The Scriptures

184. C. M. Tate & Brady.

Perfection of God's Law.

1God's perfect law converts the soul,

Reclaims from false desires;

With sacred wisdom his sure word

The ignorant inspires.

2The statutes of the Lord are just,

And bring sincere delight;

His pure commands, in search of truth,

Assist the feeblest sight.

3His perfect worship here is fixed,

On sure foundations laid;

His equal laws are in the scales

Of truth and justice weighed.

4Of more esteem than golden mines,

Or gold refined with skill;

More sweet than honey, or the drops

That from the comb distil.

5My trusty counsellors they are,

And friendly warnings give;

Divine rewards attend on those,

Who by thy precepts live.

185. L. M. Watts.

Nature and Scripture. Ps. 19.

1The 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.

2The rolling sun, the changing light,

And nights, and days, thy power confess;

But the blest volume thou hast writ

Reveals thy justice and thy grace.

3Sun, 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.

4Nor 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.

186. C. M. Cowper.

Light and Glory of the Word.

1A glory gilds the sacred page,

Majestic like the sun:

It gives a light to every age;

It gives, but borrows none.

2The hand that gave it still supplies

The gracious light and heat:

His truths upon the nations rise;

They rise, but never set.

3Let everlasting thanks be thine,

For such a bright display,

As makes a world of darkness shine

With beams of heavenly day.

4My soul rejoices to pursue

The steps of Him I love,

Till glory break upon my view

In brighter worlds above.

187. L. M. 6l. Spirit of the Psalms.

Praise to God for his Word.

1Join, all ye servants of the Lord,
To praise him for his sacred word,--
That word, like manna, sent from heaven,
To all who seek it freely given;
Its promises our fears remove,
And fill our hearts with joy and love.
2It tells us, though oppressed with cares,
The God of mercy hears our prayers;
Though steep and rough th' appointed way,
His mighty arm shall be our stay;
Though deadly foes assail our peace,
His power shall bid their malice cease.
3It tells who first inspired our breath,
And who redeemed our souls from death;
It tells of grace,--grace freely given,--
And shows the path to God and heaven:
O, bless we, then, our gracious Lord,
For all the treasures of his word.

188. S. M. Watts.

Nature and Scripture. Ps. 19.

1Behold! the lofty sky

Declares its Maker, God:

And all his starry works on high

Proclaim his power abroad.

2Ye Christian lands, rejoice!

Here he reveals his word;

We are not left to nature's voice

To bid us know the Lord.

3His statutes and commands

Are set before our eyes;

He puts his gospel in our hands,

Where our salvation lies.

4While of thy works I sing,

Thy glory to proclaim,

Accept the praise, my God, my King,

In my Redeemer's name.

189. C. M. Rippon's Coll.

The Value of the Scriptures.

1How precious is the book divine,

By inspiration given!

Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,

To lead our souls to heaven.

2O'er all the strait and narrow way

Its radiant beams are cast;

A light whose never weary ray

Grows brightest at the last.

3It sweetly cheers our fainting hearts

In this dark vale of tears;

Life, light, and comfort it imparts,

And calms our anxious fears.

4This lamp through all the dreary night

Of life shall guide our way,

Till we behold the glorious light

Of never-ending day.

190. C. M. Episcopal Coll.

Sufficiency of the Scriptures.

1Great God, with wonder and with praise

On all thy works I look;

But still thy wisdom, power, and grace,

Shine brightest in thy book.

2Here are my choicest treasures hid;

Here my best comfort lies;

Here my desires are satisfied;

And here my hopes arise.

3Lord, make me understand thy law;

Show what my faults have been;

And from thy gospel let me draw

The pardon of my sin.

191. S. M. Beddome.

Superiority of the Scriptures.

1O Lord, thy perfect word

Directs our steps aright;

Nor can all other books afford

Such profit or delight.

2Celestial light it sheds,

To cheer this vail below;

To distant lands its glory spreads,

And streams of mercy flow.

3True wisdom it imparts;

Commands our hope and fear;

O, may we hide it in our hearts,

And feel its influence there.

192. L. M. Beddome.

The Gospel Revelation.

1God, in the Gospel of his Son,
Makes his eternal counsels known;
'Tis here his richest mercy shines,
And truth is drawn in fairest lines.
2Wisdom its dictates here imparts,
To form our minds, to cheer our hearts;
Its influence makes the sinner live;
It bids the drooping saint revive.
3Our raging passions it controls,
And comfort yields to contrite souls;
It brings a better world in view,
And guides us all our journey through.
4May this blest volume ever lie
Close to my heart, and near my eye,
Till life's last hour my soul engage,
And be my chosen heritage.

193. C. M. Watts.

Revelation. Ps. 119.

1Let all the heathen writers join

To form one perfect book,

Great God, if once compared with thine,

How mean their writings look!

2Not the most perfect rules they gave

Could show one sin forgiven,

Nor lead a step beyond the grave;

But thine conduct to heaven.

3I've seen an end of what we call

Perfection here below;

How short the powers of nature fall,

And can no farther go!

4Our faith, and love, and every grace,

Fall far below thy word;

But perfect truth and righteousness

Dwell only with the Lord.

194. L. M. Anonymous.

The Scriptures.

1Lamp of our feet! whose hallowed beam

Deep in our hearts its dwelling hath,

How welcome is the cheering gleam

Thou sheddest o'er our lowly path!

Light of our way! whose ways are flung

In mercy o'er our pilgrim road,

How blessed, its dark shades among,

The star that guides us to our God.

2In the sweet morning's hour of prime,

Thy blessed words our lips engage,

And round our hearths at evening time

Our children spell the holy page;

The waymark through long distant years,

To guide their wandering footsteps on,

Till thy last loveliest beam appears,

Inscribed upon the churchyard stone.

3Lamp of our feet! which day by day

Are passing to the quiet tomb,

If on it fall thy peaceful ray,

Our last low dwelling hath no gloom.

How beautiful their calm repose

To whom thy blessed hope is given

Whose pilgrimage on earth is closed

By the unfolding gates of heaven!

195. C. M. Watts.

Comfort from the Bible.

1Lord, I have made thy word my choice,

My lasting heritage;

There shall my noblest powers rejoice,

My warmest thoughts engage.

2I'll read the histories of thy love,

And keep thy laws in sight,

While through the promises I rove,

With ever-fresh delight.

3'T is a broad land of wealth unknown,

Where springs of life arise,

Seeds of immortal bliss are sown,

And hidden glory lies.

4The best relief that mourners have,

It makes our sorrows blest;

Our fairest hope beyond the grave,

And our eternal rest.

196. L. M. Anonymous.

The Same.

1Thou Book of life!--in thee are found

The mysteries of my Maker's will;

Treasures of knowledge here abound,

The deepest, loftiest mind to fill.

2Thou art a banquet;--choicest food

I'll seek in thee: thou art a rock,

Whence pour sweet waters; every good

From thee doth flow for Christ's own flock.

3Light of the world! thy beams impart

To lead my feet through life's dark way;

O shine on this benighted heart,

Nor let me from thy guidance stray.

4Healer of all the woes of life!

The balm of souls diseased; to save

From all earth's pain; and end the strife

Of death, with victory o'er the grave!

197. S. M. E. Taylor.

The Bible.

1It is the one true light,

When other lamps grow dim,

'T will never burn less purely bright,

Nor lead astray from Him.

It is Love's blessed band,

That reaches from the throne

To him--whoe'er he be--whose hand

Will seize it for his own!

2It is the golden key

Unto celestial wealth,

Joy to the sons of poverty,

And to the sick man, health!

The gently proffer'd aid

Of one who knows and best

Supplies the beings he has made

With what will make them blessed.

3It is the sweetest sound

That infant years can hear,

Travelling across that holy ground,

With God and angels near.

There rests the weary head,

There age and sorrow go;

And how it smooths the dying bed,

O! let the Christian show!