Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 9

Hymn 1:51.

Persevering grace, Jude 24 25.

1 To G.o.d the only wise, Our Saviour and our King, Let all the saints below the skies Their humble praises bring.

2 'Tis his almighty love, His counsel, and his care, Preserves us safe from sin and death, And every hurtful snare.

3 He will present our souls Unblemish'd and complete, Before the glory of his face, With joys divinely great.

4 Then all the chosen seed Shall meet around the throne, Shall bless the conduct of his grace, And make his wonders known.

5 To our Redeemer G.o.d Wisdom and power belongs, Immortal crowns of majesty, And everlasting songs.

Hymn 1:52.

Baptism, Matt. 28. 19. Acts 2. 38.

1 'Twas the commission of our Lord, "Go, teach the nations, and baptize;"

The nations have receiv'd the word Since he ascended to the skies.

2 He sits upon th' eternal hills, With grace and pardon in his hands, And sends his covenant with the seals, To bless the distant British lands.

3 "Repent, and be baptiz'd, (he saith) For the remission of your sins;"

And thus our sense a.s.sists our faith, And shews us what his gospel means.

4 Our souls he washes in his blood, As water makes the body clean; And the good Spirit from our G.o.d Descends like purifying rain.

5 Thus we engage ourselves to thee, And seal our covenant with the Lord: O may the great eternal Three In heaven our solemn vows record!

Hymn 1:53.

The Holy Scriptures, Heb. 1. 1 2. 2 Tim. 3. 15 16.

Psalm 147. 19 20.

1 G.o.d who in various methods told His mind and will to saints of old, Sent down his Son, with truth and grace, To teach us in these latter days.

2 Our nation reads the written word, That book of life, that sure record: The bright inheritance of heaven Is by the sweet conveyance given.

3 G.o.d's kindest thoughts are here express'd, Able to make us wise and bless'd; The doctrines are divinely true, Fit for reproof, and comfort too.

4 Ye British isles, who read his love In long epistles from above, (He hath not sent his sacred word To every land) Praise ye the Lord.

Hymn 1:54.

Electing grace; or, Saints beloved in Christ, Eph. 1. 3 &c.

1 Jesus, we bless thy Father's Name; Thy G.o.d and ours are both the same: What heavenly blessings from his throne Flow down to sinners thro' his Son!

2 "Christ be my first elect," he said, Then chose our souls in Christ our head, Before he gave the mountains birth, Or laid foundations for the earth.

3 Thus did eternal love begin To raise us up from death and sin; Our characters were then decreed, "Blameless in love, a holy seed."

4 Predestinated to be sons, Born by degrees, but chose at once; A new regenerated race To praise the glory of his grace.

5 With Christ our Lord we share our part In the affections of his heart, Nor shall our souls be thence remov'd Till he forgets his first belov'd.

Hymn 1:55.

Hesekiah's song; or, Sickness and recovery, Isa. 38.9 &c.

1 When we are rais'd from deep distress Our G.o.d deserves a song; We take the pattern of our praise From Hezekiah's tongue.

2 The gates of the devouring grave Are open'd wide in vain, If he that holds the keys of death Commands them fast again.

3 Pains of the flesh are wont t' abuse Our minds with slavish fears, "Our days are past, and we shall lose "The remnant of our years."

4 We chatter with a swallow's voice, Or like a dove we mourn, With bitterness instead of joys, Afflicted and forlorn.

5 Jehovah speaks the healing word, And no disease withstands; Fevers and plagues obey the Lord, And fly at his commands.

6 If half the strings of life should break, He can our frame restore; He casts our sins behind his back, And they are found no more.

Hymn 1:56.

The song of Moses and the Lamb; or, Babylon falling, Rev. 15. 3. and chap. 16. 19. and 17. 6.

1 We sing the glories of thy love, We sound thy dreadful Name; The Christian church unites the songs Of Moses and the Lamb.

2 Great G.o.d, how wondrous are thy works Of vengeance and of grace!

Thou King of saints, Almighty Lord, How just and true thy ways!

3 Who dares refuse to fear thy Name, Or wors.h.i.+p at thy throne?

Thy judgments speak thine holiness Thro' all the nations known.

4 Great Babylon, that rules the earth, Drunk with the martyrs' blood, Her crimes shall speedily awake The fury of our G.o.d.

5 The cup of wrath is ready mix'd, And she must drink the dregs; Strong is the Lord her sovereign Judge, And shall fulfil the plagues.

Hymn 1:57.

Original sin; or, The first and second Adam, Rom. 5. 12. Psalm 51. 5. Job 11. 4.

1 Backward with humble shame we look On our original; How is our nature dash'd and broke In our first father's fall!

2 To all that's good averse and blind, But p.r.o.ne to all that's ill What dreadful darkness veils our mind!

How obstinate our will!

3 [Conceiv'd in sin (O wretched state!) Before we draw our breath, The first young pulse begins to beat Iniquity and death.