290

C. M.

TATE & BRADY.

Ps. 19.

1 GOD'S perfect law converts the soul,

Reclaims from false desires ;
With sacred wisdom his sure word

The ignorant inspires.
2 The statutes of the Lord are just,

And bring sincere delight;
His pure commands in search of truth,

Assist the feeblest sight.
3 His perfect worship here is fixed,

On sure foundations laid ;
His equal laws are in the scales

Of truth and justice weighed.
4 Of more esteem than golden mines,

Or gold refined with skill;
More sweet than honey, or the drops

That from the comb distil ;5 My trusty counsellors they are,

And friendly warnings give :
Divine rewards attend on those

Who by thy precepts live.

291
C. M.

COWPER.
The Light and Glory of the Word.
1 THE Spirit breathes upon the word,

And brings the truth to sight;
Precepts and promises afford

A sanctifying light.

2 A glory gilds the sacred page,

Majestic like the sun;
It gives a light to every age,

It gives, but borrows none.
3 The hand that gave it still supplies

The gracious light and heat ;
His truths upon the nations rise, -

They rise, but never set.
4 Let everlasting thanks be thine,

For such a bright display,
As makes a world of darkness shine

With beams of heavenly day. 5 My soul rejoices to pursue

The steps of him I love,
Till glory break upon my view

In brighter worlds above.

292
C. M.

Watts. The Holy Scriptures. 1 LADEN with guilt, and full of fears,

I fly to thee, my Lord ;
And not a glimpse of hope appears,

But in thy written word.
2 This is the field where hidden lies

The pearl of price unknown; That merchant is divinely wise

Who makes the pearl his own. 3 Here consecrated water flows

To quench my thirst of sin;
Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,

Nor danger dwells therein.

4 This is the judge that ends the strife,

Where wit and reason fail,
My guide to everlasting life,

Through all this gloomy vale.

293
L. M.

WATTS. The Holy Scriptures. 1 GOD, who in various methods told

His mind and will to saints of old,
Sent his own Son, with truth and grace,

To teach us in these latter days.
2 Our nation reads the written word -

That book of life, that sure record ;
The bright inheritance of heaven

Is by the sweet conveyance given. 3 God's kindest thoughts are here expressed,

Able to make us wise and blessed;
The doctrines are divinely true,
Fit for reproof and comfort too.

294
L. M.

Watts. The Books of Nature and Scripture compared. Ps. 19. 1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord ;

In every star thy wisdom shines; But when our eyes behold thy word,

We read thy name in fairer lines. 2 The rolling sun, the changing light,

And nights and days, thy power confess; But the blest volume thou hast writ Reveals thy justice and thy grace.

3 Sun, moon, and stars, convey thy praise

Round the whole earth, and never stand; So, when thy truth began its race,

It touched and glanced on every land. 4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,

Till through the world thy truth has run, Till Christ has all the nations blest,

That see the light or feel the sun. 5 Great Sun of righteousness, arise ;

Bless the dark world with heavenly light; Thy gospel makes the simple wise;

Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right. 6 Thy noblest wonders here we view,

In souls renewed and sins forgiven; Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew,

And make thy word my guide to heaven.

295
C. M.

WATTS.
Nature and Scripture. Ps. 119.
1 LET all the heathen writers join

To form one perfect book, —
Great God, if once compared with thine,

How mean their writings look !
2 Not the most perfect rules they gave

Could show one sin forgiven,
Nor lead a step beyond the grave;

But thine conduct to heaven.
3 I've seen an end of what we call

Perfection here below;
How short the powers of nature fall,
And can no farther go.

4. Our faith, and love, and every grace,

Fall far below thy word ;
But perfect truth and righteousness

Dwell only with the Lord.

296
S. M.

WATTS. The Book of Nature and Scripture. Ps. 19. 1 BEHOLD, the lofty sky

Declares its Maker God,
And all his starry works on high

Proclaim his power abroad. 2 The darkness and the light

Still keep their course the same, While night to day and day to night

Divinely teach his name. 3 In every different land

Their general voice is known;
They show the wonders of his hand,

And orders of his throne. 4 Ye Christian lands, rejoice;

He here reveals his word :
We are not left to Nature's voice,

To bid us know the Lord. 5 His statutes and commands

Are set before our eyes ;
He puts his gospel in our hands,

Where our salvation lies. 6 While of thy works I sing,

Thy glory to proclaim,
Accept the praise, my God, my King,

In my Redeemer's name.