3 It sweetly cheers our fainting hearts
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light, and comfort it imparts,
And calms our anxious fears.
4 This lamp through all the dreary night
Of life shall guide our way,
Till we behold the glorious light
Of never-ending day.
Sufficiency of the Scriptures.
1 GREAT GOD, with wonder and with praise
On all thy works I look ;
But still thy wisdom, power, and grace,
Shine brightest in thy book.
2 Here are my choicest treasures hid;
Here my best comfort lies;
Here my desires are satisfied;
And here my hopes arise.
3 Lord, make me understand thy law;
Show what my faults have been;
And from thy gospel let me draw
The pardon of my sin.
Superiority of the Scriptures.
O LORD, thy perfect word
Directs our steps aright;
Nor can all other books afford
Such profit or delight.
2 Celestial light it sheds,
To cheer this vale below;
To distant lands its glory spreads,
And streams of mercy flow.
3 True wisdom it imparts;
Commands our hope and fear;
O may we hide it in our hearts,
And feel its influence there.
1 GOD, in the Gospel of his Son,
Makes his eternal counsels known;
'Tis here his richest mercy shines,
And truth is drawn in fairest lines.
2 Wisdom its dictates here imparts,
To form our minds, to cheer our hearts;
Its influence makes the sinner live;
bids the drooping saint revive.
3 Our raging passions it controls,
And comfort yields to contrite souls;
It brings a better world in view,
And guides us all our journey througł.
4 May this blest volume ever lie
Close to my heart, and near my eye,
Till life's last hour my soul engage,
And be my chosen heritage.
Revelation. 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.
1 LAMP of our feet! whose hallowed beam
Deep in our hearts its dwelling hath,
How welcome is the cheering gleam
Thou sheddest o'er our lowly path!
Light of our way! whose rays are flung
In mercy o'er our pilgrim road,
How blessed, its dark shades among,
The star that guides us to our God.
2 In the sweet morning's hour of prime,
Thy blessed words our lips engage,
And round our hearths at evening time
Our children spell the holy page ;
The waymark through long distant years,
To guide their wandering footsteps on,
Till thy last loveliest beam appears,
Inscribed upon the churchyard stone.
3 Lamp of our feet! which day by day
Are passing to the quiet tomb.
If on it fall thy peaceful ray,
Our last low dwelling hath no gloom.
How beautiful their calm repose
To whom thy blessed hope is given
Whose pilgrimage on earth is closed
By the unfolding gates of heaven!
1 LORD, I have made thy word my choice,
My lasting heritage;
There shall my noblest powers rejoice,
My warmest thoughts engage.
2 I'll read the histories of thy love,
And keep thy laws in sight,
While through the promises I rove,
With ever-fresh delight.
3 'Tis a broad land of wealth unknown,
Where springs of life arise,
Seeds of immortal bliss are sown,
And hidden glory lies.
4 The best relief that mourners have
It makes our sorrows blest;
Our fairest hope beyond the grave,
And our eternal rest.
1 THOU Book of life!-in thee are found
The mysteries of my Maker's will;
Treasures of knowledge here abound,
The deepest, loftiest mind to fill.
2 Thou art a banquet;-choicest food
I'll seek in thee: thou art a rock,
Whence pour sweet waters; every good
From thee doth flow for Christ's own flock.
3 Light of the world! thy beams impart
To lead my feet through life's dark way;
O shine on this benighted heart,
Nor let me from thy guidance stray.
4 Healer of all the woes of life!
The. balm of souls diseased; to save
From all earth's pain; and end the strife
Of death, with victory o'er the grave!
1 Ir is the one true light,
When other lamps grow dim,
'T will never burn less purely bright,
Nor lead astray from Him.
It is Love's blessed band,
That reaches from the throne
To him whoe'er he be-whose hand
Will seize it for his own!
2 It is the golden key
Unto celestial wealth,
Joy to the sons of poverty,
And to the sick man, health!
The gently proffer'd aid
Of one who knows and best
Supplies the beings he has made
With what will make them blessed.
3 It is the sweetest sound
That infant years can hear,
Travelling across that holy ground,
With God and angels near.
There rests the weary head,
There age and sorrow go;
And how it smooths the dying bed,
O! let the Christian show!
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