1 My heart, how dreadful hard it is! How heavy here it lies, Heavy and cold within my breast Just like a rock of ice! 2 Sin like a raging tyrant sits Upon this flinty throne, And every grace lies buried deep Beneath this heart of stone. 3 How seldom do I rise to God, Or taste the joys above! This mountain presses down my faith, And chills my flaming love. 4 When smiling mercy courts my soul With all its heavenly charms, This stubborn, this relentless thing Would thrust it from my arms. 5 Against the thunders of thy word Rebellious I have stood, My heart it shakes not at the wrath And terrors of a God. 6 Dear Saviour, steep this rock of mine In thine own crimson sea: None but a bath of blood divine Can melt the flint away. Hymn 2:99. The book of God's decrees. 1 Let the whole race of creatures lie Abas'd before their God; Whate'er his sovereign voice hath form'd He governs with a nod. 2 [Ten thousand ages ere the skies Were into motion brought, All the long years and worlds to come Stood present to his thought.] 5 [There's not a sparrow or a worm But's found in his decrees; He raises monarchs to their thrones, And sinks them as he please.] 4 If light attends the course I run, 'Tis he provides those rays; And 'tis his hand that hides my sun, If darkness cloud my days. 5 Yet I would not be much concern'd, Nor vainly long to see The volume of his deep decrees, What months are writ for me. 6 When he reveals the book of life, O, may I read my name Amongst the chosen of his love, The followers of the Lamb! Hymn 2:100. The presence of Christ is the life of my soul. 1 [How full of anguish is the thought, How it distracts and tears my heart If God, at last, my sovereign Judge, Should frown, and bid my soul, "Depart!"] 2 Lord, when I quit this earthly stage, Where shall I fly but to thy breast? For I have sought no other home For I have learn'd no other rest. 3 I cannot live contented here, Without some glimpses of thy face; And heaven without thy presence there Would be a dark and tiresome place. 4 When earthly cares engross the day And hold my thoughts aside from thee, The shining hours of cheerful light Are long and tedious years to me. 5 And if no evening visit's paid Between my Saviour and my soul, How dull the night! how sad the shade! How mournfully the minutes roll! 6 This flesh of mine might learn as soon To live, yet part with all my blood; To breathe when vital air is gone, Or thrive and grow without my food. 7 [Christ is my light, my life, my care, My blessed hope, my heavenly prize, Dearer than all my passions are, My limbs, my bowels, or my eyes. 8 The strings that twine about my heart, Tortures and racks may tear them off, But they can never, never part With their dear hold of Christ my love.] 9 [My God! and can an humble child That loves thee with a flame so high, Be ever from thy face exil'd Without the pity of thine eye?