2.

How straight the path appears!
How open and how fair!

No lurking snares to entrap our feet,
No fierce destroyer there.

3.

But flowers of paradise
In rich profusion spring:
The sun of glory gilds the path,
And dear companions sing.

4.

See Salem's golden spires In beauteous prospect rise; And brighter crowns than mortals wear, Which sparkle through the skies.

5.

All honour to his name

Who led the shining way; Whose word of promise cheers the path, And leads to endless day!

6.

Reduce the nations, Lord;

Teach all their kings thy ways; That earth's full choir the notes may swell, And heaven resound the praise.

428. L. M. MRS. STEELE.

The heavenly kingdom an inheritance.
[Matt. v. 3.]

1.

YE humble souls, complain no more;
Let faith survey your future store;
How happy, how divinely blest,
The sacred words of truth attest.

2.

When conscious grief laments sincere,
And pours the penitential tear;
Hope points to your dejected eyes
A bright reversion in the skies.

3.

In vain the sons of wealth and pride
Despise your lot, your hopes deride;
In vain they boast their little stores;
Trifles are theirs, a kingdom yours:

4.

A kingdom of immense delight,
Where health and peace and joy unite;
Where undeclining pleasures rise,
And every wish has full supplies:

5.

A kingdom which can ne'er decay, Though time sweep earthly thrones away: The state which power and truth sustain, Unmoved for ever must remain.

429. P. M.

MONTGOMERY.

Creation and redemption.

1.

SONGS of praise the angels sang,
Heaven with halleluias rang,
When Jehovah's work begun,
When he spake and it was done.

2.

Songs of praise awoke the morn
When the Prince of Peace was born;

Songs of praise arose when he

Captive led captivity.

3.

Heaven and earth must pass away; Songs of praise shall crown that day: God will make new heavens and earth; Songs of praise shall hail their birth.

4.

And shall man alone be dumb
Till that glorious kingdom come?
No, the church delights to raise
Psalms and hymns and songs of praise.

430. L. M.

LIVERPOOL COLLECTION.

[A new heaven and a new earth. Rev. xxi.]

1.

YON glorious orbs that gild the sky
Proclaim the God who reigns on high;
He pours the radiant stream they boast,
And marshals all the moving host.

2.

But glittering stars shall cease to burn;
The sun forsake his golden urn;
This earth, these heavens, be swept away,
The splendid pageant of a day.

3.

Yet will the Eternal wake to birth
More radiant heavens, a fairer earth,
Whose lustre shall admit no shade,
Whose lasting bloom shall never fade.

4.

When time and death shall be no more,
To those bright realms the saints shall soar;
And welcomed by their faithful Lord
Shall then receive their vast reward.

O FATHER, though the anxious fear
May cloud tomorrow's doubtful way,
Nor fear nor doubt shall enter here,
All shall be thine at least today.

2.

We will not bring divided hearts,
To worship at thy sacred shrine;
But each unholy thought departs,
And leaves the temple wholly thine.

3.

O Father, God below, above;

Man's noblest work is praising thee;
Thy spirit o'er our hearts shall move,
And tune them all to harmony.

432. L. M.

SIR J. E. SMITH.

[Who am I then that I should build him an house? 2 Chron. xi. 5.]

1.

WHO shall a temple build for him,
Who fills the heaven of heavens alone?
Who shall exalt his glorious name,
Fixt in his everlasting throne?

2.

Yet many a lowly fane shall rise,
Which God himself will not disdain.
He will accept the sacrifice;

Nor shall the offering e'er be vain.

3.

No gorgeous dome, nor boastful vow,
Can e'er find favour in his sight.
The humble votary, meek and low;
The holy soul, are his delight.

4.

On these his grace and mercy rest;
Nor from their shrines will he depart.
His temple is the righteous breast;
His altar is the pious heart.

433. C. M. BOWRING.

Pure and acceptable worship.

1.

THOU, to whom all praise belongs,
Thou Lord and Judge alone,

Say, what shall consecrate our songs?
What waft them to thy throne?