5 For love like this, oh may my song
Through endless years thy praise prolong;
And distant climes thy name adore,
Till time and nature are no more!

93. c. M.

The Gospel a glorious Light.

1 THE gospel, like another sun,
Shines with a glorious ray;
Chasing the darkness of the night,
It spreads the moral day.

2 What blessed truths this book reveals!
What hope its pages give!
Pardon and peace the gospel brings,
And bids the sinner live.

3 Purer than silver most refin'd
Its holy precepts shine;
The promises most precious are;
The examples are divine.

4 The Father's grace, the Saviour's love,
Adorn the sacred page;

Our youth it guides, and well supports
Our most enfeebled age.

5 Immortal life it brings to light,-
A life of perfect joy;
Pleasures refin'd which always charm,
Delights which never cloy.

6 Thy gospel, LORD! demands our praise,
For this thy name we bless;

Oh may our hearts as well as tongues
Its glorious power confess!

94. L. M.

The Excellency of the Gospel.

ATHER divine! for that bless'd word

1 FAT

Which endless life conveys,

For ever be thy name ador'd,

In strains of ardent praise!

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 springs of consolation rise
To cheer the fainting mind;
And thirsty souls receive supplies,
And sweet refreshment find,

5 Oh may thy gospel ever be
My study and delight,
Where still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light!

Go

95. L. M.

The Excellency of the Gospel.

YOD, who in various methods told
His holy will to those of old,

By his beloved son displays,
His truth and grace in latter days.
2 We have the volume which records
Our Saviour's character and words;
And in our rising Lord was given
The pledge of life, the hope of heaven.
3 There knowledge of the noblest kind
Expands and elevates the mind;
The heavenly doctrine, plain as true,
Instructs, reproves, and comforts too!

4 How brightly there thy glories shine!-
Wisdom and goodness all divine-
Whate'er can fill the soul with love,
And form it for the joys above.

5 Christians! while grateful songs ye raise, Improve the gospel which ye praise; And aid its progress, till the LORD Hath bless'd all nations with his word. 96. L. M.

1

G

The Excellency of the Gospel.
OD, 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 ;
It bids the drooping saint revive.
3 Our raging passions it controuls,
And comfort, yields to contrite souls;
It brings a better world in view,
And guides us all our journey through.
4 May this bless'd volume ever lie
Close to my heart, and near my eye,
Till life's last hour my soul engage,-
And be my chosen heritage.

97, L. M.

The Excellency of the Gospel.

1 PARENT of good! thy gospel's power
The reign of darkness hath o'erthrown;
O wondrous grace! O glorious hour,
Which made the great salvation known!

2 Though we should trace the globe around, Where'er the human foot hath trod, There will be no religion found,

So safe to man, so just to God.

3 How well its blessed truths agree!
How wise and holy each command!
Its promises, how sure they be!
How firm our hope and comfort stand!

L

4 In vain shall all its foes devise

1

To shake my faith with treach'rous art;
My soul thy wisdom justifies,

And binds thy gospel to my heart.

98. s. M.

The Excellency of the Gospel as a Rule of Duty.

BEHOLD! the morning sun

Begins his glorious way!

His beams through all the nations run,

And light and life convey.

2

But where the gospel comes,

It spreads diviner light;

There sinners learn to know the LORD,

And guide their steps aright.

3

How perfect is thy word,

4

5

1

And all thy judgments just!

For ever sure thy promise, LORD!.

And men securely trust.

My gracious GOD! how plain

Are thy directions given !

Oh may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven!

While, with my heart and tongue,
I spread thy praise abroad,

Accept the worship and the song
My Father and my GOD!

99. L. M.

The Excellency and Success of the Gospel.
THE
HE heav'ns declare thy glory, LORD,
In ev'ry star thy wisdom shines;

But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.

2 Sun, moon, and stars, convey thy praise
Round the whole earth and never stand;
So when thy truth began its race,
It darted light from land to land.

3 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,

Till through the world thy truth has run ; Till Christ hath all the nations bless'd, Which see the light, or feel the sun. 4 Oh may his noon-day glory rise, To bless the world with heavenly light! Thy gospel makes the simple wise; Thy laws are pure, thy statutes right. 5 Thy richest mercy here we view In souls renew'd and sins forgiven; LORD! cleanse our sins, our souls renew, And make thy word our guide to heaven.

100. P. M.

The Efficacy of the Gospel.

1 MARK the soft-falling snow,

And the diffusive rain;

To heaven, from whence it fell,
It turns not back again,

But waters earth through every pore,
And calls forth all its secret store.

2 Array'd in beauteous green,
The hills and valleys shine,
And man and beast are fed
By Providence divine;

The harvest bows its golden ears,
The copious seed of future years.

3 So,' saith the GoD of grace,
'My gospel shall descend,
Almighty to effect

The purpose I intend ;

Millions of souls shall feel its power,
And bear it down to millions more.'