Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 50

Hymn 2:155.

Christ our pa.s.sover.

1 Lo the destroying angel flies To Pharaoh's stubborn land: The pride and flower of Egypt dies By his vindictive hand.

2 He pa.s.s'd the tents of Jacob o'er, Nor pour'd the wrath divine; He saw the blood on every door, And bless'd the peaceful sign.

3 Thus th' appointed Lamb must bleed To break th' Egyptian yoke; Thus Israel is from bondage freed, And 'scapes the angel's stroke.

4 Lord, if my heart were sprinkled too With blood so rich as thine, Justice no longer would pursue This guilty soul of mine.

5 Jesus our pa.s.sover was slain, And has at once procur'd Freedom from Satan's heavy chain, And G.o.d's avenging sword.

Hymn 2:156.

Presumption and despair; or, Satan's various temptations.

1 I hate the tempter and his charms, I hate his flattering breath; The serpent takes a thousand forms To cheat our souls to death.

2 He feeds our hopes with airy dreams, Or kills with slavish fear; And holds us still in wide extremes, Presumption, or despair.

3 Now he persuades, "How easy 'tis "To walk the road to heaven;"

Anon he swells our sins, and cries, "They cannot be forgiven."

4 [He bids young sinners, "Yet forbear "To think of G.o.d or death; "For prayer and devotion are "But melancholy breath."

5 He tells the aged, "They must die, "And 'tis too late to pray; "In vain for mercy now they cry, "For they have lost their day."]

6 Thus he supports his cruel throne By mischief and deceit; And drags the sons of Adam down To darkness and the pit.

7 Almighty G.o.d, cut short his power, Let him in darkness dwell; And, that he vex the earth no more, Confine him down to h.e.l.l.

Hymn 2:157.

The same.

1 Now Satan comes with dreadful roar, And threatens to destroy; He worries whom he can't devour With a malicious joy.

2 Ye sons of G.o.d, oppose his rage, Resist, and he'll be gone; Thus did our dearest Lord engage And vanquish him alone.

3 Now he appears almost divine Like innocence and love, But the old serpent lurks within When he a.s.sumes the dove.

4 Fly from the false deceiver's tongue, Ye Sons of Adam, fly; Our parents found the snare too strong, Nor should the children try.

Hymn 2:158.

Few saved; or, The almost Christian, the hypocrite, and apostate.

1 Broad is the road that leads to death, And thousands walk together there; But wisdom shews a narrower path, With here and there a traveller.

2 "Deny thyself, and take thy cross,"

Is the Redeemer's great command; Nature must count her gold but dross If she would gain this heavenly land.

3 The fearful soul that tires and faints, And walks the ways of G.o.d no more, Is but esteem'd almost a saint, And makes his own destruction sure.

4 Lord, let not all my hopes be vain; Create my heart entirely new, Which hypocrites could ne'er attain, Which false apostates never knew.

Hymn 2:159.

An unconverted state; or, Converting grace.

1 [Great King of Glory and of grace, We own with humble shame, How vile is our degenerate race, And our first father's name.]

2 From Adam flows our tainted blood, The poison reigns within, Makes us averse to all that's good, And willing slaves to sin.

3 [Daily we break thy holy laws, And then reject thy grace; Engag'd in the old serpent's cause Against our Maker's face.]

4 We live estrang'd afar from G.o.d, And love the distance well; With haste we run the dangerous road That leads to death and h.e.l.l.

5 And can such rebels be restor'd?

Such natures made divine?

Let sinners see thy glory, Lord, And feel this power of thine.

6 We raise our Father's name on high, Who his own Spirit sends To bring rebellious strangers nigh, And turn his foes to friends.

Hymn 2:160.

Custom in sin.

1 Let the wild leopards of the wood Put off the spots that nature gives, Then may the wicked turn to G.o.d, And change their tempers and their lives.

2 As well might Ethiopian slaves Wash out the darkness of their skin; The dead as well might leave their graves, As old transgressors cease to sin.

3 Where vice has held its empire long 'Twill not endure the least control; None but a power divinely strong Can turn the current of the soul.

4 Great G.o.d, I own thy power divine, That works to change this heart of mine; I would be form'd anew, and bless The wonders of creating grace.

Hymn 2:161.

Christian virtues; or, The difficulty of conversion.

1 Strait is the way, the door is strait That leads to joys on high; 'Tis but a few that find the gate, While crowds mistake and die.

2 Beloved self must be deny'd, The mind and will renew'd: Pa.s.sion suppress'd, and patience try'd, And vain desires subdu'd.

3 [Flesh is a dangerous foe to grace, Where it prevails and rules; Flesh must be humbled, pride abas'd, Lest they destroy our souls.

4 The love of gold be banish'd hence, (That vile idolatry); And every member, every sense In sweet subjection lie.]