5. But still the lustre of thy grace

Our warmer thoughts employs, Gilds the whole scene with brighter rays, And more exalts our joys.

Hymn 165. c. M.

"L

ET av'rice, borne from shore to shore,
Her fav'rite god pursue;

Thy word, O Lord, we value more,
Than India, or Peru.

2. Here mines of knowledge, love and joy
Are open❜d 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 raptur'd eyes behold.

4. 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 redrest
And all our wants supply'd:

Nought we can ask to make us blest,
Is in this book deny'd.

6. For these inestimable gains That so enrich the mind,

O may we search with eager pains,
Assur'd that we shall find!

Hymn 166. c. M.

ATHER of mercies, in thy word
What endless glory shines!.

F

For ever be thy name ador'd
For these celestial lines.

2. Here, may the wretched sons of want Exhaustless riches find;

Riches, above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.

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 heav'nly peace around;
And life, and everlasting joys
Attend the blissful sound.

5. O may these heav'nly pages be My ever dear delight;

1.

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

6. Divine instructor, gracious Lord!
Be thou forever near,
Teach me to love thy sacred word,
And view my Saviour there.

Hymn 168. L. M.

in the Gospel of his Son,

Makes his eternal counsels known; "Tis here his richest mercy shines, And truth is drawn in fairest lines.

2. Here sinners of a humble frame

May taste his grace, and learn his name; "Tis writ in characters of blood Severely just, immensely good.

3. Here Jesus, in ten thousand ways,
His soul-attracting charms displays,
Recounts his poverty and pains,
And tells his love in melting strains.

4. Wisdom its dictates here imparts,
To form our minds, to cheer our hearts;
Its infl'ence makes the sinner live,
It bids the drooping saint revive.
5. Our raging passions it controuls,
And comfort yields to contrite souls;
It brings a better world in view,
And guides us all our journey thro.'
6. May this blest volume ever lie
Close to my heart, and near my eye,
"Till life's last hour my soul engage,
And be my chosen heritage!

Hymn 168. L. M.

The Gospel is the power of God to salvation, Rom. 1.16. "HAT shall the dying sinner do,

1.

That seeks relief for all his woe!

Where shall the guilty conscience find
Ease for the torment of the mind?

2. How shall we get our crimes forgiv❜n,
Or form our natures fit for heav'n?
Can souls all o'er defil'd with sin,
Make their own pow'rs and passions clean?

3. In vain we search, in vain we try,
Till Jesus brings his gospel nigh;
'Tis there the power and glory dwell,
That save rebellious souls from hell.

4. This is the pillar of our hope,

Which bears our fainting spirits up;
We read the grace, we trust the word,
And find salvation in the Lord.

Hymn 169. c. M.

HALL Atheists dare insult the cross
Of our incarnate God?

Shall Infidels revile his truth,
And trample on his blood?
2. What if he choose mysterious ways
To cleanse us from our faults?
May not the works of sov'reign grace.
Transcend our feeble thoughts?

3. What if his gospel bids us strive
With flesh, and self, and sin?
The prize is most divinely bright,
That we are call'd to win.

4. What if the men, despis'd on earth,
Still of his grace partake?

This but confirms his truth the more,
For so the prophet spake.

5. Then let our faith be firm and strong,
Our lips profess his word;
Nor ever shun those holy men
Who fear and love the Lord.

Hymn 170. L. M.

T

HIS is the word of truth and love, Sent to the nations from above; Jehovah here resolves to shew What his Almighty grace can do. 2. This remedy did wisdom find, To heal diseases of the mind; This sov'reign balm, whose virtues can Restore the ruin'd creature, man.

1.

3. The gospel bids the dead revive,
Sinners obey the voice and live;
Dry bones are rais'd, and cloth'd afresh,
And hearts of stone are turn'd to flesh.

4. May but this grace my soul renew,
Let sinners gaze and hate me too;
The word that saves me does engage
A sure defence from all their rage.

Hymn 171. L. M.

"T

WAS by an order from the Lord, The ancient prophets spoke his word; His Spirit did their tongues inspire, And warm'd their hearts with heav'nly fire. 2. The works and wonders which they wrought, Confirm'd the messages they brought;

The prophet's pen succeeds his breath,
To save the holy words from death.
3. Great God! mine eyes with pleasure look
On the dear volume of thy book:
There my Redeemer's face I see,

And read his name who died for me.

4. 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.

1.

Hymn 172. c. M.

Y

E sons of earth prepare the plough;
Break up the fallow ground!
The sower is gone forth to sow,
And scatter blessings round.

2. The seed that finds a stony soil,
Shoots forth a hasty blade;
But ill repays the sower's toil:
Soon wither'd, scorch'd, and dead.

3. The thorny ground is sure to baulk
All hopes of harvest there;
We find a tall and sickly stalk,
But not the fruitful ear.

4. The beaten path and highway side
Receive the word in vain ;

The watchful birds the spoil divide,
And pick up all the grain.