O may we search with eager pains,
Assur'd that we shall find!
The glorious Gospel of the blessed God, 1 Tim. i. 11. WHAT wisdom, majesty, and grace,
Thro' all the gospel shine!
'Tis God that speaks, and we confess
The doctrine most divine.
Down from his starry throne on high,
Th' almighty Saviour comes;
Lays his bright robes of glory by,
And feeble flesh assumes.
The mighty debt that sinners ow'd
Upon the cross he pays :
Then thro' the clouds ascends to God
'Midst shouts of loftiest praise.
There he, our great High Priest, appears
Before his Father's throne;
Mingles his merits with our tears,
And pours salvation down.
Great God, with rev'rence we adore
Thy justice and thy grace:
And on thy faithfulness and power
Our firm dependance place.
It is finished, John xix. 30.
'Tis finish'd! so the Saviour cry'd,
And meekly bow'd his head, and dy'd:
'Tis finish'd-Yes, the race is run,
The battle fought, the victory won.
'Tis finish'd-all that heaven decreed,
And all the ancient prophets said,
Is now fulfill'd, as was design'd,
In me the Saviour of mankind.
'Tis finish'd-Aaron now no more
Must stain his robes with purple gore ;
The sacred veil is rent in twain
And Jewish rites no more remain,
'Tis finish'd-this my dying groan
Shall sins of every kind atone:
Millions shall be redeem'd from death
By this my last expiring breath.
'Tis finish'd-Heaven is reconcil'd,
And all the powers of darkness spoil'd;
Peace, love, and happiness again
Return, and dwell with sinful men.
'Tis finish'd-let the joyful sound
Be heard through all the nations round:
'Tis finish'd-let the echo fly
Thro' heaven and hell, thro' earth and sky.
The converted thief, Luke xxiii. 42.
As on the cross the Saviour hung,
And wept, and bled, and died,
He pour'd salvation on a wretch
That languish'd at his side.
His crimes, with inward grief and shame,
The penitent confess'd;
Then turn'd his dying eyes to Christ,
And thus his pray'r address'd:
Jesus, thou Son and heir of heaven
Thou spotless Lamb of God!
I see thee bath'd in sweat and tears,
And weltering in thy blood.
Yet quickly, from these scenes of woe,
In triumph thou shalt rise,
Burst through the gloomy shades of death,
And shine above the skies.
Amid the glories of that world,
Dear Saviour, think on me,
And in the vict❜ries of thy death
Let me a sharer be.
His prayer the dying Jesus hears,
And instantly replies,
To-day thy parting soul shall be
With me in Paradise.
Christians the sons of God, John i. 12. 1 John iii, 1.
NOT all the nobles of the earth,
Who boast the honors of their birth,
Such real dignity can claim
As those who bear the Christian name.
To them the privilege is giv'n
To be the sons and heirs of heav'n;
Sons of the God who reigns on high,
And heirs of joys beyond the sky.
[On them, a happy chosen race,
Their Father pours his richest grace:
To them his counsels he imparts,
And stamps his image on their hearts.
Their infant cries, their tender age,
His pity and his love engage:
He clasps them in his arms, and there
Secures them with parental care.]
His will he makes them early know,
And teaches their young
feet to go;
Whispers instruction to their minds,
And on their hearts his precepts binds.
When thro' temptation they rebel,
His chast'ning rod he makes them feel;
Then, with a father's tender heart,
He soothes the pain and heals the smart.
Their daily wants his hands supply,
Their steps he guards with watchful eye,
Leads them from earth to heaven above,
And crowns them with eternal love.
If I've the honour, Lord, to be
One of this num'rous family,
On me the gracious gift bestow
To call thee Abba, Father! too.
So may my conduct ever prove
My filial piety and love!
Whilst all my brethren clearly trace
Their Father's likeness in my face.
The Leper healed; or Sanctification implored, Matt. viii. 2, 3.
BEHOLD the lep'rous Jew,
Oppress'd with pain and grief,
Pouring his tears at Jesu's feet
For pity and relief.
O speak the word, he cries,
And heal me of my pain;
Lord, thou art able, if thou wilt,
To make a leper clean.
Compassion moves his heart:
He speaks the gracious word;
The leper feels his strength return,
And all his sickness cur'd.
To thee; dear Lord, I look,
Sick of a worse disease:
Sin is my painful malady,
And none can give me ease.
But thy almighty grace
Can heal my lep'rous soul:
O bathe me in thy precious blood,
And that will make me whole.
Perseverance desired.
JESUS, my Saviour and my God,
Thou hast redeem'd me with thy blood;
By ties, both natural and divine,
I am, and ever will be, thine.
But ah! should my inconstant heart,
Ere I'm aware, from the depart,
What dire reproach would fall on me
For such ingratitude to thee!
The thought I dread, the crime I hate;
The guilt, the shame, I deprecate;
And yet, so mighty are my foes,
I dare not trust my warmest vows.
Pity my frailty, dearest Lord!
Grace in the needful hour afford:
O steel this tim'rous heart of mine
With fortitude and love divine.
So shall I triumph o'er my fears,
And gather joys from all my tears:
So shall I to the world proclaim
The honours of the Christian name.
God reasoning with Men, Isaiah i. 18,
COME, sinners, saith the mighty God,
Heinous as all your crimes have been,
Lo! I descend from mine abode
To reason with the sons of men.
No clouds of darkness veil my face,
No vengeful lightnings flash around;
I come with terms of life and peace;
Where sin hath reign'd let grace abound.
Yes, Lord, we will obey thy call,
And to thy gracious sceptre bow;
Oh make our crimson sins like wool,
Our scarlet crimes as white as snow.
So shall our thankful lips repeat
Thy praises with a tuneful voice,
While, humbly prostrate at thy feet,
We wonder, tremble, and rejoice.
The Attraction of the Cross, John xii. 32, YONDER-amazing sight!—I see
Th' Incarnate Son of God
Expiring on th' accursed tree,
And welt'ring in his blood.
Behold a purple torrent run
Down from his hands and head: The crimson tide puts out the sun;
His groans awake the dead.
The trembling earth, the dark'ned sky,
Proclaim the truth aloud;
And, with the amaz'd Centurion, cry
This is the Son of God!
So great, so vast a sacrifice
May well my hope revive:
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