These are themes may well delight us,
Themes of joy to guilty man:
Full of sweetness, full of grace:
Suited to the sinner's case.
Why should we grow weary thinking
Of the Saviour's grace and love?
From these springs his people drinking,
Get a taste of joys above.
O'tis good the Lord to know!
'Tis our heav'n begun below.
HOW welcome to the saints, when press'd
With six days' noise, and care, and toil,
Is the returning day of rest,
Which hides them from the world awhile!
Now, from the throng withdrawn away,
They seem to breathe a diff'rent air;
Compos'd and soft'ned by the day,
All things another aspect wear.
How happy if their lot is cast
Where statedly the gospel sounds!
The word is honey to their taste,
Renews their strength, and heals their wounds!
Though pinch'd with poverty at home,
With sharp affliction daily fed,
It makes amends, if they can come
To God's own house for heav'nly bread!
With joy they hasten to the place
Where they their Saviour oft have met;
And while they feast upon his grace,
Their burdens and their griefs forget.
This favor'd lot, my friends, is ours,
May we the privilege improve,
And find these consecrated hours
Sweet earnest of the joys above!
We thank thee for thy day, O Lord:
Here we thy promis'd presence seek:
Open thy hand, with blessings stor'd,
And give us manna for the week.
HAPPY are they to whom the Lord
His gracious name makes known!
And by his Spirit and his word,
Adopts them for his own!
He calls them to his mercy seat,
And hears their humble pray'r;
Aud when within his house they meet,
They find his presence near.
Though men despise them, or revile,
They count the trial small;
Whoever frowns, if Jesus smile,
It makes amends for all.
Though meanly clad, and coarsely fed,
And, like their Saviour, poor;
They would not change their gospel bread,
For all the worldlings store.
When cheer'd with faith's sublimer joys,
They mount on cagles' wings,
They can disdain, as children's toys,
The pride and pomp of kings.
Dear Lord, assist our souls to pay
The debt of praise we owe,
That we enjoy a gospel day,
And heav'n begun below.
Revival of the hope of Israel. Ez. xxxvii. 4-14.
BONES of Israel! ye that lie
In the valley, dead and dry,
Hear the word of prophecy!
Breath shall enter you again-
Bone and sinew, flesh and skin,
Live, ye members dead in sin.
Hark! a noise! a sudden sound!
Bone with bone, together found,
Shake, and stand upon the ground!
Mark the sinews, how they play!
See the flesh and skin o'erlay,
Growing limbs of human clay!
Breath alone is needed now,
Come, O breath! and quickly blow!
Life, thy precious gift, bestow;
Hark! the elements are stirr'd,
Rapid as prophetic word,
Mighty rushing winds are heard.
Hopeless lately, and forlorn,
Scatter'd as the dust, in scorn,
Multitudes at once are born!
See the graves that open stand!
See the mighty martial band!
Homeward march to holy land!
Sport of death, and food of worms-
Such-the living Spirit warms!
God who promises-performs!!
HYMN XIII. Is. lx. 1-9.
ARISE and shine! thy light is come,
Behold the rising ray
(Though darkness be the nation's doom,) Of Israel's glorious day.
O Lord, arise! again be seen,
Thy gracious presence near;
As once the cherubim between,
Thy glory did appear!
The Gentiles, glad to see thy day,
In Sion take delight;
And kings their prostrate homage pay,
Before thy dawning light,
Lift up, as once to Bethl'em's star,
Lift up thine eyes and see,
Thy children, gather'd from afar,
Come bending unto thee.
See, how the streams together flow!
Thine heart, enlarg'd, shall fear;
The seas, abundant converts know,
Their own salvation near.
As thirsts the camel for the spring,
Shall Midian hear the word,
Shall Sheba gold and incense bring,
To praise thy name, O Lord!
Nebaioth shall collect her flock,
And Kedar send her ram,
To drink the waters of the rock,
At New Jerusalem.
Accepted ordinances there
A sanctuary prove;
As doves returning homewards bear,
Their olive-branch of love.
The ships of Tarshish spread their sails,
To bear the precious freight,
No weapon against thee prevails,
On whom the islands wait!
|