Music in Miniature Music

2. “I was his chief Delight,

His everlasting Son,

Before the first of all his Works,

Creation was begun.

〈 3. “Before the flying Clouds,

Before the solid Land,

Before the Fields, before the Floods,

I dwelt at his Right Hand.

4. “When he adorn’d the Skies,

And built them, I was there,

To order when the Sun should rise,

And martial ev’ry Star.

5. “When he pour’d out the Sea,

And spread the flowing Deep,

I gave the Flood a firm Decree

In his own Bounds to keep. 〉

6. “Upon the empty Air

The Earth was ballanc’d well;

With Joy I saw the Mansion where

The Sons of Men should dwell.

7. “My busy Thoughts at first

On their Salvation ran,

E’er Sin was born, or Adam’s Dust

Was fashion’d to a Man.

8. “Then come, receive my Grace,

Ye Children, and be wise;

Happy the Man that keeps my Ways,

The Man that shuns them dies.”

2. In long complaints he spends his breath,

While hosts of hell, and pow’rs of death,

And all the sons of malice join

To execute their curst design.

3. Yet, gracious God, thy pow’r and love,

Has made the curse a blessing prove;

Those dreadful suffrings of thy son

Aton’d for sins which we had done.

4. The pangs of our expiring Lord,

The honours of thy law restor’d,

His sorrows made thy justice known.

And paid for follies not his own.

5. O for his sake our guilt forgive,

And let the mourning sinner live;

The Lord will hear us in his name,

Nor shall our hope be turn’d to shame.

2. Thy hand my heart and reins possest,

Where unborn nature grew;

Thy wisdom all my features trac’d,

And all my members drew.

3. Thine eye with nicest care survey’d

The growth of ev’ry part;

Till the whole scheme thy thoughts had laid

Was copy’d by thy art.

4. Heav’n, earth, and sea, and fire and wind

Shew me thy wond’rous skill;

But I review myself and find

Diviner wonders still.

5. Thy awful glories round me shine,

My flesh proclaims thy praise;

Lord, to thy works of nature join

Thy miracles of grace.

2. We fly to our eternal rock

And find a sure defence;

His holy name our lips invoke,

And draw salvation thence.

3. When God our leader shines in arms,

What mortal heart can bear

The thunder of his loud alarms?

The lightning of his spear?

4. His rides upon the winged wind,

And angels in array

In millions wait to know his mind,

And swift as flames obey.

5. He speaks, and at his fierce rebuke

Whole armies are dismay’d:

His voice, his frown, his angry look,

Strikes all their courage dead.

6. He forms our gen’rals for the field,

With all their dreadful skill;

Gives them his awful sword to wield,

And makes their hearts of steel.

〈 7. He arms our captains to the fight,

(Tho’ there his name’s forgot;

He girded Cyrus with his might,

But Cyrus knew him not.)

8. Oft has the Lord whole nations blest,

For his own church’s sake;

The pow’rs that gave his people rest,

Shall of his care partake. 〉

2. If I am rais’d to bear the sword,

I’ll take my counsels from thy word;

Thy justice and thy heav’nly grace

Shall be the pattern of my ways.

3. Let wisdom all my actions guide,

And let my God with me reside;

No wicked thing shall dwell with me,

Which may provoke thy jealousy.

4. No sons of slander, rage and strife,

Shall be companions of my life;

The haughty look, the heart of pride,

Within my doors shall ne’er abide.

〈 5. I’ll search the land, and raise the just

To posts of honour, wealth and trust:

The men that work thy holy will,

Shall be my friends and fav’rites still. 〉

6. In vain shall sinners hope to rise,

By flatt’ring or malicious lies:

And while the innocent I guard,

The bold offender shan’t be spar’d.

7. The impious crew (that factious band)

Shall hide their heads, or quit the land:

And all that break the public rest,

Where I have pow’r, shall be supprest.

2. Joy to the earth; the Saviour reigns;

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy.

3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make his blessings flow

Far as the curse is found.

4. He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of his righteousness,

And wonders of his love.

2. Ho! all ye hungry starving Souls,

That feed upon the Wind,

And vainly strive with earthly Toys

To fill an empty Mind;

3. Eternal Wisdom has prepar’d

A Soul-reviving Feast,

And bids your longing Appetites

The rich Provision taste.

4. Ho! ye that pant for living Streams,

And pine away and die;

Here you may quench your raging Thirst

With Springs that never dry.

5. Rivers of Love and Mercy here

In a rich Ocean join;

Salvation in Abundance flows,

Like Floods of Milk and Wine.

〈 6. Ye perishing and naked Poor,

Who work with mighty Pain,

To weave a Garment of your own,

That will not hide your Sin;

7. Come naked, and adorn your Souls

In Robes prepar’d by God,

Wrought by the Labours of his Son,

And dy’d in his own Blood. 〉

8. Dear God! the Treasures of thy Love

Are everlasting Mines,

Deep as our helpless Mis’ries are,

And boundless as our Sins!

9. The happy Gates of Gospel-Grace

Stand open Night and Day:

Lord, we are come to seek Supplies,

And drive our Wants away.

2. Let virgin troops soft timbrels bring,

And some with graceful motion dance;

Let instruments of various strings,

With organs join’d, his praise advance.

3. Let them who joyful hymns compose,

To cymbals set their songs of praise;

Cymbals of common use, and those

That loudly sound on solemn days.

4. Let all that vital breath enjoy,

The breath he does to them afford,

In just returns of praise employ:

Let ev’ry creature praise the Lord.

2. Not half so high his pow’r hath spread,

The starry heav’ns above our head,

As his rich love exceeds our praise,

Exceeds the highest hopes we raise.

3. Not half so far hath nature plac’d

The rising morning from the west;

As his forgiving grace removes

The daily guilt of those he loves.

4. How slowly doth his wrath arise!

On swifter wings salvation flies:

And if he lets his anger burn,

How soon his frowns to pity turn!

5. Amidst his wrath compassion shines;

His strokes are lighter than our sins;

And while his rod corrects his saints,

His ear indulges their complaints.

6. So fathers their young sons chastise,

With gentle hands and melting eyes;

The children weep beneath the smart

And move the pity of their heart.

7. The mighty God, the wise and just,

Knows that our frame is feeble dust;

And will no heavy loads impose,

Beyond the strength that he bestows.

8. He knows how soon our nature dies,

Blasted by ev’ry wind that flies;

Like grass we spring, and die as soon,

Or morning flow’rs that fade at noon.

9. But his eternal love is sure

To all the saints, and shall endure;

From age to age his truth shall reign,

Nor children’s children hope in vain.

2. The lying tempter would persuade

There’s no relief in heav’n,

And all my swelling sins appear

Too big to be forgiv’n.

3. But thou, my glory and my strength,

Shalt on the tempter tread,

Shalt silence all my threat’ning guilt,

And raise my drooping head.

〈 4. I cry’d, and from his holy hill

He bow’d a list’ning Ear;

I call’d my father, and my God,

And he subdu’d my fear.

5. He shed soft slumbers on mine eyes,

In spite of all my foes;

I ’woke, and wonder’d at the grace,

That guarded my repose. 〉

6. What tho’ the hosts of death and hell

All arm’d against me stood,

Terrors no more shall shake my soul;

My refuge is my God.

7. Arise, O Lord, fulfil thy grace,

While I thy glory sing:

My God has broke the serpent’s teeth,

And death has lost his sting.

8. Salvation to the Lord belongs,

His arm alone can save:

Blessings attend thy people here,

And reach beyond the grave.

2. The Day glides sweetly o’er their Heads,

Made up of Innocence and Love;

And soft and silent as the Shades

Their nightly Minutes gently move.

〈 3. Quick as their Thoughts their Joys come on,

But fly not half so fast away;

Their Souls are ever bright as Noon,

And calm as Summer Ev’nings be.

4. How oft they look to th’ heav’nly Hills,

Where Groves of living Pleasure grow,

And longing Hopes and chearful Smiles

Sit undisturb’d upon their Brow. 〉

5. They scorn to seek our golden Toys,

But spend the Day and share the Night

In numb’ring o’er the richer Joys

That Heav’n prepares for their Delight.

6. While wretched we, like Worms and Moles,

Lie grov’ling in the Dust below,

Almighty Grace, renew our Souls,

And we’ll aspire to Glory too.

2. Shall I for ever be forgot,

As one whom thou regardest not?

Still shall my soul thine absence mourn?

And still despair of thy return?

3. How long shall my poor troubled breast

Be with these anxious thoughts oppress’d?

And Satan, my malicious foe,

Rejoice to see me sunk so low?

4. Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief,

Before my death conclude my grief;

If thou withhold’st thy heav’nly light,

I sleep in everlasting night.

5. How will the pow’rs of darkness boast,

If but one praying soul be lost?

But I have trusted in thy grace.

And shall again behold thy face.

6. Whate’er my fears or foes suggest,

Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest:

My heart shall feel thy love, and raise

My chearful voice to songs of praise.

2. Much of my Time has run to waste,

And I perhaps am near my Home;

But he forgives my Follies past,

He gives me Strength for Days to come.

3. I lay my Body down to sleep,

Peace is the Pillow for my Head;

While well-appointed Angels keep

Their watchful Stations round my Bed.

4. In vain the Sons of Earth or Hell

Tell me a thousand frightful Things;

My God in Safety makes me dwell

Beneath the Shadow of his Wings.

〈 5. Faith in his Name forbids my Fear:

O may thy Presence ne’er depart!

And in the Morning make me hear

The Love and Kindness of thy Heart.

6. Thus when the Night of Death shall come,

My Flesh shall rest beneath the Ground,

And wait thy Voice to rouse my Tomb,

With sweet Salvation in the Sound. 〉

2. The dawn of each returning day,

Fresh beams of knowledge brings:

And from the dark returns of night

Divine instruction springs.

3. Their pow’rful language to no realm

Or region is confin’d;

’Tis nature’s voice, and understood

Alike by all mankind.

4. Their doctrine does its sacred sense

Thro’ earth’s extent display;

Whose bright contents the circling sun

Does round the world convey.

5. No bridegroom for his nuptials drest,

Has such a chearful face;

No giant does like him rejoice,

To run his glorious race.

6. From east to west, from west to east,

His restless course he goes;

And thro’ his progress chearful light,

And vital warmth bestows.

Part II

7. God’s perfect law converts the soul,

Reclaims from false desires;

With sacred wisdom his sure word

The ignorant inspires.

8. The statutes of the Lord are just,

And bring sincere delight;

His pure commands in search of truth,

Assist the feeblest sight.

9. His perfect worship here is fix’d,

On sure foundations laid:

His equal laws are in the scales

Of truth and justice weigh’d.

10. Of more esteem than golden mines,

Or gold refin’d with skill:

More sweet than honey, or the drops

That from the comb distill.

11. My trusty councellors they are,

And friendly warnings give;

Divine rewards attend on those,

Who by thy precepts live.

12. But what frail man observes, how oft

He does from virtue fall?

O cleanse me from my secret faults,

Thou God that know’st them all.

13. Let no presumptuous sin, O Lord,

Dominion have o’er me;

That by thy grace, preserv’d, I may

The great transgression flee.

14. So shall my pray’r and praises be

With thy acceptance blest;

And I secure, on thy defence,

My strength and Saviour rest.

2. On your soft bosom will I lie,

Forget the World and learn to die.

O Israel’s watchful shepheard spread

Tents of Angels round my bed;

3. Let not the spirits of the aire,

While I slumber, me ensnare,

But save thy suppliant free from harmes,

Clasp’t in thine everlasting armes.

4. Clouds and thick darkness is thy throne,

Thy wonderful Pavilion:

Oh dart from thence a shining ray,

And then my midnight shall be day!

2. My thoughts address his throne,

When morning brings the light;

I seek his blessing every noon,

And pay my vows at night.

3. Thou wilt regard my cries,

O my eternal God,

While sinners perish in surprize,

Beneath thine angry rod.

4. Because they dwell at ease,

And no sad changes feel,

They neither fear nor trust thy name,

Nor learn to do thy will.

5. But I with all my cares,

Will lean upon the Lord,

I’ll cast my burden on his arm,

And rest upon his word.

6. His arm shall well sustain

The children of his love;

The ground on which their safety stands,

No earthly pow’r can move.

2. How dreadful was the Hour

When God our Wand’rings laid,

And did at once his Vengeance pour

Upon the Shepherd’s Head!

3. How glorious was the Grace,

When Christ sustain’d the Stroke;

His Life and Blood the Shepherd pays,

A Ransom for the Flock.

4. His Honour and his Breath

Were taken both away;

Join’d with the Wicked in his Death,

And made as vile as they.

5. But God shall raise his Head

O’er all the Sons of Men,

And make him see a num’rous Seed

To recompense his Pain.

6. I’ll give him (saith the Lord)

A Portion with the Strong;

He shall possess a large Reward,

And hold his Honours long.

2. God thro’ the world extends his sway;

The regions of eternal day,

But shadows of his glory are.

To him, whose Majesty excels,

Who made the heav’n in which he dwells,

Let no created pow’r compare.

3. Though ’tis beneath his state to view

In highest heav’n what angels do,

Yet he to earth vouchsafes his care:

He takes the needy from his cell,

Advancing him in courts to dwell.

Companion to the greatest there.

4. When childless families despair,

He sends the blessing of an heir,

To rescue their expiring name:

Makes her that barren was to bear,

And joyfully her fruit to rear:

O then extol his matchless fame!

2. Alas, the brittle clay

That built our body first!

And ev’ry month, and ev’ry day,

’Tis mould’ring back to dust.

3. Our moments fly apace,

Nor will our minutes stay:

Just like a flood our hasty days

Are sweeping us away.

4. Well, if our days must fly,

We’ll keep their end in sight,

We’ll spend them all in wisdom’s way,

And let them speed their flight.

5. They’ll waft us sooner o’er

This life’s tempestuous sea:

Soon we shall reach the peaceful shore

Of blest eternity.

2. Let heav’n succeed our painful years,

Let sin and sorrow cease,

And in proportion to our tears,

So make our joys increase.

3. Thy wonders to thy servants show,

Make thy own work compleat,

Then shall our souls thy glory know,

And own thy love was great.

4. Then shall we shine before thy throne,

In all thy beauty, Lord;

And the poor service we have done

Meet a divine reward.

2. Lord, while we see whole nations die,

Our flesh and sense repine and cry,

“Must death for ever rage and reign?

Or hast thou made mankind in vain?”

3. “Where is thy promise to the just?

Are not thy servants turn’d to dust?”

But faith forbids these mournful sighs,

And sees the sleeping dust arise.

4. That glorious hour, that dreadful day,

Wipes the reproach of saints away,

And clears the honour of thy word;

Awake our souls and bless the Lord.

2. Death, and the terrors of the grave.

Stood round me with their dismal shade;

While floods of high temptations rose,

And made my sinking soul afraid.

3. I saw the op’ning gates of hell,

With endless pains and sorrows there:

Which none but they that feel can tell,

While I was hurry’d to despair.

4. In my distress I call’d my God,

When 1 could scarce believe him mine:

He bow’d his ear to my complaint;

Then did his grace appear divine.

〈 5. With speed he flew to my relief,

As on a cherub’s wing he rode;

Awful and bright as lightning shone

The face of my deliv’rer, God.

6. Temptations fled at his rebuke.

The blast of his almighty breath;

He sent salvation from on high,

And drew me from the deeps of death. 〉

7. Great were my fears, my foes were great.

Much was their strength, and more their rage;

But Christ my Lord, is conqu’ror still.

In all the wars the devils wage.

8. My song for ever shall record

That terrible, that joyful hour;

And give the glory to the Lord,

Due to his mercy and his pow’r.

2. Not the most perfect rules they gave

Could shew one sin forgiv’n,

Nor lead a step beyond the grave;

But thine conduct to heav’n.

3. I’ve seen an end of what we call

Perfection here below;

How short the pow’rs of nature fall,

And can no farther go.

4. Yet men would fain be just with God,

By works their hands have wrought;

But thy commands, exceeding broad,

Extend to every thought.

5. In vain we boast perfection here,

While sin defiles our frame,

And sinks our virtues down so far

They scarce deserve the name.

6. Our faith and love, and ev’ry grace,

Fall far below thy word;

But perfect truth and righteousness

Dwell only with the Lord.

2. Lord, shall it be for ever said,

“The race of man was only made

For sickness, sorrow, and the dust!”

Are not thy servants day by day

Sent to their graves, and turn’d to clay?

Lord, where’s thy kindness to the just?

3. Hast thou not promis’d to thy son,

And all his seed a heav’nly crown?

But flesh and sense indulge despair;

For ever blessed be the Lord,

That faith can read his holy word,

And find a resurrection there.

4. For ever blessed be the Lord,

Who gives his saints a long reward,

For all their toil, reproach and pain;

Let all below, and all above,

Join to proclaim thy wond’rous love,

And each repeat their loud Amen.

2. Does not my soul detest and hate

The sons of malice and deceit?

Those that oppose thy laws and thee,

I count them enemies to me.

3. Lord, search my soul, try ev’ry thought:

Tho’ my own heart accuse me not,

Or walking in a false disguise,

I beg the trial of thine eyes.

4. Doth secret mischief lurk within?

Do I indulge some secret sin?

O turn my feet whene’er I stray,

And lead me in thy perfect way.

2. The Lord builds up Jerusalem,

And gathers nations to his name:

His mercy melts the stubborn soul,

And makes the broken spirit whole.

3. He form’d the stars, those heav’nly flames,

He counts their numbers, calls their names:

His wisdom’s vast, and knows no bound,

A deep where all our thoughts are drown’d.

4. Great is our Lord, and great his might;

And all his glories infinite:

He crowns the meek, rewards the just,

And treads the wicked to the dust.

5. Sing to the Lord, exalt him high,

Who spreads his clouds all round the sky:

There he prepares the fruitful rain,

Nor lets the drops descend in vain.

6. He makes the grass the hills adorn,

And cloaths the smiling fields with corn;

The beasts with food his hands supply,

And the young ravens when they cry.

7. What is the creature’s skill or force,

The sprightly man, the warlike horse,

The nimble wit, the active limb?

All are too mean delights for him.

8. But saints are lovely in his sight;

He views his children with delight;

He sees their hope, he knows their fear,

And looks and loves his image there.

〈 2. Thy shining Grace can cheer

This Dungeon where I dwell:

’Tis Paradise when thou art here;

If thou depart, ’tis Hell.

3. The Smilings of thy Face,

How amiable they are!

’Tis Heav’n to rest in thine Embrace,

And no where else but there.

4. To thee, and thee alone,

The Angels owe their Bliss;

They sit around thy gracious Throne,

And dwell where Jesus is.

5. Not all the Harps above

Can make a heav’nly Place,

If God his Residence remove,

Or but conceal his Face. 〉

6. Nor Earth, nor all the Sky,

Can one Delight afford;

No, not a Drop of real Joy,

Without thy Presence, Lord.

7. Thou art the Sea of Love,

Where all my Pleasures roll;

The Circle where my Passions move,

And Centre of my Soul.

〈 8. To thee my Spirit fly

With infinite Desire;

And yet, how far from thee I lie!

Dear Jesus, raise me Higher. 〉

2. My crimes are great, but don’t surpass

The pow’r and glory of thy grace:

Great God! thy nature hath no bound,

So let thy pard’ning love be found.

3. O wash my soul from ev’ry sin,

And make my guilty conscience clean;

Here on my heart the burden lies,

And past offences pain my eyes.

4. My lips with shame my sins confess,

Against thy law, against thy grace;

Lord, should thy judgments grow severe,

I am condemn’d, but thou art clear.

5. Should sudden vengeance seize my breath,

I must pronounce thee just in death;

And if my soul were sent to hell,

Thy righteous law approves it well.

6. Yet save a trembling sinner, Lord,

Whose hope still hov’ring round thy word,

Would light on some sweet promise there,

Some sure support against despair.

2. How glorious the Name

Of Jesus, our King!

Thou crucify’d Lamb,

Thine Honours we sing:

Our Hope and Salvation

To World without End;

Our nearest Relation,

And faithfullest Friend.

2. His mercy reigns thro’ ev’ry land;

Proclaim his grace abroad;

For ever firm his truth shall stand;

Praise ye the faithful God.