397.

C. M.

The Bible suited to our Wants.

1 FATHER of mercies, in thy word
What endless glory shines!
Forever be thy name adored,
For these celestial lines.

STEELE.

2 "Tis here the tree of knowledge grows,
And yields a free repast;
Here purer sweets than nature knows
Invite the longing taste.

3 'Tis 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 ever-dear delight;
And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.

5 Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be thou forever near;
Teach me to love thy sacred word,
And view my Saviour here.

398.

C. M.

Value of the Scriptures.

1 LADEN with guilt, and full of fears,
I fly to thee, my
Lord;
And not a gleam of hope appears,
But in thy written word.

WATTS.

2 The volume of my Father's grace
Does all my grief assuage;
Here I behold my Saviour's face
In almost every page.

3 This is the field where hidden lies
The pearl of price unknown;
That merchant is divinely wise

Who makes this pearl his own.
4 Here consecrated water flows,
To quench my thirst of sin;
'Tis here the tree of knowledge grows;
No danger dwells therein.

5 This is the Judge that ends the strife
Where wit and reason fail,
My Guide to everlasting life
Through all this gloomy vale.

6 O, may thy counsels, mighty God,
My roving feet command,
Nor I forsake the happy road
Which leads to thy right hand.

399.

C. M.

Revelation welcomed.

1 HAIL, sacred truth! whose piercing rays
Dispel the shades of night,
Diffusing o'er the mental world
The healing beams of light.

EVAN. MAG.

2 Thy word, O Lord, with friendly aid, Restores our wandering feet,

Converts the sorrows of the mind
To joys divinely sweet.

400.

3 O, send thy light and truth abroad
In all their radiant blaze,
And bid th' admiring world adore
The glories of thy grace.

L. M.

Divine Authority of the Bible.
1 'TWAS by an order from the Lord,
The ancient prophets spoke his word;
His Spirit did their tongues inspire,
And warm their hearts with heavenly fire.

WATTS.

2 Great God, mine eyes with pleasure look
On all the pages of thy book;
There my Redeemer's face I see,
And read his name who died for me.

3 Let the false raptures of the mind
Be lost and vanish in the wind:
Here I can fix my hope secure ;
This is thy word, and must endure.

401.

C. M.

The Riches of God's Word.

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.

STENNETT.

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.

402.

5 Our numerous griefs are here redressed,
And all our wants supplied:
Nought we can ask to make us blest
Is in this book denied.

C. M.

Comfort from the Bible.

1 LORD, I have made thy word my choice, My lasting heritage;

There shall my noblest powers rejoice,
My warmest thoughts engage.

2 I'll read the histories of thy love,
And keep thy laws in sight,
While through the promises I rove,
With ever-fresh delight.

WATTS.

"

3 'Tis a broad land, of wealth unknown,
Where springs of life arise,

Seeds of immortal bliss are sown,
And hidden glory lies.

4 The best relief that mourners have,
It makes our sorrows blest;
Our fairest hope beyond the grave,
And our eternal rest.

403.

S. M.

Power of God's Word.
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!
Forever sure thy promise, Lord,

And we securely trust.

WATTS.

4 My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given!
O, may I never read in vain,

But find the path to heaven.

INVITATIONS OF THE GOSPEL.

404.

L. M.

The Gospel originating in sovereign Mercy.

1 GOD, in the gospel of his Son,
Makes his eternal counsels known:
Here love in all its glory shines,
And truth is drawn in fairest lines.

2 Here sinners, of an humble frame,
May taste his grace, and learn his name ;
May read, in characters of blood,
The wisdom, power, and grace, of God.

3 Here faith reveals to mortal eyes
A brighter world beyond the skies;
Here shines the light which guides our way
From earth to realms of endless day.

4 O, grant us grace, almighty Lord,

To read and mark thy holy word,
Its truths with meekness to receive,
And by its holy precepts live.

405.

S. M.

God's Purpose of Mercy.
1 THE Lord on high proclaims

His Godhead from his throne;
Mercy and justice are the names
By which he will be known.

2 Ye dying souls, that sit

In darkness and distress,
Look from the borders of the pit
To his recovering grace.

WATTS.

3 Sinners shall hear the sound;
Their thankful tongues shall own
Their righteousness and strength are found
In thee, O Lord, alone.

406.

4 In thee shall Israel trust,

And see their guilt forgiven;
Thou wilt pronounce the sinners just,
And take the saints to heaven.

L. M.

The Teaching of Jesus.

1 HOW sweetly flowed the gospel sound From lips of gentleness and grace, When listening thousands gathered round, And joy and gladness filled the place!

BOWRING.

2 From heaven he came, of heaven he spoke, To heaven he led his followers' way; Dark clouds of gloomy night he broke, Unveiling an immortal day.