Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 23

5 [Once in the circuit of a year With blood, but not his own, Aaron within the veil appears Before the golden throne;

6 But Christ by his own powerful blood Ascends above the skies, And in the presence of our G.o.d Shews his own sacrifice.]

7 Jesus, the King of Glory, reigns On Sion's heavenly hill, Looks like a lamb that has been slain, And wears his priesthood still.

8 He ever lives to intercede Before his Father's face; Give him, my soul, thy cause to plead, Nor doubt the Father's grace.

Hymn 1:146.

Characters of Christ, borrowed from inanimate things, in scripture.

1 Go, wors.h.i.+p at Immanuel's feet, See in his face what wonders meet; Earth is too narrow to express His worth, his glory, or his grace.

2 [The whole creation can afford But some faint shadows of my Lord: Nature to make his beauties known Must mingle colours not her own.]

3 [Is he compar'd to wine or bread?

Dear Lord, our souls would thus be fed; That flesh, that dying blood of thine, Is bread of life, is heavenly wine.]

4 [Is he a tree? The world receives Salvation from his healing leaves; That righteous branch, that fruitful bough, Is David's root and offspring too.]

5 [Is he a rose? Not Sharon yields Such fragrancy in all her fields: Or if the lily he a.s.sume, The vallies bless the rich perfume.]

6 [Is he a vine? His heavenly root Supplies the boughs with life and fruit: O let a lasting union join My soul the branch to Christ the vine:

7 [Is he the head? Each member lives, And owns the vital powers he gives; The saints below, and saints above, Join'd by his Spirit and his love.]

8 [Is he a fountain? There I bathe, And heal the plague of sin and death These waters all my soul renew, And cleanse my spotted garments too.]

9 [Is he a fire? he'll purge my dross, But the true gold sustains no loss; Like a refiner shall he sit, And tread the refuse with his feet.]

10 [Is he a rock? How firm he proves!

The rock of ages never moves; Yet the sweet streams that from him flow Attend us all the desert thro'.]

11 [Is he a way? He leads to G.o.d, The path is drawn in lines of blood; There would I walk with hope and zeal, Till I arrive at Sion's hill.]

12 [Is he a door? I'll enter in Behold the pastures large and green, A paradise divinely fair, None but the sheep have freedom there.]

13 [Is he design'd a corner-stone, For men to build their heaven upon?

I'll make him my foundation too, Nor fear the plots of h.e.l.l below.]

14 [Is he a temple? I adore Th'indwelling majesty and power; And still to this most holy place, Whene'er I pray, I turn my face.]

15 [Is he a star? He breaks the night, Piercing the shades with dawning light; I know his glories from afar, I know the bright, the morning-star.]

16 [Is he a sun? His beams are grace, His course is joy, and righteousness; Nations rejoice when he appears To chase their clouds, and dry their tears.

17 O let me climb those higher skies, Where storms and darkness never rise!

There he displays his powers abroad, And s.h.i.+nes, and reigns th'incarnate G.o.d.]

18 Nor earth, nor seas, nor sun, nor stars, Nor heaven his full resemblance bears; His beauties we can never trace, Till we behold him face to face.

Hymn 1:147.

The names and t.i.tles of Christ, from several scriptures.

1 ['Tis from the treasures of his word I borrow t.i.tles for my Lord?

Nor art, nor nature can supply Sufficient forms of majesty.

2 Bright image of the Father's face, s.h.i.+ning with undiminish'd rays; Th' eternal G.o.d's eternal Son, The heir, and partner of his throne.]

3 The King of kings, the Lord most high, Writes his own Name upon his thigh: He wears a garment dipt in blood, And breaks the nations with his rod.

4 Where grace can neither melt nor move The Lamb resents his injur'd love, Awakes his wrath without delay, And Judah's Lion tears the prey.

5 But when for works of peace he comes, What winning t.i.tles he a.s.sumes!

"Light of the World, and Life of Men;"

Nor bears those characters in vain.

6 With tender pity in his heart He acts the Mediator's part; A friend and brother he appears, And well fulfils the names he wears.

7 At length the Judge his throne ascends, Divides the rebels from his friends, And saints in full fruition prove His rich variety of love.

Hymn 1:148. As the 148th Psalm.

The same.

1 [With cheerful voice I sing The t.i.tles of my Lord, And borrow all the names Of honour from his word: Nature and art Can ne'er supply Sufficient forms Of majesty.

2 In Jesus we behold His Father's glorious face, s.h.i.+ning for ever bright With mild and lovely rays: Th' eternal G.o.d's Eternal Son Inherits and Partakes the throne.]

3 The sovereign King of kings, The Lord of lords most high, Writes his own name upon His garment and his thigh: His Name is call'd "The Word of G.o.d;"

He rules the earth With iron rod.

4 Where promises and grace Can neither melt nor move, The angry Lamb resents The injuries of his love; Awakes his wrath Without delay, As lions roar And tear the prey.

5 But when for works of peace The great Redeemer comes, What gentle characters, What t.i.tles he a.s.sumes!

"Light of the world, "And Life of men"

Nor will he bear Those names in vain.

6 Immense compa.s.sion reigns In our Immanuel's heart, When he descends to act A Mediator's part: He is a friend And brother too Divinely kind, Divinely true.

7 At length the Lord the Judge His awful throne ascends, And drives the rebels far From favourites and friends: Then shall the saints Completely prove The heights and depths Of all his love.

Hymn 1:149.

The offices of Christ, from several scriptures.

1 Join all the names of love and power That ever men or angels bore; All are too mean to speak his worth, Or set Immanuel's glory forth.