6 The starry heavens thy rule obey,
The earth maintains her place;
And these thy servants night and day
Thy skill and power express!

7 But still thy law and gospel, Lord,
Have lessons more divine;

Not earth stands firmer than thy word,
Nor stars so nobly shine.

8 Thy word is everlasting truth;
How pure is every page!

That holy-book shall guide our youth,
And well support our age.

508.

Perfection of Scripture. (C. M.)

1 LET all the heathen writers join
To form one perfect book,

Great God, if once compar'd with thine,
How mean their writings look!

2 Not the most perfect rules they gave,
Could show one sin forgiven,

Nor lead a step beyond the grave;
But thine conduct to heaven.

3 I've seen an end of what we call
Perfection here below;

How short the powers 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 hêre,
While sin defiles our frame,

And sinks our virtues down so far,
They scarce deserve the name.

6 Our faith and love, and every grace,
Fall far below thy word;

But perfect truth and righteousness
Dwell only with the Lord.

509.

The Rule of Scripture. (C. M.)

1THAT the Lord would guide my ways, To keep his statutes still!

O that my God would grant me grace
To know and do his will!

2 O send thy Spirit down to write
Thy law upon my heart!

Nor let my tongue indulge deceit,
Nor act the liar's part.

3 From vanity turn off my eyes;
Let no corrupt design,
Nor covetous desires arise
Within this soul of mine.

4 Order my footsteps by thy word,
And make my heart sincere;
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conscience clear.

5 My soul hath gone too far astray,
My feet too often slip;

Yet since I've not forgot thy way,
Restore thy wand'ring sheep.

6 Make me to walk in thy commands,
"Tis a delightful road;

Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,
Offend against my God.

510.

1

GOD, who in various methods told

His mind and will to saints of old, Sent down his Son, with truth and grace, To teach us in these latter days.

2 Our nation reads the written word,
That book of life, that sure record:
The bright inheritance of heav'n
Is by the sweet conveyance given.
3 God's kindest thoughts are here express'd,
Able to make us wise and bless'd;
The doctrines are divinely true,
Fit for reproof, and comfort too.
4 Ye British Isles, who read his love,
In long epistles from above,

He hath not sent his sacred word
To every land, praise ye the Lord.

511.

The same. (C. M.)

1 LADEN with guilt, and full of fears,

I fly to thee, my Lord,

And not a glimpse of hope appears,
But in thy written word.

2 The volume of my Father's grace,
Does all my griefs assuage:

Here I behold my Saviour's face,
Almost in every page.

3 This is the field where hidden lies,
The pearl of price unknown;
That merchant is divinely wise,
Who makes the pearl his own.
4 Here consecrated water flows,
To quench my thirst of sin;
Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
Nor danger dwells therein.

5 This is the Judge that ends the strife,
Where wit and reason fail;
My guide to everlasting life,
Through all this gloomy vale.
60 may thy counsels, mighty God,
My roving feet command;
Nor I forsake the happy road
That leads to thy right-hand.

THE CHURCH OF GOD.

512. The Beauty of the Church. (S. M.)

AR as thy name is known,

1 FAR

2

The world declares thy praise;

Thy saints, O Lord, before thy throne,
Their songs of honour raise.

With joy let Judah stand

On Sion's chosen hill;

Proclaim the wonders of thy hand,

And counsels of thy will.

3 Let strangers walk around

The city where we dwell,

Compass and view thine holy ground,
And mark the building well;

5

6

The worship of thy court,

The cheerful songs, the solemn vows;
And make a fair report.

How decent and how wise!

How glorious to behold!

Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes,
And rites adorn'd with gold.

The God we worship now,

Will guide us till we die,

Will be our God while here below,

And ours above the sky.

513. The Church the Birth-place of the Saints.

1

GOD

(L. M.)

OD in his early temple lays
Foundations for his heavenly praise;

He likes the tents of Jacob well,

But still in Zion loves to dwell.

2 His mercy visits every house,

That pay their night and morning vows;
But makes a more delightful stay,
Where churches meet to praise and pray.

3 What glories were describ'd of old!
What wonders are of Zion told!
Thou city of our God below,

Thy fame shall Tyre and Egypt know.
4 Egypt and Tyre, and Greek and Jew,
Shall there begin their lives anew:
Angels and men shall join to sing
The hill where living waters spring.