INSTRUCTION AND CONSOLATION FROM SCRIPTURE.

: 1 LORD! we have made thy word our choice,

Our lasting heritage ;
In this our noblest pow'rs rejoice,
Our warmest thoughts engage.

II
Thy precepts often we 'll survey,

And keep thy laws in sight,
Through all the bus'ness of the day,

To guide our actions right.

III

No treasures so enrich the mind;

Nor shall thy word be sold For loads of silver, well refin'd, Or, heaps of choicest gold.

iÝ 'Tis a broad land of wealth unknown,

Where springs of life arise, Seeds of immortal bliss are sown,

And bidden glory lies :

The best relief that mourners have,

It gives our sorrows ease ; Extends our hope beyond the grave,

And gives eternal peace.

BEHOLD ! the morning sun

Begins his glorious way :
His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey!

TI
But where God sends his word

He spreads diviner light;
There sinners learn to know the LORD,

And guide their steps aright.

III

How perfect is thy word !

And all thy judgments just : For ever sure thy promise, LORD,

Which we securely trust.

IV

O gracious God ! how plain

Are thy directions giv’n !
O! may we never read in vain,

But find the path to heav'n!

While, with our heart and tongue,

We spread thy praise abroad; Accept the worship and the song,

Our father and our GOD!

THE BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL

I

God, who, in various methods, told
His mind and will to men of old ;
By his beloved son, displays
His truth and love in latter days.

II

That sacred volume, which records
Jesus's character and laws,
We read; and, in himself, is giv'n
The pledge of life, the hope of heav'n.

III

There, knowledge of the noblest kind
Expands and elevates the mind;
The heav'nly doctrine, plain as true,
Instructs, reproves, and comforts too.

IV
O! render thanks to God above,
For this best gift of his great love!
Let all mankind receive his word,
And ev'ry nation praise the LORD!

THE EXCELLENCE AND SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL:

I

The heav'ns declare thy glory, LORD!
In ev'ry star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.

Sun, moon, and stars, convey thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand;
So when thy truth began its race,
It darted light on ev'ry land.

Thy richest mcrcy here we view,
In minds reform'd, and sins forgiv'n;
LORD! cleanse our sins, our lives renew,
And make thy word our guide to heav'n.

IV

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.

What glory gilds the sacred page!

Majestic, like the sun,
It gives a light to ev'ry age,

It gives, but borrows none.

II

The hand that gave it, still supplies

His gracious light and heat; His truths upon the nations rise,

They rise, but never set.

III

Let everlasting thanks be thine,

For such a bright display, As.makes a world of darkness shine

With beams of heav'nly day.

IV

My heart rejoices to pursue

The paths of truth and love ; Till glory breaks upon my view

In brighter worlds above.