III.

At night's meridian reign I wake,
Bless the blank silence and the gloom,
Then aim an heavenly flight to take,
And launch into the joys to come.

IV.

But swift the earthborn fancies rise,
And break the heav'n-ascending chain,
Replace the painted vanities,

And talk the buzzing sounds again.

V.

Sudden a mounting flame aspires,
Sudden a dusty fog descends;
The fog subdues the heav'nly fires,
And damps and darkness wide extends.

VI.

O when shall that blest hour arrive
That sets my fetter'd soul at large?
Time faster still thy chariot drive,
And hasten death to my discharge,

VII.

Or rather may almighty grace

Exalt, enliven, and refine,

From this vain heart the world efface,
And seal me with the stamp divine.

VIII.

Thus, while I sojourn here below,
To heav'n my faithful songs shall rise:
So angels, when through earth they go,
Enjoy the raptures of the skies.

HYMN CLXI. P. M.
The word of God precious.

1.

PRECIOUS Bible! what a treasure

Does the word of God afford!

All I want for life or pleasure,

FOOD and MED'CINE, SHIELD and SWORD, Let the world account me poor, Having this, I need no more.

11.

FOOD to which the world's a stranger,
Here my hungry soul enjoys;
Of excess there is no danger,
Tho' it fills, it never cloys.

On a dying Christ I feed,
He is meat and drink indeed.
III.

When my faith is faint and sickly,
Or when Satan wounds my mind,
Cordials to revive me quickly,
Healing MED'CINES here I find:
To the promises I flee,

Each affords a remedy.

IV.

In the house of dark temptation,
Satan cannot make me yield;
For the word of consolation
Is to me a mighty SHIELD:

While the scripture truths are sure,
From his malice I'm secure.

V.

Vain his threats to overcome me,
When I take the Spirit's SwORD;

Then with ease I drive him from me,
Satan trembles at the word:

'Tis a sword for conquest made,

Keen the edge, and strong the blade.

VI.

Shall I envy then the miser,
Doating on his golden store?
Sure I am, or should be wiser,
I am rich 'tis he is poor:

JESUS gives me in his word,

FOOD & MEDICINE, SHIELD & SWORD.

HYMN CLXII. L. M.
On the Nativity of Christ.

MESSIA

I.

ESSIAH'S born-the glad'ning sound From east to west shall quick rebound, See! mines of heav'nly grace are sprung, And mournful hearts in consort strung.

II.

Heaven's brightest herald tells his birth;
Anon a choir descends to earth,

And thro' the nightly shades, proclaim
The young Redeemer's rising fame.

III.

Th' astonish'd shepherds heard them sing The birth, and honors of their King; "Glory to God in highest strains,

"Whilst peace on earth triumphant reigns."

IV.

At his approach, see! devils fly
Like forked light'nings thro' the sky;

Sin, death, and hell, make haste away,
As darkness chas'd by morning ray.

V.

See GoD and men in union join'd
Immanuel's flesh the contract sign'd;
So GOD his fav'rite sons enjoys,
And they to his embraces rise.

VI.

Now sun and stars conceal their fires,
Whilst human wit asham'd retires,
For fairer beams array that face,
Where shines the father's brightest grace.

VII.

Lodg'd in this Saviour's gracious arms,
Our souls shall fear no sad alarms;
This wond'rous Child shall lead us home
To worlds, where sorrows never come.

HYMN CLXIII.

as 148th Psalm Tune.

The same

I.

T length the SAVIOUR's born,
And has his entrance made;

A

Behold the rising morn

Drives back the sullen shade:
See darkness flies,

And heavenly day,
With beaming ray,
Regales our eyes.

II.

Fetters and chains no more
Shall e'er our mind enslave;

Messiah will restore

The joys which Eden gave:
Whilst Death and sin
Affrighted fly

Before his eye

His God-like mien.

III.

He comes from heaven to die
For crimes which we had done;
To wipe the weeping eye,
And heal the broken bone:
Let ev'ry tongue
Aloud proclaim

His honour'd name,
In softest song.

VI.

Let Jews and Gentiles join
Their worship at his feet,
Where power and love combine,
And in full glory meet:

Whilst mortals sing,
Bright Angels join,
With notes divine,
To their blest King.

V.

Glory and peace attend
Where'er he marks his way;
He shines the sinner's friend,
And wins old Satan's prey,
When time is past,
Eternal days

Shall sing and praise
The First, the Last.