The hill of Zion yields,
A thousand sacred sweets;
Before we reach the heav'nly fields,
Or walk the golden streets.
Then let our songs ascend,
And ev'ry tear be dry;
Immanuel's arm our steps will tend,
To fairer worlds on high.
The Believer rejoicing.
REJOICE, believer, in the Lord,
Who makes your cause his own:
The hope you rest upon his word,
Shall ne'er be overthrown.
Though many foes beset your road,
And feeble is your arm;
Your life is hid with Christ in God,
Beyond the reach of harm.
Weak as you are, you shall not faint,
Or, fainting, shall not die;
Jesus, the strength of every saint,
Will aid you from on high.
Though sometimes unperceiv'd by sense,
Faith sees him always near;
A guide, a glory, a defence,
Then what have you to fear?
As surely as he overcame,
And triumph'd once for you,
So surely you that love his name,
Shall triumph in him too!
YE sons of Jacob, chosen race,
Your God's a God of sov'reign grace,
Who perfects what he has design'd,
And will not, cannot change his mind.
Though rocks dissolve, and hills remove,
And heat melt elements above:
Though thrones and empires be forgot,
God is the same, and changes not.
Men's covenants are often broke;
He ne'er retracts the word he spoke;
And though his saints unfaithful prove,
He loves them with unchanging love.
Their comfort often ebbs and flows,
Their God no variation knows;
Their moonlight joys still wax and wane;
His glories like the sun remain.
This sacred truth my heart shall cheer,
Till sun and moon shall disappear; 1
And when the plains of bliss I range,
I'll praise my God, who cannot change.
The security of believers. Psalm xci. 1.
HAPPY they who trust in Jesus!
Sweet their portion is and sure:
While the foe on others seizes,
God will keep his own secure;
Happy people!
Happy, though despis'd and
Ye whom God has sav'd from error,
Ye" who know the joyful sound,"
Fear ye not the nightly terror;
Arms of mercy close you round:
Dread no evil!
God will all your foes confound.
Lo! your Saviour never slumbers
Ever watchful is his care:
Though you cannot boast of numbers,
In his strength secure you are:
Sweet their portion,
Who the Saviour's kindness share.
As the bird beneath her feathers,
Guards the objects of her care,
So the Lord his children gathers,
Spreads his wings and hides them there;
Thus protected,
All their foes they boldly dare.
HYMN LXXXIX.
Trusting in the divine veracity.
WHEN sin and sorrow, fear and pain,
My trembling heart dismay,
My feeble strength, alas, how vain!
It sinks and dies away,
My spirit asks a firmer prop,
I lean upon the Lord;
My God, the pillar of my hope,
Is thy unchanging word.
On this are built the brightest joys,
Celestial beings know,
And 'tis the same almighty voice,
Supports the saints below.
'Tis this upholds the rolling spheres,
And heav'n's immortal frame;
Then, O my soul, suppress thy fears,
Thy basis is the same.
The sacred word, the solemn oath,
For ever must remain ;
1 trust in everlasting truth,
Nor can my trust be vain.
HYMN XC.
Covenant Security.
FIRM as the lofty throne of God,
Abides th' unalterable word,
Which heav'n's eternal counsel gave,
Sin to destroy, the church to save.
What Scripture promises record
Must stand; for God fulfils his word;
He'll burn the earth, and dry the seas,
But never alter his decrees.
Sun, moon, and stars, with all your host
Expire; this word is still my trust:
It has a quick'ning, saving pow'r,
And will support my dying hour.
Eternal ages, vast abyss!
Shall mark the love and faithfulness,
Of him whose covenant and word,
Shall everlasting joy afford.
Encouragement to real Christians.
CHILDREN of the heavenly King!
As ye journey sweetly sing:
Sing your Saviour's worthy praise,
Glorious in his works and ways!
Ye are travelling home to God,
In the way the fathers trod :
They are happy now-and ye
Soon their happiness shall see.
Shout, ye ransom'd flock, and blest,
Ye on Jesus' throne shall rest;
There your seat is now prepar'd:
There, your kingdom and reward.
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