BOOK IV.

INSTRUCTIVE HYMNS,

IN FIVE PARTS.

PART I.- OF GOD THE CREATOR.

PART II.-OF GOD THE REDEEMER.

PART III. THE STRAIT GATE.

PART IV.-THE WEDDING GARMENT. PART V.-THE ARK.

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INSTRUCTIVE HYMNS.

PART I.

OF GOD THE CREATOR.

(The Hymns in Part I. correspond with those in Part II.)

225. The Power of God in the Works of Creation.

V. 1.7-10. or 1-6. 10.

1 NOW let a spacious world arise,
Said the Creator Lord;
At once th' obedient earth and skies
Rose at his sov'reign Word.

2 Dark was the deep, the waters lay
Confused, and drown'd the land;
He call'd the light, the new-born day
Attends on his command.

3 He bids the clouds ascend on high;
The clouds ascend and bear
A watery treasure to the sky,
And float on softer air.

4 The liquid element below

Was gath'red by his hand;
The rolling seas together flow,
And leave the solid land.

5 With herbs and plants, a flow'ry birth,
The naked globe he crown'd,
Ere there was rain to bless the earth,
Or sun to warm the ground.

6 Then he adorn'd the upper skies,
Behold! the sun appears;
The moon and stars in order rise,
To make our months and years.

7 Out of the deep, th' Almighty King
Did vital beings frame;
The colour'd fowls of every wing,
And fish of every name.

8 He gave the lion and the worm
At once their wondrous birth,
And grazing beasts of various form
Rose from the teeming earth.

9 Adam was form'd of equal clay,
Though sov'reign of the rest,
Design'd for nobler ends than they,
With God's own image bless'd.

10 Thus glorious, in the Maker's eye,
The young creation stood;
He saw the structure from on high,
His word pronounced it good.

226. The fatherly Care of God in our Preservation.

1 ALMIGHTY Father, gracious Lord,
Kind guardian of my days;
Thy mercies let my heart record,
In songs of grateful praise.

2 In life's first dawn, my tender frame
Was thy indulgent care;
Long ere I could pronounce thy name,
Or breathe the infant prayer.

3 Each rolling year new favours brought,
From thy exhaustless store;
But ah! in vain my labouring thought,
Would count thy mercies o'er.

4 While sweet reflection, through my days,
Thy bounteous hand would trace;
Still dearer blessings claim thy praise,
The blessings of thy grace.

5 Yes, I adore thee, gracious Lord,
For favours more divine;
That I have known thy sacred Word,
Where all thy glories shine.

6 Lord, when this mortal frame decays,
And every weakness dies,
Complete the wonders of thy grace,
And raise me to the skies.

7 Then shall my joyful powers unite,
In more exalted lays,
And join the happy sons of light,
In everlasting praise.

227.

The Word of God.

1 FATHER of mercies, in thy Word
What endless glory shines;
For ever be thy name adored,
For these celestial lines.

2 Here may the wretched sons of want
Exhaustless riches find;

Riches above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.

3 Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
And yields a free repast;
Sublimer sweets than nature knows
Invite the longing taste.

4 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around,

And life and everlasting joys
Attend the blissful sound.

5 O may these heavenly pages be
My ever dear delight,
And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.

6 Divine instructor, gracious Lord,
Be thou for ever near;
Teach me to love thy sacred Word,
And view my Saviour there.