Oh the music that I hear, Sweetly warbling in my ear! Little songster, come away,
In this vile cell no longer stay:
But take thy flight to realms above the skies.
I hear and instantly obey;
Out of my cage I spring;
the wicker'd way,
Thus to myself I sing;
"How safe, how easy 'tis to die, "With Christ my guardian angel by! "He's my defence from pain and sin, "From foes without and fears within.
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, thy victory ?"
Now I'm happy, now I'm free:
My active spirit, heav'n-born mind, From all the dregs of sense refin'd, Feels and enjoys her god-like dignity. No more oppress'd with the gross atmosphere Of error, prejudice and sin, Freely I breathe my native air,
And drink ambrosial fragrance in. O who can think, O who can tell, The strange sensations now I feel!
Awhile my wings unus'd to flight, I try, And round and round in sportive bliss I fly: Then through the opening skies,
In rapt'rous extasy I rise,
Up to the flow'ry fields of Paradise.
And as I dart along,
On full expanded wing,
Amid the angelic throng,
Celestial anthems sing:
"Glory to him that left his throne above, “And downward bent his way on wings of love; "That wept, and bled, and died upon the tree, "To conquer death and set the captives free."
A Song of Praise to God.
To God the universal king,
Let all mankind their tribute bring; All that have breath, your voices raise, In songs of never ceasing praise.
The spacious earth on which we tread, And wider heavens stretch'd o'er our head, A large and solemn temple frame To celebrate its builder's fame.
Here the bright sun, that rules the day, As thro' the sky he makes his way, To all the world proclaims aloud The boundless sov'reignty of God. When from his courts the sun retires, And with the day his voice expires, The moon and stars adopt the song, And thro' the night the praise prolong. The list'ning earth with rapture hears Th' harmonious music of the spheres ; And all her tribes the notes repeat, That God is wise, and good, and great.
But man, endow'd with nobler powers, His God in nobler strains adores: His is the gift to know the song, As well as sing with tuneful tongue.
Mercy and Truth met together; or, the Harmony of the Divine Perfections, Psalm lxxxv. 10.
WHEN first the God of boundless grace
Disclos'd his kind design
To rescue our apostate race
From mis'ry, shame, and sin;
Quick through the realms of light and bliss, The joyful tidings ran;
Each heart exulted at the news, *That God would dwell with man.
Yet, 'midst their joys, they paus'd awhile; And ask'd, with strange surprise, But how can injur'd justice smile, Or look with pitying eyes? [Will the Almighty deign again To visit yonder world;
And hither bring rebellious men,
Whence rebels once were hurl'd?
Their tears, and groans, and deep distress, Aloud for mercy call;
But, ah! must truth and righteousness To mercy victims fall?
So spake the friends of God and man, Delighted, yet surpris'd; Eager to know the wond'rous plan That wisdom had devis'd.]
The Son of God attentive heard, And quickly thus reply'd, In me let mercy be rever'd, And justice satisfy'd.
Behold! my vital blood I pour
A sacrifice to God;
Let angry justice now no more Demand the sinner's blood.
He spake, and heaven's high arches rung With shouts of loud applause;
He dy'd the friendly angels sung, Nor cease their rapturous joys.
Indwelling Sin lamented.
WITH tears of anguish I lament, Here at thy feet, my God, My passion, pride, and discontent, And vile ingratitude.
Sure there was ne'er a heart so base,
So false as mine has been;
So faithless to its promises, So prone to every' sin!
My reason tells me thy commands Are holy just, and true;
Tells whate'er my me
Is his most righteous due.
Reason I hear, her counsels weigh, And all her words approve; But still I find it hard t' obey, And harder yet to love.
How long, dear Saviour, shall I feel- These strugglings in my breast? When wilt thou bow my stubborn will, And give my conscience rest?
Break, sov'reign grace, O break the charm, And set the captive free: Reveal, Almighty God, thine arm, And haste to rescue me.
The riches of God's word.
LET avarice, from shore to shore,
Her fav'rite God pursue;
Thy word, O Lord, we value more Than India or Peru.
Here mines of knowledge, love, and joy, Are open'd to our sight; The purest gold without alloy,
And gems divinely bright."
The councils of redeeming grace, These sacred leaves unfold; And here, the Saviour's lovely face Our raptur'd eyes behold.
Here, light descending from above Directs our doubtful feet: Here, promises of heavenly love Our ardent wishes meet.
Our numerous griefs are here redrest, And all our wants supply'd: Nought we can ask to make us blest Is in this book denied.
For these inestimable gains,
That so enrich the mind,
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