Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 6

Hymn 1:34. [Supplement.]

None excluded from hope, Rom. 1. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 24.

1 Jesus, thy blessings are not few, Nor is thy gospel weak; Thy grace can melt the stubborn Jew, And bow th' aspiring Greek.

2 Wide as the reach of Satan's rage Doth thy salvation flow; 'Tis not confin'd to s.e.x or age, The lofty or the low.

3 While grace is offer'd to the prince, The poor may take their share; No mortal has a just pretence To perish in despair.

4 Be wise, ye men of strength and wit, Nor boast your native powers; But to his sovereign grace submit, And glory shall be yours.

5 Come, all ye vilest sinners come, He'll form your souls anew: His gospel and his heart have room For rebels such as you.

6 His doctrine is almighty love; There's virtue in his Name To turn the raven to a dove, The lion to a lamb.

Hymn 1:35. [Supplement.]

Truth, sincerity, &c. Phil. 4. 8.

1 Let those who bear the Christian name Their holy vows fulfil: The saints, the followers of the Lamb, Are men of honour still.

2 True to the solemn oath they take, Tho' to their hurt they swear; Constant and just to all they speak, For G.o.d and angels hear.

3 Still with their lips their hearts agree, Nor flattering words devise, They know the G.o.d of truth can see Thro' every false disguise.

4 They hate th' appearance of a lie In all the shapes it wears; They live the truth; and, when they die, Eternal life is theirs.

5 While hypocrites and liars fly Before the Judge's frown, His faithful friends, who fear a lie, Receive th' immortal crown.

Hymn 1:36. [Supplement.]

A lovely carriage.

1 O 'tis a lovely thing to see A man of prudent heart, Whose thoughts, and lips, and life agree To act a useful part.

2 When envy, strife, and wars begin, In little angry souls, Mark how the sons of peace come in, And quench the kindling coals.

3 Their minds are humble, mild, and meek, Nor let their fury rise; Nor pa.s.sion moves their lips to speak, Nor pride exalts their eyes.

4 Their frame is prudence mix'd with love, Good works fulfil their day: They join the serpent with the dove, But cast the sting away.

5 Such was the Saviour of mankind; Such pleasures he pursu'd; His flesh and blood were all refin'd, His soul divinely good.

6 Lord, can these plants of virtue grow In such a heart as mine?

Thy grace my nature can renew, And make my soul like thine.

Hymn 1:37. [Supplement.]

Zeal and Fort.i.tude.

1 Do I believe what Jesus saith, And think the gospel true?

Lord, make me bold to own my faith, And practise virtue too.

2 Suppress my shame, subdue my fear, Arm me with heavenly zeal, That I may make thy power appear, And works of praise fulfil.

3 If men shall see my virtue shine, And spread my name abroad, Thine is the power, the praise is thine, My Saviour and my G.o.d.

4 Thus when the saints in glory meet, Their lips proclaim thy grace; They cast their honours at thy feet, And own their borrow'd rays.

PAUSE.

5 Are we the soldiers of the cross?

The followers of the Lamb?

And shall we fear to own his cause, Or blush to speak his name?

6 Now we must fight, if we would reign; Increase our courage, Lord!

We'll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by thy word.

7 Thy saints in all this glorious war Shall Conquer tho' they're slain; They see the triumph from afar, And shall with Jesus reign.

8 When that ill.u.s.trious day shall rise, And all thy armies shine In robes of victory thro' the skies, The glory shall be thine.

Hymn 1:38. [Supplement.]

The universal law of equity. Matt. 8. 12.

1 Blessed Redeemer how divine, How righteous is this rule of thine, "To do to all men just the same "As we expect or wish from them."

2 This golden lesson, short and plain, Gives not the mind nor memory pain; And every conscience must approve This universal law of love.

3 How blest would every nation be, Thus rul'd by love and equity!

All would be friends without a foe, And form a paradise below.

4 Jesus, forgive us, that we keep Thy sacred law of love asleep, No more let envy, wrath, and pride, But thy blest maxims be our guide.

Hymn 1:39.

G.o.d's tender care of his church, Isa. 13 &c.

1 How shall my inward joys arise And burst into a song, Almighty love inspires my heart, And pleasure tunes my tongue.

2 G.o.d on his thirsty Sion-hill Some mercy-drops has thrown, And solemn oaths have bound his love To shower salvation down.

3 Why do we then indulge our fears, Suspicions and complaints?

Is he a G.o.d, and shall his grace Grow weary of his saints?

4 Can a kind woman e'er forget The infant of her womb, And 'mongst a thousand tender thoughts Her suckling have no room?

5 "Yet (saith the Lord) should nature change, "And mothers monsters prove, "Sion still dwells upon the heart "Of everlasting love.