  1L. M. The works and the word of God. The heavens declare thy glory, Lord! In every star thy wisdom shines; But when our eyes behold thy word, We read thy name in fairer lines. 2 The rolling sun, the changing light, And nights and days, thy power confess; But the blest volume thou hast writ, Reveals thy justice and thy grace. 3 Sun, moon, and stars, convey thy praise Round the whole earth, and never stand; So when thy truth began its race, It touched and glanced on every land. 4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest Till through the world thy truth has run; Till Christ has all the nations blest That see the light, or feel the sun. 5 Great Sun of Righteousness! arise; Bless the dark world with heavenly light: Thy gospel makes the simple wise, Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right. 6 Thy noblest wonders here we view, In souls renewed, and sins forgiven; Lord! cleanse my sins, my soul renew, And make thy word my guide to heaven. 2L. M. Divine love displayed, etc. To thee my heart, Eternal King! Would now its thankful tribute bring, To thee its humble homage raise In songs of ardent, grateful praise. 2 All nature shows thy boundless love, In worlds below and worlds above; But in thy blessÉd word I trace The richer glories of thy grace. 3 There what delightful truths are given; There Jesus shows the way to heaven; His name salutes my listening ear, Revives my heart and checks my fear. 4 There Jesus bids our sorrows cease, And gives the laboring conscience peace; Raises our grateful feelings high, And points to mansions in the sky. 5 For love like this, O, may our song Through endless years thy praise prolong; And distant climes thy name adore, Till time and nature are no more! 3L. M. Nature and revelation. The starry firmament on high, And all the glories of the sky, Yet shine not to thy praise, O Lord, So brightly as thy written word. 2 The hopes that holy word supplies, Its truths divine and precepts wise— In each a heavenly beam I see, And every beam conducts to thee. 3 Almighty Lord! the sun shall fail, The moon forget her nightly tale, And deepest silence hush on high The radiant chorus of the sky— 4 But fixed for everlasting years, Unmoved amid the wreck of spheres, Thy word shall shine in cloudless day When heaven and earth have passed away. 4L. M. Strength and peace from the divine word. There is a stream whose gentle flow Supplies the city of our God; Life, love, and joy, still gliding through, And watering our divine abode. 2 That sacred stream, thy holy word, Supports our faith, our fear controls; Sweet peace thy promises afford, And give new strength to fainting souls. 5L. M. The Scriptures our light and guide. When Israel through the desert passed, A fiery pillar went before, To guide them through the dreary waste, And lessen the fatigues they bore. 2 Such is thy glorious word, O God; ’Tis for our light and guidance given; It sheds a luster all abroad, And points the path to bliss and heaven. 3 It fills the soul with sweet delight, And quickens its inactive powers; It sets our wandering footsteps right, Displays thy love and kindles ours. 4 Its promises rejoice our hearts; Its doctrine is divinely true; Knowledge and pleasure it imparts; It comforts and instructs us too. 5 Ye favored lands, who have this word! Ye saints, who feel its saving power! Unite your tongues to praise the Lord, And his distinguished grace adore. 6L. M. Their words to the end of the world. Upon the gospel’s sacred page The gathered beams of ages shine; And, as it hastens, every age But makes its brightness more divine. 2 On mightier wing, in loftier flight, From year to year, does knowledge soar; And, as it soars, the gospel light Becomes effulgent more and more. 3 More glorious still, as centuries roll, New regions blest, new powers unfurled; Expanding with the expanding soul, Its radiance shall o’erflow the world; 4 Flow to restore, but not destroy; As when the cloudless lamp of day Pours out its flood of light and joy, And sweeps the lingering mist away. 7L. M. Hold fast the form of sound words. God’s law demands one living faith, Not a gaunt crowd of lifeless creeds; Its warrant is a firm “God saith;” Its claim, not words, but living deeds. 2 Yet, Lord, forgive; thy simple law Grows tarnished in our earthly grasp; Pure in itself, without a flaw, It dims in our too-worldly clasp. 3 We handle it with unwashed hands; We stain it with unhallowed breath; We gloss it with device of man’s, And hide thine image underneath. 4 Forgive the sacrilege, and take From off our souls th’ unworthy stain; And show us, for thy Son’s dear sake Thy pure and perfect law again. 8L. P. M. The entrance of thy word giveth light. I love the volume of thy word; What light and joy those leaves afford To souls benighted and distressed! Thy precepts guide my doubtful way, Thy fear forbids my feet to stray, Thy promise leads my heart to rest. 2 Thy threatenings wake my slumbering eyes, And warn me where my danger lies; But ’tis thy blessed gospel, Lord, That makes my guilty conscience clean, Converts my soul, subdues my sin, And gives a free, but large reward. 3 Who knows the errors of his thoughts? My God, forgive my secret faults, And from presumptuous sins restrain; Accept my poor attempts of praise, That I have read thy book of grace, And book of nature, not in vain. 9C. M. Thy word is a lamp. How precious is the book divine, By inspiration given! Bright as a lamp its precepts shine, To guide our souls to heaven. 2 It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts In this dark vale of tears; Life, light, and joy, it still imparts, And quells our rising fears. 3 This lamp, through all the tedious night Of life, shall guide our way, Till we behold the clearer light Of an eternal day. 10C. M. Thy testimonies are my delight. Father of Mercies! in thy word What endless glory shines! For ever be thine name adored For these celestial lines! 2 Here may the wretched sons of want Exhaustless riches find; Riches above what earth can grant, And lasting as the mind. 3 Here the fair tree of knowledge grows, And yields a rich repast: Sublimer sweets than nature knows Invite the longing taste. 4 Here springs of consolation rise To cheer the fainting mind, And thirsty souls receive supplies, And sweet refreshment find. 5 Here the Redeemer’s welcome voice, Spreads heavenly peace around; And life and everlasting joys Attend the blissful sound. 6 O may these heavenly pages be My ever dear delight; And still new beauties may I see, And still increasing light. 7 Divine Instructor! gracious Lord, Be thou for ever near; Teach me to love thy sacred word, And view my Saviour there! 11C. M. A light unto my path. What glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun! It gives a light to every age— It gives but borrows none. 2 The hand that gave it, still supplies His gracious light and heat; His truths upon the nations rise— They rise, but never set. 3 Let everlasting thanks be thine For such a bright display, As makes the world of darkness shine With beams of heavenly day. 4 My soul rejoices to pursue The paths of truth and love, Till glory breaks upon my view In brighter worlds above. 12C. M. Thy law is my delight. Lord, I have made thy word my choice, My lasting heritage; There shall my noblest powers rejoice, My warmest thoughts engage. 2 I’ll read the histories of thy love, And keep thy laws in sight; While through the promises I rove, With ever fresh delight. 3 ’Tis a broad land, of wealth unknown, Where springs of life arise, Seeds of immortal bliss are sown, And hidden glory lies. 4 The best relief that mourners have; It makes our sorrows blest; Our fairest hope beyond the grave, And our eternal rest. 13C. M. Revelation welcomed. Hail, sacred truth! whose piercing rays Dispel the shades of night, Diffusing o’er a sinful world The healing beams of light. 2 Thy word, O Lord, with friendly aid, Restores our wandering feet, Converts the sorrows of the mind To joys divinely sweet. 3 O, send thy light and truth abroad, In all their radiant blaze; And bid the admiring world adore The glories of thy grace. 14C. M. O, how I love thy law. O how I love thy holy law! ’Tis daily my delight; And thence my meditations draw Divine advice by night. 2 I wake before the dawn of day, To meditate thy word; My soul with longing melts away, To bear thy gospel, Lord. 3 How doth thy word my heart engage, How well employ my tongue; And in my tiresome pilgrimage, Yields me a heavenly song. 4 When nature sinks, and spirits droop, Thy promises of grace Are pillars to support my hope, And there I write thy praise. 15C. M. Wherewithal shall a young man, etc. How shall the young secure their hearts, And guard their lives from sin? Thy word the choicest rules imparts To keep the conscience clean. 2 ’Tis like the sun, a heavenly light, That guides us all the day, And through the dangers of the night, A lamp to lead our way. 3 Thy precepts make us truly wise; We hate the sinner’s road; We hate our own vain thoughts that rise, But love the law, O God. 4 Thy word is everlasting truth; How pure is every page! That holy book shall guide our youth And well support our age. 16C. M. Word of the everlasting God. Lamp of our feet! whereby we trace Our path when wont to stray; Stream from the fount of heavenly grace! Brook by the traveler’s way! 2 Bread of our souls, whereon we feed! True manna from on high! Our guide and chart! wherein we read Of realms beyond the sky. 3 Pillar of fire through watches dark, And radiant cloud by day! When waves would whelm our tossing bark, Our anchor and our stay! 4 Word of the everlasting God! Will of his glorious Son! Without thee how could earth be trod, Or heaven itself be won? 17C. M. Quicken me according to thy word. O Lord, thy precepts I survey: I keep thy law in sight, Through all the business of the day, To form my actions right. 2 My heart in midnight silence cries, “How sweet thy comforts be!” My thoughts in holy wonder rise, And bring their thanks to thee. 18S. M. The law of the Lord is perfect. O Lord, thy perfect word Directs our steps aright; Nor can all other books afford Such profit or delight. 2 Celestial light it sheds To cheer this vale below; To distant lands its glory spreads, And streams of mercy flow. 3 True wisdom it imparts; Commands our hope and fear: O may we hide it in our hearts, And feel its influence there! 19S. M. The books of nature and Scripture. Behold! the lofty sky Declares its maker, God; And all his starry works, on high, Proclaim his power abroad. 2 The darkness and the light Still keep their course the same; While night to day, and day to night, Divinely teach his name. 3 In every different land, Their general voice is known; They show the wonders of his hand, And orders of his throne. 4 Ye Christian lands! rejoice; Here he reveals his word; We are not left to nature’s voice, To bid us know the Lord. 207s. My Bible. My Bible! book divine! Precious treasure! thou art mine: Mine to tell me whence I came; Mine to teach me what I am; 2 Mine to chide me when I rove; Mine to show a Saviour’s love; Mine thou art to guide and guard; Mine to punish or reward; 3 Mine to comfort in distress, Suffering in this wilderness; Mine to show, by living faith, Man can triumph over death; 4 Mine to tell of joys to come, And the rebel sinner’s doom: O thou holy book divine! Precious treasure thou art mine! 218s, 7 & 4. Book of grace. Book of grace, and book of glory! Gift of God to age and youth; Wondrous in thy sacred story, Bright, bright with truth. 2 Book of love! in accents tender, Speaking unto such as we; May it lead us, Lord, to render All, all to thee. 3 Book of hope! the spirit sighing, Consolation finds in thee; As it hears the Saviour crying— “Come, come to me.” 4 Book of life! when we reposing, Bid farewell to friends we love Give us for the life then closing, Life, life above. 22P. M. The word more precious than gold. Precious Bible! what a treasure Does the word of God afford! All I want for life or pleasure, Food and med’cine, shield and sword: Let the world account me poor, Having this I need no more. 2 Food to which the world’s a stranger, Here my hungry soul enjoys; Of excess there is no danger— Though it fills, it never cloys: On a dying Christ I feed, He is meat and drink indeed! 3 When my faith is faint and sickly, Or when Satan wounds my mind; Cordials to revive me quickly, Healing med’cines here I find: To the promises I flee, Each affords a remedy. 4 In the hour of dark temptation, Satan can not make me yield; For the word of consolation Is to me a mighty shield: While the scripture truths are sure, From his malice I’m secure. 5 Vain his threats to overcome me, When I take the Spirit’s sword; Then, with ease, I drive him from me; Satan trembles at the word: ’Tis a sword for conquest made, Keen the edge, and strong the blade. 6 Shall I envy, then, the miser, Doating on his golden store? Sure I am, or should be, wiser; I am rich—’tis he is poor: Jesus gives me in his word, Food and med’cine, shield and sword. 2312s & 11s. The family Bible. How painfully pleasing the fond recollection Of youthful connections and innocent joy, When blessed with parental advice and affection, Surrounded with mercies—with peace from on high! I still view the chairs of my father and mother, The seats of their offspring as ranged on each hand; And that richest of books which excelled every other, The family Bible that lay on the stand: The old-fashioned Bible, the dear blessÉd Bible, The family Bible that lay on the stand. 2 That Bible, the volume of God’s inspiration, At morn and at evening could yield us delight; And the prayer of our sire was a sweet invocation For mercy by day and for safety through night; Our hymn of thanksgiving with harmony swelling, All warm from the heart of the family band, Has raised us from earth to that rapturous dwelling Described in the Bible that lay on the stand: The old-fashioned Bible, the dear, blessÉd Bible, The family Bible that lay on the stand. 3 Ye scenes of tranquillity, long have we parted, My hopes almost gone, and my parents no more: In sorrow and sadness I live broken-hearted, And wander unknown on a far distant shore; Yet how can I doubt a dear Saviour’s protection, Forgetful of gifts from his bountiful hand! O let me with patience receive his correction, And think of the Bible that lay on the stand: The old-fashioned Bible, the dear, blessÉd Bible, The family Bible that lay on the stand. |
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