We sing the blood, that ransom'd us from hell;
We sing the graces, that in Jesus dwell;
Led by his Spirit, guarded by his hand,
Our hopes anticipate your goodly land;
Still his incarnate Deity admiring,
And with heaven's hierarchy* in praise conspiring.
CCC. Christians, as risen with Christ, exhorted to seek Things above.
Colossians iii. 1.
1 HEARKEN, ye children of your God;
Ye heirs of glory, hear;
For accents so divine as these
Might charm the dullest ear.
2 Baptiz'd into your Saviour's death,
Your souls to sin must die;
With Christ our Lord ye live anew,
With Christ ascend on high.
3 There at his Father's hand he sits
Enthron'd divinely fair;
Yet owns himself your brother still,
And your forerunner there.
4 Rise from these earthly trifles, rise,
On wings of faith and love;
choicest treasure lies,
And be your hearts, above.
5 But earth and sin will drag us down,
When we attempt to fly;
Lord, send thy strong attractive force
To raise and fix us high.
CCCI. The Prosperity of the Church, the Life of a faithful Minister.
1 BLEST Jesus, bow thine ear,
While we intreat thy love;
O come, and all our hearts possess,
And our best passions move.
May we stand fast in thee,
Though storms and tempests beat;
And in thy guardian-arms obtain
A calm and safe retreat.
Still be thy truth maintain'd,
And still thy word obey'd,
And to the merits of thy blood
A constant homage paid.
* The several orders of angels,
CCXCVIII. Thankfulness for being made meet for the heavenly Inheritance. Colossians i. 12.
1 ALL-Glorious God, what hymns of praise
Shall our transported voices raise?
What flaming love and zeal is due,
While heaven stands open to our view!
2 Once we were fall'n, and O! how low!
Just on the brink of endless woe;
Doom'd to a heritage in hell,
Where sinners all in darkness dwell.
3 But lo, a ray of cheerful light
Scatters the horrid shades of night!
Lo, what triumphant grace is shewn
To souls impoverish'd and undone!
4 Far, far beyond these mortal shores
A bright inheritance is ours;
Where saints in light our coming wait,
To share their holy blissful state.
5 If ready drest for heaven we shine,
Thine are the robes, the crown is thine:
May endless years their course prolong,
While "Thine the praise," is all our song.
CCXCIX. Angels and Christians united in Christ, as their common
Head. Colossians ii. 10.
HAIL to Emanuel's ever-honour'd name!
Spread it, ye angels, through heaven's sacred
flame.
Ye scepter'd cherubim, before his throne,
And flaming Seraphim, bow humbly down.
He is your head; with prostrate awe adore him,
And lay with joy your radiant crowns before him.
Array'd in his refulgent beams ye shine,
And draw existence from his source divine;
Grateful ye wait the signal of his hand,
Honour'd too highly by his least command:
In him the indwelling Deity admiring,
And to his brighter image still aspiring.
Mortals with you in cheerful homage join,
And bring their anthems to Emanuel's shrine;
Mean as we are, with sins and griefs beset,
We glory, that in him we are complete.
He is our head, and we with you adore him,
And
pour our wants, our joys, our hearts before him.
4 Tell them, in accents like their own,
What an incarnate God could do;
Then point to Jesus on the throne,
And boast, that Jesus died for you.
5 Transported, they no more can hear;
Their voices catch the sacred name;
Harmonious to his Father's ear,
Jesus the God, their harps proclaim !
6 Sin hath its dire* incursions made,
That thou might'st prove thy power to save;
And death its ensigns wide display'd,
That thou might'st triumph o'er the grave.
CCCIV. Christ seen of Angels. 1 Timothy iii. 16.
10 Ye immortal throng
Of angels round the throne,
Join with our feeble song
To make the Saviour known:
On earth ye knew
His wondrous grace,
His beauteous face
In heaven ye view.
2 Ye saw the heaven-born child
In human flesh array'd,
Benevolent and mild,
While in the manger laid:
And praise to God,
And peace on earth,
For such a birth,
Proclaim'd aloud.
3 Ye in the wilderness
Beheld the tempter spoil'd,
Well known in every dress,
In every combat foil'd;
And joy'd to crown
The victor's head,
When Satan fled
Before his frown.
4 Around the bloody tree
Ye press'd with strong desire,
That wondrous sight to see,
The Lord of life expire;
And, could your eyes
Have known a tear,
Had drop'd it there
In sad surprise.
5 Around his sacred tomb
A willing watch ye keep;
Till the blest moment come
To rouze him from his sleep:
Then roll'd the stone,
And all ador'd
Your rising Lord
With joy unknown.
6 When all arrayed in light
The shining conqueror rode,
Ye hail'd his rapturous flight
Up to the throne of God;
And wav'd around
Your golden wings,
And struck your strings
Of sweetest sound.
7 The warbling notes pursue,
And louder anthems raise;
While mortals sing with you
Their own Redeemer's praise:
And thou, my heart,
With equal flame,
And joy the same,
Perform thy part.
CCCV. The Stability of the divine Foundation, and its double Inscription. 2 Timothy ii. 19.
1 To thee, Great Architect on high,
Immortal thanks be paid,
Who, to support thy sinking saints,
This firm foundation laid!
2 Fix'd on a rock thy gospel stands,
And braves the rage of hell;
And, while the Saviour's hand protects,
His blood cements it well.
3 Here will I build my final hope;
Here rest my weary soul
Majestic shall the fabric rise,
Till glory crown the whole.
4 Deep on my heart, all-gracious Lord,
Engrave its double seal;
Which, while it speaks thy honour'd name,
Its sacred use may tell.
5 Dear by a thousand tender bonds,
Thy saints to thee are known;
And, conscious what a name they bear,
Iniquity they shun.
CCCVI. Persecution to be expected by every true Christian. 2 Timothy iii. 12.
1 GREAT Leader of thine Israel's host,
We shout thy conquering name;
Legions of foes beset thee round,
And legions fled with shame.
2 A victory glorious and complete
Thou by thy death didst gain;
So in thy cause may we contend,
And death itself sustain !
3 By our illustrious general fir'd,
We no extremes would fear;
Prepar'd to struggle and to bleed,
If thou, our Lord, be near.
4 We'll trace the footsteps thou hast drawn.
To triumph and renown;
Nor shun thy combat and thy cross,
May we but share thy crown.
CCCVII. The Christian Scheme of Salvation worthy of God. Hebrews ii. 10.
1 IMMORTAL God, on thee we call,
The great original of all;
Through thee we are, to thee we tend,
Our sure support, our glorious end.
2 We praise that wise mysterious grace,
That pitied our revolted race,
And Jesus, our victorious head,
The captain of salvation made.
3 He, thine eternal love decreed,
Should many sons to glory lead;
And sinful worms to him are given,
A colony to people heaven.
4 Jesus for us, O gracious name!
Encounter'd agony and shame :
Jesus, the glorious and the great,
Was by dire sufferings made complete.
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