CHAPTER VII. REMARKS ON VARIOUS HYMNS, CONTINUED. HYMNS 232 to 264 are nearly all of a general nature, and are better adapted than most of the other hymns for public worship; there being in them but few expressions, that may not safely be put into the mouths of a promiscuous congregation. They treat mostly of the wisdom, power, justice, holiness, and benevolence of God; always making his benevolence and love particularly prominent, and referring to the work of redemption as the most glorious exhibition and proof of that love. Hymn 232 is a beautiful and spirited paraphrase of Psalm cxlviii. 12, 13; in which the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is interwoven with the invitation to all creatures to unite in praise and thanksgiving. Hymns 235, 236, 237 constitute one of the finest paraphrases of the Lord's prayer, ever composed. Hymns 240, 241 on the attributes of God, are grand and dignified, solemn and devout. "This is (says Mr. Love) an awe-inspiring hymn ; serious without being heavy; bold without being extravagant. Either to sing or read it devoutly brings God so immediately before one, that the mind becomes filled with adoring awe. After descriptions of the vast power of Jehovah, of his providence and goodness and wisdom; and after representing justice and truth as standing before him, how delightfully the following lines are introduced "Yet nearer to thy sacred throne, Mercy withholds thy lifted hand." Two lines in this hymn are borrowed from Brady and Tate's version of Psalm ciii. 66 Thy waken'd wrath doth slowly move, Thy willing mercy flies apace." When this fine hymn, or any part of it, is used for public worship, the last four lines of verse 1, beginning "While thee, all-infinite, I set, should by all means be omitted. (See Page 131.) Hymns 242, 243, 244, 245 are all excellent, instructive and encouraging. The metre in which they are written has a perpetual alternation of short and long syllables, but with a majority of the latter. Each couplet consists of thirteen syllables, seven long and six short; with this exception, that the latter line of the third couplet, or the sixth line of the hymn, has one, or, in some hymns, two additional syllables. Thus in Hymn 243— Thou my God |årt gōōd | ånd wise, Third couplet Give me thy converting grace, That I may ŏbē | dient prōve. Third couplet in Hymn 245— New they eve | ry mōrn | ĭng āre, As fathers when their child | ren cry. The metre differs greatly from the anapostic metres of Hymns 198, 205, 219, 231 and the like. It is more stately and dignified; and though often employed for cheerful subjects, for praise and thanksgiving, it may be advantageously applied to the most grave and solemn purposes; of which we have striking proof in Hymns 54, 61, 548, 552. Hymn 246 is a beautiful adaptation of the grateful Psalmist's language, Psalm cxvi. 8, 9to the Christian believer. Hymn 247 is a fine exposition of part of Hannah's prayer, 1 Samuel ii., 2. Hymn 248 is an excellent paraphrase of David's thanksgiving, 1 Chronicles xxix. 10 to 13, and these admirable sentiments are thoroughly christianized by the concluding verse, in which the poet teaches us to say,— Hymns 249, 250 are founded on that fine passage, Exodus xxxiv., 5, 6, 7—and many of the thoughts are borrowed from Matthew Henry's expository notes upon it. These hymns, with several others of those in the present collection, first appeared in two volumes, published by Mr. Charles Wesley in 1762, under the title of "Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures." Hymns 251 to 262 are specially valuable as furnishing clear and correct views of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. They point out the distinct work of each of the Divine Persons, in accomplishing the salvation of fallen man; and shew how closely the belief of that doctrine is interwoven with the whole experience of the true Christian. In Hymn 254, we have an expression, which to some appears objectionable "Who trust the blood of God to cleanse Our souls from every sinful stain." There are also a few instances in which death is predicated, absolutely and directly, of God. Thus in Hymn 27-"Tis done! My God hath died "— Hymn 28-" The immortal God hath died for me". Hymn 614-" God for a guilty world hath died ”— Believing most firmly the true and proper deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, some persons have nevertheless doubted the propriety of employing such language; their objection being not to the sentiment, but merely to the expression. Perhaps it may be vindicated on the ground of the hypostatic union which existed in Christ, and which combined deity and humanity in one person. Hence actions or qualities proper only to deity, are sometimes in Scripture connected with human titles; as when Christ spoke of the Son of man, which is in heaven, while he was conversing with Nicodemus on earth. And actions or sufferings proper only to humanity, are connected with divine titles; as when the apostle Paul exhorted the elders or bishops of the church at Ephesus, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Whatever was done or suffered by Him, who could say with truth-I and the Father are one, and he that hath seen me, hath seen the Father-may on this ground, be affirmed of God: though it would perhaps be better to avoid expressions, which are not fully and unequivocally sanctioned by the phraseology of Scripture. Hymn 256 beautifully connects the doctrine of the Trinity with the original creation of man, with the work of redemption, and with the state of man, as restored to the favour and image of his God. |