3 Like them, we have a rest in view, Secure from adverse powers; 4 Yes, in this barren wilderness, By his appointed means of grace, 5 His word a light before us spreads, 6 Jesus, the bread of life, is given We drink a wond'rous stream from heaven, "Tis water, wine, and blood. 7 Lord, 'tis enough, I ask no more, HYMN LIX. Communion with the Saints in Glory. 3 If they behold him face to face, 4 While Moses stood with arms spread wide, 5 Have you no words? ah! think again, HYMN LXI. Power of Prayer. 1 IN themselves, as weak as worms, How can poor believers stand, When temptations, foes, and storms, Press them close on ev'ry hand? 2 Weak, indeed, they feel they are, But they know the throne of grace; And the God who answers prayer, Helps them when they seek his face. 3 Though the Lord a while delay, Succour they at length obtain; He who taught their hearts to pray, Will not let them cry in vain. 4 Wrestling prayer can wonders do, Bring relief in deepest straits; Prayer can force a passage through Iron bars and brazen gates. 5 Hezekiah on his knees Proud Assyria's host subdued; And when smitten with disease, Had his life by prayer renewed. 6 Peter, though confin'd and chain'd, Prayer prevail'd and brought him out; When Elijah prayed, it rain'd, After three long years of drought. 7 We can likewise witness bear, That the Lord is still the same; Though we fear'd he would not hear, Suddenly deliverance came. 8 For the wonders he has wrought, Let us now our praises give; And by sweet experience taught, Call upon him while we live. ON THE SCRIPTURES. HYMN LXII. C. The Light and Glory of the World. 1 THE Spirit breathes upon the word, And brings the truth to sight; Precepts and promises afford A sanctifying light. Exod. xvii. 11. The Word more Precious than Gold. 1 PRECIOUS Bible! what a treasure 2 Food to which the world's a stranger, He is meat and drink indeed! 4 In the hour of dark temptation, While the scripture-truths are sure, 5 Vain his threats to overcome me, "Tis a sword for conquest made, Keen the edge, and strong the blade. 6 Shall I envy, then, the miser, Doating on his golden store? Sure I am, or should be wiser; I am rich, 'tis he is poor: Jesus gives me in his word, III. PROVIDENCES. HYMN LXIV. On the Commencement of Hostilities in America. I THE gath'ring clouds, with aspect dark, A rising storm presage; Oh! to be hid within the ark, And shelter'd from its rage. 2 See the commission'd angel frown!* That vial in his hand, Fill'd with fierce wrath, is pouring down Upon our guilty land! 3 Ye saints, unite in wrestling prayer, Who knows but mercy yet may spare, 4 Already is the plague begun, And fired with hostile rage, Brethren, by blood and interest one, 5 Peace spreads her wings, prepar'd for flight, And war, with flaming sword, And hasty strides, draws nigh to fight 6 The first alarm, alas! how few, 7 So thunder o'er the distant hills With tears the nation's sins lament, 9 The humble souls who mourn and pray, FAST-DAY HYMNS. HYMN LXV. Confession and Prayer. Dec. 13, 1776. 1 Он! may the power which melts the rock, Be felt by all assembled here! Or else our service will but mock 2 Lord, while thy judgments shake the land, That God has made our cause his own. 5 But, ah! both heaven and earth have heard *Rev. xvi. 1. † 1 Sam. xxiv. 16. 1 Numb. xvi. 46. Isaiah i. 2 6 His grace despis'd, his power defied HYMN LXVI. Moses and Amalek.† Feb. 27, 1778. 1 WHILE Joshua led the armed bands Engag'd in humble prayer. 2 The armed bands had quickly fail'd, If Moses' prayer had not prevail'd 3 When Moses' hands through weakness The warriors fainted too; "Come, and in my chambers hide,* To my saints of old well known; There you safely may abide, Till the storm be overblown. 3 "You have only to repose On my wisdom, love, and care; When my wrath consumes my foes, Mercy shall my children spare: While they perish in the flood, You that bear my holy mark,t Sprinkled with atoning blood, Shall be safe within the ark." 4 Sinners, see the ark prepar'd! Haste to enter while there's room; Though the Lord his arm has bar'd Mercy still retards your doom: Seek him while there yet is hope, Ere the day of grace be past, Lest in wrath he give you up, And this call should prove your last. [dropp'd, 2 Israel's success at once was stopp'd, And Am'lek bolder grew. 4 A people, always prone to boast, 5 We now of fleets and armies vaunt, But men like Moses most we want 6 Yet, Lord, we hope thou hast prepar'd (The nation's secret strength and guard) 7 O hear their prayers, and grant us aid! HYMN LXVII. The Hiding-place. Feb. 10, 1779. 1 SEE the gloomy gath'ring cloud Hanging o'er a sinful land! Sure the Lord proclaims aloud Times of trouble are at hand. Happy they who love his name; They shall always find him near; Though the earth were wrapt in flame, They have no just cause for fear. 2 Hark, his voice in accents mild, (O how comforting and sweet!) Speaks to every humble child, Pointing out a sure retreat! HYMN LXVIII. On the Earthquake. Sept. 8, 1775. 1 ALTHOUGH on massy pillars built, The earth has lately shook; It trembles under Britain's guilt, Before its Maker's look. Swift as the shock amazement spreads, What flight can screen their guilty heads, 3 But mercy spar'd us while it warn'd, And mercy now, alas! is scorn'd 4 But if these warnings prove in vain, How soon the earth may quake again, 5 Repent before the Judge draws nigh, 6 But happy they who love the Lord, The hope that's founded on his word,. 7 Should the deep-rooted hills be hurl'd, 8 Jesus, your Shepherd, Lord, and Chief, And not a worm or shaking leaf HYMN LXIX. On the Fire at Olney. Sept. 22, 1777. 1 WEARIED by day with toils and cares, How welcome is the peaceful night! 1 Chron. xi. 32. ↑ Exod. xvii. 9. * Isaiah xxvi. 20. † Ezek. ix. 4. Rev, vi 16 Sweet sleep our wasted strength repairs, 2 Yet when our eyes in sleep are clos'd, 3 'Tis of the Lord that we can sleep 4 For months and years of safety past, 5 The shout of-Fire! a dreadful cry, 6 The throng and terror who can speak? The various sounds that fill'd the airThe infant's wail, the mother's shriek, The voice of blasphemy and prayer. 7 But prayer prevail'd and sav'd the town: Lord, still increase thy praying few! HYMN LXX. A Welcome to Christian Friends. 1 KINDRED in Christ, for his dear sake, A hearty welcome here receive; May we together now partake The joys which only he can give! 2 To you and us by grace 'tis given To know the Saviour's precious name, And shortly we shall meet in heaven, Our hope, our way, our end the same. 3 May he, by whose kind care we meet, Send his good Spirit from above, Make our communications sweet, And cause our hearts to burn with love! 4 Forgotten be each worldly theme, When christians see each other thus; 5 We'll talk of all he did and said, 6 Thus, as the moments pass away, HYMN LXXI. At Parting. 1 As the sun's enliv'ning eye Let us then ourselves commend 5 Jesus, hear our humble prayer! 6 In thy strength may we be strong, And our souls shall praise the Lord, FUNERAL HYMNS. HYMN LXXII. On the Death of a Believer. 1 In vain my fancy strives to paint The glories that surround the saints 2 One gentle sigh their fetters breaks; Her mansion near the throne. 3 Faith strives, but all its efforts fail, Have done with sin, and care, and woe, 5 On harps of gold they praise his name, 6 Their faith and patience, love and zeal, 7 While they have gain'd, we losers are, 8 We pray, as in Elisha's case, HYMN LXXIII. On the Death of a Minister. And, in desponding accents said, 2 But he forgot the Lord who lifts 3 What! when a Paul has run his course, Or when Apollos dies, Is Israel left without resource? And have we no supplies? 4 Yes! while the dear Redeemer lives, HYMN LXXIV. The Tolling Bell. 1 OFT as the bell, with solemn toll, Speaks the departure of a soul, Let each one ask himself "Am I Prepar'd, should I be call'd to die?" 2 Only this frail and fleeting breath Preserves me from the jaws of death: Soon as it fails, at once I'm gone, And plung'd into a world unknown. 3 Then leaving all I lov❜d below, C. To God's tribunal I must go; 4 But could I bear to hear him say, And long, and wish to hear thy voice, HYMN LXXV. Hope beyond the Grave. 1 My soul, this curious house of clay, Thy present frail abode, Must quickly fall to worms a prey, And thou return to God. 2 Canst thou, by faith, survey with joy The change before it come? And say, "Let death this house destroy 3 "The Saviour whom I then shall see A mansion in the skies."* 4 I feel this mud-wall'd cottage shake, That I my willing flight may take 5 Burden'd and groaning then no more, "Death thou hast lost thy sting." 6 Dear Saviour help us now to seek HYMN LXXVI. There the Weary are at Rest. 2 The wicked cease from troubling there, The weary are at rest;† Sorrow, and sin, and pain, and care, 3 A wicked world, and wicked heart, 4 In conflict with this threefold troop, Did not thy promise bear me up, 5 But fighting in my Saviour's strength, Though mighty are my foes, I shall a conq'ror be at length O'er all that can oppose. 6 Then why, my soul, complain or fear? |