2 These transient scenes will soon decay, They fade upon the sight; 3 Their brightest day, alas, how vain, With conscious sighs we own; O'ershade the smiling noon. 4 O, could our thoughts and wishes fly Above these gloomy shades, To those bright worlds beyond the sky, 5 There, joys unseen by mortal eyes, 6 Lord, send a beam of light divine, Our languid hearts inflame. 7 Then shall, on faith's sublimest wing, Our ardent wishes rise, To those bright scenes where pleasures 4 There, on a throne (how dazzling bright!) 4 Oh, could my longing spirit rise Th' exalted Saviour shines; And beams ineffable delight On all the heavenly minds. 5 There, shall the followers of the Lamb Join in immortal songs; And endless honours to his Name Employ their tuneful tongues. 6 Lord, tune our hearts to praise and love, Our feeble notes inspire; Till, in thy blissful courts above, We join th' angelic choir. On strong immortal wing, And reach thy palace in the skies, 5 There, thousands worship at thy feet, And there, divine employ, The triumphs of thy love repeat 6 Thy presence beams eternal day Who would not drop this load of clay, And die to see thy face? 2 Thine, O Lord, are power and greatness, Glory, victory, are thine own; All is thine in earth and heaven, Over all thy boundless throne. 3 Riches come of thee, and honour; Power and might to thee belong; Thine it is to make us prosper, Only thine to make us strong. 4 Lord our God, for these, thy bounties, HYMN 204. C. M. Proverbs iii. 13-17. HAPPY is the man who hears Religion's warning voice, And who celestial wisdom makes His early, only choice. 2 For she has treasures greater far 3 Her right hand offers to the just And heavenly crowns displays. HYMN 205. L. M. Isaiah xl. 6-8. THE morning flowers display their sweets, 2 Nipp'd by the wind's unkindly blast, Parch'd by the sun's more fervent ray, The momentary glories waste, The short-lived beauties die away. 3 So blooms the human face divine, 4 But, worn by slowly-rolling years, The short-lived beauties die away. 5 Yet these, new rising from the tomb, 6 Let sickness blast, and death devour, If heaven shall recompense our pains; Perish the grass, and fade the flower, If firm the Word of God remains. HYMN 206. C. M. Isaiah xl. 27-31. HY mournest thou, my anxious soul As if the Lord o'erlook'd thy cares, 2 Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, Who made the earth and sky? 3 Art thou afraid his power will fail 4 Supreme in wisdom as in power The Rock of Ages stands; Thou canst not search his mind, nor trace 5 He gives the conquest to the weak, 6 Mere human energy shall faint, And youthful vigour cease; But those who wait upon the Lord, 7 They, with unwearied step, shall tread 8 On eagles' wings they mount, they soar Till, past the sphere of earth and sin, HYMN 207. C. M. Isaiah lvii. 15, THUS speaks the High and Lofty One: 2 Yet, looking down, I visit oft The humble, hallow'd cell; And, with the penitent who mourn, 'Tis my delight to dwell 3 My presence heals the wounded heart, The sad in spirit cheers; My presence, from the bed of dust, 4 I dwell with all my humble saints While they on earth remain ; And they, exalted, dwell with me, With me for ever reign. HYMN 208. II. 1. Habakkuk iii. 17-19. ALTHOUGH the vine its fruit deny, The budding fig-tree droop and die, Yet will I trust me in my God, And by his grace be heal'd. 2 Though fields, in verdure once array'd, By whirlwinds desolate be laid, Or parch'd by scorching beam; Still in the Lord shall be my trust, My joy; for, though his frown is just, His mercy is supreme. 3 Though from the fold the flock decay, Though herds lie famish'd o'er the lea, And round the empty stall; My soul above the wreck shall rise, 4 In God my strength, howe'er distrest, THC HOU art the Way, to thee alone 2 Thou art the Truth, thy word alone 3 Thou art the Life, the rending tomb 4 Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life; Grant us that way to know, That truth to keep, that life to win, HYMN 210. S. M. Philippians ii. 12, 13. HEIRS of unending life, While yet we sojourn here, 4 Be not blind and foolish still; Call'd of Jesus, learn his will: Jesus calls from death and night, Jesus waits to shed his light. HYMN 212. C. M. Hebrews xii. 1, 2. O! what a cloud of witnesses Men once like us with suffering tried, But now with glory crown'd. 2 Let us, with zeal like theirs inspired, 3 Behold a witness nobler still, 4 He, for the joy before him set, 5 Thither, forgetting things behind, There, with the Saviour and his saints, GLORIA PATRI. N. B. The metre marks, affixed to the Psalms and Hymns, refer to a division of the Metres, founded on the nature of the verse, into four Classes, marked-I., II., III., IV. CLASS I. includes Common, Long, and Short metres, marked C. M., L. M., S. M. CLASS II. includes the other Iambic metres, eight in number, marked II. 1, II. 2, II. 3, II. 4, &c., which may be named Two, one; Two, two; Two, three, &c. CLASS III. includes the Trochaic metres, being five in number, marked III. 1, III. 2, III. 3, &c., which may be named Three, one; Three, two, &c. CLASS IV. includes the metres consisting chiefly of triplets, being five in number, marked IV. 1, IV. 2, IV. 3, &c., and may be named Four, one; Four, two, &c. |