3 This is the pillar of our hope,
That bears our fainting spirits up;
We read the grace, we trust the Word,
And find salvation in the LORD.
4 Should vile blasphemers with disdain
Pronounce the truths of JESUS vain,
We'll meet the scandal and the shame,
And triumph in His glorious Name.
1 WHEN Peter, through the tedious night,
Had often cast his net in vain ;
Soon as the LORD appear'd in sight,
He gladly let it down again.
2 Once more the Gospel-net we cast;
Do Thou, O LORD, the effort own:
We learn from disappointments past,
To rest our hope on Thee alone.
3 O! by a SAVIOUR's dying love,
To ev'ry wounded heart reveal'd, Temptations, fears, and guilt remove,
And be their Sun, and Štrength, and Shield.
4 To mourners speak a cheering word;
On seeking souls vouchsafe to shine;
Let poor backsliders be restor'd,
And all Thy saints in praises join.
Meditating and Conversing on the Scriptures.
1 WHEN quiet in my house I sit,
Thy book be my companion still;
My joy, Thy sayings to repeat,
Talk o'er the records of Thy will,
And search the oracles divine,
Till ev'ry heart-felt Word be Mine.
2 O may the gracious words divine,
Subject of all my converse be!
So will the Lord His follower join,
And walk and talk Himself with me:
So shall my heart His presence prove,
And burn with everlasting love.
3 Oft as I lay me down to rest,
O may the reconciling Word
Sweetly compose my weary breast!
While on the bosom of my LORD,
I sink in blissful dreams away,
And visions of eternal day.
4 Rising to sing my SAVIOUR'S praise,
Thee may I publish all day long;
And let Thy precious Word of grace
Flow from my heart, and fill my tongue!
Fill all my life with purest love,
And join me to the church above.
Blessedness of Gospel Times.
1 How beauteous are their fect
Who stand on Sion's hill!
Who bring salvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal!
2 How charming is their voice!
How sweet the tidings are!
'Sion, behold thy SAVIOUR-KING, "He reigns and triumphs here.'
How happy are our ears,
That hear this joyful sound,
Which kings and prophets waited for, And sought, but never found!
4 How blessed are our eyes,
That see this heav'nly light!
Prophets and kings desir'd it long,
But died without the sight.
The watchmen join their voice,
And tuneful notes employ ;
Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,
And deserts learn the joy.
The LORD makes bare His arm
Through all the earth abroad:
Let ev'ry nation now behold
Their SAVIOUR and their GOD.
1 HAPPY are they to whom the LORD
His gracious Name makes known!
And by His SPIRIT and His Word,
Adopts them for His own!
2 He calls them to His mercy-seat,
And hears their humble pray'r;
And when within His house they meet,
They find His presence near.
3 Though men despise them, or revile,
They count the trial small;
Whoever frowns, if JESUS smile,
It makes amends for all.
4 Though meanly clad, and coarsely fed,
And, like their SAVIOUR, poor;
They would not change their Gospel bread
For all the worldling's store.
5 When cheer'd with faith's sublimer joys,
They mount on eagles' wings;
They can disdain, as children's toys,
The pride and pomp of kings.
6 Dear LORD, assist our souls to pay
The debt of praise we owe,
That we enjoy a Gospel day,
And heav'n begun below.
Famine of the Word of the Lord.
1 GLADNESS was spread thro' Israel's host
When first they manna view'd;
They labour'd who should gather most,
And thought it pleasant food.
2 But when they had it long enjoy'd,
From day to day the same,
Their hearts were by the plenty cloy'd,
Although from heav'n it came.
3 Thus Gospel-bread at first is priz'd,
And makes a people glad;
But afterwards too much despis'd,
When easy to be had:
4 But should the LORD, displeas'd, withhold
The bread His mercy sends;
To have our houses fill'd with gold
Would make but poor amends.
5 How tedious would the week appear,
How dull the Sabbath prove,
Could we no longer meet to hear
The precious truths we love!
6 Preserve us from this judgment, LORD,
For JESU's sake we plead:
A famine of Thy gracious Word
Would be a stroke indeed!
|