While the redeem'd in praise combine

To grace upon the throne, Angels in solemn chorus join,

And make the theme their own*.

3 Grace reigns to pardon crimson sins,
To melt the hardest hearts;
And from the work it once begins,
It never more departs+.

The world and Satan strive in vain
Against the chosen few:

Secur'd by Grace's conqu'ring reign,
They all shall conquer too.

4 Grace tills the soil, and sows the seeds,
Provides the sun and rain;

Till from the tender blade proceeds,
The ripen'd harvest-grain.

'Twas Grace that call'd our souls at first;
By Grace thus far we're come;

And Grace will help us through the worst,
And lead us safely home.

5 Lord, when this changing life is past,
If we may see thy face,

1

How shall we praise and love at last,
And sing the reign of Grace §!
Yet let us aim while here below,

Thy mercy to display;

And own, at least, the debt we owe,

Although we cannot pay.

LXXXVII.-Praise to the Redeemer.

PREPARE a thankful song

To the Redeemer's name!

His praises should employ each tongue,

And ev'ry heart inflame!

*Rev. v. 9-12.

Rom. viii. 35.-39.

+ Phil. i. 6.
§ Psal. cxv. 1.

2 He laid his glory by,

3

4

And dreadful pains endur'd,
That rebels such as you and I,
From wrath might be secur'd.
Upon the cross he dy'd,
Our debt of sin to pay;

The blood and water from his side
Wash guilt and filth away.

And now he pleading stands,
For us, before the throne,

And answers all the law's demands

With what himself hath done.

6

7

The Holy Ghost he sends,
Our stubborn souls to move,

To make his enemies his friends,

And conquer them by love.

The love of sin departs,
The life of grace takes place,
Soon as his voice invites our hearts

To rise and seek his face.

But he their pow'r controls;

9

His wisdom, love, and truth, engage
Protection for our souls.

Though press'd, we will not yield,
But shall prevail at length;
For Jesus is our sun and shield,
Our righteousness and strength.

10 Assur'd that Christ, our King,
Will put our foes to flight,
We on the field of battle sing,
And triumph while we fight.

LXXXVIII.-Man by Nature, Grace, and Glory.

1. LORD, what is man? extremes how wide,
In his mysterious nature join!
The flesh to worms and dust ally'd,
The soul immortal and divine!

2 Divine at first, a holy flame

Kindled by the Almighty's breath;
Till, stain'd by sin, it soon became
The seat of darkness, strife, and death.

3 But Jesus, oh! amazing grace!

Assum'd our nature as his own,
Obey'd and suffer'd in our place,

Then took it with him to his throne.
4 Now what is man, when grace reveals
The virtue of a Saviour's blood?
Again a life divine he feels,

Despises earth, and walks with God.

5 And what, in yonder realms above,
Is ransom'd man ordain'd to be?
With honour, holiness, and love,
No seraph more adorn'd than he.

6 Nearest the throne, and first in song,
Man shall his hallelujahs raise;
While wond'ring angels round him throng,
And swell the chorus of his praise.

SIMILAR HYMNS.

Book I. Hymns 57, 58, 59, 79, 80.
Book II. Hymns 37, 38, 39, 41, 42.

VIII.-SHORT HYMNS.

BEFORE SERMON.

HYMN LXXXIX.

CONFIRM the hope thy word allows,
Behold us waiting to be fed;
Bless the provisions of thy house,
And satisfy thy poor with bread :
Drawn by thine invitation, Lord,
Athirst and hungry we are come;
Now, from the fulness of thy word,
Feast us, and send us thankful home.

HYMN XC.

1 Now, Lord, inspire the preacher's heart,
And teach his tongue to speak;
Food to the hungry soul impart,
And cordials to the weak.

2 Furnish us all with light and pow'rs
To walk in wisdom's ways;

So shall the benefit be ours,
And thou shalt have the praise.

HYMN XCI.

1 THY promise, Lord, and thy command,
Have brought us here to-day;
And now we humbly waiting stand
To hear what thou wilt say *.

2 Meet us, we pray, with words of peace,
And fill our hearts with love;
That from our follies we may cease,
And henceforth faithful prove.

* Psal. lxxxv. 8.

1

2

HYMN XCII.

HUNGRY, and faint, and poor,
Behold us, Lord, again

Assembled at thy mercy's door,

Thy bounty to obtain.

Thy word invites us nigh,
Or we must starve indeed;
For we no money have to buy,
No righteousness to plead.

3

The food our spirits want
Thy hand alone can give;

O! hear the pray'r of faith, and grant
That we may eat and live.

HYMN XCIII.

Psal. cvi. 4, 5.

1 REMEMBER us, we pray thee, Lord, With those who love thy gracious name; And to our souls that good afford

Thy promise has prepar'd for them.

2 To us thy great salvation shew,
Give us a taste of love divine;
That we thy people's joy may know,
And in their holy triumph join.

HYMN XCIV.

1 NOT to Sinai's dreadful blaze,
But to Zion's throne of grace,
By a way mark'd out with blood,
Sinners now approach to God*.

* Heb. xii. 18-24.