms beyond the Grave.
See the guardian Angels nigh
Wait to waft my Soul on high!
See the golden Gates diſplay'd!
See the Crown to grace my Head!
See a Flood of ſacred Light,
Which no more ſhall yield to Night!
Tranſitory World, farewell!
Jeſus calls with him to dwell.
With thy heav'nly Preſence bleſt,
Death is Life, and Labour Reſt.
Welcome Sleep, or Death to me!
Still ſecure, for ſtill with Thee.
CCCLXIV. On Recovery from Sickneſs, during which, much of the divine Favour had been expe⯑rienced.
[318]1
MY GOD, thy Service well demands
The Remnant of my Days:
Why was this fleeting Breath renew'd,
But to renew thy Praiſe?
2
Thine Arms of everlaſting Love
Did this weak Frame ſuſtain,
When Life was hov'ring o'er the Grave,
And Nature ſunk with Pain.
3
Thou, when the Pains of Death were felt,
Didſt chaſe the Fears of Hell,
And teach my pale and quiv'ring Lips
Thy matchleſs Grace to tell.
4
Calmly I bow'd my fainting Head
On thy dear faithful Breaſt;
Pleas'd to obey my Father's Call
To his eternal Reſt.
5
Into thy Hands, my Saviour GOD,
Did I my Soul reſign,
In firm Dependence on that Truth,
Which made Salvation mine.
6
Back from the Borders of the Grave,
At thy Command I come:
Nor would I urge a ſpeedier Flight
To my celeſtial Home.
7
Where Thou determin'ſt mine Abode,
There would I chuſe to be;
[319] For in thy Preſence Death is Life,
And Earth is Heav'n with Thee.
CCCLXV. The laſt Words of David. 2 Samuel xxiii. 1-8 ‡
1
THUS hath the Son of Jeſſe ſaid,
When Iſrael's GOD had rais'd his Head
To high Imperial Sway:
Struck with his laſt poetick Fire,
Zion's ſweet Pſalmiſt tun'd his Lyre
To this harmonious Lay.
2
Thus dictates Iſrael's ſacred Rock:
Thus hath the GOD of Jacob ſpoke
By my reſponſive Tongue:
Behold the JUST ONE over Men
Commencing his religious Reign!
Great Subject of my Song.
3
So gently ſhines with genial Ray
Th' unclouded Lamp of riſing Day,
And cheers the tender Flow'rs,
When Midnight's ſoft diffuſive Rain
Hath bleſs'd the Gardens and the Plain
With kind refreſhing Show'rs.
4
Shall not my Houſe this Honour boaſt?
My Soul th' eternal Cov'nant truſt,
Well-order'd ſtill and ſure?
There all my Hopes and Wiſhes meet;
In Death I call its Bleſſings ſweet,
And feel its Bond ſecure.
[320]5
The Sons of Belial ſhall not ſpring,
Who ſpurn at Heav'n's appointed King,
And ſcorn his high Command:
Tho' wide the Briars infeſt the Ground,
And the ſharp-pointed Thorns around
Defy a tender Hand;
6
A dreadful Warriour ſhall appear
With Iron Arms, and maſſy Spear,
And tear them from their Place:
Touch'd with the Lightning of his Ire,
At once they kindle into Fire,
And vaniſh in the Blaze.
CCCLXVI. A MILITARY ODE. PSALM CXLIX.
Probably compoſed by David to be ſung, when his Army was marching out to War againſt the Rem⯑nant of the devoted Nations of Canaan, and firſt went up in ſolemn Proceſſion to the Houſe of GOD at Jeruſalem, there, as it were, to conſecrate the Arms, which he put into their Hands. The Beds referred to ver. 5, were probably the Couches, on which they lay at the Banquet attending their Sacrifices; which gives a noble Senſe to a Paſſage, on any other Interpretation hardly intelligible.
1
O Praiſe ye the LORD, prepare a new Song,
And let all his Saints in full Conſort join:
Ye Tribes all aſſemble the Feaſt to prolong,
In ſolemn Proceſſion with Muſick divine.
[321]2
O Iſrael, in him that made thee rejoice;
Let all Zion's Sons exult in their King;
While to martial Dances you join a glad Voice,
Your lutes harps and timbrels in harmony bring.
3
The LORD in his Saints ſtill finds his Delight;
Salvation from him the Meek ſhall adorn;
They well may be joyful, ſuſtain'd by his Might,
And crown'd by his favour may lift up their horn.
4
Let Carpets be ſpread, and Banquets prepar'd
Thoſe Altars around, whence Incenſe aſcends;
Whilſt Anthems of Glory thro' Salem are heard,
And GOD, whom we worſhip, indulgent attends.
5
Then as your Hearts bound with Muſick & Wine,
Inſpir'd by the GOD, who reigns in the Place;
Unſheath all your Weapons, and bright let them ſhine,
And brandiſh your Faulchions, while chaunting his Praiſe.
6
Then march to the Field; the Heathen defy;
And ſcatter his Wrath on Nations around:
Like angels of vengeance your ſwords lift on high
And boaſt, that Jehovah commiſſions the wound.
7
Their Gen'rals ſubdu'd your triumphs ſhall grace
And loaded with Chains their Kings ſhall be brought;
On the Necks ſhall ye trample of Canaan's proud Race,
And all their laſt remnant for ſlaughter be ſought.
8
No Rage of your own ſuch Rigour demands;
A Sentence divine your Arms muſt fulfill:
[322] Of old he this vengeance conſign'd to your hands,
And in ſacred Volumes recorded his Will.
9
This Honour, ye Saints, appointed for you,
All-grateful receive, and faithful obey;
And, while his dread Pleaſure reſiſtleſs ye do,
Still make his high Praiſes the Song of the Day.
CCCLXVII. For the Thankſgiving-Day for the Peace, April 25, 1749.
1
NOW let our Songs addreſs the GOD of Peace,
Who bids the Tumult of the Battle ceaſe:
The pointed Spears to pruning Hooks he bends,
And the broad Faulchion in the Plow-ſhare ends.
His pow'rful Word unites contending Nations
In kind Embrace, and friendly Salutations.
2
Britain, adore the Guardian of thy State;
Who, high on his celeſtial Throne elate,
Still watchful o'er thy Safety and Repoſe,
Frown'd on the Counſels of thy haughtieſt Foes;
Thy Coaſts ſecur'd from ev'ry dire Invaſion
Of Fire and Sword and ſpreading Deſolation.
3
When rebel bands with deſp'rate madneſs join'd,
He wafted o'er Deliv'rance with his Wind;
Drove back the Tide, that delug'd half our Land,
And curb'd their Fury with his mightier Hand:
Till dreadful Slaughter, and the laſt Confuſion
Taught thoſe audacious Sinners their Deluſion.
4
He gave our Fleets to triumph o'er the Main,
And ſcatter Terror 'croſs wide Ocean's Plain:
[323] Oppoſing Leaders trembled at the Sight,
Nor found their Safety in th' attempted Flight;
Taught by their Bonds, how vainly they pretended
Thoſe to diſtreſs, whom Iſrael's GOD defended.
5
Fierce Storms were ſummon'd up in Britain's aid,
And meagre Famine hoſtile Lands o'erſpread;
By Suff'rings bow'd their Conqueſts they releaſe,
Nor ſcorn the Overtures of equal Peace:
Contending Pow'rs congratulate the Bleſſing,
Joint Hymns of Gratitude to Heav'n addreſſing.
6
While we beneath our Vines and Fig-Trees ſit,
Or thus within thy ſacred Temple meet,
Accept, Great GOD, the Tribute of our Song,
And all the Mercies of this Day prolong.
Then ſpread thy peaceful Word thro' ev'ry Nation,
That all the Earth may hail thy great Salvation.
CCCLXVIII. An Hymn for a Faſt-Day in Time of War.
1
GREAT GOD of Heav'n and Nature, riſe,
And hear our loud united Cries:
See Britain bow before thy Face
Thro' all her Coaſts, and ſeek thy Grace.
2
No Arm of Fleſh we make our Truſt;
Nor Sword, nor Horſe, nor Ships we boaſt:
Thine is the Land, and thine the Main,
And human Force and Skill is vain.
3
Our Guilt might draw thy Vengeance down
On ev'ry Shore, on ev'ry Town;
But view us, LORD, with pitying Eye,
And lay thy lifted Thunder by.
[324]4
Forgive the Follies of our Times;
And purge our Land from all its Crimes;
Reform'd and deck'd with Grace divine,
Let Princes Prieſts and People ſhine.
5
O may no GOD-provoking Sin
Thro' all our Camps and Navies reign;
No foul Reproach, to drive from thence
Our ſureſt Glory and Defence.
6
So ſhall our GOD delight to bleſs,
And crown our Arms with wide Succeſs:
Our Foes ſhall dread JEHOVAH'S Sword,
And conqu'ring Britain ſhout the LORD.
CCCLXIX. Thankſgiving for National Deliver⯑ance, and Improvement of it.
1
SALVATION doth to GOD belong;
His Pow'r and Grace ſhall be our Song;
His Hand hath dealt a ſecret Blow,
And Terror ſtrikes the haughty Foe.
2
Praiſe to the LORD, who bows his Ear
Propitious to his People's Pray'r;
And, tho' Deliv'rance long delay,
Anſwers in his well-choſen Day.
3
O may thy Grace our Land engage,
(Reſcu'd from fierce tyrannic Rage,)
The Tribute of its Love to bring
To Thee, our Saviour, and our King!
4
Our Temples, guarded from the Flame,
Shall eccho thy triumphant Name;
[325] And ev'ry peaceful private Home
To Thee a Temple ſhall become.
5
Still be it our ſupreme Delight
To walk as in thy honour'd Sight:
Still in thy Precepts and thy Fear
To Life's laſt Hour to perſevere.
CCCLXX. A Church ſeeking Direction from God in the Choice of a Paſtor.
1
SHEPHERD of Iſrael, bend thine Ear,
Thy Servants Groans indulgent hear;
Perplex'd, diſtreſs'd, to Thee we cry,
And ſeek the Guidance of thine Eye.
2
Thy comprehenſive View ſurveys
Our wand'ring Paths, our trackleſs Ways;
Send forth, O LORD, thy Truth and Light,
To guide our doubtful Footſteps right.
3
With longing Eyes, behold, we wait
In ſuppliant Crouds at Mercy's Gate:
Our drooping Hearts, O GOD, ſuſtain:
Shall Iſrael ſeek thy Face in vain?
4
O LORD, in Ways of Peace return,
Nor let thy Flock neglected mourn;
May our bleſt Eyes a Shepherd ſee,
Dear to our Souls, and dear to Thee.
5
Fed by his Care, our Tongues ſhall raiſe
A chearful Tribute to thy Praiſe;
Our Children learn the grateful Song,
And theirs the chearful Notes prolong.
THE END.