Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 34

5 Good G.o.d! on what a slender thread Hang everlasting things!

Th' eternal states of all the dead Upon life's feeble strings.

6 Infinite joy or endless woe Attends on every breath; And yet how unconcern'd we go Upon the brink of death!

7 Waken, O Lord, our drowsy sense To walk this dangerous road; And if our souls are hurried hence, May they be found with G.o.d!

Hymn 2:56.

The misery of being without G.o.d in this world; or, Vain prosperity.

1 O, I shall envy them no more Who grow profanely great, Tho' they increase their golden store, And rise to wondrous height.

2 They taste of all the joys that grow Upon this earthly clod, Well they may search the creature thro', For they have ne'er a G.o.d.

3 Shake off the thoughts of dying too, And think your life your own; But death comes hastening on to you To mow your glory down.

4 Yes, you must bow your stately head, Away your spirit flies, And no kind angel near your bed To bear it to the skies.

5 Go now, and boast of all your stores, And tell how bright you s.h.i.+ne; Your heaps of glittering dust are yours, And my Redeemer's mine.

Hymn 2:57.

The pleasures of a good conscience.

1 Lord, how secure and bless'd are they Who feel the joys of pardon'd sin!

Should storms of wrath shake earth and sea, Their minds have heaven and peace within.

2 The day glides sweetly o'er their heads, Made up of innocence and love; And soft and silent as the shades Their nightly minutes gently move.

3 [Quick as their thoughts their joys come on, But fly not half so fast away; Their souls are ever bright as noon, And calm as summer evenings be.

4 How oft they look to th' heavenly hills, Where groves of living pleasure grow!

And longing hopes and cheerful smiles Sit undisturb'd upon their brow.]

5 They scorn to seek our golden toys, But spend the day and share the night In numbering o'er the richer joys That heaven prepares for their delight.

6 While wretched we, like worms and moles, Lie grovelling in the dust below: Almighty grace, renew our souls, And we'll aspire to glory too.

Hymn 2:58 The shortness of life, and the goodness of G.o.d.

1 Time! what an empty vapour 'tis!

And days how swift they are!

Swift as an Indian arrow flies, Or like a shooting star.

2 [The present moments just appear, Then slide away in haste, That we can never say, "They're here,"

But only say, "They're past."]

3 [Our life is ever on the wing, And death is ever nigh; The moment when our lives begin We all begin to die.]

4 Yet, mighty G.o.d, our fleeting days Thy lasting favours share, Yet with the bounties of thy grace Thou load'st the rolling year.

5 'Tis sovereign mercy finds us food, And we are cloth d with love; While grace stands pointing out the road That leads our souls above.

6 His goodness runs an endless round; All glory to the Lord: His mercy never knows a bound, And be his Name ador'd!

7 Thus we begin the lasting song, And when we close our eyes, Let the next age thy praise prolong Till time and nature dies.

Hymn 2:59.

Paradise on earth.

1 Glory to G.o.d that walks the sky, And sends his blessings thro', That tells his saints of joys on high, And gives a taste below.

2 [Glory to G.o.d that stoops his throne That dust and worms may see't, And brings a glimpse of glory down Around his sacred feet.

3 When Christ, with all his graces crown'd, Sheds his kind beams abroad, 'Tis a young heaven on earthly ground, And glory in the bud.

4 A blooming paradise of joy In this wild desert springs; And every sense I straight employ On sweet celestial things.

5 White lilies all around appear, And each his glory shows; The rose of Sharon blossoms here, The fairest flower that blows.

6 Cheerful I feast on heavenly fruit, And drink the pleasures down, Pleasures that flow hard by the foot Of the eternal throne.]

7 But ah! how soon my joys decay, How soon my sins arise, And s.n.a.t.c.h the heavenly scene away From these lamenting eyes!

8 When shall the time, dear Jesus, when The s.h.i.+ning day appear, That I shall leave those clouds of sin, And guilt and darkness here?

9 Up to the fields above the skies My hasty feet would go, There everlasting flowers arise, And joys unwithering grow.

Hymn 2:60.

The truth of G.o.d the promiser; or, The promises are our security.

1 Praise, everlasting praise be paid To him that earth's foundations laid; Praise to the G.o.d whose strong decrees Sway the creation as he please.

2 Praise to the goodness of the Lord Who rules his people by his word, And there as strong as his decrees He sets his kindest promises.

3 [Firm are the words his prophets give, Sweet words on which his children live; Each of them is the voice of G.o.d, Who spoke and spread the skies abroad.

4 Each of them powerful as that sound That bid the new-made heavens go round; And stronger than the solid poles, On which the wheel of nature rolls.]

5 Whence then should doubts and fears arise, Why trickling sorrows drown our eyes?

Slowly, alas, our mind receives The comforts that our Maker gives.

6 O for a strong, a lasting faith To credit what th' almighty saith!

T' embrace the message of his Son, And call the joys of heaven our own.

7 Then should the earth's old pillars shake, And all the wheels of nature break, Our steady souls should fear no more Than solid rocks when billows roar.