2 Mine to chide me when I rove;
  Mine to show a Savior’s love;
Mine thou art to guide and guard;
  Mine to punish or reward.

3 Mine to comfort in distress,
  Suffering in this wilderness;
Mine to show, by living faith,
  Man can triumph over death.

4 Mine to tell of joys to come,
  And the rebel sinner’s doom;
O thou holy book divine,
  Precious treasure, thou art mine.

     John Burton, 1805.

66 Evan.  C.M.

Psalm 119. (155)

Lord!  I have made thy word my choice,
  My lasting heritage;
There shall my noblest powers rejoice,
  My warmest thoughts engage.

2 I’ll read the histories of thy love,
  And keep thy laws in sight,
While through the promises I rove,
  With ever fresh delight.

3 ’Tis a broad land of wealth unknown
  Where springs of life arise;
Seeds of immortal bliss are sown,
  And hidden, glory lies.

4 The best relief that mourners have—­
  It makes our sorrows blest;
Our fairest hope, beyond the grave,
  And our eternal rest.

     Isaac Watts, 1719.

67 Evan.  C.M.

The Latter Day. (1018)

Lord! send thy word, and let it fly,
  Armed with thy Spirit’s power;
Ten thousands shall confess its sway,
  And bless the saving hour.

2 Beneath the influence of its grace,
  The barren wastes shall rise,
With sudden flowers and fruits arrayed,—­
  A blooming paradise.

3 Peace, with her olives crowned, shall stretch
  Her wings from shore to shore;
No trump shall rouse the rage of war,
  Nor murderous cannon roar.

4 Lord! for these days we wait;—­these days
  Are in thy word foretold;
Fly swifter, sun and stars! and bring
  This promised age of gold.

5 Amen!—­with joy divine, let earth’s
  Unnumbered myriads cry;
Amen!—­with joy divine, let heaven’s
  Unnumbered choirs reply.

     Thomas Gibbons, 1769.

68 Evan.  C.M.

The Incomparable Richness of God’s Word. (150)

Father of mercies, in thy word
  What endless glory shines! 
Forever be thy name adored
  For these celestial lines.

2 Here may the wretched sons of want
  Exhaustless riches find—­
Riches above what earth can grant,
  And lasting as the mind.

3 Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
  And yields a free repast;
Sublimer sweets than nature knows
  Invite the longing taste.

4 Here the Redeemer’s welcome voice
  Spreads heavenly peace around;
And life and everlasting joys
  Attend the blissful sound.

5 Oh, may these heavenly pages be
  My ever dear delight;
And still new beauties may I see
  And still increasing light.

     Anne Steele, 1760.