Nor issue edicts of command To mar our sacred pleasures bere. 3 We sit beneath the gospel vine, And in its cooling shade repose; Refresh our spirits with its wine, And in the pleasure lose our woes. 4 In it we have unfading health; Our sins, our pains, our sorrows heal'd ;. opens stores of boundless wealth,

It

In the eternal cov'nant seal'd.

5 Then let us tune the joyful string;
And speak of mercy in our song;
To God our thankful off'rings bring,
To whom our praises all belong.

HYMN 535. C. M.

The Cause of Labour and Reproach..

WHY should the servants of the Lord,

Who labour in his name,

Be made to bear the scoffing word
Of base reproach and shame ?
2 Why are the messengers of peace
Reviled and abas'd?

And why their messages of grace.
So carelessly refus'd?

3 Because they trust in God alone,
And human creeds deny;
That he will bring the nations home,
And raise his glory high.

4 But they shall prosper and succeed,
And truth triumphant roll;

Till all shall know the Lord indeed,
On earth, from pole to pole,

5 All shall the gospel voice obey,
Its blessings shall revive;

But blest especially are they
Who now do it believe.

WALLACE

WALLACE.

And dissipates our fear;

Binds all our wounds, abates our pains,

And gives us comforts here.

5.

He bids our willing eyes

Look through the gloomy shade,

To joys immortal in the skies,

That never cloy nor fade.

HYMN 537.

WALLACE

L. M.

The Greatness and Glory of God's Works.

How great is our Creator God,

In wisdom, majesty and might;
When he displays his pow'r abroad,
And brings his wonders forth to light.
2 Behold what cloudy columns rise,
Terrific as the shades of night;
What peals of thunder rend the skies,
The light'ning, how sublimely bright.
3 How dreadful is the threat'ning hail;
Th' approaching tempest, O how grand ! !

FF2

What terror doth the mind assail,
When deep convulsions shake the land.

4 The seas with hollow murmurs groan,
The bowels of the mountains flame ;
The elements affrighted own
The awful greatness of thy name.
5 Almighty God! thy chariot wheels
In solemn pomp and grandeur roll;
Thy presence trembling nature feels,
And humble rev'rence fills our souls.

HYMN 538. C. M.

WALLACE

Pleasing Contemplations on Nature.
WHAT beauteous visions, clear and bright,
Attract our ravish'd eyes;

By shining day, and silent night,

On earth and in the skies.

2 The dawning beam of morn how clear,
That bids the night adieu;
How.pleasant do those rays appear,
That gild the early dew.

3 How soft, how sweet that robe of green
That virgin nature wears;
How lovely is the flow'ry scene

She on her bosom bears.

4 Those fleecy clouds that float on high
Are pleasing to behold;
And bright the jewels of the sky,
Cerulean, set with gold.

5 Thus nature smiles in liv'ry gay,
Doth beav'nly wisdom tell,

And whispers goodness in the ray,
That bids the day farewell,

WALLACE.

ВЕ

HYMN 539. S. M.

Christ the Tree of Life.

EHOLD the living tree,
Th' inspired prophet saw;
Whose fruit is to all nations free,
Unguarded by the law.
No flaming swords descend
The garden's sacred ground;
No dire denunciations rend
The ear with piercing sound.
Come, and its fruit partake,
Its healing leaves apply;
Its virtues will re-animate
And raise your spirits high.
4 "Tis for the nations' use,

3

5

To heal their ev'ry wound; Its colours, and its balmy juice, Make health and life abound. 'Tis Jesus Christ the Lord, Prefigur'd by the tree;

The gospel is the healing word,

That sets the sinner free.

T

HYMN 540.

WALLACE.

C. M.

Grateful Recognition of Divine Goodness.

NO thee, O God, my thoughts ascend,
My joy and glory here;

My portion and my heavenly friend,

And my Redeemer dear.

2 Mercy and tenderness and grace,
And truth, with love divine
Appear in thy sweet smiling face,
And with compassion shine.

3 I find a full supply for all
My wants, O God, in thee;
Thine ear attends my ev'ry call;
Thy goodness succours me.

4 In evening shadows, when I sleep,
Or morning when I rise,

Thou dost my moments safely keep,
And bring me rich supplies.

5 Thy tender mercies, Lord, I trace
In all my paths around;
And ev'ry day, in ev'ry place,
Thy fulness doth abound.

6 Friendship and safety, rest and health
From thy compassion flow;

And stores of intellectual wealth
Thou freely dost bestow.

7 Receive my humble thankfulness,
As all I can return;

And let not thy abundant grace
The willing off'ring spurn.

HYMN 541. C. M.

Shortness of Time improved.

TIME wings our moments swift away;
Again the shades appear;

Ev'ning returns; the close of day
Comes with the rolling sphere.

2 Thus we to dissolution tend;
Our steps approach the urn;
Our lives approximate their end,
And we to dust return..

3 May we improve the solemn thought,
With understanding mind;
Be wisdom by experience taught,
And we to heav'n resign'd.

4 Sure this abode of mortal clay
Is not our place of rest;
But we approach a perfect day,
To be more richly blest.

WALLACE.