Chapter V: Book 2: Composed on Divine Subjects (1)

Hymn 2:1. A song of praise to God from Great Britain.

1 Nature with all her powers shall sing God the Creator and the King; Nor air, nor earth, nor skies, nor seas Deny the tribute of their praise.

2 [Begin to make his glories known, Ye seraphs that sit near his throne; Tune your harps high, and spread the sound To the creation's utmost bound.

3 All mortal things of meaner frame, Exert your force and own his Name; Whilst with our souls and with our voice We sing his honours and our joys.]

4 [To him be sacred all we have From the young cradle to the grave: Our lips shall his loud wonders tell, And every word a miracle.]

5 [This northern isle, our native land, Lies safe in God th' Almighty's hand: Our foes of victory dream in vain, And wear the captivating chain.

6 He builds and guards the British throne, And makes it gracious like his own, Makes our successive princes kind, And gives our dangers to the wind.]

7 Raise monumental praises high To him that thunders thro' the sky, And with an awful nod or frown Shakes an aspiring tyrant down.

8 [Pillars of lasting brass proclaim The triumphs of th' eternal Name; While trembling nations read from far The honours of the God of war.]

9 Thus let our flaming zeal employ Our loftiest thoughts and loudest songs Britain pronounce with warmest joy Hosanna from ten thousand tongues.

10 Yet, mighty God, our feeble frame Attempts in vain to reach thy Name; The strongest notes that angels raise Faint in the worship and the praise.

Hymn 2:2. The death of a sinner.

1 My thoughts on awful subjects roll, Damnation and the dead; What horrors seize the guilty soul Upon a dying bed!

2 Lingering about these mortal shores, She makes a long delay, Till like a flood with rapid force Death sweeps the wretch away.

3 Then swift and dreadful she descends Down to the fiery coast, Amongst abominable fiends, Herself a frightful ghost.

4 There endless crowds of sinners lie, And darkness makes their chains; Tortur'd with keen despair they cry, Yet wait for fiercer pains.

5 Not all their anguish and their blood For their old guilt atones, Nor the compassions of a God Shall hearken to their groans.

6 Amazing grace, that kept my breath, Nor bid my soul remove, Till I had learn'd my Saviour's death, And well insur'd his love!

Hymn 2:3. The death and burial of a saint.

1 Why do we mourn departing friends Or shake at death's alarms? 'Tis but the voice that Jesus sends To call them to his arms.

2 Are we not tending upward too As fast as time can move? Nor would we wish the hours more slow To keep us from our love.

3 Why should we tremble to convey Their bodies to the tomb? There the dear flesh of Jesus lay, And left a long perfume.

4 The graves of all his saints he bless'd, And soften'd every bed; Where should the dying members rest, But with the dying head?

5 Thence he arose, ascending high, And shew'd our feet the way; Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly At the great rising day.

6 Then let the last loud trumpet sound, And bid our kindred rise, Awake, ye nations under ground, Ye saints, ascend the skies.

Hymn 2:4. Salvation in the cross.

1 Here at thy cross, my dying God, I lay my soul beneath thy love, Beneath the droppings of thy blood, Jesus, nor shall it e'er remove.

2 Not all that tyrants think or say, With rage and lightning in their eyes, Nor hell shall fright my heart away, Should hell with all its legions rise.

3 Should worlds conspire to drive me thence, Moveless and firm this heart should lie; Resolv'd (for that's my last defence) If I must perish, there to die.

4 But speak, my Lord, and calm my fear, Am I not safe beneath thy, shade? Thy vengeance will not strike me here, Nor Satan dares my soul invade.

5 Yes, I'm secure beneath thy blood, And all my foes shall lose their aim, Hosanna to my dying God, And my best honours to his Name.

Hymn 2:5. Longing to praise Christ better.

1 Lord, when my thoughts with wonder roll O'er the sharp sorrows of thy soul, And read my Maker's broken laws Repair'd and honour'd by thy cross;

2 When I behold death, hell and sin, Vanquish'd by that dear blood of thine, And see the man that groan'd and dy'd Sit glorious by his Father's side;

3 My passions rise and soar above, I'm wing'd with faith and fir'd with love; Fain would I reach eternal things, And learn the notes that Gabriel sings.

4 But my heart fails, my tongue complains, For want of their immortal strains; And in such humble notes as these Must fall below thy victories.

5 Well, the kind minute must appear When we shall leave these bodies here, These clogs of clay, and mount on high, To join the songs above the sky.

Hymn 2:6. A morning song.

1 Once more, my soul, the rising day Salutes thy waking eyes. Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay To him that rolls the skies.

2 Night unto night his name repeats, The day renews the sound, Wide as the heaven on which he sits To turn the seasons round.

3 'Tis he supports my mortal frame, My tongue shall speak his praise; My sins would rouse his wrath to flame, And yet his wrath delays.

4 On a poor worm thy power might tread, And I could ne'er withstand; Thy justice might have crush'd me dead, But mercy held thine hand.

5 A thousand wretched souls are fled Since the last setting sun, And yet thou length'nest out my thread, And yet my moments run.

6 Dear God, let all my hours be thine Whilst I enjoy the light, Then shall my sun in smiles decline, And bring a pleasing night.

Hymn 2:7. An evening song.

1 [Dread Sovereign, let my evening song Like holy incense rise; Assist the offerings of my tongue To reach the lofty skies.

2 Thro' all the dangers of the day, Thy hand was still my guard, And still to drive my wants away Thy mercy stood prepar'd.]

3 Perpetual blessings from above Encompass me around, But O how few returns of love Hath my Creator found!

4 What have I done for him that dy'd To save my wretched soul? How are my follies multiply'd, Fast as my minutes roll;

5 Lord, with this guilty heart of mine To thy dear cross I flee, And to thy grace my soul resign To be renew'd by thee.

6 Sprinkled afresh with pardoning blood I lay me down to rest, As in th' embraces of my God, Or on my Saviour's breast.

Hymn 2:8. A hymn for morning or evening.

1 Hosanna, with a cheerful sound, To God's upholding hand; Ten thousand snares attend us round, And yet secure we stand.

2 That was a most amazing power That rais'd us with a word, And every day and every hour We lean upon the Lord.

3 The evening rests our weary head, And angels guard the room; We wake and we admire the bed That was not made our tomb.

4 The rising morning can't assure That we shall end the day, For death stands ready at the door To seize our lives away.

5 Our breath is forfeited by sin To God's revenging law; We own thy grace, immortal King, In every gasp we draw.

6 God is our sun, whose daily light Our joy and safety brings: Our feeble flesh lies safe at night Beneath his shady wings.

Hymn 2:9. Godly sorrow arising from the sufferings of Christ.

1 Alas! and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die? Would he devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?

2 [Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, thine, And bath'd in its own blood, While all expos'd to wrath divine The glorious Sufferer stood.]

3 Was it for crimes that I had done He groan'd upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!

4 Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in, When God the mighty Maker dy'd For man the creature's sin.

5 Thus might I hide my blushing face While his dear cross appears, Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt my eyes to tears.

6 But drops of grief can ne'er repay The debt of love I owe; Here, Lord, I give myself away, 'Tis all that I can do.

Hymn 2:10. Parting with carnal joys.

1 My soul forsakes her vain delight, And bids the world farewell Base as the dirt beneath my feet, And mischievous as hell.

2 No longer will I ask your love, Nor seek your friendship more; The happiness that I approve Lies not within your power.

3 There's nothing round this spacious earth That suits my large desire; To boundless joy and solid mirth My nobler thoughts aspire.

4 [Where pleasure rolls its living flood, From sin and dross refin'd, Still springing from the throne of God, And fit to cheer the mind.

5 Th' Almighty Ruler of the sphere, The glorious and the great, Brings his own all-sufficience there, To make our bliss complete.]

6 Had I the pinions of a dove, I'd climb the heavenly road; There sits my Saviour dress'd in love, And there my smiling God.

Hymn 2:11. The same.

1 Send the joys of earth away, Away ye tempters of the mind, False as the smooth deceitful sea, And empty as the whistling wind.

2 Your streams were floating me along Down to the gulf of black despair, And whilst I listen'd to your song, Your streams had e'en convey'd me there.

3 Lord, I adore thy matchless grace, That warn'd me of that dark abyss, That drew me from those treacherous seas, And bid me seek superior bliss.

4 Now to the shining realms above I stretch my hands, and glance mine eyes; O for the pinions of a dove To bear me to the upper skies.

5 There from the bosom of my God Oceans of endless pleasure roll; There would I fix my last abode, And drown the sorrows of my soul.

Hymn 2:12. Christ is the substance of the Levitical priesthood.

1 The true Messiah now appears, The types are all withdrawn; So fly the shadows and the stars Before the rising dawn.

2 No smoking sweets, nor bleeding lambs, Nor kid, nor bullock slain, Incense and spice of costly names Would all be burnt in vain.

3 Aaron must lay his robes away; His mitre and his vest, When God himself comes down to be The offering and the priest.

4 He took our mortal flesh to show The wonders of his love; For us he paid his life below, And prays for us above.

5 "Father, (he cries) forgive their sins, "For I myself have dy'd," And then he shews his open'd veins, And pleads his wounded side.

Hymn 2:13. The creation, preservation, dissolution, and restoration of this world.

1 Sing to the Lord that built the skies, The Lord that rear'd this stately frame; Let half the nations sound his praise, And lands unknown repeat his Name.

2 He form'd the seas, and form'd the hills, Made every drop and every dust, Nature and time with all their wheels, And push'd them into motion first.

3 Now from his high imperial throne He looks far down upon the spheres; He bids the shining orbs roll on, And round he turns our hasty years.

4 Thus shall this moving engine last Till all his saints are gather'd in, Then for the trumpet's dreadful blast To shake it all to dust again!

5 Yet when the sound shall tear the skies, And lightning burn the globe below, Saints, you may lift your joyful eyes, There's a new heaven and earth for you.

Hymn 2:14. The Lord's day; or, Delight in ordinances.

1 Welcome, sweet day of rest, That saw the Lord arise; Welcome to this reviving breast, And these rejoicing eyes!

2 The King himself comes near, And feasts his saints to-day, Here we may sit, and see him here, And love, and praise, and pray.

3 One day amidst the place Where my dear God hath been, Is sweeter than ten thousand days Of pleasurable sin.

4 My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this, And sit and sing herself away To everlasting bliss.

Hymn 2:15. The enjoyment of Christ; or, Delight in worship.

1 Far from my thoughts, vain world, be gone, Let my religious hours alone; Fain would my eyes my Saviour see, I wait a visit, Lord, from thee.

2 My heart grows warm with holy fire, And kindles with a pure desire: Come, my dear Jesus, from above, And feed my soul with heavenly love.

3 [The trees of life immortal stand In flourishing rows at thy right-hand, And in sweet murmurs by their side Rivers of bliss perpetual glide.

4 Haste then, but with a smiling face, And spread the table of thy grace: Bring down a taste of fruit divine, And cheer my heart with sacred wine.]

6 Blest Jesus, what delicious fare! How sweet thy entertainments are! Never did angels taste above Redeeming grace, and dying love.

6 Hail, great Immanuel, all divine, In thee thy Father's glories shine; Thou brightest, sweetest, fairest one, That eyes have seen, or angels known.

Hymn 2:16. Part the second.

7 Lord, what a heaven of saving grace, Shines thro' the beauties of thy face, And lights our passions to a flame! Lord, how we love thy charming Name!

8 When I can say, my God is mine, When I can feel thy glories shine, I tread the world beneath my feet, And all that earth calls good or great.

9 While such a scene of sacred joys Our raptur'd eyes and souls employs, Here we could sit, and gaze away A long, an everlasting day.

10 Well, we shall quickly pass the night To the fair coasts of perfect light; Then shall our joyful senses rove O'er the dear object of our love.

11 [There shall we drink full draughts of bliss, And pluck new life from heavenly trees: Yet now, and then, dear Lord, bestow A drop of heaven on worms below.

12 Send comforts down from thy right-hand, While we pass thro' this barren land, And in thy temple let us see A glimpse of love, a glimpse of thee.]

Hymn 2:17 God's eternity.

1 Rise, rise, my soul, and leave the ground, Stretch all thy thoughts abroad, And rouse up every tuneful sound To praise th' eternal God.

2 Long ere the lofty skies were spread Jehovah fill'd his throne; Or Adam form'd, or angels made, The Maker liv'd alone.

3 His boundless years can ne'er decrease, But still maintain their prime; Eternity's his dwelling-place, And ever is his time.

4 While like a tide our minutes flow, The present and the past, He fills his own immortal now, And sees our ages waste.

5 The sea and sky must perish too, And vast destruction come! The creatures--look, how old they grow, And wait their fiery doom!

6 Well, let the sea shrink all away, And flame melt down the skies, My God shall live an endless day, When th' old creation dies.

Hymn 2:18. The ministry of angels.

1 High on a hill of dazzling light, The King of Glory spreads his seat, And troops of angels stretch'd for flight, Stand waiting round his awful feet.

2 "Go," saith the Lord, "my Gabriel go, "Salute the virgin's fruitful womb,[1] "Make haste, ye cherubs, down below, Sing and proclaim the Saviour come."

3 Here a bright squadron leaves the skies, And thick around Elisha stands;[2] Anon a heavenly soldier flies, And breaks the chains from Peter's hands.[3]

4 Thy winged troops, O God of hosts, Wait on thy wandering church below, Here we are sailing to thy coasts, Let angels be our convoy too.

5 Are they not all thy servants,[4] Lord? At thy command they go and come With cheerful haste obey thy word, And guard thy children to their home.

[1] Luke 1:16. [2] Luke 2:13. [3] Acts 11:7. [4] Heb. 1:14.

Hymn 2:19. Our frail bodies, and God our preserver.

1 Let others boast how strong they be, Nor death, nor danger fear; But we'll confess, O Lord, to thee, What feeble things we are.

2 Fresh as the grass our bodies stand, And flourish bright and gay, A blasting wind sweeps o'er the land, And fades the grass away.

3 Our life contains a thousand springs, And dies if one be gone; Strange! that a harp of thousand strings Should keep in tune so long.

4 But 'tis our God supports our frame, The God that built us first; Salvation to th' Almighty Name, That rear'd us from the dust.

5 [He spoke, and straight our hearts and brains In all their motions rose; "Let blood, (said he) flow round the veins," And round the veins it flows.

6 While we have breath, or use our tongues, Our Maker we'll adore; His Spirit moves our heaving lungs Or they would breathe no more.]

Hymn 2:20. Backslidings and returns; or, The inconstancy of our love.

1 Why is my heart so far from thee, My God, my chief delight? Why are my thoughts no more by day With thee, no more by night?

2 [Why should my foolish passions rove? Where can such sweetness be As I have tasted in thy love; As I have found in thee?]

3 When my forgetful soul renews The savour of thy grace, My heart presumes I cannot lose The relish all my days.

4 But ere one fleeting hour is pass'd, The flattering world employs Some sensual bait to seize my taste, And to pollute my joys.

5 [Trifles of nature or of art With fair deceitful charms Intrude upon my thoughtless heart, And thrust thee from my arms.]

6 Then I repent and vex my soul That I should leave thee so, Where will those wild affections roll That let a Saviour go?

7 [Sin's promis'd joys are turn'd to pain, And I am drown'd in grief; But my dear Lord returns again, He flies to my relief.

8 Seizing my soul with sweet surprise He draws with loving bands; Divine compassion in his eyes, And pardon in his hands.]

9 [Wretch that I am to wander thus In chase of false delight! Let me be fasten'd to thy cross, Rather than lose thy sight.]

10 [Make haste, my days, to reach the goal, And bring my heart to rest On the dear centre of my soul, My God, my Saviour's breast.]

Hymn 2:21. A song of praise to God the Redeemer.

1 Let the old heathens tune their song Of great Diana and of Jove; But the sweet theme that moves my tongue Is my Redeemer and his love.

2 Behold a God descends and dies To save my soul from gaping hell; How the black gulf where Satan lies Yawn'd to receive me when I fell!

3 How justice frown'd and vengeance stood To drive me down to endless pain! But the great Son propos'd his blood, And heavenly wrath grew mild again.

4 Infinite lover, gracious Lord, To thee be endless honours given; Thy wondrous Name shall be ador'd Round the wide earth, and wider heaven.

Hymn 2:22. With God is terrible majesty.

1 Terrible God, that reign'st on high, How awful is thy thundering hand! Thy fiery bolts how fierce they fly! Nor can all earth or hell withstand.

2 This the old rebel angels knew, And Satan fell beneath thy frown: Thine arrows struck the traitor thro', And weighty vengeance sunk him down.

3 This Sodom felt, and feels it still, And roars beneath th' eternal load, "With endless burnings who can dwell, "Or bear the fury of a God!"

4 Tremble, ye sinners, and submit, Throw down your arms before his throne, Bend your heads low beneath his feet, Or his strong hand shall crush you down.

5 And ye, blest saints, that love him too, With rev'rence bow before his Name, Thus all his heavenly servants do: God is a bright and burning flame.

Hymn 2:23. The sight of God and Christ in heaven.

1 Descend from heaven, immortal Dove, Stoop down and take us on thy wings, And mount and bear us far above The reach of these inferior things.

2 Beyond, beyond this lower sky, Up where eternal ages roll, Where solid pleasures never die, And fruits immortal feast the soul.

3 O for a sight, a pleasing sight Of our almighty Father's throne! There sits our Saviour crown'd with light Cloth'd in a body like our own.

4 Adoring saints around him stand, And thrones, and powers before him fall; The God shines gracious thro' the man, And sheds sweet glories on them all.

5 O what amazing joys they feel While to their golden harps they sing, And sit on every heavenly hill, And spread the triumphs of their King!

6 When shall the day, dear Lord, appear That I shall mount to dwell above, And stand and bow amongst them there, And view thy face, and sing, and love!

Hymn 2:24. The evil of sin visible in the fall of angels and men.

1 When the great Builder arch'd the skies, And form'd all nature with a word, The joyful cherubs tun'd his praise, And every bending throne ador'd.

2 High in the midst of all the throng, Satan, a tall archangel, sat, Amongst the morning stars he sung [1] Till sin destroy'd his heavenly state.

3 ['Twas sin that hurl'd him from his throne, Grov'ling in fire the rebel lies: "How art thou sunk in darkness down, "Son of the morning, from the skies!" [2]

4 And thus our two first parents stood Till sin defil'd the happy place They lost their garden and their God, And ruin'd all their unborn race.

5 [So sprung the plague from Adam's bower, And spread destruction all abroad; Sin, the curs'd name, that in one hour Spoil'd six days labour of a God.]

6 Tremble, my soul, and mourn for grief, That such a foe should seize thy breast; Fly to thy Lord for quick relief; O! may he slay this treacherous guest.

Then to thy throne, victorious King, Then to thy throne our shouts shall rise, Thine everlasting arm we sing, For sin the monster bleeds and dies.

[1] Job 38:7. [2] Isaiah 14:12.

Hymn 2:25. Complaining of spiritual sloth.

1 My drowsy powers, why sleep ye so? Awake, my sluggish soul! Nothing has half thy work to do, Yet nothing's half so dull.

2 The little ants for one poor grain Labour, and tug, and strive, Yet we who have a heaven t' obtain, How negligent we live!

3 We for whose sake all nature stands And stars their courses move; We for whose guard the angel bands Come flying from above;

4 We for whom God the Son came down, And labour'd for our good, How careless to secure that crown He purchas'd with his blood!

5 Lord, shall we lie so sluggish still, And never act our parts? Come, holy Dove, from th' heavenly hill, And sit and warm our hearts.

6 Then shall our active spirits move, Upward our souls shall rise: With hands of faith and wings of love We'll fly and take the prize.

Hymn 2:26. God invisible.

1 Lord, we are blind, we mortals blind, We can't behold thy bright abode; O 'tis beyond a creature-mind To glance a thought half-way to God.

2 Infinite leagues beyond the sky The great Eternal reigns alone, Where neither wings nor soul can fly, Nor angels climb the topless throne.

3 The Lord of glory builds his seat Of gems insufferably bright, And lays beneath his sacred feet Substantial beams of gloomy night.

4 Yet, glorious Lord, thy gracious eyes Look thro', and cheer us from above; Beyond our praise thy grandeur flies, Yet we adore, and yet we love.

Hymn 2:27. Praise ye him, all his angels, Psalm 148. 2.

1 God! the eternal awful Name That the whole heavenly army fears, That shakes the wide creation's frame, And Satan trembles when he hears.

2 Like flames of fire his servants are, And light surrounds his dwelling place; But, O ye fiery flames, declare The brighter glories of his face.

3 'Tis not for such poor worms as we To speak so infinite a thing, But your immortal eyes survey The beauties of your sovereign King.

4 Tell how he shews his smiling face, And clothes all heaven in bright array; Triumph and joy run thro' the place, And songs eternal as the day.

5 Speak, (for you feel his burning love) What zeal it spreads thro' all your frame: That sacred fire dwells all above, For we on earth have lost the name.

6 [Sing of his power and justice too, That infinite right-hand of his That vanquish'd Satan and his crew, And thunder drove them down from bliss.

7 [What mighty storms of poison'd darts Were hurl'd upon the rebels there! What deadly jav'lins nail'd their hearts Fast to the racks of long despair!]

8 [Shout to your King, you heavenly host, You that beheld the sinking foe; Firmly ye stood when they were lost; Praise the rich grace that kept you so.]

9 Proclaim his wonders from the skies, Let every distant nation hear; And while you sound his lofty praise, Let humble mortals bow and fear.

Hymn 2:28. Death and eternity.

1 Stoop down, my thoughts, that use to rise, Converse awhile with death: Think how a gasping mortal lies, And pants away his breath.

2 His quivering lip hangs feebly down His pulses faint and few, Then, speechless, with a doleful groan He bids the world adieu.

3 But, O the soul that never dies! At once it leaves the clay! Ye thoughts, pursue it where it flies, And track its wondrous way.

4 Up to the courts where angels dwell, It mounts triumphing there, Or devils plunge it down to hell In infinite despair.

5 And must my body faint and die? And must this soul remove? O for some guardian angel nigh To bear it safe above!

6 Jesus, to thy dear faithful hand My naked soul I trust, And my flesh waits for thy command To drop into my dust.

Hymn 2:29. Redemption by price and power.

1 Jesus, with all thy saints above My tongue would bear her part, Would sound aloud thy saving love, And sing thy bleeding heart.

2 Bless'd be the Lamb, my dearest Lord, Who bought me with his blood, And quench'd his Father's flaming sword In his own vital blood:

3 The Lamb that freed my captive soul From Satan's heavy chains, And sent the lion down to howl Where hell and horror reigns.

4 All glory to the dying Lamb, And never ceasing praise, While angels live to know his Name, Or saints to feel his grace.

Hymn 2:30. Heavenly joy on earth.

1 [Come, we that love the Lord, And let our joys be known; Join in a song with sweet accord, And thus surround the throne.

2 The sorrows of the mind Be banish'd from the place! Religion never was design'd To make our pleasures less.]

3 Let those refuse to sing That never knew our God, But favourites of the heavenly King May speak their joys abroad.

4 [The God that rules on high, And thunders when he please, That rides upon the stormy sky And manages the seas.]

5 This awful God is ours, Our Father and our love, He shall send down his heavenly powers To carry us above.

6 There we shall see his face, And never, never sin; There from the rivers of his grace Drink endless pleasures in.

7 Yes, and before we rise To that immortal state, The thoughts of such amazing bliss Should constant joys create.

8 [The men of grace have found Glory begun below, Celestial fruits on earthly ground From faith and hope may grow.]

9 The hill of Sion yields A thousand sacred sweets, Before we reach the heavenly fields, Or walk the golden streets.

10 Then let our songs abound, And every tear be dry; We're marching thro' Immanuel's ground To fairer worlds on high.

Hymn 2:31. Christ's presence makes death easy.

1 Why should we start and fear to die? What timorous worms we mortals are! Death is the gate of endless joy, And yet we dread to enter there.

2 The pains, the groans, and dying strife, Fright our approaching souls away; Still we shrink back again to life, Fond of our prison and our clay.

3 O, if my Lord would come and meet, My soul should stretch her wings in haste, Fly fearless thro' death's iron gate, Nor feel the terrors as she pass'd.

4 Jesus can make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are, While on his breast I lean my head, And breathe my life out sweetly there.

Hymn 2:32. Frailty and Folly.

1 How short and hasty is our life! How vast our souls' affairs! Yet senseless mortals vainly strive To lavish out their years.

2 Our days run thoughtlessly along, Without a moment's stay; Just like a story or a song We pass our lives away.

3 God from on high invites us home, But we march heedless on, And ever hastening to the tomb, Stoop downwards as we run.

4 How we deserve the deepest hell That slight the joys above! What chains of vengeance should we feel That break such cords of love!

5 Draw us, O God, with sovereign grace, And lift our thoughts on high, That we may end this mortal race And see salvation nigh.

Hymn 2:33. The blessed society in heaven.

1 Raise thee, my soul, fly up, and run Thro' every heavenly street, And say, there's nought below the sun That's worthy of thy feet.

2 [Thus will we mount on sacred wings, And tread the courts above; Nor earth, nor all her mightiest things Shall tempt our meanest love.]

3 There on a high majestic throne Th' Almighty Father reigns, And sheds his glorious goodness down On all the blissful plains.

4 Bright like a sun the Saviour sits, And spreads eternal noon, No evenings there, nor gloomy nights, To want the feeble moon.

5 Amidst those ever-shining skies Behold the sacred Dove, While banish'd sin and sorrow flies From all the realms of love.

6 The glorious tenants of the place Stand bending round the throne; And saints and seraphs sing and praise The infinite Three One.

7 [But O what beams of heavenly grace Transport them all the while! Ten thousand smiles from Jesus' face, And love in every smile!]

8 [Jesus, and when shall that dear day, That joyful hour appear, When I shall leave this house of clay To dwell amongst them there?]

Hymn 2:34. Breathing after the Holy Spirit; or, Fervency of devotion desired.

1 Come, holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all thy quickening powers, Kindle a flame of sacred love, In these cold hearts of ours.

2 Look, how we grovel here below, Fond of these trifling toys; Our souls can neither fly nor go To reach eternal joys.

3 In vain we tune our formal songs, In vain we strive to rise; Hosannas languish on our tongues, And our devotion dies.

4 Dear Lord! and shall we ever lie At this poor dying rate? Our love so faint, so cold to thee, And thine to us so great?

5 Come holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all thy quickening powers; Come shed abroad a Saviour's love, And that shall kindle ours.

Hymn 2:35. Praise to God for creation and redemption.

1 Let them neglect thy glory, Lord, Who never knew thy grace, But our loud songs shall still record The wonders of thy praise.

2 We raise our shouts, O God, to thee, And send them to thy throne, All glory to th' united Three, The undivided One.

3 'Twas he (and we'll adore his Name) That form'd us by a word, 'Tis he restores our ruin'd frame; Salvation to the Lord.

4 Hosanna! let the earth and skies Repeat the joyful sound, Rocks, hills, and vales, reflect the voice In one eternal round.

Hymn 2:36. Christ's intercession.

1 Well, the Redeemer's gone T' appear before our God, To sprinkle o'er the flaming throne With his atoning blood.

2 No fiery vengeance now, Nor burning wrath comes down; If justice call for sinners' blood, The Saviour shews his own.

3 Before his Father's eye Our humble suit he moves, The Father lays his thunder by, And looks, and smiles, and loves.

4 Now may our joyful tongues Our Maker's honour sing, Jesus the priest receives our songs, And bears them to the King.

5 [We bow before his face, And sound his glories high, "Hosanna to the God of grace "That lays his thunder by.]

6 "On earth thy mercy reigns, "And triumphs all above;" But, Lord how weak are mortal strains To speak immortal love!

7 [How jarring and how low Are all the notes we sing! Sweet Saviour, tune our songs anew, And they shall please the King.]

Hymn 2:37. The same.

1 Lift up your eyes to th' heavenly seats Where your Redeemer stays; Kind intercessor, there he sits, And loves, and pleads, and prays.

2 'Twas well, my soul he dy'd for thee, And shed his vital blood, Appeas'd stern justice on the tree, And then arose to God.

3 Petitions now and praise may rise, And saints their offerings bring, The priest with his own sacrifice Presents them to the King.

4 [Let Papists trust what names they please, Their saints and angels boast; We've no such advocates as these, Nor pray to th' heavenly host.]

6 Jesus alone shall bear my cries Up to his Father's throne, He, dearest Lord! perfumes my sighs, And sweetens every groan.

6 [Ten thousand praises to the King, Hosanna in the highest; Ten thousand thanks our spirits bring To God and to his Christ.]

Hymn 2:38. Love to God.

1 Happy the heart where graces reign, Where love inspires the breast; Love is the brightest of the train, And strengthens all the rest.

9 Knowledge, alas! 'Tis all in vain, And all in vain our fear, Our stubborn sins will fight and reign If love be absent there.

3 'Tis love that makes our cheerful feet In swift obedience move, The devils know and tremble too, But Satan cannot love.

4 This is the grace that lives and sings When faith and hope shall cease, 'Tis this shall strike our joyful strings In the sweet realms of bliss.

5 Before we quite forsake our clay, Or leave this dark abode, The wings of love bear us away To see our smiling God.

Hymn 2:39. The shortness and misery of life.

1 Our days, alas! our mortal days Are short and wretched too; "Evil and few," the patriarch says, [1] And well the patriarch knew.

2 'Tis but at best a narrow bound That heaven allows to men, And pains and sins run thro' the round Of threescore years and ten.

3 Well, if ye must be sad and few, Run on, my days, in haste; Moments of sin, and months of woe, Ye cannot fly too fast.

4 Let heavenly love prepare my soul, And call her to the skies, Where years of long salvation roll, And glory never dies.

[1] Genesis 47:9.

Hymn 2:40. Our comfort in the covenant made with Christ.

1 Our God, how firm his promise stands, E'en when he hides his face! He trusts in our Redeemer's hands His glory and his grace.

2 Then why, my soul, these sad complaints, Since Christ and we are one; Thy God is faithful to his saints, Is faithful to his Son.

3 Beneath his smiles my heart has liv'd, And part of heaven possess'd; I praise his Name for grace receiv'd, And trust him for the rest.

Hymn 2:41. A sight of God mortifies us to the world.

1 [Up to the fields where angels lie, And living waters gently roll, Fain would my thoughts leap out and fly, But sin hangs heavy on my soul.

2 Thy wondrous blood, dear dying Christ, Can make this load of guilt remove; And thou canst bear me where thou fly'st, On thy kind wings, celestial Dove!]

3 O might I once mount up and see The glories of th' eternal skies, What little things these worlds would be! How despicable to my eyes!

4 Had I a glance of thee, my God, Kingdoms and men would vanish soon, Vanish, as tho' I saw them not, As a dim candle dies at noon.

5 Then they might fight, and rage, and rave, I should perceive the noise no more Than we can hear a shaking leaf, While rattling thunders round us roar.

6 Great All in All, eternal King, Let me but view thy lovely face, And all my powers shall bow and sing Thine endless grandeur and thy grace.

Hymn 2:42. Delight in God.

1 My God, what endless pleasures dwell Above at thy right-hand! The courts below, how amiable, Where all thy graces stand!

2 The swallow near thy temple lies, And chirps a cheerful note; The lark mounts upward to thy skies, And tunes her warbling throat:

3 And we, when in thy presence, Lord, We shout with joyful tongues, Or sitting round our Father's board, We crown the feast with songs.

4 While Jesus shines with quickening grace, We sing and mount on high; But if a frown becloud his face, We faint, and tire, and die.

5 [Just as we see the lonesome dove Bemoan her widow'd state, Wandering she flies thro' all the grove, And mourns her loving mate.

6 Just so our thoughts from thing to thing In restless circles rove, Just so we drop, and hang the wing, When Jesus hides his love.]

Hymn 2:43. Christ's sufferings and glory.

1 Now for a tune of lofty praise To great Jehovah's equal Son! Awake, my voice, in heavenly lays, Tell the loud wonders he hath done.

2 Sing how he left the worlds of light And the bright robes he wore above, How swift and joyful was his flight On wings of everlasting love.

3 Down to this base, this sinful earth He came to raise our nature high; He came t' atone almighty wrath; Jesus the God was born to die.]

4 [Hell and its lions roar'd around, His precious blood the monsters spilt, While weighty sorrows press'd him down, Large as the loads of all our guilt.]

5 Deep in the shades of gloomy death Th' almighty Captive pris'ner lay; Th' almighty Captive left the earth, And rose to everlasting day.

6 Lift up your eyes, ye sons of light, Up to his throne of shining grace, See what immortal glories sit Round the sweet beauties of his face.

7 Amongst a thousand harps and songs Jesus the God exalted reigns, His sacred Name fills all their tongues And echoes thro' the heavenly plains!

Hymn 2:44. Hell; or, The vengeance of God.

1 With holy fear and humble song, The dreadful God our souls adore; Reverence and awe becomes the tongue That speaks the terrors of his power.

2 Far in the deep where darkness dwells, The land of horror and despair, Justice has built a dismal hell, And laid her stores of vengeance there.

3 [Eternal plagues and heavy chains, Tormenting racks and fiery coals, And darts t' inflict immortal pains, Dy'd in the blood of damned souls.]

4 [There Satan the first sinner lies, And roars, and bites his iron bands; In vain the rebel strives to rise, Crush'd with the weight of both thine hands.]

5 There guilty ghosts of Adam's race Shriek out, and howl beneath thy rod; Once they could scorn a Saviour's grace, But they incens'd a dreadful God.

6 Tremble, my soul, and kiss the Son; Sinners, obey the Saviour's call; Else your damnation hastens on, And hell gapes wide to wait your fall.

Hymn 2:45. God's condescension to our worship.

1 Thy favours Lord, surprise our souls; Will the Eternal dwell with us? What canst thou find beneath the poles To tempt thy chariot downward thus?

2 Still might he fill his starry throne, And please his ears with Gabriel's songs; But th' heavenly Majesty comes down, And bows to hearken to our tongues.

3 Great God, what poor returns we pay For love so infinite as thine! Words are but air, and tongues but clay, But thy compassion's all divine.

Hymn 2:46. God's condescension to human affairs.

1 Up to the Lord that reigns on high, And views the nations from afar, Let everlasting praises fly, And tell how large his bounties are.

2 [He that can shake the worlds he made, Or with his word, or with his rod, His goodness how amazing great! And what a condescending God!]

3 [God that must stoop to view the skies, And how to see what angels do, Down to our earth he casts his eyes, And bends his footsteps downward too.]

4 He over-rules all mortal things, And manages our mean affairs; On humble souls the King of kings Bestows his counsels and his cares.

5 Our sorrows and our tears we pour Into the bosom of our God, He hears us in the mournful hour, And helps us bear the heavy load.

6 In vain might lofty princes try Such condescension to perform; For worms were never rais'd so high Above their meanest fellow-worm.

7 O could our thankful hearts devise A tribute equal to thy grace, To the third heaven our songs should rise, And teach the golden harps thy praise.

Hymn 2:47. Glory and grace in the person of Christ.

1 Now to the Lord a noble song! Awake, my soul, awake, my tongue; Hosanna to th' eternal Name, And all his boundless love proclaim.

2 See where it shines in Jesus' face, The brightest image of his grace; God, in the person of his Son, Has all his mightiest works outdone.

3 The spacious earth and spreading flood Proclaim the wise, the powerful God; And thy rich glories from afar Sparkle in every rolling star.

4 But in his looks a glory stands, The noblest labour of thine hands: The pleasing lustre of his eyes Outshines the wonders of the skies.

5 Grace, 'tis a sweet, a charming theme; My thoughts rejoice at Jesus' name: Ye angels, dwell upon the sound, Ye heavens, reflect it to the ground!

6 O, may I live to reach the place Where he unveils his lovely face, Where all his beauties you behold, And sing his Name to harps of gold!

Hymn 2:48. Love to the creatures is dangerous.

1 How vain are all things here below! How false, and yet how fair! Each pleasure hath its poison too, And every sweet a snare.

2 The brightest things below the sky Give but a flattering light; We should suspect some danger nigh Where we possess delight.

3 Our dearest joys, and nearest friends, The partners of our blood, How they divide our wavering minds, And leave but half for God!

4 The fondness of a creature's love, How strong it strikes the sense! Thither the warm affections move, Nor can we call them thence.

5 Dear Saviour, let thy beauties be My soul's eternal food; And grace command my heart away From all created good.

Hymn 2:49. Moses dying in the embraces of God.

1 Death cannot make our souls afraid If God be with us there; We may walk thro' her darkest shade, And never yield to fear.

2 I could renounce my all below, If my Creator bid, And run, if I were call'd to go, And die as Moses did.

3 Might I but climb to Pisgah's top, And view the promis'd land, My flesh itself shall long to drop, And pray for the command.

4 Clasp'd in my heavenly Father's arms I would forget my breath, And lose my life among the charms Of so divine a death.

Hymn 2:50. Comfort under sorrows and pains.

1 Now let the Lord my Saviour smile, And shew my name upon his heart, I would forget my pains awhile, And in the pleasure lose the smart.

But O it swells my sorrows high To see my blessed Jesus frown! My spirits sink, my comforts die, And all the springs of life are down.

3 Yet why, my soul, why these complaints? Still while he frowns his bowels move; Still on his heart he bears his saints, And feels their sorrows and his love.

4 My name is printed on his breast; His book of life contains my name; I'd rather have it there impress'd Than in the bright records of fame.

5 When the last fire burns all things here, Those letters shall securely stand, And in the Lamb's fair book appear, Writ by th' eternal Father's hand.

6 Now shall my minutes smoothly run, Whil'st here I wait my Father's will; My rising and my setting sun Roll gently up and down the hill.

Hymn 2:51. God the Son equal with the Father.

1 Bright King of Glory, dreadful God! Our spirits bow before thy seat, To thee we lift an humble thought, And worship at thine awful feet.

2 [Thy power hath form'd, thy wisdom sways All nature with a sovereign word; And the bright world of stars obeys The will of their superior Lord.]

3 [Mercy and truth unite in one, And smiling sit at thy right-hand; Eternal justice guards thy throne, And vengeance waits thy dread command.]

4 A thousand seraphs strong and bright Stand round the glorious Deity; But who amongst the sons of light Pretends comparison with thee?

5 Yet there is one of human frame, Jesus, array'd in flesh and blood, Thinks it no robbery to claim A full equality with God.

6 Their glory shines with equal beams; Their essence is for ever one, Tho' they are known by different names The Father God, and God the Son.

7 Then let the name of Christ our King With equal honours be ador'd; His praise let every angel sing, And all the nations own their Lord.

Hymn 2:52. Death dreadful or delightful.

1 Death! 'tis a melancholy day To those that have no God, When the poor soul is forc'd away To seek her last abode.

2 In vain to heaven she lifts her eyes, But guilt, a heavy chain, Still drags her downward from the skies To darkness, fire, and pain.

3 Awake and mourn, ye heirs of hell, Let stubborn sinners fear, You must be driven from earth, and dwell A long for-ever there.

4 See how the pit gapes wide for you, And flashes in your face, And thou, my soul, look downwards too, And sing recovering grace.

5 He is a God of sovereign love That promis'd heaven to me, And taught my thoughts to soar above, Where happy spirits be.

6 Prepare me, Lord, for thy right-hand, Then come the joyful day, Come death, and some celestial band, To bear my soul away.

Hymn 2:53. The pilgrimage of the saints; or, Earth and heaven.

1 Lord! what a wretched land is this That yields us no supply! No cheering fruits no wholesome trees, Nor streams of living joy!

2 But pricking thorns thro' all the ground And mortal poisons grow, And all the rivers that are found With dangerous waters flow.

3 Yet the clear path to thine abode Lies thro' this horrid land; Lord! we would keep the heavenly road, And run at thy command.

4 [Our souls shall tread the desert thro' With undiverted feet; And faith and flaming zeal subdue The terrors that we meet.]

5 [A thousand savage beasts of prey Around the forest roam; But Judah's lion guards the way, And guides the strangers home.]

6 [Long nights and darkness dwell below, With scarce a twinkling ray; But the bright world to which we go Is everlasting day.]

7 [By glimmering hopes and gloomy fears We trace the sacred road, Thro' dismal deeps and dangerous snares We make our way to God.]

8 Our journey is a thorny maze, But we march upward still; Forget these troubles of the ways, And reach at Zion's hill.

9 [See the kind angels at the gates, Inviting us to come; There Jesus the fore-runner waits To welcome travellers home.]

10 There on a green and flowery mount Our weary souls shall sit, And with transporting joys recount The labours of our feet.

11 [No vain discourse shall fill our tongue, Nor trifles vex our ear, Infinite grace shall be our song, And God rejoice to hear.]

12 Eternal glories to the King That brought us safely thro'; Our tongues shall never cease to sing, And endless praise renew.

Hymn 2:54. God's presence is light in darkness.

1 My God, the spring of all my joys, The life of my delights, The glory of my brightest days, And comfort of my nights.

2 In darkest shades if he appear, My dawning is begun; He is my soul's sweet morning star And he my rising sun.

3 The opening heavens around me shine With beams of sacred bliss, While Jesus shews his heart is mine, And whispers, "I am his!"

4 My soul would leave this heavy clay At that transporting word, Run up with joy the shining way T' embrace my dearest Lord.

5 Fearless of hell and ghastly death! I'd break thro' every foe; The wings of love, and arms of faith Should bear me conqueror thro'.

Hymn 2:55. Frail life and succeeding eternity.

1 Thee we adore, eternal Name, And humbly own to thee, How feeble is our mortal frame! What dying worms are we!

2 [Our wasting lives grow shorter still As months and days increase; And every beating pulse we tell Leaves but the number less.

3 The year rolls round, and steals away The breath that first it gave; Whate'er we do, where'er we be, We're travelling to the grave.

4 Dangers stand thick thro' all the ground To push us to the tomb, And fierce diseases wait around To hurry mortals home.

5 Good God! on what a slender thread Hang everlasting things! Th' eternal states of all the dead Upon life's feeble strings.

6 Infinite joy or endless woe Attends on every breath; And yet how unconcern'd we go Upon the brink of death!

7 Waken, O Lord, our drowsy sense To walk this dangerous road; And if our souls are hurried hence, May they be found with God!

Hymn 2:56. The misery of being without God in this world; or, Vain prosperity.

1 O, I shall envy them no more Who grow profanely great, Tho' they increase their golden store, And rise to wondrous height.

2 They taste of all the joys that grow Upon this earthly clod, Well they may search the creature thro', For they have ne'er a God.

3 Shake off the thoughts of dying too, And think your life your own; But death comes hastening on to you To mow your glory down.

4 Yes, you must bow your stately head, Away your spirit flies, And no kind angel near your bed To bear it to the skies.

5 Go now, and boast of all your stores, And tell how bright you shine; Your heaps of glittering dust are yours, And my Redeemer's mine.

Hymn 2:57. The pleasures of a good conscience.

1 Lord, how secure and bless'd are they Who feel the joys of pardon'd sin! Should storms of wrath shake earth and sea, Their minds have heaven and peace within.

2 The day glides sweetly o'er their heads, Made up of innocence and love; And soft and silent as the shades Their nightly minutes gently move.

3 [Quick as their thoughts their joys come on, But fly not half so fast away; Their souls are ever bright as noon, And calm as summer evenings be.

4 How oft they look to th' heavenly hills, Where groves of living pleasure grow! And longing hopes and cheerful smiles Sit undisturb'd upon their brow.]

5 They scorn to seek our golden toys, But spend the day and share the night In numbering o'er the richer joys That heaven prepares for their delight.

6 While wretched we, like worms and moles, Lie grovelling in the dust below: Almighty grace, renew our souls, And we'll aspire to glory too.

Hymn 2:58 The shortness of life, and the goodness of God.

1 Time! what an empty vapour 'tis! And days how swift they are! Swift as an Indian arrow flies, Or like a shooting star.

2 [The present moments just appear, Then slide away in haste, That we can never say, "They're here," But only say, "They're past."]

3 [Our life is ever on the wing, And death is ever nigh; The moment when our lives begin We all begin to die.]

4 Yet, mighty God, our fleeting days Thy lasting favours share, Yet with the bounties of thy grace Thou load'st the rolling year.