NECESSITY AND EXCELLENCE OF REVEALED
THEY who in youth, or hoary age,
To realms of bliss would learn the way,
Must make their guide the sacred page,
And for divine assistance pray.
For not the orbs of day and night,
Nor all the stars that gleam on high,
Can, like the gospel, give a light
That will conduct them to the sky.
Its beams both truth and grace afford,
The doctrine of our fall explain,
Shew how God's image is restor❜d,
And how true happiness we gain.
What else can consolation give,
And dissipate our guilty fear?
It bids the dead through Jesus live,
And in his righteousness appear!
Its heavenly power the mind sustains,
And lifts her grov'ling thoughts on high;
A joyful confidence she gains,
Nor does her Maker's presence fly.
The Bible in thy native tongue,
On easy terms may now be had;
Its truths may be thy daily song,
And make thy broken spirit glad.
For it will comfort and advise,-
Will give thee succour in distress;—
Will make thee to salvation wise,
And lead to endless happiness,
Let not the labour fruitless prove,
Which cost in England such a sum; 2
Or how wilt thou appear above,
When mortals to the judgment come?
Keep it at all times near thy heart,— At work, at rest,-at home,-abroad; Unto thy sons its sense impart,
To guide them in the heavenly road,
Still let this chain adorn thy neck;
Still let this frontlet grace thy brow;
Still let this ring thy finger deck,
And thus before thy Maker bow.
This wholesome food each morning taste;
Be it each noon thy constant fare;
And every night a sweet repast
Of this celestial bread prepare.
What is the body's full supply,
If, pain'd through want, the spirit dies?
How soon each empty joy must fly,
When guilt upon the conscience lies!
Far better in some cave abide,
Where streams of free salvation flow,
Than in the richest vale reside,
Where none the Saviour's fulness know...
"Tis hard to see the dew and rain
Refresh some distant neighbour's field,
If thine should under drought remain,
And for thy flocks no pasture yield.
Then if salvation's joyful sound
Thou canst not in thy parish hear,
Go thou from place to place around,
And seek the truth with pious fear.
What else can consolation give,
And dissipate our guilty fear?
It bids the dead through Jesus live,
And in his righteousness appear!
Its heavenly power the mind sustains,
And lifts her grov'ling thoughts on high;
A joyful confidence she gains,
Nor does her Maker's presence fly.
The Bible in thy native tongue,
On easy terms may now be had; 1
Its truths may be thy daily song,
And make thy broken spirit glad.
For it will comfort and advise,-
Will give thee succour in distress;-
Will make thee to salvation wise,
And lead to endless happiness.
Let not the labour fruitless prove,
Which cost in England such a s
Or how wilt thou appear above
When mortals to the judgme
Keep it at all times near
At work,-at rest,-at F
Unto thy sons its sens
To guide them in the
Still let this chain adorn thy neck;
Still let this frontlet grace thy brow;
Still let this ring thy finger deck,
And thus before thy Maker bow.
This wholesome food each morning taste;
Be it each noon thy constant fare;
And every night a sweet repast
Of this celestial bread prepare.
What is the body's full supply,
If, pain'd through want, the spirit dies?
How soon each empty joy must fly,
When guilt upon the conscience lies!
Far better in some cave abide,
Where streams of free salvation flow,
Than in the richest vale reside,...
Where none the Saviour's fulness know.....
"Tis hard to see the dew and rain
Refresh some distant neighbour's field,
If thine should under drought remain,
And for thy flocks no pasture yield.
Then if salvation's joyful sound
Thou canst not in thy parish hear,
Go thou from place to place around,
And seek the truth with pious fear.
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