Prepared for the Lord's Supper

Hymn 3:1. The Lord's Supper instituted, 1 Corinthians 11:23 &c.

'Twas on that dark, that doleful night When powers of earth and hell arose Against the Son of God's delight, And friends betray'd him to his foes;

Before the mournful scene began He took the bread, and bless'd, and brake: What love thro' all his actions ran! What wondrous words of grace he spake! 3 "This is my body broke for sin, "Receive and eat the living food:" Then took the cup, and bless'd the wine; "'Tis the new covenant in my blood."

[For us his flesh with nails was torn, He bore the scourge, he felt the thorn; And justice pour'd upon his head Its heavy vengeance in our stead.

For us his vital blood was spilt, To buy the pardon of our guilt, When for black crimes of biggest size He gave his soul a sacrifice.]

"Do this, (he cry'd) till time shall end, "In memory of your dying Friend; "Meet at my table, and record "The love of your departed Lord."

[Jesus, thy feast we celebrate, We shew thy death, we sing thy Name, Till thou return, and we shall eat The marriage-supper of the Lamb.]

Hymn 3:2. Communion with Christ, and with saints, 1 Cor. 10. 16 17.

[Jesus invites his saints To meet around his board; Here pardon'd rebels sit, and hold Communion with their Lord.

For food he gives his flesh, He bids us drink his blood, Amazing favour! matchless grace Of our descending God!]

This holy bread and wine Maintains our fainting breath, By union with our living Lord, And interest in his death.

Our heavenly Father calls Christ and his members one; We the young children of his love, And he the first-born Son.

We are but several parts Of the same broken bread; One body hath its several limbs, But Jesus is the head.

Let all our powers be join'd His glorious Name to raise; Pleasure and love fill every mind, And every voice be praise.

Hymn 3:3. The new testament in the blood of Christ; or, The new covenant sealed.

"The promise of my Father's love "Shall stand for ever good;" He said, and gave his soul to death, And seal'd the grace with blood.

To this dear covenant of thy word I set my worthless name; I seal th' engagement to my Lord, And make my humble claim.

Thy light, and strength, and pardoning grace, And glory shall be mine; My life and soul, my heart and flesh, And all my powers are thine.

I call that legacy my own Which Jesus did bequeath; 'Twas purchas'd with a dying groan, And ratify'd in death.

Sweet is the memory of his Name, Who bless'd us in his will, And to his testament of love Made his own life the seal.

Hymn 3:4. Christ's dying love; or, Our pardon bought at a dear price.

How condescending and how kind Was God's eternal Son! Our misery reach'd his heavenly mind, And pity brought him down.

[When Justice by our sins provok'd Drew forth its dreadful sword, He gave his soul up to the stroke, Without a murmuring word.]

[He sunk beneath our heavy woes To raise us to his throne; There's ne'er a gift his hand bestows But cost his heart a groan.]

This was compassion like a God, That when the Saviour knew The price of pardon was his blood, His pity ne'er withdrew.

Now tho' he reigns exalted high, His love is still as great: Well he remembers Calvary, Nor lets his saints forget.

[Here we behold his bowels roll, As kind as when he dy'd; And see the sorrows of his soul Bleed thro' his wounded side.]

[Here we receive repeated seals Of Jesus' dying love: Hard is the wretch that never feels One soft affection move.]

Here let our hearts begin to melt, While we his death record, And with our joy for pardon'd guilt Mourn that we pierc'd the Lord.

Hymn 3:5. Christ the bread of life, John 6. 31 35 39.

Let us adore th' eternal Word, 'Tis he our souls hath fed; Thou art our living stream, O Lord, And thou th' immortal bread.

[The manna came from lower skies, But Jesus from above, Where the fresh springs of pleasure rise And rivers flow with love.

The Jews the fathers dy'd at last, Who ate that heavenly bread; But these provisions which we taste Can raise us from the dead.]

Bless'd be the Lord that gives his flesh To nourish dying men; And often spreads his table fresh, Lest we should faint again.

Our souls shall draw their heavenly breath While Jesus finds supplies; Nor shall our graces sink to death, For Jesus never dies.

[Daily our mortal flesh decays, But Christ our life shall come; His unresisted power shall raise Our bodies from the tomb.]

Hymn 3:6. The memorial of our absent Lord, John 16. 16. Luke 22. 19. John 14. 3.

Jesus is gone above the skies, Where our weak senses reach him not And carnal objects court our eyes To thrust our Saviour from our thought.

He knows what wandering hearts we have, Apt to forget his lovely face; And to refresh our minds he gave These kind memorials of his grace.

The Lord of life this table spread With his own flesh and dying blood; We on the rich provision feed, And taste the wine, and bless the God.

Let sinful sweets be all forgot, And earth grow less in our esteem; Christ and his love fill every thought, And faith and hope be fix'd on him.

While he is absent from our sight 'Tis to prepare our souls a place, That we may dwell in heavenly light, And live for ever near his face.

Our eyes look upwards to the hills Whence our returning Lord shall come; We wait thy chariot's awful wheels To fetch our longing spirits home.]

Hymn 3:7. Crucifixion to the world by the cross of Christ, Gal. 6. 14.

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory dy'd, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.

See from his head, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e'er such love and sorrow meet? Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

[His dying crimson like a robe Spreads o'er his body on the tree; Then am I dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me.]

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Hymn 3:8. The tree of life.

Come let us join a joyful tune To our exalted Lord, Ye saints on high around his throne, And we around his board.

While once upon this lower ground Weary and faint ye stood, What dear refreshments here ye found From this immortal food!

The tree of life that near the throne In heaven's high garden grows, Laden with grace, bends gently down Its ever-smiling boughs.

[Hovering amongst the leaves there stands The sweet celestial Dove, And Jesus on the branches hangs The banner of his love.]

['Tis a young heaven of strange delight While in his shade we sit; His fruit is pleasing to the sight, And to the taste as sweet.

New life it spreads thro' dying hearts, And cheers the drooping mind; Vigour and joy the juice imparts Without a sting behind.]

Now let the flaming weapon stand And guard all Eden's trees; There's ne'er a plant in all that land That bears such fruits as these.

Infinite grace our souls adore, Whose wondrous hand has made This living branch of sovereign power To raise and heal the dead.

Hymn 3:9. The Spirit, the water, and the blood, John 5. 6.

[Let all our tongues be one To praise our God on high, Who from his bosom sent his Son To fetch us strangers nigh.

Nor let our voices cease To sing the Saviour's Name; Jesus th' ambassador of peace, How cheerfully he came!

It cost him cries and tears To bring us near to God; Great was our debt, and he appears To make the payment good.]

[My Saviour's pierced side, Pour'd out a double flood; By water we are purify'd And pardon'd by the blood.

Infinite was our guilt, But he our Priest atones; On the cold ground his life was spilt, And offer'd with his groans.]

Look up, my soul, to him Whose death was thy desert, And humbly view the living stream Flow from his breaking heart.

There on the cursed tree In dying pangs he lies, Fulfils his Father's great decree, And all our wants supplies.

Thus the Redeemer came By water and by blood; And when the Spirit speaks the same We feel his witness good.

While the eternal Three Bear their record above, Here I believe he dy'd for me, And seal my Saviour's love.

[Lord, cleanse my soul from sin, Nor let thy grace depart; Great Comforter, abide within, And witness to my heart.]

Hymn 3:10. Christ crucified; the wisdom and power of God.

Nature with open volume stands To spread her Maker's praise abroad; And every labour of his hands Shews something worthy of a God.

But in the grace that rescu'd man His brightest form of glory shines; Here on the cross 'tis fairest drawn In precious blood and crimson lines.

[Here his whole name appears complete; Nor wit can guess, nor reason prove Which of the letters best is writ, The power, the wisdom, or the love.]

Here I behold his inmost heart Where grace and vengeance strangely join, Piercing his Son with sharpest smart To make the purchas'd pleasure mine.

O the sweet wonders of that cross Where God the Saviour lov'd and dy'd! Her noblest life my spirit draws From his dear wounds and bleeding side.

I would for ever speak his Name In sounds to mortal ears unknown, With angels join to praise the Lamb, And worship at his Father's throne.

Hymn 3:11. Pardon brought in our senses.

Lord, how divine thy comforts are! How heavenly is the place Where Jesus spreads the sacred feast Of his redeeming grace!

There the rich bounties of our God, And sweetest glories shine; There Jesus says, that "I am his, "And my Beloved's mine."

"Here," (says the kind redeeming Lord, And shews his wounded side) "See here the spring of all your joys, "That open'd when I dy'd."

[He smiles and cheers my mournful heart And tells of all his pain, "All this," says he, "I bore for thee;" And then he smiles again.]

What shall we pay our heavenly King For grace so vast as this? He brings our pardon to our eyes, And seals it with a kiss.

[Let such amazing loves as these Be sounded all abroad, Such favours are beyond degrees, And worthy of a God.]

[To him that wash'd us in his blood Be everlasting praise, Salvation, honour, glory, power, Eternal as his days.]

Hymn 3:12. The gospel feast, Luke 14. 16 &c.

[How rich are thy provisions Lord! Thy table furnish'd from above, The fruits of life o'erspread the board, The cup o'erflows with heavenly love.

Thine ancient family the Jews, Were first invited to the feast; We humbly take what they refuse, And Gentiles thy salvation taste.

We are the poor, the blind, the lame, And help was far, and death was nigh, But at the gospel call we came And every want receiv'd supply.

From the highway that leads to hell, From paths of darkness and despair, Lord, we are come with thee to dwell, Glad to enjoy thy presence here.]

[What shall we pay th' eternal Son, That left the heaven of his abode, And to this wretched earth came down To bring us wanderers back to God?

It cost him death to save our lives, To buy our souls it cost his own; And all the unknown joys he gives, Were bought with agonies unknown.

Our everlasting love is due To him that ransom'd sinners lost; And pity'd rebels when he knew The vast expense his love would cost.]

Hymn 3:13. Divine love making a feast, and calling in the guests, Luke 14. 17 22 23.

How sweet and awful is the place With Christ within the doors, While everlasting love displays The choicest of her stores!

Here every bowel of our God With soft compassion rolls Here peace and pardon bought with blood Is food for dying souls.

[While all our hearts and all our songs Join to admire the feast, Each of us cry with thankful tongues, "Lord, why was I a guest?

"Why was I made to hear thy voice, "And enter while there's room? "When thousands make a wretched choice, "And rather starve than come."]

'Twas the same love that spread the feast, That sweetly forc'd us in, Else we had still refus'd to taste, And perish'd in our sin.

[Pity the nations, O our God, Constrain the earth to come; Send thy victorious word abroad, And bring the strangers home.

We long to see thy churches full, That all the chosen race May with one voice and heart and soul, Sing thy redeeming grace.]

Hymn 3:14. The song of Simeon, Luke 2. 28; or, A sight of Christ makes death easy.

Now have our hearts embrac'd our God, We would forget all earthly charms, And wish to die as Simeon would, With his young Saviour in his arms.

Our lips should learn that joyful song, Were but our hearts prepar'd like his; Our souls still willing to be gone, And at thy word depart in peace.

Here we have seen thy face, O Lord, And view'd salvation with our eyes, Tasted and felt the living word, The bread descending from the skies.

Thou hast prepar'd this dying Lamb, Hast set his blood before our face, To teach the terrors of thy Name, And show the wonders of thy grace.

He is our light; our morning star Shall shine on nations yet unknown; The glory of thine Israel here, And joy of spirits near the throne.

Hymn 3:15. Our Lord Jesus at his own table.

[The memory of our dying Lord Awakes a thankful tongue: How rich he spread his royal board, And blest the food, and sung.

Happy the men that eat this bread, But double bless'd was he That gently bow'd his loving head, And lean'd it, Lord, on thee.

By faith the same delights we taste As that great favourite did, And sit and lean on Jesus' breast, And take the heavenly bread.]

Down from the palace of the skies, Hither the King descends; "Come my beloved, eat, (he cries) "And drink salvation, friends.

"[My flesh is food and physic too, "A balm for all your pains; "And the red streams of pardon flow "From these my pierced veins."]

Hosanna to his bounteous love For such a taste below! And yet he feeds his saints above With nobler blessings too.

[Come the dear day, the glorious hour That brings our souls to rest! Then we shall need these types no more, But dwell at th' heavenly feast.]

Hymn 3:16. The agonies of Christ.

Now let our pains be all forgot, Our hearts no more repine, Our sufferings are not worth a thought, When, Lord, compar'd with thine.

In lively figures here we see The bleeding Prince of love; Each of us hope he dy'd for me, And then our griefs remove.

[Our humble faith here takes her rise, While sitting round his board; And back to Calvary she flies, To view her groaning Lord.

His soul, what agonies it felt When his own God withdrew! And the large load of all our guilt Lay heavy on him too.

But the divinity within Supported him to bear: Dying he conquer'd hell and sin, And made his triumph there.]

Grace, wisdom, justice join'd and wrought The wonders of that day: No mortal tongue, nor mortal thought Can equal thanks repay.

Our hymns should sound like those above, Could we our voices raise; Yet, Lord, our hearts shall all be love, And all our lives be praise.

Hymn 3:17. Incomparable food; or, The flesh and blood of Christ.

1[We sing th' amazing deeds That grace divine performs; Th' eternal God comes down and bleeds To nourish dying worms.

This soul reviving wine, Dear Saviour, 'tis thy blood; We thank that sacred flesh of thine For this immortal food.]

The banquet that we eat Is made of heavenly things, Earth hath no dainties half so sweet As our Redeemer brings.

In vain had Adam sought And search'd his garden round, For there was no such blessed fruit In all the happy ground.

Th' angelic host above Can never taste this food, They feast upon their Maker's love, But not a Saviour's blood.

On us th' Almighty Lord Bestows this matchless grace, And meets us with some cheering word, With pleasure in his face.

Come, all ye drooping saints, And banquet with the King, This wine will drown your sad complaints, And tune your voice to sing.

Salvation to the Name Of our adored Christ: Thro' the wide earth his grace proclaim His glory in the high'st.

Hymn 3:18. The same.

Jesus, we bow before thy feet, Thy table is divinely stor'd: Thy sacred flesh our souls have eat, 'Tis living bread; we thank thee, Lord!

And here we drink our Saviour's blood, We thank thee, Lord, 'tis generous wine; Mingled with love the fountain flow'd From that dear bleeding heart of thine.

On earth is no such sweetness found, For the Lamb's flesh is heavenly food; In vain we search the globe around For bread so fine, or wine so good.

Carnal provisions can at best But cheer the heart, or warm the head, But the rich cordial that we taste Gives life eternal to the dead.

Joy to the Master of the feast, His name our souls for ever bless: To God the King, and God the Priest, A loud Hosanna round the place.

Hymn 3:19. Glory in the cross; or, Not ashamed of Christ crucified.

At thy command, our dearest Lord, Here we attend thy dying feast; Thy blood like wine adorns thy board, And thine own flesh feeds every guest.

Our faith adores thy bleeding love, And trusts for life in one that dy'd; We hope for heavenly crowns above From a Redeemer crucify'd.

Let the vain world pronounce it shame, And fling their scandals on thy cause; We come to boast our Saviour's Name, And make our triumphs in his cross.

With joy we tell the scoffing age He that was dead has left his tomb, He lives above their utmost rage, And we are waiting till he come.

Hymn 3:20. The provisions for the table of our Lord; or, The tree of life, and river of love.

Lord, we adore thy bounteous hand, And sing the solemn feast Where sweet celestial dainties stand For every willing guest.

[The tree of life adorns the board With rich immortal fruit, And ne'er an angry flaming sword To guard the passage to't.

The cup stands crown'd with living juice; The fountain flows above, And runs down streaming for our use In rivulets of love.]

The food's prepar'd by heavenly art, The pleasure's well refin'd, They spread new life thro' every heart, And cheer the drooping mind.

Shout and proclaim the Saviour's love, Ye saints that taste his wine, Join with your kindred saints above, In loud hosannas join.

A thousand glories to the God That gives such joy as this; Hosanna! let it sound abroad, And reach where Jesus is.

Hymn 3:21. The triumphal feast for Christ's victory over sin, and death, and hell.

[Come let us lift our voices high, High as our joys arise, And join the songs above the sky, Where pleasure never dies.

Jesus, the God that fought and bled, And conquer'd when he fell; That rose, and at his chariot-wheels Dragg'd all the powers of hell.]

[Jesus the God invites us here To this triumphal feast, And brings immortal blessings down For each redeemed guest.]

The Lord! how glorious is his face! How kind his smiles appear! And O what melting words he says To every humble ear!

"For you, the children of my love, "It was for you I dy'd; "Behold my hands, behold my feet, "And look into my side.

"These are the wounds for you I bore, "The tokens of my pains, "When I came down to free your souls "From misery and chains.

"Justice unsheath'd its fiery sword, And plung'd it in my heart; "Infinite pangs for you I bore, "And most tormenting smart.

"When hell and all its spiteful powers "Stood dreadful in my way, "To rescue those dear lives of yours "I gave my own away.

"But while I bled, and groan'd, and dy'd, "I ruin'd Satan's throne; "High on my cross I hung, and spy'd "The monster tumbling down.

"Now you must triumph at my feast, "And taste my flesh, my blood; "And live eternal ages bless'd, "For 'tis immortal food."

Victorious God! what can we pay For favours so divine? We would devote our hearts away To be for ever thine.

We give thee, Lord, our highest praise, The tribute of our tongues; But themes so infinite as these Exceed our noblest songs.

Hymn 3:22. The compassion of a dying Christ.

Our spirits join t' adore the Lamb; O that our feeble lips could move In strains immortal as his Name, And melting as his dying love.

Was ever equal pity found? The Prince of heaven resigns his breath, And pours his life out on the ground To ransom guilty worms from death.

[Rebels, we broke our Maker's laws; He from the threatening set us free, Bore the full vengeance on his cross, And nail'd the curses to the tree.]

[The law proclaims no terror now, And Sinai's thunder roars no more; From all his wounds new blessings flow, A sea of joy without a shore.

Here we have wash'd our deepest stains, And heal'd our wounds with heavenly blood: Bless'd fountain! springing from the veins Of Jesus, our incarnate God.]

In vain our mortal voices strive To speak compassion so divine; Had we a thousand lives to give, A thousand lives should all be thine.

Hymn 3:23. Grace and glory by the death of Christ.

[Sitting around our Father's board We raise our tuneful breath; Our faith beholds her dying Lord, And dooms our sins to death.]

We see the blood of Jesus shed, Whence all our pardons rise; The sinner views th' atonement made, And loves the sacrifice.

Thy cruel thorns, thy shameful cross Procure us heavenly crowns; Our highest gain springs from thy loss, Our healing from thy wounds.

O 'tis impossible that we, Who dwell in feeble clay, Should equal sufferings bear for thee, Or equal thanks repay.

Hymn 3:24. Pardon and strength from Christ.

Father, we wait to feel thy grace, To see thy glories shine; The Lord will his own table bless, And make the feast divine.

We touch, we taste the heavenly bread, We drink the sacred Cup; With outward forms our sense is fed, Our souls rejoice in hope.

We shall appear before the throne Of our forgiving God, Dress'd in the garments of his Son, And sprinkled with his blood.

We shall be strong to run the race, And climb the upper sky; Christ will provide our souls with grace, He bought a large supply.

[Let us indulge a cheerful frame, For joy becomes a feast; We love the memory of his Name, More than the wine we taste.]

Hymn 3:25. Divine glories, and our graces.

How are thy glories here display'd, Great God, how bright they shine, While at thy word we break the bread, And pour the flowing wine!

Here thy revenging justice stands And pleads its dreadful cause; Here saving mercy spreads her hands Like Jesus on the cross.

Thy saints attend with every grace On this great sacrifice; And love appears with cheerful face, And faith with fixed eyes.

Our hope in waiting posture sits, To heaven directs her sight; Here every warmer passion meets, And warmer powers unite.

Zeal and revenge perform their part, And rising sin destroy; Repentance comes with aching heart, Yet not forbids the joy.

Dear Saviour, change our faith to sight, Let sin for ever die; Then shall our souls be all delight, And every tear be dry.