"My God will enlighten my darkness."
PSALM Xviii. 28.
1 FATHER of all, in whom alone
We live, and move, and breathe,
One bright celestial ray dart down,
To cheer Thy sons beneath.
2 While, in Thy word we search for Thee-
We search with trembling awe-
Open our eyes, and let us see
The wonders of Thy law.
3 Now let our darkness comprehend
The light that shines so clear;
Now the revealing Spirit send,
And give us ears to hear.
"See ye the word of the Lord."
JER. ii. 31.
JESUS, my redeeming Lord,
Full of love, and truth, and grace,
Make me understand Thy word;
Teach me in my youthful days
Wonders in Thy word to see:
Wise through faith which is in Thee.
2 Open now mine eyes by faith,
Open now the book of God;
Show me here the sacred path
Leading to Thy blessed abode;
Wisdom from above impart,
Speak the meaning to my heart.
"I have hoped in Thy word."
PSALM CXix. 74.
1 LA
ADEN with guilt, and full of fears,
I fly to Thee, my Lord;
And not a glimpse of hope appears
But in Thy written word.
2 The volume of my Father's grace
Does all my griefs assuage;
Here I behold my Saviour's face
Almost in every page.
This is the field where hidden lies
The pearl of price unknown;
That merchant is divinely wise
Who makes the pearl his own.
4 Here consecrated water flows,
To quench my thirst of sin;
Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
Nor danger dwells therein.
5 This is the judge that ends the strife
Where wit and reason fail;
My guide to everlasting life
Through all this gloomy vale.
6 Omay Thy counsels, mighty God,
My roving feet command;
Nor I forsake the happy road
That leads to Thy right hand.
"Let us offer the sacrifice of praise."
1 WE bring no glittering treasures,
No gems from earth's deep mine,
We come with simple measures,
To chant Thy love divine;
Thy favours richly sharing,
Our voice of thanks we raise;
Father, accept our offering,
Our song of grateful praise.
2 The dearest gift of heaven,-
Love's written word of truth,
To us is early given,
To guide our steps in youth
We hear the wondrous story,
The tale of Calvary;
We read of homes in glory,
From sin and sorrow free.
3 Redeemer, grant Thy blessing:
O teach us how to pray!
That each, Thy fear possessing,
May tread life's onward way:
Then, where the pure are dwelling,
We hope to meet again,-
The heavenly chorus swelling,
Which ever sounds Thy name.
"The commandment, holy, and just, and good."
ROM. vii. 12.
[OLY bible, book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine.
Mine, to tell me whence I came
Mine, to teach me what I am;
2 Mine, to chide me when I rove;
Mine, to show a Saviour's love;
Mine, art thou, to guide my feet;
Mine, to judge, condemn, acquit;
3 Mine, to comfort in distress,
If the Holy Spirit bless;
Mine, to tell of joys to come,
And the rebel sinner's doom;
4 Mine, to show by living faith,
Man can triumph over death.
O thou precious book divine,
Precious treasure, thou are mine!
"The commandment is a lamp."
PROV. vi. 23.
[OW precious is the book divine,
By inspiration given !
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,
To guide our souls to heaven.
2 It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts,
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light, and joy, it still imparts,
And quells our rising fears.
3 This lamp, through all the tedious night
Of life, shall guide our way;
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.
"I have a goodly heritage."
PSALM XVI. 6.
THE praises of my tongue
I offer to the Lord,
That I was taught while yet so young,
To read His holy word.
2 Dear Lord, this book of Thine
Informs me where to go
For grace to pardon all my sin,
And make me holy too.
8 We, from the Scriptures, know
How Christ our Surety stood;
And, in our nature, here below,
Did ransom us with blood.
4 And, now He reigns above,
He sends His Spirit down,
To show the wonders of His love,
And make His gospel known.
5 O may the Spirit teach,
And make my heart receive,
Those truths Thy faithful servants preach,
And all Thy saints believe.
"Thy Word have I hid in mine heart."
OW shall the young secure their hearts,
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy word the choicest rules imparts,
To keep the conscience clean.
2 When once it enters to the mind,
It spreads such light abroad,
The meanest souls instruction find,
And raise their thoughts to God.
3 "Tis like the sun, a heavenly light,
That guides us all the day;
And, through the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way.
4 Thy word is everlasting truth,
How pure is every page!
This holy book shall guide our youth,
And well support our age.
'God that giveth to all men liberally."
JAMES i. 5.
LORD, send Thy holy book where'er
The winds can waft, or waters bear,
And on each near or distant shore,
The fallen race of man restore.
2 Send it to every dungeon's gloom;
Send it to every poor man's room;
May every suffering child of woe
Its truth believe, its comforts know.
8 O Holy Ghost, who gav'st the word,
With Thine own truth, Thy light afford!
Give Thou the quickening, saving power;
On all the earth Thy blessings shower.
4 Let grace thus turn each wanderer's eye
To Him who did for sinners die;
Let sin and sorrow hence be driven,
And earth be changed, from earth to heaven.
"Hold fast that which is good."
1 THESS. V.21.
E won't give up the Bible!
God's holy book of truth;
The blessed staff of hoary age,
The guide of early youth.
The sun that sheds a glorious light
O'er every dreary road;
The voice that speaks a Saviour's love,
And calls us home to God.
We won't give up the Bible!
For pleasure or for pain;
We'll buy the truth, and sell it not,
For all that we might gain.
Though man should try to take our prize,
By guile or cruel might,-
We'll suffer all that man can do,
And God defend the right!
We won't give up the Bible!
But spread it far and wide,
Until its saving voice be heard
Beyond the rolling tide,-
Till all shall know its gracious power:
While we, with voice and heart,
Resolve, that from God's sacred word,
We'll never, never part!
"His mercy endureth for ever.'
PSALM CVI. 1.
1LET us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the Lord for He is kind;
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
2 He, with all commanding might,
Filled the new made world with ligh
For His, &c.
8 All things living He doth feed, His full hand supplies our need; For His, &c.
4 He His chosen race did bless, In the wasteful wilderness; For His, &c.
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