Isaiah 1:10-11. Isaiah 28:20

Hymn 2:155. Christ our passover.

Lo the destroying angel flies To Pharaoh's stubborn land: The pride and flower of Egypt dies By his vindictive hand.

He pass'd the tents of Jacob o'er, Nor pour'd the wrath divine; He saw the blood on every door, And bless'd the peaceful sign.

Thus th' appointed Lamb must bleed To break th' Egyptian yoke; Thus Israel is from bondage freed, And 'scapes the angel's stroke.

Lord, if my heart were sprinkled too With blood so rich as thine, Justice no longer would pursue This guilty soul of mine.

Jesus our passover was slain, And has at once procur'd Freedom from Satan's heavy chain, And God's avenging sword.

Hymn 2:156. Presumption and despair; or, Satan's various temptations.

I hate the tempter and his charms, I hate his flattering breath; The serpent takes a thousand forms To cheat our souls to death.

He feeds our hopes with airy dreams, Or kills with slavish fear; And holds us still in wide extremes, Presumption, or despair.

Now he persuades, "How easy 'tis "To walk the road to heaven;" Anon he swells our sins, and cries, "They cannot be forgiven."

[He bids young sinners, "Yet forbear "To think of God or death; "For prayer and devotion are "But melancholy breath."

He tells the aged, "They must die, "And 'tis too late to pray; "In vain for mercy now they cry, "For they have lost their day."]

Thus he supports his cruel throne By mischief and deceit; And drags the sons of Adam down To darkness and the pit.

Almighty God, cut short his power, Let him in darkness dwell; And, that he vex the earth no more, Confine him down to hell.

Hymn 2:157. The same.

Now Satan comes with dreadful roar, And threatens to destroy; He worries whom he can't devour With a malicious joy.

Ye sons of God, oppose his rage, Resist, and he'll be gone; Thus did our dearest Lord engage And vanquish him alone.

Now he appears almost divine Like innocence and love, But the old serpent lurks within When he assumes the dove.

Fly from the false deceiver's tongue, Ye Sons of Adam, fly; Our parents found the snare too strong, Nor should the children try.

Hymn 2:158. Few saved; or, The almost Christian, the hypocrite, and apostate.

Broad is the road that leads to death, And thousands walk together there; But wisdom shews a narrower path, With here and there a traveller.

"Deny thyself, and take thy cross," Is the Redeemer's great command; Nature must count her gold but dross If she would gain this heavenly land.

The fearful soul that tires and faints, And walks the ways of God no more, Is but esteem'd almost a saint, And makes his own destruction sure.

Lord, let not all my hopes be vain; Create my heart entirely new, Which hypocrites could ne'er attain, Which false apostates never knew.

Hymn 2:159. An unconverted state; or, Converting grace.

[Great King of Glory and of grace, We own with humble shame, How vile is our degenerate race, And our first father's name.]

From Adam flows our tainted blood, The poison reigns within, Makes us averse to all that's good, And willing slaves to sin.

[Daily we break thy holy laws, And then reject thy grace; Engag'd in the old serpent's cause Against our Maker's face.]

We live estrang'd afar from God, And love the distance well; With haste we run the dangerous road That leads to death and hell.

And can such rebels be restor'd? Such natures made divine? Let sinners see thy glory, Lord, And feel this power of thine.

We raise our Father's name on high, Who his own Spirit sends To bring rebellious strangers nigh, And turn his foes to friends.

Hymn 2:160. Custom in sin.

Let the wild leopards of the wood Put off the spots that nature gives, Then may the wicked turn to God, And change their tempers and their lives.

As well might Ethiopian slaves Wash out the darkness of their skin; The dead as well might leave their graves, As old transgressors cease to sin.

Where vice has held its empire long 'Twill not endure the least control; None but a power divinely strong Can turn the current of the soul.

Great God, I own thy power divine, That works to change this heart of mine; I would be form'd anew, and bless The wonders of creating grace.

Hymn 2:161. Christian virtues; or, The difficulty of conversion.

Strait is the way, the door is strait That leads to joys on high; 'Tis but a few that find the gate, While crowds mistake and die.

Beloved self must be deny'd, The mind and will renew'd: Passion suppress'd, and patience try'd, And vain desires subdu'd.

[Flesh is a dangerous foe to grace, Where it prevails and rules; Flesh must be humbled, pride abas'd, Lest they destroy our souls.

The love of gold be banish'd hence, (That vile idolatry); And every member, every sense In sweet subjection lie.]

The tongue, that most unruly power, Requires a strong restraint; We must be watchful every hour, And pray, but never faint.

Lord, can a feeble helpless worm Fulfil a task so hard? Thy grace must all my work perform, And give the free reward.

Hymn 2:162 Meditation of heaven; or, The joy of faith.

My thoughts surmount these lower skies And look within the veil; There springs of endless pleasure rise, The waters never fail.

There I behold with sweet delight The blessed Three in One; And strong affections fix my sight On God's incarnate Son.

His promise stands for ever firm, His grace shall ne'er depart; He binds my name upon his arm, And seals it on his heart.

Light are the pains that' nature brings, How short our sorrows are, When with eternal future things, The present we compare!

I would not be a stranger still To that celestial place, Where I for ever hope to dwell Near my Redeemer's face.

Hymn 2:163. Complaint of desertion and temptations.

Dear Lord, behold our sore distress; Our sins attempt to reign; Stretch out thine arm of conquering grace, And let thy foes be slain.

[The lion with his dreadful roar Affrights thy feeble sheep; Reveal the glory of thy power, And chain him to the deep.

Must we indulge a long despair, Shall our petitions die; Our mournings never reach thine ear, Nor tears affect thine eye?]

If thou despise a mortal groan, Yet hear a Saviour's blood; An Advocate so near the throne Pleads and prevails with God.

He bought the Spirit's powerful sword To slay our deadly foes; Our sins shall die beneath thy word, And hell in vain oppose.

How boundless is our Father's grace, In height and depth, and length! He makes his Son our righteousness, His Spirit is our strength.

Hymn 2:164. The end of the world.

Why should this earth delight us so? Why should we fix our eyes On these low grounds where sorrows grow, And every pleasure dies?

While time his sharpest teeth prepares Our comforts to devour, There is a land above the stars, And joys above his power.

Nature shall be dissolv'd and die, The sun must end his race, The earth and sea for ever fly Before my Saviour's face.

When will that glorious morning rise! When the last trumpet sound, And call the nations to the skies From underneath the ground?

Hymn 2:165. Unfruitfulness, ignorance, and unsanctified affections.

Long have I sat beneath the sound Of thy salvation, Lord But still how weak my faith is found, And knowledge of thy word!

Oft I frequent thy holy place And hear almost in vain; How small a portion of thy grace My memory can retain!

[My dear Almighty, and my God, How little art thou known By all the judgments of thy rod, And blessings of thy throne!]

[How cold and feeble is my love! How negligent my fear! How low my hope of joys above! How few affections there!]

Great God, thy sovereign power impart To give thy word success: Write the salvation in my heart, And make me learn the grace.

[Shew my forgetful feet the way That leads to joys on high; There knowledge grows without decay, And love shall never die.]

Hymn 2:166. The divine perfections.

How shall I praise th' eternal God, That infinite unknown? Who can ascend his high abode, Or venture near his throne?

[The great Invisible! he dwells Conceal'd in dazzling light; But his all-searching eye reveals The secrets of the night.

Those watchful eyes that never sleep Survey the world around; His wisdom is a boundless deep Where all our thoughts are drown'd.]

[Speak we of strength? His arm is strong To save or to destroy: Infinite years his life prolong, And endless is his joy.]

[He knows no shadow of a change, Nor alters his decrees; Firm as a rock his truth remains To guard his promises.]

[Sinners before his presence die; How holy is his Name! His anger and his jealousy Burn like devouring flame.]

Justice upon a dreadful throne Maintains the rights of God; While Mercy sends her pardons down, Bought with a Saviour's blood.

Now to my soul, immortal King, Speak some forgiving word; Then 't will be double joy to sing The glories of my Lord.

Hymn 2:167. The divine perfections.

Great God, thy glories shall employ My holy fear, my humble joy; My lips in songs of honour bring Their tribute to th' eternal King.

[2 Earth and the stars and worlds unknown, Depend precarious on his throne, All nature hangs upon his word, And grace and glory own their Lord.]

[His sovereign power what mortal knows? If he command who dares oppose? With strength he girds himself around, And treads the rebels to the ground.]

[Who shall pretend to teach him skill? Or guide the counsels of his will? His wisdom like a sea divine, Flows deep and high beyond our line.]

[His Name is holy, and his eye Burns with immortal jealousy; He hates the sons of pride, and sheds His fiery vengeance on their heads.]

[The beamings of his piercing sight Bring dark hypocrisy to light; Death and destruction naked lie, And hell uncover'd to his eye.]

[Th' eternal law before him stands; His justice with impartial hands Divides to all their due reward, Or by the sceptre or the sword.]

[His mercy like a boundless sea Washes our loads of guilt away, While his own Son came down and dy'd, T' engage his justice on our side.]

[Each of his words demands my faith, My soul can rest on all he saith; His truth inviolably keeps The largest promise of his lips.]

O tell me with a gentle voice, "Thou art my God," and I'll rejoice! Fill'd with thy love, I dare proclaim The brightest honours of thy Name.

Hymn 2:168. The same.

Jehovah reigns, his throne is high, His robes are light and majesty; His glory shines with beams so bright No mortal can sustain the sight.

His terrors keep the world in awe, His justice guards his holy law; His love reveals a smiling face, His truth and promise seal the grace.

Thro' all his works his wisdom shines, And baffles Satan's deep designs; His power is sovereign to fulfil The noblest counsels of his will.

And will this glorious Lord descend To be my father and my friend? Then let my songs with angels join; Heaven is secure if God be mine.

Hymn 2:169. As the 148th Psalm. The same.

The Lord Jehovah reigns His throne is built on high; The garments he assumes Are light and majesty; His glories shine With beams so bright No mortal eye Can bear the sight.

The thunders of his hand Keep the wide world in awe; His wrath and justice stand To guard his holy law; And where his love Resolves to bless, His truth confirms And seals the grace.

Thro' all his ancient works Surprising wisdom shines, Confounds the powers of hell, And breaks their curs'd designs: Strong is his arm, And shall fulfil His great decrees, His sovereign will.

And can this mighty King Of Glory condescend? And will he write his Name, "My Father and my Friend?" I love his Name, I love his word; Join all my powers, And praise the Lord.

Hymn 2:170. God incomprehensible and sovereign.

Can creatures to perfection find Th' eternal uncreated mind? Or can the largest stretch of thought Measure and search his nature out?

'Tis high as heaven, 'tis deep as hell, And what can mortals know or tell? His glory spreads beyond the sky, And all the shining worlds on high.

But man, vain man, would fain be wise, Born like a wild young colt he flies Thro' all the follies of his mind, And swells and snuffs the empty wind.

God is a King of power unknown, Firm are the orders of his throne; If he resolve, who dares oppose, Or ask him why, or what he does?

He wounds the heart, and he makes whole; He calms the tempest of the soul; When he shuts up in long despair Who can remove the heavy bar?

He frowns, and darkness veils the moon; The fainting sun grows dim at noon; The pillars of heaven's starry roof Tremble and start at his reproof.

He gave the vaulted heaven its form, The crooked serpent and the worm; He breaks the billows with his breath, And smites the Sons of pride to death.

These are a portion of his ways, But who shall dare describe his face? Who can endure his light, or stand To hear the thunders of his hand?

Job 11:7 &c. Job 25:5. Job 26:11 &c.