2

3

But where the Gospel comes,

It spreads diviner light;
It calls dead sinners from their tombs,

And gives the blind their sight.
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.

C. M.
215.

WATTS. Instruction from the Scriptures. Psalm 34. 1 How shall the young secure their hearts

And guard their lives from sin ? Thy word the choicest rules imparts,

To keep the conscience clean.
2 When once it enters to the mind,

It spreads such light abroad,
The meanest souls instruction find,

And raise their thoughts to God. 3 'T is like the sun, a heavenly light,

That guides us all the day; And through the dangers of the night,

A lamp to lead our way. 4 Thy word is everlasting truth;

How pure is every page! That holy book shall guide our youth,

And well support our age.

C. M.

216. WATTS.

The Blessings of the Gospel. i Blest are the souls that hear and know

The Gospel's joyful sound;
Peace shall attend the paths they go,

And light their steps surround.

2 Their joy shall bear their spirits up,

Through their Redeemer's name; His righteousness exalts their hope,

Nor dares the world condemn.

3 The Lord, our glory and defence,

Strength and salvation gives; Israel, thy King for ever reigns,

Thy God for ever lives.

1

Searching the Scriptures.
IMPOSTURE shrinks from light,

And dreads the curious eye:
But sacred truths the test invite,

They bid us search and try.
O

may we still maintain
A meek, inquiring mind;
Assured we shall not search in vain,

But hidden treasures find.

2

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.
The truth thou shalt impart,

May we with firmness own;
Abhorring each evasive art,

And fearing thee alone.

5

· 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.

3 'T is 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.

1 Let all the heathen writers join

To form one perfect book; Great God, if once compared with thine,

How mean their writings look! 2 Not the most perfect rules they gave

Could show one sin forgiven, Nor lead a step beyond the grave;

But thine conduct to heaven.

3 I've seen an end of what we call

Perfection here below;
How short the powers of nature fall,

And can no farther go!

4. Our faith, and love, and every grace,

Fall far below thy word ;
But perfect truth and righteousness

Dwell only with the Lord.

C. M.

220.

RIPPON'S COL.

The Value of the Scriptures.

i How precious is the book divine,

By inspiration given!
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,

To lead our souls to heaven.

2 O’er all the straight and narrow way

Its radiant beams are cast; A light whose never weary ray

Grows brightest at the last.

3 It sweetly cheers our fainting hearts

In this dark vale of tears ;
Life, light, and comfort it imparts,

And calms our anxious fears.

4 This lamp through all the dreary night

Of life shall guide our way,
Till we behold the glorious light

Of never-ending day.

L. M.
221.

Watts.
The Books of Nature and Scripture. Psalm 19.
1 The heavens declare thy glory, Lord !

In every star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,

We read thy name in fairer lines.
2 The rolling sun, the changing light,

And nights and days, thy power confess; But the blest volume thou hast writ

Reveals thy justice and thy grace. 3 Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise

Round the whole earth, and never stand ; So, when thy truth began its race,

It touched and glanced on every land. 4 Nor shall thy spreading Gospel rest

Till through the world thy truth has run; Till Christ has all the nations blest,

That see the light, or feel the sun.
5 Great Sun of Righteousness, arise,

Bless the dark world with heavenly light:
Thy Gospel makes the simple wise ;
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.