Hymn on Christ 272

This strong hymn perhaps echoes lines found in Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) and Mather Byles (1706-1788). It would be interesting to know what Beddome had read of that sort. The fifth line (In work so pleasant, so divine) is the second line of Isaac Watts' 1719 hymn 'Praise ye the Lord, my heart shall join'. 'Lofty praise' is also from Watts. The hymn seems to arise from a meditation on the Book of Hebrews.

272 Excellence and Love of Christ

CHRIST is the subject of my song, Awake my heart, awake my tongue, His honours high to raise. ’Tis fit that heart and tongue should join, In work so pleasant, so divine, And give him lofty praise.

2 No angel can with him compare, There’s none so great and none so fair, So lovely and divine; In heaven above, on earth below, None can such love and pity show, And conduct so benign.

3 Of all my joys he is the spring, My Advocate and ruling King, My safety when I call; My fears he soothes, my foes restrains, My want supplies, my cause maintains, He is my all in all.

4 In deepest characters impressed, He bears my name upon his breast Though mean and vile am I; Nor on his throne will he forget The meanest suppliant at his feet, But notice every sigh.

Hymn An Advocate 81

This hymn is again steeped in Old Testament, particularly Tabernacle and Temple, imagery. The idea of trembling and adoring is not such an uncommon one in Reformed writers. In his sermon on Godly Fear the Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs speaks of a godly scholar contemplating God's glory as it shines in Arts and Science and was so taken that he fell upon his face then says "Surely now these glorious Mysteries are far more dreadful to make us to fall down and adore and tremble before the Lord."

81 An Advocate LM

FATHER of mercies, at thy feet, We trembling, yet adoring stand; Though worthless, we are sure to meet A kind reception at thy hand.

2 Close by thy side, and on thy throne, Sits Jesus, our high priest and king, Whose merits spread a rich perfume, O’er all the services we bring.

3 There as our Surety he appears, With all our names upon his breast, Mingles his incense with our prayers, And thus obtains what we request.

4 With joy we see the mercy seat Sprinkled with his atoning blood: And in our glorious Head complete, Dare to approach a holy God.