3 With equal speed the earth and seas Their mighty Maker's voice obeyed; He spake, and straight the plants and trees, And birds, and beasts, and men were made. 4 But man, the lord and crown of all,
By sin his honour soon defac'd; His heart (how alter'd since the fall!) Is dark, deform'd, and void, and waste. 5 The new creation of the soul
Does now no less his power display,* Than when he form'd the mighty whole, And kindled darkness into day.
6 Though, self-destroyed, O Lord, we are, Yet let us feel what thou canst do; Thy word the ruin can repair, And all our hearts create anew.
HYMN LXXXI.
The Book of Creation.
1 THE book of nature open lies, With much instruction stor❜d; But till the Lord anoints our eyes, We cannot read a word.
2 Philosophers have por❜d in vain, And guess'd from age to age: For reason's eye could ne'er attain To understand a page.
3 Though to each star they give a name, Its size and motions teach;
The truths which all the stars proclaim, Their wisdom cannot reach.
4 With skill to measure earth and sea, And weigh the subtile air; They cannot, Lord, discover thee, Though present ev'rywhere.
5 The knowledge of the saints excels The wisdom of the schools; To them his secrets God reveals, Though men account them fools. 6 To them the sun and stars on high, The flowers that paint the field,† And all the artless birds that fly, Divine instruction yield.
7 The creatures on their senses press, As witnesses to prove
Their Saviour's power and faithfulness, His providence and love.
8 Thus may we study nature's book, To make us wise indeed! And pity those who only look At what they cannot read.‡
HYMN LXXXII.
The Rainbow.
1 WHEN the sun, with cheerful beams, Smiles upon a low'ring sky, Soon its aspect soften'd seems, And a rainbow meets the eye:
While the sky remains serene, This bright arch is never seen.
* 2 Cor. iv. 6. ↑ Matth. vi, 26-28. 1 Rom. i. 20.
2 Thus the Lord's supporting power Brightest to his saints appears, When affliction's threat'ning hour Fills the sky with clouds and fears, He can wonders then perform, Paint a rainbow on the storm.* 3 All their graces doubly shine, When their troubles press them sore; And the promises divine Give them joys unknown before: As the colours of the bow
To the cloud their brightness owe. 4 Favour'd John a rainbow saw,t Circling round the throne above; Hence the saints a pledge may draw Of unchanging cov'nant love: Clouds a while may intervene, But the bow will still be seen.
HYMN LXXXIII. Thunder.
1 WHEN a black o'erspreading cloud Has darken'd all the air,
And peals of thunder, roaring loud, Proclaim the tempest near;
2 Then guilt and fear, the fruits of sin, The sinner oft pursue:
A louder storm is heard within,
And conscience thunders too. 3 The law a fiery language speaks, His danger he perceives; Like Satan, who his ruin seeks, He trembles and believes. 4 But when the sky serene appears, And thunders roll no more,
He soon forgets his vows and fears, Just as he did before.
5 But whither shall the sinner flee, When nature's mighty frame, The pond'rous earth, and air, and sea,‡ Shall all dissolve in flame?
6 Amazing day! it comes apace;
The Judge is hasting down: Will sinners bear to see his face, Or stand before his frown? 7 Lord, let thy mercy find a way To touch each stubborn heart; That they may never hear thee say, "Ye cursed ones, depart."
8 Believers, you may well rejoice! The thunder's loudest strains Should be to you a welcome voice, That tells you, "JESUS REIGNS."
2 So lightning in the gloom of night Affords a momentary day; Disclosing objects full in sight, Which, soon as seen, are snatch'd away. 3 Ah! what avail these pleasing scenes? They do but aggravate my pain; While darkness quickly intervenes, And swallows up my joys again. 4 But shall I murmur at relief? Though short, it was a precious view Sent to control my unbelief,
And prove that what I read is true. 5 The lightning's flash did not create The op'ning prospect it reveal'd; But only show'd the real state Of what the darkness had conceal'd. 6 Just so, we by a glimpse discern
The glorious things within the vail; That, when in darkness, we may learn To live by faith, till light prevail.
7 The Lord's great day will soon advance, Dispersing all the shades of night; Then we no more shall need a glance, But see by an eternal light.
On the Eclipse of the Moon, July 30, 1776.
1 THE moon in silver glory shone,
And not a cloud in sight, When suddenly a shade begun To intercept her light.
2 How fast across her orb it spread, How fast her light withdrew! A circle, ting'd with languid red, Was all appear'd in view.
3 While many with unmeaning eye, Gaze on thy works in vain, Assist me, Lord, that I may try Instruction to obtain.
4 Fain would my thankful heart and lips Unite in praise to thee,
And meditate on thy eclipse
In sad Gethsemane.
5 Thy people's guilt, a heavy load, (When standing in their room) Depriv'd thee of the light of God, And fill'd thy soul with gloom. 6 How punctually eclipses move, Obedient to thy will!
Thus shall thy faithfulness and love Thy promises fulfil.
7 Dark like the moon without the sun, I mourn thine absence, Lord! For light or comfort I have none, But what thy beams afford.
8 But lo! the hour draws near apace, When changes shall be o'er, Then I shall see thee face to face, And be eclips'd no more.
1 THE moon has but a borrow'd light, A faint and feeble ray;
She owes her beauty to the night, And hides herself by day.
2 No cheering warmth her beam conveys, Though pleasing to behold; We might upon her brightness gaze Till we were starv'd with cold. 3 Just such is all the light to man Which reason can impart;
It cannot show one object plain, Nor warm the frozen heart. 4 Thus moon-light views of truths divine To many fatal prove,
For what avail in gifts to shine,* Without a spark of love?
5 The gospel, like the sun at noon, Affords a glorious light;
Then fallen reason's boasted moon Appears no longer bright.
6 And grace not light alone bestows, But adds a quick'ning power; The desert blossoms like the rose, And sin prevails no more.
HYMN LXXXVII. The Sea.
1 IF, for a time, the air be calm, Serene and smooth the sea appears, And shows no danger to alarm The unexperienc'd landsman's fears. 2 But if the tempest once arise,
The faithless water swells and raves; Its billows, foaming to the skies, Disclose a thousand threat'ning graves. 3 My untried heart thus seem'd to me (So little of myself I knew) Smooth as the calm unruffled sea, But, ah! it prov'd as treach'rous too! 4 The peace of which I had a taste, When Jesus first his love reveal'd, I fondly hop'd, would always last, Because my foes were then conceal'd. 5 But when I felt the tempest's power Rouse my corruptions from their sleep, I trembled at the stormy hour, And saw the horrors of the deep. 6 Now on presumption's billows borne, My spirit seem'd the Lord to dare; Now, quick as thought, a sudden turn Plung'd me in gulfs of black despair. 7 Lord, save me, or I sink, I prayed,
He heard, and bid the tempest cease; The angry waves his word obeyed, And all my fears were hush'd to peace. 8 The peace is his, and not my own, My heart (no better than before)
* 1 Cor. xiii. 1. ↑ Isa. xxxv. 1.
1 THOUGH Small the drops of falling rain, If one be singly view'd; Collected they o'erspread the plain, And form a mighty flood.
2 The house it meets within its course Should not be built on clay, Lest, with a wild resistless force, It sweep the whole away.
3 Though for a while it seemed secure, It will not bear the shock, Unless it has foundations sure,
And stands upon a rock.
4 Thus sinners think their evil deeds, Like drops of rain, are small; But it the power of thought exceeds, To count the sum of all.
5 One sin can raise, though small it seems, A flood to drown the soul;
What then, when countless million streams Shall join to swell the whole?
6 Yet, while they think the weather fair, If warn'd, they smile or frown; But they will tremble and despair,
When the fierce flood comes down. 7 Oh! then, on Jesus ground your hope, That stone in Zion laid ;* Lest your poor building quickly drop, With ruin on your head.
HYMN LXXXIX. The Thaw.
1 THE ice and snow we lately saw, Which cover'd all the ground, Are melted soon before the thaw, And can no more be found. 2 Could all the art of man suffice To move away the snow, To clear the rivers from the ice, Or make the waters flow?
3 No, 'tis the work of God alone; An emblem of the power
By which he melts the heart of stone In his appointed hour.
4 All outward means, till he appears, Will ineffectual prove;
Though much the sinner sees and hears He cannot learn to love.
5 But let the stoutest sinner feel
The soft'ning warmth of grace, Though hard as ice, or rocks, or steel, His heart dissolves apace.
6 Seeing the blood which Jesus spilt, To save his soul from woe, His hatred, unbelief, and guilt, All melt away like snow.
7 Jesus, we in thy name entreat, Reveal thy gracious arm; And grant thy Spirit's kindly heat, Our frozen hearts to warm.
1 As needles point towards the pole, When touch'd by the magnetic stone; So faith in Jesus gives the soul A tendency before unknown. 2 Till then, by blinded passions led, In search of fancied good we range; The paths of disappointment tread, To nothing fix'd, but love of change. 3 But when the Holy Ghost imparts A knowledge of the Saviour's love, Our wand'ring, weary, restless hearts, Are fix'd at once, no more to move. 4 Now a new principle takes place, Which guides and animates the will; This love, another name for grace, Constrains to good, and bars from ill. 5 By love's pure light we soon perceive Our noblest bliss and proper end; And gladly ev'ry idol leave,
To love and serve our Lord and Friend. 6 Thus borne along by faith and hope, We feel the Saviour's words are true; "And I, if I be lifted up,
Will draw the sinner upward too."
HYMN XCI.
The Spider and the Bee.
1 ON the same flower we often see The loathsome spider and the bee; But what they get by working there, Is different as their natures are. 2 The bee a sweet reward obtains, And honey well repays his pains; Home to the hive he bears the store, And then returns in quest of more.
3 But no sweet flowers that grace the field Can honey to the spider yield; A cobweb all that he can spin, And poison all he stores within.
4 Thus in that sacred field, the word, With flowers of God's own planting stor❜d, Like bees his children feed and thrive, And bring home honey to the hive.
5 There, spider-like, the wicked come, And seem to taste the sweet perfume: But the vile venom of their hearts To poison all their food converts. 6 From the same truths believers prize, They weave vain refuges of lies; And from the promise license draw, To trifle with the holy law.
7 Lord, shall thy word of life and love The means of death to numbers prove!
Unless thy grace our hearts renew,* We sink to hell, with heaven in view.
The Bee saved from the Spider.
1 THE subtle spider often weaves His unsuspected snares
Among the balmy flowers and leaves, To which the bee repairs.
2 When in his web he sees one hang, With a malicious joy,
He darts upon it with his fang, To poison and destroy.
3 How welcome then some pitying friend, To save the threaten'd bee:
The spider's treach'rous web to rend, And set the captive free!
4 My soul has been in such a case; When first I knew the Lord,
I hasted to the means of grace, Where sweets I knew were stor❜d. 5 Little I thought of danger near, That soon my joys would ebb: But ah! I met a spider there, Who caught me in his web.
6 Then Satan rais'd his pois'nous sting, And aim'd his blows at me; While I, poor helpless trembling thing, Could neither fight nor flee.
7 But, oh! the Saviour's pitying eye Relieved me from despair; He saw me at the point to die,
And broke the fatal snare.
8 My case his heedless saints should warn, Or cheer them if afraid;
May you from me your danger learn, And where to look for aid.
HYMN XCIII.
The tamed Lion.
1 A LION, though by nature wild, The art of man can tame; He stands before his keeper mild, And gentle as a lamb.
2 He watches, with submissive eye, The hand that gives him food, As if he meant to testify
A sense of gratitude.
3 But man himself, who thus subdues The fiercest beasts of prey, And nature more unfeeling shows, And far more fierce than they.
4 Though by the Lord preserv'd and fed, He proves rebellious still:
And while he eats his Maker's bread, Resists his holy will.
5 Alike in vain of grace that saves, Or threat'ning law he hears;
The savage scorns, blasphemes, and raves, But neither loves nor fears.
6 O Saviour! how thy wond'rous power By angels is proclaim'd!
When in their own appointed hour, They see this lion tam'd.
7 The love thy bleeding cross displays, The hardest heart subdues; Here furious lions, while they gaze,
Their rage and fierceness lose.*
8 Yet we are but renew'd in part, The lion still remains;
Lord, drive him wholly from my heart, Or keep him fast in chains.
1 THE Saviour calls his people sheep, And bids them on his love rely; For he alone their souls can keep, And he alone their wants supply. 2 The bull can fight, the hare can flee, The ant in summer food prepare; But helpless sheep, and such are we, Depend upon the Shepherd's care. 3 Jehovah is our Shepherd's name,t Then what have we, though weak, to fear; Our sin and folly we proclaim, If we despond while he is near.
4 When Satan threatens to devour, When troubles press on every side, Think of our Shepherd's care and power, He can defend, he will provide.
5 See the rich pastures of his grace, Where, in full streams, salvation flows! There he appoints our resting place, And we may feed, secure from foes. 6 There, 'midst the flock, the Shepherd The sheep around in safety lie; [dwells, The wolf in vain with malice swells, For he protects them with his eye.‡
7 Dear Lord, if I am one of thine, From anxious thoughts I would be free, To trust, and love, and praise, is mine, The care of all belongs to thee.
1 A GARDEN contemplation suits, And may instruction yield, Sweeter than all the flowers and fruits With which the spot is fill'd.
2 Eden was Adam's dwelling-place, While bless'd with innocence; But sin o'erwhelm'd him with disgrace, And drove the rebel thence.
3 Oft as the garden-walk we tread We should bemoan his fall:
* Isaiah xi. 6. † Psalm xxiii. 1.
For a Garden-Seat or Summer-House. 1 A SHELTER from the rain or wind,† A shade from scorching heat, A resting-place you here may find To ease your weary feet.
2 Enter, but with a serious thought
Consider who is near: This is a consecrated spot,
The Lord is present here.
3 A question of the utmost weight,
While reading, meets your eye; May conscience witness to your state, And give a true reply!
4 Is Jesus to your heart reveal'd,
As full of truth and grace? And is his name your hope and shield, Your rest and hiding-place?
5 If so, for all events prepar'd
Whatever storms may rise, He whom you love will safely guard, And guide you to the skies.
6 No burning sun, or storm, or rain, Will there your peace annoy; No sin, temptation, grief or pain, Intrude to damp your joy.
7 But if his name you have not known, O seek him while you may! Lest you should meet his awful frown In that approaching day.
8 When the avenging Judge you see, With terrors on his brow, Where can you hide, or whither flee, If you reject him now?
The Creatures in the Lord's Hands. 1 THE water stood like walls of brass, To let the sons of Israel pass,* And from the rock in rivers burst,
At Moses' prayer,† to quench their thirst. 2 The fire, restrain'd by God's commands, Could only burn his people's bands:‡ Too faint, when he was with them there, To singe their garments or their hair. 3 At Daniel's feet the lions lay,
Like harmless lambs, nor touch'd their prey; And ravens, which on carron fed, Procur'd Elijah flesh and bread.||
4 Thus creatures only can fulfil Their great Creator's holy will; And when his servants need their aid His purposes must be obeyed.
5 So if his blessing he refuse, Their power to help they quickly lose; Sure as on creatures we depend, Our hopes in disappointment end.
6 Then let us trust the Lord alone, And creature-confidence disown; Nor, if they threaten, need we fear; They cannot hurt if he be near. 7 If instruments of pain they prove, Still they are guided by his love, As lancets by the surgeon's skill, Which wound to cure and not to kill.
HYMN XCVIII.
On Dreaming.
1 WHEN slumber seals our weary eyes, The busy fancy wakeful keeps; The scenes which then before us rise, Prove something in us never sleeps. 2 As in another world we seem, A new creation of our own; All appears real, though a dream, And all familiar, though unknown. 3 Sometimes the mind beholds again The past day's bus'ness in review, Resumes the pleasure or the pain, And sometimes all we meet is new.
4 What schemes we form! what pains we We fight, we run, we fly, we fall; [take, But all is ended when we wake,
We scarcely then a trace recall.
5 But though our dreams are often wild, Like clouds before the driving storm, Yet some important may be styl'd, Sent to admonish or inform.
6 What mighty agents have access, What friends from heaven or foes from hell, Our minds to comfort or distress,
When we are sleeping, who can tell?
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