5 Divine Instructor! Gracious Lord!
Be thou for ever near;

Teach me to love thy sacred word,
And view my Saviour there!

43.

C.M.-"Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet," &c. Ps. cxix. 105. 1 HOW precious is the book divine, By inspiration given!

Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,
To guide our souls to heaven.

2 It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts,
In this dark vale of tears;

Life, light, and joy it still imparts,
And quells our rising fears.

3 This lamp through all the tedious night
Of life shall guide our way,
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.

44.

L.M.-Benefits of the Word.

1 WHEN Israel through the desert pass'd, A fiery pillar went before;

Their guide by night through all the waste, From Egypt quite to Canaan's shore.

2 Such is thy glorious word, O God,

'Tis for our light and guidance given; It sheds a lustre all abroad,

And points the path to bliss and heaven. 3 It fills the soul with sweet delight, And quickens its inactive powers; Sets all our wandering footsteps right, Displays thy love, and kindles ours.

4 Its promises rejoice our hearts,

Its doctrines are divinely true; Knowledge and pleasure it imparts,

Yields comfort and instruction too.

5 Ye British isles, who have this word,
Ye saints, who feel its saving power,
Your efforts join with one accord,
To send it forth to every shore.

45.

C.M.-The Light and Glory of the Word.

1 A GLORY gilds the sacred page,
Majestic, like the sun;

It gives a light to every age;
It gives, but borrows none.
2 The hand that gave it, still supplies
The gracious light and heat;
His truths upon the nations rise,
They rise, but never set.

3 Let everlasting thanks be thine,
For such a bright display,

As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.

4 My soul rejoices to pursue
The steps of him I love,
Till glory breaks upon my view,
In brighter worlds above.

46.

L.M.-The Voice of God in his Works.

1 THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great original proclaim.

2 The unwearied sun from day to day
Doth his Creator's power display;
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty Hand.
3 Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And, nightly, to the listening earth,
Repeats the story of her birth;

4 Whilst all the stars around her burn, And all the planets, in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.
5 What, though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball;
What, though no real voice nor sound
Amidst the radiant orbs be found?

6 In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
For ever singing, as they shine,
"The Hand that made us is Divine."

47.

L.M.-God's Goodness and wonderful Works. Ps. cvii. 21.

1 YE sons of men, with joy record The various wonders of the Lord;

And let his power and goodness sound Through all your tribes the earth around. 2 Let the high heavens your songs invite, Those spacious fields of brilliant light; Where sun, and moon, and planets roll, And stars that glow from pole to pole. 3 Sing earth, in verdant robes array'd, Its herbs and flowers, its fruit and shade; Peopled with life of various forms, Fishes, and fowl, and beasts, and worms. 4 View the broad sea's majestic plains, And think how wide its Maker reigns; That band remotest nations joins, And on each wave his goodness shines. 5 But oh! that brighter world above, Where lives and reigns incarnate love! God's only Son, in flesh array'd, For man a bleeding victim made.

6 Thither, my soul, with rapture soar;
There in the land of praise adore;
This theme demands an angel's lay,
Demands an undeclining day.

48.

L.M.-A summary view of the Creation. Gen. i. 1 LOOK up, ye saints, direct your eyes To him who dwells above the skies; With your glad notes his praise rehearse Who formed the mighty universe. 2 He spoke, and from the womb of night At once sprung up the cheering light: Him discord heard; and, at his nod, Beauty awoke, and spoke the God. 3 The word he gave, the obedient sun Began his glorious race to run; Nor silver moon, nor stars delay To glide along the ethereal way. 4 Teeming with life,-air, earth, and sea, Obey the Almighty's high decree: To every tribe he gives their food, Then speaks the whole divinely good. 5 But, to complete the wondrous plan, From earth and dust he fashions man; In man the last, in him the best, The Maker's image stands confest. 6 Lord, while thy glorious works I'view, Form thou my heart and soul anew, Here bid thy purest light to shine, And beauty glow with charms divine!

49.

C.M.-Meditating on Creation and Providence.

1 LORD, when our raptur'd thought surveys Creation's beauties o'er,

All nature joins to teach thy praise,

And bids our souls adore.

2 Where'er we turn our gazing eyes,
Thy radiant footsteps shine;

Ten thousand pleasing wonders rise,
And speak their source divine.

3 Thy wisdom, power, and goodness, Lord,
In all thy works appear,
And O! let man thy praise record,
Man, thy distinguish'd care.

4 From thee the breath of life he drew;
That breath thy power maintains;
Thy tender mercy, ever new,
His brittle frame sustains.

5 Thy providence his constant guard,
When threatening woes impend,
Or will the impending dangers ward,
Or timely succours lend.

6 On us that providence has shone
With gentle, smiling rays;

O may our lips and lives make known
Thy goodness and thy praise!

50.

C.M.-The folly of self-dependence. Prov. iii. 5-7.

1 THE swift not always in the race
Shall seize the crowning prize;
Not always wealth and honour grace
The labour of the wise.

2 Fond mortals but themselves beguile
When on themselves they rest;
Blind is their wisdom, weak their toil,
By thee, O Lord, unblest.

3 Evil and good before thee stand,
Thy missions to perform;

The blessing comes at thy command,
At thy command the storm.