2 From all ill dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Withhold from us our ghostly foe,
That spot of sin we may not know.
3 O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.

VIII. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

360

Thy statutes have been my songs in the house
of my pilgrimage."

[C. M.

FATHER of mercies! in thy word

What endless glory shines!

For ever be thy name adored

For these celestial lines.

2 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around;
And life and everlasting joys

Attend the blissful sound.

3 O may these heavenly pages be
My ever dear delight;

And still new beauties may

And still increasing light.

I see,

4 Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be thou for ever near;

Teach me to love thy sacred word,
And view my Saviour there.

361

"O Lord, how manifold are thy works."

[L. M.

THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
In every star thy wisdom shines;

But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.

2 The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy power confess;
But the blest volume thou hast writ
Reveals thy justice and thy grace.

3 Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise Round the whole earth, and never stand; So when thy truth began its race,

It touched and glanced on every land.

4 Nor will thy spreading Gospel rest,
Till through the world thy truth has run;
Till Christ has all the nations blest,
That see the light, or feel the sun.

5 Great Sun of Righteousness, arise;
Bless the dark world with heavenly light;
Thy Gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.

6 Thy noblest wonders here we view,

In souls renewed and sins forgiven:
Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew,
And make thy word my guide to heaven.

362 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light [7s. 6s. unto my path."

WORD of God incarnate,

O wisdom from on high,

O truth unchanged, unchanging,

O Light of our dark sky!
We praise thee for the radiance
That from the hallow'd page,
A lantern to our footsteps,

Shines on from age to age.

2 The Church from her dear Master
Received the gift divine,
And still that light she lifteth

O'er all the earth to shine.
It is the golden casket

Where gems of truth are stored,
It is the heaven-drawn picture
Of Christ the living Word.

3 It floateth like a banner

Before God's host unfurl'd;

It shineth like a beacon
Above the darkling world;
It is the chart and compass
That o'er life's surging sea,
Mid mists, and rocks, and quicksands,
Still guide, O Christ, to thee.

4 O make thy Church, dear Saviour,
A lamp of burnish'd gold,

To bear before the nations

Thy true light as of old;

Double.

O teach thy wandering pilgrims
By this their path to trace,
Till, clouds and darkness ended,
They see thee face to face.

363 "The law of the Lord is an undefiled law, con

GOD'S

verting the soul."

From the xix. Psalm.

OD'S perfect law converts the soul,
Reclaims from false desires;

With sacred wisdom his sure word

The ignorant inspires.

2 The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight;

His pure commands, in search of truth,
Assist the feeblest sight.

3 His perfect worship here is fix'd,
On sure foundations laid;

His equal laws are in the scales
Of truth and justice weigh'd;

4 Of more esteem than golden mines,
Or gold refined with skill;

More sweet than honey, or the drops
That from the comb distil.

5 My trusty counsellors they are,
And friendly warning give:
Divine rewards attend on those
Who by thy precepts live.

[C. M.

364 'How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God."

BEHOLD, the morning sun

Begins his glorious way!

His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey.

2 But where the Gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light;

It calls dead sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.

3 My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given!
O may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven.

4 I hear thy word with love,
And I would fain obey;
Send thy good Spirit from above,
To guide me, lest I stray.

[S. M.

365

"Thy word is true from the beginning.”

[C. M

A GLORY gilds the sacred page,

Majestic like the sun:

It gives a light to every age:

It gives, but borrows none.

2 The Hand that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat:

His truths upon the nations rise;
They rise, but never set.