wotm* # oo ; for it is pleasant; anrj praise is comelrj. Psalm cxlvii. i. ^Uhe fjt'stJ an^J loftp. CDne that tn^abitetf) eternity. Isaiah, lvii. 15. m XT ^ R 5 5 « te1 w or £ ¥ u ^tcmember nofo thp ©reator in ltje tiags of thg youth. Ecclesiastes, xii. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shezveth His handywork. - -••',rcg£ggs:scsc» *""»«*' HE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, * And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim. 1 1 THE CREATOR. Th' unwearied sun, from day to day, Does his Creator's power display; And publishes to every land The work of an Almighty Hand. Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the listening earth Repeats the story of her birth; Whilst all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole. What though in solemn silence all Move round the dark terrestrial ball ? What though nor real voice nor sound Amid their radiant orbs be found ? In Reason's ear they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice, For ever singing as they shine, " The Hand that made us is Divine." ANDREW MARVEL. xmm mmm THE CREATOR. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Psalm c. i. EFORE Jehovah's awful throne, Ye nations, bow with sacred joy; Know that the Lord is God alone — He can create, and He destroy. His sovereign power, without our aid, Made us of clay, and formed us men ; And when, like wandering sheep, we strayed, He brought us to His fold again. We '11 crowd Thy gates with thankful songs, High as the heavens our voices raise ; And earth, with her ten thousand tongues, Shall fill Thy courts with sounding praise. Wide as the world is Thy command, Vast as eternity Thy love ! Firm as a rock Thy truth shall stand When rolling years shall cease to move. ISAAC WATTS. 1—2 THE CREATOR. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory. Matthew, vi. 13. HINE, O Lord, is the kingdom, Thine the glory and power ; Thou hast kindled the starlight, Thou hast moulded the flower. All things live by Thy presence, All things obey Thy will ; As the waters the ocean, Earth Thy glory shall fill. Thou art Father of spirits ; Thought is begotten of Thee ; In Thine image begotten, Glorious, boundless, and free ! When its freedom, transgressing, Out of Thy ways hath strayed, Thou hast provided Redemption, Thou hast Atonement made. Rolls this universe onward, Circling the foot of Thy throne ; Matter, and life, and spirit, Guided by Thee alone. THE CREATOR. Therefore, in peril and sorrow, — Therefore, in joy's bright hour, — Thine, O Lord, is the kingdom, Thine the glory and power ! DEAN ALFORD. T/ie earth is pill of the goodness of the Lord. Psalm xxxiii. 5. HY goodness, Lord, our souls confess, Thy goodness we adore ; A spring, whose blessings never fail, A sea without a shore. Sun, moon, and stars Thy love attest In every, cheerful ray j Love draws the curtain of the night, And love restores the day. Thy bounty every season crowns With all the bliss it yields, With joyful clusters bend the vines, With harvests wave the fields. 5 THE CREATOR. But chiefly Thy compassions, Lord, Are in the Gospel seen ; There, like the sun, Thy mercy shines Without a cloud between. THOMAS GIBBONS. Praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing praises unto our God. Psalm cxlvii. i. RAISE the Lord, His glories show, Saints within His courts below, Angels round His throne above, All that see and share His love. Earth to Heaven, and Heaven to earth, Tell His wonders, sing His worth j Age to age, and shore to shore, Praise Him, praise Him, evermore ! Praise the Lord, His mercies trace ; Praise His providence and grace, All that He for man hath done, All He sends us through His Son : Strings and voices, hands and hearts, In the concert bear your parts ; All that breathe, your Lord adore, Praise Him, praise Him, evermore ! HENRY FRANCIS LYTE. 6 His Name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven. Psalm cxlviii. 13. E sons of men, with joy record The various wonders of the Lord, And let His power and goodness sound Through all your tribes the earth around. Let the high heavens your songs invite — Those spacious fields of brilliant light, Where sun, and moon, and planets roll, And stars that glow from pole to pole. 7 THE CREATOR. See earth in verdant robes arrayed, Its herbs and flowers, its fruit and shade ; View the broad sea's majestic plains, And think how wide its Maker reigns. But O, that brighter world above, Where lives and reigns Incarnate Love ! God's only Son, in flesh arrayed, For man a bleeding victim made. Thither, my soul, with rapture soar ; There in the land of praise adore. This theme demands an angel's lay — Demands an undeclining day. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. Psalm xcv. 2. fSIIIW OME, O come ! in pious lays Sound we God Almighty's praise ; |p|l||| Hither bring, in one consent, Heart, and voice, and instrument; Music add of every kind, Sound the trump, the cornet wind, 8 THE CREATOR. Strike the viol, touch the lute, Let not tongue nor string be mute ; Nor a creature dumb be found That hath either voice or sound. Let those things which do not live In still music praises give : Lowly pipe, ye worms that creep On the earth or in the deep ; Loud aloft your voices strain, Beasts and monsters of the main ; Birds, your warbling treble sing ; Clouds, your peals of thunder ring ; Sun and moon, exalted higher, And, bright stars, augment the choir. Come, ye sons of human race, In this chorus take your place, And amid the mortal throng Be you masters of the song : Angels and supernal powers, Be the noblest tenor yours : Let, in praise of God, the sound Run a never-ending round, That our song of praise may be Everlasting, as is He. From earth's vast and hollow womb, Music's deepest bass may come ; 9 THE CREATOR. Seas and floods, from shore to shore Shall their counter-tenors roar : To this concert when we sing, Whistling winds, your descants bring ; That our song may over-climb All the bounds of space and time, And ascend from sphere to sphere, To the great Almighty's ear. So from Heaven on earth He shall Let His gracious blessings fall ; And this huge wide orb we see Shall one choir, one temple be ; Where in such a praiseful tone We will sing what He hath done, That the cursed fiends below Shall thereat impatient grow: Then, O come, in pious lays Sound we God Almighty's praise ! GEORGE WITHER. 10 THE CREATOR. 0 give thanks unto the Lord ; for He is good: for His mercy <*^ endureth for ever. -KF*c)f Psalm exxxvi. i. M Ml ootf o:oc O God, ye choir above, begin A hymn so loud and strong, That all the universe may hear And join the grateful song. Praise Him, thou sun, who dwells unseen Amidst transcendent light, Where thy refulgent orb would seem A spot as dark as night. Thou silver moon, ye host of stars, The universal song Through the serene and silent night To listening worlds prolong. Sing Him, ye distant worlds and suns, From whence no travelling ray Hath yet to us, through ages past, Had time to make its way. Assist, ye raging storms, and bear On rapid wings His praise, From north to south, from east to west, Through heaven, and earth, and seas. 11 THE CREATOR. Exert your voice, ye furious fires That rend the watery cloud, And thunder to this nether world Your Maker's words aloud. Ye works of God that dwell unknown Beneath the rolling main ; Ye birds, that sing among the groves And sweep the azure plain ; Ye stately hills that rear your heads, And towering pierce the sky ; Ye clouds, that with an awful pace Majestic roll on high; Ye insects small, to which one leaf Within its narrow sides A vast extended world displays, And spacious realms provides ; Ye race still less than these, with which The stagnant water teems, To which one drop, however small, A boundless ocean seems ; Whate'er ye are, where'er ye dwell, Ye creatures great or small, Adore the wisdom, praise the power, That made and governs all. 12 THE CREATOR. And if ye want or sense or sounds, To swell the grateful noise, Prompt mankind with that sense, and they Shall find for you a voice. From all the boundless realms of space Let loud Hosannas sound ; Loud send, ye wondrous works of God, The grateful concert round. PHILIP SKELTON. And God said, Let there be light : and there was light. Genesis, HOU, whose almighty Word Chaos and darkness heard, And took their flight, Hear us, we humbly pray, And where the Gospel-day Sheds not its glorious ray, Let there be light ! Thou, who didst come to bring On Thy redeeming wing Healing and light, 13 THE CREATOR. Health to the sick in mind, Sight to the inly blind, O, now to all mankind Let there be light ! Spirit of truth and love, Life-giving, holy Dove, Speed forth Thy flight ; Move on the waters' face, Spreading the beams of grace, And in earth's darkest place Let there be light ! Blessed and Holy Three, Glorious Trinity, Grace, Love, and Might : Boundless as ocean's tide, Rolling in fullest pride, Through the world, far and wide, Let there be light ! JOHN MARRIOTT. 14 I am the Lord and there is none else; there is no God beside vie. Never pause, but still sing on. 26 All the flowers that gild the spring Hither their still music bring j If Heaven bless them, thankful, they Smell more sweet and look more gay. Wake, for shame ! my sluggish heart, Wake, and gladly sing thy part j Learn of birds, and springs, and flowers, How to use thy nobler powers. Call whole nature to thy aid, Since 't was He whole nature made Join in one eternal song, Who to one God all belong. 27 THE CREATOR. Live for ever, glorious Lord ! Live, by all Thy works adored : One in Three, and Three in One, Thrice we bow to Thee alone ! JOHN AUSTIN. The earth is full of Thy riches, so is this great and wide sea. Psalm civ. 24, 25. GOD ! Thou knowest all our wants Long before we ask the boon j Thy bounties ever go before : We seek — and, lo, the gift is done. Thy tender love, O Father ! God ! Is boundless as Thy power : Thou didst create the rolling sea, Thou dost paint the lily flower. The lofty mountains Thou hast made, And all the stars in heaven ; All living things with life — and life To every blade of grass is given. And Thou wilt deign to look on us, Humbly seeking help from Thee ; O ! may we have Thy love on earth, Thy smile through all eternity ! ANON. 28 THE CREATOR. Praise ye the Lord, praise God in His sanctuary : praise Him in the firmament of His power. JiC Psalm cl. ET all the world in every comer sing, My God and King ! The heavens are not too high ; ffs&h His praise may thither fly : -OT- The earth is not too low ; ^oi©^« His praises there may grow. Cm yrf Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King ! K \r The Church with psalms must shout; •(/• No door can keep them out : fBut, above all, the heart Must bear the longest part. Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King ! GEORGE HERBERT. Serve the Lord with gladness : come before His presence with singing. yi Psalm c. 2. LL people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice ; Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell ; Come ye before Him and rejoice. THE CREATOR. Know ye, the Lord is God indeed ; Without our aid He did us make ; We are His flock, He doth us feed, And for His sheep He doth us take. O enter, then, His gates with praise, Approach with joy His courts unto; Praise, laud, and bless His Name always, For it is seemly so to do. For why ? the Lord our God is good, His mercy is for ever sure ; His truth at all times firmly stood, And shall from age to age endure. JOHN HOPKINS. <3v£© The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting sMb upon them that fear Him. qTq Psalm ciiL I7> " ERVANTS of God, in joyful lays, Sing ye the Lord Jehovah's praise ; His glorious Name let all adore, From age to age, for evermore. *§* f^- Blest be that Name, supremely blest, From the sun's rising to its rest. Above the heavens His power is known ; Through all the earth His goodness shown. SO THE CREATOR. Who is like God ? — so great, so high, He bows Himself to view the sky; And yet, with condescending grace, Looks down upon the human race. He hears the uncomplaining moan Of those who sit and weep alone ; He lifts the mourner from the dust, And saves the poor in Him that trust Servants of God, in joyful lays, Sing ye the Lord Jehovah's praise ; His saving Name let all adore, From age to age, for evermore. JAMES MONTGOMERY. They rest not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Revelation, iv. 8. : 1^^%^ : OLY, Holy, Holy ! Lord God Almighty ! < f^'l^il— " > Early in the morning our song shall rise to g| i^v^O^"""-8" ^°ty> Holy, Holy ! merciful and mighty ; '4* ff God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity ! Holy, Holy, Holy ! all the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea j 31 THE CREATOR. Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be. Holy, Holy, Holy ! though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, Only Thou art Holy : there is none beside Thee Perfect in power, in love, and purity. Holy, Holy, Holy ! Lord God Almighty ! All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea : Holy, Holy, Holy ! merciful and mighty j God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity ! BISHOP REGINALD HEBER. 32 ^^^MPRAYERJ^®!^^ O Thou that hearcst prayer, unto Thee shall all Jlesh come. Psalm Ixv. 2. JW?RAYER is the soul's sincere desire, ilSSsi Uttered or unexpressed ; The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast. 33 3 PR A YER. Prayer is the burthen of a sigh ; The falling of a tear ; The upward glancing of an eye, When none but God is near. Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try ; Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high. Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice, Returning from his ways : While angels in their songs rejoice, And cry, Behold, he prays ! Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, The Christian's native air; His watchword at the gates of death : He enters Heaven with prayer. The saints in prayer appear as one In word, and deed, and mind, While with the Father and the Son Sweet fellowship they find. Nor prayer is made on earth alone : The Holy Spirit pleads ; And Jesus, on the eternal throne, For sinners intercedes. 34 PR A YER. O Thou by whom we come to God, The Life, the Truth, the Way j The path of prayer Thyself hast trod : Lord, teach us how to pray. JAMES MONTGOMERY. Unto Thee, 0 Lord, do I lift up my soul. Psalm xxv. i. ORD, we come before Thee now ; At Thy feet we humbly bow : O do not our suit disdain : Shall we seek Thee, Lord, in vain? Lord, on Thee our souls depend ; In compassion now descend : Fill our hearts with Thy rich grace ; Tune our lips to sing Thy praise. In Thine own appointed way, Now we seek Thee : here we stay : Lord, from hence we would not go, Till a blessing Thou bestow. Send some message from Thy Word, That may joy and peace afford : 35 s — 2 PR A YER. Let Thy Spirit now impart Full salvation to each heart. Comfort those who weep and mourn ; Let the time of joy return ; Those that are cast down lift up ; Make them strong in faith and hope. Grant that all may seek and find Thee, a God supremely kind. Heal the sick ; the captive free ; Let us all rejoice in Thee. WILLIAM HAMMOND. By the things which He suffered. Hebrews, v. 3. AVIOUR, when in dust to Thee Low we bow the adoring knee ; When, repentant, to the skies Scarce we lift our weeping eyes ; O, by all the pains and woe Suffered once for man below, Bending from Thy throne on high, Hear our solemn Litany ! 36 PR A YER By Thy helpless infant years ; By Thy life of want and tears ; By Thy days of sore distress In the savage wilderness; By the dread mysterious hour Of the insulting tempter's power j Turn, O turn a favouring eye, Hear our solemn Litany ! By the sacred griefs that wept O'er the grave where Lazarus slept ; By the boding tears that flowed Over Salem's loved abode ; By the anguished sigh that told Treachery lurked within Thy fold ! From Thy seat above the sky, Hear our solemn Litany ! By Thine hour of dire despair ; By Thine agony of prayer ; By the cross, the nail, the thorn, Piercing spear, and torturing scorn ; By the gloom that veiled the skies O'er the dreadful sacrifice ■ Listen to our humble cry, Hear our solemn Litany ! By Thy deep expiring groan ; By the sad sepulchral stone ; 37 PR A YER. By the vault, whose dark abode Held in vain the rising God ; O ! from earth to Heaven restored, Mighty re-ascended Lord, Listen, listen to the cry Of our solemn Litany. SIR ROBERT GRANT. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew, xviii. 20. ' HERE two or thee, with sweet accord, Obedient to their sovereign Lord, Meet to recount His acts of grace, And offer solemn prayer and praise ; There, says the Saviour, will I be Amid that little company ; To them unveil My smiling face, And shed My glories round the place. We meet at Thy command, dear Lord, Relying on Thy faithful word : Now send Thy Spirit from above ; Now fill our hearts with heavenly love. STENNETT. 38 TJie blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. I. John, L 7. IHEN at Thy footstool, Lord, I bend, And plead with Thee for mercy there, Think of the sinner's dying Friend, And for His sake receive my prayer. 0 think not of my shame and guilt, My thousand stains of deepest dye ; 89 PR A YER. Think of the blood which Jesus spilt, And let that blood my pardon buy. Think, Lord, how I am still Thine own, The trembling creature of Thine hand ; Think how my heart to sin is prone, And what temptations round me stand. O think upon Thy holy Word, And every plighted promise there ; How prayer should evermore be heard, And how Thy glory is to spare. O think not of my doubts and fears, My strivings with Thy grace divine : Think upon Jesus' woes and tears, And let His merits stand for mine. Thine eye, Thine ear, they are not dull ; Thine arm can never shortened be ; Behold me here ; my heart is full ; Behold, and spare, and succour me ! HENRY FRANCIS LYTE. 40 PR A YEA'. What is thy petition ? and it shall be granted thee. Esther, vii. 2. OME, my soul, thy suit prepare ; Jesus loves to answer prayer : He Himself has bid thee pray, \\ Therefore will not say thee nay. Thou art coming to a King ; Large petitions with thee bring j For His grace and power are such. None can ever ask too much. With my burden I begin : — Lord, remove this load of sin ; Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt, Set my conscience free from guilt. Lord, I come to Thee for rest, Take possession of my breast j There Thy blood-bought right maintain, And without a rival reign. While I am a pilgrim here, Let Thy love my spirit cheer ; As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend, Lead me»to my journey's end. 41 PR A YER. Show me what I have to ao ; Every hour my strength renew. Let me live a life of faith ; Let me die Thy people's death. JOHN NEWTON. £JL 0 Thou that hearest prayer ; unto Thee shall all flesh come. (1 VX*£W* Psalm lxv. 2. HEN in the hour of utmost need We know not where to look for aid, When days and nights of anxious thought Nor help nor counsel yet have brought !%£|^T!> ft Then this our comfort is alone, That we may meet before Thy throne, And cry, O faithful God, to Thee For rescue from our misery : To Thee may raise our hearts and eyes. Repenting sore, with bitter sighs, And seek Thy pardon for our sin, And respite from our griefs within. For Thou hast promised graciously So hear all those who cry to Thee, 42 PR A YER. Through Him whose Name alone is great Our Saviour and our Advocate. And thus we come, O God, to-day, And all our woes before Thee lay, For tried, afflicted, lo ! we stand, Perils and foes on every hand. Ah ! hide not, for our sins, Thy face, Absolve us through Thy boundless grace, Be with us in our anguish still, Free us at last from every ill. That so with all our hearts may we Once more with joy give thanks to Thee, And walk obedient to Thy word, And now and ever praise the Lord. ANON. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm xlvi. i. jOD of my life, to Thee I call, Afflicted at Thy feet I fall ; When the great water-floods prevail, Leave not my trembling heart to fail. 43 PR A YER Friend of the friendless and the faint, AVhere should I lodge my deep complaint ? Where but with Thee, whose open door Invites the helpless and the poor ? Did ever mourner plead with Thee, And Thou refuse that mourner's plea ? Does not the word still fixed remain, That none shall seek Thy face in vain ? That were a grief I could not bear, Didst Thou not hear and answer prayer j But a prayer-hearing, answering God Supports me under every load. Fair is the lot that 's cast for me ; I have an Advocate with Thee. They whom the world caresses most, Have no such privilege to boast. Poor though I am, despised, forgot, Yet God, my God, forgets me not. And he is safe, and must succeed, For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead. WILLIAM COWPER. mmmzz5m$&< 44 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace. Hebrews, iv. 16. |EHOLD the throne of grace, The promise calls me near ; There Jesus shows a smiling face, And waits to answer prayer. That rich atoning blood, Which sprinkled round I see, 45 PRAYER. Provides for those who come to God An all-prevailing plea. My soul, ask what thou wilt, Thou canst not be too bold : Since His own blood for thee He spilt, What else can He withhold ? Thine image, Lord, bestow, Thy presence and Thy love : I ask to serve Thee here below, And reign with Thee above. Teach me to live by faith ; Conform my will to Thine ; Let me victorious be in death, And then in glory shine. JOHN NEWTON. J prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession. Daniel, ix. 4. W[?i?} ORD, when we bend before Thy throne, K^fij And our confessions pour, Teach us to feel the sins we own, And hate what we deplore. 46 PR A YER. Our contrite spirits pitying see ; True penitence impart ; Then let a healing ray from Thee Beam hope on every heart. When we disclose our wants in prayer, May we our wills resign ; Let not a thought our bosom share Which is not wholly Thine. Let faith each meek petition fill, And waft it to the skies ; And teach our hearts 't is goodness still That grants it or denies. CARLISLE. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers. I. Peter, iii. 12. VPPY the home when God is there, And love fills every breast ; Where one their wish, and one their prayer, And one their heavenly rest. Happy the home where Jesus' name Is sweet to every ear ; Where children early lisp His fame, And parents hold Him dear. 47 PR A YER. Happy the home where prayer is heard, And praise is wont to rise ; Where parents love the sacred Word, And live but for the skies. Lord, let us in our homes agree, This blessed peace to gain ; Unite our hearts in love to Thee, And love to all will reign. ANON. JesuSi thou Son of David, have mercy on me. Luke, xviii. 38. ORD, have mercy when we pray Strength to seek a better way ; When our wakening thoughts begin First to loathe our cherished sin ; When our weary spirits fail, And our aching brows are pale ; When our tears bedew Thy word, K/( Then, O then, have mercy, Lord. Lord, have mercy when we lie On the restless bed, and sigh ; Sigh for death, yet fear it still, From the thought of former ill ; 48 When the dim advancing gloom Tells us that our hour is come ; When is loosed the silver cord, Then, O then, have mercy, Lord. 40 PR A YER. Lord, have mercy when we know First how vain this world below • When our darker thoughts oppress, Doubts perplex, and fears distress ; When the earliest gleam is given Of Thy bright but distant Heaven ; Then Thy fostering grace afford, Then, O then, have mercy, Lord. HENRY HART MILMAN. The hand of our God is upon all them Ezra, viii. 22. _j^q££ for good that seek Him LORD, another day is flown, And we, a feeble band, Are met once more before Thy throne, To bless Thy fostering hand. Thy heavenly grace to each impart ; All evil far remove ; And shed abroad in every heart Thine everlasting love. Our souls, obedient to Thy sway, In Christian bonds unite ; Let peace and love conclude the day, And hail the morning light. 50 rRA YER. Thus cleansed from sin, and wholly Thine, A flock by Jesus led, The sun of righteousness shall shine In glory on our head. O still restore our wandering feet, And still direct our way ; Till worlds shall fail, and faith shall greet The dawn of endless day. H. KIRKE WHITE. 0 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lora, and He shall life you up. <* (i) *) James, iv. 10. aRAYER is not heard through noisy sound, Solemn chaunt, nor organ pealing, Nor all the glare that pomp can bring, Unless the heart is kneeling. The highest flight of eloquence That lofty intellect may frame, Can never form a prayer to meet The glory of God's holy Name. 'T is from the humble heart alone, Bowed down in pious love and fear ; 51 4 — PR A YER. The earnest prayer in Jesus' Name, Our gracious God will deign to hear. The wailing moan, the muttered cry, The meek repentant sinner's tear, The lisping of an infant's tongue, Finds ready access to His ear. Now, Father, fill our hearts with prayer, Grant our sins be all forgiven, That, with Thy help, we may prepare And worthy be of Heaven. There, holy, pure, and undefiled, In light we may Thy face behold ; In seraph songs to sing Thy praise, With music strung from harps of gold. ANON. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice. Psalm xxvii. 7. HH ORD, when I lift my voice to Thee, i^ll To whom all praise belongs, Thy justice and Thy love shall be The subject of my songs. 52 PR A YER. Let wisdom o'er my heart preside, To lead my steps aright, And make Thy perfect law my guide, Thy service my delight. All sinful ways I will abhor, All wicked men forsake, And only those who love Thy law, For my companions take. Lord ! that I may not go astray, Thy constant grace impart : When wilt Thou come to point my way, And fix my roving heart ? WILLIAM HELEY BATHURST. Give its this day our daily bread. Matthew, vi. n. TjjjpW ORD of my life, whose tender care jJSJS Hath led me on till now, Here lowly at the hour of prayer Before Thy throne I bow ; I bless Thy gracious hand, and pray Forgiveness for another day. 53 PR A YER. 0 ! may I daily, hourly, strive In heavenly grace to grow ; To Thee and to Thy glory live, Dead else to all below ; Tread in the path my Saviour trod, Though thorny, yet the path to God ! With prayer my humble praise I bring For mercies day by day ; Lord, teach my heart Thy love to sing, Lord, teach me how to pray ! All that I have, I am, to Thee 1 offer through eternity ! ANON. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give vou rest. Matthew, xi. 28. PPROACH, my soul, the mercy-seat, Where Jesus answers prayer ; Then humbly fall before His feet, For none can perish there. Thy promise is my only plea ; With this I venture nigh. Thou callest burdened souls to Thee, And such, O Lord, am I. 54 Bowed down beneath a load of .sin, By Satan sorely pressed, 53 PR A YER. By wars without and fears within, I come to Thee for rest. Be Thou my shield and hiding-place, That, sheltered near Thy side, I may my fierce accuser face, And tell him Thou hast died ! O wondrous love, to bleed and die, To bear the cross and shame, That guilty sinners, such as I, Might plead Thy gracious Name ! JOHN NEWTON. Lord, teach us to pray. ,, Luke, ATHER, when we bend the knee And supplicate before Thy throne ; When we raise our hearts to Thee, To make our poor petitions known ; O, let then our hearts' desire Be that which Thou canst well approve Touch our tongues with living fire, That words of life may ask Thy love. 56 PRAYER. That we may claim Thy promise still, All holy blessings from Thy hand ; Teach us, Lord, to do Thy will In all the ways Thou dost command. Let our hearts be warm and true, Let our thoughts be pure and holy; Make us, as Thy gifts renew, Thoughtful for the poor and lowly. Fill our hearts with thankful love For blessings Thou dost aye bestow ; Fix our hearts on things above While we are dwelling here below. Let us feel our Saviour's love To forgive all sins committed ; Guardian Angel, Heavenly Dove, Pardoning that which we 've omitted. ANON. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto Thee. Psalm cii. i. LESSED Jesus, at Thy word We are gathered all to hear Thee ; Let our hearts and souls be stirred Now to seek and love and fear thee ; By Thy teachings, sweet and holy, Drawn from earth to love Thee solely. 57 PR A YER. All our knowledge, sense, and sight Lie in deepest darkness shrouded Till Thy Spirit breaks our night, With the beams of truth unclouded ; Thou alone to God canst win us, Thou must work all good within us. Gracious Lord, Thyself impart ! Light ot light, from God proceeding, Open Thou our ears and heart, Help us by Thy Spirit's pleading ; Hear the cry Thy people raises ; Hear, and bless our prayers and praises. CATHERINE WINKWORTH, FROM THE GERMAN OF CLAUSNITZER. / will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy ; and in Thy fear will I worship. Psalm v. 7. E would come before Thy throne, O God, with thankfulness ; We would kneel in humble prayer, And ask Thee now to bless, Keep, and prosper all our ways, To guard us with Thy might ; 58 PR A YER. That ever)' act, and each word, Find favour in Thy sight. We woula bow before Thy throne, And offer up our prayer For those who will not pray to Thee, Nor seek to find a share In the love which Jesus shows To those who do obey j Father, hear our humble prayer For those who will not pray. Let us raise our voice again, O Father, unto Thee, For those who lie in sickness, Or mental miserie : Look in mercy on their state, And hear our voice to-day ; O Jesus, hear our prayer now For those who cannot pray. ANON. Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path. Psalm xxvii. i 1 jESUS, cast a look on me ; Give me sweet simplicity ; Make me poor and keep me low, Seeking only Thee to know. 59 PR A YER. Weaned from my lordly self, Weaned from the miser's pelf, Weaned from the scorner's ways, Weaned from the lust of praise ; All that feeds my busy pride, Cast it evermore aside ; Bid my will to Thine submit ; Lay me humbly at Thy feet. Make me like a little child, Of my strength and wisdom spoiled, Seeing only in Thy light, Walking only in Thy might ; Leaning on Thy loving breast, Where a weary soul may rest ; Feeling well the peace of God Flowing from Thy precious blood ! In this posture let me live, And Hosannas daily give ; In this temper let me die, And Hosannas ever cry ! JOHN BERRIDGE. wmm ?m®\ 60 PR A YER. Pray without ceasing. I. Thessalonians, v. 17. HAT various hindrances we meet In coming to the mercy-seat ! Yet who that knows the worth of prayer But wishes to be often there ? J Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw ; J5« Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw; Gives exercise to faith and love ; Brings every blessing from above. Restraining prayer, we cease to fight ; Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright ; And Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees. While Moses stood with arms spread wide, Success was found on Israel's side ; But when, through weariness, they failed, That moment Amalek prevailed. Have you no words ? Ah ! think again : Words flow apace when you complain, And fill your fellow-creature's ear With the sad tale of all your care. 61 PR A YER. Were half the breath, thus vainly spent, To Heaven in supplication sent, Your cheerful song would oftener be, — " Hear what the Lord hath done for me ! " WILLIAM COWPER. J\ IVJien I saw Him, I fell at His feet yA as dead. jl&\fl' Revelation, i. 17. ^W GOD of mercy, God of might, lw-»lb How should weak sinners bear the sight, \KL°iStiy W-ffl$ If, as Thy power is surely here, Affl| Thine open glory should appear? l§f For now Thy people are allowed ' To scale the mount, and pierce the cloud ; ' And faith may feed her eager view v* With wonders Sinai never knew. Fresh from the atoning sacrifice, The world's Redeemer bleeding lies, That man, His foe, for whom He bled, May take Him for his daily bread. O ! agony of wavering thought, When sinners first so near are brought : It is my Maker — dare I stay ? My Saviour — dare I turn away ? 62 PR A YER. O Saviour, calm our troubled fears ; O Saviour, gather up our tears ; And let us in this solemn hour Behold Thy glory, feel Thy power. JOHN KEBLE. Lord, teach us to pray. Luke xi. i. ^jpji!l'.:/} ORD, teach us how to pray aright, d| '•/>■?? With reverence and with fear : -ji=JJr\\ Though dust and ashes in Thy sight, *«*$&>* We may, we must draw near. m ~>tO God of all grace, we come to Thee f^21? A With broken, contrite hearts, MrHf Give, what Thine eye delights to see, ^. 4 u. Truth in the inward parts. ! i f Give deep humility ; the sense Of godly sorrow give ; A strong, desiring confidence To hear Thy voice and live ; Faith in the only Sacrifice That can for sin atone ; To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes. On Christ, on Christ alone ; 63 PR A YER. Patience to watch and wait and weep, Though mercy long delay ; Courage, our fainting souls to keep, And trust Thee, though Thou slay. Give these, — and then Thy will be done ; Thus strengthened with all might, We, by Thy Spirit, through Thy Son, Shall pray, and pray aright JAMES MONTGOMERY. 64 imffl**'5yMl1H"*1^;g^f^^ 'uuiiiii|ju» HM'A tte'$&4MwmwmhmwB*»***A Jesus was risen early the first day of the week. Mark, xvi. 9. AIL, morning known among the blest ! Morning of hope and joy and love; Of heavenly peace and holy rest j Pledge of the endless rest above. Blessed be the Father of our Lord, Who from the dead hath brought His Son : 65 5 THE LORD'S DAY. Hope to the lost was then restored, And everlasting glory won. Scarce morning twilight had begun To chase the shades of night away, When Christ arose — unsetting Sun — The dawn of joy's eternal day. Mercy looked down with smiling eye When our Immanuel left the dead ; Faith marked His bright ascent on high, And Hope with gladness raised her head. Descend, O Spirit of the Lord ! Thy fire to every bosom bring ; Then shall our ardent hearts accord, And teach our lips God's praise to sing. DR. WARDLAW. Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for L have called upon Thee. Psalm xxxi. 17. fe^SO Thy temple I repair ; B§jj5ds§J Lord, I love to worship there, When, within the veil, I meet Christ before the mercy-seat. 66 THE LORD'S DAY. Thou, through Him art reconciled, I, through Him became Thy child ; Abba, Father ! give me grace In Thy courts to seek Thy face. While Thy glorious praise is sung, Touch my lips, unloose my tongue, That my joyful soul may bless Thee, the Lord my righteousness. While the prayers of saints ascend, God of love, to mine attend ; Hear me, for Thy Spirit pleads ; Hear, for Jesus intercedes. While I hearken to Thy law, Fill my soul with humble awe, Till Thy Gospel bring to me Life and immortality. While Thy ministers proclaim Peace and pardon in Thy Name, Through their voice, by faith, may I Hear Thee speaking from the sky. From Thy house when I return, May my heart within me burn, And at evening let me say, — I have walked with God to-day. JAMES MONTGOMERY 67 5 — 2 THE LORD'S DAY. Stand up and bless the Lord your God. NeLemiah, ix TAND up and bless the Lord, Ye people of His choice ; Stand up and bless the Lord your God, With heart and soul and voice. Though high above all praise, Above all blessing high, Who would not fear His holy Name, And laud and magnify ? O for the living flame From His own altar brought ! To touch our lips, our minds inspire, And wing to Heaven our thought ! There with benign regard Our hymns He deigns to hear : Though unrevealed to mortal sense, The spirit feels Him near. God is our strength and song, And His salvation ours ; Qf^Q Then be His love in Christ proclaimed With all our ransomed powers. 68 THE LORD'S DAY. Stand up and bless the Lord ; The Lord your God adore : Stand up and bless His glorious Name, Henceforth for evermore. JAMES MONTGOMERY My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord. Psa'.m lxxxiv. 2. *f§\ |ORD of the Sabbath, hear our vows, §3^ Ori this Thy day, in this Thy house Accept, as grateful sacrifice, The songs which from the desert rise. Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love j But there 's a nobler rest above : To that our labouring souls aspire, With ardent hope and strong desire. 69 THE LORD'S DAY. No more fatigue, no more distress ; No guilt the conscience to oppress ; No groans to mingle with the songs Resounding from immortal tongues. No rude alarms of raging foes , No cares to break the long repose ; No midnight shade, no clouded sun But sacred, high, eternal noon. O long-expected day, begin ! Dawn on these realms of woe and sin. Fain would we leave this weary road, And sleep in death to rest with God. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. The Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath. Mark, ii. 28. DAY most calm, most bright ! The fruit of this, the next world's bud ; The endorsement of supreme delight, Writ by a Friend, and with His blood ; The couch of time ; care's balm and bay ; The week were dark, but for thy light ; Thy torch doth show the way. THE LORD'S DAY. The other days and thou Make up one man j whose face thou Knocking at Heaven with thy brow : The working days are the back part ; The burden of the week lies there, Making the whole to stoop and bow, Till Thy release appear. Man had straight forward gone To endless death ; but thou dost pull And turn us round to look on One, Whom, if we were not very dull. We could not choose but look on still, Since there is no place so alone, The which He doth not nil. Sundays the pillars are On which Heav'n's palace arched lies : The other days fill up the spare And hollow room with vanities : They are the fruitful beds and borders Of God's rich garden ; that is bare Which parts their ranks and orders. The Sundays of man's life, Threaded together on time's string, Make bracelets to adorn the wife Of the eternal glorious King : On Sunday Heaven's gate stands ope ; THE LORD'S DAY. Blessings are plentiful and rife, More plentiful than hope. This day my Saviour rose, And did enclose this light for His ; That, as each beast his manger knows, Man might not of his fodder miss : Christ hath took in this piece of ground, And made a garden there, for those Who want herbs for their wound. The rest of our Creation Our great Redeemer did remove With the same shake, which at His passion Did th' earth, and all things with it, move : As Samson bore the doors away, Christ's hands, though nailed, wrought our salvation, And did unhinge that day. The brightness of that day We sullied by our foul offence ; Wherefore that robe we cast away. Having a new at His expense, Whose drops of blood paid the full price That was required to make us gay, And fit for Paradise. GEORGE HERBERT. 72 THE LORD'S DA V I was glad when they said, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Psalm exxii. i. T is the Sabbath morning now, And we would come awhile apart, From the busy world away, From the toil of every day, And before our Maker lay The sacred longings of our heart We come into Thy house, O God, Humble thoughts our hearts possessing ; At Thy throne low bending, there Casting every worldly care On Christ, who doth our sorrows share, And to meekly ask Thy blessing. We come to read Thy holy book, To read Thy messages of love ; How Thou wilt reward the good, Give them raiment, give them food : Blessings, more than understood, With boundless mercies interwove. We come to give Thee thanks and praise For all the blessings Thou hast given j For the love our Saviour bore, Granting succour evermore ; 73 THE LORD'S DAY. O ! we would now His Name adore In shouts of joyful praise to Heaven. Now we would lowly bend the knee, And ask for strength in coming time, — Strength to battle in the fight, Light to see the wrong from right, Fearless, trusting in Thy might To shelter us in every clime. Now, Father, fill us with Thy love, This holy day, the chief of days, From the world to stand apart : Let love for others fill our heart ; Lead our footsteps where Thou art, Where we may pray, and sing Thy praise. ANON. And from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship. '*",££ Egg Egg <{*- ls'"h- kvi- » [[^ HE festal morn, my God, is come, That calls me to Thy hallowed dome, 5* jgSgft Thy presence to adore • My feet the summons shall attend, With willing steps Thy courts ascend, And tread the sacred floor. What joy while thus I view the day That warns my thirsting soul away ! What transports fill my breast ! 75 THE LORD'S DAY. For, lo ! my great Redeemer's power Unfolds the everlasting door, And leads me to His rest. E'en now, to my expecting eyes, The heaven-built towers of Salem rise ; E'en now with glad survey I view her mansions, that contain The angelic forms, an awful train, And shine with cloudless day. Hither, from earth's remotest end, Lo ! the redeemed of God ascend, Their tribute hither bring ; Here crowned with everlasting joy, In hymns of praise their tongues employ, And hail the Immortal King. JAMES MERRICK. They shall hallow my Sabbaths. Ezekiel, xliv. 24. HOU who art enthroned above, Thou by whom we live and move, O how sweet, with joyful tongue, To proclaim thy praise in song ! THE LORD'S DAY. When the morning paints the skies, When the sparkling stars arise, All Thy favours to rehearse, And give thanks in grateful verse. Sweet the day of sacred rest, When devotion fills the breast, When we dwell within Thy house, Hear Thy word and pay our vows : Notes to Heaven's high mansions raise ; Fill its courts with joyful praise; With repeated hymns proclaim Great Jehovah's awful Name. From Thy works our joys arise, O Thou only good and wise ! Who Thy wonders can express ? All Thy thoughts are fathomless. Warm our hearts with sacred fire ; Grateful fervours still inspire; All our powers with all their might, Ever in Thy praise unite. SANDYS. 77 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd. Isaiah, xl. n Y Lord, my love was crucified, He all the pains did bear; But in the sweetness of His rest He makes His servants share. How sweetly rest Thy saints above Which in Thy bosom lie ! The Church below doth rest in hope Of that felicity. fl Thou, Lord, who daily feed'st Thy sheep, Mak'st them a weekly feast ; Thy flocks meet in their several folds Upon this day of rest : Welcome and dear unto my soul Are these sweet feasts of love ; 78 THE LORDS DAY. But what a Sabbath shall I keep When I shall rest above ! I bless Thy wise and wondrous love, Which binds us to be free ; Which makes us leave our earthly snares, That we may come to Thee. I come, I wait, I hear, I pray ! Thy footsteps, Lord, I trace ! I sing to think this is the way Unto my Saviour's face ! JOHN MASON. They sang praises with gladness. II. Chronicles, xxix. 30. OME, Thou Almighty King, Help us Thy Name to sing, Help us to praise ; Father all-glorious, O'er all victorious, Come and reign over us, Ancient of days. Jesus, our Lord, arise ; Scatter our enemies, 79 THE LORD'S DAY. And make them fall ; Let thine almighty aid Our sure defence be made, Our souls on Thee be stayed : Lord, hear our call. Come, Thou Incarnate Word, Gird on Thy mighty sword, Our prayer attend ; Come, and Thy people bless, And give Thy Word success ; Spirit of holiness, On us descend. Come, holy Comforter, Thy sacred witness bear, In this glad hour : Thou, who almighty art, Now rule in every heart, And ne'er from us depart, Spirit of power ! To the Great One in Three Eternal praises be, Hence evermore : His sovereign majesty, May we in glory see, And to eternity Love and adore. MARTIN MADAN. 80 THE LORD'S DAY. Where two or three are gathered together in my Arame, there am I in the midst oj them. Matthew, xviii. 20. ESUS, where'er Thy people meet, There they behold Thy mercy-seat ; "Where'er they seek Thee, Thou art found, And every place is hallowed ground. For Thou, within no walls confined, Inhabitest the humble mind ; Such ever bring Thee where they come, And going, take Thee to their home. Dear Shepherd of Thy chosen few, Thy former mercies here renew ; Here to our waiting hearts proclaim The sweetness of Thy saving Name. w Here may we prove the power of prayer To strengthen faith and sweeten care, To teach our faint desires to rise, And bring all Heaven before our eyes. Behold, at Thy commanding word, We stretch the curtain and the cord ; Come Thou, and fill this wider space, And bless us with a large increase. 81 6 THE LORD'S DAY. Lord, we are few, but Thou art near ; Nor short Thine arm, nor deaf Thine ear ; O rend the heavens, come quickly down, And make a thousand hearts Thine own ! WILLIAM COWPER. a $ * The Son of Ma?i is Lord also of the Sabbath. Mark, ii. 28. ELCOME, sweet day of rest, That saw the Lord arise ; Welcome to this reviving breast And these rejoicing eyes. The King Himself comes near, And feasts His saints to-day; Here we may sit, and see Him here, And love and praise and pray. One day amidst the place Where my dear Lord hath been, Is sweeter than ten thousand days Of pleasurable sin. My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this, And sit and sing herself away To everlasting bliss. ISAAC WATTS. 82 In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee. Hebrews, ii. 12. WEET is the solemn voice that calls The Christian to the house of prayer I love to stand within its walls, For Thou, O Lord, art present there. I love to tread the hallowed courts Where two or three for worship meet ; For thither Christ Himself resorts, And makes the little band complete. 83 6—2 THE LORD'S DAY. 'T is sweet to raise the common song, To join in holy praise and love, And imitate the blessed throng That mingle hearts and songs above. Within these walls may peace abound, May all our hearts in one agree : Where brethren meet, where Christ is found, May peace and concord ever be. HENRY FRANCIS LYTE. In His temple doth every one speak of His glory. Psalm xxix. 9. HE day of rest once more comes round, A day to all believers dear; V The silver trumpets seem to sound That call the tribes of Israel near. Ye people all, Obey the call, And in Jehovah's courts appear. Obedient to Thy summons, Lord, We to Thy sanctuary come ; Thy gracious presence here afford, And send Thy people joyful home. 84 THE LORD'S DAY. Of Thee, our King, 0 may we sing, And none with such a theme be dumb ! O hasten, Lord, the day when those Who know Thee here, shall see Thy face ; When suffering shall for ever close, And they shall reach their destined place ; Then shall they rest Supremely blest, Eternal debtors to Thy grace ! THOMAS KELLY. In every place incense shall be offered unto my Name. (i\ _. Malachi, i v] THOU to whom, in ancient time, iL The lyre of Hebrew bards was strung ; Whom kings adored in song sublime, And prophets praised with glowing tongue ; Not now on Zion's height alone, Thy favoured worshippers may dwell, Nor where at sultry noon Thy Son Sat, weary, by the patriarch's well : 85 THE LORDS DAY. From every place below the skies The grateful song, the fervent prayer, . The incense of the heart, may rise To Heaven, and find acceptance there. To Thee shall age with snowy hair, And strength and beauty, bend the knee ; And childhood lisp, with reverent air, Its praises and its prayers to Thee. O Thou to whom, in ancient time, The lyre of prophet-bards was strung, — To Thee, at last, in every clime Shall temples rise, and praise be sung. PIERPOIXT. The Sabbath was made for man. Mark, ii. 27 * OW welcome to the saints, when press'd > With six days' noise and care and toil, Is the returning day of rest, Which hides them from the world awhile ! Now, from the throng withdrawn away, They seem to breathe a different air : Composed and softened by the day, All things another aspect wear. 86 THE LORD'S DAY. With joy they hasten to the place Where they their Saviour oft have met; And while they feast upon His grace, Their burdens and their griefs forget. We thank Thee for Thy day, 0 Lord : Here we Thy promised presence seek : Open Thy hand with blessings stored, And give us manna for the week. # JOHN NEWTON. Surelv the Lord is in this place. Genesis, xxviiL 16. O ! God is here ! Let us adore, And own, how dreadful is this place ! Let all within us feel His power And silent bow before His face. Who know His power, His grace who prove, Serve Him with awe, with reverence love. Lo ! God is here ! Him day and night Th' united choirs of angels sing : To Him, enthroned above all height, Heaven's hosts their noblest praises bring Disdain not, Lord, our meaner song, Who praise Thee with a stammering tongue ! 87 THE LORD'S DAY. Gladly the toys of earth we leave, Wealth, pleasure, fame, for Thee alone : To Thee our will, soul, flesh, we give ; O take, O seal them for Thine own. Thou art the God ! Thou art the Lord ! Be Thou by all Thy works adored. Being of beings, may our praise Thy courts with grateful fragrance fill ; Still may we stand before Thy face, Still hear and do Thy sovereign will ; To Thee may all our thoughts arise, Ceaseless, accepted sacrifice ! In Thee we move ; all things of Thee Are full, Thou source and life of all ! Thou vast, unfathomable Sea ! Fall prostrate, lost in wonder fall, Ye sons of men ; for God is Man ! All may we lose, so Thee we gain ! As flowers their opening leaves display, And glad drink in the solar fire, So may we catch Thy every ray, So may Thy influence us inspire ; Thou Beam of the eternal Beam ! Thou purging Fire ! thou quickening Flame JOHN WESLEY. FROM GERHARD TERSTEEGEN. 88 Blessed is the man that kcepeth the Sabbath from polluting it. Isaiah, lvi. 2. JRE another Sabbath's close, Ere again we seek repose, Lord ! our song ascends to Thee ; At Thy feet we bow the knee. 89 THE LORD'S DAY. For the mercies of the day, For this rest upon our way, Thanks to Thee alone be given, Lord of earth, and King of Heaven ! Cold our services have been ; Mingled every prayer with sin ; But Thou canst and will forgive : By Thy grace alone we live. Whilst this thorny path we tread, May Thy love our footsteps lead ! When our journey here is past, May we rest with Thee at last ! Let these earthly Sabbaths prove Foretastes of our joys above; While their steps Thy pilgrims bend To the rest which knows no end. GERARD THOMAS NOEL, Speak, Lord ; for Thy servant heareth. I. Samuel, iii. 9. 3[ N Thy Name, O Lord, assembling, We, Thy people, now draw near ; I Teach us to rejoice with trembling, Speak, and let Thy servants hear, — 90 THE LORD'S DAY. Hear with meekness ; Hear Thy word with godly fear. While our days en earth are lengthened, May we give them, Lord, to Thee ; Cheered by hope, and daily strengthened, May we run^nor weary be, Till Thy glory Without cloud in Heaven we see. There in worship purer, sweeter, All Thy people shall adore ; Tasting of enjoyment greater Than they could conceive before : • Full enjoyment; Full, unmixed for evermore. THOMAS KELLY. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it ; because that in it He had rested from all His work. .^^r Genesis, ii. 3. GAIN returns the day of holy rest Which, when He made the world, Jehovah blest; When, like His own, He bade our labours cease, And all be piety, and all be peace. 91 THE LORD'S DAY. Let us devote this consecrated day To learn His will, and all we learn'obey; In pure religion's hallowed duties share, And join in penitence, and join in prayer. So shall the God of mercy, pleased, receive That only tribute man has power to give ; So shall He hear, while fervently we raise Our choral harmony in hymns of praise. Father of Heaven, in whom our hopes confide, Whose power defends us and whose precepts guide ; In life our Guardian and in death our Friend, Glory supreme be Thine till time shall end. JOHN MASON. W £l?/?> Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound. Psalm Ixxxix. 15. HOW blest the congregation Who the Gospel know and prize ! JJJj^t Joyful tidings of salvation wf\ Brought by Jesus from the skies : He is near them, Knows their wants and hears their cries. & In His Name rejoicing ever, Walking in His light and love, 92 THE LORD'S DAY. And foretasting in His favour Something here of bliss above ; Happy people ! Who shall harm them ? what shall move ? By His righteousness exalted, On from strength to strength they go ; By ten thousand ills assaulted, Yet preserved from every foe ; On to glory, Safe they speed through all below. God will keep His own anointed ; Nought shall harm them, none condemn : All their trials are appointed, All must work for good to them : All shall help them To their heavenly diadem. HENRY FRANCIS LYTE. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it. lXv..^ /->rV<3J> i/~-)^ Isaiah, lvi. 2. ELCOME, sacred day of rest ! Sweet repose from worldly care ; Day above all days the best, When our souls for Heaven prepare ; 93 THE LORD'S DAY. Day when our Redeemer rose Victor o'er the hosts of hell. Thus He vanquished all our foes : Let our lips His glories tell. Gracious Lord, we love this day, When we hear Thy holy Word, When we sing Thy praise and pray : Earth can no such joys afford. But a better rest remains, Heavenly Sabbaths, happier days ; Rest from sin and rest from pains ; Endless joys and endless praise. Call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord. , Isaiah, lviii. 13. ;+ jplift + \ And hail this sacred day ; S iffi« ^n l°ftiest songs of praise Your joyful homage pay : Come, bless the day that God hath blest, The type of Heaven's eternal rest. On this auspicious morn The Lord of Life arose ; He burst the bars of death, And vanquished all our foes ; 94 THE LORD'S DAY. And now He pleads our cause above, And reaps the fruit of all His love. All hail, triumphant Lord ! Heaven with Hosannas rings, And earth, in humbler strains, Thy praise responsive sings, — Worthy the Lamb that once was slain, Through endless years to live and reign. Great King ! gird on Thy sword, Ascend Thy conquering car, While justice, power, and love Maintain the glorious war : This day let sinners own Thy sway, And rebels cast their arms away. HENRY FRANCIS LYTE. Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Isaiah, lvi. 7. REAT Father of mankind, We bless that wondrous grace Which could for Gentiles find Within Thy courts a place. How kind the care Our God displays, For us to raise A house of prayer ! 95 THE LORD'S DAY. Though once estranged far, We now approach the throne ; For Jesus brings us near, And makes our cause His own : Strangers no more, To Thee we come, And find our home And rest secure. To Thee our souls we join, And love Thy sacred Name ; No more our own, but Thine, We triumph in Thy claim : Our Father-King, Thy covenant grace Our souls embrace, Thy titles sing. May all the nations throng To worship in Thy house, And Thou attend the song, And smile upon their vows ; Indulgent still, Till earth conspire To join the choir On Zion's hill. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. 96 THE LORD'S DAY. For the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit. Romans, xv. 30. F Thy love some gracious token Grant us, Lord, before we go ; Bless Thy word which has been spoken ; Life and peace on all bestow ! When we join the world again, Let our hearts with Thee remain : O direct us And protect us, Till we gain the heavenly shore, Where Thy people want no more ! THOMAS KELLY. VJ J&Sast tfau faitlj? babe it to tijpwlf befo« <§>°*. Romans, xiv. 22. yAiT^jp art ttjou cast toown, © mg aoul? Sope » iljou in €5od. Psalm xlii. 5. Lovest thou me ? John, xxi. 15. [ARK, my soul ! it is the Lord, J Tis thy Saviour, hear His word ; Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee : Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me ? 99 7—2 FAITH. I delivered thee when bound, And, when bleeding, healed thy wound ; Sought thee wandering, set thee right, Turned thy darkness into light. " Can a woman's tender care Cease toward the child she bare ? Yes, she may forgetful be Yet will I remember thee. Mine is an unchanging love. Higher than the heights above. Deeper than the depths beneath. Free and faithful, strong as death. " Thou shalt see my glory soon, When the work of grace is done ; Partner of my throne shalt be : Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me?" Lord ! it is my chief complaint JThat my love is weak and faint ; Yet I love Thee and adore, O ! for grace to love Thee more ! WILLIAM COWPER. 100 FAITH. Though your sins be as scarlet, t/uy shall be as while as snow. * Isaiah, i. 18. HERE is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel's veins, And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains. \# The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day ; And there have I, as vile as he, Washed all my sins away. Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood Shall never lose its power Till all the ransomed Church of God Be saved, to sin no more. E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme, And shall be till I die. Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I '11 sing Thy power to save, When this poor lisping stamm'ring tongue Lies silent in the grave. 101 FAITH. Lord, I believe thou hast prepared (Unworthy though I be) For me a blood-bought free reward, A golden harp for me \ T is strung and tuned for endless years. And formed by power divine, To sound, in God the Father's ears, No other name but Thine. WILLIAM COWPER. My grace is sufficient for thee. II. Corinthians, xii. 9. ESU, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high ! Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, Till the storm of life is past, Safe into the haven guide ; O receive my soul at last ! Other refuge have I none ; Hangs my helpless soul on Thee ; Leave, ah ! leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me ! 102 All my trust on Thee is stayed, All my help from Thee I bring : Cover my defenceless head With the shadow of Thy wing ! 103 FAITH. Wilt Thou not regard my call ? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer ? Lo ! I sink, I faint, I fall ! Lo ! on Thee I cast my care ! Reach me out Thy gracious hand ! While I of Thy strength receive, Hoping against hope I stand, Dying, and behold I live ! Thou, O Christ, art all I want ; More than all in Thee I find : Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind ! Just and holy is Thy Name ; I am all unrighteousness ; False and full of sin I am, Thou art full of truth and grace. Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin : Let the healing streams abound ; Make and keep me pure within ! Thou of Life the Fountain art, Freely let me take of Thee ; Spring Thou up within my heart ! Rise to all eternity ! CHARLES WESLEY. 104 FAITH. Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. James, v. 7. HEX languor and disease invade This trembling house of clay, T is sweet* to look beyond the cage, And long to fly away Sweet to look inward, and attend The whispers of His love ; Sweet to look upward to the place Where Jesus pleads above. Sweet to look back, and see my name In life's fair book set down ; Sweet to look forward, and behold Eternal joys my own. Sweet to reflect, how grace divine My sins on Jesus laid; Sweet to remember that His blood My debt of sufferings paid. Sweet on His righteousness to stand Which saves from second death ; Sweet to experience, day by day, His Spirit's quickening breath. 105 FAITH. Sweet on His faithfulness to rest Whose love can never end ; Sweet on His covenant of grace For all things to depend. Sweet, in the confidence of faith, To trust His firm decrees ; Sweet to lie passive m His hand, And know no will but His. Sweet to rejoice in lively hope, That, when my change shall come, Angels will hover round my bed, And waft my spirit home. There shall my disimprisoned soul Behold Him and adore ; Be with His likeness satisfied, And grieve and sin no more. Shall see Him wear that very flesh On which my guilt was lain : His love intense, His merit fresh, As though but newly slain. Soon, too, my slumbering dust shall hear The trumpet's quickening sound j And, by my Saviour's power rebuilt, At His right hand be found. 106 FAITH. These eyes shall see Him in that day, The God that died for me ! And all my rising bones shall say, Lord, who is like to Thee ? If such the views which grace unfolds, Weak as it is below, What raptures must the Church above In Jesus' presence know ! If such the sweetness of the streams, What must the fountain be ? Where saints and angels draw their bliss Immediately from Thee ! O ! may the unction of these truths For ever with me stay, Till, from her sinful cage dismissed, My spirit flies away. AUGUSTUS M. TOPLADY. He is able to save them to the uttermost. Hebrews, vii. 25. [E AVE all to God, Forsaken one, and stay thy tears ; For the Highest knows thy pain, Sees thy sufferings and thy fears : J • /i£ Thou shalt not wait His help in vain, Leave all to God. 107 w FAITH. Be still and trust ! For His strokes are strokes of love, Thou must for thy profit bear ; He thy filial fear would move : Trust thy Father's loving care, Be still and trust ! Know, God is near ! Though thou think Him far away, Though His mercy long have slept, He will come and not delay, When His child enough hath wept, For God is near ! O teach Him not When and how to hear thy prayers ; Never doth our God forget : He the cross who longest bears, Finds his sorrows' bounds are set ; Then teach Him not. If thou love Him, Walking truly in His ways, Then no trouble, cross, or death, E'er shall silence faith and praise : All things serve thee here beneath, If thou love God ! CATHERINE WINKWORTH. TRANSLATED FROM ANTON ULRICH, DUKE OF BRUNSWICK. 108 An advocate with the Father. I. John, ii. i. THOU, the contrite sinners' Friend, \^S&A Who, loving, lov'st them to the end, On this alone my hopes depend, That Thou wilt plead for me. "When, weary in the Christian race, Far off appears my resting-place, And fainting I mistrust Thy grace, Then, Saviour, plead for me ! T09 FAITH. When I have erred and gone astray, Afar from Thine and Wisdom's way, And see no glimmering guiding ray, Still, Saviour, plead for me ! When Satan, by my sins made bold, Strives from Thy Cross to loose my hold, Then with Thy pitying arms enfold, And plead, O, plead for me ! And when my dying hour draws near, Darkened with anguish, guilt, and fear, Then to my fainting sight appear, Pleading in Heaven for me ! When the full light of heavenly day Reveals my sin in dread array, Say Thou hast washed them all away ; O ! say Thou plead'st for me ! CHARLOTTE ELLIOTT. Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts, XX. 21. AITH ! 't is a precious grace, Where'er it is bestowed ; It boasts of a celestial birth And is the gift of God. 110 FAITH. Jesus it owns a King, An all-atoning Priest ; It claims no merit of its own, But looks for all in Christ. On Him it safely leans In times of deep distress ; Flies to the fountain of His blood, And trusts His righteousness. All through the wilderness It is our strength and stay ; Nor can we miss the heavenly road While faith directs our way. Since ?t is Thy work alone, And that divinely free, Lord, send the Spirit of Thy Son, To work that faith in me. BENJAMIN BF.DDOME. Lo, we have left all and have followed Thee. Mark, x. 28. ESUS, I my cross have taken, All to leave, and follow Thee ; Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou, from hence, my all shalt be. ill FAITH. Perish every fond ambition, All I 've sought, or hoped, or known ; Yet how rich is my condition ! God and Heaven are still my own ! Let the world despise and leave me, They have left my Saviour too ; Human hearts and looks deceive me : Thou art not, like them, untrue ; And, while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might, Foes may hate and friends may shun me; Show Thy face, and all is bright ! Go, then, earthly fame and treasure ! Come, disaster, scorn, and pain ! In Thy service, pain is pleasure, With Thy favour, loss is gain ! I have called Thee Abba, Father ! I have stayed my heart on Thee ! Storms may howl and clouds may gather, All must work for good to me. Man may trouble and distress me, 'T will but drive me to Thy breast ; Life with trials hard may press me, Heaven will bring me sweeter rest ! O ! 'tis not in grief to harm me, While Thy love is left to me ! 112 FAITH. O ! 'twere not in joy to charm me, Were that joy unmixed with Thee ! Take, my soul, thy full salvation ! Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care ; Joy to find, in every station, Something still to do or bear : Think what Spirit dwells within thee ! What a Father's smile is thine ! What a Saviour died to win thee ! Child of Heaven, shouldst thou repine ? Haste, then, on from grace to glory, Armed by faith and winged by prayer ; Heaven's eternal day 's before thee, God's own hand shall guide thee there ! Soon shall close thy earthly mission, Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days ; Hope soon change to glad fruition, Faith to sight, and prayer to praise ! HENRY FRANCIS LYTE. He is able to succour them that are tempted. Hebrews, ii. HEX gathering clouds around I view, And days are dark and friends are few, On Him I lean who not in vain Experienced every human pain : 118 8 FAITH. He sees my wants, allays my fears, And counts and treasures up my tears. If aught should tempt my soul to stray From heavenly wisdom's narrow way, To fly the good I would pursue, Or do the sin I would not do, Still He who felt temptation's power Shall guard me in that dangerous hour. If wounded love my bosom swell, Deceived by those I prized too well, He shall His pitying aid bestow, Who felt on earth severer woe, — At once betrayed, denied, or fled By those who shared His daily bread, If vexing thoughts within me rise, And, sore dismayed, my spirit dies, Still He who once vouchsafed to bear The sickening anguish of despair, Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry, The throbbing heart, the streaming eye. When sorrowing o'er some stone I bend, Which covers what was once a friend, And from his voice, his hand, his smile, Divides me for a little while, Thou, Saviour, mark'st the tears I shed, For Thou didst weep o'er Lazarus dead. 114 And O ! when I have safely past Through every conflict but the last, Still, still unchanging, watch beside My painful bed, for Thou hast died ! Then point to realms of cloudless da}'. And wipe the latest tear away ! SIR ROBERT GRANT. 115 8 2 FAITH. Lord, save us : we perish. Matthew, viii. 25. 0 ! the storms of life are breaking, Faithless fears our hearts are shaking For our succour undertaking, Lord and Saviour, help us. >#>j Lo ! the world, from Thee rebelling, Round Thy Church in pride is swelling ; With Thy word their madness quelling, Lord and Saviour, help us. On Thine own command relying, We our onward task are plying, Unto Thee for safety sighing, Lord and Saviour, help us. Steadfast we, in faith abiding, In Thy secret presence hiding, In Thy love and grace confiding, Lord and Saviour, help us. By Thy birth, Thy cross, Thy passion, By Thy tears of deep compassion, By Thy mighty intercession, Lord and Saviour, help us. DEAN ALFORD. 116 FAITH. •£*• 0 Lord, my strength and my refuge. Jeremiah, xvi. 19. HOLY Saviour, Friend unseen, The faint, the weak, on Thee may lean : Help me, throughout life's varying scene, By faith to cling to Thee ! Blest with communion so divine, Take what Thou wilt, shall I repine, When, as the branches to the vine, My soul may cling to Thee ? Far from her home, fatigued, opprest, Here she has found a place of rest, An exile still, yet not unblest While she can cling to Thee ! Without a murmur I dismiss My former dreams of earthly bliss ; My joy, my recompense be this, Each hour to cling to Thee ! What though the world deceitful prove, And earthly friends and joys remove? With patient uncomplaining love Still would I cling to Thee ! 117 FAITH Oft when I seem to tread alone Some barren waste with thorns o'ergrown, A voice of love, in gentlest tone, Whispers, " Still cling to me !" Though faith and hope awhile be tried, I ask not, need not, aught beside : How safe, how calm, bow satisfied, The souls that cling to Thee ! They fear not life's rough storms to brave, Since Thou art near, and strong to save ; Nor shudder e'en at death's dark wave ; Because they cling to Thee ! Blest is my lot, whate'er befall : What can disturb me, who appal, While as my strength, my rock, my all, Saviour ! I cling to Thee ? CHARLOTTE ELLIOTT Him that cometh to me I will in no luise cast out. John, vi. 37. UST as I am — without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come. 118 Just as I am — and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot 119 FAITH. To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come. Just as I am — though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings within, and fears without, O Lamb of God, I come. Just as I am — poor, wretched, blind ; Sight, riches, healing of the mind, Yea, all I need, in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come. Just as I am — Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve ; Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come. Just as I am — Thy love unknown Has broken every barrier down ; Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come. Just as I am — of that free love, The breadth, length, depth, the height to prove ; Here for a season, then above, O Lamb of God, I come. CHARLOTTE ELLIOTT. 120 FAITH. Give car to my words, 0 Lord, consider my meditation. Psalm v. HEN I survey life's varied scene, Amid the darkest hours Sweet rays of comfort shine between, And thorns are mixed with flowers. Lord, teach me to adore Thy hand, From whence my comforts flow, And let me in this desert land A glimpse of Canaan know. And O ! whate'er of earthly bliss Thy sovereign hand denies, Accepted at Thy throne of grace Let this petition rise : Give me a calm, a thankful heart, From every murmur free ; The blessings of Thy grace impart, And let me live to Thee. Let the sweet hope, that Thou art mine, My path of life attend, Thy presence through my journey shine, And bless its happy end ! ANNE STEELE. Vi\ FAITH. mm x^\ p^j Whether we live, we live unto the Lord ; and whether \ Y % we dk> ™e die unto the Lord. Romans, xiv. 8. OW it belongs not to my care Whether I die or live ; To love and serve Thee is my share, And this Thy grace must give. If death shall bruise this springing seed Before it come to fruit, The will with Thee goes for the deed, Thy life was in the root. Would I long bear my heavy load, And keep my sorrows long ? Would I long sin against my God, And His dear mercy wrong ? \ How much is sinful flesh my foe, That doth my soul pervert To linger here in sin and woe, And steals from God my heart ! Christ leads me through no darker rooms Than He went through before ; He that unto God's kingdom comes Must enter by this door. 122 FAITH. Come, Lord, when grace hath made me meet Thy blessed face to see ; For, if Thy work on earth be sweet, What will Thy glory be ? Then I shall end my sad complaints, And weary sinful days, And join with the triumphant saints That sing Jehovah's praise. My knowledge of that life is small ; The eye of faith is dim j But it 's enough that Christ knows all, And I shall be with Him. RICHARD BAXTER. Unite my heart to fear Thy Name. Psalm Ixxxvi ESU, my strength, my hope, On Thee I cast my care, With humble confidence look up, And know Thou hear'st my prayer. Give me on Thee to wait Till I can all things do. On Thee, Almighty to create ! Almighty to renew ! 123 FAITH. I want a sober mind, A self-renouncing will, That tramples down and casts behind The baits of pleasing ill ; A soul inured to pain, To hardship, grief, and loss ; Bold to take up, firm to sustain, The consecrated Cross. I want a godly fear, A quick-discerning eye, That looks to Thee when sin is near, And sees the tempter fly ; A spirit still prepared, And armed with jealous care, For ever standing on its guard, And watching unto prayer. I want a heart to pray, To pray and never cease, Never to murmur at Thy stay, Or wish my sufferings less ; This blessing above all, Always to pray, I want, Out of the deep on Thee to call, And never, never faint. Give me a true regard, A single, steady aim, ' 124 FAITH. Unmoved by threatening or reward, To Thee and Thy great Name j A jealous, just concern, For Thine immortal praise ; A pure desire that all may learn And glorify Thy grace. I rest upon Thy word ; The promise is for me ; My succour and salvation, Lord, Shall surely come from Thee. But let me still abide, Nor from my hope remove, Till Thou my patient spirit guide Into Thy perfect love. CHARLES WESLEY. I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. Galatians, ii. 20. Y faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Saviour divine : Now hear me while I pray ; Take all my guilt away ; O let me from this day Be wholly Thine. 12a FAITH. May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire : As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire. While life's dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my Guide ; Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow's tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside. When ends life's transient dream, When death's cold, sullen stream Shall o'er me roll, Blest Saviour, then, in love, Fear and distrust remove ; O bear me safe above — A ransomed soul ! RAY PALMER. 126 Thy will be done. Matthew, Y God and Father, while I stray Far from my home, on life's rough way, O teach me from my heart to say, Thy will be done ! Though dark my path and sad my lot, Let me be still and murmur not, Or breathe the prayer divinely taught, Thy will be done ! What though in lonely grief I sigh For friends beloved, no longer nigh ? 127 FAITH. Submissive still would I reply, Thy will be done ! Though Thou hast called me to resign What I most prized, it ne'er was mine, I have but yielded what was Thine ; Thy will be done ! Should grief or sickness waste away My life in premature decay, My Father, still I strive to say, Thy will be done ! Let but my fainting heart be blest With Thy sweet Spirit for its guest, My God, to Thee I leave the rest ; Thy will be done ! Renew my will from day to day; Blend it with Thine ; and take away All that now makes it hard to say, Thy will be done ! Then, when on earth I breathe no more, The prayer, oft mixed with tears before, I '11 sing upon a happier shore, Thy will be done ! CHARLOTTE ELLIOTT. 128 FAITH. This is a faithful saying, that Christ Jesus eame into the world to save sinners. I Timothy, L i< ND can it be, that I should gain An interest in the Saviour's blood ? Died He for me, who caused His pain, For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love ! how can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me ? 'T is mystery all ! Tlv Immortal dies ! Who can explore His strange design ? In vain the first-born seraph tries To sound the depths ot love divine. 'T is mercy all ! Let earth adore ! Let angel minds inquire no more ! He left His Father's throne above, (So free, so infinite His grace !) Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam's helpless race. 'T is mercy all, immense and free ! For O, my God ! it found out me ! Long my impnsoned spirit lay Fast bound in sin and Nature's night ; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray ; I woke : the dungeon flamed with light ; 129 9 FAITH. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee ! Still the small inward voice I hear, That whispers all my sins forgiven ; Still the atoning blood is near, That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven : I feel the life His wounds impart ; I feel my Saviour in my heart. No condemnation now I dread ; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine ! Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach th' eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own. CHARLES WESLEY, An anchor of the soul. Hebrews, vi. 19. , OW I have found the ground wherein Sure my soul's anchor may remain ; The wound of Jesus, for my sin, Before the world's foundation slain ; Whose mercy shall unshaken stay When Heaven and earth are fled away. 130 Father, Thine everlasting grace Our scanty thought surpasses far ; Thy heart still melts with tenderness ; Thine arms of love still open are, Returning sinners to receive, That mercy they may taste and live. O Love ! thou bottomless abyss ! My sins are swallowed up in thee; Covered is my unrighteousness, Nor spot of guilt remains on me : While Jesus' blood, through earth and skies, Mercy — free, boundless mercy — cries. 131 9 — 2 FAITH. With faith I plunge me in this sea ; Here is my hope, my joy, my rest ; Hither, when Hell assails, I flee, I look into my Saviour's breast : Away, sad doubt and anxious fear ! Mercy is all that 's written there. Though waves and storms go o'er my head ; Though strength, and health, and friends be gone ; Though joys be withered all and dead; Though every comfort be withdrawn ; On this my steadfast soul relies, — Father ! Thy mercy never dies. Fixed on this ground will I remain, Though my heart fail and flesh decay ; This anchor shall my soul sustain When earth's foundations melt away : Mercy's full power I then shall prove, Loved with an everlasting love. JOHN WESLEY. FROM ZINZENDORF. Whether ine live or die, we are the Lord's. Romans, xiv. 8. |LEST be Thy love, dear Lord, That taught us this sweet way, Only to love Thee for Thyself, And for that love obey. 132 FAITH. O Thou, our souls' chief hope ! We to Thy mercy fly; Where'er we are, Thou canst protect, Whate'er we need, supply. Whether we sleep or wake, To Thee we both resign ; By night we see, as well as day, If Thy light on us shine. Whether we live or die, Both we submit to Thee : In death we live, as well as life, If Thine in death we be. JOHN AUSTIN. ^■^ Hear the voice of my supplications zv/ien I cry unto Thee. Psalm xxviii 2 ERE behold me as I cast me At Thy throne, O glorious King ! Tears fast thronging, childlike longing, Son of Man, to Thee I bring. Let me find Thee \ let me find Thee ! Me a poor and worthless thing. Look upon me, Lord, I pray Thee, Let Thy Spirit dwell in mine ; 13; FAITH. Thou hast sought me, Thou hast bought me, Only Thee to know I pine. Let me find Thee ! let me find Thee ! Take my heart, and grant me Thine. Nought I ask for, nought I strive for, But Thy grace so rich and free, That Thou givest whom Thou lovest, And who truly cleave to Thee. Let me find Thee ! let me find Thee ! He hath all things who hath Thee. Earthly treasure, mirth and pleasure, Glorious name, or richest hoard, Are but weary, void and dreary, To the heart that longs for Thee ; Let me find Thee ! let me find Thee ! I am ready, mighty Lord. TRANSLATED BY CATHERINE W1NKW0RTH. To Him who is able to keep you from falling be glory and majesty, dominion and power, for ever. Jude, i. 24. O God the only wise, Our Saviour and our King, Let all the saints below the skies Their humble praises bring. 134 FAITH. T is His almighty love, His counsel and His care, Preserve us safe from sin and death, And every hurtful snare. He will present our souls, Unblemished and complete, Before the glory of His face, With joys divinely great. Then all the chosen race Shall meet around the throne, Shall bless the conduct of His grace, And make His wonders known. To our Redeemer, God, Wisdom and power belong, Immortal crowns of majesty, And Heaven's eternal song. ISAAC WATTS. That rock was Christ. I. Corinthians, x. OCK of ages, cleft .or me, * Let me hide myself in Thee Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power. 135 FAITH. Not the labours of my hands Can fulfil Thy law's demands : Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring ; Simply to Thy cross I cling : Naked, come to Thee for dress ; Helpless, look to Thee for grace ; Foul, I to the fountain fly : Wash me, Saviour, or I die. Whilst I draw this fleeting breath — When my eye-strings break in death — When I soar through tracts unknown — See Thee on Thy judgment throne — Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. AUGUSTUS M. TOPLADY. 136 They shall ask the way to Zion. Jeremiah, 1. 5. ROM Egypt's bondage come, Where death and darkness reign, We seek our new, our better home, Where we our rest shall gain. Hallelujah ! We are on our way to God. To Canaan's sacred bound We haste with songs of joy, 137 HOPE. Where peace and liberty are found, And sweets that never cloy. Hallelujah ! We are on our way to God. There sin and sorrow cease, And every conflict 's o'er ; There we shall dwell in endless peace, Nor thirst nor hunger more. Hallelujah ! We are on our way to God. There, in celestial strains Enraptured myriads sing; There love in every bosom reigns, For God Himself is King. Hallelujah ! We are on our way to God. We soon shall join the throng, Their pleasure we shall share, And sing the everlasting song, With all the ransomed there. Hallelujah ! We are on our way to God. How bright the prospect is ! It cheers the pilgrim's breast. WVre journeying through the wilderness, 138 HOPE. But soon shall gain our rest. Hallelujah ! We are on our way to God. THOMAS KELLY, Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart. Matthew, xi. 29. IERCE passions discompose the mind, As tempests vex the sea ; But calm content and peace we find, When, Lord, we turn to Thee. In vain by reason and by rule We try to bend the will ; For none but in the Saviour's school Can learn the heavenly skill. X> Since at His feet my soul has sat, His gracious words to hear, Contented with my present state, I cast on Him my care. Art. thou a sinner, soul?'' He said; " Then How canst thou complain ? How light thy troubles here, if weighed With everlasting pain. 139 HOPE. " If thou of murmuring would'st be cured, Compare thy griefs with mine : Think what my love for thee endured, And thou wilt not repine. " 'T is I appoint thy daily lot, And I do all things well ; Thou soon shalt leave this wretched spot, And rise with Me to dwell. " In life my grace shall strength supply Proportioned to thy day ; At death thou still shalt find me nigh, To wipe thy tears away." Thus I, who once my wretched days In vain repinings spent, Taught in my Saviour's school of grace, Have learnt to be content. WILLIAM COWPER. For the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven. Colossians, i. 5. HO would not leave this world below, To meet the promise given ? To go where tears do cease to flow, To die and go to Heaven ! 140 HOPE. To die and go to Heaven, Lord ! There to mingle with the blest ; " Where the wicked cease from troubling, And the weary are at rest." Dear Lord ! on Thee we rest our hope, When with temptation riven ; Grant us to feel Thy Spirit's love, Then — die and go to Heaven. AXON. And again they said, Alleluia. Revelation, xix. 3. ALLELUJAH ! song of gladness, Song of everlasting joy; Hallelujah ! song the sweetest That can angel hosts employ ; Hymning in God's holy presence Their high praise eternally. Hallelujah ! Church victorious, Thou may'st lift this joyful strain ; Hallelujah ! songs of triumph Will befit the ransomed train : We our song must raise with sadness, While in exile we remain, ill HOPE. Hallelujah ! strains of gladness Suit not souls with anguish torn ; Hallelujah ! notes of sadness Best befit our state forlorn ; For, in this dark world of sorrow, We with tears our sin must mourn. But our earnest supplication, Holy God, we raise to Thee ; Bring us to Thy blissful presence, Make us all Thy joys to see ; Then we '11 sing our Hallelujah, — Sing to all eternity. THIRTEENTH CENTURY. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians, iii. 2. )// PRAISED the earth, in beauty seen, With garlands gay of various green ; I praised the sea, whose ample field Shone glorious as a silver shield ; And earth and ocean seemed to say, " Our beauties are but for a day." I praised the sun, whose chariot rolled On wheels of amber and of gold ; 142 I praised the moon, whose softer eye Gleamed sweetly through the summer sky; 143 HOPE. And moon and sun in answer said, " Our days of light are numbered." O God ! O Good beyond compare ! If thus Thy meaner works are fair, If thus Thy bounties gild the span Of ruined earth and sinful man, How glorious must the mansion be Where Thy redeemed shall dwell with Thee ! BISHOP REGINALD HEBER. Guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke, i. 79. A IN would my thoughts fly up to Thee, Thy peace, sweet Lord, to find ; But when I offer, still the world Lays clogs upon my mind. Sometimes I climb a little way, And thence look down below ; How nothing, there, do all things seem That here make such a show. Then round about I turn my eyes, To feast my hungry sight ; I meet with Heaven in everything, In everything delight. 144 HOPE. I see Thy wisdom ruling all, And it with joy admire ; I see myself among such hopes As set my heart on fire. When I have thus triumphed awhile, And think to build my nest, Some cross conceits come fluttering by, And interrupt my rest. Then to the earth again I fall, And from my low dust cry, 'Twas not in my wing, Lord, but Thine, That I got up so high. And now, my God, whether I rise, Or still lie down in dust, Both I submit to Thy blest will ; In both, on Thee I trust. Guide Thou my way, who art Thyself My everlasting end, That every step, or swift or slow, Still to Thyself may tend. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One consubstantial Three, All highest praise, all humblest thanks, Now and for ever be ! Amen. JOHN AUSTIN. 145 10 HOPE. I cried with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord! Psalm cxix. 145. O up, go up, my heart, Dwell with thy God above ; For here thou canst not rest, Nor here give out thy love. Go up, go up, my heart, Be not a trifler here ; Ascend above these clouds, Dwell in a higher sphere. Let not thy love flow out To things so soiled and dim ; Go up to Heaven and God, Take up thy love to Him. Waste not thy precious stores On creature-love below ; To God that wealth belong*, On Him that wealth bestow. Go up, reluctant heart, Take up thy rest above ; *l* Arise, earth-clinging thoughts ; Ascend, my lingering love ! HORATIUS BON'AR. 146 HOPE. Hear me, when I call, O God ; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. C\ Psalm iv. i. ^ J EAR, gracious God ! a sinner's cry, For I have nowhere else to fly ; j) My hope, my only hope 's in Thee O God, be merciful to me ! To Thee I come, a sinner poor, And wait for mercy at Thy door ; Indeed, I Ve nowhere else to flee : O God, be merciful to me ! To Thee I come, a sinner weak, And scarce know how to pray or speak From fear and weakness set me free : O God, be merciful to me ! To Thee I come, a sinner vile ; Upon me, Lord, vouchsafe to smile ! Mercy alone I make my plea : O God, be merciful to me ! To Thee I come, a sinner great, And well Thou knowest all my state ; Yet full forgiveness is with Thee : O God, be merciful to me ! 117 10 — 2 HOPE. To Thee I come, a sinner lost, Nor have I ought wherein to trust ; But where Thou art, Lord, I would be : O God, be merciful to me ! To glory bring me, Lord, at last ; And there, when all my fears are past, With all the saints I '11 then agree, God has been merciful to me ! SAMUEL MEDLKY. The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens. Psalm ciii. 19. EHOLD ! how glorious is yon sky . Lo ! there the righteous never die, But dwell in peace for ever : Then who would wear this earthly clay, When bid to cast life's chains away, And win Thy gracious favour ? . Holy, Holy, O forgive us ; And receive us, heavenly Father, When around Thy throne we gather. Confiding in Thy sacred Word, Our Saviour is our hope, O Lord, 14S The guiding star before us ; Our Shepherd, leading us the way, If from Thy paths our footsteps stray, 149 HOPE. To Thee He will restore us. Holy, Holy, ever hear us, And receive us, while we gather Round Thy throne, Almighty Father. NICOLAI. fy In my Father's house are many mansions. & John, xiv. 2. HEN I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, I bid farewell to every fear, And wipe my weeping eyes. Should Death against my soul engage, And hellish darts be hurled, Then I can smile at Satan's rage, And face a frowning world. Should cares like a wild deluge come, And storms of sorrow fall, May I but safely reach my home, My God, my Heaven, my all ; There shall I bathe my weary soul In seas of heavenly rest, And not a wave of trouble roll Across my peaceful breast. ISAAC WATTS. 150 HOPE. For hare have we no continuing city. Hebrews, xiii. 14. E VE no abiding city here : This may distress the worldling's mind, But should not cost the saint a tear, Who hopes a better rest to find. We 've no abiding city here : Sad truth ! were this to be our home ! But let this thought our spirits cheer — We seek a city yet to come. We Ve no abiding city here ; Then let us live as pilgrims do ! Let not the world our rest appear, But let us haste from all below. We 've no abiding city here : We seek a city out of sight ; Zion its name, — the Lord is there,— It shines with everlasting light ! Zion ! Jehovah is her strength ; Secure she smiles at all her foes ; And weary travellers at length Within her sacred walls repose. 151 HOPE. O sweet abode of peace and love, Where pilgrims, freed from toil, are blest ; Had I the pinions of a dove, I'd fly to thee, and be at rest ! f THOMAS KELLY. I U Where I am, there ye may be also. John, xiv. 3. ET me be with Thee where Thou art, My Saviour, my eternal Rest ; Then only will this longing heart Be fully and for ever blest ! Let me be witn Thee where Thou art, Thy unveiled glory to behold ; Then only will this wandering heart Cease to be treacherous, faithless, cold. Let me be with Thee where Thou art, Where spotless saints Thy Name adore ; Then only will this sinful heart Be evil and defiled no more ! Let me be with Thee where Thou art, Where none can die, where none remove ; There neither death nor life will part Me from Thy presence and Thy love. CHARLOTTE ELLIOTT. 152 HOPE. The Lord Jehouah is everlasting strength* Isaiah, xxvi. 4. NEED Thee, precious Jesu, For I am very poor : A stranger and a pilgrim, I have no earthly store ; I need the love of Jesus To cheer me on my way, To guide my doubting footsteps, To be my strength and stay. I need Thee, precious Jesu, I need a friend like Thee, A friend to soothe and pity, A friend to care for me ; I need the heart of Jesus To feel each anxious care, To tell my every trial, And all my sorrows share. I need Thee, precious Jesu, I need Thee, day by day, To fill me with Thy fulness, To lead me on my way. I need Thy Holy Spirit To teach me what I am, To show me more of Jesus, To point me to the Lamb. 153 HOPE. I need Thee, precious Jesu, And hope to see Thee soon, Encircled with the rainbow, And seated on Thy throne ; There, with Thy blood-bought children, My joy shall ever be To sing Thy praises, Jesu, To gaze, my Lord, on Thee. ANON. A spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isaiah, lviii. HERE is a pure and tranquil wave, That rolls around the throne of love, Whose waters gladden as they lave The peaceful shores above. While streams, which on that tide depend, Steal from those heavenly shores away, And on this desert world descend O'er weary lands to stray. The pilgrim faint, and nigh to sink Beneath his load of earthly woe, Refreshed beside their verdant brink, Rejoices in their flow. 151 There, O my soul, do thou repair, And hover o'er the hallowed spring, To drink the crystal wave, and there To lave thy wearied wing. 155 HOPE. There droop that wing, when far it flies From human care, and toil, and strife, And feed by those still streams, that rise Beneath the Tree of Life. It may be that the breath of love Some leaves on their pure tide have driven, Which, passing from the shores above, Have floated down from Heaven. So shall thy wounds and woes be healed By the blest virtue that they bring ; So thy parched lips shall be unsealed, Thy Saviour's praise to sing. WILLIAM BALL. Lay hold on eternal life. I. Timothy, vi. 19. WHERE shall rest be found, Rest for the weary sou] ? 'T were vain the ocean depths to sound Or pierce to either pole. The world can never give The bliss for which we sigh ; 'T is not the whole of life, to live, Nor all of death, to die. 158 HOPE. Beyond this vale of tears There is a life above, Unmeasured by the flight of years, And all that life is love. There is a death, whose pang Outlasts the fleeting breath ; O, what eternal horrors hang Around the second death ! Lord God of truth and grace, Teach us that death to shun, Lest we be banished from Thy face, And evermore undone. Here would we end our quest j Alone are found in Thee The life of perfect love — the rest Of immortality. JAMES MONTGOMERY Arise ye, and depart ; for this is not your rest. Micati, ii. 10. ISE, my soul, and stretch thy wings j Thy better portion trace ; Rise from transitory things, Towards Heaven, thy native place. 157 HOPE Sun and moon and stars decay ; Time shall soon this earth remove : Rise, my soul, and haste away To seats prepared above. Rivers to the ocean run, Nor stay in all their course ; Fire ascending seeks the sun ; Both speed them to their source. So a soul that 's born of God Pants to view His glorious face ; Upwards tends to His abode, To rest in His embrace. Cease, ye pilgrims, cease to mourn, Press onward to the prize ; Soon your Saviour will return Triumphant in the skies. Yet a season, and we know Happy entrance will be given • All our sorrows left below, And earth exchanged for Heaven. MARTIN MADAN. 158 HOPE The things which are not seen are eternal. II. Corinthian>, iv. I Y thoughts surmount these lower skies, And look within the veil ; There springs of endless pleasure ribe, The waters never fail. ftt There I behold, with sweet delight, The blessed Three in One, And strong affections fix my sight On God's incarnate Son. His promise stands for ever firm, His grace shall ne'er depart ; He binds my name upon His arm, And seals it on His heart. Light are the pains that nature brings ; How short our sorrows are When with eternal future things The present we compare ! I would not be a stranger still To that celestial place Where I for ever hope to dwell Near my Redeemer's face. ISAAC WATTS. i5y HOPE. The time of my departure is at hand: 1 have finished my course. P -V2 ^ P** o ^ o*r o*. IL Timothy, iv. 6, 7 k HE hour of my departure 's come ; I I hear the voice that calls me home . $ At last, O Lord, let troubles cease, And let Thy servant die in peace. The race appointed I have run, The fight is o'er, the prize is won ; And now my witness is on high, And now my record 's in the sky. Not in mine innocence I trust; I bow before Thee in the dust, And through my Saviour's blood alone c I look for mercy at Thy throne. I leave the world without a tear, Save for the friends I held so dear ; To heal their sorrows, Lord, descend, And to the friendless prove a friend. I come, I come, at Thy command, I yield my spirit to Thy hand ; Stretch forth Thine everlasting arms, And shield me in the last alarms. 160 HOPE. The hour of my departure 's come ; I hear the voice that calls me home Now, O my God, let troubles cease, Now let Thy servant die in peace. MICHAEL BRUCE. IV c have seen His star in the east. Matthew, ii. 2. RIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid ! Star of the east, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid ! Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining, Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall ; Angels adore Him in slumber reclining, Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all ! Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion Odours of Edom and offerings divine, Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine ? Vainly we offer each ample oblation, Vainly with gifts would His favour secure ; Richer by far is the heart's adoration, Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. BISHOP REGINALD HEBER. 161 11 HOPE. God, Thou art my God: my soul thirst eth for Thee. Psalm lxiii. i. AR from my heavenly home, Far from my Father's breast, jB|l Fainting I cry, " Blest Spirit ! come, And speed me to my rest ! " Upon the willows long My harp has silent hung : How should I sing a cheerful song Till Thou inspire my tongue ? My spirit homeward turns, And fain would thither flee ; My heart, O Zion, droops and yearns When I remember thee. To thee, to thee I press, A dark and toilsome road : When shall I pass the wilderness, And reach the saints' abode ? God of my life, be near ! On Thee my hopes I cast : O guide me through the desert here, And bring me home at last ! HENRY FRANCIS LYTE. 162 The God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus. Romans, xv. 5. ISjS*!] ESUS, Lord, we look to Thee : Kjjgllq Let us in Thy Name agree ; Show Thyself the Prince of Peace ; Bid all strife for ever cease. 163 11 — 2 LOVE. Make us of one heart and mind, Courteous, pitiful, and kind ; Lowly, meek in thought and word, — Altogether like our Lord. Let us for each other care, Each the other's burden bear ; To Thy Church the pattern give, Show how true believers live. Free from anger and from pride, Let us thus in Thee abide ; All the depths of love express, All the heights of holiness : Let us then with joy remove To Thy family above ; And with faith and comfort high, Prove how true believers die. CHARLES WESLEV. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. I. John, ii. 15. AJttMH $% «1 HRIST, my hidden life, appear, Soul of my inmost soul ! Light of life, the mourner cheer, And make the sinner whole ! 164 LOVE. Now in me Thyself display; Surely Thou in all things art ; I from all things turn away, To seek Thee in my heart ! Open, Lord, my inward ear, And bid my heart rejoice ! Bid my quiet spirit hear Thy comfortable voice; Never in the whirlwind found, Or where earthquakes rock the place ; Still and silent is the sound, The whisper of Thy grace ! From the world of sin, and noise, And hurry, I withdraw; For the small and inward voice I wait with humble awe ; Silent am I now and still, Dare not in Thy presence move ; To my waiting soul reveal The secret of Thy love ! Thou hast undertook for me ; For me to death wast sold ; Wisdom in a mystery Of bleeding love unfold ' Teach the lesson of Thy Cross ; Let me die, with Thee to reign ! 165 LOVE. ♦ All things let me count but loss, So I may Thee regain ! Show me, as my soul can bear, The depth of inbred sin : All the unbelief declare, The pride that lurks within : Take me, whom Thyself hast bought ! Bring into captivity Every high aspiring thought, That would not stoop to Thee ! Lord, my time is in Thy hand ; My soul to Thee convert ! Thou canst make me understand Though I am slow of heart. Thine, in whom I live and move, Thine the work, the power is Thine ! Thou art Wisdom, Power, and Love ; And all Thou art is mine ! CHARLES WESLEY. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious. I. Peter, ii. 7. OW sweet the Name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear ! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear- 166 It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast ; T is manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary rest. 167 LOVE. Dear Name ! the rock on which I build, My shield and hiding-place ; My never-failing treas'ry, filled With boundless stores of grace. Jesus, my Shepherd, Guardian, Friend, My Prophet, Priest, and King ; My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, Accept the praise I bring. Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought ; But when I see Thee as Thou art, I '11 praise Thee as I ought. Till then I would Thy love proclaim With ev'ry fleeting breath ; And may the music of Thy Name, Refresh my soul in death. JOHN NEWTON. If ye love me, keep my commandments. John, xiv. 15. What peaceful hours I once enjoyed ! O Israel: ivho is like unto tkee, 0 people saved by the Lord. Deuteronomy, xxxiii. 29. ISRAEL, blest beyond compare ! Unrivalled all thy glories are ! Jehovah deigns to fill thy throne, And calls thine interests His own. He is thy Saviour, He thy Lord : His shield is thine, and thine His sword ; Review in ecstacy of thought The grand redemption He has wrought. From Satan's yoke He sets thee free ; Opens thy passage through the sea ; He through the desert is thy guide, And Heaven for Canaan will provide. Not Jacob's sons of old could boast Such favours to their chosen host ; Their glories, which through ages shine, Are but dim shades and types of thine. Celestial Spirit, teach our tongue Sublimer strains than Moses sung, Proportioned to the sweeter Name Of God, the Saviour, and the Lamb. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. 207 JOY. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah, viii. OY is a fruit that will not grow In nature's barren soil ; All we can boast, till Christ we know, Is vanity and toil. But where the Lord has planted grace, And made His glories known, There fruits of heavenly joy and peace Are found, and there alone. A bleeding Saviour seen by faith, A sense of pardoning love, A hope that triumphs over death, Give joys like those above. To take a glimpse within the veil, To know that God is mine, Are springs of joy that never fail, Unspeakable, divine ! These are the joys which satisfy And sanctify the mind, Which make the spirit mount on high, And leave the world behind. JOHN NEWTON. 208 JOY. Sing praises to the Lord, which diuelleth in Zion. IS Heaven begun below To hear Christ's praises flow In Zion, where His Name is known •. What will it be above To sing redeeming love, And cast our crowns before His throne ! When we adore Him there, We shall be void of fear, Nor faith, nor hope, nor patience need : Love will absorb us quite, Love in the midst of light, On God's eternal love shall feed. O ! what sweet company We then shall hear and see ! What harmony will there abound ! When souls unnumbered sing The praise of Zion's King, Nor one dissenting voice is found ! With everlasting joy, Such as will never cloy, We shall be filled, nor wish for more . 209 14 JOY. Bright as meridian day, Calm as the evening ray, Full as a sea without a shore. Till that blest period come, Zion shall be my home ; And may I never thence remove, Till from the Church below To Heaven at once I go, And there commune in perfect love ! JOSEPH SWAIN. The Lord is my strength and my shield} their/ore my heart greatly reioiceth ; and with my song will I praise Him Psalm xxviii. 7. WILL praise Thee every day, Now Thine anger 's turned away : Comfortable thoughts arise From the bleeding sacrifice. 210 JOY. Here, in the fair Gospel-field, Wells of free salvation yield Streams of life, a plenteous store, And my soul shall thirst no more. Jesus is become at length My salvation and my strength ; And His praises shall prolong, While I live, my pleasant song. Praise ye, then, His glorious Name, Publish His exalted fame ; Still His worth your praise exceeds, Excellent are all His deeds. Raise again the joyful sound, Let the nations roll it round. Zion, shout, for this is He : God the Saviour dwells in thee. WILLIAM COWPER, Tlierefore will I give thanks tin to TJice, 0 Lord, and sing praises unto Thy Name* Psalm xviii. 49. WAKE, my soul, in joyful lays, And sing the great Redeemer's praise : He justly claims a song from me, — His loving-kindness, O how free ! 211 14 — 2 JOY. He saw me ruined in the fall, Yet loved me, notwithstanding all ; He saved me from my lost estate : His loving-kindness, O how great ! When trouble, like a gloomy cloud, Has gathered thick and thundered loud, He near my soul has ever stood : His loving-kindness, O how good ! Soon shall I pass the gloomy vaie ; Soon all my mortal powers must fail ; O may my last expiring breath His loving-kindness sing in death. Then let me mount and soar away To the bright world of endless day, And sing, with rapture and surprise, His loving-kindness in the skies. SAMUEL MEDLEY. Sing unto the Lord a new song ; sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Psalm xcvi. i. QWAKE, and sing the song Of Moses and the Lamb, 3^ Wake every heart and every tongue To praise the Saviour's Name. 212 jo y. Sing of His dying love ; Sing of His rising power ; Sing how He intercedes above For those whose sins He bore. Sing, till we feel our hearts Ascending with our tongues ; Sing, till the love of sin departs, And grace inspires our songs. Sing on your heavenly way, Ye ransomed sinners, sing ; Sing on, rejoicing every day In Christ the eternal King. Soon shall ye hear Him say, Ye blessed children, come ; Soon will He call you hence away, And take His wanderers home. MARTIN MADAN. VARIATION FROM WILLIAM HAMMOND. 213 ^rr Jjafae nwti of pattmce. Hebrews, x. 36. ^IBe patimt ttjaefore, fcretfjwn, unto iije coming of ti]t J£i.oxtJ. James, v. 7. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous. Psalm xxxiii. x. EJOICE, though storms assail thee ; Rejoice, when skies are bright; Rejoice, though round thy pathway Is spread the gloom of night : If the good hope be in thee That all at last is well, Then let thy happy spirit With joyful feelings swell ! Look back on early childhood, And let thy soul rejoice ! 215 PA TIENCE. Who then upheld fhy goings, And tuned thy feeble voice ? Look back on youth's gay visions When life one glory seemed : Who poured those rays of gladness Which on thy prospect beamed ? Recall the hours of anguish, And let thy soul rejoice, Though wave on wave of sorrow Rush on with fearful noise : Was not the bow of promise Still seen amidst the gloom, Shedding its hallowed lustre E'en round the silent tomb ? Rejoice, rejoice for ever, Though earthly friends be gone ! For silently and swiftly The wheels of time roll on ; And still they bear thee forward Nearer that happy shore, While the triumphant song is, " Rejoice for evermore l" anon. 216 PA TIEXCE. IVJiom have I in Heaven but Thee ? f EARER, my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee ! E'en though it be a cross That raiseth me ; Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee ! Psalm lxxiii. 25. Though like the wanderer, The sun gone down, Darkness be over me, My rest a stone ; Yet in my dreams I 'd be Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee ! There let the way appear Steps unto Heaven ; All that Thou send'st to me In mercy given ; Angels to beckon me Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee.' 217 PATIENCE. Then with my waking thoughts Bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs . Bethel I'll raise; So by my woes to be Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee ! Or if on joyful wing Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, Upwards I fly, Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee ! SARAH FLOWER ADAMS. all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. k Proverbs, iii. 6. OMMIT thou all thy griefs And ways into His hands, To his sure truth and tender care Who earth and Heaven commands ; Who points the clouds their course, Whom winds and seas obey; 218 He shall direct thy wandering feet, He shall prepare thy way. 219 PATIENCE. Thou on the Lord rely, So safe shalt thou go on ; Fix on His work thy steadfast eye, So shall thy work be done. No profit canst thou gain By self-consuming care ; To Him commend thy cause j His ear Attends the softest prayer. Thy everlasting truth, Father ! Thy ceaseless love, Sees all Thy children's wants, and knows What best for each will prove. And whatsoe'er Thou will'st Thou dost, O King of kings ; What Thy unerring wisdom chose, Thy power to being brings. Thou everywhere hast sway, And all things serve Thy might ; Thy every act pure blessing is, Thy path unsullied light. When Thou arisest, Lord, Who shall Thy work withstand ? When all Thy children want Thou giv'st, Who, who shall stay Thy hand ? 220 P. / TIENCE. Give to the winds thy fears ; Hope and be undismayed ; God hears thy sigh and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head. Through waves and clouds and storms, He gently clears thy way ; Wait thou His time ; so shall this night Soon end in joyous day. Still heavy is thy heart ? Still sink thy spirits down ? Cast off the weight, let fear depart, And every care be gone. What though thou rulest not ? Yet Heaven and earth and Hell Proclaim, God sitteth on the throne, And ruleth all things well ! Leave to His sovereign sway To choose and to command \ So shalt thou wondering own, His way How wise, how strong His hand ! Far, far above thy thought His counsel shall appear, When fully He the work hath wrought That caused thy needless fear. 221 PATIENCE. Thou seest our weakness, Lord ! Our hearts are known to Thee : O ! lift Thou up the sinking hand, Confirm the feeble knee ! Let us, in life, in death, Thy steadfast truth declare, And publish, with our latest breath, Thy love and guardian care ! JOHN WESLEY. FROM PAUL GERHARDT. So shall ive ever be with the Lord. I. Thessalonians, iv. 17. £&£ OR ever with the Lord ! Amen ! so let it be ! Life from the dead is in that word, And immortality! Here in the body pent, Absent from Him I roam, Yet nightly pitch my moving tent A day's march nearer home. My Father's house on high, Home of my soul ! how near, At times, to faith's foreseeing eye, Thy golden gates appear ! 222 PATIENCE. Ah ! then my spirit faints To reach the land I love, The bright inheritance of saints, Jerusalem above ! Yet clouds will intervene, And all my prospect flies ; Like Noah's dove, I flit between Rough seas and stormy skies. Anon the clouds depart, The winds and waters cease ; While sweetly o'er my gladdened heart Expands the bow of peace ! Beneath its glowing arch, Along the hallowed ground, I see cherubic armies march, A camp of fire around. I hear at morn and even, At noon and midnight hour, The choral harmonies of Heaven Earth's Babel tongues o'erpower. Then, then I feel that He Remembered or forgot, The Lord, is never far from me Though I perceive Him not. JAMES MONTGOMERY 223 PATIENCE. *2& The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him. Psalm xxxiv. 7. N silent wings an angel Through all the land is borne, Sent by the gracious Father To comfort them that mourn. There 's blessing in his glances, Peace dwells where'er he came, O ! follow when he calls thee, For Patience is his name. Through earthly care and sorrow He '11 smooth the thorny way, And speak with hopeful courage Of brighter, happier day ; And when thy weakness falters, His strength is firm and fast ; He '11 help to bear thy burden, He '11 lead thee home at last. Thy tears he never chideth, When comfort he 'd impart ; Rebuking not, he quiets The longings of thy heart ; And when, in stormy sorrow, Thou murmuring askest "Why?" 224 PATIENCE. He, silent yet, but smiling, Points upward to the sky. He will not always answer Each question that 's addrest ; His maxim is " Endure thou, And after toil comes rest." Through life, if thou wilt love him, Thus by thy side he '11 wend, Oft silent, ever hopeful, Still looking to the end. DR. H. W. DULCKEX, J^bcmng, antJ morning, antJ at noon, fajtll 5 prarj. Psalm lv. 17. ~\7V/"itjj m}j goul haDe fi UesueD JE^e in the night. Isaiah, xxvi 9. mm, mmmmm Uis compassions fail not ; they are neio may morning. Lamentations, iii. 22, 23. HRIST, whose glory fills the skies, Christ, the true, the only Light, J2BB> Sun of Righteousness, arise, Triumph o'er the shades of night ! Day-spring from on high, be near ! Day-star, in my heart appear ! 227 15 — 2 MORNING. Dark and cheerless is the morn Unaccompanied by Thee ; Joyless is the day's return Till Thy mercy's beams I see ; Till they inward light impart, Glad my eyes and warm my heart. Visit then this soul of mine, Pierce the gloom of sin and grief ! Fill me, Radiancy Divine, Scatter all my unbelief! More and more Thyself display, Shining to the perfect day. CHARLES WESLEY. ■m The Lord's mercies are new every morning. Lamentations, iii. 22, 23. TIMELY happy, timely wise, Hearts that with rising morn arise ; Eyes that the beams celestial view, Which evermore makes all things new. New every morning is the love Our wakening and uprising prove ; Through sleep and darkness safely brought, Restored to life, and power, and thought. 228 MORNING. New mercies, each returning day, Hover around us while we pray ; New perils past, new sins forgiven, New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven. If, on our daily course, our mind Be set to hallow all we find, New treasures still, of countless price, God will provide for sacrifice. Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be, As more of Heaven in each we see ; Some softening gleam of love and prayer Shall dawn on every cross and care. As for some dear familiar strain Untired we ask, and ask again, Ever, in its melodious store, Finding a spell unheard before ; Such is the bliss of souls serene, When they have sworn, and steadfast mean, Counting the cost, in all t' espy Their God, in all themselves deny. O could we learn that sacrifice, What lights would all around us rise ! How would our hearts with wisdom talk Along life's dullest, dreariest walk ! 229 MORNING. We need not bid, for cloistered cell, Our neighbour and our work farewell, Nor strive to wind ourselves too high For sinful man beneath the sky : The trivial round, the common task, Will furnish all we ought to ask, — Room to deny ourselves ; a road To bring us daily nearer God. Seek we no more : content with these, Let present rapture, comfort, ease, As Heaven shall bid them, come and go ; The secret this of rest below. Only, O Lord, in Thy dear love, Fit us for perfect rest above ; And help us, this and every day, To live more nearly as we pray. JOHN KEBLE. In the morning shall my prayer prevent Thee. Psalm lxxxviii. 1 3. INCE Thou hast added now, O God, Unto my life another day, And giv'st me leave to walk abroad, And labour in my lawful way ; 230 My walks and works with me begin, Conduct me forth and bring me in. 231 MORNING. In every power my soul enjoys Internal virtues to improve ; In every sense that she employs In her external works to move ; Bless her, O God, and keep me sound From outward harm and inward wound. Let sin nor Satan's fraud prevail To make mine eye of reason blind, Or faith, or hope, or love to fail, Or any virtues of the mind ; But more and more let them increase, And bring me to mine end in peace. Lewd courses let my feet forbear ; Keep Thou my hands from doing wrong ; Let not ill counsels pierce mine ear, Nor wicked words defile my tongue ; And keep the windows of each eye, That no strange lust climb in thereby. But guard Thou safe my heart in chief, That neither hate, revenge, nor fear, Nor vain desire, vain joy or grief, Obtain command or dwelling there : And, Lord ! with every saving grace, Still true to Thee maintain that place ! So till the evening of this morn My time shall then so well be spent, 232 MORNING. That when the twilight shall return I may enjoy it with content, And to Thy praise and honour say That this hath proved a happy day. GEORGE WITHER. The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul. A Isaiah, lviii. u. HROUGH all the dangers of the night Preserved, O Lord, by Thee, Again we hail the cheerful light, Again we bow the knee. Preserve us, Lord, throughout the day, And guide us by Thine arm ; For they are safe, and only they, Whom Thou preserv'st from harm. Let all our words and all our ways Declare that we are Thine, That so the light of truth and grace Before the world may shine. Let us ne'er turn away from Thee ; O Saviour, hold us fast, Till with unclouded eyes we see Thy glorious face at last. 233 ANON. MORNING. Xtx The darkness and the light are both alike to Thee. Psalm cxxxix. 12. ORD God of morning and of night, We thank Thee for Thy gift of light : As in the dawn the shadows fly, We seem to find Thee now more nidi. Fresh hopes have wakened in our hearts, Fresh energy to do our parts ; Thy thousand sleeps our strength restore, A thousandfold to serve Thee more. Yet whilst Thy will we would pursue, Oft what we would we cannot do j The sun may stand in zenith skies, But on the soul thick midnight lies. O Lord of lights ! 'tis Thou alone Canst make our darkened hearts Thine own : Though this new day with joy we see, O Dawn of God ! we cry for Thee ! Praise God, our Maker and our Friend ! Praise Him through time till time shall end ! Till psalm and song His Name adore Through Heaven's great day of Evermore ! FRANCIS TURNER PALGRAVE. 234 My voice shait Thou Jiear in the morning. Psalm v. 3. OD of the morning, at whose voice The cheerful sun makes haste to rise, And like a giant doth rejoice To run his journey through the skies; From the fair chambers of the east The circuit of his race begins, And, without weariness or rest, Round the whole earth he flies and shines ; O, like the sun, may I fulfil Th' appointed duties of the day, With ready mind and active will March on, and keep my heavenly way ! 235 MORNING. But I shall rove and lose the race, If God, my Sun, should disappear, And leave me in this world's wide maze To follow every wandering star. Lord, Thy commands are clean and pure, Enlightening our beclouded eyes ; Thy threatenings just, Thy promise sure ; Thy Gospel makes the simple wise. Give me Thy counsel for my guide, And then receive me to Thy bliss : All my desires and hopes beside Are faint and cold, compared with this ! ISAAC WATTS. In the morning will I direct my prayer tmto Thee, and will look up. Psalm v. 3. "VIM A t 0WAKE, my soul, and with the sun °^/X$*° ^y daily stage of duty run ; Kj|H!^ Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise ^^qMvs' To pay thy morning sacrifice. Thy precious time misspent redeem ; Each present day thy last esteem ; Improve thy talent with due care ; For the great day thyself prepare. 236 MORNING. In conversation be sincere ; Keep conscience as the noontide clear ; Think how all-seeing God thy ways And all thy secret thoughts surveys. By influence of the light divine Let thy own light to others shine ; Reflect all Heaven's propitious ways, In ardent love and cheerful praise. Wake up and lift thyself, my heart, And with the angels bear thy part, Who all night long unwearied sing High praise to the Eternal King. Awake ! awake, ye heavenly choir ! May your devotion me inspire, That I, like you, my age may spend, Like you may on my God attend ! May I, like you, in God delight, Have all day long my God in sight ; Perform, like you, my Maker's will ; O, may I never more do ill ! Had I your wings, to Heaven I 'd fly ; But God shall that defect supply, And my soul, winged with warm desire. Shall all day long to Heaven aspire. 237 MORNIXG. All praise to Thee, who safe hast kept, And hast refreshed me whilst I slept. Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, I may of endless light partake ! I would not wake, nor rise again, Ev'n Heaven itself I would disdain, Wert Thou not there to be enjoyed, And I in hymns to be employed. Heaven is, dear Lord, where'er Thou art ; O, never then from me depart ! For to my soul 't is Hell to be But for one moment void of Thee. Lord, I my vows to Thee renew ; Disperse my sins as morning dew ; Guard my first springs of thought and will, And with Thyself my spirit fill. Direct, control, suggest, this day, All I design, or do, or say ; That all my powers, with all their might, In Thy sole glory may unite. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow ; Praise Him, all creatures here below ! Praise Him above, ye heavenly host ; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! BISHOP THOMAS KEN. 238 MORXIXG. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth ; shew forth from day to day His salvation. I. Chronicles, xvi. 23 JESU, Lord of heavenly grace, Thou brightness of Thy Father's face, Thou fountain of eternal light, Whose beams disperse the shades of night ! Come, heavenly Sun of heavenly love, Shower down Thy radiance from above, And to our inward hearts convey The Holy Spirit's cloudless ray ! And we the Father's help will claim, And sing the Father's glorious Name ; His powerful succour we implore, That we may stand, to fall no more. May He our actions deign to bless, And loose the bonds of wickedness ; From sudden falls our feet defend, And bring us to a prosperous end ! May faith, deep rooted in the soul, Subdue our flesh, our minds control ; May guile depart, and discord cease, And all within be joy and peace ! Si 9 MORNING. And Chrjst shall be our daily food, Our daily drink His precious blood ; And thus the Spirit's calm excess Shall fill our souls with holiness. O hallowed be the approaching day ! Let meekness be our morning ray, And faithful love our noonday light, And hope our sunset, calm and bright ! O Christ, with each returning morn Thine image to our hearts is borne : O, may we ever clearly see Our Saviour and our God in Thee ! JOHN CHANDLER. FROM ST. AMBROSE. w ffi|ra I will pay my vows unto the Lord now. GOD, we thank Thee for the love And care Thou dost bestow ^J^ Upon us in our sleeping hours, And all the hours we know. And now the gladsome morning sun Lights all the land and sea, And we, refreshed by blessed sleep, Rise up to worship Thee. 240 Psalm cxvi. 18. -~*:ve. All glorious is Thy holy Name, All wondrous is Thy might ; Creator of the sunlit day And of the starry night. If Thou, O God, dost grant thy love, The world shall hurt no more, 211 IS MORNING. Though sin may chafe, as doth the sea Upon a rock-girt shore. O shield us in temptation's hour ! O guard us night and day ! O give us Thy protecting love ! And hear us when we pray. ANON. And Samuel lay until the morning. I. Samuel, iii. 15. ORD, from my bed again I rise To offer up the sacrifice Of praise and prayer to Thee : I laid me down to sleep at night ; I trusted in Thine arm of might : Thine arm protected me. Uphold Thy servant through the day ; Direct my steps in wisdom's way, Let me not turn aside ; Let me not walk where scorners walk, And sinful men profanely talk : Still be my God and Guide. BARTHOLOMEW. 2J2 MORXIXG. Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I. Corinthians, x. 31. ORTH in Thy Name, O Lord, I go, My daily labour to pursue, Thee, only Thee, resolved to know, In all I think, or speak, or do. The task Thy wisdom has assigned, a® O let me cheerfully fulfil ; In all Thy works Thy presence find, And prove Thy good and perfect will Thee may I set at my right hand, Whose eyes my inmost substance see, And labour on at Thy command, And offer all my works to Thee. Give me to bear Thine easy yoke, And every moment watch and pray ; And still to things eternal look, And hasten to Thy glorious day. For Thee delightfully employ Whate'er Thy bounteous grace hath given, And run my even course with joy, And closely walk with Thee to Heaven. CHARLES WESLEY. 213 16—2 MORNING. _ Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto ^« I sP night sheiveth knowledge Psalms H^NCE more, my soul, the rising uay Salutes thy waking eyes ; ~W Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay jfc\ To Him that rules the skies. Night unto night His Name repeats, \ The day renews the sound <£|a> Wide as the heaven on which He sits, To turn the seasons round. ;T is He supports my mortal frame, w My tongue shall speak His praise ; %\^ My sins would rouse His wrath to flame, And yet His wrath delays. Great God, let all my hours be Thine, Whilst I enjoy the light, Then shall my sun in smiles decline, And bring a pleasant night. ISAAC WATTS. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. James, i. 17. JATHER of life and light, To Thee our* song we raise : For all the mercies of the night Accept our humble praise. 2*4 MOAW'/Xu. Thy providential care Our morning board has spread ; O may our souls Thy favour share, And eat the living bread. Thus strengthened by Thy voice In duty's path to run, Our faith and hope in Christ we place, And say, Thy will be done And when the vesper's peal From toil recalls us home, Before Thy mercy-seat we '11 kneel, And pray, Thy kingdom come ! S. FLETCHER. / v: ill praise Thy Name for ever and ever. Psalm cxlv. 2. ORD, in the morning Thou shalt hear ► My voice ascending high ; To Thee will I direct my prayer, To Thee lift up mine eye — 1 Up to the hills where Christ is gone §. To plead for all His saints, & Presenting at His Father's throne Our songs and our complaints. 245 MORNING. Thou art a God before whose sight The wicked shall not stand ; Sinners shall ne'er be Thy delight, Nor dwell at Thy right hand. But to Thy house will I resort, To taste Thy mercies there ; I will frequent Thy holy court, And worship in Thy fear. O, may Thy Spirit guide my feet In ways of righteousness ; Make every path of duty straight And plain before my face. ISAAC WATTS. 246 lillliiilillllM M^lllilli Hear vie when I tail, O God. Psalm iv. i. EHOLD, the sun, that seemed but now Enthroned overhead, Beginneth to decline below The globe whereon we tread ; And he, whom yet we look upon With comfort and delight, 247 EVENING. Will quite depart from hence anon, And leave us to the night. Thus time, unheeded, steals away The life which Nature gave \ Thus are our bodies every day Declining to the grave ; Thus from us all our pleasures fly Whereon we set our heart ; And when the night of death draws nigh, Thus will they all depart. Lord, though the sun forsake our sight, And mortal hopes are vain, Let still Thine everlasting light Within our souls remain ! And in the nights of our distress Vouchsafe those rays divine, Which from the Sun of righteousness For ever brightly shine ! GEORGE WITHER. 248 EVENING. I will sing unto the Lord, because He hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalm xiii. 6. CCEPT, my God, my evening song, Like incense let it fragrant rise ; Stir up my heart, and tune my tongue, And let the music reach the skies. Thou hast my kind Protector been Through all the dangers of the day ; My Guardian to defend from sin, My Guide to choose me out my way. The flowing spring of all my good, Still pouring blessings from on high, Thine hand hath dealt me out my food, For every want a kind supply. Unceasing, Lord, Thy bounty flowed ; Each moment brought me in fresh aid ; But what returns of love to God Have I for all His kindness made ? What have I done for Him who died To save myself from endless woe ? How much have I His patience tried From whom all my enjoyments flow ! 249 EVENING. Fast as my flying minutes pass, My faults augment the former sum ! Forgive the past, and by Thy grace Prevent the like for time to come ! Dear Saviour, to Thy Cross I '11 fly, And there my guilty head recline, And my whole soul, that sin may die, Yield up to influence divine ! Then, sprinkled with atoning blood, I '11 lay me down and take my rest, Trust the protection of my God, And sleep as on my Saviour's breast. SIMON BROWNE, a VARIATION FROM ISAAC WATTS. Abide with us : the day is far spent. Luke, xxiv. 29. BIDE with me ! fast falls the eventide ; The darkness deepens ; Lord, with me abide ! When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me ' Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day ; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see : O Thou who changest not, abide with me ! 250 El'EXIXG. Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word ; But, as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free, Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me ! Come not in terrors, as the King of kings, But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings; Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea ; Come, Friend of sinners, and thus 'bide with me ! Thou on my head in early youth didst smile ; And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee : On to the close, O Lord, abide with me ! I need Thy presence every passing hour : What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power? Who like Thyself my Guide and Stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me ! I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to oiess : Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness : Where is Death's sting? where, Grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me ! Hold then Thy Cross before my closing eyes ! Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies ! Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; In life and death, O Lord, abide with me ! HENRY FRANCIS LYTE. 251 EVENING. He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee. Matthew, iv 6. EAR my prayer, O heavenly Father, Ere I lay me down to sleep : g) Bid Thine angels, pure and holy, Round my bed their vigil keep. My sins are heavy, but Thy mercy Far outweighs them every one ; Down before Thy Cross I cast them, Trusting in Thy help alone. Keep me, through this night of peril, Underneath its boundless shade ; Take me to Thy rest, I pray Thee, When my pilgrimage is made ! None shall measure out Thy patience By the span of human thought ; None shall bound the tender mercies Which Thy Holy Son hath bought. Pardon all my past transgressions ; Give me strength for days to come ; Guide and guard me with Thy blessing Till Thine angels bid me home ! HARRIETT PARR. 252 EVENIXG. !h Hi; beloved sleep. Psalm c.v.wii. 2. UN of my soul, Thou Saviour dear, It is not night if Thou be near ; O ! may no earth-born cloud arise To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes ! When round Thy wondrous works below My searching rapturous glance I throw, Tracing out wisdom, power, and love, In earth or sky, in stream or grove ; 253 EVENING. Or, by the light Thy words disclose, Watch time's full river as it flows, Scanning Thy gracious Providence, Where not too deep for mortal sense ; WThen with dear friends sweet talk I hold, And all the flowers of life unfold, Let not my heart within me burn Except in all I Thee discern ! When the soft dews of kindly sleep My wearied eyelids gently steep, Be my last thought, How sweet to rest For ever on my Saviour's breast ! Abide with me from morn till eve, For without Thee I cannot live ! Abide with me when night is nigh, For without Thee I dare not die ! Thou Framer of the light and dark, Steer through the tempest Thine own ark ! Amid the howling wintry sea We are in port if we have Thee. The rulers of this Christian land, 'Twixt Thee and us ordained to stand, Guide Thou their course, O Lord, aright ! Let all do all as in Thy sight ! 254 EVENING. O ! by Thine own sad burthen, borne So meekly up the hill of scorn, Teach Thou Thy priests their daily cross To bear as Thine, nor count it loss ! If some poor wandering child of Thine Have spurned, to-day, the voice divine, Now, Lord, the gracious work begin ; Let him no more lie down in sin. Watch by the sick j enrich the poor With blessings from Thy boundless store ; Be every mourner's sleep to-night Like infant's slumbers, pure and light ! Come near and bless us when we wake, Ere through the world our way we take : Till, in the ocean of Thy love, We lose ourselves in Heaven above ! JOHN KEBLE. Into Thine hand I commit my spirit. Tife&v Psalm xxxi. 5. HE sun is sinking fast, I The daylight dies ; \. " 9 J 7 2 EVENING. The Lord preserveth all them that love Him. Psalm cxlv. 20. INK not yet, my soul, to slumber, Wake, my heart, go forth and tell All the mercies without number That this by-gone day befell ; Tell how God hath kept afar All things that against me war, Hath upheld me and defended, And His grace my soul befriended. Father merciful and holy, Thee to-night I praise and bless, Who to labour true and lowly Grantest ever meet success. Many a sin and many a woe, Many a fierce and subtle foe Hast Thou checked that once alarmed me, So that nought to-day has harmed me. Yes, our wisdom vainly ponders, Fathoms not Thy loving thought ; Never tongue can tell the wonders That each day for us are wrought. Thou hast guided me to-day That no ill hath crossed my way, There is neither bound nor measure In Thy love's o'erflowing treasure. 260 EVENING. Now the light, that nature gladdens, And the pomp of day is gone, And my heart is tired and saddens As the gloomy night comes on : Ah ! then, with Thy changeless light Warm and cheer my heart to-night, As the shadows round me gather Keep me close to Thee, my Father. Of Thy grace I pray Thee pardon All my sins, and heal their smart ; Sore and heavy is their burden, Sharp their sting within my heart ; And my foe lays many a snare But to tempt me to despair; Only Thou, dear Lord, canst save me, Let him not prevail to have me. Have I e'er from Thee departed ? Now I seek Thy face again, And Thy Son, the loving-hearted, Made our peace through bitter pain. Yes, far greater than our sin, Though it still be strong within, Is the love that fails us never, Mercy that endures for ever. Brightness of the eternal city ! Light of every faithful soul S 261 EVENING. Safe beneath Thy sheltering pity Let the tempests past me roll : Now it darkens far and near, Still, my God, still be Thou here ; Thou canst comfort, and Thou only, When the night is long and lonely. E'en the twilight now hath vanished ; Send Thy blessing on my sleep, Every sin and terror banished, Let my rest be calm and deep. Soul and body, mind and health, Wife and children, house and wealth, Friend and foe, the sick, the stranger, Keep Thou safe from harm and danger. Keep me safe till morn is breaking, Nightly terrors drive Thou hence, Let not sickness keep me waking ; Sudden death and pestilence, Fire and water, noise of war, Keep Thou from my house afar ; Let me die not unrepented, That my soul be not tormented. O Thou mighty God, now hearken To the prayer Thy child hath made ; Jesus, while the night-hours darken, Be Thou still my hope, my aid ; 262 EVENING. Holy Ghost, on Thee I call, Friend and Comforter of all, Hear my earnest prayer, 0 hear me '. Lord, Thou nearest, Thou art near me. j. RIST. -#fr The day is Thine, the night also is Thine: Than hast mate summer and winter. Psalm lxxiv. 16, 17 LORD, the heaven Thy power displays, The fruitful earth Thy Word obeys, The ocean answers to Thy praise, And man their lesson learns : As morning dew in peace distils Upon the valleys, fields, and hills, Thy grace the lowly spirit fills, When unto Thee it turns. itfl» At Thy command th' untiring sun Throughout the day his course doth run ; And when at eve his course is done, Reposes in the west ; So we throughout our life's increase, Work on until our day shall cease, And, at our eve, lie down in peace, In Thee to take our rest. 263 EVENING. As in the ground the seed we cast. And wait till Winter's night be past, In hope, when Spring returns at last, Thou wilt the increase give ; So sleep our bodies in the tomb, Secure, that when Thy day shall come, Thou wilt revive us from earth's womb, In Thee for aye to live. As Nature works Thy will, O Lord, As grace Thy mercy doth record, So we, submissive to Thy Word, Thy great behests obey. For Thy paternal love and power, For Thy free-giv'n redemption dower, For Thy all-sanctifying shower, To Thee be laud alway. WHITING. After this manner pray ye. Matthew, vi. 9. EARY now I go to bed, Close my eyes and rest my head ; Father, let Thy watchful eye Be upon me as I lie. For the wrong I 've done this day, Look not on it, Lord, I pray ; 264 But forgive the ill I 've done, For the sake of Christ, Thy Son. For my parents dear I pray ; Father, take them not away ; Let us all in peace awake, For Thy Son our Saviour's sake. DR. H. W. DULCKEN. 265 EVENING. It shall come to pass that ai evening time it shall be light. Zechariah, xiv. 7. T evening time let there be light ; Life's little day draws near its close ; Around us fall the shades of night, The night of death, the grave's repose. To crown our joys, to end our woes, At evening time let there be light ! At evening time let there be light ! Though dull and gloomy wanes the day ; Yet rose the morn divinely bright ; The sunshine's gladness cheered the way. O for one sweet, one parting ray ! At evening time let there be light ! 'T is evening time — let there be light ! For God hath promised — it shall be ! Fear, doubt, and anguish take their flight ; The clouds disperse, the mists they flee ; Our eyes His glory now shall see. 'T is evening time — and there is light : ANON. 266 EVEXLXu. Hear the prayer of Thv servant, which I pray before Thee now, day and night. Nehemiah, i. 6. Hk HUS far the Lord has led me on, c, :3 WpX Thus far His power prolongs my days, jrJo teach us to number our taps, t hat fere map. applp our hearts unto fofstoom. 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Romans, xiv. i > SiiElf 1IWEANI& HARvlSt fHf Seed time and harvest shall not cease. renesis, vm. 22. TERNAL Source of every joy, Well may Thy praise our lips employ, 287 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. While in Thy temple we appear, . Whose goodness crowns the circling year. The flowery Spring at Thy command Embalms the air and paints the land ; The summer rays with vigour shine, To raise the corn and cheer the vine. Thy hand in Autumn richly pours Through all our coasts redundant stores, And Winters softened by Thy care, No more a face of horror wear. Seasons and months and weeks and days Demand successive songs of praise ; Still be the cheerful homage paid With opening light and evening shade ! O ! may our more harmonious tongues In worlds unknown pursue the songs, And in those brighter courts adore, Where days and years revolve no more ! PHILIP DODDRIDGE. 288 SEEDTIME AXD HARVEST. The pastures are clothed with flocks ; the valleys also are covered j/^2 over with corn. >*< Psalm lxv. 13. RAISE to God, immortal praise, For the love that crowns our days ! Bounteous Source of every joy, Let Thy praise our tongues employ. 3B- For the blessings of the field ; For the stores the gardens yield For the vine's exalted juice; For the generous olive's use : Flocks that whiten all the plain ; Yellow sheaves of ripened grain ; Clouds that drop their fattening dews Suns that temperate warmth diffuse : All that Spring with bounteous hand Scatters o'er the smiling land ; All that liberal Autumn pours From her rich o'erflowing stores : These to Thee, my God, we owe, Source whence all our blessings flow ! And for these my soul shall raise Grateful vows and solemn praise. 2bi) iy SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. Yet, should rising whirlwinds tear From its stem the ripening ear f Should the fig tree's blasted shoot Drop her green untimely fruit ; Should the vine put forth no more, Nor the olive yield her store ; Though the sickening flocks should fall, And the herds desert the stall ; Should Thine altered hand restrain The early and the latter rain ; Blast each opening bud of joy, And the rising year destroy ; Yet to Thee my soui shall raise Grateful vows and solemn praise ; And, when every blessing 's flown, Love Thee for Thyself alone ! ANNA L^ETITIA BARBAULD. He left not Himself without witness, in that He gave us fruitful seasons. Acts, xiv. 17. OUNTAIN of mercy ! God of love How rich Thy bounties are ! The rolling seasons as they move Proclaim Thy constant care. 290 When in the bosom of the earth The sower hid the grain, Thy goodness marked its secret birth, And sent the early rain. 291 IS- SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. The Spring's sweet influence was Thine, The plants in beauty grew , Thou gav'st refulgent suns to shine, And mild refreshing dew. These various mercies from above Matured the swelling grain ; And yellow harvest crowns Thy love, And plenty fills the plain. Seedtime and harvest, Lord, alone Thou dost on man bestow ; Let him not then forget to own From whom his blessings flow ! Fountain of love ! our praise is Thine ; To Thee our songs we '11 raise, And all created Nature join In sweet harmonious praise ! ANNE FLOWERDEW. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Psalm cxlv. 16. LORD of heaven, and earth, and sea, To Thee all praise and glory be ; How shall we show our love to Thee, Giver of all ? 292 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. The golden sunshine, vernal air, Sweet flowers and fruits Thy love declare : Where harvests ripen Thou art there, Giver of all ! For peaceful homes and healthful days, For all the blessings earth displays, We owe Thee thankfulness and praise, Giver of all ! Thou didst not spare Thine only Son, But gav'st Him for a world undone ; And e'en that gift Thou dost outrun, And give us all ! Thou giv'st the Spirit's blessed dower, Spirit of life, and love, and power, And dost His sevenfold graces shower Upon us all ! For souls redeemed, for sins forgiven, For means of grace and hopes of Heaven, Father, what can to Thee be given, Who givest all ? We lose what on ourselves we spend : We have as treasures without end Whatever, Lord, to Thee we lend, Who givest all ! 293 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. Whatever, Lord, we lend to Thee Repaid a thousandfold will be ; Then gladly will we give to Thee, Giver of all ! To Thee, from whom we all derive — Our life, our gifts, our power to give, O may we ever with Thee live, Giver of all ! BISHOP OF LINCOLN. He that ministereth seed to the sower doth minister bread for food. II. Corinthians, ix. 10. ORD, in Thy Name Thy servants plead, And Thou hast sworn to hear ; Thine is the harvest, Thine the seed, The fresh and fading year. Our hope, when Autumn winds blew wild, We trusted, Lord, with Thee , And now that Spring has on us smiled, We wait on Thy decree. / The former and the latter rain, The Summer sun and air, The green ear and the golden grain, All Thine, are ours by praver. 291 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. Thine too by right, and ours by grace, The wondrous growth unseen, The hopes that soothe, the fears that brace, The love that shines serene ! So grant the precious things brought forth By sun and moon below, That Thee, in Thy new Heaven and earth, We never may forego ! To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, The God whom we adore, Be glory, as it was, is now, And shall be evermore ! JOHN KEBLE. Pray ye the Lord that He send forth labourers into His harvest. Matthew, ix. 38. ORD of the harvest, hear Thy needy servants cry ; Answer Thy people's earnest prayer, And all our wants supply. On Thee we humbly wait, Our wants are in thy view; ./ I-ord, is great : The labourers are few. 2y5 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. Convert and send forth more Into Thy Church abroad ; And let them speak Thy Word with power, Co-workers with their God. O let them spread Thy Name ; Their mission fully prove; Thy universal grace proclaim — Thine all-embracing love. CHARLES WESLEY. Because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, therefore thou shall surely rejoice. Deuteronomy, xvi. ij E plough the fields, and scatter The good seed on the land, \ But it is fed and watered By God's almighty hand : He sends the snow in Winter, The warmth to swell the grain, The breezes and the sunshine, And soft refreshing rain. All good gifts around us Are sent from Heaven above, (V) Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, For all His love. 29fi He only is the Maker Of all things near and far; He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star; The winds and waves obey Him, By Him the birds are fed ; Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread. All good gifts, &c. 297 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. We thank Thee, then, O Father, For all things bright and good The seedtime and the harvest, Our life, our health, our food Accept the gifts we offer, For all Thy love imparts, And, what Thou most desirest, Our humble, thankful hearts. All good gifts around us Are sent from Heaven above, Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, For all His love. ANON. ^ % I /il ^w givtihfood t0 all flesh : for His mercy V/ endureth for ever. B (|| q Psalm cxxxvi. 25. ^^ RAISE, O praise our God and King, Hymns of adoration sing, For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. ^HH"0 ^ra^se Him that He made the sun sy ]\s§ j)ay by day his course to run, il For His mercies still endure, I Ever faithful, ever sure : 298 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. And the silver moon by night, Shining with her gentle light, For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. Praise Him that He gave the rain To mature the swelling grain, For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure : And hath bid the fruitful field Crops of precious increase yield ; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. Praise Him for our harvest store ; He hath filled the garner floor ; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure : And for richer food than this, Pledge of everlasting bliss ; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. Glory to our bounteous King ! Glory let creation sing ! Glory to the Father, Son, And blest Spirit, Three in One ! SIR HENRY BAKER. 299 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. TJiou, crow nest the year with Thy goodness. Psalm lxv. ii. ORD of the harvest ! Thee we hail ! Thine ancient promise doth not fail ; The varying seasons haste their round, With goodness all our years are crowned : Our thanks we pay This holy day ; O let our hearts in tune be found ! If Spring doth wake the song of mirth, If Summer warms the fruitful earth; When winter sweeps the naked plain, Or Autumn yields its ripened grain ; Still do we sing To Thee, our King ; Through all their changes Thou dost reign. But chiefly when Thy liberal hand Scatters new plenty o'er the land, When sounds of music fill the air, As homeward all their treasures bear ; We too will raise Our hymn of praise, For we Thy common bounties share. 300 Lord of the harvest, all is Thine, — The rains that fall, the suns that shine, The seed once hidden in the ground, The skill that makes our fruits abound ! 301 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. New, every year, Thy gifts appear ; New praises from our lips shall sound ! JOHN HAMPDEN GURNEY. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. Psalm cxlv. 17. OD the Father, whose creation Gives to flowers and fruits their birth, Thou, whose yearly operation Brings the hour of harvest mirth, Here to Thee we make oblation Of the August-gold of earth. God the Word, the sun maturing With his blessed ray the corn, Spake of Thee, O Sun enduring, Thee, O everlasting morn, Thee in whom our woes find curing, Thee that liftest up our horn. God the Holy Ghost, the showers That have fattened out the grain, Types of Thy celestial powers, Symbols of baptismal rain, Shadowed out the grace that dowers All the faithful of Thy train. 302 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. When the harvest of each nation Severs righteousness from sin, And Archangel proclamation Bids to put the sickle in, And each age and generation Sink to woe, or glory win \ Grant that we, or young or hoary, Lengthened be our span or brief, Whatsoe'er the life-long story Of our joy or of our grief, May be garnered up in glory As Thine own elected sheaf. Laud to Him to whom supernal Thrones and virtues bend the knee ; Laud to Him from whom infernal Powers and dominations flee \ Consubstantial, Co-Eternal, Beatific Trinity ! ANON. The joy in harvest. Isaiah, ix. 3. REAT God, as seasons disappear, And changes mark the rolling year, Thy favour still has crowned our days, And we would celebrate Thy praise. SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. The harvest song would we repeat : Thou givest us the finest wheat; The joys of harvest we have known : The praise, O Lord, is all Thine own. Our tables spread, our garners stored, O give us hearts to bless Thee, Lord : Forbid it, Source of light and love, That hearts and lives should barren prove. Another harvest comes apace : Ripen our spirits by Thy grace, That we may calmly meet the blow The sickle gives to lay us low. That so, when angel reapers come To gather sheaves to Thy blest home, Our spirits may be borne on high, To Thy safe garner in the sky. EDMUND BUTCHER. The time is come for thee to reap, for the |jk\l*-^ A harvest is ripe. /ffij^^H? Revelation, xiv. 15. REAT Giver of all good, to Thee again We humbly now present, in joyous strain, Our Harvest-tide Thanksgiving. 304 To Thee, in whom we live and move, we come To praise Thee for the sheaves brought safely home, With Harvest-tide Thanksgiving. Thou dost prepare our corn, and year by year Before Thine altar, Lord, will we appear With Harvest-tide Thanksgiving. Thine was the former and the latter rain, Enriching earth, and calling forth again The Harvest-tide Thanksgiving. Thou openest wide, great God, Thy bounteous hand, And far and wide ascends from all the land Glad Harvest-tide Thanksgiving. 305 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. Thou fillest all that live with plenteousness : They, in return, Thy sacred Name should bless In Harvest-tide Thanksgiving. Thy clouds drop fatness on the teeming earth ; Accept these festal songs of reverent mirth, This Harvest- tide Thanksgiving. The year is crowned with goodness, Lord, by Thee, Then meet it is that aye should offered be The Harvest-tide Thanksgiving. On every side the little hills rejoice, On every side sounds forth the grateful voice Of Harvest-tide Thanksgiving. For all Thy blessings, Lord, our thanks we sing, We all, who sow and reap, together bring Our Harvest-tide Thanksgiving. To Thee, O Trinity in Unity, All glory, laud, and endless homage be, In Harvest-tide Thanksgiving. ANON. That which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die. I. Corinthians, xv. 36. ORD of the harvest ! once again We thank Thee for the ripened grain j For crops, safe carried, sent to cheer 306 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. Thy servants through another year j For all sweet holy thoughts supplied By seedtime and by harvest- tide ! The bare dead grain, in Autumn sown, Its robe of vernal green puts on ; Glad from its wintry grave it springs, Fresh garnished by the King of kings : So, Lord, to those who sleep in Thee Shall new and glorious bodies be. Nor vainly of Thy Word we ask A lesson from the reaper's task : So shall Thine angels issue forth ; The tares be burnt; the just of earth, Playthings of sun and storm no more, Be gathered to their Father's store. Daily, O Lord, our prayers be said, As Thou hast taught, for daily bread ; But not alone our bodies feed ; Supply our fainting spirits' need ! O Bread of Life ! from day to day Be Thou their Comfort, Food, and Stay ! JOSEPH ANSTICE. mwmrmmm 307 20 — 2 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard. Psalm l.wi §? OW thank we all our God, | With heart, and hands, and voices, Who wondrous things hath done. In whom His world rejoices : Who from our mothers' arms Hath blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours to-day. O may this bounteous God Through all our life be near us, With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us ; And keep us in His grace, And guide us when perplexed, And free us from all ills In this world and the next, :® p All praise and thanks to God, The Father, now be given, The Son, and Him who reigns With Them in highest Heaven, The One eternal God, Whom earth and Heaven adore, For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore. 308 SEEDTIME AND HARVEST. arvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. Matthew, xiii. 39. OME, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of Harvest-Home ! All is safely gathered in, Ere the Winter storms begin ; God, our Maker, doth provide For our wants to be supplied ; Come to God's own temple, come, Raise the song of Harvest-Home ! We ourselves are God's own field, Fruit unto His praise to yield ; Wheat and tares together sown, Unto joy or sorrow grown : First the blade, and then the car, Then the full corn shall appear : Grant, O harvest Lord, that we Wholesome grain and pure may be ! For the Lord our God shall come, And shall take His harvest home ! From His field shall purge away All that doth offend, that day j Give His angels charge at last In the fire the tares to cast, But the fruitful ears to store In His garner evermore. 309 SEEDTIME AXD HARVEST. Then, thou Church triumphant, come, Raise the song of Harvest-Home ! All are safely gathered in, Free from sorrow, free from sin ; There for ever purified, In God's garner to abide : Come, ten thousand angels, come, Raise the glorious Harvest-Home ! HENRY ALFORD. 110 Having obtained help of God. Acts, xxvi. 22. RE AT God, we sing that mighty hand . J By which supported still we stand ; The opening year Thy mercy shows, That mercy crowns it till it close. 31 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. By day, by night, at home, abroad, Still are we guarded by our God ■ By His incessant bounty fed, By His unerring counsel led. With grateful hearts the past we own ; The future, all to us unknown, We to Thy guardian care commit, Content with what Thou deemest fit. In scenes exalted or depressed, Thou art our joy, and Thou our rest ; Thy goodness all our hopes shall raise, Adored throughout our changing days. When death shall interrupt these songs, And seal in silence mortal tongues, Our Helper, God, in whom we trust, Shall keep our souls and guard our dust. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. In Thee do I put my trust : for Thou art my hope, 0 Lord God. Psalm lxxi. i — 5. HE year is gone beyond recall, With all its hopes and fears, With all its bright and gladdening smiles, With all its mourners' tears. 312 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. Thy thankful people praise Thee, Lord, For countless gifts received, And pray for grace to keep the faith Which saints of old believed. To Thee we come, O gracious Lord, The new-born year to bless : Defend our land from pestilence ; Give peace and plenteousness ; Forgive this nation's many sins, The growth of vice restrain, And help us all with sin to strive, And crowns of life to gain. From evil deeds that stain the past We now desire to flee ; And pray that future years may all Be spent, good Lord, for Thee. O Father, let Thy watchful eye Still look on us in love, That we may praise Thee year by year, As angels do above. All glory to the Father be, All glory to the Son, All glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee, While endless ages run. ANON. 313 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. Guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. ~ Psalm lxxiii. 24 ARP, awake ! tell out the story Of our love and joy and praise ; Lute, awake ! awake our glory ! Join a thankful song to raise ! Join we, brethren faithful-hearted, Lift the solemn voice again O'er another year departed Of our threescore years and ten ! Lo ! a theme for deepest sadness, In ourselves with sin denied ; Lo ! a theme for holiest gladness, In our Father reconciled ( In the dust we bend before Thee. Lord of sinless hosts above ; Yet in lowliest joy adore Thee, God of mercy, grace, and love ! Gracious Saviour ! Thou hast lengthened And hast blest our mortal span, And in our weak hearts hast strengthened What Thy grace alone began ! Still, when danger shall betide us, Be Thy warning whisper heard ; 314 Keep us at Thy feet, and guide us By Thy Spirit and Thy Word ! 315 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. Let Thy favour and Thy blessing Crown the year we now begin ; Let us all, Thy strength possessing, Grow in grace, and vanquish sin ! Storms are round us, hearts are quailing, Signs in heaven and earth and sea ; But, when heaven and earth are failing, Saviour ! we will trust in Thee ! HENRY DOWNTON. Man is of few days an^full of trouble: hefleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Job, xiv. i, 2. NOTHER year hath fled,— renew, Lord, with our days Thy love ! Our days are evil here and few ; We look to live above. We will not grieve, though day by day We pass from earthly joys away; Our joy abides in Thee ! Our joy abides in Thee ! Yet, when our sins we call to mind, We cannot fail to grieve ; But Thou art pitiful and kind, And wilt our prayer receive. 316 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. O Jesu, evermore the same, Our hope we rest upon Thy Name ; Our hope abides in Thee ! Our hope abides in Thee ! For all the future, Lord, prepare Our souls with strength Divine ; Help us to cast on Thee our care, And on Thy servants shine : Life without Thee is dark and drear ; Death is not death if Thou art near ; Our life abides in Thee ! Our life abides in Thee ! ARTHUR TOZER RUSSELL. It I beseech Thee, sJiew me Thy glory. Exodus, xxxiii. 18. EM ARK, my soul, the narrow bounds Of the revolving year : How swift the weeks complete their rounds! How short the months appear So fast eternity comes on, And that important day, When all that mortal life has done God's judgment shall survey. 317 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. Yet like an idle tale we spend The swift-advancing year, And study artful ways to mend The speed of its career. Waken, 0 God, my trifling heart, Its great concern to see, That I may act a faithful part, And give the year to Thee. So shall their course more grateful roll, If future years arise ; Or this shall bear my happy soul To joy that never dies. L PHILIP DODDRIDGE. Lord, make me to know the measure of my days. Psalm xxxix. 4. WAKE, ye saints, and raise your eyes, And raise your voices high ; Awake, and praise that sovereign love That shows salvation nigh. On all the wings of time it flies, Each moment brings it near; Then welcome each declining day, Welcome each closing year ! 318 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. Not many years their round shall run, Nor many mornings rise, Ere all its glories stand revealed To our admiring eyes ! Ye wheels of nature, speed your course ! Ye mortal powers, decay ! Fast as ye bring the night of death, Ye bring eternal day ! PHILIP DODDRIDGE. Tlion carriest them away as with a flood. Psalm xc. 5. HILE with ceaseless course the sun Hasted through the former year, Many souls their race have run. Never more to meet us here : 319 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. Fixed in an eternal state, They have done with all below \ We a little longer wait, Bat how little, none can know. As the winged arrow flies Speedily the mark to find ; As the lightning from the skies Darts, and leaves no trace behind ; Swiftly thus our fleeting days Bear us down life's rapid stream : Upward, Lord, our spirits raise ! All below is but a dream. Thanks for mercies past receive ; Pardon of our sins renew ; Teach us, henceforth, how to live With eternity in view : Bless Thy Word to young and old ; Fill us with a Saviour's love ; And, when life's short tale is told, May we dwell with Thee above ! JOHN NEWTON. 320 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. I beseech 77iee, shnv me TJiy glory. Exodus, xxxii f OW, gracious Lord, Thine arm reveal, And make Thy glory known ; Now let us all Thy presence feel, And soften hearts of stone. Help us to venture near Thy throne, And plead our Saviour's Name ; For all that we can call our own Is vanity and shame. From all the guilt of former sin May mercy set us free, And let the year we now begin Begin and end with Thee. Send down Thy Spirit from above, That saints may love Thee more ; And sinners now may learn to love, Who never loved before. t And when before Thee we appear In our eternal home, May growing numbers worship here, And praise Thee in our room. JOHN NEWTOl 321 21 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Psalm xxiii. 6, OR Thy mercy and Thy grace, Faithful through another year, Hear our song of thankfulness, Father and Redeemer, hear ! In our weakness and distress, Rock of strength ! be Thou our stay I In the pathless wilderness Be our true and living Way ! Who of us death's awful road In the coming year shall tread ? With Thy rod and staff, O God, '® Comfort Thou his dying head \ Keep us faithful, keep us pure, Keep us evermore Thine own ! Help, O help us to endure ! Fit us for the promised crown ! So within Thy palace gate We shall praise, on golden strings, Thee, the only Potentate, Lord of lords, and King of kings ! HENRY DOWNTON. 322 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless Thee out of Z ion. Psalm cxxxiv. 3. I LESS, O Lord, the opening year, tSfL To the souls assembled here : Clothe Thy Word with power divine, Make us willing to be Thine. Now may fervent prayer arise, Winged with faith, and pierce the skies ; Fervent prayer shall bring us down Gracious answers from Thy throne. Where Thou hast Thy work begun, Give new strength the race to run ; Scatter darkness, doubts, and fears ; Wipe away the mourners' tears. Bless us all, both old and young ; Call forth praise from every tongue : Let our whole assembly prove All Thy power and all Thy love. JOHN NEWTON. Lord, let it alone this year also. a, Luke, xiii. 8 [HE Lord of earth and sky, ^ The God of ages, praise, Who reigns enthroned on high, Ancient of endless days ; 323 2 J — 2 THE OLD AND NEW YEAR. Who lengthens out our trial here, And spares us yet another year. Barren and withered trees, We cumbered long the ground : No fruit of holiness On our dead souls was found. Yet mercy stayed our doom severe ; , O ! spare them yet another year. Jesus, Thy speaking blood For us obtained the grace ; O ! since there is bestowed On us this longer space, Let our spared lives Thy praise declare, And fruit unto perfection bear. CHARLES WESLEY. 324 He shall enter into peace. Isaiah, lvii. 2. ENDER Shepherd, Thou hast stilled Now Thy little lamb's brief weeping 325 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. Ah ! how peaceful, pale, and mild, In its narrow bed 't is sleeping ! And no sigh of anguish sore Heaves that little bosom more. In this world of care and pain, Lord, Thou wouldst no longer leave it ; To the sunny, heavenly plain Thou dost now with joy receive it : Clothed in robes of spotless white, Now it dwells with Thee in light. Ah, Lord Jesu ! grant that we Where it lives may soon be living, And the lovely pastures see That its heavenly food are giving : Then the gain of death we prove, Though Thou take what most we love. ANON To live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians, i. 21 APPY soul ! thy days are ended, All thy mourning days below ; Go, by angel guards attended, To the throne of Jesus, go : 326 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. Waiting to receive thy spirit, Lo ! the Saviour stands above ; Shows the purchase of His merit, Reaches out the crown of love. Struggle through thy latest passion, To thy dear Redeemer's breast, To His uttermost salvation, To His everlasting rest ; For the joy He sets before thee, Bear a momentary pain ; Die, to live a life of glory ; Suffer, with thy Lord to reign. CHARLES WESLEY. Then shall the dust return to the earth, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes, xii. 7. EATHLESS principle, arise ! Soar, thou native of the skies ! Pearl of price, by Jesus bought, To His glorious likeness wrought ! Go, to shine before His throne ; Deck His mediatorial crown ; Go, His triumphs to adorn ; Made for God, to God return ! 327 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. Lo, He beckons from on high . Fearless to His presence fly ! Thine the merit of His blood ; Thine the righteousness of God. Angels, joyful to attend, Hovering round thy pillow, bend, Wait to catch the signal given, And escort thee quick to Heaven. Is thy earthly house distrest, Willing to retain her guest ? 'T is not thou, but she, must die ; Fly, celestial tenant, fly ! Burst thy shackles, drop thy clay, Sweetly breathe thyself away ; Singing, to thy crown remove, Swift of wing, and fired with love. Shudder not to pass the stream ; Venture all thy care on Him, — Him whose dying love and power Stilled its tossing, hushed its roar. Safe is the expanded wave, Gentle as a Summer's eve ; Not one object of His care Ever suffered shipwreck there 328 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. See the haven full in view ; Love Divine shall bear thee through ; Trust to that propitious gale ; Weigh thy anchor, spread thy sail. Saints, in glory perfect made, Wait thy passage through the shade Ardent for thy coming o'er, See, they throng the blissful shore ! Mount, their transports to improve ; Join the longing choir above ; Swiftly to their wish be given ; Kindle higher joy in Heaven ! 329 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. Such the prospects that arise To the dying Christian's eyes ; Such the glorious vista faith Opens through the shades of death. AUGUSTUS M. TOPLADY. Let me die the death of the righteous. Numbers, xxiii. 10. 0| OW blest the righteous when he dies S When sinks a weary soul to rest How mildly beam the closing eyes ! How gently heaves the expiring breast ! %P|i|fp So fades a Summer cloud away ; ||f So sinks the gale when storms are o'er ; So gently shuts the eye of day \ So dies a wave along the shore. A holy quiet reigns around, A calm which life nor death destroys ; Nothing disturbs that peace profound Which his unfettered soul enjoys. Farewell, conflicting hopes and fears, Where lights and shades alternate dwell ! How bright the unchanging morn appears ! Farewell, inconstant world, farewell ! 330 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. Life's labour done, as sinks the clay, Light from its load the spirit flies j While Heaven and earth combine to say, How blest the righteous when he dies ! ANNA L^ETITIA BARBAULD. Loy I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matthew, xxviii. 20. OW let our mourning hearts revive, And all our tears be dry ; Why should those eyes be drowned in grief Which view a Saviour nigh ? What though the arm of conquering death Does God's own house invade ? What though the prophet and the priest Be numbered with the dead ? Though earthly shepherds dwell in dust, The aged and the young ; The watchful eye in darkness closed, And mute th' instructive tongue : Th' Eternal Shepherd still survives, New comfort to impart ; His eye still guides us, and His voice Still animates our heart. 331 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. Lo, I am with you ! saith the Lord ; My Church shall safe abide ; For I will ne'er forsake my own, Whose souls in me confide. Through every scene of life and death This promise is our trust ; And this shall be our children's song When we are cold in dust. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. Sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. i JkHOU art gone to the grave; but we will not de- ll plore thee, j§& Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb : The Saviour hath passed through its portal before thee, And the lamp of His love is Thy guide through the gloom ! Thou art gone to the grave : we no longer behold thee, Nor tread the rough path of the world by thy side ; But the wide arms of Mercy are spread to enfold thee, And sinners may die, for the Sinless has died ! Thou art gone to the grave ; and, its mansion forsaking, Perhaps thy weak spirit in fear lingered long ; 332 But the mild rays of Paradise beamed on thy waking, And the sound which thou heard'st was the seraphim's song! 333 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. Thou art gone to the grave ; but we will not deplore thee, Whose God was thy Ransom, thy Guardian, and Guide ! He gave thee, He took thee, and He will restore thee ; And death has no sting, for the Saviour has died ! BISHOP REGINALD HEBER. There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. J^A^^^,., , , , Acts, xxiv. 15. YH||^"ARTH to earth, and dust to dust; ^><&)l^s^ LqjtL, we own the sentence just : Head and tongue, and hand and heart ; t All in guilt have borne their part : Righteous is the common doom, All must moulder in the tomb. Like the seed in Spring-time sown, Like the leaves in Autumn strown, Low these goodly frames must lie, All our pomp and glory die ; Soon the Spoiler seeks his prey Soon he bears us all away. Yet the seed, upraised again, Clothes with green the smiling plain ; Onward as the seasons move, Leaves and blossoms deck the grove ; 334 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. And shall we forgotten lie, Lost for ever, when we die ? Lord, from Nature's gloomy night Turn we to the Gospel's light : Thou didst triumph o'er the grave, Thou wilt all Thy people save j Ransomed by Thy blood, the just Rise immortal from the dust. JOHN HAMPDEN GURNEY. WJwsoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. HERE is a calm for those who weep ; A rest for weary pilgrims found ; , And, while the mouldering ashes sleep, Low in the ground, • The soul, of origin Divine, God's glorious image, freed from clay, In Heaven's eternal sphere shall shine, A Star of Day. The sun is but a spark of fire, A transient meteor in the sky ; The soul, immortal as its Sire, Shall never die ! JAMES MONTGOMERY. 335 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down. Job, xiv. 2. HEN blooming youth is snatched away, By death's resistless hand, Our hearts the mournful tribute pay, Which pity must demand. While pity prompts the rising sigh, O may this truth, imprest With awful power, — I too must die, — Sink deep in every breast. Let this vain world delude no more ; Behold the gaping tomb : It bids us seize the present hour, — To-morrow death may come The voice of this alarming scene May every heart obey ; Nor be the heavenly warning vain Which calls to watch and pray. O let us now to Jesus fly, Whose powerful arm can save , Then shall our hope ascend on high, And triumph o'er the grave. ANNE STEELE. 336 DEATH AND THE GRAVE iN" The Lord will turn their mourning into joy. Jeremiah, xxxi. 13. HY do we mourn departing friends, Or shake at death's alarms ? 'T is but the voice that Jesus sends To call them to His arms. % Are we not tending upwards, too, As fast as time can move ? Nor would we wish the hours more slow, To keep us from our Love. Why should we tremble to convey Their bodies to the tomb ? There the Redeemer's body lay, And left a long perfume. The graves of all His saints He blest, And softened every bed : Where should the dying members rest But with their dying Head ? Thence He arose, ascending high, And showed our feet the way ; Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly, At the great rising day. 337 22 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. Then let the last loud trumpet sound, And bid our kindred rise ; Awake, ye nations underground, Ye saints, ascend the skies. ISAAC WATTS. The dead which die in the Lord. Revelation, xiv. 13. HOU God of Love ! beneath Thy sheltering wings We leave our holy dead To rest in hope ! From this world's sufferings Their souls have fled ! O ! when our hearts are burthened with the weight Of life and all its woes, Let us remember them, and calmly wait To our life's close ! ANON. Your fathers, where are they ? Zechariah, i. 5. OW swift the torrent rolls That bears us to the sea, The tide that bears our deathless souls To vast eternity ! 338 Our fathers, where are they, With all they called their own ? 339 22 — 2 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. Their joys and griefs have passed away, Their wealth and honour gone. There, where the fathers sleep, Must all their children dwell ■ Nor other heritage can keep Than such a narrow cell. God of our fathers, be Our everlasting Friend ; Lord of the dead and living, we Our souls to Thee commend. Of all the pious dead May we the footsteps trace, Till, gathered round our glorious Head, We dwell before Thy face. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. TJiere the wicked cease from troubling, and there the iveary be at rest. Job, iii. 17. ROTHER, thou art gone before us, and thy saintly soul is flown Where tears are wiped from every eye, and sorrow is unknown; 340 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. From the burden of the flesh, and from care and fear released, Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. The toilsome way thou'st travelled o'er, and borne the heavy load; But Christ hath taught thy languid feet to reach His blest abode : Thou 'rt sleeping now, like Lazarus upon his Father's breast, Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. Sin can never taint thee now, nor doubt thy faith assail, Nor thy meek trust in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit fail; And there thou 'rt sure to meet the good, whom on earth thou lovedst best, Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. Earth to earth and dust to dust, the solemn priest hath said ; So we lay the turf above thee now, and we seal thy narrow bed; But thy spirit, brother, soars away among the faithful blest, Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. And when the Lord shall summon us, whom thou hast left behind, May we, untainted by the world, as sure a welcome find ! 341 DEA TH AND THE GRA VE. May each, like thee, depart in peace, to be a glorious guest, Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest ! HENRY HART MILMAN. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews, xiii. 5. UST friends and kindred droop and die, And helpers be withdrawn, While sorrow, with a weeping eye, Counts up our comforts gone ? Be Thou our comfort, mighty God ! Our Helper and our Friend ! Nor leave us in this dangerous road, Till all our trials end ! O may our feet pursue the way Our pious fathers led ; With love and holy zeal obey The counsels of the dead ! Let us be weaned from all below j Let hope our grief expel ; While death invites our souls to go Where our best kindred dwell. ISAAC WATTS. 342 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. \ Where I am, there ye may be also. John, xiv. 3. HRIST will gather in His own m vill mm,{ W To the place where He is gone, — x^^0jpy Where their heart and treasure lie, Y[ J v Where our life is hid on high. J / Day by day the Voice saith, " Come, Enter thine eternal home f Asking not if we can spare This dear soul it summons there. Had He asked us, well we know We should cry, O, spare this blow ! Yes, with streaming tears should pray, "Lord, we love him, let him stay." But the Lord doth nought amiss, And, since He hath ordered this, We have nought to do but still Rest in silence on His will. Many a heart no longer here, Ah ! was all too inly dear ; Yet, O Love, 't is Thou dost call, Thou wilt be our All-in-all. ANON. 343 DEATH AND THE GRAVE. O grave, where is thy victory ? I. Corinthians, xv. 55. ITAL spark of heavenly flame, Quit, 0 quit this mortal frame : Trembling, hoping, lingering, flying, O the pain, the bliss of dying ! Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, And let me languish into life. Hark ! they whisper ; angels say, "Sister spirit, come away." What is this absorbs me quite, Steals my senses, shuts my sight, Drowns my spirit, draws my breath ? Tell me, my soul, can this be death ? The world recedes : it disappears : Heaven opens on mine eyes ; mine ears With sounds seraphic ring ! Lend, lend your wings ; I mount, I fly; O Grave ! where is thy victory ? O Death ! where is thy sting? ALEXANDER POPE. 314 to: jutciM?. The judgment of the great day. Jude, 6. O ! He comes, with clouds descending ! Hark ! the trump of God is blown, 345 THE JUDGMENT. And th' archangel's voice attending Makes the high procession known : Sons of Adam ! Rise, and stand before your God ! Crowns and sceptres fall before Him, Kings and conquerors own His sway; Haughtiest monarchs now adore Him, While they see His lightnings play: How triumphant Is the world's Redeemer now ! Hear His voice, as mighty thunder Sounding in eternal roar, While its echo rends in sunder Rocks and mountains, sea and shore : Hark ! His accents Through th' unfathomed deep resound " Come, Lord Jesus ! O, come quickly ! " Oft has prayed the mourning Bride : " Lo ! " He answers, " I come quickly ! " Who Thy coming may abide ? All who loved Him, All who longed to see His day. " Come," He saith, "ye heirs of glory; Come, ye purchase of my blood ; Claim the kingdom now before you, Rise, and fill the mount of God, 346 THE JUDGMENT. Fixed for ever Where the Lamb on Sion stands." See ! ten thousand burning seraphs From their thrones as lightnings fly ; Take," they cry, " your seats above us, Nearest Him that rules the sky ! " Patient sufferers, How rewarded are ye now ! Now their trials all are ended : Now the dubious warfare 's o'er : Joy no more with sorrow blended, They shall sigh and weep no more ; God for ever "Wipes the tear from every eye. Through His passion all victorious Now they drink immortal wine ; In Emanuel's likeness glorious As the firmament they shine ; Shine for ever, With the bright and Morning Star. Shout aloud, ye ethereal choirs ! Triumph in Jehovah's praise ! Kindle all your heavenly fires, All your palms of victory raise Shout His conquests, Shout salvation to the Lamb ' 347 THE JUDGMENT. In full triumph see them marching Through the gates of massy light, While the City walls are sparkling With meridian glory bright ; O how lovely Are the dwellings of the Lamb ! Hosts angelic all adore Him Circling round His orient seat ; Elders cast their crowns before Him, Fall and worship at His feet ; O how holy And how reverend is Thy Name ! Hail, Thou Alpha and Omega ! First and Last, of all alone ! He that is, and was, and shall be, And beside whom there is none ! Take the glory, Great eternal Three in One ! THOMAS OLIVERS. The day of wrath and revelation of the judgment of God. Romans, ii. 5. AY of anger, that dread Day Shall the sign in Heaven display, And the earth in ashes lay. 348 THE JUDGMENT O what trembling shall appear, When His coming shall be near, Who shall all things strictly clear ! When the trumpet shall command Through the tombs of every land All before the Throne to stand. Death shall shrink and Nature quake, When all creatures shall awake, Answer to their God to make. See the Book divinely penited, In which all is found contained, Whence the world shall be arraigned ! When the judge is on His throne, All that 's hidden shall be shown, Nought unpublished or unknown ! What shall I before Him say ? How shall I be safe that day, When the righteous scarcely may ? King of awful majesty, Saving sinners graciously, Fount of mercy, save Thou me ! Leave me not, my Saviour, one For whose soul Thy course was run, Lest I be that day undone. 31i> THE JUDGMENT Thou didst toil my soul to gain ; Didst redeem me with Thy pain : Be such labour not in vain ! Thou just Judge of wrath severe, Grant my sins remission here, Ere Thy reckoning day appear. My trangressions grievous are ; Scarce look up for shame I dare ; Lord, Thy guilty suppliant spare ! Thou didst heal the sinner's grief, And didst hear the dying thief : Even I may hope relief. All unworthy is my prayer ; Make my soul Thy mercy's care, And from fire eternal spare ! Place me with Thy sheep, that band Who shall separated stand From the goats, at Thy right hand ! When Thy voice in wrath shall say, " Cursed ones, depart away !" Call me with the blest, I pray. Lord, Thine ear in mercy bow ! Broken is my heart and low : Guard of my last end be Thou ! 350 THE JUDGMENT. In that day, that mournful day, When to judgment wakes our clay, Show me mercy, Lord, I pray ! HENRY ALFORD. Watch, therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man comcth. a Matthew, xxv. 13. HOU Judge of quick and dead, Before whose bar severe With holy joy, or guilty dread, We all shall soon appear ; Our cautioned souls prepare For that tremendous day, And fill us now with watchful care, And stir us up to pray. To pray and wait the hour, The awful hour unknown, When, robed in majesty and power, Thou shalt from Heaven come down, The immortal Son of Man, To judge the human race, With all Thy Father's dazzling train, With all Thy glorious grace. 351 THE JUDGMENT To damp our earthly joys, To increase our gracious fears, For ever let the archangel's voice Be sounding in our ears ; The solemn midnight cry, " Ye dead, the Judge is come ! Arise and meet Him in the sky, And meet your instant doom !" O may we thus be found, Obedient to His word, Attentive to the trumpet's sound, And looking for our Lord : O may we thus insure Our lot among the blest, And watch a moment, to secure An everlasting rest ! CHARLES WESLEY. When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven. II. Thessalonians, HE Lord shall come ! the earth shall quake ; The mountains to their centre shake ; And, withering from the vault of night, The stars withdraw their feeble light. 352 THE JUDGMENT. The Lord shall come ! but not the same As once in lowliness He came, — A silent Lamb before His foes, A weary Man, and full of woes. The Lord shall come ! a glorious form, With wreath of flame and robe of storm, On cherub wings and wings of wind, Appointed Judge of all mankind. Can this be He, once wont to stray A pilgrim on the world's highway, Oppressed by power and mocked by pride, The Nazarene, the Crucified ? While sinners, in despair, shall call. Rocks, hide us ! mountains, on us fall ! " The saints, ascending from the tomb, Shall joyful sing, "The Lord is come !" BISHOP REGINALD HEBER. And 1 saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it. Revelation, xx. n. REAT God, what do I see and hear? The end of things created : Behold the Judge of man appear, On clouds of glory seated ! 353 23 THE JUDGMENT. The trumpet sounds, the graves restore The dead which they contained before ; Prepare, my soul, to meet Him. The dead in Christ shall first arise, At the last trumpet's sounding ; Caught up to meet Him in the skies, With joy their Lord surrounding : No gloomy fears their souls dismay, His presence sheds eternal day On those prepared to meet Him. The ungodly, filled with guilty fears, Behold His wrath prevailing ; In woe they rise, but all their tears And sighs are unavailing : The day of grace is past and gone ; Trembling they stand before His throne All unprepared to meet Him. Great God, what do I see and hear? The end of things created : Behold the Judge of man appear, On clouds of glory seated ! Low at His Cross I view the day When heaven and earth shall pass away, And thus prepare to meet Him. MARTIN LUTHER. 354 THE JUDGMENT. Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him. Matthew, xxv. 31. O ! He comes, with clouds descending, Once for favoured sinners slain j Thousand thousand saints attending Swell the triumph of His train : Hallelujah ! God appears, on earth to reign ! \lk\i Ev h vi\$ Every eye shall now behold Him, ^ i £ Robed in dreadful majesty ; Those who set at nought and sold Him, Pierced, and nailed Him to the tree, Deeply wailing, Shall the true Messiah see. k Every island, sea, and mountain, Heaven and earth shall flee away ; All who hate Him must, confounded, Hear the trump proclaim the day- Come to judgment ! Come to judgment, come away ! Xow Redemption, long expected, See in solemn pomp appear ! All His saints, by man rejected, Xow shall meet Him in the air : 355 23- \i o THE JUDGMENT. Hallelujah ! See the day of God appear ! Answer Thine own Bride and Spirit ; Hasten, Lord, the general doom ; The new Heaven and earth t' inherit, Take Thy pining exiles home : All creation Travails, groans, and bids Thee come ! Yea, Amen ! let all adore Thee, High on Thine eternal throne : Saviour, take the power and glory ; Claim the kingdom for Thine own : O, come quickly, Everlasting God, come down ! VARIATION BY MARTIN MADAN, FROM CHARLES WESLEY AND JOHN CENNICK. The judgment of the great day. Jude 6. AY of Judgment, day of wonders ! Hark ! the trumpet's awful sound, Louder than a thousand thunders, Shakes the vast creation round ; How the summons Will the sinner's heart confound ! 356 THE JUDGMENT. See the Judge, our nature wearing, Clothed in majesty divine; Ye who long for His appearing, Then shall say, This God is mine : Gracious Saviour, Own me in that day for Thine. At His call the dead awaken, Rise to life from earth and sea ; All the powers of nature, shaken By His look, prepare to flee ; Careless sinner, What will then become of Thee ? But to those who have confessed, Loved and served the Lord below, He will say, Come near, ye blessed, See the kingdom I bestow ; You for ever Shall my love and glory know. JOHN NEWTON. 357 (Ulorg to CB>0tt in the highest, ano on cartfj prace, gootj inill tofoarti men. Luke, ii. 14. @o p.e anti trach all nations, baptising timn in the J^iame of tfje Jcaather, anti of tfje >Son, antj of the Joiolp *5>host. Matthew, xxviii. 19. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to7card men. Luke, ii. 14. \RK ! the herald angels sing, i: Glory to the new-born King Peace on earth and mercy mild ; God and sinners reconciled. " 35y THE NATIVITY. Joyful, all ye nations, rise ; . Join the triumph of the skies : With the angelic host proclaim, " Christ is born in Bethlehem." Christ, by highest Heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord : Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb ! Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail, the Incarnate Deity ; Pleased as Man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel. Hail ! the Heaven-born Prince of Peace Hail ! the Sun of Righteousness ! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Lo ! He lays His glory by ; Born that man no more may die ; Born to raise the sons of earth ; Born to give them second birth. Come, Desire of Nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home ; Rise, the woman's conquering Seed : Bruise in us the serpent's head. 360 THE NATIVITY. Now display Thy saving power, Ruined nature now restore ; Now in mystic union join Thine to ours, and ours to Thine ! Adam's likeness, Lord, efface ; Stamp Thy image in its place ; Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love ! Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the Life, the Heavenly Man : O ! to all Thyself impart, Formed in each believing heart ! Sing we, then, with angels sing, " Glory to the new-born King j W Glory in the highest Heaven, Peace on earth, and man forgiven." CHARLES WESLEY. Q^K The Lord hath made known His salvation. Psalm xcviiL 2. OY to the world ! the Lord is come ; Let earth receive her King ; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and Nature sing. 361 THE NATIVITY. Joy to the earth ! the Saviour reigns ; Let men their songs employ ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground : He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love. ISAAC WATTS. Behold the Lamb of God! John, i. 36. \ E 'LL sing, in spite of scorn ; Our theme is come from Heaven : To us a Child is born, To us a Son is given The sweetest news that ever came We '11 sing, though all the world should blame. The long expected morn Has dawned upon the earth ; 362 THE XATIVITY. The Saviour Christ is born, And angels sing His birth : We'll join the bright seraphic throng, We'll share their joys and swell their song. O ! 't is a lofty theme, Supplied by angels' tongues ! All other objects seem Unworthy of our songs : This sacred theme has boundless charms ; It fills, it captivates, it warms ! Now sing of peace divine, Of grace to guilty man ; No wisdom, Lord, but Thine Could form the wondrous plan ; Where peace and righteousness embrace, And justice goes along with grace. Give praise to God on high, With angels round His throne ; Give praise to God with joy, Give praise to God alone ! 'T is meet His saints their songs should raise, And give the Saviour endless praise. THOMAS KELLY 363 THE NATIVITY When they saw the sJar, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy Matthew, ii. 10. HEN, marshalled on the mighty plain, The glittering host bestuds the sky. One star alone, of all the train, Can fix the sinner's wandering eye. Hark ! hark ! to God the chorus breaks, From every host, from every gem ; But one alone the Saviour speaks, — It is the Star of Bethlehem. Once on the raging seas I rode ; The storm was loud, the night was dark, The ocean yawned, and wildly blowed The wind that tossed my foundering bark. Deep horror then my vitals froze : Deathstruck, I ceased the tide to stem, When suddenly a star arose, — It was the Star of Bethlehem. It was my guide, my light, my all ! I bade my dark forebodings cease, And through the storm and danger's thrall It led me to the port of peace. 364 THE NATIVITY. Now safely moored, my perils o'er, I '11 sing, first in night's diadem, For ever and for evermore, The Star ! the Star of Bethlehem ! HENRY KIRKE WHITE. 'nto you is lorn this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke, ii. 7. HILE shepherds watched their flocks by night All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. " Fear not," said he (for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind) ; " Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind. " To you, in David's town, this day Is born of David's line The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord ; And this shall be the sign, — The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapt in swathing-bands, And in a manger laid." 365 THE NATIVITY. Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith Appeared a shining throng Of angels, praising God, and thus Addressed their joyful song : " All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace ; Good will henceforth from Heaven to men Begin, and never cease ! " NAHUM TATE. There was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. Luke, ii. 13. ONGS of praise the angels sang ! Joy through the starry heavens rang ! When to the world the Christ was given, The Prince of Peace, the Lord of Heaven. O sweet the music was to hear That filled the slumbering shepherds' ear : That told of our Creator's plan Of peace on earth, good will to man. Quick then was caught the wondrous sound, And spread through all the nations round ; And thousands join, their voices raise, All giving unto God the praise. 366 THE NATIVITY. And now this song from shore to shore Will sound till time shall be no more ; Then shall be heard these words of love Loud hymning in the Heaven above. ANON. \\ And there was a multitude of the heavenly \hf host praising God. jy< Luke, ii. 13 )/y T came upon the midnight clear, I|n That glorious song of old, W From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold : 1 " Peace to the earth, good will to men From Heaven's all-gracious King :' The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. Still through the cloven skies they come With peaceful wings unfurled ; And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world ; Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on heavenly wing, And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing. 367 THE NATIVITY. Yet with the woes of sin and strife The world has suffered long ; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong ; And men, at war with men, hear not The love-song which they bring. O ! hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing ! And ye, beneath life's crushing load Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow, Look now ! for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing : O ! rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing ! For lo ! the days are hastening on, By prophet-bards foretold, When with the ever-circling years Comes round the age of gold ; When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendours fling, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing. EDMUND H. SEARS. 4 368 THE NATIVITY. And His Name shall be called The Prince of Peace. Isaiah, ix. 6. \ HE race that long in darkness pined Have seen a glorious Light ; gf The people dwell in day, who dwelt In death's surrounding night. To hail Thy rise, Thou better Sun, The gathering nations come, Joyous as when the reapers bear The harvest treasures home. For Thou our burden hast removed, And quelled th' oppressor's sway, Quick as the slaughtered squadrons fell In Midian's evil day. To us a Child of Hope is born, To us a Son is given \ Him shall the tribes of earth obey, Him all the hosts of Heaven. His Name shall be the Prince of Peace, For evermore adored, The Wonderful, the Counsellor, The great and mighty Lord. 36l> 24 THE NATIVITY His power increasing still shall spread, His reign no end shall know ; Justice shall guard His throne above, And peace abound below. ' JOHN MORRISON. Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy. / k Luke, ii. 10. HE scene around me disappears, And, borne to ancient regions, While time recalls the flight of years, I see angelic legions Descending in an orb of light : Amidst the dark and silent night I hear celestial voices. Tidings, glad tidings from above To every age and nation ! Tidings, glad tidings ! God is Love To man He sends salvation ! His Son beloved, His only Son, The work of mercy hath begun : Give to His Name the glory ! Through David's city I am led ; Here all around are sleeping ; 370 THE NATIVITY. A light directs to yon poor shed ; There lonely watch is keeping : I enter ; ah ! what glories shine ! Is this ImmanueFs earthly shrine, Messiah's infant Temple ? It is, it is ; and I adore This Stranger meek and lowly, As saints and angels bow before The throne of God thrice holy ! Faith through the veil of flesh can see The face of Thy divinity, My Lord, my God, my Saviour i JAMES MONTGOMERY O lj\ o Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, rejoice. Philippians, iv. 4. ARK, the glad sound ! the Saviour comes, The Saviour promised long Let every heart prepare a throne, And every voice a song ! He comes, the prisoners to release, In Satan's bondage held ; The gates of brass before Him burst, The iron fetters yield. 371 THE NATIVITY. He comes, from thickest films of vice To clear the mental ray, And on the eyeballs of the blind, To pour celestial day. He comes, the broken heart to bind The bleeding soul to cure, And with the treasures of His grace To enrich the humble poor. Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Prince, Thy welcome shall proclaim, And Heaven's eternal arches ring With Thy beloved Name. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. I will give thanks unto Thee, 0 Lord, and sing praises ^j^^ ^—^cdt* ./-j. unto Thy Name. JjjjHjStgJBaf' ^yS^vS/ (So* Psalm xviii. 49. "H k J \ HAT sudden blaze of song rlf Spreads o'er the expanse of Heaven ? In waves of light it thrills along : The angelic signal given — " Glory to God !" from yonder central fire Flows out the echoing lay beyond the starry choir ; Like circles widening round Upon a clear blue river, 372 THE NATIVITY. Orb after orb, the wondrous sound Is echoed on for ever : Glory to God on high, on earth be peace, And love towards men of love— salvation and release." Yet stay ; before thou dare To join that festal throng, Listen and mark that gentle air First stirred the tide of song ; T is not " the Saviour born in David's home To whom for power and health obedient worlds should come;" Tis not, "the Christ the Lord :" With fixed adoring look The choir of angels caught the word, Nor yet their silence broke ; But when they heard the sign where Christ should be, In sudden light they shone and heavenly harmony. Wrapped in His swaddling bands And in His manger laid, The Hope and Glory of all lands Is come to the world's aid : No peaceful home upon His cradle smiled, Guests rudely went and came, where slept the royal Child. But where Thou dwellest, Lord, No other thought should be j 373 THE NATIVITY. Once duly welcomed and adored, How should I part from Thee ? Bethlehem must lose Thee soon, but Thou wilt grace The single heart to be Thy sure abiding-place. Thee on the bosom laid Of a pure virgin mind, In quiet ever, and in shade, Shepherd and sage may find ; They who had bowed untaught to Nature's sway, And they who followed truth along her star-paved way. The pastoral spirits first Approach Thee, Babe divine, For they in lowly thoughts are nursed, Meet for Thy lowly shrine; Sooner than they should miss where Thou dost dwell, Angels from Heaven will stoop to guide them to Thy cell. Still as the day comes round For Thee to be revealed, By wakeful shepherds Thou art found, Abiding in the field ; All through the wintry heaven, and chill night air, In music and in light Thou dawnest on their prayer. O, faint not ye for fear : What though your wandering sheep, Reckless of what they see and hear, 374 THE NATIVITY. Lie lost in wilful sleep? High Heaven, in mercy to your sad annoy, Still greets you with glad tidings of immortal joy. Think on the eternal home The Saviour left for you ! Think on the Lord most holy, come To dwell with hearts untrue : So shall ye tread untired His pastoral ways, And in the darkness sing you carol of high praise. REV. J. K.EBLE. Ye shall find the babe lying in a manger. Luke, ii. 12. SING the birth was born to-night, The Author both of life and light : The angels so did sound it. And like the ravished shepherds said Who saw the light, and were afraid, Yet searched, and true they found it. The Son of God, th' Eternal King, That did us all salvation bring, And freed the soul from danger, — He whom the whole world could not take, The Word which Heaven and earth did make, Was now laid in a manger. 376 THE NATIVITY. The Father's wisdom willed it so, The Son's obedience knew no No, Both wills were in one stature ; And as that wisdom had decreed, The Word was now made flesh indeed, And took on Him our nature. What comfort by Him do we win, Who made Himself the price of sin, To make us heirs of glory ! To see this Babe, all innocence, A martyr born in our defence, — Can man forget this story ? BEN JONSON. 376 Be not thou ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. II. Timothy, i. 8. N token that thou shalt not fear Christ crucified to own, 377 BAPTISM. We print the cross upon thee here, And stamp thee His alone. In token that thou shalt not blush To glory in His Name, We blazon here upon thy front His glory and His shame. In token that thou shalt not flinch Christ's quarrel to maintain, But 'neath His banner manfully Firm at thy post remain; In token that thou too shalt tread The path He travelled by, Endure the cross, despise the shame, And sit thee down on high ; Thus outwardly and visibly We seal thee for His own ; And may the brow that wears His cross Hereafter share His crown. DEAN ALFORD. 378 BAPTISM. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Matthew, iii. n |j^ OME, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Honour the means ordained by Thee Of no mysterious power we boast, But of the Spirit's ministry. Sent to baptize into Thy Name, Sent to disciple all mankind, Thy servants still Thy presence claim, — May we that promised presence find. Father ! in these reveal Thy Son, — In these for whom we seek Thy face : Adopt and seal them as Thine own, By Thy regenerating grace. Jesus ! with us Thou always art ; Xow ratify the sacred sign ; The gift unspeakable impart, And bless Thine ordinance divine. Come, Holy Spirit, from on high, Baptizer of our spirits Thou ! The purifying grace apply, And witness with the water now. CHARLES WESLEY. BAPTISM. Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew, vii. 7. FATHER, Thou who hast created all In wisest love, we pray, Look on this babe, who at Thy gracious call Is entering on life's way, Bend o'er it now with blessing fraught, And make Thou something out of nought. O Father, hear ! O Son of God, who diedst for us, behold, We bring our child to Thee ; Thou tender Shepherd, take it to Thy fold, Thine own for aye to be ; Defend it through this earthly strife, And lead it on the path of life, O Son of God ! O Holy Ghost, who broodedst o'er the wave, Descend upon this child ; Give it undying life ; its spirit lave With waters undefiled ; Grant it, while yet a babe, to be A child of God, a home for Thee, O Holy Ghost ! 380 BAPTISM. O Triune God, what Thou command'st is done ; We speak, but Thine the might ; This child hath scarce yet seen our earthly sun, Yet pour on it Thy light, In faith and hope, in joy and love, Thou Sun of all below, above, O Triune God ! Amen. ANON. There shall be onefold and one Shepherd. John, x. 1 6. HEPHERD of Israel, from above Thy feeble flock behold; And let us never lose Thy love, Nor wander from Thy fold. Thou wilt not cast Thy lambs away ; Thy hand is ever near, To guide them lest they go astray, And keep them safe from fear. j& Thy tender care supports the weak, And will not let them fall ; Then teach us, Lord, Thy praise to speak, And on Thy Name to call. 841 BAPTISM. We want Thy help, for we are frail ; Thy light, for we are blind ; Let grace o'er all our doubts prevail, To prove that Thou art kind. Teach us the things we ought to know, And may we find them true ; And still, in stature as we grow, Increase in wisdom too. Guide us through life ; and when at last We enter into rest, Thy tender arms around us cast, And fold us to Thy breast ! WILLIAM HILEY BATHURST. ®$® He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: ^pl? He shall gather the lambs with His iKLia arm, and carry them in His bosom. Isaiah, xl. u AVIOUR, who Thy flock art feeding With the Shepherd's kindest care, All the feeble gently leading, While the lambs Thy bosom share ; Now, these little ones receiving, Fold them in Thy gracious arm ; 382 There, we know, Thy Word believing, Only there secure from harm ! 3S3 BAPTISM. Never, from Thy pasture roving, Let them be the lion's prey j Let Thy tenderness so loving Keep them all life's dangerous way : Then within Thy fold eternal ♦ Let them find a resting-place, Feed in pastures ever vernal, Drink the rivers of Thy grace ! ANON. §||j|> Suffer the little children to come. $fo Ma^k•x■,,' jjf EE, Israel's gentle Shepherd stands, With all-engaging charms ; (jW^ Hark ! how He calls the tender lambs, A.nd folds them in His arms. © " Permit them to approach," He cries, " Nor scorn their humble name ; ' For 't was to bless such souls as these & The Lord of angels came." Invited by the voice Divine, We bring them, Lord, to Thee ; Joyful that we ourselves are Thine : Thine let our offspring be. 384 BAPTISM. If orphans they are left behind, Thy guardian care we trust : That care shall heal our bleeding hearts, If weeping o'er their dust. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. The an^el bless the lads. Genesis, xlviii. 16. HE great redeeming Angel, Thee, O Jesus, we confess : Do Thou our great Deliverer be, And all our offspring bless. Early discipled to the Lord, May they be taught of Thee, And, made to know and trust Thy word, Wise to salvation be. Thou who hast borne our sins away, Our children's sins remove, And bring them through their evil day, To sing thy praise above. Partakers of our nature, make Partakers of Thy grace ; And then the heirs of glory take To dwell before Thy face. CHARLES WESLEY. S85 25 BAPTISM. And they brought unto Him also infants. Luke, xviii. •OD of that glorious gift of grace By which Thy people seek Thy face, When in Thy presence we appear, Vouchsafe us faith to venture near ! Confiding in Thy truth alone, Here, on the steps of Jesus' throne, We lay the treasure Thou hast given, To be received and reared for Heaven. Lent to us for a season, we Lend him for ever, Lord, to Thee ; Assured that, if to Thee he live, We gain in what we seem to give. Large and abundant blessings shed, Warm as these prayers upon his head ! And on his soul the dews of grace, Fresh as these drops upon his face ! Make him and keep him Thine own child, Meek follower of the Undented ! Possessor here of grace and love ; Inheritor of Heaven above ! JOHN S. B. MONSELL. 3S6 BAPTISM. Be ye baptized in tlie Name of Jesus Christ, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts, ii. 38. HAT means the water in this font? What means this simple sacred rite ? Why bring we babes to Zion's mount, And in this service thus unite ? We claim no power to change the heart. No mystic grace new life to give ; He must the gift divine impart By whom our children's spirits live. This institute of Gospel grace Proclaims our nature spoiled by sin; Shadows the change that yet must pass Upon the living soul within ; Speaks of the Spirit's power to cleanse The human heart by sin depraved ; And points us to the gracious means By which alone the soul is saved. Triune Jehovah ! hear our prayer, As thus we bring our babes to Thee ; Make them in life Thy special care ; Fit them for immortality. SPEXCE. BAPTISM. Now, God, we thank Thee and praise Thy glorious Name. I. Chronicles, xxix. 13. OD of our health, our Life and Light, That Thou hast purified our sight, The truth Thy sacred words express, To hear, receive, believe, confess ; Accept the thanks we hymn to Thee, Lord God Almighty, One and Three ! That, washed in Thy thrice holy Name, A new relation thence we claim, And, born by nature sons of earth, Thence share 'by grace a heavenly birth ; Accept the thanks we hymn to Thee, Lord God Almighty, One and Three ! That thence we worship Thee alone, And, whom our vows baptismal own, To Thee the prayer of faith we bring, To Thee the song of glory sing : Accept the thanks we hymn to Thee, Lord God Almighty, One and Three ! That thence the course we 're trained to run Of goodness at Thy font begun, Our Saviour's cross to keep in view, His faith confess, His steps pursue; 388 BAPTISM. Accept the thanks we hymn to Thee, Lord God Almighty, One and Three ' O Holy, Holy, Holy Thou, God of our health, preserve us now- Firm in Thy worship, fear, and love, That we may see Thy face above, And there our thanks still hymn to Thee, Lord God Almighty, One and Three ! BISHOP RICHARD MANT. Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew, xxviii. 19 EAVENLY Father, may Thy love Beam upon us from above : Let this infant find a place In Thy covenant of grace. Son of God, be with us here ; Listen to our humble prayer j Let Thy blood on Calvary spilt Cleanse this child from nature's guilt. Holy Ghost, to Thee we cry ! Thou this infant sanctify; 389 BAPTISM. Thine almighty power display, Seal him to redemption's day. Great Jehovah ! — Father, Son, Holy Spirit, — Three in One, Let the blessing come from Thee ; Thine shall all the glory be. guest. 390 I*ggfe£fc.y As of tot as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come. I. Corinthians, xi. 26. READ of the world in mercy broken, Wine of the soul in mercy shed ! By whom the words of life were spoken, And in whose death our sins are dead ! Look on the heart by sorrow broken, Look on the tears by sinners shed, And be Thy feast to us the token That by Thy grace our souls are fed. BISHOP REGINALD KEBER. 39 L THE LORD'S SUPPER. V Drink ye all of it. Matthew, xxvi. 27. ESUS, Thou Joy of loving hearts ! Thou Fount of Life ! Thou Light of men ! From the best bliss that earth imparts, We turn unfilled to Thee again. Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood ; Thou savest those that on Thee call ; To them that seek Thee Thou art good, To them that find Thee, All in All ! We taste Thee, O Thou Living Bread, And long to feast upon Thee still ! We drink of Thee, the Fountain Head, And thirst our souls from Thee to fill ! Our restless spirits yearn for Thee, Where'er our changeful lot is cast ; Glad, when Thy gracious smile we see, Blest, when our faith can hold Thee fast. O Jesus, ever with us stay ! Make all our moments calm and bright ! Chase the dark night of sin away ! Shed o'er the world Thy holy light ! RAY PALMER. FROM ST. BERNARD. 392 \ THE LORD'S SUPPER. This do in remembrance of me. Luke, xxii. 19. CCORDING to Thy gracious word, In meek humility This will I do, rny dying Lord ; I will remember Thee. Thy body, broken for my sake, My bread from Heaven shall be : Thy testamental cup I take, And thus remember Thee. Gethsemane can I forget ? Or there Thy conflict see, Thine agony and bloody sweat, And not remember Thee ? When to the Cross I turn mine eyes, And rest on Calvary, O Lamb of God, my Sacrifice, I must remember Thee. Remember Thee, and all Thy pains, And all Thy love to me j Yea, while a breath, a pulse remains, Will I remember Thee. 393 THE LORD'S SUPPER. And when these failing lips grow dumb, And mind and memory flee, When Thou shalt in Thy kingdom come, Then, Lord, remember me ! JAMES MONTGOMERY. And they said, Did not our hearts burn within us as He talked 4 with us by the way ? ^iC^y^ Luke, xxiv. 32. I HEY talked of Jesus as they went ; And Jesus, all unknown, Did at their side Himself present With sweetness all his own. Swift, as he oped the Sacred Word, His glory they discerned ; And swift, as His dear voice they heard, Their hearts within them burned. He would have left them, but that they With prayers His love assailed : " Depart not yet ! a little stay !" They pressed Him, and prevailed. And Jesus was revealed, as there He blessed and brake the bread ; But, while they marked His heavenly air, The matchless Guest had fled. 394 THE LORD'S SUPPER. And thus at times, as Christians talk Of Jcs^is and His Word, He joins two friends amidst their walk, And makes, unseen, a third. And O ! how sweet their converse flows. Their holy theme how clear, How warm with love each bosom glows, If Jesus be but near ! And they that woo His visits sweet And will not let Him go, Oft, while His broken bread they eat, His soul-felt presence know : His gathered friends He loves to meet And fill with joy their faith, When they with melting hearts repeat The memory of His death. But such sweet visits here are brief; Dispensed from stage to stage, (A cheering and a prized relief), Of faith's hard pilgrimage. There is, a scene where Jesus ne'er, Ne'er leaves His happy guests; He spreads a ceaseless banquet there And love still fires their breasts. THOMAS GRINFIELD. 395 THE LORD'S SUPPER. By whose stripes ye were healed. I. Peter, ii. 24. WEET the moments, rich in blessing, Which before the Cross I spend ; Life and health and peace possessing From the sinner's dying Friend. Here I '11 sit, with transport viewing Mercy's streams, in streams of blood : Precious drops my soul bedewing, Plead and claim my peace with God. Truly blessed is the station, Low before His Cross to lie ; While I see divine compassion Floating in His languid eye. Love and grief my heart dividing, With my tears His feet I '11 bathe ; Constant still in faith abiding, Life deriving from His death. W^5 May I still enjoy this feeling; In all need to Jesus go ; Prove His wounds each day more healing, And Himself more fully know. JAMES ALLEN. 396 THE LORD'S SUPPER. Take, eat : this is my body, which is broken for ydu. I. Corinthians, xi. 24. ITH all the powers my poor soul hath Of humble love and loyal faith, I come, dear Lord, to worship Thee, Whom too much love bowed low for me. Down, busy sense ; discourses, die ; And all adore faith's mystery ! Faith is my skill — faith can believe As fast as love new laws shall give. Faith is my eye ; faith strength affords To keep pace with those gracious words ; And words more sure, more sweet than they, Love could not think, truth could not say. O dear memorial of that death Which still survives and gives us breath ! Live ever, Bread of Life, and be My food, my joy, my all to me ! Come, glorious Lord ! my hopes increase, And mix my portion with Thy peace ! Come, and for ever dwell in me, That I may only live to Thee ! 397 THE LORD'S SUPPER. Come, hidden life, and that long day For which I languish, come away ! When this dry soul those eyes shall see, And drink the unsealed Source of Thee ; When Glory's Sun faith's shade shall chase And, for Thy veil, give me Thy face ; Then shall my praise eternal be To the eternal Trinity ! JOHN AUSTIN AND THEOPHILUS DORRINGTON. VARIATION FROM RICHARD CRASHAW. 0 The communion of the body of Christ. I. Corinthians, x 16. OMMUNION of my Saviour's blood, L In Him to have my lot and part ; To prove the virtue of that flood Which burst on Calvary from His heart ; ) To feed by faith on Christ, my Bread, His body broken on the tree ; © To live in Him, my living Head, i Who died and rose again for me ; This be my joy and comfort here, This pledge of future glory mine. 398 Jesus, in spirit now appear, And break the bread and pour the wine. :VJ9 THE LORD'S SUPPER. From Thy dear hand may I receive The tokens of Thy dying love ; And, while I feast on earth, believe That I shall feast with Thee above. Ah ! there, though in the lowest place, Thee at Thy table could I meet, And see Thee, know Thee, face to face, For such a moment death were sweet ! What then will their fruition be Who meet in Heaven with blest accord ? A moment ? — No : eternity ! They are for ever with the Lord. JAMES MONTGOMERY. ^fik And when they had sung an hymn, they went out. (J^F^ , Mark, xiv. 26. ITTING around our Father's board, ^m. We raise our tuneful breath ! .^XL Our faith beholds the dying Lord, And dooms our sins to death. *@ for We see the blood of Jesus shed, Whence all our pardons rise ; ? The sinner views the atonement made, Y And loves the Sacrifice. 400 THE LORD'S SUPPER. Thy cruel thorns, Thy shameful cross, Procure us heavenly crowns j Our highest gain springs from Thy loss, Our healing from Thy wounds. O ! 't is impossible that we, Who dwell in feeble clay, Should equal sufferings bear for Thee, Or equal thanks should pay. ISAAC WATTS. / will go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy. Psalm xliii. 4. SEND Thy light, Thy truth, my God, Thy grace bestow, Thy word fulfil ; And let them lead me in Thy road, And bring me to Thy holy hill, Where happy saints, a chosen band, Exulting in Thy presence stand. Then to Thine altar will I go, And pay my destined offerings there, And freely from my heart shall flow The fervent, interceding prayer; A prayer effectual, that shall rise Accepted through the Sacrifice. 401 2G THE LORD'S SUPPER. And I will take salvation's cup, And call upon Thy blessed Name ; My thankful heart to Thee lift up, Saviour from death and guilt and shame ; Restored in mercy to Thy house, To render all my grateful vows. There in Thy truth will I rejoice, And hymn Thy goodness in my lays ; AiH* .~:nd and heart and soul and voice Shall join to magnify Thy praise, And triumph in the best employ, My God, and mine exceeding joy. MARCH. The table of the Lord. Malachi, i. 12. Y God, and is Thy table spread? And does Thy cup with love o'erflow ? Thither be all Thy children led, And let them all its sweetness know. Hail ! sacred feast, which Jesus makes, Rich banquet of His flesh and blood ; Thrice happy he who here partakes That sacred stream, that heavenly food. 402 THE LORD'S SUPPER. Why are these emblems still in vain Before unwilling hearts displayed? Was not for you the Victim slain ? Are you forbid the children's bread ? O let Thy table honoured be, And furnished well with joyful guests; And may each soul salvation see, That here its sacred pledges tastes. Let crowds approach with hearts prepared, With hearts inflamed let all attend ; Nor, when we leave our Father's board, The pleasure or the profit end. Revive Thy dying churches, Lord, And bid our drooping graces live ; And more, that energy afford A Saviour's blood alone can give. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. (^sg). 1/ 1 wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. John, xiii. 8. OR ever here my rest shall be, Close to Thy bleeding side ; This all my hope and all my plea : For me the Saviour died. 403 26 — 2 THE LORD'S SUPPER. My dying Saviour and my God, Fountain for guilt and sin ! Sprinkle me ever with Thy blood, And cleanse and keep me clean. Wash me, and make me thus Thine own ; Wash me, and mine Thou art ; Wash me, but not my feet alone, — My hands, my head, my heart. The atonement of Thy blood apply, Till faith to sight improve ; Till hope in full fruition die, And all my soul be love. CHARLES WESLEY. The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. John, i. 29. AMB of God, whose bleeding love We now recall to mind, Send the answer from above, And let us mercy find. Think on us who think on Thee, Every burdened soul release : O ! remember Calvary, And bid us go in peace. 404 THE LORD'S SUPPER. By Thine agonizing pain And bloody sweat, we pray ; By Thy dying love to man, Take all our sins away j Burst our bonds and set us free, From iniquity release : O ! remember Calvary, And bid us go in peace. Let Thy blood, by faith applied, The sinner's pardon seal ; Speak us freely justified, And all our sickness heal ; By Thy passion on the tree, Let our griefs and troubles cease : O ! remember Calvary, And bid us go in peace. CHARLES WESLEY. TJie bread which zve break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ? I. Corinthians, x. 16. ORD, when before Thy throne we meet, Thy goodness to adore, From Heaven, th' eternal mercy-seat, On us Thy blessing pour, And make our inmost souls to be An habitation meet for Thee ! 405 THE LORD'S SUPPER. The Body for our ransom given ; The Blood in mercy shed ; With this immortal food from Heaven, Lord, let our souls be fed ! And, as we round Thy table kneel, Help us Thy quickening grace to feel ! Be Thou, O Holy Spirit, nigh ! Accept the humble prayer, The contrite soul's repentant sigh, The sinner's heartfelt tear ! And let our adoration rise, As fragrant incense, to the skies ! ANON. The wedding was furnished with guests. Matthew, xxii. 10. OW rich are Thy provisions, Lord ! Thy table furnished from above : The fruits of life o'erspread the board, The cup o'erflows with heavenly love. We were the poor, the blind, the lame, And help was far, and death was nigh ; But at the Gospel call we came, And every want received supply. THE 1. 0 KD\S SUTTER. From the highway that leads to hell, From paths of darkness and despair, Lord, we are come with Thee to dwell, Glad to enjoy Thy presence here. What shall we render to the Son, That left the Heaven of His abode, And to this wretched earth came down, To bring us wanderers back to God ? It cost Him death to save our lives ; To buy our souls it cost His own ; And all the unknown joys He gives Were bought with agonies unknown. Our everlasting love is due To Him that ransomed sinners lost, And pitied rebels when He knew The vast expense His love would cost. ISAAC WATTS. As He sat at meat with tlnm, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. Luke, xxiv. 30. FOOD that weary pilgrims love, O Bread of angel hosts above, O Manna of the saints, 407 THE LORD'S SUPPER. The hungry soul would feed on Thee ; Ne'er may the heart unsolaced be Which for Thy sweetness faints. O fount of love, O cleansing tide, Which from the Saviour's pierced side And sacred heart dost flow, Be ours to drink of Thy pure rill, Which only can our spirits fill And all we need bestow. Lord Jesu, whom, by power divine Now hidden 'neath the outward sign, We worship and adore, Grant, when the veil away is rolled, With open face we may behold Thyself for evermore. ANON. My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. John, vi. 55. ING, my tongue, the Saviour's glory ; Of His Cross the mystery sing; Lift on high the wondrous trophy, Tell the triumph of the King : He, the world's Redeemer, conquers Death, through death now vanquishing. 408 THE LORD'S SUPPER. Born for us, and for us given ; Son of man, like us below, He, as Man, with men abiding Dwells, the seed of life to sow : He, our heavy griefs partaking, Thus fulfils His life of woe. Word made flesh ! His word, life-giving, Gives His flesh our meat to be, Bids us drink His blood, believing Through His death we life shall see : Blessed they who thus receiving Are from death and sin set free. Low in adoration bending, Now our hearts our God revere ; Faith her aid to sight is lending ; Though unseen, the Lord is near : Ancient types and shadows ending, Christ our Paschal Lamb is here. Praise for ever, thanks and blessing, Thine, O gracious Father, be j Praise be Thine, O Christ, who bringeth Life and immortality j Praise be Thine, Thou quickening Spirit, Praise through all eternity ! THOMAS AQUIXAS. 409 THE LORD'S SUPPER. We will remember Thy love : the uprigJit love Thee. Solomon's Song, i. 4. GOD, unseen, yet ever near, Thy presence may we feel ; And thus, inspired with holy fear, Before Thine altar kneel. ®^ff Here may Thy faithful people know The blessings of Thy love ; The streams that through the desert flow The manna from above. We come, obedient to Thy word, To feast on heavenly food ; Our meat, the Body of the Lord ; Our drink, His precious Blood. Thus would we all Thy words obey; For we, O God, are Thine ; And go rejoicing on our way, Renewed with strength Divine . EDWARD OSLER. 410 A place called Gethsemane. Matthew, xxvi. 36. O to dark Gethsemane, Ye that feel the tempter's power; Your Redeemer's conflict see ; Watch with Him one bitter hour ; 411 THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. Turn not from His griefs away : Learn of Jesus Christ to pray. Follow to the judgment-hall • View the Lord of life arraigned. O the wormwood and the gall ! O the pangs His soul sustained ! Shun not suffering, shame, or loss : Learn of Him to bear the cross. Calvary's mournful mountain climb ; There, adoring at His feet, Mark that miracle of time, — God's own sacrifice complete. " It is finished !" hear Him cry : Learn of Jesus Christ to die. Early hasten to the tomb Where they laid His breathless clay ; All is solitude and gloom : Who hath taken Him away? Christ is risen ; — He seeks the skies. Saviour, teach us so to rise. JAMES MONTGOMERY. 412 THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. •oo. Mark, xvi. 19. He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. II. Corinthian^, v zx. WORLD : behold upon the tree Thy Life is hanging now for thee, Thy Saviour yields His dying breath ; The mighty Prince of glory now For thee doth unresisting bow To cruel stripes, to scorn and death. Draw near, O world, and mark Him well ; Behold the drops of blood that tell How sore His conflict with the foe ; And hark ! how from that noble heart, Sigh after sigh doth slowly start From depths of yet unfathomed woe. 421 THE CRUCIFIXION. I and my sins, that number more Than yonder sands upon the shore, Have brought to pass this agony ; 'T is I have caused the floods of woe That now Thy dying soul o'erflow, And those sad hearts that watch by Thee. JT is I to whom these pains belong, 'T is I should suffer for my wrong, Bound hand and foot in heavy chains ; The scourge, the fetters, whatso'er Thou bearest, 't is my soul should bear, For she hath well deserved such pains. Yet Thou dost even for my sake On Thee in love the burdens take That weighed my spirit to the ground ; Yes, Thou art made a curse for me, That I might yet be blest through Thee : My healing in Thy wounds is found. From henceforth there is nought of mine But I would seek to make it Thine, Since all myself to Thee I owe. Whate'er my utmost powers can do, To thee to render service true, Here at Thy feet I lay it low. Ah ! little have I, Lord, to give, So poor, so base the life I live, 422 THE CRUCIFIXION. But yet, till soul and body part, This one thing I will do for Thee — The woe, the death endured for me, I '11 cherish in my inmost heart. Thy Cross shall be before my sight, My hope, my joy, by day and night, Whate'er I do, where'er I rove ; And, gazing, I will gather thence The form of spotless innocence, The seal of faultless truth and love. When evil tongues with stinging blame Would cast dishonour on my name, I '11 curb the passions that up start, And take injustice patiently, And pardon, as Thou pardon'st me, With an ungrudging generous heart. Thy heavy groans, Thy bitter sighs, The tears that from Thy dying eyes Were shed when Thou wast sore oppress'd, Shall be with me, when at the last Myself on Thee I wholly cast, And enter with Thee into rest. PAUL GERHARDT. 423 THE CRUCIFIXION. Who remembered us in our low estate. Psalm cxxxvi. 23. LUNGED in a gulf of dark despair, We wretched sinners lay, Without one cheerful beam of hope, Or spark of glimmering day. J. With pitying eyes the Prince of Grace Beheld our helpless grief : He saw, and, O amazing love ! He ran to our relief. Down from the shining seats above With joyful haste He fled ; Entered the grave in mortal flesh, And dwelt among the dead. O ! for this love, let rocks and hills Their lasting silence break, And all harmonious human tongues The Saviour's praises speak ! Angels, assist our mighty joys ; Strike all your harps of gold ! But, when you raise your highest notes, His love can ne'er be told. ISAAC WAITS. 421 THE CRUCIFIXION. Behold, and see if there be any sorrow ®vU like unto my sorrow. ^U;jj\ Lamentations, i. 12. EE the destined day arise ; See a willing sacrifice : Jesus, to redeem our loss, Hangs upon the shameful cross. Jesus ! who but Thou had borne, Lifted on that tree of scorn, Every pang and bitter throe, Finishing Thy life of woe ? Who but Thou had dared to drain, Steeped in gall, the cup of pain, And with tender body bear Thorns and nails and piercing spear ? Thence poured forth the water flowed, Mingled from Thy side with blood ; Sign to all attesting eyes Of the finished sacrifice. QJ^ Holy Jesus, grant us grace In that sacrifice to place All our trust for life renewed, Pardoned sin and promised good. 425 AXON. THE CRUCIFIXION. It is finished. c\ John, xix. 30. ARK ! the voice of love and mercy ' Sounds aloud from Calvary j See, it rends the rocks asunder, Shakes the earth, and veils the sky ! " It is finished ! " Hear the dying Saviour cry. It is finished ! " — O what pleasure Do those gracious words afford ! J\ Heavenly blessings without measure Flow to us from Christ the Lord : " It is finished ! " Saints, the dying words record. Finished, all the types and shadows Of the ceremonial law ! Finished, all that God had promised ; Death and Hell no more shall awe. " It is finished ! " Saints, from hence your comfort draw. Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs, Join to sing the glorious theme ; All in earth and all in Heaven Join to praise Immanuel's Name. Hallelujah ! Glory to the bleeding Lamb ! EVANS. 426 THE CRUCIFIXION. He was wounded for onr transgressions. IS finished ! " — so the Saviour cried, And meekly bowed His head, and died. " 'T is finished ! " yes ! the race is run, The battle fought, the victory won. " 'T is finished ! "—all that was of old Decreed, and prophets had foretold, Is now fulfilled, as Heaven designed. In Thee, the Saviour of mankind. " 'T is finished ! " — this Thy dying groan Shall sins of every kind atone : Millions shall be redeemed from death By this Thy last expiring breath. " 'T is finished ! " — Heaven is reconciled, And all the powers of darkness spoiled : Peace, love, and happiness again Return, and dwell with sinful men. " 'T is finished ! " — let the joyful sound Be heard through all the nations round : " T is finished ! "—let the echo fly Through Heaven and hell, through earth and sky. STENNETT. 427 THE CRUCIFIXION. Calvary, there they crucified Him. Luke, xxiii. 33. HEN I survey the wondrous Cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my God ; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down ! Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown ? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small ; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all ! ISAAC WATTS 428 MUMM^MMMM WAND ASCENSION '.? The fir stfr uits of them that slept. I. Corinthians, xv. 20. HRIST the Lord is risen to-day, Sons of men and angels say : Raise your joys and triumphs high, Sing, ye heavens, and, earth, reply ! 429 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Love's redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the battle won : Lo ! our Sun's eclipse is o'er ; Lo ! He sets in blood no more. Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Christ hath burst the gates of hell ! Death in vain forbids His rise ; Christ hath opened Paradise ! Lives again our glorious King : Where, O Death, is now thy sting? Once He died, our souls to save : Where thy victory, O Grave ? Soar we now where Christ has led, Following our exalted Head ; Made like Him, like Him we rise ; Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. What though once we perished all, Partners in our parents' fall ? Second life we all receive, In our heavenly Adam live. Risen with Him, we upward move ; Still we seek the things above ; • Still pursue, and kiss the Son Seated on His Father's throne. 430 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Scarce on earth a thought bestow, Dead to all we leave below ; Heaven our aim and loved abode, Hid our life with Christ in God : Hid, till Christ our Life appear Glorious in His members here ; Joined to Him we then shall shine, All immortal, all divine. Hail the Lord of earth and Heaven ! Praise to Thee by both be given ! Thee we greet triumphant now ! Hail, the Resurrection Thou ! King of Glory, Soul of bliss ! Everlasting life is this, — Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Thus to sing, and thus to love ! CHARLES WESLEY. As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. h I. Corinthians, xv. 22. TO? 1 .LLELUIA ! Alleluia ! o Hearts to Heaven and voices raise ; vJi^lk/4 Sing to God a hymn of gladness, yzf Sing to God a hymn of praise ; " THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. He, who on the cross a Victim For the world's salvation bled, Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, Now is risen from the dead. Christ is risen, Christ the first-fruits Of the holy harvest field, Which will all its full abundance At His second coming yield ; Then the golden ears of harvest Will their heads before Him wave, Ripened by His glorious sunshine From the furrows of the grave. Christ is risen, we are risen ! Shed upon us heavenly grace, Rain, and dew, and gleams of glory From the brightness of Thy face ; That we, with our hearts in Heaven, Here on earth may fruitful be, And by angel hands be gathered, And be ever, Lord, with Thee. Alleluia ! Alleluia ! Glory be to God on high ; Alleluia to the Saviour, Who has gained the victory ; Alleluia to the Spirit, Fount of love and sanctity ; Alleluia ! Alleluia ! To the Triune Majesty. 432 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. Colossians, iii. EAREST of names, our Lord, our King ! Jesus, Thy praise we humbly sing : In cheerful songs we '11 spend our breath, And in Thee triumph over death. Death is no more among our foes Since Christ, the mighty Conqueror, rose ; Both power and sting the Savour broke ; He died, and gave the finished stroke. Saints die, and we should gently weep ; Sweetly in Jesus' arms they sleep, Far from this world of sin and woe, Nor sin, nor pain, nor grief they know. Death no terrific foe appears ; An angel's lovely form he wears ; A friendly messenger he proves To every soul whom Jesus loves. Death is a sleep ; and O ! how sweet To souls prepared its stroke to meet ! Their dying beds, their graves are blest, For all to them is peace and rest. 433 28 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Their bodies sleep ; their souls take wing, Uprise to Heaven, and there they sing With joy before the Saviour's face, Triumphant in victorious grace. Soon shall the earth's remotest bound Feel the archangel's trumpet sound ; Then shall the grave's dark caverns shake, And joyful all the saints shall wake. Bodies and souls shall then unite, Arrayed in glory strong and bright ; And all His saints will Jesus bring His face to see, His love to sing. 0 may I live, with Jesus nigh, And sleep in Jesus when I die ! Then, joyful, when from death I wake, 1 shall eternal bliss partake. SAMUEL MEDLEY. He laid down His life for us. I. John, iii. HRIST the Lord is risen again ! Christ hath broken every chain ! Hark, the angels shout for joy, Singing evermore on high, Hallelujah. 434 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. He who gave for us His life, Who for us endured the strife, Is our Paschal Lamb to-day ! We too sing for joy, and say, Hallelujah. He who bore all pains and loss Comfortless upon the cross, Lives in glory now on high, Pleads for us, and hears our cry : Hallelujah. He whose path no records tell, Who descended into hell, Who the strong man armed hath bound, Now in highest Heaven is crowned : Hallelujah. He who slumbered in the grave Is exalted now to save ; Now through Christendom it rings That the Lamb is King of kings ! Hallelujah. Now He bids us tell abroad How the lost may be restored, How the penitent forgiven, How we too may enter Heaven. Hallelujah. 435 28 — 2 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Thou our Paschal Lamb indeed, Christ, to-day Thy people feed \ Take our sins and guilt away, That we all may sing for aye, Hallelujah. BOHEMIAN BRETHREN. O 1 O Filled with the Spirit ; singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. Ephesians, v. 18, 19. OW blest the sacred tie that binds, In union sweet, according minds ! How swift the heavenly course they run, Whose hearts, whose faith, whose hopes are one ! To each the soul of each how dear ! What jealous love, what holy fear ! How doth the generous flame within Refine from earth, and cleanse from sin ! Their streaming tears together flow For human guilt and mortal woe ; Their ardent prayers together rise Like mingling flames in sacrifice. Together both they seek the place Where God reveals His awful face ; 436 , How high, how strong, their raptures swell, There's none but kindred souls can tell. 437 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Nor shall the glowing flame expire, When Nature drops her sickening fire ; Then shall they meet in realms above ; A Heaven of joy, because of love. ANNA L^ETITIA BARBAULD. W (h The Lord is risen indeed. ESUS Christ is risen to-day, Our triumphant holy day, Who did once upon the cross, Suffer to redeem our loss. Hymns of praise then let us sing, Unto Christ our heavenly King, Who endured the cross and grave, Sinners to redeem and save ; But the pain which He endured, Our salvation has procured : Now above the sky He 's King, Where the angels ever sing . Sing we to our God above, Praise eternal as His love ; Praise Him, all ye heavenly host, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Luke, xxiv. 34. Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! ANON. LAST STANZA BY CHARLES WESLEY. 4S8 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Him God raised up the third day. Acts, x. 40. GAIN the Lord of Life and Light Awakes the kindling ray, Unseals the eyelids of the morn, And pours increasing day. O what a night was that which wrapt The heathen world in gloom ! O what a Sun, which broke this day Triumphant from the tomb ! This day be grateful homage paid, And loud hosannas sung ; Let gladness dwell in every heart, And praise on every tongue. Ten thousand differing lips shall join To hail this welcome morn, Which scatters blessings from its wings To nations yet unborn. The powers of darkness leagued in vain To bind His soul in death ; He shook their kingdom, when He fell, "With His expiring breath. 439 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. And now His conquering chariot-wheels Ascend the lofty skies, While broke beneath His powerful Cross Death's iron sceptre lies. Exalted high at God's right hand, The Lord of all below, Through Him is pardoning love dispensed, And boundless blessings flow. And still for erring guilty man A Brother's pity flows ; And still His bleeding heart is touched With memory of our woes. To Thee, my Saviour and my King, Glad homage let me give ; And stand prepared like Thee to die, With Thee that I may live ! ANNA L.ETITIA BARBAULD. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether toe wake or sleep, we shall live together in Him. ^^rcrccggfee^0 L Thessaionians' v- * <°- JMHlL HE foe behind, the deep before, il^Bl Our hosts have dared and passed the sea ; %Sq&§> And Pharaoh's warriors strew the shore, 1 * And Israel's ransomed tribes are free. 440 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Lift up, lift up your voices now ! The whole wide world rejoices now ! The Lord hath triumphed gloriously ! The Lord shall reign victoriously ' Happy morrow, Turning sorrow Into peace and mirth ! Bondage ending, Love descending O'er the earth ! Seals assuring, Guards securing, Watch His earthly prison : Seals are shattered, Guards are scattered, Christ hath risen ! No longer must the mourners weep, Nor call departed Christians dead ; For death is hallowed into sleep, And every grave becomes a bed. Now once more, Eden's door Open stands to mortal eyes ; For Christ hath risen, and men shall rise : Now at last, Old things past, Hope and joy and peace begin ; For Christ hath won, and man shall win. 441 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. It is not exile, rest on high ; It is not sadness, peace from strife ; To fall asleep is not to die : To dwell with Christ is better life. Where our banner leads us We may safely go ; Where our Chief precedes us We may face the foe. His right arm is o'er us, He will guide us through ; Christ hath gone before us ; Christians ! follow you ! JOHN MASON NEALE. But now is Christ risen from the dead. I. Corinthians, xv. 20. HRIST the Lord is risen to-day, Our triumphant holy day ; He endured the cross and grave, Sinners to redeem and save. Lo ! He rises, mighty King ! Where, O Death ! is now thy sting ? Lo ! He claims His native sky ! Grave ! where is thy victory ? Sinners ! see your ransom paid, Peace with God for ever made ; 442 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. With your risen Saviour rise, Claim your mansions in the skies. Christ the Lord is risen to-day, Our triumphant holy day ; Loud the song of victory raise ; Shout the great Redeemer's praise ! ANON. Glory be unto the Lamb for ever. Revelation, v. 13. AIL, Thou once despised Jesus ! Hail, Thou Galilean King ! Thou didst suffer to release us, Thou didst free salvation bring : Hail, Thou agonizing Saviour, Bearer of our sin and shame ! By Thy merits we find favour; Life is given through Thy Name. Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, All our sins were on Thee laid j By Almighty Love anointed, Thou hast full atonement made : All Thy people are forgiven Through the virtue of Thy blood ; Opened is the gate of Heaven ; Peace is made 'twixt man and God. -A43 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Jesus, hail ! enthroned in glory, There for ever to abide, All the heavenly hosts adore Thee, Seated at Thy Father's side. There for sinners Thou art pleading ; There Thou dost our place prepare ; Ever for us interceding Till in glory we appear. Worship, honour, power, and blessing, Thou art worthy to receive ; Loudest praises, without ceasing, Meet it is for us to give ! Help, ye bright angelic spirits, Bring your sweetest, noblest lays ; Help to sing our Saviour's merits, Help to chant Immanuel's praise ! Soon we shall, with those in glory, His transcendant grace relate ; Gladly sing th' amazing story Of His dying love so great : In that blessed contemplation We for evermore shall dwell, Crowned with bliss and consolation, Such as none below can tell. JOHN BAKEWELL 444 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. God hath highly exalted Him. Philippians, ii. 9. OME, all harmonious tongues, Your noblest music bring ; 'T is Christ the everlasting God, And Christ the Man, we sing. Down to the shades of death He bowed His awful head ; Yet He arose to live and reign When death itself is dead. No more the bloody spear, The cross and nails no more ; For Hell itself shakes at His Name, And all the Heavens adore. There the Redeemer sits High on the Father's throne ; The Father lays His vengeance by, And smiles upon His Son. There His full glories shine With uncreated rays, And bless His saints' and angels' eyes To everlasting days. ISAAC WATTS. 445 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Who is this King of glory ? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Psalm xxiv. 10. OD is gone up on high With a triumphant noise ; The clarions of the sky Proclaim the angelic joys. Join, all on earth, rejoice and sing; Glory ascribe to glory's King. God in the flesh below, For us He reigns above : Let all the nations know Our Jesus' conquering love. Join, all on earth, rejoice and sing ; Glory ascribe to glory's King. All power to our great Lord Is by the Father given : By angel hosts adored, He reigns supreme in Heaven. 0 Join, all on earth, rejoice and sing; Glory ascribe to glory's King. High on His holy seat He bears the righteous sway His foes beneath His feet Shall sink and die away. 446 Join, all on earth, rejoice and sing; Glory ascribe to glory's King. 447 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. His foes and ours are one, Satan, the world, and sin ; But He shall tread them down, And bring His kingdom in. Join, all on earth, rejoice and sing ; Glory ascribe to glory's King. Till all the earth, renewed In righteousness divine, With all the hosts of God In one great chorus join. Join, all on earth, rejoice and sing; Glory ascribe to glory's King. CHARLES WESLEY. ( Go quickly, and tell His disciples thai He is risen from the dead. Matthew, xxviii. 7. ,. HE Day of Resurrection ! Earth, tell it out abroad ; The Passover of gladness, The Passover of God. From death to life eternal, From earth unto the sky, Our Christ hath brought us over With hymns of victory. 448 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION Our hearts be pure from evil, That we may see aright The Lord in rays eternal Of ^resurrection light; And, listening to His accents, May hear so calm and plain His own " All hail !" and hearing, May raise the victor strain. Now let the heavens be joyful, And earth her song begin, The round world keep high triumph, And all that is therein ; Let all things seen and unseen Their notes of gladness blend, For Christ the Lord is risen, Our Joy that hath no end. The trumpet of the jabile. Leviticus, xxv. 9. LOW ye the trumpet, blow ! The gladly solemn sound ; Let all the nations know, To earth's remotest bound, The year of Jubilee is come ; Return, ye ransomed sinners,, home. 449 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Jesus, our great High Priest, Hath full atonement made ; Ye weary spirits, rest ; Ye mournful souls, be glad : , The year of Jubilee is come Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. Extol the Lamb of God, The all-atoning Lamb ; Redemption in His blood Throughout the world proclaim The year of Jubilee is come ; Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. Ye slaves of sin and hell, Your liberty receive, And safe in Jesus dwell, And blest in Jesus live : The year of Jubilee is come ; Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. Ye, who have sold for nought Your heritage above, Shall have it back unbought, The gift of Jesus' love : The year of Jubilee is come ; Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. The Gospel trumpet hear, The news of heavenly grace 3 450 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. And, saved from earth, appear Before your Saviour's face : The year of Jubilee is come ; Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. CHARLES WESLEV. Ok$K Whom have I in Heaven but Thee . Psalm Ixxiii. 25. ESU ! behold, the wise from far, Led to Thy cradle by a star, Bring gifts to Thee, their God and King ! O guide us by Thy light, that we The way may find, and still to Thee Our hearts, our all, for tribute bring ! Jesu ! the pure, the spotless Lamb, Who to the Temple humbly came, Duteous, the legal rites to pay ! O make our proud, our stubborn will All Thy wise, gracious laws fulfil, Whate'er rebellious nature say ! Jesu ! who on the fatal wood Pour'dst out Thy life's last drop of blood, Nailed to the accursed shameful cross ! 451 29 — 2 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION O may we bless Thy love, and be Ready, dear Lord, to bear for Thee All shame, all grief, all pain, and loss ! Jesu ! who, by Thine own love slain, By Thine own power took'st life again, And Conqueror from the grave didst rise, O may Thy death our souls revive, And e'en on earth a new life give, A glorious life, that never dies ! Jesu ! who to Thy Heaven again Return'dst in triumph, there to reign, Of men and angels sovereign King ! O may our parting souls take flight Up to that land of joy and light, And there for ever grateful sing ! All glory to the sacred Three, One undivided Deity ! All honour, power, and love, and praise ! Still may Thy blessed Name shine bright In beams of uncreated light, Crowned with its own eternal rays ! JOHN WESLEY. VARIATION FROM JOHN AUSTIN. 452 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. It is Christ, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh i)iter cession for us. Romans, viii. 34. E sing His love, who once was slain, Who soon o'er death revived again, That all His saints through Him might have Eternal conquests o'er the grave. Soon shall the trumpet sound, and we Shall rise to immortality. The saints, who now with Jesus sleep, His own almighty power shall keep, Till dawns the bright illustrious day When death itself shall die away : Soon shall the trumpet sound, and we Shall rise to immortality. How loud shall our glad voices sing, When Christ His risen saints shall bring From beds of dust and silent clay, To realms of everlasting day ! Soon shall the trumpet sound, and we Shall rise to immortality. When Jesus we in glory meet, Our utmost joys shall be complete; When landed on that heavenly shore, Death and the curse will be no more : 453 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. Soon shall the trumpet sound, and we Shall rise to immortality. Hasten, dear Lord, the glorious day, And this delightful scene display, 'When all Thy saints from death shall rise, Raptured in bliss beyond the" skies ! Soon shall the trumpet sound, and we Shall rise to immortality. ROWLAND HILL. It is Christ that died, yea, that is risen again. Romans, viii. ;.;.. HE Lord is risen indeed : And are the tidings true ? Yes ! they beheld the Saviour bleed, And saw Him living too. The Lord is risen indeed : Then Justice asks no more ; Mercy and Truth are now agreed, Who stood opposed before. The Lord is risen indeed : Then is His work performed ; The captive Surety now is freed, And Death, our foe, disarmed. 454 THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. The Lord is risen indeed : Then hell has lost its prey ; With Him is risen the ransomed seed, To reign in endless day. The Lord is risen indeed : Attending angels hear, And to the courts of Heaven with speed The joyful tidings bear. While on their golden lyres They strike each cheerful chord, We join the bright celestial choirs, To sing our risen Lord. THOMAS KELLY= 455 5^fje rberlasting fttngrjom of our JHcortr anH ^aijiour Jesus <^ff)rtst. II. Peter, i. it. 4 J, K ¥ « -2 ct •^ rt w J2 w £ > 4 cr ^-- o /% ■s « ct a 5c im LkMnIX 0 3 o o M m 3 S CT 3 £ lil, /& . 1 Wmm » a SI ■£ a 1 1 CS ■S IB PiJlflli tl 2 2. yfl A1! 1, « a » a O •» k^Hskf mwMWWml-'— -^ — - » g S mSiw Ifflf fliur H a O S1 » « *** kmwmil 1 3 ct \rni\l | |ff 1 THH ' WSKm I ' / // S" -y *» a. r* tjv a "" U < 1 i / alauti •a q 11 I if 3 *» iii'/ flHE i a O' 1 1 o 3 1 » KlK i 1 cr «£ ** ^Jnf ffllJlffijLjfi :==^w^l^3( i'l V It <-t •a w ^j 5 g J^fiSfflMH/l I ril oi cr » c l^WSfMuSif 7. / // "2. so \ wNH a te « 3 H . \il WSsmmf/i §\ n. \\i 1/1/ Jll J v3- a ■3* B y 'i&aWk/ ^* » ^*- » r> a ^ ti © \W Hl^a^Hii 11 laB S fflK9ls^il§§§>§2§L_ 0' a 3 a - & 5 ^ ""X2^ =^j^^/^^^^^^^^^^^^^i> JO ^BetjolTJ, K« comettj tuttf) clouUs ; anB eberg zpe sfjall w ]Mtim. Revelation, i. 7. Eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans, v. 21. ARK ! hark, my soul, angelic songs are swelling O'er earth's green fields, and ocean's wave-beat shore How sweet the truth those blessed strains are telling Of that new life, when sin shall be no more. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night. 457 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. Darker than night life's shadows close around us, And, like benighted men, we miss our mark ; God hides Himself, and grace has scarcely found us Ere Death finds out his victim in the dark. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night. Onward we go, for still we hear them singing, " Come, weary souls, for Jesus bids you come : " And, through the dark its echoes sweetly ringing, The music of the Gospel leads us home. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night. Far, far away, like bells at evening pealing, The voice of Jesus sounds o'er land and sea, And laden souls by thousands meekly stealing, Kind Shepherd, turn their weary steps to Thee. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night. Rest comes at length, though life be long and dreary, The day must dawn, and darksome night be past ; Faith's journey ends in welcome to the weary, And Heaven, the heart's true home, will come at last. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night. Cheer up, my soul ! faith's moonbeams softly glisten Upon the breast of life's most troubled sea ; 458 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. And it will cheer the drooping heart to listen To those brave songs the angels mean for thee. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night. Angels, sing on ! your faithful watches keeping ; Sing us sweet fragments of the songs above ; Till morning's joy shall end the night of weeping, And life's long shadows break in cloudless love. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night. F. W. FABER, D.D. They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom. Psalm cxlv. ii. [FT our voices now in song ! Sound the organ pealing ! Let each tongue sing forth in praise ! Let each heart be kneeling ! Let each eye light up with joy — The old man and the maiden, The strong and the richly clad, The poor, the heavy laden. For Jesus, ever blessed, Hath oromised in His grace 459 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. That those who love His dear Name Shall see His smiling face ; To all who cry in deep woe Will ready succour give, And those who lie in darkness In glory yet shall live. Dear Christ ! the Lord of Glory ! The Lord of love and peace ! Sits upon His Father's throne — His reign shall never cease. Then let us come with glad voice, Each heart rejoice and sing Praises to the Prince of Peace, Loud praises to our King ! GEORGE WOOLER Alleluia : for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. » Revelation, xix. 6. ; ARK ! the song of Jubilee, Loud as mighty thunder's roar, Or the fulness of the sea When it breaks upon the shore : WV Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent shall reign : Hallelujah ! let the word Echo round the earth and main. 460 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. Hallelujah ! hark ! the sound, From the centre to the skies, Wakes above, beneath, around, All creation's harmonies. See Jehovah's banner furled, Sheathed His sword : — He speaks — 't is done And the kingdoms of this world Are the kingdoms of His Son. He shall reign from pole to pole With illimitable sway ; He shall reign, when like a scroll Yonder heavens have passed away Then the end : beneath His rod Man's last enemy shall fall ; Hallelujah ! Christ in God, God in Christ, is all in all ! JAMES MONTGOMERY. / know that my Redeemer liveth. Job, xix. 25. :ESUS lives ! no longer now Can thy terrors, Death, appal us j Jesus lives ! by this we know Thou, O Grave, canst not enthral us Alleluia ! 461 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. Jesus lives ! henceforth is death But the gate of life immortal ; This shall calm our trembling breath When we pass its gloomy portal. Alleluia ! Jesus lives ! for us He died ; Then, alone to Jesus living, Pure in heart may we abide, Glory to our Saviour giving. Alleluia ! Jesus lives ! our hearts know well Nought from us His love shall sever ; Life, nor death, nor powers of hell Tear us from His keeping ever. Alleluia 1 Jesus lives ! to Him the throne Over all the world is given ; May we go where He is gone, Rest and reign with Him in Heaven. Alleluia ! FROM THE GERMAN OF HENRIETTA, ELECTRESS OF BRANDENBURG. 462 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah, xxxv. 10. i O ! He comes ! let all adore Him ! 'T is the God of grace and truth ! Go ! prepare the way before Him, Make the rugged places smooth ! Lo ! He comes, the mighty Lord ! Great His work and His reward. /($U| Let tne vallevs a11 be raised; ^ a £ Go, and make the crooked straight ; Xl Let the mountains be abased ; £\ Let all nature change its state ; V Through the desert mark a road, Jit Make a highway for our God. ^ ^ Through the desert God is going, Through the desert waste and wild, Where no goodly plant is growing, Where no verdure ever smiled ; But the desert shall be glad, And with verdure soon be clad. Where the thorn and briar flourished, Trees shall there be seen to grow, Planted by the Lord and nourished, Stately, fair, and fruitful too ; 463 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. They shall rise on every side, They shall spread their branches wide. From the hills and lofty mountains Rivers shall be seen to flow, There the Lord will open fountains, Thence supply the plains below ; As He passes, every land Shall confess His powerful hand. THOMAS KELLY. /. Psalm cxlv. xx LOVE Thy kingdom, Lord, ^ The house of Thine abode, The Church our blest Redeemer bought With His own precious blood. 469 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. I love Thy Church, O God : Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And graven on Thy hand. For her my tears shall fall, For her my prayers ascend, To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end. Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways ; Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise. Jesus, thou Friend divine, Our Saviour and our King, Thy hand from every snare and foe Shall great deliverance bring. Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The highest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of Heaven. dwight. 470 THE KIXGDOM OF CHRIST. And now, Lord, my hope is in The:. jjE) LS& Psalm xxxix. 7. /"Bfe. CHRIST, our hope, our heart's desire, Redemption's only spring ; Creator of the world art Thou, Its Saviour and its King. How vast the mercy and the love Which laid our sins on Thee, And led Thee to a cruel death, To set Thy people free ! But now the bonds of death are burst, The ransom has been paid ; And Thou art on Thy Father's throne, In glorious robes arrayed. O may Thy mighty love prevail, Our sinful souls to spare ; O may we come before Thy throne, And find acceptance there. O Christ, be Thou our present joy, Our future great reward ; Our only glory may it be To glory in the Lord. ANCIENT HVMN. 471 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins, be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Revelation, i. 5, 6. LET us raise our voices To God, the King of kings, Our loud hosannas singing, Till all the welkin rings ; Let the earth rejoice aloud. The sea send forth its song ; Let the loud winds sigh and sing The forest trees among. Rejoice ! rejoice, ye heavens ! Your gay attire put on ; 472 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. Sun, and moon, and thousand stars With all your beauty shown : Let all things with life rejoice, All tears he wiped away ; We '11 raise our shouts of gladness, And joyful music play. For God, the Lord of Heaven, With all His hosts around, Is coming in His glory ! O hear the gladsome sound ; He comes to strike the dark foe, To rescue with His might All those He loves, from darkness To joy and endless light. There in His glory seated, Our gracious Lord doth dwell ; There myriads of angels The glad hosannas swell ; There radiant beams of glory Shall ever ceaseless shine, And flood each heart with gladness, In God's own love divine. GEORGE WOOLER. 473 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST He shall feed His flock like a shepherd. Isaiah, xl. N that book so old and holy I would read, and read again, How our Lord was once so lowly, Yet without a spot or stain. How the little children found Him ; How He loved them and caressed ; How He called them all around Him, — Took them to His loving breast. How His pity, never failing, On the sick was sure to flow ; How the poor, the blind, the ailing, Were His brethren here below. How when each poor wanderer sought Him, Guilty, helpless, sorrowing sore, He received, and helped, and taught him, Bade him go and sin no more With rejoicing hearts and grateful, Let us read, and still read on, How He was so true and faithful, How He loved us every one. How, good Shepherd ! He did cherish All the flock He came to save, 474 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. Watching that not one might perish Of the lambs His Father gave. Let us gladly kneel, and often, Round His feet who loved us best, Then each stubborn heart He '11 soften, And in Him shall all be blessed. DR. H. W. DULCKEN. Son of Man coining in the clouds of Heaven. Matthew, xxiv 30. N HE Lord of Might from Sinai's brow Gave forth His voice of thunder, And Israel lay on earth below, Outstretched in fear and wonder; Beneath His feet was pitchy night, And at His left hand and His right The rocks were rent asunder. The Lord of Love on Calvary, A meek and suffering stranger, Upraised to Heaven His languid eye In nature's hour of danger : For us He bore the weight of woe, For us He gave His blood to flow, And met His Father's anger. 475 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. The Lord of Love, the Lord of Might, The King of all created, Shall back return to claim His right On clouds of glory seated ; With trumpet sound, and angel song, And hallelujahs loud and long, O'er Death and Hell defeated. BISHOP REGINALD HEBER. His kingdom ndeth over all. Psalm ciii. 19. ESUS shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeys run ; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more. For Him shall endless prayer be made, And praises throng to crown His head ; His Name, like sweet perfume, shall rise With every morning sacrifice. People and realms of every tongue Dwell on His love with sweetest song, And infant voices shall proclaim )J Their early blessings on His Name. Blessings abound where'er He reigns ; The prisoner leaps to lose his chains ; 476 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. The weary find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest. Where He displays His healing power, Death and the curse are known no more ; In Him the tribes of Adam boast More blessings than their father lost. Let every creature rise, and bring Peculiar honours to our King ; Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the long Amen ! ISAAC WATTS. 0 praise the Lord, all ye nations : praise Him, o all ye people. Psalm cxvii. i. ROM all that dwell below the skies ' Let the Creator's praise arise ; , Let the Redeemer's Name be sung Through every land, by every tongue ! Eternal are Thy mercies, Lord ! Eternal truth attends Thy word : Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore, Till suns shall rise and set no more. ISAAC WATTS. 477 THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Revelation, xvii. 14. JESUS, King most wonderful, 1 Thou Conqueror renowned ; Thou sweetness most ineffable, In whom all joys are found, — tf When once Thou visitest the heart, Then truth begins to shine, / Then earthly vanities depart, Then kindles love divine. O Jesus, light of all below, Thou fount of life and fire, Surpassing all the joys we know, All that we can desire, — May every heart confess Thy name, And ever Thee adore ; And, seeking Thee, itself inflame To seek Thee more and more. Thee may our tongues for ever bless ; Thee may we love alone ; And ever in our lives express The image of Thine own. BERNARD. 478 wmmmmg&% 77ie Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall leail them unto living fountains of waters. Revelation, vii. 17. IGH in yonder realms of light, Far above these lower skies, 47y HE A VEN. Fair and exquisitely bright, Heaven's unfading mansions rise ; Glad, within their blest abode, Dwell the raptured saints above, Where no anxious cares corrode, Happy in Immanuel's love. Once the big unbidden tear, Stealing down the furrowed cheek, Told, in eloquence sincere, Tales of woe they could not speak ; But, these days of weeping o'er, Passed this scene of toil and pain, They shall feel distress no more, Never, never weep again. 'Mid the chorus of the skies, 'Mid the angelic lyres above, Hark ! their songs melodious rise, — Songs of praise to Jesus' love ! Happy spirits, ye are fled Where no grief can entrance find ; Lulled to rest, the aching head ; Soothed, the anguish of the mind. All is tranquil and serene, Calm and undisturbed repose ; There no cloud can intervene, There no angry tempest blows ; 480 HE A VEN. Every tear is wiped away, Sighs no more shall heave the breast ; Night is lost in endless day, Sorrow in eternal rest. RAFFLES. Now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly. Hebrews, xi. 16. WEET place, sweet place alone ! The court of God most High, The Heaven of heavens, the throne Of spotless majesty ! The stranger homeward bends, And sigheth for his rest : Heaven is my home, my friends Lodged there in Abraham's breast : O happy place ! When shall I be, My God, with Thee, To see Thy face ? Earth 's but a sorry tent Pitched for a few frail days, A short-leased tenement ; Heaven 's still my song, my praise. No tears from any eyes Drop in that holy choir j But death itself there dies, And sighs themselves expire. 481 31 HE A VEN. O happy place ! When shall I be, My God, with Thee, To see Thy face ? There should temptations cease ; My frailties there should end ; There should I rest in peace In the arms of my best Friend. Jerusalem on high My song and city is, My home whene'er I die, The centre of my bliss : O happy place ! When shall I be, My God, with Thee, To see Thy face ? Thy walls, sweet city, thine, With pearls are garnished ; Thy gates with praises shine, Thy streets with gold are spread ; No sun by day shines there, Nor moon by silent night ; O no ! these needless are ; The Lamb 's the city's Light : O happy place ! When shall I be, My God, with Thee, To see Thy face ? 482 HEAVEN. There dwells my Lord, my King. Judged here unfit to live ; There angels to Him sing, And lowly homage give : The Lamb's Apostles there I might with joy behold, * The harpers I might hear Harping on harps of gold : O happy place ! When shall I be, My God, with Thee, To see Thy face ? The bleeding martyrs, they Within those courts are found, Clothed in pure array, Their scars with glory crowned ! Ah me ! ah me ! that I In Kedar's tents here stay ! No place like this on high ! Thither, Lord, guide my way ! O happy place ! When shall I be, My God, with Thee, To see Thy face ? SAMUEL CROSSMAN. 433 31 HE A VEN. These are they which washed their robes, and made them white m the blood of the Lamb. Revelation, vii. 14. HO are these like stars appearing, These, before God's throne who stand ? Each a golden crown is wearing, — Who are all this glorious band ? Alleluia ! hark, they sing, Praising loud their heavenly King. Who are these in dazzling brightness, Clothed in God's own righteousness, These, whose robes of purest whiteness Shall their lustre still possess, Still untouched by time's rude hand ? — Whence comes all this glorious band ? These are they who have contended For their Saviour's honour long, . Wrestling on till life was ended, Following not the sinful throng ; These, who well the fight sustained, Triumph by the Lamb have gained. These are they whose hearts were riven, Sore with woe and anguish tried, 484 HE A VEN. Who in prayer full oft have striven With the God they glorified ; Now, their painful conflict o'er, God has bid them weep no more. These, the Almighty contemplating, Did as priests before Him stand, Soul and body always waiting Day and night at His command j Now in God's most holy place Blest they stand before His face. The love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. Ephesians, iii. 19 HAPPY saints, who dwell in light. And walk with Jesus, clothed in white ; Safe landed on that peaceful shore Where pilgrims meet to nart no more. Released from sin, and toil, and grief, Death was their gate to endless life ; An opened cage, to let them fly And build their happy nest on high. And now they range the heavenly plains, And sing their hymns in melting strains ; 483 HE A VEN. And now their souls begin to prove The heights and depths of Jesus' love. He cheers them with eternal smile ; They sing hosannas all the while ; Or, overwhelmed with rapture sweet, Sink down adoring at His feet. Ah, Lord ! with tardy steps I creep, And sometimes sing, and sometimes weep ; Yet strip me of this house of clay, And I will sing as loud as they. JOHN BERR1DGE. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Psalm lxxxvii. 3. ^^F. LORIOUS things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God ; He, whose word cannot be broken, Formed thee for His own abode : On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake thy sure repose ? With salvation's walls surrounded, Thou may'st smile at all thy foes. 486 See, the streams of living waters, Springing from eternal love, Well supply thy sons and daughters, And all fear of want remove : 487 HE A VEN. Who can faint, while such a river Ever flows their thirst to assuage — Grace, which, like the Lord the giver, Never fails from age to age ? Round each habitation hovering, See the cloud and fire appear, For a glory and a covering, Showing that the Lord is near : Thus deriving from their banner Light by night and shade by day, Safe they feed upon the manna Which He gives them when they pray. Saviour, if of Zion's city I, through grace, a member am, Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in Thy Name : Fading is the worldling's pleasure, All his boasted pomp and show ; Solid joys and lasting treasure None but Zion's children know. JOHN NEWTON. 48a HE A VEN. Glory, and honour, and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever. I\ Revelation, vii. 12. J A.RK ! the sound of holy voices Chanting, at the crystal sea, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord, to Thee : Multitude which none can number, Like trie stars in glory stands, Clothed in white apparel, holding Palms of victory in their hands. Patriarch and holy prophet, Who prepared the way of Christ, King, Apostle, saint, confessor, Martyr, and Evangelist, *Q Saintly maiden, godly matron, Widows who have watched to prayer, Joined in holy concert, singing To the Lord of all, are there. They have come from tribulation, And have washed their robes in blood, Washed them in the blood of Jesus ; Tried they were, and firm they stood ; Mocked, imprisoned, stoned, tormented, Sawn asunder, slain with sword, 489 HE A VEN. They have conquered Death and Satan By the might of Christ the Lord. Marching with Thy cross, their banner, They have triumphed following Thee, the Captain of salvation, Thee, their Saviour and their King ; Gladly, Lord, with Thee they suffered ; Gladly, Lord, with Thee they died ; And by death to life immortal They were born and glorified. Now they reign in heavenly glory, Now they walk in golden light, Now they drink, as from a river, Holy bliss and infinite ; Love and peace they taste for ever, And all truth and knowledge see In the beatific vision Of the blessed Trinity. God of God, the One-begotten, Light of light, Emanuel, In whose body joined together All the saints for ever dwell, Pour upon us of Thy fulness, That we may for evermore God the Father, God the Son. and God the Holy Ghost adore. 4U0 HE A VEN. The great city, the holy Jerusalem. Revelation, xxi. 10. ERUSALEM, my happy home ! When shall I come to thee ? R3$hI When shall my sorrows have an end Thy joys when shall I see? O happy harbour of the saints ! O sweet and pleasant soil ! In thee no sorrow may be found, Xo grief, no care, no toil ! In thee no sickness may be seen, No hurt, no ache, no sore ; There is no death, nor ugly dole, But life for evermore. No dampish mist is seen in thee, Nor cold nor darksome night ; There every soul shines as the sun ; There God Himself gives light. There lust and lucre cannot dwell ; There envy bears no sway ; A$ There is no hunger, heat, nor cold, But pleasure every way. 491 HE A VEN. Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! God grant I once may see Thy endless joys, and of the same Partaker aye to be ! Thy walls are made of precious stones, Thy bulwarks diamonds square, Thy gates are of right orient pearl, Exceeding rich and rare. Thy turrets and thy pinnacles With carbuncles do shine ; Thy very streets are paved with gold, Surpassing clear and fine. Thy houses are of ivory, Thy windows crystal clear ; Thy tiles are made of beaten gold : — O God, that I were there ! Ah ! my sweet home, Jerusalem, Would God I were in thee ! Would God my woes were at an end, Thy joys that I might see ! We that are here in banishment Continually do moan ; We sigh and sob, we weep and wail, Perpetually we groan. 492 HE A VEN. Our sweet is mixed with bitter gall, Our pleasure is but pain \ Our joys scarce last the looking on, Our sorrows still remain. But there they live in such delight, Such pleasure and such play, As that to them a thousand years Doth seem as yesterday. Thy gardens and thy gallant walks Continually are green ; There grow such sweet and pleasant flowers As nowhere else are seen. Quite through the streets, with silver sound, The Flood of Life doth flow ; Upon whose banks, on every side, The Wood of Life doth grow. There trees for evermore bear fruit, And evermore do spring; There evermore the angels sit, And evermore do sing. Jerusalem ! my happy home ! Would God I were in thee ! Would God my woes were at an end, Thy joys that I might see ! ANON. F. B. P~. 493 HE A VEN. n I heard a gj eat voice of much people in Heaven, saying, Alleluia : and again they said, Alleluia. Revelation, xix. i, 3. ING Alleluia forth in duteous praise, 0 citizens of Heaven, and sweetly raise An endless Alleluia. Ye next, who stand before th' Eternal Light, In hymning choirs re-echo to the height An endless Alleluia. The Holy City shall take up your strain, And with glad songs resounding wake again An endless Alleluia. In blissful antiphons ye thus rejoice To render to the Lord with thankful voice An endless Alleluia. Ye who have gained at length your palms in bliss, Victorious ones, your chant shall still be this, An endless Alleluia. There, in one grand acclaim, for ever ring The strains which tell the honour of your King, qJ Iq An endless Alleluia. 494 HE A VEN. This is the rest for weary ones brought back, This is the food and drink which none shall lack, An endless Alleluia. While Thee, by whom were all tilings made, we praise For ever, and tell out in sweetest lays An endless Alleluia. Almighty Christ, to Thee our voices sing Glory for evermore ; to Thee we bring zixzziz;e^° Revela,10n' vii' ,6' L HERE is a blessed home Beyond this land of woe, •$ Where trials never come, Nor tears of sorrow flow ; Where faith is lost in sight, And patient hope is crowned, And everlasting light Its glory throws around. There is a land of peace, — Good angels know it well ; Glad songs that never cease Within its portals swell ; Around its glorious throne Ten thousand saints adore Christ, with the Father One, And Spirit, evermore. O joy all joys Deyond, To see the Lamb who died, And count each sacred wound In hands, and feet, and side; To give to Him the praise Of every triumph won, And sing through endless days The great things He hath done. 502 HE A VEN. Look up, ye saints of God, Nor fear to tread below The path your Saviour trod Of daily toil and woe ; Wait but a little while In uncomplaining love, His own most gracious smile Shall welcome you above. SIR HENRY BAKER. Whence came they i Revelation, vii. 13. ' HAT are these in bright array, This innumerable throng, - Round the altar, night and day, Hymning one triumphant song ? " Worthy is the Lamb, once slain, Blessing, honour, glory, power, Wisdom, riches, to obtain, ~Se\v dominion every hour." These through fiery trials trod ; These from great affliction came ; Now before the throne of God, Sealed with His almighty Name, 503 Clad in raiment pure and white, Victor palms in every hand, 50i HE A VEN. Through their dear Redeemer's might, More than conquerors they stand. Hunger, thirst, disease unknown ; On immortal fruits they feed ; Them the Lamb amidst the throne Shall to living fountains lead : Joy and gladness banish sighs ; Perfect love dispels all fear ; And for ever from their eyes God shall wipe away the tear. JAMES MONTGOMERY. Open ye the gates, that the righteous may enter in. Isaiah, xxvi. 2. EN thousand times ten thousand, In sparkling raiment bright, V - jil" /° The armies of the ransomed saints Throng up the steps of light : 'T is finished — all is finished, Their fight with death and sin : Fling open wide the golden gates, And let the victors in ! What rush of hallelujahs Fills all the earth and sky ! 505 ^j? HE A VEN. What ringing of a thousand harps Bespeaks the triumph nigh ! O day, for which Creation And all its tribes were made ! O joy, for all its former woes A thousandfold repaid ! O, then what raptured greetings On Canaan's happy shore, What knitting severed friendships up, Where partings are no more ! Then eyes with joy shall sparkle That brimmed with tears of late : Orphans no longer fatherless, Nor widows desolate. Bring near Thy great salvation, Thou Lamb for sinners slain, Fill up the roll of Thine elect, Then take Thy power, and reign : Appear, Desire of Nations, — Thine exiles long for home ; Show in the heaven Thy promised sign, — Thou Prince and Saviour, come ! DEAN ALFORD. 506 HE A VEN. There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be atiy more pain. Revelation, xxi. 4. HE world is very evil ; The times are waxing late : Be sober and keep vigil ; The Judge is at the gate : The Judge that comes in mercy, The Judge that comes with might, To terminate the evil, To diadem the right. Arise, arise, good Christian ! Let right to wrong succeed ; Let penitential sorrow To heavenly gladness lead ; To the light that hath no evening, That knows nor moon nor sun, The light so new and golden, The light that is but one. And when the Sole-Begotten Shall render up once more The kingdom to the Father Whose own it was before, 507 HE A VEN. Then glory yet unheard of Shall shed abroad its ray, Resolving all enigmas, — An endless Sabbath-day. The peace of all the faithful, The calm of all the blest, Inviolate, unvaried, Divinest, sweetest, best. Yes, peace ! for war is needless, — Yes, calm ! for storm is past, — And goal from finished labour, And anchorage at last. RIFF life is here our portion j Brief sorrow, short-lived care ; The life that knows no ending, The tearless life, is there. O happy retribution ! Short toil, eternal rest ! For mortals and for sinners A mansion with the blest ! There grief is turned to pleasure, Such pleasure, as below No human voice can utter, No human heart can know. 508 HE A VEX. And now we fight the battle, But then shall wear the crown Of full and everlasting And passionless renown. And now we watch and struggle, And now we live in hope, And Sion,- in her anguish, With Babylon must cope j But He whom now we trust in Shall then be seen and known, And they that know and see Him Shall have Him for their own. The light that hath no evening, The health that hath no sore, The life that hath no ending, But lasteth evermore. Yes ! God, my King and portion, In fulness of His grace, We then shall see for ever, And worship face to face. OR thee, O dear, dear country ! Mine eyes their vigils keep ; For very love, beholding Thy happy name, they weep. 509 HE A VEN. The mention of thy glory- Is unction to the breast, And medicine in sickness, And love, and life, and rest. O one, O only mansion ! O Paradise of joy ! Where tears are ever banished, And smiles have no alloy ! With jaspers glow thy bulwarks ; Thy streets with emeralds blaze ; The sardius and the topaz Unite in thee their rays : Thine ageless walls are bonded With amethyst unpriced : Thy saints build up its fabric, And the corner-stone is Christ. The Cross is all thy splendour, The Crucified thy praise : His laud and benediction Thy ransomed people raise. Thou hast no shore, fair ocean ! Thou hast no time, bright day ! Dear fountain of refreshment To pilgrims far away ! 510 he a i i:x. Upon the Rock of Ages They raise thy holy tower : Thine is the victor's laurel, And thine the golden dower. ERUSALEM the golden, With milk and honey blest, Beneath thy contemplation Sink heart and voice oppressed. I know not, O I know not What joys await us there, WThat radiancy of glory, What light beyond compare ! They stand, those halls of Sion, Con jubilant with song, And bright with many an angel, And all the martyr throng. The Prince is ever in them ; The daylight is serene ; The pastures of the blessed Are decked in glorious sheen. There is the throne of David, And there, from care released, The song of them that triumph, The shout of them that feast. 511 HE A VEN. And they who, with their Leader, Have conquered in the fight, For ever and for ever Are clad in robes of white. ST. BERNARD. TRANSLATED BY DR. J. M. NEALS. We know we have a building of God, an house not made with hands. II. Corinthians, v. t. S when the weary traveller gains The height of some o'erlooking hill, His heart revives, if 'cross the plains He eyes his home, though distant still ; Thus when the Christian pilgrim views, By faith, his mansion in the skies, The sight his fainting strength renews, And wings his speed to reach the prize. The thought of home his spirit cheers ; No more he grieves for trouble past, Nor any future trial fears, So he may safe arrive at last. 'T is there," he says, " I am to dwell With Jesus in the realms of day ; 512 HEAVE X. Then I shall bid my cares farewell, And He shall wipe my tears away." Jesus, on Thee our hope depends, To lead us on to Thine abode ; Assured our home will make amends For all our toil while on the road. JOHN NEWTON. TJie things which are seen are temporal ; but the things which . are not seen are eternal. /7w?vj II. Corinthians, iv. i£ HE roseate hues of early dawn, The brightness of the day, The crimson of the sunset sky, How fast they fade away ! O ! for the pearly gates of Heaven ! O ! for the golden floor ! O ! for the Sun of Righteousness That setteth nevermore ! The highest hopes we cherish here, How fast they tire and faint ! How many a spot defiles the robe That wraps an earthly saint ! O ! for a heart that never sins ! O ! for a soul wash'd white ! 513 33 HE A VEN. O ! for a voice to praise our King, Nor weary day or night ! Here faith is ours, and heavenly hope, And grace to lead us higher : But there are perfectness and peace Beyond our best desire. O ! by Thy love and anguish, Lord ! O ! by Thy life laid down ! O ! that we fall not from Thy grace, Nor cast away our crown ! CECIL FRANCIS ALEXANDER. They go from strength to strength, every one appeareth before God. Psalm lxxxiv. 7. OME ye, whose willing feet Pursue the heavenly road, K\\\ KW Thus let us often meet To bless our King and God, And seek the grace to travel on, |L V) Till all appear before His throne. ' /I Nearer and nearer still, We to our country come, To the celestial hill Where we shall be at home, — The new Jerusalem above, The seat of everlasting love. 514 HE A VEX. The ransomed sons of God, Earth's idols let us scorn, As to our high abode We joyfully return, And still with growing strength proceed, Where God the Spirit deigns to lead. Our Saviour, Prince, and Head, Our all in all is He, T is in His steps we tread, His face we soon shall see. Glory to God ! then pain is done, For earth is passed, and Heaven is won. HON. BAPTIST NOEL. O So shall we exer be with the Lord. I. Thessalonians, iv. e) OR ever to behold Him shine, For evermore to call Him mine, And see Him still before me; For ever on His face to gaze, And meet His full assembled rays, While all the Father He displays To all the saints in glory ! Not all things else are half so dear As His delightful presence here — 515 33—2 HE A VEN. What must it be in Heaven ! 'T is Heaven on earth to hear Him say, As now I journey day by day, ; Poor sinner, cast thy fears away, Thy sins are all forgiven." But how must His celestial voice Make my enraptured heart rejoice, When I in glory hear Him ! While I before the heavenly gate For everlasting entrance wait, And Jesus on His throne of state Invites me to come near Him. Come in, thou blessed, sit by me ; With my own life I ransomed thee ; Come, taste my perfect favour : Come in, thou happy spirit, come ; Thou now shalt dwell with me at home;4 Ye blissful mansions, make him room, For he must stay for ever." JOSEPH SWAIN. 516 Let the children of Zion be joy Jul in their King. Psalm cxlix. 2. PRAISE ye the Lord, prepare your glad voice His praise in the great assembly to sing ; In our great Creator let Israel rejoice, And children of Zion be glad in their King. £17 GENERAL HYMNS. Let all who adore Jehovah, our Lord, With heart and with tongue His praises express, Who always takes pleasure His saints to reward And with His salvation the humble to bless. With glory adorned His people shall sing To God, who their heads with safety doth shield ; Such honour and triumph His favour shall bring ; O therefore, for ever, all praise to Him yield. TATE AND BRADY. 0 Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer. Psalm xvii. GOD, who made the earth and sea, Hear us when we cry to Thee ; O hear us when we pray for peace : Let the war of nations cease ; Cause angry hearts to melt with love, That peace through all the world be wove. O Jesus ! blessed, holy Name ! Thou to earth all lowly came, /«?«% To succour those who wept in woe, For each grief dear pity show ; O let Thy Name, o'er sea and land, A beacon-light for ever stand. 518 GENERAL HYMNS. Great, holy Spirit, hear us now, Fill our hearts as low we bow ; O guide us by Thy star of light, Through this sinful world's dark night : Be with us in the battle fight, And help us through the wrong to right. Mysterious Godhead, three in one,- Let Thy will on earth be done ; And, if it please Thee in our day, That we stumble on the way, O grant we yet may gain the prize, And live with Thee beyond the skies. ANON. 77/^ gift of God is eternal life. ^asapay^a^^ Romans' * 23 ^ETERNITY, eternity, # <^4^^4 How long art thou, eternity! Yet hasteth on toward thee our life, E'en as the war steed to the strife, The messenger toward home, doth go, Or ship to shore, or bolt from bow. Eternity, eternity, How long art thou, eternity ! 519 GENERAL HYMNS. As in a globe, so smooth and round, Beginning ne'er and end are found, Eternity, not more can we Beginning find, or end, in thee. Eternity, eternity, How long art thou, eternity ! Thou art a ring of awful mould, ' For ever " is thy centre called, And "Never" thy circumf'rence wide, For unto thee no end can tide. Eternity, eternity, How long art thou, eternity ! And if a little bird bore forth One single sand-corn from the earth, And took in thousand years but one, Ere thou wert past, the world were gone. Eternity, eternity, How long art thou, eternity ! In thee, if every thousandth year, An eye should drop one little tear, To hold the water thence would grow Nor heaven nor earth were wide enow. Eternity, eternity, How long art thou, eternity ! The sand and water in the sea But portions, of thy whole can be j 520 GENERAL HYMNS No reckoning long can e'er suffice To give the measure of thy size. Eternity, eternity, How long art thou, eternity ! Hear, man ! So long as God shall reign, So long continue Hell and pain ; So long last Heaven and joy also. — O, lengthened joy ! O. lengthened woe ! TRANSLATED BY DR. H. W. DULCKEN, FROM AN OLD GERMAN HYMN. Fight the good fight of faith I. Timothy, vi. \2. UCH in sorrow, oft in woe, T^wZrr Onward, Christians, onward go : ^Ij^T Fight the fight, and worn with strife, ^ffft Steep with tears the Bread of Life. Onward, Christians, onward go ; Join the war and face the foe, ) Faint not ! much doth yet remain ; Dreary is the long campaign. Shrink not, Christians ! will ye yield? Will ye quit the painful field ? 521 GENERAL HYMNS. Will ye flee in danger's hour? Know ye not your Captain's power ? Let your drooping hearts be glad ; March, in heavenly armour clad ; Fight, nor think the battle long ; Victory soon shall tune your song. Let not sorrow dim your eye, Soon shall ^very tear be dry; Let not woe your course impede ; Great your strength, if great your need. Onward, then, to battle move ; More than conquerors ye shall prove ; Though opposed by many a foe, Christian soldiers, onward go ! FRAGMENT BY HENRY KIRKE WHITE, COMPLETED BY FANNY FULLER MAITLAND. Unto Him that loved us be glory for ever. Gg) C.\ Revelation, i. 5, 6. :*1y F(^R a tnousand tongues to sing ^iq; My dear Redeemer's praise, The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace ! 522 GENERAL HYMNS. My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread, through all the earth abroad, The honours of Thy Name. Jesus ! the Name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease ; 'T is music in the sinner's ears, T is life, and health, and peace ! He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoners free ; His blood can make the foulest clean ; His blood avails for me. He speaks, and, listening to His voice, New life the dead receive ; The mournful, broken hearts rejoice, The humble poor believe. Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb. Your loosened tongues employ ; Ye blind, behold your Saviour come, And leap, ye lame, for joy ! CHARLES WESLEY. 523 GENERAL HYMNS. Twill say of the Lord, He is my refuge ; my God: in Him will I trust. Psalm xci. 2. IjjjEfjl Y trust is in the Lord ; EH What foe can injure me? Why bid me like a bird Before the fowler flee ? The Lord is on His heavenly throne, Omnipotent to save His own. The wicked may assail The tempter sorely try, All earth's foundations fail, All nature's springs be dry ; Yet God is in His holy shrine, And I am strong while He is mine. 524 GENERAL HYMNS, His flock to Him is dear, He watches them from high j He sends them trials here, To fit them for the sky ; But safely will He tend and keep The humblest, feeblest of His sheep. His foes a season here May triumph and prevail ; But, ah ! the hour is near When all their hopes must fail ; While like the sun His saints shall rise, And shine with Him above the skies. HENRY FRANCIS LYTS. Here we have no continuing city, but ive seek one to come. Hebrews, xiii. T4. RIEND after friend departs ; Who hath not lost a friend ? There is no union here of hearts That finds not here an end : Were this frail world our only rest, Living or dying, none were blest. Beyond the flight of time, Beyond this vale of death, 525 GENERAL HYMNS. There surely is some blessed clime, Where life is not a breath, Nor life's affections transient fire, Whose sparks fly upwards to expire. There is a world above, Where parting is unknown ; A whole eternity of love, Formed for the good alone ; And faith beholds the dying here Translated to that happier sphere. Thus star by star declines Till all are passed away, As morning high and higher shines To pure and perfect day ; Nor sink those stars in empty night; They hide themselves in Heaven's own light JAMES MONTGOMERY. Except the Lord keep tee city, the "watchman ■waketh but in vain. Psalm cxxvii. i. HE Lord is Lord, and King of kings, Our safe defence and true ; To Him, with all our heart of love, Allegiance is due. 526 GENERAL HYMNS. In vain the watchman watcheth o'er The city in the night, Unless the Lord be watching too, And helping in the fight. In vain the sinner battles with His close-besetting sin ; Unless the Lord is helping him, The fight he cannot win. Then help us, Lord, to keep the watch ; Thy armour to put on ; Shield us with Thy mighty shield, Life's battle-field upon. GEORGE WOOLER. Take good heed unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Joshua, xxiii. n. ]f HOM should we love like Thee, Our God, our Guide, our King, The Tower to which we flee, The Rock to which we cling ? O for a thousand tongues to show The debt that we to mercy owe ! The storm upon us fell, The floods around us rose, 527 GENERAL HYMNS. The depths of death and hell Seemed on our souls to close : To God we cried in strong despair, And God was nigh to help our prayer. He came, the King of kings, He bowed the sable sky, And on the tempest's wings Rode glorious from on high. The earth before her Maker shook, The mountains quaked at His rebuke. Above the storm He stood, And awed it to repose ; He drew us from the flood, And scattered all our foes. He sets us in a spacious place, And there upholds us by His grace. Whom should we love like Thee, Our God, our Guide, our King, The Tower to which we flee, The Rock to which we cling ? O for a thousand tongues to show The debt that we to mercy owe ! HENRY FRANCIS LYTE. 528 GENERAL HYMNS, It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God ; we will be glad -g and rejoice in His salvation. '$S^^(f Isaiah, xxv. 9. JjEJOICE to-day with one accord, Sing out with exultation j Rejoice and praise our mighty Lord, Whose arm hath brought salvation ; His works of love proclaim The greatness of His Name ; For He is God alone Who hath His mercy shown : Let all His saints adore Him ! When in distress to Him we cried, He heard our sad complaining ; O, trust in Him whate'er betide, His love is all-sustaining; Triumphant songs of praise To Him our hearts shall raise ; Now every voice shall say, " O praise our God ahvay : " Let all His saints adore Him ! Rejoice to-day with one accord, Sing out with exultation ; Rejoice and praise our mighty Lord, - Whose arm hath brought salvation ; o2(J 31 GENERAL HYMNS. His works of love proclaim The greatness of His Name ; For He is God alone Who hath His mercy shown : Let all His saints adore Him ! ANON. *&' N'aiv we see through a glass, darkly ; but then face to face. I. Corinthians, xiii. 12. GOD, when darkness round us reigns, When puzzling doubts arise, When we in vain do strive to guess The mystery of the skies : The mystery of Thy Godhead, Lord, The mystery of Thy love, Why man should fall, and Thou shouldst leave Thy glorious home above ; Why wretchedness should e'er be born ; Why poverty and sin ; Why some should weep, and some should toil, Their scanty bread to win ; Why Thy great providence is hid ; Nor can we see the end, When our poor thoughts go stumbling on, And know not where they tend ; 530 GENERAL HYMNS. Then, Lord, be Thou our guiding light, The lamp of faith to give, To lead us from the darksome cave, Where darkened doubts do live. Though blind our eyes, we cannot see, Let Hope stretch out her hand ; And, led by Faith, in faith go on, On to the " happy land." Shield us, Lord, from sin and doubt, Let our weak hearts adore j With Thee to help, to guide, to love, O we shall doubt no more. The holy light of Thy dear love Will make each mystery plain ; Each trembling fear slaall fly aw ay.. Nor shall we doubt again. GEORGE WOTTON. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew, OME, take my yoke, the Saviour said ; To follow me be not afraid ; For I in heart am lowly, meek, And offer you the rest you seek. 531 31 — 2 GENERAL HYMNS. The yoke of Pleasure may allure, And promise bliss that will endure ; But, when it has thy youth despoiled, ;T will cast thee off as garment soiled. Take not on thee the yoke of Wealth ; 5T will eat thy soul, destroy thy health, And make thee feel how cheap the cost, If worlds could buy the peace it lost. Ambition, too, its yoke displays, And hangs out its perennial bays ; Be not, poor soul, by it misled ; I offer thee a crown instead. Then take my yoke, 't is soft and light, 'T will ne'er disturb thy rest at night, But guide thee to that world above, Where no restrain* is known but love. ROBERT SMITH. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Psalm cvii. 29. TERNAL Father, strong to save ! Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep ; O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea. 532 O Christ ! whose voice the waters heard, And hushed their raging at Thy word, Who walkedst on the foaming deep, And calm amidst its rage didst sleep ; O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea. Most Holy Spirit ! who didst brood Upon the chaos dark and rude, And bid its angry tumult cease, And give, for wild confusion, peace ; O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea. O Trinity of love and power ! Our brethren shield in danger's hour;' 533 GENERAL HYMNS. From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them wheresoe'er they go ; Thus evermore shall rise to Thee Glad hymns of praise from land and sea. ANON. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. Revelation, iii. 20. EHOLD ! a Stranger's at the door ! He gently knocks, has knocked before, Has waited long, is waiting still : You treat no other friend so ill. But will He prove a Friend indeed ? He will ! the very Friend you need ! The Man of Nazareth, 't is He, With garments dyed at Calvary. O lovely attitude ! He stands , With melting heart, and laden hands ! O matchless kindness ! and He shows This matchless kindness to His foes. Rise, touched with gratitude divine ; Turn out His enemy and' thine, That hateful, hell-born monster, Sin, And let the Heavenly Stranger in. 531- GENERAL HYMXS. If thou art poor (and poor thou art), Lo ! He has riches to impart ; Not wealth in which mean av'rice rolls ; O better far — the wealth of souls ! Thou 'rt blind ; He '11 takes the scales away, And let in everlasting day : Naked thou art ; but He shall dress Thy blushing soul in righteousness. Art thou a weeper ? Grief shall fly, For who can weep with Jesus by ? No terror shall thy hopes annoy ; No tear, except the tear of joy. Admit Him, for the human breast Ne'er entertained so kind a Guest : Admit Him, for you can't expel ; Where'er He comes, He comes to dwell. Admit Him ere His anger burn ; His feet, departed, ne'er return ! Admit Him, or the hour 's at hand When at His door denied you'll stand. Yet know (nor of the terms complain) If Jesus comes, He comes to reign ; To reign, and with no partial sway ; Thoughts must be slain that disobey ! 535 GENERAL HYMNS. Sovereign of souls ! Thou Prince of Peace ! O may Thy gentle reign increase ! Throw wide the door, each willing mind ! And be His empire all mankind ! JOSEPH GRIGG Hear thou, therefore, the word of the Lord. I. King?, xxii. i; HE winds were howling o'er the deep, Each wave a watery hill \ The Saviour wakened from His sleep ; He spake, and all was still. The madman in a tomb had made His mansion of despair : Woe to the traveller who strayed With heedless footstep there ! The chains hung broken from his arm, Such strength can hell supply ; And fiendish hate, and fierce alarm. Flashed from his hollow eye. He met that glance, so thrilling sweet ; He heard those accents mild ; And, melting at Messiah's feet, Wept like a weaned child. 536 GENERAL HYMXS. 0 ! madder than the raving man ! O ! deafer than the sea ! How long the time since Christ began To call in vain on me! He called me when my thoughtless prime Was early ripe to ill ; 1 passed from folly on to crime, And yet He called me still. He called me in the time of dread, When death was full in view ; I trembled on my feverish bed, And rose to sin anew. Yet, could I hear Him once again, As I have heard of old, Methinks He should not call in vain His wanderer to the fold. O Thou that every thought canst know, And answer every prayer, O ! give me sickness, want, or woe, But snatch me from despair ! My struggling will by grace control ! Renew my broken vow ! What blessed light breaks on my soul ? My God ! I hear Thee now ! BISHOP REGINALD HEBER. 537 GENERAL HYMNS. I will not let thee go except thou bless me. Genesis; xxxii. 26. > OME, O thou Traveller unknown, 5 Whom still I hold, but cannot see, , My company before is gone, And I am left alone with Thee ; With Thee all night I mean to stay, And wrestle till the break of day. © @ I need not tell Thee who I am, My misery or sin declare ; Thyself hast called me by my name : Look on Thy "hands, and read it there ! But who, I ask Thee, who art Thou ? Tell me Thy Name, and tell me now. In vain Thou strugglest to get free, I never will unloose my hold ; Art Thou the Man that died for me ? The secret of Thy love unfold. Wrestling, I will not let Thee go Till I Thy Name, Thy nature know. Wilt Thou not yet to me reveal Thy new, unutterable Name ? Tell me, I still beseech Thee, tell To know it now re-solved I am : 538 GENERAL HYMNS. Wrestling, I will not let Thee go Till I Thy Name, Thy nature know. 'T is all in vain to hold Thy tongue, Or touch the hollow of my thigh ; Though every sinew be unstrung, Out of my arms Thou shalt not fly : Wrestling, I will not let Thee go Till I Thy Name, Thy nature know. What though my shrinking flesh complain, And murmur to contend so long ? I rise superior to my pain ; When I am weak, then I am strong : And when my all of strength shall fail, I shall with the God-Man prevail. My strength is gone ; my nature dies ; I sink beneath Thy weighty hand, Faint to revive, and fall to rise ; I fall, and yet by faith I stand : I stand, and will not let Thee go, Till I Thy Name, Thy Nature know. Yield to me now, for I am weak, But confident in self-despair; Speak to my heart, in blessings speak, Be conquered by my instant prayer ! Speak, or Thou never hence shalt move, And tell me if Thy Name is Love ? 539 GENERAL HYMNS. ;T is Love ! 't is Love ! Thou diedst for me ! I hear Thy whisper in my heart ! The morning breaks, the shadows flee ; Pure universal Love Thou art ! To me, to all, Thy bowels move ; Thy nature, and Thy Name, is Love ! My prayer hath power with God ; the grace Unspeakable I now receive ; Through faith I see Thee face to face, I see Thee face to face, and live : In vain I have not wept and strove ; Thy nature, and Thy Name, is Love. I know Thee, Saviour, who Thou art, — Jesus, the feeble sinner's Friend ! Nor wilt Thou with the night depart, But stay, and love me to the end ! Thy mercies never shall remove ; Thy nature, and Thy Name, is Love ! The Sun of Righteousness on me Hath rose, with healing in His wings ; Withered my nature's strength, from Thee My soul its life and succour brings ; My help is all laid up above ; Thy nature, and Thy Name, is Love. Contented now upon my thigh I halt, till life's short journey end; 540 GENERAL HYMNS. All helplessness, all weakness, I On Thee alone for strength depend ; Nor have I power from Thee to move j Thy nature, and Thy Name, is Love. Lame as I am, I take the prey, Hell, earth, and sin, with ease o'ercome ; I leap for joy, pursue my way, And as a bounding hart fly home ! Through all eternity to prove Thy nature, and Thy Name, is Love ! CHARLES WESLEY. 1 'would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause. Job, v. ESUS ! lead us with Thy power Safe unto the promised rest ; Hide our souls within Thy bosom ; Let us slumber on Thy breast ; Feed us with the heavenly manna, Bread that angels eat above ; Let us drink from the holy fountain Draughts of everlasting love ! Throughout the desert wild conduct us With a glorious pillar bright, 541 GENERAL HYMNS. In the day a cooling comfort, And a cheering fire by night ; Be our Guide in every peril, Watch us hourly night and day ; Otherwise we 11 err and wander From Thy Spirit far away. In Thy presence we are happy ; In Thy presence- we 're secure ; In Thy presence all afflictions We will easily endure ; In Thy presence we can conquer, We can suffer, we can die ; Far from Thee, we faint and languish : Lord, our Saviour, keep us nigh ! WILLIAM WILLIAMS. Sing praises unto our King, sing praises ; for ' God is the King of all the earth. Psalm xlvii. 6, 7. (ORD, fill my heart with joyful song, O let my tongue tell forth Thy praise, Now, and all my whole life long, Thou God of everlasting days ! Lord Jesus, teach me now to know There is no home but Heaven above ; 512 GENERAL HYMNS. There is no lasting joy can flow, But from Thine everlasting love. As soars the eagle in the sky, Then seeks its high-up rocky nest, Lord Jesus, so my soul would fly, And find a home upon Thy breast. 5:j GENERAL HYMNS. All laud and glory, Lord, be Thine ; Dear Jesus, Saviour, Prince of Peace ! Fill every heart with love divine, Let angry warfare ever cease. Let it be ours to sing Thy praise, Let every tongue proclaim Thy Name ; Now, and to the end of days, Our shouts of song be still the same. ANON O I delight to do Thy will, 0 my God. Psalm xl. e) ATHER, whate'er of earthly bliss Thy sovereign will denies, , Accepted at Thy throne of grace Le't this petition rise : Give me a calm and thankful heart, From every murmur free ; The blessings of Thy grace impart, And make me live to Thee. Let the bless'd hope that Thou art mine My life and death attend ; Thy presence through my journey shine, And crown my journey's end. ANNE STEELE. 541 GENERAL HYMNS. Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians, iii. NWARD, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the Cross of Jesus Going on before. Christ the Royal Master Leads against the foe, Forward into battle, See, His banners go. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the Cross of Jesus Going on before. At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee ; On, then, Christian soldiers. On to victory ! Hell's foundations quiver At the shout of praise ; Brothers, lift your voices, Loud your anthems raise. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the Cross of Jesus . Going on before. 545 35 GENERAL HYMNS. Like a mighty army- Moves the Church of God ; Brothers, we are treading Where the saints have trod , We are not divided, All one body we, One in hope and doctrine, One in charity. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the Cross of Jesus Going on before. Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, But the Church of Jesus Constant will remain ; Gates of hell can never 'Gainst that Church prevail ; We have Christ's own promise, And that cannot fail. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the Cross of Jesus Going on before. Onward, then, ye people, Join our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices In the triumph song ; 546 GENERAL HYMNS. Glory, laud, and honour, Unto Christ the King, This through countless ages Men and angels sing. Onward, Christian soldiers. Marching as to war, With the Cross of Jesus Going on before. ANON. Be of good comfort, rise ; He calleth Thee. THOUSAND years have fleeted, And, Saviour ! still we see Thy deed of love repeated On all who come to Thee. As He who sat benighted, Afflicted, poor, and blind ; So now (Thy word is plighted) Joy, light, and peace I find. Mark, x. 49. Dark gloom my spirit filling, Beside the way I sat j Desire my heart was thrilling ; But anguish more than that. To me no ray was granted, Although I heard the psalms 547 35- GENERAL HYMNS. The faithful sweetly chanted, And felt the waving palms. With grief my heart was aching ; O'erwhelming were my woes, Till, heaven-born courage taking, To Thee my cry arose : " O David's Son, relieve me ; My bitter anguish quell ; Thy promised succour give me, And this dark night dispel !;' With tears that fast were flowing I sought Thee through the crowd, My heart more tender growing, Until I wept aloud : 0 ! then my grief diminished ; For then they cried to me, " Blind man, thy woe is finished ; Arise, He calleth thee !" 1 came with steps that faltered ; Thy course I felt Thee check ; Then straight my mind was altered, And bowed my stubborn neck : Thou saidst, "What art thou seeking?" " O Lord ! that I might see !" O ! then I heard Thee speaking : " Believe, and it shall be." 548 GEXERAL HYMNS. Our hope, Lord, faileth never, When Thou Thy word dost plight : My fears then ceased for ever, And all my soul was light. Thou gavest me Thy blessing ; From former guilt set free, Now heavenly joy possessing, O Lord ! I follow Thee ! FRANCES ELIZABETH COX. FROM FREDERIC DE LA MOTTE FOUQU]!'. Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Loi-d. Matthew, xxi. 9. OSANNA to the Living Lord ! Hosanna to the Incarnate Word ! To Christ, Creator, Saviour, King, im, Let earth, let Heaven, Hosanna sing. Hosanna ! Lord ! Hosanna in the highest ! " Hosanna," Lord, Thine angels cry ; * Hosanna," Lord, Thy saints reply : Above, beneath us, and around, The dead and living swell the sound. Hosanna ! Lord \ Hosanna. in the highest ! 549 GENERAL HYMNS. O Saviour, with protecting care Return to this Thy house of prayer, Assembled in Thy sacred Name, Where we Thy parting promise claim. Hosanna ! Lord ! Hosanna in the highest ! But, chiefest, in our cleansed breast, Eternal, bid Thy Spirit rest ; And make our secret soul to be A temple pure, and worthy Thee. Hosanna ! Lord ! Hosanna in the highest ! So, in the last and dreadful day, When earth and Heaven shall melt away, Thy flock, redeemed from sinful stain, Shall swell the sound of praise again. Hosanna ! Lord ! Hosanna in the highest ! BISHOP REGINALD HEBER. Preserve my soul, O Thou my God ; save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee. .^uuf/^iV-^ i/ ' The day of the Lord so comet 'h as a thief in the night. I. Thessalonians, v. 2. ASTE, traveller, haste ! the night comes on, And many a shining hour is gone ; The storm is gathering in the west, And thou art far from home and rest ; Haste, traveller, haste ! O far frorn home thy footsteps stray ; Christ is the Life, and Christ the Way ; And Christ the Light, thy setting Sun, Sinks ere thy morning is begun ; Haste, traveller, haste ! Awake, awake ! pursue thy way With steady course, while yet 't is day ; While thou art sleeping on the ground, Danger and darkness gather round ; Haste, traveller, haste ! 56S The rising tempest sweeps the sky ; The rains descend, the winds are high ; The waters swell, and death and fear Beset thy path, nor refuge near ; Haste, traveller, haste ! O yes ! a shelter you may gain, A covert from the wind and rain, G6y GENERAL HYMNS. A hiding-place, a rest, a home, A refuge from the wrath to come ; Haste, traveller, haste ! Then linger not in all the plain, Flee for thy life, the mountain gain ; Look not behind, make no delay, O speed thee, speed thee on thy way ; Haste, traveller, haste ! Poor, lost, benighted soul ! art thou Willing to find salvation now ? There yet is hope ; hear mercy's call ; Truth ! Life ! Light ! Way ! in Christ is all ! Haste to Him, haste ! WILLIAM BENGO COLLYER. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews, xii. 2. RACIOUS Spirit, dwell with me ! I myself would gracious be, And with words that help and heal, Would Thy life in mine reveal, And with actions bold and meek, Would for Christ my Saviour speak. 570 GENERAL HYMNS. Truthful Spirit, dwell with me ! I myself would truthful be : By Thy wisdom kind and clear, Let Thy life in mine appear, And with actions brotherly Speak my Lord's sincerity. Tender Spirit, dwell with me ! I myself would tender be : Shut my heart up like a flower At temptation's darksome hour, Open it when shines the Sun, And His love by fragrance own. Mighty Spirit, dwell with me ! I myself would mighty be : Mighty so as to prevail Where unaided man must fail, Ever by a mighty hope Pressing on, and bearing up. Holy Spirit, dwell with me ! I myself would holy be : Separate from sin, I would Choose and cherish all things good, And whatever I can be Give to Him who gave me Thee ! THOMAS T. EYNCH. £71 GENERAL HYMNS. I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that Me is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him. II. Timothy, i. 12 WEEP, but not rebellious tears ; I mourn, but not in hopeless woe ; I droop, but not with doubtful fears ; For whom I Ve trusted, Him I know : Lord, I believe, — assuage my grief, And help, O help my unbelief ! My days of youth and health are o'er, My early friends are dead and gone ; And there are times it tries me sore To think I 'm left on earth alone : But then faith whispers, " ;T is not so ; He will not leave nor let thee go." Blind eyes ! fond heart ! that vainly sought Enduring bliss in things of earth ! Remembering, but with transient thought, My heavenly home, my second birth, Till God in mercy broke at last The bonds that held me down so fast. As link by link was rent away, My heart wept blood, so sharp the pain j But I have lived to count this day, That temporal loss, eternal gain : 572 GENERAL HVAfNS. For all that once detained me here Now draws me to a holier sphere, — A holier sphere, a happier place, Where I shall know as I am known, And see my Saviour face to face ; And meet, rejoicing, round His throne The faithful few, made perfect there, From earthly stain and mortal care. CAROLINE SOUTH EY. Go ye into all the ivorld, and preach the Gospel to every creature. HE heathen perish day by day, Thousands on thousands pass away : £^> O Christians, to their rescue fly ; Preach Jesus to them ere they die. Wealth, labour, talents freely give, Yea, life itself, that they may live. What hath your Saviour done for you ? And what for Him will ye not do ? Thou Spirit of the Lord, go forth ; Call in the south, wake up the north ; Of every clime, from sun to sun, Gather God's children into one. JAMES MONTGOMERY. 573 GENERAL HYMNS. QJ[Q Stand up and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever. Nehemiah, ix. 5. TAND up ! stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the Cross ! Lift high His royal banner, It must not suffer loss ; From vict'ry unto vict'ry His army shall He lead, Till every foe is vanquished, And Christ is Lord indeed. Stand up ! stand up for Jesus ! The trumpet-call obey ; Forth to the mighty conflict, In this His glorious day : Ye that are men, now serve Him Against unnumbered foes ; Your courage rise with danger, And strength to strength oppose. Stand up ! stand up for Jesus ! Stand in His strength alone ; The arm of flesh will fail you ; Ye dare not trust your own ; Put on the Gospel armour, And, watching unto prayer, Where duty calls, or danger, Be never wanting there. 574 GENERAL HYMNS. Stand up ! stand up for Jesus ! The strife will not be long ; This day the noise of battle, The next the victor's song ; To him that overcometh, A crown of life shall be j He with the King of Glory Shall reign eternally. DUFflELD. We have turned every one to his own way, Isaiah, liii. 6. LL we like sheep have gone astray, And left our Shepherd-guide ; We 've wandered from the valley fair, To the bare mountain-side. O, bring us back, Almighty God ! Back to the flowery plain, Where the clear, ever-living stream Of water flows again. All we like sheep have gone astray, Have wandered far and wide Into the world of care and cold, And cast our God aside. 575 GENERAL HYMNS. O Shepherd, gather up Thy sheep ! O, give the weary rest ! And grant that all our little lambs May nestle on Thy breast. O, cleanse our souls from every sin, From each dull earthly stain ! That we may, through Thy holy love, To life be born again. Then shall we sing with holy joy All glory to the Lamb, And enter, free, with victor palms, The New Jerusalem. G. w. 576 GENERAL HYMNS. For I know that my Redeemer Ivveth. Job, xix. 25. jSl H ! I shall soon be dying, Time swiftly glides away j But on my Lord relying, I hail the happy day, — The day when I must enter Upon a world unknown ; My helpless soul I venture On Jesus Christ alone. He once a spotless victim, Upon Mount Calvary bled : Jehovah did afflict Him, And bruise Him in my stead. Hence all my hope arises, Unworthy as I am ; My soul most surely prizes The sin-atoning Lamb. To Him by grace united, I joy in Him alone; And now, by faith, delighted Behold Him on His throne. 577 GENERAL HYMNS. There He is interceding For all who on Him rest ; The grace from Him proceeding Shall lead me to His breast. Then with the saints in glory The grateful song I '11 raise, And chant my blissful story In high seraphic lays. JOHN RYLAND. m Lord, make me to know the measure of my days, that 1 7iiay know how frail I am. Psalm xxxix. 4. HOPED that with the brave and strong My portioned task might lie ; To toil amid the busy throng With purpose pure and high ; But God has fixed another part, And He has fixed it well ; I said so with my breaking heart When first this trouble fell. These weary hours will not be lost, These days of misery, These nights of darkness, tempest-tost,- Can I but turn to Thee ; 573 GENERAL HYMNS. With secret labour to sustain In patience every blow, To gather fortitude from pain, And holiness from woe. If Thou shouldst bring me back to life, More humble I should be, More wise, more strengthened for the strife, More apt to lean on Thee : Should death be standing at the gate, Thus should I keep my vow : But, Lord ! whatever be my fate, O let me serve Thee now ! ANNE BRONTE. He giveth His beloved sleep. Psalm exxvii. 2. )mmi V ALM on the bosom of thy God, Fair spirit, rest thee now ! E'en while with us thy footsteps trod, His seal was on thy brow. Dust to its narrow house beneath ! Soul to its home on high ! They that have seen thy look in death, No more need fear to die. FELICIA D. HEMAXS. I7d 37—2 GENERAL HYMNS. I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave •v •*. y Himself for me. Galatians, ii. 20. 1A LAY my sins on Jesus, The spotless Lamb of God ; He bears them all, and frees us From the accursed load. I bring my guilt to Jesus, To wash my crimson stains White in His blood most precious, Till not a spot remains. I tell my wants to Jesus ; All fulness dwells in Him : He heals all my diseases ; He doth my soul redeem. I lay my griefs on Jesus, My burdens and my cares ; He from them all releases ; He all my sorrows shares. I rest my soul on Jesus, This weary soul of mine ; His right hand me embraces ; I on His breast recline. I love the Name of Jesus, Immanuel, Chris-t, the Lord ; 580 GENERAL HYMNS. Like fragrance on the breezes His goodness forth is poured. I long to be like Jesus, Meek, loving, lowly, mild ; I long to be like Jesus, The Father's holy child. I long to be with Jesus Amid the heavenly throng, To sing, with saints, His praises, And learn the angels' song. HORATIUS BONAR. God is able to make all grace abound toward you. I. Corinthians, ix. 8. OD of our life ! Thy various praise Let mortal voices sound : Thy hand revolves our fleeting days, And brings the seasons round. To Thee shall annual incense rise, Our Father and our Friend ; While annual mercies from the skies In genial streams descend. In every scene of life, Thy care In every age we see ; 581 GENERAL HYMNS. And constant as Thy favours are, So let our praises be. Still may Thy love, in every scene, In every age appear ; And let the same compassion deign To bless the opening year. O keep this foolish heart of mine From anxious passion free ; Each comfort teach me to resign, And trust my all to Thee. If mercy smile, let mercy bring My wandering soul to God ; And in affliction I will sing If Thou wilt bless the rod. OTTIWELL HEGINBOTHAM. Give us day by day our daily bread. Luke, xi. 3. KING of earth, and air, and sea ! The hungry ravens cry to Thee ; To Thee the scaly tribes, that sweep The bosom of the boundless deep : To Thee the lions roaring call ; The common Father, kind to all : 582 Then grant Thy servants, Lord, we pray, Our daily bread from day to day. The fishes may for food complain, The ravens spread their wings in vain, u83 GENERAL HYMNS. The roaring lions lack and pine ; But, God, Thou carest still for Thine : Thy bounteous hand with food can bless The bleak and lonely wilderness ; And Thou hast taught us, Lord, to pray For daily bread from day to day. And O ! when through the wilds we roam That part us from our heavenly home ; When, lost in danger, want, and woe, Our faithless tears begin to flow ; Do Thou the gracious comfort give, By which alone the soul may live, And grant Thy servants, Lord, we pray, The bread of life from day to day ! BISHOP REGINALD HEBER. Behold the works of the Lord. He maketh wars to cease. Psalm xlvi. 8, g. GOD of love, O King of peace, Make wars throughout the world to cease ; The wrath of sinful man restrain : Give peace, O God, give peace again. Remember, Lord, Thy works of old, The wonders that our fathers told, 584- GENERAL HYMNS. Remember not our sins' dark stain : Give peace, O God, give peace again. Whom shall we trust but Thee, O Lord ? Where rest but on Thy faithful Word ? None ever called on Thee in vain : Give peace, O God, give peace again. Where saints and angels dwell above, All hearts are knit in holy love ; O bind us in that heavenly chain : Give peace, O God, give peace again. ANON. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our son ows. Isaiah, liii. 4. ]Sj|| ROM the cross uplifted high, Where the Saviour deigns to die, What melodious sounds I hear, Bursting on my ravished ear ! — 11 Love's redeeming work is done ; Come and welcome, sinner, come. " Sprinkled now with blood the throne : Why beneath thy burdens groan? On my pierced body laid, Justice owns the ransom paid \ 585 GENERAL HYMNS. Bow the knee, and kiss the Son ; Come and welcome, sinner, come. " Spread for thee the festal board, See, with richest dainties stored ; To thy Fathers bosom pressed, Yet again a child confessed, Never from His house to roam — Come and welcome, sinner, come. " Soon the days of life shall end ; Lo ! I come, your Saviour, Friend, Safe your spirit to convey To the realms of endless day ; Up to my eternal home, Come and welcome, sinner, come." THOMAS H AWE IS. Guide me with Thy counsel, and afteiivard receive me to glory. Psalm lxxiii. 24. UIDE me, O Thou great Jehovah ! Pilgrim through this barren land ; I am weak, but Thou art mighty ; Hold me with Thy powerful hand ! Bread of Heaven ! Bread of Heaven ! Feed me now and evermore ! 586 GENERAL HYMXS. Open now the crystal fountain, Whence the healing streams do flow ; Let the fiery cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through ; Strong Deliverer ! Strong Deliverer ! Be Thou still my Strength and Shield ! When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside ; Death of death, and hell's destruction, Land me safe on Canaan's side. Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee ! WILLIAM WILLIAMS. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. •\ ,->. Psalm xlvi. n. OD is our refuge in distress, Our shield of hope through every care, Our Shepherd watching us to bless, And therefore will we not despair ; Although the mountains shake, And hills their place forsake, And billows o'er them break, Yet still will we not fear, — For Thou, O God, art ever near. 587 GENERAL HYMNS. God is our hope and strength in woe, Through earth He maketh wars to cease, His power breaketh spear and bow, His mercy sendeth endless peace ; Then though the earth remove, And storms rage high above, And seas tempestuous prove, Yet still will we not fear, — The Lord of Hosts is ever near. MARTIN LUTHER. Pray unto the Lord for it, for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. Jeremiah, xxix. 7. ORD, while for all mankind we pray, Of every clime and coast, O hear us for our native land, — The land we love the most. 5S8 GENERAL HYMNS. Our fathers' sepulchres are here, And here our kindred dwell ; Our children too : how should we love Another land so well ? O guard our shores from every foe, With peace our borders bless ; With prosperous times our cities crown, Our fields with plenteousness. Unite us in the sacred love Of knowledge, truth, and Thee : And let our hills and valleys shout The songs of liberty. Here may religion, pure and mild, Upon our Sabbaths smile, And piety and virtue reign, And bless our native isle. Lord of the nations, thus to Thee Our country we commend ; Be Thou her refuge and her trust, Her everlasting Friend. J. REVNELL WREFORD. ;so GENERAL HYMNS. He shall cover thee rvith His feathers, and under His wings shall thou trust. Psalm xci. 4. GOD of Bethel, by whose hand Thy people still are fed, Who through this weary pilgrimage Hast all our fathers led ; Our vows, our prayers, we now present Before Thy throne of grace ; God of our fathers ! be the God Of their succeeding race. Through each perplexing path of life Our wandering footsteps guide ; Give us each day our daily bread, And raiment fit provide. O spread Thy covering wings around Till all our wanderings cease, And at our Father's loved abode Our souls arrive in peace ! Such blessings from Thy gracious hand Our humble prayers implore ; And Thou shalt be our chosen God, And portion evermore. VARIATION BY JOHN LOGAN, FROM THILIP DODDRIDGE. 590 GENERAL HYMNS. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwetteth on high ! I a ii\ Psalm cxiii OME, Thou fount of every blessing, T Tune my heart to sing Thy grace ; Streams of mercy never-ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise. | Teach me some celestial measure, ) Sung by ransomed hosts above ; O ! the vast, the boundless treasure Of my Lord's unchanging love. Here I raise my Ebenezer ; Hither by Thy help I 'm come ; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God ; He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood. O ! to grace how great a debtor Daily I 'm constrained to be ! Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander j Lord, I feel it ; Prone to leave the God I love ; Take my heart, O take and seal -it, Seal it from Thy courts above. ROBERT ROBINSON. 591 GENERAL HYMNS. Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness ; make Thy way straight before my face. ,a(V Psalm v. 8. ESUS, still lead on, Till our rest be won ; And although the way be cheerless, We will follow, calm and fearless : Guide us by Thy hand To our Fatherland. If the way be drear, If the foe be near, Let not faithless fears o'ertake us, Let not faith and hope forsake us ; For, through many a foe, To our home we go. V When we seek relief From a long-felt grief; When oppressed by new temptations, Lord, increase and perfect patience ; Show us that bright shore Where we weep no more. Jesus, still lead on Till our rest be won 592 GEXERAL HYMNS. Heavenly Leader, still direct us, Still support, console, protect us, Till we safely stand In our Fatherland. ZINZENDORF. Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. c\ Revelation, iv. u. ./ OLV, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, when heaven and earth, Out of darkness, at Thy word, Issued into glorious birth, All Thy works before Thee stood, And Thine eye beheld them good ; While they sang, with sweet accord, Holy, holy, holy Lord. Holy, holy, holy Three, One Jehovah evermore, Father, Son, and Spirit, we, Dust and ashes, would adore : Lightly by the world esteemed, From that world by Thee redeemed, Sing we here, with glad accord, Holy holy, holy Lord. 5U3 38, GENERAL HYMNS. Holy, holy, holy, all Heaven's triumphant choir shall sing ; When the ransomed nations fall At the footstool of their King, Then shall saints and seraphim, Harps and voices swell one hymn, Round the throne with full accord, Holy, holy, holy Lord. JAMES MONTGOMERY, % P My grace is sufficient for thee. II. Corinthians, xii. 9. LORD, how happy should we be If we could cast our care on Thee, If we from self could rest ; And feel at heart that One above In perfect wisdom, perfect love, Is working for the best. How far from this our daily life, How oft disturbed by anxious strife, By sudden wild alarms ; O, could we but relinquish all Our earthly props, and simply fall On Thine almighty arms ! 594 Could we but kneel and cast our load, E'en while we pray, upon our God, Then rise with lightened cheer ; Sure that the Father, who is nigh To still the famished ravens' cry, Will hear in that we fear. We cannot trust Him as we should, So chafes weak nature's restless mood 595 38 — 2 GENERAL HYMNS. To cast its peace away ; But birds and flowerets round us preach, All, all the present evil teach Sufficient for the day. Lord, make these faithless hearts of ours Such lessons learn from birds and flowers ; Make them from self to cease ; Leave all things to a Father's will, And taste, before Him lying still, E'en in affliction, peace. JOSEPH ANSTICE. Trust ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isaiah, xxvi. 4. KING of kings, before whose throne The angels bow, no gift can we Present that is indeed our own, Since heaven and earth belong to Thee : Yet this our souls through grace impart, The offering of a thankful heart. O Jesu, set at God's right hand, With Thine eternal Father plead For all Thy loyal-hearted band, Who still on earth Thy succour need ; 596 GENERAL HYMNS. For them in weakness strength provide, And through the world their footsteps guide. O Holy Spirit, Fount of breath, Whose comforts never fail nor fade, Vouchsafe the life that knows no death, Vouchsafe the light that knows no shade ; And grant that we through all our days • May share Thy gifts, and sing Thy praise. VARIATION BY THOMAS DARLING, FROM JOHN QUARLES. Shew us Thy mercy, 0 Lord, and grant us Thy salvation. Psalm lxxxv. 7. LORD, turn not Thy face away From them that lowly lie, Lamenting sore their sinful life With tears and bitter cry ; Thy mercy-gates are open wide To them that mourn their sin ; O shut them not against us, Lord, But let us enter in. We need not to confess our fault, For surely Thou canst tell ; What we have done, and what we are —. o — Thou knowest very well ; 597 GENERAL HYMNS. Wherefore, to beg and to entreat, With tears we come to Thee, As children that have done amiss Fall at their father's knee. And need we then, O Lord, repeat The blessing which we crave, When Thou dost know, before we speak, The thing that we would have ? Mercy, O Lord, mercy we ask, This is the total sum ; For mercy, Lord, is all our prayer ; O let Thy mercy come ! VARIATION BY BISHOP REGINALD HEBER, FROM JOHN MARDLEV. Thanhs unto the Father, ruhich hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians, i. 12. N wings of faith, mount up, my soul, and rise ; View thine inheritance beyond the skies ; Nor heart can think, nor mortal tongue can tell What endless pleasures in those mansions dwell : There our Redeemer lives, all bright and glorious, O'er sin, and death/ and hell He reigns victorious. No gnawing grief, no sad heart-rending pain, In that blest country can admission gain ; 598 GENERAL HYMNS. No sorrow there, no soul-tormenting fear, For God's own hand shall wipe the falling tear : There our Redeemer lives all bright and glorious, O'er sin, and death, and hell He reigns victorious. Before the throne a crystal river glides, Immortal verdure decks its cheerful sides ; There the fair tree of life majestic rears Its blooming head, and sovereign virtue bears : There our Redeemer lives, all bright and glorious, O'er sin, and death, and hell He reigns victorious. No rising sun his needless beams displays, No sickly moon emits her feeble rays ; The Godhead there celestial glory sheds, The exalted Lamb eternal radiance spreads : There our Redeemer lives, all bright and glorious, O'er sin, and death, and hell He reigns victorious. One distant glimpse my eager passion fires ! — Jesus ! to Thee my longing soul aspires ! When shall I at my heavenly home arrive, — When leave this earth, and when begin to live? For there my Saviour lives, all bright and glorious, O'er sin, and death, and hell He reigns victorious. JOSEPH STRAPHAN. C'J'J GENERAL HYMNS. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. Hebrews, xiii. 15. ESUS, with all Thy saints above My tongue would bear her part, Would sound aloud Thy saving love, And sing Thy bleeding heart. All glory to the dying Lamb, And never-ceasing praise, While angels live to know His Name, Or saints to feel His grace. ISAAC WATTS. 600 GENERAL HYMNS. Remember me, 0 Lord, with the favour that Thou dearest ^ unto Thy people. Psalm" cvi. 4. m ■ gy| THOU from whom all goodness flows, I lift my heart to Thee ; In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes, Dear Lord, remember me ! When groaning on my burdened heart My sins lie heavily, My pardon speak, new peace impart, In love remember me ! Temptations sore obstruct my way, And ills I cannot flee : Oh, give me strength, Lord, as my day; For good remember me ! Distrest in pain, disease, and grief, This feeble body see : Grant patience, rest, and kind relief; Hear, and remember me ! If on my face, for Thy dear Name, Shame and reproaches be ; All hail reproach, and welcome shame, If Thou remember me ! 601 GENERAL HYMNS. The hour is near ■ consigned to death I own the just decree : " Saviour ! " with my last parting breath I '11 cry, " remember me ! " THOMAS HAWEIS. Our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have access by faith ^jy into this grace. Romans, v. i, 2. ORD of the vast creation, Support of worlds unknown, Desire of every nation, Behold us at Thy throne. We come, for mercy crying, Through Thine atoning blood ; And, on Thy grace relying, We seek each promised good. We bless that condescension Which brought Thee down to earth, Of which the seers made mention Who prophesied Thy birth. We celebrate the glory That marked Thy wondrous way, And own the joyful story Which claims this hallowed day. 602 GENERAL HYMNS. O ! when shall Thy salvation Be known through every land, And men in every station Obey Thy great command ? In God's own Son believing, From sin may they be free ; And Gospel grace receiving, Find life and peace in Thee. BULMER. Let Thine hand help me, for I have chosen Thy precepts. Psalm cxix. 173. HELP us, Lord, each hour of need, Thy heavenly succour give ; Help us in thought and word and deed, Each hour on earth we live. O help us, when our spirits bleed With contrite anguish sore ; And when our hearts are cold and dead, O help us, Lord, the more. O help us, through the prayer of faith, More firmly to believe ; For still the more Thy servant hath, The more shall he receive. 603 GENERAL HYMNS. O help us, Saviour, from on high, — We know no help but Thee ; O help us so to live and die, As Thine in Heaven to be. HENRY HART MILMAN. The Lord shall be unto Thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Isaiah, lx. 19. HE leaves around me falling, Are preaching of decay ; The hollow winds are calling, " Come, pilgrim, come away." The day in night declining, Says I too must decline ; The year is life resigning — Its lot foreshadows mine. The light my path surrounding, The love to which I cling, The hopes within me bounding, The joys that round me sing, All melt like stars of even Before the morning's ray, Pass upward into Heaven, And chide at my delay. 604 The friends, gone there before me, Are calling from on high, And joyous angels o'er me Tempt sweetly to the sky. " Why wait," they say, " and wither, 'Mid scenes of death and sin ? O rise to glory hither And find true life begin ! " I hear the invitation, And fain would rise and come, A sinner, to salvation ; An exile, to his home. 605 GENERAL HYMNS. But while I here must linger, Thus, thus let all I see Point out with faithful finger, To Heaven, O Lord, and Thee. HENRY FRANCIS LYTE. Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee. John, xxi. 16. Y God, I love Thee, not because I hope for Heaven thereby ; Nor because they who love Thee not Are lost eternally. Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me Upon the cross embrace ; For me didst bear the nails and spear, And manifold disgrace ; And griefs, and torments numberless, And sweat of agony ; E'en death itself, — and all for one Who was Thine enemy. Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ, Should I not love Thee well ? Not for the sake of winning Heaven, Or of escaping hell. 606 GENERAL HYMNS. Not with the hope of gaining aught, Nor seeking a reward ; But as Thyself has loved me, O ever-loving Lord. E'en so I love Thee, and will love, And in Thy praise will sing, Because Thou art my loving God, And my redeeming King. FRANCIS XAVIER. TRANSLATED BY E. CASWELL. Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, knowing that -