The Song of Simeon; or, Death made desirable.

1 LORD,

at thy temple we appear,

As happy Simeon came,

And hope to meet our Saviour here;
O make our joys the same!

2 With what divine and vast delight
The good old man was fill'd,
When fondly in his wither'd arms
He clasp'd the holy child!

3 Now I can leave this world,' he cried,
'Behold thy servant dies;

'Iv'e seen thy great salvation, Lord,
· And close my peaceful eyes.

4 This is the light prepar'd to shine

6

Upon the Gentile lands;

'Thine Israel's glory, and their hope,

To break their slavish bands.

5 [Jesus, the vision of thy face
Hath overpowering charms!

Scarce shall I feel death's cold embrace,
If Christ be in my arms.

6 Then while ye hear my heart-strings break How sweet my minutes roll!

A mortal paleness on my cheek,
And glory in my soul.]

HYMN 20. Common Metre.

Isaiah LXI. 10.

Spiritual Apparel, namely, the Robe of Righteousness and
Garments of Salvation.

1 AWAKE, my heart; arise, my tongue ; Prepare a tuneful voice;

In God, the life of all my joys,
Aloud will I rejoice.

2 'Tis he adorn'd my naked soul,
And made salvation mine;
Upon a poor polluted worm
He makes his graces shine.

3 And lest the shadow of a spot
Should on my soul be found,

He took the robe the Saviour wrought, And cast it all around.

4 How far the heavenly robe exceeds
What earthly princes wear!

These Ornaments, how bright they shine!
How white the garments are!

5 The Spirit wrought my faith and love,
And hope, and every grace;
But Jesus spent his life to work
The robe of righteousness.

6 Strangely, my soul, art thou array'd,
By the great sacred Three!

In sweetest harmony of praise
Let all thy powers agree.

HYMN 21. Common Metre.

Revelations xxI. 1—4.

A Vision of the Kingdom of Christ among Men.

1 LO, what a glorious sight appears
To our believing eyes!

The earth and sea are pass'd away,
And the old rolling skies.

2 From the third heaven, where God resides,
That holy, happy place,
The new Jerusalem comes down,
Adorn'd with shining grace.

3 Attending angels shout for joy,
And the bright armies sing,
'Mortals, behold the sacred seat
'Of your descending King!

4 The God of glory down to men

Removes his blest abode;

Men, the dear objects of his grace,
And he the loving God.

5 His own soft hand shall wipe the tears
From every weeping eye;

And pains, and groans, and griefs, and fears, 'And death itself shall die. '

6 How long, dear Saviour, O how long

Shall this bright hour delay?

Fly swiftly round, ye wheels of time,
And bring the welcome day.

HYMN 24. Long Metre.

Psalm XLIX. 6, 9, 10. Ecclesiastes vill. 8. Job 11. 14, 15.
The rich Sinner dying.

IN vain the wealthy mortals toil,
And heap their shining dust in vain ;
Look down and scorn the humble poor,
And boast their lofty hills of gain.

2 Their golden cordials cannot ease
Their pained hearts or aching heads,
Nor fright, nor bribe approaching death,
From glittering roofs and downy beds.

3 The lingering, the unwilling soul
The dismal summons must obey,
And bid a long, a sad farewell
To the pale lump of lifeless clay.

4 Thence they are huddled to the grave, Where kings and slaves have equal thrones; Their bones without distinction lie

Amongst the heap of meaner bones.

HYMN 25. Long Metre.

Revelations v. 6-9,

A Vision of the Lamb.

1 ALL mortal vanities, be gone,
Nor tempt mine eyes, nor tire my ears;
Behold amidst th'eternal throne

A vision of the Lamb appears.

2 [Glory his fleecy robe adorns,

Mark'd with the bloody death he bore; Seven are his eyes, and seven his horns, To speak his wisdom and his power. 3 Lo, he receives a scaled book From him that sits upon the throne: Jesus, my Lord, prevails to look On dark decrees, and things unknown.] 4 All the assembling saints around Fall worshipping before the Lamb, And in new songs of gospel-sound Address their honours to his name.

5 [The joy, the shout, the harmony Flies o'er the everlasting hills;

Worthy art thou alone,' they cry,
To read the book, to loose the seals.']

6 Our voices join the heavenly strain,
And with transporting pleasure sing,

Worthy the Lamb that once was slain,
To be our Teacher and our King!'

7 His words of prophecy reveal
Eternal counsels, deep designs;
His grace and vengeance shall fulfil
The peaceful and the dreadful lines.

8 Thou hast redeem'd our souls from hell With thine invaluable blood;

And wretches that did once rebel

Are now made favourites of their God.