66.

LUKE iv. 18-19.

1 HARK, the glad sound, the Saviour comes!

the Saviour promis'd long; Let ev'ry heart exult with joy, and ev'ry voice be song.

2 On him the Spirit, largely shed, exerts its sacred fire;

Wisdom and might, and zeal and love, his holy breast inspire.

3 He comes, the pris❜ners to relieve

in Satan's bondage held;

The

gates

of brass before him burst,

the iron fetters yield.

4 He comes, from dark'ning scales of vice to clear the inward sight;

And on the eye-balls of the blind, to pour celestial light.

5 He comes, the broken hearts to bind, the bleeding souls to cure;

And with the treasures of his

enrich the humble poor.

grace

6 The sacred year has now revolv'd, accepted of the Lord,

When heaven's high promise is fulfill'd, and Israel is restor❜d.

7 Our glad hosannahs, Prince of Peace! thy welcome shall proclaim;

And heaven's exalted arches ring

with thy most honour'd name.

67.

MAT. v. 1.

1 LO! seated on a mountain's brow,
The list'ning multitudes below,
In simple majesty our Lord
Declares to men his heavenly word.

2 No pomp of knowledge, haughty mien,
And vain parade in him are seen;
He speaks with meek and lowly grace,
And when he speaks, he speaks to bless.
3 Yet those a sinful world deems great,
Luxurious, selfish, fierce, elate,

In fortune's gaudy honours dress'd;
Are not the men whom Jesus bless'd.

4 The mourning, lowly, meek, and kind,
The peaceful, and the pure in mind;
The men for righteousness who long,
And for its sake who suffer wrong:

5 These, though with heavy woes oppress'd,
The Saviour hath pronounced bless'd;
These, far unlike the thoughts of men,
Alone, the subjects of his reign.

6 O truths consoling, pure, benign!

Like him from whom they came, divine!
And while they lead to heavenly bliss,
They breathe around them present peace.

7 Rejoice, ye friends of Christ, rejoice!
Your wrongs shall end in future joys;
To prophets ills like yours were given,
And great is your reward in heaven.

68.

MAT. v. 16.

1 GREAT teacher of thy church! we own
Thy precepts all divinely wise;
O may thy mighty power be shown,
To keep them still before our eyes!

2 Deep on our hearts thy law engrave,
And fill our breasts with holy zeal;
That while we trust thy power to save,
We may that sacred law fulfil.

3 Thy service ever be our joy,

Around let our example shine;
Till others love the bless'd employ,
To glorify our Father join.

4 Be this the purpose of my soul,

My solemn and determin'd choice;
To yield my powers to his controul,
And in his great commands rejoice.

69.

MAT. v. 43-48.

1 THE morning rays in glory shine, In pearly drops descends the rain; All nature feels the power benign,

And Spring with beauty decks the plain.

2 The blessings which our Father gives,
The evil and unthankful feel;

He beareth long, their wants relieves,
And though he frowns, he blesses still.

3 And shall not we whom he hath made, Mercy, like him, to all extend;

Who are ourselves by bounty fed,

And who so oft ourselves offend?

4 Thy voice, bless'd Saviour! may we hear,
Still leading us in mercy's road;
And may we, though in trying wrongs,
Be merciful as is our God.

70.

MAT. vi. 6.

1 OUR heavenly Father's piercing eye,

sees through the darkest night;

In deep retirement he is nigh,
with heart-discerning sight.

2 There let that piercing eye survey
our duteous homage paid;
With ev'ry morning's dawning ray,
and ev'ry ev'ning's shade.

3 O God! may thy own heavenly fire,
the incense still inflame;

While my warm vows to thee aspire,
through my Redeemer's name.

4 So shall the visits of thy love,
my soul in secret bless;

So shalt thou deign in worlds above,
thy suppliant to confess.

G

71.

MAT. vi. 9-14.

1 FATHER of all! we bow to thee, who dwell'st in heaven ador'd;

But present still through all thy works, the universal Lord.

2 For ever hallow'd be thy name
by all beneath the skies;

And may thy kingdom still advance,
till grace to glory rise.

3 A grateful homage may we yield,
with hearts resign'd to thee;
And as in heaven thy will is done,
on earth so let it be.

4 From day to day, we humbly own
the hand that feeds us still;

Give us our bread, and teach to rest
contented in thy will.

5 Our sins before thee we confess;
O may they be forgiven!
As we to others mercy show,
we mercy beg from heaven.

6 Still let thy grace our life direct;
from evil guard our way;

And in temptation's fatal path

permit us not to stray.

7 For thine the power, the kingdom thine;

(all glory's due to thee;) Thine from eternity they were,

and thine shall ever be.