Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 25

4 There endless crowds of sinners lie, And darkness makes their chains; Tortur'd with keen despair they cry, Yet wait for fiercer pains.

5 Not all their anguish and their blood For their old guilt atones, Nor the compa.s.sions of a G.o.d Shall hearken to their groans.

6 Amazing grace, that kept my breath, Nor bid my soul remove, Till I had learn'd my Saviour's death, And well insur'd his love!

Hymn 2:3.

The death and burial of a saint.

1 Why do we mourn departing friends Or shake at death's alarms?

'Tis but the voice that Jesus sends To call them to his arms.

2 Are we not tending upward too As fast as time can move?

Nor would we wish the hours more slow To keep us from our love.

3 Why should we tremble to convey Their bodies to the tomb?

There the dear flesh of Jesus lay, And left a long perfume.

4 The graves of all his saints he bless'd, And soften'd every bed; Where should the dying members rest, But with the dying head?

5 Thence he arose, ascending high, And shew'd our feet the way; Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly At the great rising day.

6 Then let the last loud trumpet sound, And bid our kindred rise, Awake, ye nations under ground, Ye saints, ascend the skies.

Hymn 2:4.

Salvation in the cross.

1 Here at thy cross, my dying G.o.d, I lay my soul beneath thy love, Beneath the droppings of thy blood, Jesus, nor shall it e'er remove.

2 Not all that tyrants think or say, With rage and lightning in their eyes, Nor h.e.l.l shall fright my heart away, Should h.e.l.l with all its legions rise.

3 Should worlds conspire to drive me thence, Moveless and firm this heart should lie; Resolv'd (for that's my last defence) If I must perish, there to die.

4 But speak, my Lord, and calm my fear, Am I not safe beneath thy, shade?

Thy vengeance will not strike me here, Nor Satan dares my soul invade.

5 Yes, I'm secure beneath thy blood, And all my foes shall lose their aim, Hosanna to my dying G.o.d, And my best honours to his Name.

Hymn 2:5.

Longing to praise Christ better.

1 Lord, when my thoughts with wonder roll O'er the sharp sorrows of thy soul, And read my Maker's broken laws Repair'd and honour'd by thy cross;

2 When I behold death, h.e.l.l and sin, Vanquish'd by that dear blood of thine, And see the man that groan'd and dy'd Sit glorious by his Father's side;

3 My pa.s.sions rise and soar above, I'm wing'd with faith and fir'd with love; Fain would I reach eternal things, And learn the notes that Gabriel sings.

4 But my heart fails, my tongue complains, For want of their immortal strains; And in such humble notes as these Must fall below thy victories.

5 Well, the kind minute must appear When we shall leave these bodies here, These clogs of clay, and mount on high, To join the songs above the sky.

Hymn 2:6.

A morning song.

1 Once more, my soul, the rising day Salutes thy waking eyes.

Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay To him that rolls the skies.

2 Night unto night his name repeats, The day renews the sound, Wide as the heaven on which he sits To turn the seasons round.

3 'Tis he supports my mortal frame, My tongue shall speak his praise; My sins would rouse his wrath to flame, And yet his wrath delays.

4 On a poor worm thy power might tread, And I could ne'er withstand; Thy justice might have crush'd me dead, But mercy held thine hand.

5 A thousand wretched souls are fled Since the last setting sun, And yet thou length'nest out my thread, And yet my moments run.

6 Dear G.o.d, let all my hours be thine Whilst I enjoy the light, Then shall my sun in smiles decline, And bring a pleasing night.

Hymn 2:7.

An evening song.

1 [Dread Sovereign, let my evening song Like holy incense rise; a.s.sist the offerings of my tongue To reach the lofty skies.

2 Thro' all the dangers of the day, Thy hand was still my guard, And still to drive my wants away Thy mercy stood prepar'd.]

3 Perpetual blessings from above Encompa.s.s me around, But O how few returns of love Hath my Creator found!

4 What have I done for him that dy'd To save my wretched soul?

How are my follies multiply'd, Fast as my minutes roll;

5 Lord, with this guilty heart of mine To thy dear cross I flee, And to thy grace my soul resign To be renew'd by thee.

6 Sprinkled afresh with pardoning blood I lay me down to rest, As in th' embraces of my G.o.d, Or on my Saviour's breast.

Hymn 2:8.

A hymn for morning or evening.

1 Hosanna, with a cheerful sound, To G.o.d's upholding hand; Ten thousand snares attend us round, And yet secure we stand.

2 That was a most amazing power That rais'd us with a word, And every day and every hour We lean upon the Lord.

3 The evening rests our weary head, And angels guard the room; We wake and we admire the bed That was not made our tomb.

4 The rising morning can't a.s.sure That we shall end the day, For death stands ready at the door To seize our lives away.