Upon the gospel’s sacred page The gathered beams of ages shine; And, as it hastens, every age But makes its brightness more divine. 2 On mightier wing, in loftier flight, From year to year, does knowledge soar; And, as it soars, the gospel light Becomes effulgent more and more. 3 More glorious still, as centuries roll, New regions blest, new powers unfurled; Expanding with the expanding soul, Its radiance shall o’erflow the world; 4 Flow to restore, but not destroy; As when the cloudless lamp of day Pours out its flood of light and joy, And sweeps the lingering mist away. 7 L. M. Hold fast the form of sound words. 2 Tim. 1:13. God’s law demands one living faith, Not a gaunt crowd of lifeless creeds; Its warrant is a firm “God saith;” Its claim, not words, but living deeds. 2 Yet, Lord, forgive; thy simple law Grows tarnished in our earthly grasp; Pure in itself, without a flaw, It dims in our too-worldly clasp. 3 We handle it with unwashed hands; We stain it with unhallowed breath; We gloss it with device of man’s, And hide thine image underneath. 4 Forgive the sacrilege, and take From off our souls th’ unworthy stain; And show us, for thy Son’s dear sake Thy pure and perfect law again. 8 L. P. M. The entrance of thy word giveth light. Psalm 119:130. I love the volume of thy word; What light and joy those leaves afford To souls benighted and distressed! Thy precepts guide my doubtful way, Thy fear forbids my feet to stray, Thy promise leads my heart to rest. 2 Thy threatenings wake my slumbering eyes, And warn me where my danger lies; But ’tis thy blessed gospel, Lord, That makes my guilty conscience clean, Converts my soul, subdues my sin, And gives a free, but large reward. 3 Who knows the errors of his thoughts? My God, forgive my secret faults, And from presumptuous sins restrain; Accept my poor attempts of praise, That I have read thy book of grace, And book of nature, not in vain. 9 C. M. Thy word is a lamp. Psalm 119:105. How precious is the book divine, By inspiration given! Bright as a lamp its precepts shine, To guide our souls to heaven. 2 It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts In this dark vale of tears; Life, light, and joy, it still imparts, And quells our rising fears. 3 This lamp, through all the tedious night Of life, shall guide our way, Till we behold the clearer light Of an eternal day.