Hymn 2:18. The ministry of angels. 1 High on a hill of dazzling light, The King of Glory spreads his seat, And troops of angels stretch'd for flight, Stand waiting round his awful feet. 2 "Go," saith the Lord, "my Gabriel go, "Salute the virgin's fruitful womb,[1] "Make haste, ye cherubs, down below, Sing and proclaim the Saviour come." 3 Here a bright squadron leaves the skies, And thick around Elisha stands;[2] Anon a heavenly soldier flies, And breaks the chains from Peter's hands.[3] 4 Thy winged troops, O God of hosts, Wait on thy wandering church below, Here we are sailing to thy coasts, Let angels be our convoy too. 5 Are they not all thy servants,[4] Lord? At thy command they go and come With cheerful haste obey thy word, And guard thy children to their home. [1] Luke 1:16. [2] Luke 2:13. [3] Acts 11:7. [4] Heb. 1:14. Hymn 2:19. Our frail bodies, and God our preserver. 1 Let others boast how strong they be, Nor death, nor danger fear; But we'll confess, O Lord, to thee, What feeble things we are. 2 Fresh as the grass our bodies stand, And flourish bright and gay, A blasting wind sweeps o'er the land, And fades the grass away. 3 Our life contains a thousand springs, And dies if one be gone; Strange! that a harp of thousand strings Should keep in tune so long. 4 But 'tis our God supports our frame, The God that built us first; Salvation to th' Almighty Name, That rear'd us from the dust. 5 [He spoke, and straight our hearts and brains In all their motions rose; "Let blood, (said he) flow round the veins," And round the veins it flows. 6 While we have breath, or use our tongues, Our Maker we'll adore; His Spirit moves our heaving lungs Or they would breathe no more.] Hymn 2:20. Backslidings and returns; or, The inconstancy of our love. 1 Why is my heart so far from thee, My God, my chief delight? Why are my thoughts no more by day With thee, no more by night? 2 [Why should my foolish passions rove? Where can such sweetness be As I have tasted in thy love; As I have found in thee?] 3 When my forgetful soul renews The savour of thy grace, My heart presumes I cannot lose The relish all my days. 4 But ere one fleeting hour is pass'd, The flattering world employs Some sensual bait to seize my taste, And to pollute my joys. 5 [Trifles of nature or of art With fair deceitful charms Intrude upon my thoughtless heart, And thrust thee from my arms.] 6 Then I repent and vex my soul That I should leave thee so, Where will those wild affections roll That let a Saviour go? 7 [Sin's promis'd joys are turn'd to pain, And I am drown'd in grief; But my dear Lord returns again, He flies to my relief. 8 Seizing my soul with sweet surprise He draws with loving bands; Divine compassion in his eyes, And pardon in his hands.] 9 [Wretch that I am to wander thus In chase of false delight! Let me be fasten'd to thy cross, Rather than lose thy sight.]