Their proud oppressors foam in vain,
With hell in impious league combin’d,
He holds the lions in his chain,
And keeps their fury still confin'd.
Fixt on his word's eternal base,
His envied church shall stand secure ; His saints still triumph in his grace, And find his goodness ever sure.
HYMN CXXXIX. L. M.
Example of the Saints.
HAPPY Saints! who sweetly rest In your Redeemer's presence blest; Who here the painful trial dar'd, And now enjoy the rich reward.
Heroes of faith! before whose zeal
The world and Satan vanquish'd fell,
Who victors now, by grace divine,
In heav'nly robes of triumph shine.
With your examples full in view,
May we the glorious course pursue,
Above the world's vain splendors rise,
And seek the blest immortal prize.
Our souls may equal zeal inspire,
Our bosoms burn with kindred fire;
And your fair patterns closely trace,
In ev'ry virtue, ev'ry grace.
Arm'd with our heav'nly leader's might,
In truth and honor's cause we'll fight,
Nor basely fly, nor tamely yield,
"Till patient courage wins the field.
Then when the noble toil is done,
The foe subdued, the battle won,
On angel's pinions may we rise,
To share your triumphs, and your joys.
HYMN CXL. L. M.
The Careless warn'd of Judgment.
E proud! your empty glories boast, And be your riches, still your trust: Smile on, ye giddy, vain and gay! And with the toys of pleasure play.
But know, a dreadful hour is near,
When all your joys shall disappear;
When all your glory blazing light
Shall sit in everlasting night.
The Judge, the mighty Judge shall come,
And call the guilty to their doom;
Before his face shall time expire,
And earth, and nature sink in fire.
Who then his vengeance shall withstand,
And quench the thunder of his hand?
Ye fools who now his pow'r defy,
How will ye tremble, groan and fly!
What horrors then will seize your heart,
To hear the dreadful word, depart!
How will you mourn, and weep in vain,
When all your pleasures end in pain!
LORD! may we all with anxious care,
For this important hour prepare;
Our works and duties now fulfil
With patient faith, and chearful zeal.
Then shall we face, without dismay,
The flaming terrors of the day;
Then shall the voice, that shakes the poles, Speak peace, and comfort to our souls.
HYMN CXLI. L. M.
To Divine Mercy.
HAIL mercy! name for ever dear!
Sweet music to the mourner's ear! That stills the pangs of guilt and care, And drives afar the fiend despair.
Heav'n drops thy precious balm below,
To heal the wounds of human woe;
Rich in a SAVIOUR's tears it flow'd,
And blush'd all crimson in his blood.
III.
Kind messenger of heav'nly rest,
O welcome to my weary breast!
Bid doubt and fear and sorrow cease,
And to my spirit whisper peace.
Yes, mercy, LORD! is all my cry,
My fervent pray'r, my pleading sigh,
Here all my trembling hopes recliue;
O smile, and make that mercy, mine.
Then while a pilgrim here I stray
Thro' the world's wild perplexing way,
Mercy, the rugged road along,
Shall be my dear delightful song.
And when these empty scenes are past,
Here shall my soul repose at last,
And, fainting, languishing in death,
Lisp mercy with her gasping breath.
HYMN CXLII. P. M.
A Song of praise to the Redeemer.
AIL to the sov'reign pow'r! that broke
The strength of sin's tyrannic yoke
And freed our captive race;
Did all the rage of hell confound,
And gave to death his fatal wound;
All hail victorious grace!
Hail to the friend of human kind!
Who his celestial throne resign'd
To succour man distrest;
Who could unnumber'd wrongs forgive,
Who groan'd the rebel to relieve,
And bled to make him blest
To thee our lives, our souls we owe,
Our peace, and sweetest joy below,
And brighter hope above;
Then let our lives, and all that's ours,
Our souls, our passions, and our pow'rs,
Be sacred to thy love.
Thus, gracious SAVIOUR! thee we praise,
And while our feeble songs we raise,
To bless thee, and adore;
Some spark of heav'nly fire impart
And touch each fond transported heart,
To bless, and love thee more.
O when shall that dear day arise!
When in full glories to our eyes
Thy beauties shall appear;
Then with a far sublimer strain,
We'll praise thee on the blissful plain,
Thro' heav'n's eternal year.
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