Part 28 (1/2)

7 [Sin's promis'd joys are turn'd to pain, And I am drown'd in grief; But my dear Lord returns again, He flies to my relief.

8 Seizing my soul with sweet surprise He draws with loving bands; Divine compa.s.sion in his eyes, And pardon in his hands.]

9 [Wretch that I am to wander thus In chase of false delight!

Let me be fasten'd to thy cross, Rather than lose thy sight.]

10 [Make haste, my days, to reach the goal, And bring my heart to rest On the dear centre of my soul, My G.o.d, my Saviour's breast.]

Hymn 2:21.

A song of praise to G.o.d the Redeemer.

1 Let the old heathens tune their song Of great Diana and of Jove; But the sweet theme that moves my tongue Is my Redeemer and his love.

2 Behold a G.o.d descends and dies To save my soul from gaping h.e.l.l; How the black gulf where Satan lies Yawn'd to receive me when I fell!

3 How justice frown'd and vengeance stood To drive me down to endless pain!

But the great Son propos'd his blood, And heavenly wrath grew mild again.

4 Infinite lover, gracious Lord, To thee be endless honours given; Thy wondrous Name shall be ador'd Round the wide earth, and wider heaven.

Hymn 2:22.

With G.o.d is terrible majesty.

1 Terrible G.o.d, that reign'st on high, How awful is thy thundering hand!

Thy fiery bolts how fierce they fly!

Nor can all earth or h.e.l.l withstand.

2 This the old rebel angels knew, And Satan fell beneath thy frown: Thine arrows struck the traitor thro', And weighty vengeance sunk him down.

3 This Sodom felt, and feels it still, And roars beneath th' eternal load, ”With endless burnings who can dwell, ”Or bear the fury of a G.o.d!”

4 Tremble, ye sinners, and submit, Throw down your arms before his throne, Bend your heads low beneath his feet, Or his strong hand shall crush you down.

5 And ye, blest saints, that love him too, With rev'rence bow before his Name, Thus all his heavenly servants do: G.o.d is a bright and burning flame.

Hymn 2:23.

The sight of G.o.d and Christ in heaven.

1 Descend from heaven, immortal Dove, Stoop down and take us on thy wings, And mount and bear us far above The reach of these inferior things.

2 Beyond, beyond this lower sky, Up where eternal ages roll, Where solid pleasures never die, And fruits immortal feast the soul.

3 O for a sight, a pleasing sight Of our almighty Father's throne!

There sits our Saviour crown'd with light Cloth'd in a body like our own.

4 Adoring saints around him stand, And thrones, and powers before him fall; The G.o.d s.h.i.+nes gracious thro' the man, And sheds sweet glories on them all.