Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 47

3 Till G.o.d's own Son, descending low, Gave his own flesh to bleed; And Gentiles taste the blessing now, From the hard bondage freed.

4 The G.o.d of Abrah'm claims our praise, His promises endure; And Christ the Lord in gentler ways Makes the salvation sure.

Hymn 2:135.

Types and prophecies of Christ.

1 Behold the woman's promis'd seed!

Behold the great Messiah come!

Behold the prophets all agreed To give him the superior room!

2 Abrah'm the saint rejoic'd of old When visions of the Lord he saw; Moses the man of G.o.d foretold This great fulfiller of his law.

3 The types bore witness to his Name, Obtain'd their chief design, and ceas'd; The incense and the bleeding lamb, The ark, the altar, and the priest.

4 Predictions in abundance meet To join their blessings on his head; Jesus, we wors.h.i.+p at thy feet, And nations own the promis'd seed.

Hymn 2:136.

Miracles at the birth of Christ.

1 The King of Glory sends his Son To make his entrance on this earth!

Behold the midnight bright as noon, And heavenly hosts declare his birth!

2 About the young Redeemer's head What wonders and what glories meet!

An unknown star arose, and led The eastern sages to his feet.

3 Simeon and Anna both conspire The Infant-Saviour to proclaim; Inward they felt the sacred fire, And bless'd the babe, and own'd his Name.

4 Let Jews and Greeks blaspheme aloud, And treat the holy Child with scorn; Our souls adore th' eternal G.o.d Who condescended to be born.

Hymn 2:137.

Miracles in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

1 Behold the blind their sight receive; Behold the dead awake and live; The dumb speak wonders, and the lame Leap like the hart, and bless his Name.

2 Thus doth th' eternal Spirit own And seal the mission of the Son; The Father vindicates his cause, While he hangs bleeding on the cross.

3 He dies; the heavens in mourning stood; He rises, and appears a G.o.d; Behold the Lord ascending high, No more to bleed, no more to die.

4 Hence and for ever from my heart I bid my doubts and fears depart; And to those hands my soul resign Which bear credentials so divine.

Hymn 2:138.

The power of the gospel.

1 This is the word of truth and love, Sent to the nations from above; Jehovah here resolves to shew What his almighty grace can do.

2 This remedy did wisdom find To heal diseases of the mind: This sovereign balm, whose virtues can Restore the ruin'd creature, man.

3 The gospel bids the dead revive, Sinners obey the voice, and live; Dry bones are rais'd and cloth'd afresh, And hearts of stone are turn'd to flesh.

4 [Where Satan reign'd in shades of night The gospel strikes a heavenly light; Our l.u.s.ts its wondrous power controls, And calms the rage of angry souls.]

5 [Lions and beasts of savage name Put on the nature of the lamb; Whilst the wild world esteems it strange Gaze, and admire, and hate the change.]

6 May but this grace my soul renew, Let sinners gaze and hate me too; The word that saves me does engage A sure defence from all their rage.

Hymn 2:139.

The example of Christ.

1 My dear Redeemer and my Lord, I read my duty in thy word; But in thy life the law appears Drawn out in living characters.

2 Such was thy truth, and such thy zeal, Such deference to thy Father's will, Such love, and meekness so divine, I would transcribe, and make them mine.

3 Cold mountains and the midnight air Witness'd the fervor of thy prayer: The desert thy temptations knew, Thy conflict and thy victory too.

4 Be thou my pattern; make me bear More of thy gracious image here; Then G.o.d the Judge shall own my name, Amongst the followers of the Lamb.

Hymn 2:140.

The example: of Christ and the saints.

1 Give me the wings of faith to rise Within the veil, and see The saints above, how great their joys, How bright their glories be.

2 Once they were mourning here below, And wet their couch with tears; They wrestled hard, as we do now, With sins, and doubts, and fears.

3 I ask them whence their victory came, They, with united breath, Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb, Their triumph to his death.

4 They mark'd the footsteps that he trod, (His zeal inspir'd their breast;) And following their incarnate G.o.d Possess the promis'd rest.

5 Our glorious Leader claims our praise For his own pattern given, While the long cloud of witnesses Shew the same path to heaven.

Hymn 2:141.

Faith a.s.sisted by sense; or, Preaching, baptism, and the Lord's Supper.

1 My Saviour-G.o.d, my Sovereign-Prince Reigns far above the skies; But brings his graces down to sense, And helps my faith to rise.

2 My eyes and ears shall bless his Name, They read and hear his word; My touch and taste shall do the same When they receive the Lord.

3 Baptismal water is design'd To seal his cleansing grace; While at his feast of bread and wine He gives his saints a place.

4 But not the waters of a flood Can make my flesh so clean, As by his Spirit and his blood He'll wash my soul from sin.

5 Not choicest meats or n.o.blest wines, So much my heart refresh, As when my faith goes thro' the signs, And feeds upon his flesh.