FI

2 And now, in age and grief, thy Name Doth still my languid heart inflame,

And bow my falt'ring knee: 0, yet this bosom feels the fire; This trembling hand and drooping lyre

Have yet a strain for thee!
3 Yes; broken, tuneless, still, O Lord,
This voice, transported, shall record

Thy goodness, tried so long;
Till, sinking slow, with calm decay,
Its feeble murmurs melt away

Into a seraph's song. 673

L. M.
The aged disciple's prayer.
TOREWARN’D by my Redeemer's love,

I soon shall lay this body down;
But ere my soul from earth remove,

O may I put thine image on. 2 Saviour ! thy meek and lowly mind

Be to thine aged servant given; And glad I'll drop this tent, to find

My everlasting home in heaven. 674

5th P. M. 4 lines 7s.

The dying believer.
EATHLESS spirit, now arise ;

Soar, thou native of the skies-
Pearl of price by Jesus bought,
To his glorious likeness wrought :--
2 Go to shine before the throne;
Deck the Mediator's crown;
Go, his triumphs to adorn;
Made for God, to God return.
3 Angels, joyful to attend,
Hov’ring round thy pillow bend;
Wait to catch the signal given,
And convey thee quick to heaven. .

4 Burst thy shackles; drop thy clay,
Sweetly breathe thyself away;
Singing, to thy crown remove,
Swift of wing, and fired with love.
5 Shudder not to pass the stream .
Venture all thy care on Him-
Him, whose dying love and power
Stilld its tossings, hush'd its roar.
6 Safe is the expanded wave,-
Gentle as a summer's eve;
Not one object of his care
Ever suffer'd shipwreck there.
7 See the haven full in view ;
Love divine shall bear thee through:
Trust to that propitious gale;
Weigh thine anchor, spread thy sail.
8 Saints in glory, perfect made,
Wait thy passage through the shade;
Swiftly to their wish be given ;
Kindle higher joy in heaven.

675

40th P. M. The dying Christian to his soul. VITAL spark of heavenly flame,

Quit, О quit this mortal frame. Trembling, hoping, ling’ring, flying, O the pain, the bliss of dying ! Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, And let me languish into life. 2 Hark! they whisper: angels say, Sister spirit, come away

- What is this absorbs me quite, Steals my senses, shuts my sight, Drowns my spirit, draws my breath? Tell me, iny soul, can this be death?

3 The world recedes : it disappears ; Heaven opens on my eyes; my ears

With sounds seraphic ring. Lend, lend your wings ! I mount ! I fly! O grave, where is thy victory?

O death, where is thy sting?

THE

THE SCRIPTURES. 676

C. M.
Riches of God's word.
HE counsels of redeeming grace

The sacred leaves unfold;
And here the Saviour's lovely face

Our raptured eyes behold.
2 Here light descending from above

Directs our doubtful feet; Here promises of heavenly love

Our ardent wishes meet. 3 Our num'rous griefs are here redress’d,

And all our wants supplied : Naught we can ask to make us blest

Is in this book denied.
4 For these inestimable gains,

That so enrich the mind,
O may we search with eager pains,

Assured that we shall find. 677

C. M.
Excellency and sufficiency.
ATHER of mercies, in thy word

What endless glory shines;
Forever be thy Name adored

For these celestial lines. 2 Here may the wretched sons of wan

Exhaustless riches find;
Riches above what earth can grant,

And lasting as the mind.

FAT

3 Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,

And yields a free repast; Sublimer sweets than nature knows

Invite the longing taste. 4 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice

Spreads heavenly peace around; And life, and everlasting joys,

Attend the blissful sound.
5 O may these heavenly pages be

Our ever dear delight;
And still new beauties may we see,

And still increasing light.
6 Divine Instructer, gracious Lord,

Be thou forever near;
Teach us to love thy sacred word,

And view the Saviour there.

678

C. M Light and glory of the sacred page. HAT glory gilds the sacred page !

Majestic, like the sun, It gives a light to every age;

It gives, but borrows none. 2 The power that gave it still supplies

The gracious light and heat ; Its truths upon the nations rise :

They rise, but never set.
3 Lord ! everlasting thanks be thine

For such a bright display,
As makes a world of darkness shine

With beams of heavenly day. 4 Our souls rejoicingly pursue

The steps of Him we love, lill glory break upon our view

In brighter worlds above.

;

679

C. M.
The Spirit's enlightening influences.
OME, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire;

Let us thine influence prove;-
Source of the old prophetic fire;

Fountain of life and love. 2 Come, Holy Ghost, for moved by thee

The prophets wrote and spoke : Unlock the truth, thyself the key;

Unseal the sacred book. 3 Expand thy wings, Celestial Dove;

Brood o'er our nature's night; On our disorder'd spirits move,

And let there now be light. 4 God, through himself, we then shall know,

If thou within us shine;
And sound, with all thy saints below,

The depths of love divine. 680

C. M.
The revealing Spirit.
TATHER of all, in whom alone

We live, and move, and breathe;
One bright, celestial ray dart down,

, And cheer thy sons beneath. 2 While in thy word we search for thee,

(We search with trembling awe ;) Open our eyes, and let us see

The wonders of thy law. 3 Now let our darkness comprehend

The light that shines so clear ; Now the revealing Spirit send,

And give us ears to hear. 4 Before us make thy goodness pass,

Which here by faith we know; Let us in Jesus see thy face,

And die to all below.