Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 52

With strength he girds himself around, And treads the rebels to the ground.]

4 [Who shall pretend to teach him skill?

Or guide the counsels of his will?

His wisdom like a sea divine, Flows deep and high beyond our line.]

5 [His Name is holy, and his eye Burns with immortal jealousy; He hates the sons of pride, and sheds His fiery vengeance on their heads.]

6 [The beamings of his piercing sight Bring dark hypocrisy to light; Death and destruction naked lie, And h.e.l.l uncover'd to his eye.]

7 [Th' eternal law before him stands; His justice with impartial hands Divides to all their due reward, Or by the sceptre or the sword.]

8 [His mercy like a boundless sea Washes our loads of guilt away, While his own Son came down and dy'd, T' engage his justice on our side.]

9 [Each of his words demands my faith, My soul can rest on all he saith; His truth inviolably keeps The largest promise of his lips.]

10 O tell me with a gentle voice, "Thou art my G.o.d," and I'll rejoice!

Fill'd with thy love, I dare proclaim The brightest honours of thy Name.

Hymn 2:168.

The same.

1 Jehovah reigns, his throne is high, His robes are light and majesty; His glory s.h.i.+nes with beams so bright No mortal can sustain the sight.

2 His terrors keep the world in awe, His justice guards his holy law; His love reveals a smiling face, His truth and promise seal the grace.

3 Thro' all his works his wisdom s.h.i.+nes, And baffles Satan's deep designs; His power is sovereign to fulfil The n.o.blest counsels of his will.

4 And will this glorious Lord descend To be my father and my friend?

Then let my songs with angels join; Heaven is secure if G.o.d be mine.

Hymn 2:169. As the 148th Psalm.

The same.

1 The Lord Jehovah reigns His throne is built on high; The garments he a.s.sumes Are light and majesty; His glories s.h.i.+ne With beams so bright No mortal eye Can bear the sight.

2 The thunders of his hand Keep the wide world in awe; His wrath and justice stand To guard his holy law; And where his love Resolves to bless, His truth confirms And seals the grace.

3 Thro' all his ancient works Surprising wisdom s.h.i.+nes, Confounds the powers of h.e.l.l, And breaks their curs'd designs: Strong is his arm, And shall fulfil His great decrees, His sovereign will.

4 And can this mighty King Of Glory condescend?

And will he write his Name, "My Father and my Friend?"

I love his Name, I love his word; Join all my powers, And praise the Lord.

Hymn 2:170.

G.o.d incomprehensible and sovereign.

1 Can creatures to perfection find [1]

Th' eternal uncreated mind?

Or can the largest stretch of thought Measure and search his nature out?

2 'Tis high as heaven, 'tis deep as h.e.l.l, And what can mortals know or tell?

His glory spreads beyond the sky, And all the s.h.i.+ning worlds on high.

3 But man, vain man, would fain be wise, Born like a wild young colt he flies Thro' all the follies of his mind, And swells and snuffs the empty wind.

4 G.o.d is a King of power unknown, Firm are the orders of his throne; If he resolve, who dares oppose, Or ask him why, or what he does?

5 He wounds the heart, and he makes whole; He calms the tempest of the soul; When he shuts up in long despair Who can remove the heavy bar?

6 He frowns, [2] and darkness veils the moon; The fainting sun grows dim at noon; The pillars [3] of heaven's starry roof Tremble and start at his reproof.

7 He gave the vaulted heaven its form, The crooked serpent and the worm; He breaks the billows with his breath, And smites the Sons of pride to death.

8 These are a portion of his ways, But who shall dare describe his face?

Who can endure his light, or stand To hear the thunders of his hand?

[1] Job 11:7 &c. [2] Job 25:5.

[3] Job 26:11 &c.

End of the Second Book.

Hymns.

Book 3.

Prepared for the Lord's Supper.

Hymn 3:1.

The Lord's Supper inst.i.tuted, 1 Corinthians 11:23 &c.

1 'Twas on that dark, that doleful night When powers of earth and h.e.l.l arose Against the Son of G.o.d's delight, And friends betray'd him to his foes;

2 Before the mournful scene began He took the bread, and bless'd, and brake: What love thro' all his actions ran!

What wondrous words of grace he spake!

3 "This is my body broke for sin, "Receive and eat the living food:"

Then took the cup, and bless'd the wine; "'Tis the new covenant in my blood."

4 [For us his flesh with nails was torn, He bore the scourge, he felt the thorn; And justice pour'd upon his head Its heavy vengeance in our stead.

5 For us his vital blood was spilt, To buy the pardon of our guilt, When for black crimes of biggest size He gave his soul a sacrifice.]

6 "Do this, (he cry'd) till time shall end, "In memory of your dying Friend; "Meet at my table, and record "The love of your departed Lord."