As parchèd in the barren sands,

Beneath a burning sky,

The worthless bramble with’ring stands,

And only grows to die;

Such is the sinner’s awful case,

Who makes the world his trust,

And dares his confidence to place

In vanity and dust.

A secret curse destroys his root,

And dries his moisture up;

He lives a while, but bears no fruit,

Then dies without a hope.

Preserve me from the snares of sin

Through my remaining days;

And in me let each virtue shine

To my Redeemer’s praise.

Let deep repentance, faith and love,

Be join’d with godly fear;

And all my conversation prove

My heart to be sincere.

Teach thou my soul all sin to hate,

And loathe the thing unclean;

Thine image in me new-create,

And keep me pure from sin.

Reason’s glimmering light is vain

Till thy Spirit I receive:

He thy language must explain

He must give me to believe.



Then thy wisdom’s gift is mine

When thou dost the truth reveal;

Then I see the Lamb divine,

All the mysteries unseal.



All the seven seals he breaks,

Every truth of grace makes known;

All his children wise he makes,

But their wisdom is his own.

Jesus, thy mighty kingdom rear,

A stone unhewn of mortal hands,

Let the fifth monarchy appear,

And spread its sway o’er all the lands.



Now let that stone the image smite,

And break the iron, and the clay;

Conquer by thy blest Spirit’s might,

And force the nations to obey.



Lord, let thy kingdom now prevail,

And all opposing power disperse;

Soon to a boundless mountain swell,

And fill the happy universe.

Father of mercies! in thy word

What endless glory shines!

For ever be thy name adored,

For these celestial lines.

The best relief that mourners have,

It makes our sorrows blest;

Our fairest hope beyond the grave,

And our eternal rest

O may these heavenly pages be

My ever dear delight;

And still new beauties may I see,

And still increasing light!

Divine Instructor, gracious Lord!

Be thou for ever near:

Teach me to love thy sacred word,

And view my Saviour there!