How glad the heathens would have been,
That worship'd idols, wood, and stone,
If they the book of God had seen,
Or Jesus and his gospel known!

Then if this gospel I refuse,

How shall I e'er lift up mine eyes? For all the Gentiles and the Jews Against me will in judgment rise.

THE

EXCELLENCY OF THE BIBLE.

GREAT God, with wonder and with praise
On all thy works I look ;

But still thy wisdom, power, and grace,
Shine brightest in thy book.

The stars, that in their courses roll,
Have much instruction given;
But thy good word informs my soul
How I may climb to Heaven.

The fields provide me food, and show
The goodness of the Lord;
But fruits of life and glory grow
In thy most holy word.

Here are my choicest treasures hid,

Here my best comfort lies; Here my desires are satisfied,

And hence my hopes arise.

Lord! make me understand thy law;
Show what my thoughts have been:
And from thy gospel let me draw
Pardon for all my sin.

Here would I learn how Christ had died
To save my soul from hell:
Not all the books on earth beside
Such heavenly wonders tell.

Then let me love my Bible more,
And take a fresh delight
By day to read these wonders o'er,
And meditate by night.

PRAISE TO GOD

FOR LEARNING TO READ.

THE praises of my tongue

I offer to the Lord,

That I was taught and learnt so young To read his holy word.

That I am brought to know
The danger I was in,

By nature and by practice too,
A wretched slave to sin.

That I am led to see

I can do nothing well;
And whither shall a sinner flee
To save himself from hell?

Dear Lord! this book of thine

Informs me where to go,
For grace to pardon all my sin,
And make me holy too.

Here I can read, and learn
How Christ, the Son of God,
Has undertook our great concern ;
Our ransom cost his blood.

And now he reigns above,
He sends his Spirit down
To show the wonders of his love,
And make his gospel known.

O may that Spirit teach,

And make my heart receive

Those truths which all thy servants preach, And all thy saints believe.

Then shall I praise the Lord

In a more cheerful strain,

That I was taught to read his word,
And have not learnt in vain.

THE

ALL-SEEING GOD.

ALMIGHTY God! thy piercing eye
Strikes through the shades of night,
And our most secret actions lie

All open to thy sight.

There's not a sin that we commit,
Nor wicked word we say,

But in thy dreadful book 'tis writ,
Against the judgment-day.

And must the crimes that I have done
Be read and publish'd there?
Be all expos'd before the sun,
While men and angels hear?

Lord, at thy foot asham'd I lie;
Upward I dare not look ;
Pardon my sins before I die,
And blot them from thy book.

Remember all the dying pains
That my Redeemer felt,
And let his blood wash out my stains,
And answer for my guilt.

O may I now for ever fear

To' indulge a sinful thought,

Since the great God can see and hear,

And writes down every fault.

SOLEMN THOUGHTS OF GOD AND DEATH.

THERE is a God that reigns above,

Lord of the heavens, and earth, and seas!

I fear his wrath, I ask his love,

And with my lips I sing his praise.

There is a law which he has writ,

To teach us all that we must do : My soul, to his commands submit, For they are holy, just, and true.

There is a gospel of rich grace,

Whence sinners all their comforts draw: Lord! I repent and seek thy face;

For I have often broke thy law.

There is an hour when I must die,
Nor do I know how soon 'twill come:
A thousand children, young as I,

Are call'd by death to hear their doom.

Let me improve the hours I have,
Before the day of grace is fled;
There's no repentance in the grave,
Nor pardons offer'd to the dead.

Just as a tree cut down, that fell
To north or southward, there it lies;
So man departs to Heaven or hell,
Fix'd in the state wherein he dies.

HEAVEN AND HELL.

THERE is beyond the sky

A heaven of joy and love;

And holy children, when they die,
Go to that world above.