249

1

THE

John 1. 14.

C. M.

WATTS.

HE Lord, descending from above,
Invites His children near,

While power, and truth, and boundless love
Display their glories here.

2 Here in Thy gospel's wondrous frame,
Fresh wisdom we pursue;
A thousand angels learn Thy name,
Beyond whate'er they knew.

3 Thy name is writ in fairest lines,
Thy wonders here we trace;
Wisdom through all the mystery shines,
And shines in Jesus' face.

4 The law its best obedience owes
To our incarnate God;

And Thy revenging justice shews
Its honours in His blood.

5 But still the lustre of Thy grace
Our warmer thoughts employs,
Gilds the whole scene with brighter rays,
And more exalts our joys.

250

1

N

John iii. 16-18. L. M.

WATTS.

TOT to condemn the sons of men,
Did Christ, the Son of God, appear;
No weapons in His hands are seen,
No flaming sword nor thunder there.
2 Such was the pity of our God,

He loved the race of man so well,
He sent His Son to bear our load
Of sins, and save our souls from hell.
3 Sinners, believe the Saviour's word,
Trust in His mighty name and live;
A thousand joys His lips afford,
His hands a thousand blessings give.

251

1

W which God devised ere time began:

E sing the deep mysterious plan,

At length disclos'd in all its light: We bless the wondrous birth of love, Which beams around us from above,

With grace so free, and hopes so bright.

2 Here has the wise, Eternal Mind In Christ, their common Head, conjoined Gentiles and Jews, and earth and heaven: Through Him, from the great Father's throne,

Rivers of bliss come rolling down,

And endless peace and life are given.

252

1

Tit. iii. 5, 6. L. M.

WATTS.

No Be everlasting honours given;

to the power of God supreme

He saves from hell, we bless His name,
He calls our wandering feet to heaven.

2 Not for our duties or deserts,

But of His own abounding grace,
He works salvation in our hearts,
And forms a people for His praise.

3 "Twas His own purpose that begun
To rescue rebels doomed to die;
He gave us grace in Christ His Son
Before He spread the starry sky.

4 Jesus the Lord appears at last,
And makes His Father's counsels known,
Declares the great transactions past,
And brings immortal blessings down.

5 He dies, and in that dreadful night
Did all the powers of hell destroy;
Rising, He brought our heaven to light,
And took possession of the joy.

253

1

1 John iv. 19. D. C. M. I. A. E

WE love Thee, Lord, yet not alone

Because Thy bounteous hand,

Showers down its rich and ceaseless gifts
On ocean and on land:

Because Thou bidst the Sun go forth
Rejoicing in his might,

And kindle earth to glowing life
And beauty, with his light:

2 Because Thou roll'st the orbs of light
Through trackless fields of space,
And giv'st to cach low creeping flower
Its fragrance and its grace:
Because in sunshine and in storm
Alike we see Thee near;

In summer gale and rushing wind,
Alike Thy voice we hear:

3 "Tis not alone because Thy names
Of wisdom, power, and love,
Are written on the earth beneath,
The glorious skies above.

For these Thy gifts we praise Thee, Lord;
Yet not for these alone,

The incense of Thy children's love
Arises to Thy throne.

4 We love Thee, Lord, because when we
Had err'd and gone astray,

Thou didst recall our wandering souls
Into the heavenward way.

When helpless, hopeless, we were lost
In sin and sorrow's night,

Thou didst send forth a guiding ray
Of Thy benignant light.

5 Because when we forsook Thy ways,
Nor kept Thy holy will,

Thou wert not the avenging Judge,
But gracious Father still:
Because we have forgot Thee, Lord,
But Thou hast not forgot;
Because we have forsaken Thee,
But Thou forsakest not:

6 Because, O Lord, Thou lovedst us
With everlasting love;

Because Thou sent'st Thy Son to die,
That we might live above;

Because, when we were heirs of wrath,
Thou gav'st the hopes of heaven;
We love because we much have sinn'd,
And much have been forgiven.

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST-HIS

254

PRAISE.

Rev. v. 13. C. M.

TOPLADY.

1 TE sing to Thee, Thou Son of God, Fountain of life and grace;

We praise Thee, Son of Man, whose blood
Redeemed our fallen race.

2 Thee we acknowledge God and Lord,
The Lamb for sinners slain :
Who art by heaven and earth adored,
Worthy o'er both to reign.

3 To Thee all angels cry aloud,

Through heaven's extended coasts;
Hail, holy, holy, holy Lord
Of glory and of hosts!

4 The prophets' goodly fellowship,
In radiant garments dress'd,
Praise Thee, Thou Son of God, and reap
The fulness of Thy rest.

5 The apostles' glorious company
Thy righteous praise proclaim:
The martyred army glorify
Thine everlasting name.

6 Throughout the world Thy churches join
To call on Thee, their Head,
Brightness of Majesty Divine,
Who every power hast made.

7 Among their number, Lord, we love
To sing Thy precious blood.

Reign here, and in the worlds above,
Thou holy Lamb of God!

255

2 Cor. iv. 6.

L. M.

W to the Lord a noble song!

1 NOW

WATTS

Awake, my soul; awake, my tongue; Hosanna to th' Eternal Name,

And all His boundless love proclaim.

2 See where it shines in Jesus' face, The brightest image of His grace; God, in the person of His Son,

Has all His mightiest works outdone.

3 The spacious earth and spreading flood
Proclaim the wise and powerful God:
And Thy rich glories from afar
Sparkle in every rolling star.

4 But in His looks a glory stands,
The noblest labour of Thy hands;
The pleasing lustre of His eyes
Outshines the wonders of the skies.