655}

HYMN 86. B. 2. C. M. or b

Abridge, St. Anns.

Freedom from sin and misery in heaven.

1 OUR sins, alas, how strong they be!
And like a violent sea

They break our duty, Lord, to thee,
And hurry us away.

2 The waves of trouble, how they rise!
How loud the tempests roar !

But death shall land our weary souls
Safe on the heavenly shore.

3 There, to fulfil his sweet commands,
Our speedy feet shall move;
No sin shall clog our winged zeal,
Or cool our burning love.

4 There shall we sit, and sing, and tell
The wonders of his grace;
Till heavenly raptures fire our hearts,
And smile in every face.

5 Forever his dear sacred name
Shall dwell upon our tongue;

And Jesus and salvation be
The close of every song.

656}

HYMN 40. B. 1. L. M.
Nantwich, Dunstan,

The business and blessedness of glorified saints. 1 "WHAT happy men, or angels these, "That all their robes are spotless white? "Whence did this glorious troop arrive "At the pure realms of heavenly light?" 2 From torturing racks, and burning fires, And seas of their own blood they came; But nobler blood has wash'd their robes, Flowing from Christ, the dying Lamb.

3 Now they approach th' Almighty Throne
With loud hosannas night and day;
Sweet anthems to the great Three-One
Measure their blest eternity.

4 No more shall hunger pain their souls;
He bids their parching thirst be gone;
And spreads the shadow of his wings
To screen them from the scorching sun.
5 The Lamb, that fills the middle throne,
Shall shed around his milder beams;
There shall they feast on his rich love,
And drink full joys from living streams.
6 Thus shall their mighty bliss renew
Through the vast round of endless years;
And the soft hand of sov'reign grace
Heals all their wounds, and wipes their tears.

657}

HYMN 41. B. 1. C. M.

Exeter, Cambridge.

The same; or, the martyrs glorified.

1 "THESE glorious minds, how bright they shine! "Whence all their white array? "How came they to the happy seats "Of everlasting day ?"

2 From torturing pains to endless joys, On fiery wheels they rode,

And strangely wash'd their raiment white In Jesus' dying blood.

3 Now they approach a spotless God,
And bow before his throne ;

Their warbling harps and sacred songs
Adore the Holy One.

4 The unveil'd glories of his face

Among his saints reside,

While the rich treasure of his grace

Sees all their wants supply'd.

5 Tormenting thirst shall leave their souls, And hunger flee as fast;

The fruit of life's immortal tree

Shall be their sweet repast.

6 The Lamb shall lead his heavenly flock
Where living fountains rise,
And love divine shall wipe away
The sorrows of their eyes.

658

HYMN 33. B. 2. C. M.
Christmas, Bray.

The blessed society in heaven.

1 RAISE thee, my soul, fly up, and run
Through every heavenly street,
And say, There's nought below the sun
That's worthy of thy feet.

2 [Thus will we mount on sacred wings,
And tread the courts above:
Nor earth, nor all her mightiest things,
Shall tempt our meanest love.]

3 There, on a high majestic throne
Th' Almighty Father reigns,

And sheds his glorious goodness down
On all the blissful plains.

4 Bright, like a sun, the Saviour sits,
And spreads eternal noon:
No evenings there, nor gloomy nights,
To want the feeble moon.

5 Amid those ever-shining skies,
Behold the sacred Dove;
While banish'd sin, and sorrow flies
From all the realms of love.

6 The glorious tenants of the place
Stand bending round the throne;
And saints and seraphs sing and praise
The infinite THREE-ONE.

7 [But O, what beams of heavenly grace,
Transport them all the while!
Ten thousand smiles from Jesus' face,
And love in every smile!]

8 Jesus, and when shall that dear day,
That joyful hour, appear,

When I shall leave this house of clay,
To dwell among them there?

659

HYMN 68. B. 2. C. M.
Wareham, Stade.

The humble worship of heaven.

1 FATHER, I long, I faint to see
The place of thine abode;
I'd leave thy earthly courts, and flee
Up to thy seat, my God!

2 Here I behold thy distant face,
And 'tis a pleasing sight;
But to abide in thine embrace
Is infinite delight!

3 I'd part with all the joys of sense
To gaze upon thy throne;
Pleasure springs fresh forever thence,
Unspeakable, unknown.

4 [There all the heavenly hosts are seen;
In shining ranks they move;
And drink immortal vigour in,
With wonder, and with love.

5 Then at thy feet with awful fear
Th' adoring armies fall;

With joy they shrink to NOTHING there,

Before th' eternal ALL.

6 There I would vie with all the host

In duty, and in bliss;

While less than nothing I could boast,
And vanity confess.]

7 The more thy glories strike mine eyes,
The humbler I shall lie;

Thus, while I sink, my joys shall rise
Unmeasurably high.

660

PSALM 96. L. P. M.

46th Psalm.

The God of the Gentiles,

1 LET all the earth their voices raise
To sing the choicest psalm of praise,
To sing and bless Jehovah's name:
His glory let the heathens know,
His wonders to the nations show,

And all his saving works proclaim.
2 The heathens know thy glory, Lord;
The wondering nations read thy word;
Among us is JEHOVAH known:
Our worship shall no more be paid
To gods which mortal hands have made;
Our Maker is our God alone.

3 He fram'd the globe, he built the sky,
He made the shining worlds on high,
And reigns complete in glory there:
His beams are majesty and light;
His beauties, how divinely bright;
His temple, how divinely fair!

4 Come, the great day, the glorious hour, When earth shall feel his saving power,

And barbarous nations fear his name;
Then shall the race of man confess
The beauty of his holiness,

And in his courts his grace proclaim,