3 Thou pleadest in the living stones,
With speechless eloquence of groans,
Which pierce our pitying Father's ear;
The answer of Thy prayer we feel,
The glorious joy unspeakable,

And triumph in the Comforter.
4 True witness of our sonship,-Thee,-
We feel, from fear and sorrow free,
And Father, Abba, Father cry:
Seal of our endless bliss Thou art,
Foretaste and earnest in our heart,

Of pleasures that shall never die. 5 First-fruits of yonder land above, Celestial joy, seraphic love,

To us, to us in Thee are given;
And all that to the Spirit sow,
Shall of the Spirit reap, and know
The ripest happiness of heaven.

SPI

Who didst Thy ancient saints inspire,
Shed in their hearts Thy love abroad,

And touch their hallowed lips with fire;
Our God from all eternity,

World without end, we worship Thee.

2 Still we believe, Almighty Lord,

Whose presence fills both earth and heaven, The meaning of the written word Is by Thy inspiration given: Thou only dost Thyself explain The secret mind of God to man. 3 Come, then, Divine Interpreter,

The Scriptures to our hearts apply;

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And, taught by Thee, we God revere,
Him in Three Persons magnify,
In each the Tri-une God adore,
Who was, and is, for evermore.

THE

HE 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 night and day, 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 shall 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 The 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.

325

(293)

L.M. 6 lines.

C. WESLEY. 1762.

NSPIRER of the ancient Seers,

INS

Who wrote from Thee the sacred page,
The same through all succeeding years,
To us, in our degenerate age,

The Spirit of Thy word impart,
And breathe the life into our heart.

2 While now Thine oracles we read,
With earnest prayer and strong desire,
O let Thy Spirit from Thee proceed,

Our souls to' awaken and inspire ;
Our weakness help, our darkness chase,
And guide us by the Light of Grace!
3 Whene'er in error's paths we rove,

The living God through sin forsake, Our conscience by Thy word reprove, Convince and bring the wanderers back, Deep wounded by Thy Spirit's sword, And then by Gilead's balm restored. 4 The sacred lessons of Thy grace,

Transmitted through Thy word, repeat; And train us up in all Thy ways, To make us in Thy will complete; Fulfil Thy love's redeeming plan, And bring us to a perfect man. 5 Furnished out of Thy treasury, O may we always ready stand To help the souls redeemed by Thee, In what their various states demand; To teach, convince, correct, reprove, And build them up in holiest love!

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4-7s.

C. WESLEY. 1799.

TRUTH and grace unsearchable

In the sacred volume shine:
Who the worth immense can tell
Of that oracle divine?

2 Precious are Thy sayings, Lord!
What a depth in each I see!
What a treasure is Thy word!
More than all the world to me.
3 Wonderful Thy statutes are ;
Therefore doth my soul regard,
Keep them with an awful care,
Find them here my great reward.

4 Soon as e'er Thy word takes place,
Light it doth and wisdom give;
Then the children learn Thy ways,
Then the simple hearts believe.
5 Righteous all Thy statutes are,.
Thee the Merciful they prove,
Thee the Faithful they declare,
Full of truth, and full of love.
6 They that in Thy law delight,
Kept in perfect peace below,
Stand unshaken by Thy might;
Nothing shall their steps o'erthrow.
7 Still to search Thy sacred word,
My delightful task shall be,
Waiting here to meet my Lord,
Till, in heaven, Thy face I see.

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L

AMP of our feet, whereby we trace
Our path when wont to stray;
Stream, from the fount of heavenly grace,
Brook, by the traveller's way:

2 Bread of our souls, whereon we feed,
True manna from on high;

Our guide and chart, wherein we read
Of realms beyond the sky :

3 Pillar of fire, through watches dark,
And radiant cloud by day,

When waves would whelm our tossing bark, Our anchor and our stay: 4 Word of the everlasting God, Will of His glorious Son; Without Thee how could earth be trod,

Or heaven itself be won!

5 Lord, grant us all aright to learn
The wisdom it imparts;

And to its heavenly teaching turn,
With simple, childlike hearts.

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(227)

H that the Lord would guide my ways,
To keep His statutes still!
Oh that my God would grant me grace,

To know and do His will!

2 Oh! send Thy Spirit down to write.
Thy law upon my heart;
Nor let my tongue indulge deceit,
Nor act the liar's part.

3 From vanity turn off my eyes;
Let no corrupt design,
Nor covetous desire, arise
Within this soul of mine.

4 Order my footsteps by Thy word,
And make my heart sincere ;
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conscience clear.

5 Make me to walk in Thy commands;
"Tis a delightful road;

Nor let my head, nor heart, nor hands,
Offend against my God.

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THE

HE Spirit breathes upon the word,
And brings the truth to sight:
Precepts and promises afford

A sanctifying light.

2 A glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic, like the sun;

It gives a light to every age;
It gives, but borrows none.

3 The hand that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat;
His truths upon the nations rise;
They rise, but never set.

4 Let everlasting thanks be Thine
For such a bright display