2 The dying thief rejoic'd to see 3 Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood Till all the ransom'd church of God 4 E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream 5 Then in a nobler, sweeter song, When this poor lisping stammering tongue Lies silent in the grave. 6 Lord, I believe thou hast prepar'd For me a blood-bought free reward, 7 'Tis strung and tun'd for endless years, To sound in God the Father's ears, 194. L.M.-The evil Conscience purified by the Blood of Jesus. 1 BLEST be the Lamb whose blood was spilt, 3 Rouse thee, my soul, to serve him still, With cordial love, with active zeal; Serve him, like his own Son divine, Who made his life the price of thine. 4 Blest Jesus, introduc'd by thee, The Father's smiling face I see; And strengthen'd by thy grace alone, These grateful services are done. 5 Then must my debt from day to day Grow with each service that I pay; So grows my joy, dear Lord, to be Thus more and more in debt to thee. 195. L.M.-Justification. 1 JESUS, thy blood and righteousness To claim my mansion in the skies, 196. L.M.-Justification and Perseverance. Rom. viii. 33. 1 SAY, who shall God's elect condemn? "Tis Christ who for their ransom died; Rising, he intercedes for them, And they in him are justified. 2 Not tribulation, nakedness, The famine, peril, or the sword, Nor persecution or distress Shall separate from Christ the Lord. 3 Nor life nor death, nor depth nor height, 197. C.M.-God's gracious method of adopting love. Jer. iii. 19. 1 AMAZING plan of sovereign love! And doth our God look down On rebels, whom his wrath might doom 2 Doth he project a wondrous scheme, That justice, majesty, and grace, 3 One look the stubborn heart subdues, They own their Father with delight, 4 Number'd amongst his dearest sons, 5 Father, in thine embraces lodg'd, 1 And wait the hour which thou shalt mark, Thy counsels to fulfil. 198. S.M.-Christians begotten to God as the first-fruits of his creatures. James i. 18. NOW to that sovereign grace, Let the whole new-begotten race 2 3 4 His will first made the choice; Nor be the name forgot. Lord, may this matchless love, Make us from all thy creatures prove, Sacred to thee alone, Be all these powers of mine, Then in the noblest sense my own, When most entirely thine. 199. C.M.-A filial temper a proof of Adoption. Gal. iv. 6. 1 SOVEREIGN of all the worlds on high, Allow my humble claim; Nor, while a worm would raise its head, 2 My Father, God! how sweet the sound, Not all the melody of heaven 3 Come, Sacred Spirit, seal the name 4 Cheer'd by a signal so divine, 1 Thou know'st I Abba, Father, cry, Nor can the sign deceive. 200. S.M.-God bringing his people into the covenant under the rod. Ezek xx. 37. HOW gracious and how wise Is our chastising God! And O! how rich the blessings are, Which blossom from his rod! 2 3 4 5 He lifts it up on high With pity in his heart, That every stroke his children feel Instructed thus they bow, And own his sovereign sway; They turn their erring footsteps back His covenant love they seek, And seek the happy bands, That closer still engage their hearts Dear Father, we consent To discipline divine, And bless the pains that make our souls 201. L.M.-Afflictions sanctified by the Word. 1 O HOW I love thy holy word, 2 What are the mines of shining wealth, 3 Long unafflicted, undismay'd, 4 What though it pierc'd my fainting heart, I bless thine hand that caus'd the smart; It taught my tears awhile to flow, But sav'd me from eternal wo. |