SONG VII.

The excellency of the Bible.

GREAT GOD, with wonder and with praise
On all thy works I look ;

But still thy wisdom, power and grace,
Shine brighter in thy book.

The stars, which in their courses roll,
Have much instruction given;
But thy good word informs my soul,
How I may climb to Heaven.

The fields provide me food, and show
The goodness of the Lord;
But fruits of life and glory grow
In thy most holy word.

Here are my choicest treasures hid,
Here my best comfort lies ;
Here my desires are satisfied,

And hence my hopes arise.

Lord, make me understand thy law:
Show what my faults have been ;
And from the gospel let me draw
Pardon for all my sin.

Here would I learn, how Christ has died To save my soul from Hell;

Not all the books on earth beside

Such heavenly wonders tell.

SONG VIII.

Praise to God for learning to read.

The praises of my tongue

I offer to the Lord;

That I was taught and learnt so young
To read his holy word.

That I was brought to know
The danger, I was in,
By nature and by practice too
A wretched slave to sin.

That I am led to see

I can do nothing well;
And whither shall a sinner flee,
To save himself from Hell?

Great God, this book of thine
Informs me where to go
For grace, to pardon all my sin,
And make me holy too.

Here I can read and learn,

How Christ, the Son of God, Proclaim'd the cov'nant of thy grace, And seal'd it with his blood.

The Lord, who reigns above,
Hath sent his Spirit down,
To show the wonders of his love,
And make his Spirit known.

O may that Spirit teach,

And make my heart receive

Those truths, which all thy servants preach, And all thy saints believe.

Then shall I praise the Lord

In a more cheerful strain;

That I was taught to read his word,

And have not learnt in vain.

SONG IX.

The all-seeing God.

ALMIGHTY GOD, thy piercing eye
Strikes through the shades of night,
And our most secret actions lie
All open to thy sight.

There's not a sin, which we commit,
Nor wicked word we say,
But in thy awful book 'tis writ
Against the judgment day.

And must the crimes which we have done,
Be read and publish'd there;
Be all expos'd before the sun,
While men and Angels hear?

Lord, at thy foot asham'd I lie;
Upward I dare not look;
Pardon my sins before I die,

And blot them from thy book.

Remember all the dying pains,
Which my Redeemer felt;
And let his blood wash out my stains,
And answer for my guilt.

Solemn thoughts of God and death.

THERE is a God, who reigns above,

Lord of the Heavens, and earth, and seas, I fear his wrath, i ask his love,

And with my lips I sing his praise.

There is a law which he has writ,
To teach us all what we must do
My soul to his commands submit,
For they are holy, just and true.

There is a gospel of rich

grace,
Whence sinners all their comforts draw;
Lord, I repent and seek thy face;
For I have often broke thy law.

There is an hour when I must die,
Nor do I know how soon 'twill come;
A thousand children, young as I,
Are call'd by death to hear their doom.

Let me improve the hours, I have,
Before the day of grace is fled;
There's no repentance in the grave,
Nor pardon offer'd to the dead.

Just as a tree, cut down, which fell
To north or southward, there it lies;
So man departs to Heaven or Hell,
Fix'd in the state, wherein he dies.

Then will I read and pray,

While I have life and breath: Lest I should be cut off to day, And sent t' eternal death.

SONG XII.

The advantages of early Religion.

HAPPY the child, whose early years
Receive instruction well;

Who hates the sinner's path, and fears
The road which leads to hell.

When we devote our youth to God,
'Tis pleasing in his eyes;

A flow'r when offer'd in the bud,
Is no vain sacrifice.

"Tis easier work, if we begin

To serve the Lord betimes; While sinners, who grow old in sin, Are harden'd in their crimes.

"Twill save us from a thousand snares,
To mind religion young;
Grace will preserve our following years,
And make our virtue strong..

To thee, Almighty God, to thee
Our childhood we resign;
"Twill please us to look back and see
That all our lives were thine.

Let the sweet work of prayer and praise
Employ my youngest breath;

Thus I'm prepar'd for longer days,
Or fit for early death.