SECTION II.

CHRISTIANITY.

244

C. M.

The Messiah.

1 THE true Messiah now appears;
The types are all withdrawn ;
So fly the shadows and the stars
Before the rising dawn.

WATTS.

2 Much he revealed his Father's grace,
And much his truth he showed,
And preached the way of righteousness,
Where great assemblies stood.

245

S. M.

WATTS.

Christ's Commission.

1 RAISE your triumphant songs

To an immortal tune;

Let the wide earth resound the deeds

Celestial grace has done.

2 Sing how Eternal Love

Its chief-beloved chose,

And bade him raise our wretched race
From their abyss of woes.

3 Now, sinners, dry your tears;
Let hopeless sorrow cease;
Bow to the sceptre of his love,
And take the offered peace.

4 Lord, we obey thy call;
We lay an humble claim
To the salvation thou hast brought,
And love and praise thy name.

246

C. M.

WATTS.

Christ's mediatorial Kingdom. Ps. 89.

1 HEAR what the Lord in vision said,
And made his mercy known:
"Sinners, behold, your help is laid
On my beloved Son.

2 "Behold the man my wisdom chose
Among your mortal race;
His head my holy oil o'erflows,
The spirit of my grace.

3 "My truth shall guard him in his way,
With mercy by his side,

While in my name, through earth and sea, He shall in triumph ride.

4 "Me for his Father and his God
He shall forever own,

Call me his Rock, his high Abode,
And I'll support my Son.

5 "My covenant stands forever fast;
My promises are strong;

Firm as the heavens his throne shall last, His seed endure as long."

247

L. M.

WATTS.

The Glory of Christ. Ps. 45.

1 NOW be my heart inspired to sing
The glories of my Savior King;
Jesus the Lord! how heavenly fair
His form! how bright his beauties are!

2 O'er all the sons of human race
He shines with a superior grace;
Love from his lips divinely flows,
And blessings all his state compose.

3 Dress thee in arms, most mighty Lord;
Gird on the terror of thy sword;
In majesty and glory ride,

With truth and meekness at thy side.

4 God, thine own God, has richly shed
His oil of gladness on thy head;
And with his sacred spirit blest
His first-born Son above the rest.

248

H. M.

WATTS.

Christ the Guide and Shepherd.

1 GREAT Prophet of my God,

My tongue would bless thy name;

By thee the joyful news

Of our salvation came
The joyful news

Of sins forgiven,

Of hell subdued,

And peace with heaven.

2 Be thou my Counsellor,

My Patron, and my Guide,
And through this desert land
Still keep me near thy side:
O, let my feet

Ne'er run astray,
Nor rove, nor seek
The crooked way.

3 I love my Shepherd's voice;
His watchful eyes shall keep
My wandering soul among
The thousands of his sheep:
He feeds his flock,

He calls their names,
His bosom bears

The tender lambs.

249

L. M.

Christ the Image of God.

MASON.

1 THOU, Lord, by mortal eyes unseen, And by thine offspring here unknown, To manifest thyself to men,

Hast set thine image in thy Son.

2 As the bright sun's meridian blaze O'erwhelms and pains our feeble sight, But cheers us with his softer rays, When shining with reflected light, 3 So in thy Son, thy power divine,

Thy wisdom, justice, truth, and love, With mild and pleasing lustre shine, Reflected from thy throne above.

4 0 thou, at whose almighty word,
Fair light at first from darkness shone,
Teach us to know our glorious Lord,
And trace the Father in the Son.

5 While we thine image, there displayed,
With love and admiration view,
Form us in likeness to our Head,
That we may bear thine image too.

250

L. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.
1 TO thee, O God, we homage pay,
Source of the light that rules the day;
Who, while he gilds all nature's frame,
Reflects thy rays, and speaks thy name.
2 In louder strains we sing that grace
Which gives the Sun of righteousness,
Whose nobler light salvation brings,
And scatters healing from his wings.

3 Still on our hearts may Jesus shine
With beams of light and love divine;
Quickened by him, our souls shall live,
And cheered by him, shall grow and thrive.
4 O, may his glories stand confessed,
From north to south, from east to west;
Successful may his gospel run,

Wide as the circuit of the sun.

5 When shall that radiant scene arise, When, fixed on high in purer skies, Christ all his lustre shall display

On all his saints through endless day?