88

THIRD PART.

L. M.

WHILE life prolongs its precious light, is found, and peace is given;

But soon, ah soon! approaching night Shall blot out every hope of heaven. 2 While God invites, how blest the day! How sweet the gospel's charming sound! "Come, sinners, haste, O! haste away, While yet a pardoning God he's found. 3 "Soon, borne on time's most rapid wing, Shall death command you to the grave, Before his bar your spirits bring,

And none be found to hear or save. 4 "In that lone land of deep despair, No Sabbath's heavenly light shall rise; No God regard your bitter prayer, Nor Saviour call you to the skies." 5 No wonders to the dead are shown, (The wonders of redeeming love ;) No voice his glorious truth makes known, Nor sings the bliss of climes above. 6 Silence, and solitude, and gloom, In these forgetful realms appear, Deep sorrows fill the dismal tomb, And hope shall never enter there.

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For

OR ever shall my song record
The truth and mercy of the Lord;
Mercy and truth for ever stand,
Like heaven, established by his hand.
2 Thus to his Son he sware and said,
"With thee my covenant first is made;
In thee shall dying sinners live,
Glory and grace are thine to give.

3"Be thou my Prophet, thou my Priest;
Thy children shall be ever blest;

Thou art my chosen King, thy throne
Shall stand eternal like my own.

4 "There's none of all my sons above,
So much my image or my
love;

Celestial powers thy subjects are,
Then what can earth to thee compare?
5 "David, my servant, whom I chose
To guard my flock, to crush my foes,
And raised him to the Jewish throne,
Was but a shadow of my Son."

6 Now let the church rejoice and sing,
Jesus her Saviour and her King;
Angels his heavenly wonders show,
And saints declare his works below.

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MY

SECOND PART.

Y never-ceasing song shall show
The mercies of the Lord;

And make succeeding ages know,
How faithful is his word.

2 The sacred truths his lips pronounce,
Shall firm as heaven endure;
And if he speaks a promise once,
The eternal grace is sure.

3 How long the race of David held
The promised Jewish throne!
But there's a nobler covenant sealed
To David's greater Son.

4 His seed for ever shall possess
A throne above the skies;

The meanest subject of his grace,
Shall to that glory rise.

C. M.

5 Lord God of hosts, thy wondrous ways
Are sung by saints above;

And saints on earth their honours raise,
To thy unchanging love.

89

WI

ITH reverence let the saints appear,
And bow before the Lord;

His high commands devoutly hear,
And tremble at his word.

2 How terrible thy glories rise!
How bright thine armies shine!
Where is the power with thee that vies,
Or truth compared with thine!

3 The northern pole and southern rest
On thy supporting hand;

Darkness and day, from east to west,
Move round at thy command.

4 Thy words the raging winds control,
And rule the boisterous deep;

Thou mak'st the sleeping billows roll,
The rolling billows sleep.

5 Heaven, earth, and air, and sea are thine,
And the dark world of hell;

They saw thine arm in vengeance shine,
When Egypt durst rebel.

6 Justice and judgment are thy throne,
Yet wondrous is thy grace;
While truth and mercy joined in one,
Invite us near thy face.

89

BLEST

are the souls who hear and know The gospel's joyful sound:

Peace shall attend the path they go,
And light their steps surround.

2 Their joy shall bear their spirits up
Through their Redeemer's name;
His righteousness exalts their hope,
And fills their foes with shame.

3 The Lord, our glory and defence,
Strength and salvation gives;
Israel, thy king for ever reigns,
Thy God for ever lives.

HEAR what the Lord in vision said,

And made his mercies known;

"Sinners, behold, your help is laid On my almighty Son.

C. M.

2 "High shall he reign on David's throne,
My people's better King;

My arm shall beat his rivals down,
And still new subjects bring.

3 "My truth shall guard him in his way,
With mercy by his side;

While in my name, o'er earth and sea,
He shall in triumph ride.

4 "Me, for his Father and his God,
He shall for ever own,

Call me his rock, his high abode,
And I'll support my Son.

5 "My first-born Son, arrayed in grace,
At my right hand shall sit;

Beneath him angels know their place,
And monarchs at his feet.

6 "My covenant stands for ever fast,
My promises are strong;

Firm as the heavens his throne shall last,
His seed endure as long."

89

"YET,

"ET," saith the Lord, "if David's race,
The children of my Son,

Should break my laws, abuse my grace,
And tempt mine anger down;

2 "Their sins I'll visit with the rod,
And make their follies smart ;

But I'll not cease to be their God,
Nor from my truth depart.

3 "My covenant I will ne'er revoke,
But keep my grace in mind;
And what eternal love hath spoke,
Eternal truth shall bind.

4 "Once have I sworn (I need no more)
And pledged my holiness,
To seal the sacred promise sure
To David and his race.

5 "The sun shall see his offspring rise,
And spread from sea to sea,
Long as he travels round the skies
To give the nations day.

6 "Sure as the moon that rules the night
His kingdom shall endure,

Till the fixed laws of shade and light
Shall be observed no more."

89

SEVENTH PART.

L. M.

EMEMBER, Lord, our mortal state,

RE

How frail our life, how short its date; Where is the man that draws his breath, Safe from disease, secure from death? 2 Lord, while we see whole nations die, Our flesh and strength repine and cry, "Must death for ever rage and reign? Or hast thou made mankind in vain? 3"Where is thy promise to the just? Are not thy servants turned to dust ?" But faith forbids these mournful sighs, And sees the sleeping dust arise. 4 That glorious hour, that dreadful day, Wipes the reproach of saints away, And clears the honour of thy word: Awake, our souls, and bless the Lord.