2 How little they thought it was he, When charg'd with purloining the cup, "Can Joseph, whom we would have slain, And will he our household maintain? 4 Thus dragg'd by my conscience, I came, At first he look'd stern and severe, What anguish then pierced my heart! Expecting each moment to hear The sentence "Thou cursed depart!" 5 But, oh! what surprise when he spoke, While tenderness beam'd in his face; My heart then to pieces was broke, O'erwhelmed and confounded by grace: "Poor sinner, I know thee full well, By thee I was sold and was slain; But I died to redeem thee from hell, And raise thee in glory to reign. 6 "I'm Jesus, whom thou hast blasphem'd, And crucified often afresh; But let me henceforth be esteem'd That they may be willing to come, EXODUS. HYMN XIII. The bitter Waters. Chap. xv. 23. 25. 1 BITTER, indeed, the waters are, Which in this desert flow; 2 Of pleasing draughts I once could dream, But now awake, I find That sin has poison'd ev'ry stream, And left a curse behind. 3 But there's a wonder-working wood, 4 The virtues of this healing tree 5 The cross on which the Saviour died, Which sweetens all complaints. 6 Thousands have found the bless'd effect, 7 When they, by faith, behold the cross, HYMN XIV. Jehovah-Rophi; or, the Lord my Healer. 1 HEAL us, Emmanuel, here we are, 2 Our faith is feeble, we confess, 4 She too who touch'd thee in the press, And healing virtue stole, Was answered, "Daughter go in peace, Thy faith hath made the whole."t 5 Conceal'd amid the gathering throng, She would have shunn'd thy view; And if her faith was firm and strong, Had strong misgivings too. 6 Like her, with hopes and fears, we come, To touch thee if we may; Oh! send us not despairing home, HYMN XV. Manna. Chap. xvi. 18. 1 MANNA to Israel well supplied The want of other bread; While God is able to provide, His people shall be fed. C. 3 Of this kind care how sweet a proof! It suited ev'ry taste; Who gather'd most had just enough, 4 'Tis thus our gracious Lord divides 5 He knows how much the weak can bear, And helps them when they cry; The strongest have no strength to spare, For such he'll strongly try. 6 Daily they saw the manna come, And cover all the ground; 7 Vain their attempt to store it up, 1 THE manna, favour'd Israel's meat, Was gather'd day by day; 2 In vain to hoard it up they tried, 3 'Twas daily bread, and would not keep, Faith should not want a hoard or heap, 4 The truths by which the soul is fed, 5 However true they have no life Or unction to impart; They breed the worms of pride and strife, But cannot cheer the heart. 6 Nor can the best experience past The brightest hope will faint at last, 7 Dear Lord, while we in prayer are found, Do thou the manna give; Oh! let it fall on all around, That we may eat and live! No sword nor spear the stripling took, 2 'Twas Israel's God and King Ye feeble saints, your strength endures, 3 Who order'd Gideon forth To storm the invader's camp,* The trumpets made his coming known, 4 Oh! I have seen the day, My trust is in the Lord, My soul has quell'd a thousand foes, Self-righteousness, and pride, My weapon from my side? HYMN XVIII. C. The golden Calf. Chap. xxxii. 4. 21. 3 Yea, Aaron, God's anointed priest, 4 Lord, what is man, and what are we, To recompense thee thus! In their offence our own we see, 5 From Sinai's top we heard thee speak, And from mount Calv'ry_too; And yet to idols oft we seek, 6 Some golden calf, or golden dream, Judges vii. 20. 2 The plate of gold which crowns his brows His holiness describes; His breast displays, in shining rows, The names of all the tribes. 3 With the atoning blood he stands Before the mercy-seat; And clouds of incense from his hands 4 Urim and Thummim near his heart, The sacred light of truth impart, To teach and to adorn. 5 Through him the eye of faith descries 6 He bears the names of all his saints 7 In him a holiness complete, Light and perfections shine, The blood, which as a priest he bears 9 In him my weary soul has rest, Though I am weak and vile, I read my name upon his breast, NUMBERS. HYMN XX. Balaam's Wish.* Chap. xxiii. 10. 1 How bless'd the righteous are, When they resign their breath; No wonder Balaam wish'd to share In such a happy death. 2 "Oh! let me die," said he, "The death the righteous do; When life is ended, let me be Found with the faithful few." 3 The force of truth, how great! When enemies confess, 2 Their stubborn neighbours, who, enrag'd, United war against them wag'd, By Joshua soon were overthrown, For Gibeon's cause was now his own. 3 He from whose arm they ruin fear'd, Their leader and ally appear'd; An emblem of the Saviour's grace, To those who humbly seek his face. 4 The men of Gibeon wore disguise, And gain'd their peace by framing lies; For Joshua had no power to spare, If he had known from whence they were. 5 But Jesus invitation sends, Treating with rebels as his friends; 6 Too long his goodness I disdain'd, JUDGES. HYMN XXII. Jehovah-Shalom; or, the Lord is Peace. Chap. vi. 24. None but the righteous, whom they hate, 1 JESUS, whose blood so freely stream'd, A solid hope possess. Book III. Hymn ixxi. To satisfy the law's demand, By thee from guilt and wrath redeem'd, Before the Father's face I stand. 2 To reconcile offending man, 3 No drop remains of all the curse, For wretches who deserv'd the whole; 4 Peace by such means so dearly bought, HYMN XXIII. Gideon's Fleece. Chap. vi. 37-40. 2 The dew which first the fleece had fill'd, 3 To Israel thus the heavenly dew Of saving truth was long restrain'd; 4 But now the Gentiles have receiv'd 66 Like willows by the waters thrive."* 6 But chiefly when his people meet, To hear his word and seek his face, The gentle dew, with influence sweet, Descends, and nourishes their grace. 7 But, ah! what numbers still are dead, Though under means of grace they lie! The dew still falling round their head, And yet their heart untouch'd and dry. 8 Dear Saviour! hear us when we call, To wrestling prayer an answer give; Pour down thy dew upon us all, That all may feel, and all may live. HYMN XXIV. Samson's Lion. Chap. xiv. 8. 1 THE lion that on Samson roar'd, And thirsted for his blood, * Isa. xliv. 4. With honey afterwards was stor'd, And furnish'd him with food. 2 Believers, as they pass along, With many lions meet, But gather sweetness from the strong, 3 The lions rage and roar in vain, Their losses prove a certain gain, 4 The world and Satan join their strength, To fill their souls with fears; But crops of Joy they reap at length, 5 Afflictions make them love the word, 6 The lions roar, but cannot kill; I. SAMUEL. HYMN XXV. Hannah; or, The Throne of Grace. 1 WHEN Hannah, press'd with grief, And left her burden there: Like her, in ev'ry trying case, Let us approach the throne of grace. In trouble what a resting-place Have they who know the throne of grace; 3 Though men and devils rage, The saints, from age to age, Are safe from all their power; Fresh strength they gain to run their race, By waiting at the throne of grace. 4 Eli her case mistook; How was her spirit mov'd But God her cause approv'd. 5 She was not fill'd with wine, And found the help she sought: Though men despise and call us base, Still let us ply the throne of grace. 6 Men have not power or skill Though they express good-will, Poor comforters they are: But swelling sorrows sink apace, When we approach the throne of grace. 7 Numbers before have tried, And found the promise true; Then why should I or you? If the bright sun appear: Thus Jesus will our troubles chase, By shining from the throne of grace.* HYMN XXVI. Dagon before the Ark. Chap. v. 4, 5. 3 Again the Lord his name proclaimed, 4 Yet self is not of life bereft, HYMN XXVII. The Milch-kine Drawing the Ark:--Faith's Surrender of all. Chap. vi. 12. 1 THE kine unguided went By the directest road, When the Philistines homeward sent 2 Lowing they passed along, And left their calves shut up; 3 Shall brutes, devoid of thought, 4 He shed his precious blood, To make us his alone; Book II. Hymn Ixi. 5 If he his will reveal, Let us obey his call; And think, whate'er the flesh may feel, His love deserves our all. 6 We should maintain in view Too much we cannot bear or do, 8 With Jesus for our guide, The path is safe, though rough; The promise says, "I will provide," And faith replies, "Enough." HYMN XXVIII. Saul's Armour. Chap. xvii. 38-40. He certainly would fail, Without a coat of mail. 2 But David, though he yielded He fought the fight of faith; I might have gain'd the day; And had almost prevail'd. 4 Furnish'd with books and notions, And brass like rotten wood. 5 I triumph'd at a distance, While he was out of sight; ↑ Job xli. 27. |