L. M.

3 With gladsome hearts they spread the news

Of pardon through a Saviour's blood ;
And to a numerous, seeking crowd,

Marked out the path to His abode.
4 The powers of earth and hell in vain

Against the sacred Word combine ;
Thy providence through every age

Securely guards the book divine.
5 Thee, its great Author, Source of light,

Thee, its Preserver, we adore ;
And humbly ask a ray from Thee,

Its hidden wonders to explore. 51

High Privilege.
1 I HOLD the sacred Book of God,

To bear, and keep, and use it, free;
But holy martyrs shed their blood

To win this Book of life for me.
2 With steady faith in Christ alone,

The threats of impious power they spurned; And bold that holy faith to own,

They gave their bodies to be burned. 3 With Jesus they are resting now;

We love to speak their honoured names :
O may our lips and lives avow
The truth they kept through blood and

flames. 52 Nature and Scripture (Ps. xix.). 7.6. 1 THE heavens declare His glory,

Their Maker's skill the skies ;

Each day repeats the story,

And night to night replies. •
Their silent proclamation

Throughout the earth is heard ;
The record of creation,

The page of nature's word.
2 There, from his bright pavilion,

Like eastern bridegroom clad,
Hailed by earth's thousand million,

The sun sets forth: right glad
His glorious race commencing,

The mighty giant seems;
Through the vast round dispensing

His all-pervading beams.
3 So pure, so soul-restoring

Is truth's diviner ray ;
A brighter radiance pouring

Than all the pomp of day ;
The wanderer surely guiding ;

It makes the simple wise ;
And, evermore abiding,

Unfailing joy supplies.
4 Thy Word is richer treasure

Than lurks within the mine;
And daintiest fare less pleasure

Yields, than this food divine.
How wise each kind monition !

Led by Thy counsels, Lord,
How safe the saints' condition !

How great is their reward !

:

53 God's Word Glorious.

L.M. 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 Thy noblest wonders here we view,

In souls renewed and sins forgiv'n;
Lord, cleanse from sin, our souls renew,

And make Thy Word our guide to heav'n ! 54 God's Word Perfect.

L.M. 1 This is a precious Book indeed ;

Happy the child who loves to read ! 'Tis God's own Word, which He has given

To show the soul the way to heaven. 2 It tells us how the world was made,

And how good men the Lord obeyed ;
Here His commands are written too,

To teach us what we ought to do. 3 But what is more than all beside,

The Bible tells us Jesus died ;
This is its best, its chief intent,-

To lead poor sinners to repent. 55 Value of the Bible.

8.7. 1 PRECIOUS Bible ! sacred treasure !

Ev'ry saint thy worth doth know;

Here they read, with heartfelt pleasure,

Their escape from endless woe.
2 Here they see their pardon sealed,

Through the Saviour's precious blood ;
Here that heavenly robe's revealed,

Which so sweetly fits for God. 3 Here they see the road to glory,

Through their Christ, the living way; Here they learn that blissful story,

Which shall bless to endless day.
4 O that many here may feel it

Fastened home, with power divine;
By the Holy Spirit sealed,

To His glory hence to shine!
56 Prayer for Blessing.
1 O MAY these heavenly pages be

Our ever dear delight;
And still new beauties may we see,

And still increasing light.
2 Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,

Be Thou for ever near ;
Teach us to love Thy sacred Word,

And view the Saviour there,
57 God's Word Powerful. C.M.)
1 THE Spirit breathes upon the Word,

And brings the truth to sight;
Precepts and promises afford

A sanctifying light.

C.M.,

a

L.M.

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;
Its 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.
58 The Scriptures Abiding.
1 THE heavens declare Thy glory, Lord !

The varied things that meet our eyes
Abundant evidence afford

That Thou art great, that Thou art wise. 2 But though the things we see around

Thy wisdom and Thy power declare,
No argument can there be found

To lift a sinner from despair. 3 Not from Thy works, but from Thy Word,

The soul-reviving news is known,
That pardon may with truth accord,

And mercy can to man be shown.
4 When a few seasons have revolved,

The world shall pass away, and then
The works thereof shall be dissolved,
And not a single trace be seen.