210.

Divine Teachings and their happy Consequences.

1 BRIGHT Source of intellectual rays, Father of spirits and of grace, O, dart, with energy unknown Celestial beamings from thy throne. 2 Thy sacred book we would survey, Enlightened with that heavenly day, And ask thy Spirit, with the word, To teach our souls to know the Lord. 3 So shall our children learn the road That leads them to their fathers' God; And, formed by lessons so divine, Shall infant minds with knowledge shine. 4 So shall the haughtiest soul submit, With children placed at Jesus' feet; The rising swell of pride shall cease, And thy sweet voice be heard in peace. C. M. 211.

The Riches of God's Word.

STENNETT.

1 LET worldly men from shore to shore
Their chosen good pursue;

Thy word, O Lord, we value more
Than treasures of Peru.

2 Here mines of knowledge, love, and joy
Are opened to our sight;
The purest gold without alloy,
And gems divinely bright.

3 The counsels of redeeming grace
These sacred leaves unfold;
And here the Saviour's lovely face
Our raptured eyes behold.

4 Here light descending from above
Directs our doubtful feet;

Here promises of heavenly love

Our ardent wishes meet.

5 Our numerous griefs are here redressed,
And all our wants supplied ;

Naught we can ask to make us blest
Is in this book denied.

212.

S. M.

Power of God's Word.

WATTS.

1 BEHOLD, the morning sun

Begins his glorious way;

His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey.

2 But where the gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light;

It calls dead sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.

3 How perfect is thy word!

And all thy judgments just!
For ever sure thy promise, Lord,
And we securely trust.

4 My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given !
O, may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven.

Love of the Scriptures.

1 O, HOW I love thy holy law !
'T is daily my delight;

And thence my meditations draw
Divine advice by night.

2 I wake before the dawn of day,
To meditate thy word;

My soul with longing melts away,
To hear thy gospel, Lord.

WATTS.

3 Thy heavenly words my heart engage,
And well employ my tongue,

And, through my weary pilgrimage,
Yield me a heavenly song.

4 When nature sinks, and spirits droop,
Thy promises of grace

Are pillars to support my hope,
And there I write thy praise.

The Bible suited to our Wants.

1 FATHER of mercies, in thy word

What endless glory shines!

For ever be thy name adored,

For these celestial lines.

STEELE.

2 "T is here the tree of knowledge grows,
And yields a free repast;

Here purer sweets than nature knows
Invite the longing taste.

3 'T is here the Saviour's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around,
And life, and everlasting joys,

Attend the blissful sound.

4 O, may these heavenly pages be
My study and delight;

And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.

Searching the Scriptures.

1 IMPOSTURE shrinks from light,
And dreads the curious eye;
But sacred truths the test invite,
They bid us search and try.

2 O, may we still maintain

A meek, inquiring mind;

SCOTT.

Assured we shall not search in vain,
But hidden treasures find.

3 With understanding blest,
Created to be free,

Our faith on man we dare not rest,
Subject to none but thee.

4 Lord, give the light we need;
With soundest knowledge fill;
From noxious error guard our creed,
From prejudice our will.

5 The truth thou shalt impart
May we with firmness own,
Abhorring each evasive art,
And fearing thee alone.

Value of the Scriptures.

1 HOW precious is the book divine,
By inspiration given !

Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine
To guide our souls to heaven.

2 It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light, and joy it still imparts,
And quells our rising fears.

FAWCETT.

3 This lamp, through all the dreary night
Of life, shall guide our way,

Till we behold the glorious light
Of an eternal day.

118

JESUS CHRIST, HIS CHARACTER AND

217.

OFFICES.

8 & 7s. M.

Song of the Angels of Bethlehem.

1 HARK! what mean those holy voices,
Sweetly sounding through the skies?
Lo! th' angelic host rejoices;

Heavenly hallelujahs rise.

2 Listen to the wondrous story,

Which they chant in hymns of joy :
Glory in the highest, glory!
Glory be to God most high!

CAWOOD.

3 "Peace on earth, good-will from heaven,
Reaching far as man is found:
Souls redeemed and sins forgiven :
Loud our golden harps shall sound.
4 "Christ is born, the great Anointed;
Heaven and earth his praises sing!
O, receive whom God appointed,
For your Prophet, Priest, and King."
5 Let us learn the wondrous story
Of our great Redeemer's birth;
Spread the brightness of his glory,
Till it cover all the earth.

218.

C. M.

Nativity of Christ.

PATRICK.

1 WHILE shepherds watched their flocks by night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,

And glory shone around.

2 "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind;