Introduction
This Hymn Book is the result of an agreement between Alexander Campbell—the former proprietor of the Christian Hymn Book—and the Christian brotherhood at large, as represented in the American Christian Missionary Society. At the annual meeting of the Society, in 1864, an overture was made by Mr. Campbell, of the copy-right of the Christian Hymn Book, to be held by certain brethren, in trust, on two conditions: 1. That a committee be mutually agreed on by himself and the Society, to revise and enlarge the book, so as to meet the general wishes of the brotherhood of Disciples; 2. That the profits arising from the sale of the book be given to the A. C. M. S. This overture was accepted, and the Committee of Revision was immediately appointed. That Committee, having fulfilled their task, now present the fruit of their labors to the public.
It will be seen that, while the former book was made the basis of this, the work of revision and enlargement has been made as thorough as possible. Still, comparatively few hymns have been expunged. After making as complete an exploration as our time would allow, of the realms of Christian Hymnology, we were more than ever convinced of the value of the labor, judgment, and taste, displayed in the compilation of the book we have so long used and cherished. We have met with no book of equal size, that possesses equal merit. The principal changes we have made, are:
1.—A new classification of subjects—increasing the facility of reference to hymns on the various subjects of song.
2.—An unbroken series of numbers to the hymns, which, while it necessitates the abolition of the formal distinction between Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, enables us to avoid the confusion that constantly grew out of the three series of numbers, which the former classification required.
3.—The numbering of the stanzas of every hymn, for easy reference, when any stanza is omitted in singing.
4.—An arrangement of meters, under every heading.
5.—A greatly enlarged number and variety of hymns, suited to the diversified wants of personal, social, and public devotion.
We take pleasure in acknowledging our indebtedness to numerous brethren, for counsel and assistance; especially to Elder William Baxter, whose collected material and original contributions have been cheerfully placed at our disposal.
While we have admitted a few original hymns, prepared expressly for this work, the additions have been made mostly from the old authors, or from the new resources furnished by the living authors of our own and other lands. It is believed that the work is brought fully up to the resources and demands of the present time.
Knowing that in Christian families, the Hymn Book is generally the most popular book of sacred poetry, and, not seldom, the sole resource of the family in that department, we have felt the importance of a large variety of the choicest lyrical productions that our language affords. We have done what our time and means would allow, toward this end. We hope that it may minister to the comfort, strength, and purity of the Church of God; throw over many a hearth-stone, and many a weary pilgrim-path, the sweet radiance of heavenly song; and give fresh encouragement to the cultivation of all pious sentiments and emotions, alike in the closet, the family, the prayer-meeting, and the public assembly.
ISAAC ERRETT, W. K. PENDLETON, W. T. MOORE, T. M. ALLEN, A. S. HAYDEN.
Cincinnati, O., August 7, 1865.
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
1 L. M. The works and the word of God. Psalm 19.
The heavens declare thy glory, Lord! In every star thy wisdom shines; But when our eyes behold thy word, We read thy name in fairer lines.
2 The rolling sun, the changing light, And nights and days, thy power confess; But the blest volume thou hast writ, Reveals thy justice and thy grace.
3 Sun, moon, and stars, convey thy praise Round the whole earth, and never stand; So when thy truth began its race, It touched and glanced on every land.
4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest Till through the world thy truth has run; Till Christ has all the nations blest That see the light, or feel the sun.
5 Great Sun of Righteousness! arise; Bless the dark world with heavenly light: Thy gospel makes the simple wise, Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.
6 Thy noblest wonders here we view, In souls renewed, and sins forgiven; Lord! cleanse my sins, my soul renew, And make thy word my guide to heaven.
2 L. M. Divine love displayed, etc.
To thee my heart, Eternal King! Would now its thankful tribute bring, To thee its humble homage raise In songs of ardent, grateful praise.
2 All nature shows thy boundless love, In worlds below and worlds above; But in thy blesséd word I trace The richer glories of thy grace.
3 There what delightful truths are given; There Jesus shows the way to heaven; His name salutes my listening ear, Revives my heart and checks my fear.
4 There Jesus bids our sorrows cease, And gives the laboring conscience peace; Raises our grateful feelings high, And points to mansions in the sky.
5 For love like this, O, may our song Through endless years thy praise prolong; And distant climes thy name adore, Till time and nature are no more!
3 L. M. Nature and revelation.
The starry firmament on high, And all the glories of the sky, Yet shine not to thy praise, O Lord, So brightly as thy written word.
2 The hopes that holy word supplies, Its truths divine and precepts wise— In each a heavenly beam I see, And every beam conducts to thee.
3 Almighty Lord! the sun shall fail, The moon forget her nightly tale, And deepest silence hush on high The radiant chorus of the sky—
4 But fixed for everlasting years, Unmoved amid the wreck of spheres, Thy word shall shine in cloudless day When heaven and earth have passed away.
4 L. M. Strength and peace from the divine word.
There is a stream whose gentle flow Supplies the city of our God; Life, love, and joy, still gliding through, And watering our divine abode.
2 That sacred stream, thy holy word, Supports our faith, our fear controls; Sweet peace thy promises afford, And give new strength to fainting souls.
5 L. M. The Scriptures our light and guide.
When Israel through the desert passed, A fiery pillar went before, To guide them through the dreary waste, And lessen the fatigues they bore.
2 Such is thy glorious word, O God; ’Tis for our light and guidance given; It sheds a luster all abroad, And points the path to bliss and heaven.
3 It fills the soul with sweet delight, And quickens its inactive powers; It sets our wandering footsteps right, Displays thy love and kindles ours.
4 Its promises rejoice our hearts; Its doctrine is divinely true; Knowledge and pleasure it imparts; It comforts and instructs us too.
5 Ye favored lands, who have this word! Ye saints, who feel its saving power! Unite your tongues to praise the Lord, And his distinguished grace adore.
6 L. M. Their words to the end of the world. Psalm 19:4.
Upon the gospel’s sacred page The gathered beams of ages shine; And, as it hastens, every age But makes its brightness more divine.
2 On mightier wing, in loftier flight, From year to year, does knowledge soar; And, as it soars, the gospel light Becomes effulgent more and more.
3 More glorious still, as centuries roll, New regions blest, new powers unfurled; Expanding with the expanding soul, Its radiance shall o’erflow the world;
4 Flow to restore, but not destroy; As when the cloudless lamp of day Pours out its flood of light and joy, And sweeps the lingering mist away.
7 L. M. Hold fast the form of sound words. 2 Tim. 1:13.
God’s law demands one living faith, Not a gaunt crowd of lifeless creeds; Its warrant is a firm “God saith;” Its claim, not words, but living deeds.
2 Yet, Lord, forgive; thy simple law Grows tarnished in our earthly grasp; Pure in itself, without a flaw, It dims in our too-worldly clasp.
3 We handle it with unwashed hands; We stain it with unhallowed breath; We gloss it with device of man’s, And hide thine image underneath.
4 Forgive the sacrilege, and take From off our souls th’ unworthy stain; And show us, for thy Son’s dear sake Thy pure and perfect law again.
8 L. P. M. The entrance of thy word giveth light. Psalm 119:130.
I love the volume of thy word; What light and joy those leaves afford To souls benighted and distressed! Thy precepts guide my doubtful way, Thy fear forbids my feet to stray, Thy promise leads my heart to rest.
2 Thy threatenings wake my slumbering eyes, And warn me where my danger lies; But ’tis thy blessed gospel, Lord, That makes my guilty conscience clean, Converts my soul, subdues my sin, And gives a free, but large reward.
3 Who knows the errors of his thoughts? My God, forgive my secret faults, And from presumptuous sins restrain; Accept my poor attempts of praise, That I have read thy book of grace, And book of nature, not in vain.
9 C. M. Thy word is a lamp. Psalm 119:105.
How precious is the book divine, By inspiration given! Bright as a lamp its precepts shine, To guide our souls to heaven.
2 It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts In this dark vale of tears; Life, light, and joy, it still imparts, And quells our rising fears.
3 This lamp, through all the tedious night Of life, shall guide our way, Till we behold the clearer light Of an eternal day.
10 C. M. Thy testimonies are my delight. Psalm 119:24.
Father of Mercies! in thy word What endless glory shines! For ever be thine name adored For these celestial lines!
2 Here may the wretched sons of want Exhaustless riches find; Riches above what earth can grant, And lasting as the mind.
3 Here the fair tree of knowledge grows, And yields a rich repast: Sublimer sweets than nature knows Invite the longing taste.
4 Here springs of consolation rise To cheer the fainting mind, And thirsty souls receive supplies, And sweet refreshment find.
5 Here the Redeemer’s welcome voice, Spreads heavenly peace around; And life and everlasting joys Attend the blissful sound.
6 O may these heavenly pages be My ever dear delight; And still new beauties may I see, And still increasing light.
7 Divine Instructor! gracious Lord, Be thou for ever near; Teach me to love thy sacred word, And view my Saviour there!
11 C. M. A light unto my path. Psalm 119:105.
What glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun! It gives a light to every age— It gives but borrows none.
2 The hand that gave it, still supplies His gracious light and heat; His truths upon the nations rise— They rise, but never set.
3 Let everlasting thanks be thine For such a bright display, As makes the world of darkness shine With beams of heavenly day.
4 My soul rejoices to pursue The paths of truth and love, Till glory breaks upon my view In brighter worlds above.
12 C. M. Thy law is my delight. Psalm 119:174.
Lord, I have made thy word my choice, My lasting heritage; There shall my noblest powers rejoice, My warmest thoughts engage.
2 I’ll read the histories of thy love, And keep thy laws in sight; While through the promises I rove, With ever fresh delight.
3 ’Tis a broad land, of wealth unknown, Where springs of life arise, Seeds of immortal bliss are sown, And hidden glory lies.
4 The best relief that mourners have; It makes our sorrows blest; Our fairest hope beyond the grave, And our eternal rest.
13 C. M. Revelation welcomed.
Hail, sacred truth! whose piercing rays Dispel the shades of night, Diffusing o’er a sinful world The healing beams of light.
2 Thy word, O Lord, with friendly aid, Restores our wandering feet, Converts the sorrows of the mind To joys divinely sweet.
3 O, send thy light and truth abroad, In all their radiant blaze; And bid the admiring world adore The glories of thy grace.
14 C. M. O, how I love thy law. Psalm 119:97.
O how I love thy holy law! ’Tis daily my delight; And thence my meditations draw Divine advice by night.
2 I wake before the dawn of day, To meditate thy word; My soul with longing melts away, To bear thy gospel, Lord.
3 How doth thy word my heart engage, How well employ my tongue; And in my tiresome pilgrimage, Yields me a heavenly song.
4 When nature sinks, and spirits droop, Thy promises of grace Are pillars to support my hope, And there I write thy praise.
15 C. M. Wherewithal shall a young man, etc. Psalm 119:9.
How shall the young secure their hearts, And guard their lives from sin? Thy word the choicest rules imparts To keep the conscience clean.
2 ’Tis like the sun, a heavenly light, That guides us all the day, And through the dangers of the night, A lamp to lead our way.
3 Thy precepts make us truly wise; We hate the sinner’s road; We hate our own vain thoughts that rise, But love the law, O God.
4 Thy word is everlasting truth; How pure is every page! That holy book shall guide our youth And well support our age.
16 C. M. Word of the everlasting God.
Lamp of our feet! whereby we trace Our path when wont to stray; Stream from the fount of heavenly grace! Brook by the traveler’s way!
2 Bread of our souls, whereon we feed! True manna from on high! Our guide and chart! wherein we read Of realms beyond the sky.
3 Pillar of fire through watches dark, And radiant cloud by day! When waves would whelm our tossing bark, Our anchor and our stay!
4 Word of the everlasting God! Will of his glorious Son! Without thee how could earth be trod, Or heaven itself be won?
17 C. M. Quicken me according to thy word. Psalm 119:25.
O Lord, thy precepts I survey: I keep thy law in sight, Through all the business of the day, To form my actions right.
2 My heart in midnight silence cries, “How sweet thy comforts be!” My thoughts in holy wonder rise, And bring their thanks to thee.
18 S. M. The law of the Lord is perfect. Psalm 19:7.
O Lord, thy perfect word Directs our steps aright; Nor can all other books afford Such profit or delight.
2 Celestial light it sheds To cheer this vale below; To distant lands its glory spreads, And streams of mercy flow.
3 True wisdom it imparts; Commands our hope and fear: O may we hide it in our hearts, And feel its influence there!
19 S. M. The books of nature and Scripture.
Behold! the lofty sky Declares its maker, God; And all his starry works, on high, Proclaim his power abroad.
2 The darkness and the light Still keep their course the same; While night to day, and day to night, Divinely teach his name.
3 In every different land, Their general voice is known; They show the wonders of his hand, And orders of his throne.
4 Ye Christian lands! rejoice; Here he reveals his word; We are not left to nature’s voice, To bid us know the Lord.
20 7s. My Bible.
My Bible! book divine! Precious treasure! thou art mine: Mine to tell me whence I came; Mine to teach me what I am;
2 Mine to chide me when I rove; Mine to show a Saviour’s love; Mine thou art to guide and guard; Mine to punish or reward;
3 Mine to comfort in distress, Suffering in this wilderness; Mine to show, by living faith, Man can triumph over death;
4 Mine to tell of joys to come, And the rebel sinner’s doom: O thou holy book divine! Precious treasure thou art mine!
21 8s, 7 & 4. Book of grace.
Book of grace, and book of glory! Gift of God to age and youth; Wondrous in thy sacred story, Bright, bright with truth.
2 Book of love! in accents tender, Speaking unto such as we; May it lead us, Lord, to render All, all to thee.
3 Book of hope! the spirit sighing, Consolation finds in thee; As it hears the Saviour crying— “Come, come to me.”
4 Book of life! when we reposing, Bid farewell to friends we love Give us for the life then closing, Life, life above.
22 P. M. The word more precious than gold.
Precious Bible! what a treasure Does the word of God afford! All I want for life or pleasure, Food and med’cine, shield and sword: Let the world account me poor, Having this I need no more.
2 Food to which the world’s a stranger, Here my hungry soul enjoys; Of excess there is no danger— Though it fills, it never cloys: On a dying Christ I feed, He is meat and drink indeed!
3 When my faith is faint and sickly, Or when Satan wounds my mind; Cordials to revive me quickly, Healing med’cines here I find: To the promises I flee, Each affords a remedy.
4 In the hour of dark temptation, Satan can not make me yield; For the word of consolation Is to me a mighty shield: While the scripture truths are sure, From his malice I’m secure.
5 Vain his threats to overcome me, When I take the Spirit’s sword; Then, with ease, I drive him from me; Satan trembles at the word: ’Tis a sword for conquest made, Keen the edge, and strong the blade.
6 Shall I envy, then, the miser, Doating on his golden store? Sure I am, or should be, wiser; I am rich—’tis he is poor: Jesus gives me in his word, Food and med’cine, shield and sword.
23 12s & 11s. The family Bible.
How painfully pleasing the fond recollection Of youthful connections and innocent joy, When blessed with parental advice and affection, Surrounded with mercies—with peace from on high! I still view the chairs of my father and mother, The seats of their offspring as ranged on each hand; And that richest of books which excelled every other, The family Bible that lay on the stand: The old-fashioned Bible, the dear blesséd Bible, The family Bible that lay on the stand.
2 That Bible, the volume of God’s inspiration, At morn and at evening could yield us delight; And the prayer of our sire was a sweet invocation For mercy by day and for safety through night; Our hymn of thanksgiving with harmony swelling, All warm from the heart of the family band, Has raised us from earth to that rapturous dwelling Described in the Bible that lay on the stand: The old-fashioned Bible, the dear, blesséd Bible, The family Bible that lay on the stand.
3 Ye scenes of tranquillity, long have we parted, My hopes almost gone, and my parents no more: In sorrow and sadness I live broken-hearted, And wander unknown on a far distant shore; Yet how can I doubt a dear Saviour’s protection, Forgetful of gifts from his bountiful hand! O let me with patience receive his correction, And think of the Bible that lay on the stand: The old-fashioned Bible, the dear, blesséd Bible, The family Bible that lay on the stand.
GOD: HIS BEING AND PERFECTIONS.
24 L. M. Great is the Lord.
Praise ye the Lord! ’tis good to raise Our hearts and voices in his praise: His nature and his works invite To make this duty our delight.
2 Great is the Lord! and great his might, And all his glories infinite: His wisdom vast, and knows no bound; A deep where all our thoughts are drowned.
3 He loves the meek, rewards the just, Humbles the wicked in the dust, Melts and subdues the stubborn soul, And makes the broken spirit whole.
4 His saints are precious in his sight; He views his children with delight; He sees their hope, he knows their fear, Approves and loves his image there.
25 L. M. Eternity of God.
Ere mountains reared their forms sublime, Or heaven and earth in order stood— Before the birth of ancient time, From everlasting thou art God.
2 A thousand ages, in their flight, With thee are as a fleeting day; Past, present, future, to thy sight At once their various scenes display.
3 But our brief life’s a shadowy dream, A passing thought, that soon is o’er, That fades with morning’s earliest beam, And fills the musing mind no more.
4 To us, O Lord, the wisdom give Each passing moment so to spend, That we at length with thee may live, Where life and bliss shall never end.
26 L. M. “How unsearchable are thy judgments.” Rom. 11:33.
Lord, my weak thought in vain would climb To search the starry vault profound: In vain would wing her flight sublime, To find creation’s outmost bound.
2 But weaker yet that thought must prove To search thy great eternal plan— Thy sovereign counsels, born of love Long ages ere the world began.
3 When my dim reason would demand Why that, or this, thou dost ordain, By some vast deep I seem to stand, Whose secrets I must ask in vain.
4 When doubts disturb my troubled breast, And all is dark as night to me, Here, as on solid rock, I rest; That so it seemeth good to thee.
5 Be this my joy, that evermore Thou rulest all things at thy will: Thy sovereign wisdom I adore, And calmly, sweetly trust thee still.
27 L. M. Omnipresence of God.
Father of spirits! nature’s God, Our inmost thoughts are known to thee: Thou, Lord, canst hear each idle word, And every private action see.
2 Could we, on morning’s swiftest wings, Pursue our flight through trackless air, Or dive beneath deep ocean’s springs, Thy presence still would meet us there.
3 In vain may guilt attempt to fly, Concealed beneath the pall of night: One glance from thy all-piercing eye, Can kindle darkness into light.
4 Search thou our hearts, and there destroy Each evil thought, each secret sin, And fit us for those realms of joy Where naught impure shall enter in.
28 L. M. The Lord reigneth. Psalm 96:10.
Jehovah reigns; his throne is high; His robes are light and majesty; His glory shines with beams so bright No mortal can sustain the sight.
2 His terrors keep the world in awe; His justice guards his holy law; His love reveals a smiling face. His truth and promise seal the grace.
3 Through all his works his wisdom shines, And baffles Satan’s deep designs; His power is sovereign to fulfill The noblest counsels of his will.
4 And will this glorious Lord descend To be my father and my friend? Then let my songs with angels join; Heaven is secure, if God be mine.
29 L. M. Psalm 100.
With one consent let all the earth To God their cheerful voices raise; Glad homage pay, with awful mirth, And sing before him songs of praise:
2 Convinced that he is God alone, From whom both we and all proceed; We, whom he chooses for his own, The flock that he vouchsafes to keep.
3 O, enter, then, his temple gate, Thence to his courts devoutly press; And still your grateful hymns repeat, And still his name with praises bless.
4 For he’s the Lord supremely good, His mercy is for ever sure; His truth, which always firmly stood, To endless ages shall endure.
30 L. M. Of him are all things. Rom. 11:36.
O source divine, and life of all, The fount of being’s wondrous sea! Thy depth would every heart appall, That saw not love supreme in thee.
2 We shrink before thy vast abyss, Where worlds on worlds eternal brood; We know thee truly but in this— That thou bestowest all our good.
3 And so, ’mid boundless time and space, O grant us still in thee to dwell, And through the ceaseless web to trace Thy presence working all things well!
31 L. M. In him we live and move. Acts 17:28.
Unchangeable, all-perfect Lord! Essential life’s unbounded sea! What lives and moves, lives by thy word; It lives, and moves, and is, from thee! Whate’er in earth, or sea, or sky, Or shuns, or meets, the wandering thought, Escapes, or strikes, the searching eye, By thee was to existence brought.
2 High is thy power above all hight; Whate’er thy will decrees is done: Thy wisdom, holiness and might Can by no finite mind be known. What our dim eyes could never see, Is plain and naked in thy sight; What thickest darkness vails, to thee Shines clearly as the morning light.
3 Thine, Lord, is holiness, alone: Justice and truth before thee stand: Yet, nearer to thy sacred throne, Love ever dwells at thy right hand. And to thy love and ceaseless care, Father! this light, this breath, we owe; And all we have, and all we are, From thee, great source of life! doth flow.
32 L. M. The all-seeing God.
Lord, thou hast searched and seen me thro’; Thine eye commands with piercing view My rising and my resting hours, My heart and flesh with all their powers.
2 My thoughts, before they are my own, Are to my God distinctly known; He knows the words I mean to speak, Ere from my opening lips they break.
3 Within thy circling power I stand; On every side I find thy hand: Awake, asleep, at home, abroad, I am surrounded still with God.
4 Amazing knowledge, vast and great! What large extent! what lofty hight! My soul, with all the powers I boast, Is in the boundless prospect lost.
33 L. M. Psalm 139.
Lord, thou hast formed mine every part, Mine inmost thought is known to thee; Each word, each feeling of my heart, Thine ear doth hear, thine eye doth see.
2 Though I should seek the shades of night, And hide myself in guilty fear, To thee the darkness seems as light, The midnight as the noonday clear.
3 The heavens, the earth, the sea, the sky, All own thee ever present there; Where’er I turn, thou still art nigh, Thy Spirit dwelling everywhere.
4 O may that Spirit, ever blest, Upon my soul in radiance shine, Till welcomed to eternal rest, I taste thy presence, Lord, divine!
34 L. M. 6 lines God praised in all his works.
Thou art, O Lord, the boundless source, Whence all our thousand blessings flow; And nature, through her endless course, Proclaims thy love to all below; While all above join in the strain Of ceaseless praises to thy name.
2 The sun on golden chariot rides, And sends to earth his rays of light; While darkness from his brightness hides, And vanishes from human sight; This sunlight, when it comes to earth, Declares thy goodness gave it birth.
3 The moon and stars, that rule at night, And smile upon this world of wrong, Bear on each trembling chord of light The notes of this sweet, sacred song; “Thou, Lord, didst make all things that move; All are the creatures of thy love.”
4 Then help my poor, unworthy heart To join aloud in nature’s praise; And may my song, in every part, Proclaim the wonders of thy ways; And when I reach the heavenly plains, I’ll sing thy love in nobler strains.
35 C. M. Lord, thou hast searched me, etc. Psalm 139:1.
Lord, all I am is known to thee; In vain my soul would try To shun thy presence, or to flee The notice of thine eye.
2 Thy all-observing eye surveys My rising and my rest, My public walks, my private ways, The secrets of my breast.
3 My thoughts lie open to thee, Lord, Before they’re formed within, And ere my lips pronounce the word, Thou knowest all I mean.
4 O let thine arms surround me still, And like a bulwark prove, To guard my soul from every ill, Secured by sovereign love.
36 C. M. Holy, holy, holy Lord.
O God, we praise thee, and confess That thou the only Lord And everlasting Father art, By all the earth adored.
2 To thee all angels cry aloud, To thee the powers on high, Both cherubim and seraphim, Continually do cry—
3 O holy, holy, holy Lord, When heavenly hosts obey; The world is with the glory filled Of thy majestic sway.
4 The apostles’ glorious company, The prophets crowned with light, With all the martyrs’ noble host, Thy constant praise recite.
5 The holy Church, throughout the world, O Lord, confesses thee, That thou th’ eternal Father art Of boundless majesty.
37 C. M. His praise endureth for ever. Psalm 111:10.
Songs of immortal praise belong To my Almighty God; He has my heart, and he my tongue, To spread his name abroad.
2 How great the works his hand has wrought; How glorious in our sight; And men in every age have sought His wonders with delight.
3 How most exact is nature’s frame, How wise the Eternal mind; His counsels never change the scheme That his first thoughts designed.
4 When he redeemed his chosen sons, He fixed his covenant sure; The orders that his lips pronounce To endless years endure.
38 C. M. O God, my heart is fixed. Psalm 57:7.
O God! my heart is fully bent To magnify thy name; My tongue, with cheerful songs of praise, Shall celebrate thy fame.
2 Be thou, O God! exalted high Above the starry frame; And let the world, with one consent Confess thy glorious name.
39 C. M. The Infinite One.
Great God! how infinite art thou, What worthless worms are we; Let the whole race of creatures bow, And pay their praise to thee.
2 Thy throne eternal ages stood, Ere seas or stars were made: Thou art the ever-living God, Were all the nations dead.
3 Our lives through various scenes are drawn, And vexed with trifling cares; While thine eternal thoughts move on Thine undisturbed affairs.
4 Great God! how infinite art thou, What worthless worms are we; Let the whole race of creatures bow, And pay their praise to Thee.
40 C. M. He trieth the reins. Psalm 7:9.
Great God! thy penetrating eye Pervades my inmost powers; With awe profound my wondering soul Falls prostrate and adores.
2 To be encompassed round with God, The Holy and the Just, Armed with omnipotence to save, Or crush me to the dust—
3 O how tremendous is the thought! Deep may it be impressed, And may thy Spirit firmly ’grave This truth within my breast.
4 Begirt with thee, my fearless soul The gloomy vale shall tread; And thou wilt bind th’ immortal crown Of glory on my head.
41 11s & 8s. The Lord is great.
The Lord is great! ye hosts of heaven adore him, And ye who tread this earthly ball; In holy songs rejoice aloud before him, And shout his praise who made you all.
2 The Lord is great; his majesty how glorious! Resound his praise from shore to shore; O’er sin, and death, and hell, now made victorious, He rules and reigns for evermore.
3 The Lord is great; his mercy how abounding! Ye angels, strike your golden chords; O praise our God, with voice and harp resounding, The King of kings and Lord of lords.
42 C. P. M. The love of God.
My God! Thy boundless love I praise; How bright on high its glories blaze! How sweetly bloom below! It streams from thine eternal throne; Through heaven its joys for ever run, And o’er the earth they flow.
2 ’Tis love that paints the purple morn, And bids the clouds, in air upborne, Their genial drops distill; In every vernal beam it glows, And breathes in every gale that blows, And glides in every rill.
3 But in thy word I see it shine, With grace and glories more divine, Proclaiming sins forgiven; There, Faith, bright cherub, points the way To realms of everlasting day, And opens all her heaven.
4 Then let the love, that makes me blest, With cheerful praise inspire my breast, And ardent gratitude; And all my thoughts and passions tend To thee, my Father and my Friend, My soul’s eternal good.
GOD IN CREATION.
43 L. M. The heavens declare the glory of God. Psalm 19:1.
The spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim.
2 Th’ unwearied sun, from day to day, Does his Creator’s power display, And publishes to every land The work of an almighty hand.
3 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:
4 While 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,
5 What though in solemn silence all Move round this dark terrestrial ball— What though no real voice nor sound Amid their radiant orbs be found—
6 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!
44 L. M. He is clothed with majesty. Psalm 93:1.
Jehovah reigns: he dwells in light, Arrayed with majesty and might; The world, created by his hands, Still on its firm foundation stands.
2 But ere this spacious world was made, Or had its first foundation laid, His throne eternal ages stood, Himself the ever-living God.
3 For ever shall his throne endure; His promise stands for ever sure; And everlasting holiness Becomes the dwellings of his grace.
45 L. M. All thy works praise thee. Psalm 145:10.
Nature, with all her powers shall sing God the Creator, and the King; Nor air, nor earth, nor skies, nor seas Deny the tribute of their praise.
2 Begin to make his glories known, Ye seraphs, who sit near his throne; Tune high your harps, and spread the sound To the creation’s utmost bound.
3 Thus let our flaming zeal employ Our loftiest thoughts, and loudest songs; Nations, pronounce with warmest joy Hosanna, from ten thousand tongues.
4 Yet, mighty God, our feeble frame Attempts in vain to reach thy name; The strongest notes that angels raise Faint in the worship and the praise.
46 L. M. Thy saints shall bless thee. Psalm 145:10.
Greatest of beings, source of life; Sovereign of air, and earth, and sea! All nature feels thy pow’r, and all A silent homage pay to thee.
2 Waked by thy hand, the morning sun Pours forth to thee its earlier rays, And spreads thy glories as it climbs; While raptured worlds look up and praise.
3 The moon, to the deep shades of night, Speaks the mild luster of thy name; While all the stars, that cheer the scene, Thee, the great Lord of light, proclaim.
4 And groves and vales, and rocks and hills, And every flower, and every tree, Ten thousand creatures, warm with life, Have each a grateful song for thee.
5 But man was formed to rise to heaven; And, blest with reason’s clearer light, He views his Maker through his works, And glows with rapture at the sight.
6 Nor can the thousand songs that rise, Whether from air, or earth, or sea, So well repeat Jehovah’s praise, Or raise such sacred harmony.
47 L. M. A hymn of praise.
PART FIRST.
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; From realm to realm the notes shall sound, And heaven’s exulting sons rejoice To bear the full hosanna round.
2 When, starting from the shades of night, Obedient, Lord, to thy behest, The sun arrayed his limbs in light And earth her virgin beauty drest;
3 Thy praise transported nature sung In pealing chorus loud and far; The echoing vault with rapture rung, And shouted every morning star.
4 When bending from his native sky, The Lord of life in mercy came, And laid his bright effulgence by, To bear on earth a human name;
5 The song, by cherub voices raised, Rolled through the dark blue depths above, And Israel’s shepherds heard amazed The seraph notes of peace and love.
PART SECOND.
And shall not man the concert join, For whom this bright creation rose— For whom the fires of morning shine And eve’s still lamps, that woo repose?
2 And shall not he the chorus swell, Whose form the incarnate Godhead wore, Whose guilt, whose fears, whose triumph tell How deep the wounds his Saviour bore?
3 Long as yon glittering arch shall bend, Long as yon orbs in glory roll, Long as the streams of life descend To cheer with hope the fainting soul,
4 Thy praise shall fill each grateful voice, Shall bid the song of rapture sound; And heaven’s exulting sons rejoice To bear the full hosanna round.
48 L. M. Praise of God peculiarly due from man.
There seems a voice in every gale, A tongue in every opening flower, Which tells, O Lord! the wondrous tale Of thy indulgence, love, and power.
2 The birds that rise on soaring wing Appear to hymn their Maker’s praise, And all the mingling sounds of spring To thee a general paean raise.
3 And shall my voice, great God, alone Be mute ’midst nature’s loud acclaim? No; let my heart with answering tone Breathe forth in praise thy holy name.
4 And nature’s debt is small to mine; Thou bad’st her being bounded be, But—matchless proof of love divine— Thou gav’st immortal life to me.
49 L. M. 6 lines God the fountain of being, etc.
Thou art, O God, the life and light Of all the wondrous world we see; Its glow by day, its smile by night, Are but reflections caught from thee; Where’er we turn, thy glories shine, And all things fair and bright are thine.
2 When day, with farewell beam, delays Among the opening clouds of even, And we can almost think we gaze, Through opening vistas, into heaven— Those hues that mark the sun’s decline, So soft, so radiant, Lord, are thine.
3 When night, with wings of starry gloom, O’ershadows all the earth and skies, Like some dark, beauteous bird, whose plume Is sparkling with unnumbered dyes— That sacred gloom, those fires divine, So grand, so countless, Lord, are thine.
4 When youthful Spring around us breathes, Thy Spirit warms her fragrant sigh; And every flower that Summer wreathes Is born beneath thy kindling eye; Where’er we turn, thy glories shine, And all things fair and bright are thine.
50 C. M. God seen in all his works.
I sing th’ almighty power of God, That made the mountains rise, That spread the flowing seas abroad, And built the lofty skies.
2 I sing the wisdom that ordained The sun to rule the day; The moon shines full at his command, And all the stars obey.
3 I sing the goodness of the Lord, That filled the earth with food; He formed the creatures with his word, And then pronounced them good.
4 Lord! how thy wonders are displayed, Where’er I turn my eye! If I survey the ground I tread, Or gaze upon the sky!
5 There’s not a plant or flower below But makes thy glories known; And clouds arise, and tempests blow, By order from thy throne.
6 Creatures that borrow life from thee Are subject to thy care; There’s not a place where we can flee But God is present there.
51 C. M. Bless the Lord, all his works. Psalm 103:22.
Praise ye the Lord, immortal choir! In heavenly hights above, With harp, and voice, and soul of fire, Burning with perfect love.
2 Shine to his glory, worlds of light! Ye million suns of space; Ye moon and glittering stars of night, Running your mystic race.
3 Shout to Jehovah, surging main! In deep eternal roar; Let wave to wave resound the strain, And shore reply to shore.
4 Storm, lightning, thunder, hail and snow, Wild winds that keep his word, With the old mountains far below, Unite to bless the Lord.
5 And round the wide world let it roll, Whilst man shall lead it on; Join, every ransomed human soul, In glorious unison.
52 C. M. God seen in his works.
There’s not a tint that paints the rose Or decks the lily fair, Or streaks the humblest flower that blows, But God has placed it there.
2 There’s not a star whose twinkling light Illumes the distant earth, And cheers the solemn gloom of night But goodness gave it birth.
3 There’s not a cloud whose dews distill Upon the parching clod, And clothe with verdure vale and hill, That is not sent by God.
4 There’s not a place in earth’s vast round, In ocean deep, or air, Where skill and wisdom are not found; For God is everywhere.
5 Around, beneath, below, above, Wherever space extends, There heaven displays its boundless love, And power with goodness blends.
53 C. M. Praise him in the firmament of his power. Psalm 150:1.
Begin my soul the lofty strain, In solemn accents sing A sacred hymn of grateful praise To heaven’s almighty King.
2 Ye curling fountains, as ye roll Your silver waves along, Whisper to all your verdant shores The subject of my song.
3 Retain it long, ye echoing rocks The sacred sound retain, And from your hollow winding caves Return it oft again.
4 Bear it, ye winds, on all your wings, To distant climes away, And round the wide-extended world The lofty theme convey.
5 Take the glad burden of his name, Ye clouds, as you arise, Whether to deck the golden morn Or shade the evening skies.
6 Whilst we, with sacred rapture fired, The great Creator sing, And utter consecrated lays To heaven’s eternal King.
54 C. M. D. The hymn of the seasons.
The heavenly spheres to thee, O God, Attune their evening hymn; All-wise, all-holy, thou art praised In song of seraphim. Unnumbered systems, suns, and worlds, Unite to worship thee, While thy majestic greatness fills Space, time, eternity.
2 Nature, a temple worthy thee, Beams with thy light and love; Whose flowers so sweetly bloom below, Whose stars rejoice above; Whose altars are the mountain cliffs That rise along the shore; Whose anthems, the sublime accord Of storm and ocean roar.
3 Her song of gratitude is sung By spring’s awakening hours; Her summer offers at thy shrine Its earliest, loveliest flowers; Her autumn brings its golden fruits, In glorious luxury given; While winter’s silver hights reflect Thy brightness back to heaven.
55 C. H. M. The ineffable glory of God.
Since o’er thy footstool here below Such radiant gems are strewn, O, what magnificence must glow, Great God, about thy throne! So brilliant here these drops of light— There the full ocean rolls, how bright!
2 If night’s blue curtain of the sky— With thousand stars inwrought, Hung like a royal canopy With glittering diamonds fraught— Be, Lord, thy temple’s outer vail, What splendor at the shrine must dwell!
3 The dazzling sun at noonday hour— Forth from his flaming vase Flinging o’er earth the golden shower Till vale and mountain blaze— But shows, Lord, one beam of thine; What, then, the day where thou dost shine!
4 O, how shall these dim eyes endure That noon of living rays! Or how our spirits, so impure, Upon thy glory gaze! Anoint, Lord, anoint our sight, And fit us for that world of light.
56 S. M. The Lord Jehovah reigns.
The Lord Jehovah reigns, Let all the nations fear; Let sinners tremble at his throne, And saints be humble there.
2 Jesus, the Saviour, reigns; Let earth adore its Lord; Bright cherubs his attendants wait, Swift to fulfill his word.
3 In Zion stands his throne; His honors are divine; His church shall make his wonders known, For there his glories shine.
4 How holy is his name! How fearful is his praise! Justice, and truth, and judgment join In all the works of grace.
57 S. P. M. Jehovah reigns.
The Lord Jehovah reigns, And royal state maintains, His head with awful glories crowned; Arrayed in robes of light, Begirt with sovereign might, And rays of majesty around.
2 Upheld by thy commands, The world securely stands, And skies and stars obey thy word: Thy throne was fixed on high Before the starry sky: Eternal is thy kingdom, Lord!
3 Thy promises are true; Thy grace is ever new; There fixed, thy church shall ne’er remove: Thy saints, with holy fear, Shall in thy courts appear, And sing thine everlasting love.
58 7s. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150.
Praise the Lord, his glories show, Saints within his courts below, Angels round his throne above, All that see and share his love!
2 Earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, Tell his wonders, sing his worth; Age to age, and shore to shore, Praise him, praise him, evermore!
3 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.
4 Strings and voices, hands and hearts, In the concert bear your parts: All that breathe, your Lord adore; Praise him, praise him, evermore!
59 7s, double. Source of being, source of light.
Source of being, source of light, With unfading beauties bright; Thee, when morning greets the skies, Blushing sweet with humid eyes; Thee, when soft declining day Sinks, in purple waves away; Thee, O Parent, will I sing, To thy feet my tribute bring!
2 Yonder azure vault on high, Yonder blue, low, liquid sky; Earth, on its firm basis placed, And with circling waves embraced; All-creating power confess, All their mighty Maker bless; Shaking nature with thy nod, Earth and heaven confess their God,
3 Father, King, whose heavenly face Shines serene upon our race; Mindful of thy guardian care, Slow to punish, prone to spare; We thy majesty adore, We thy well-known aid implore; Not in vain thy aid we call, Nothing want, for thou art all!
60 7s. All the earth doth worship thee.
God eternal, Lord of all! Lowly at thy feet we fall: All the earth doth worship thee, We amid the throng would be.
2 All the holy angels cry, Hail, thrice holy, God Most High, Glorified Apostles raise, Night and day, continual praise.
61 7s, 6 lines. God is love. 1 John 4:8.
Earth, with her ten thousand flowers, Air, with all its beams and showers, Ocean’s infinite expanse, Heaven’s resplendent countenance; All around, and all above, Hath this record—God is love.
2 Sounds among the vales and hills, In the woods and by the rills, Of the breeze and of the bird, By the gentle murmur stirred; All these songs, beneath, above, Have one burden—God is love.
3 All the hopes and fears that start From the fountain of the heart; All the quiet bliss that lies In our human sympathies; These are voices from above, Sweetly whispering—God is love.
GOD: IN PROVIDENCE.
62 L. M. Grace and glory.
The Almighty reigns exalted high O’er all the earth, o’er all the sky; Though clouds and darkness vail his feet, His dwelling is the mercy-seat.
2 O ye that love his holy name, Hate every work of sin and shame; He guards the souls of all his friends, And from the snares of hell defends.
3 Immortal light and joys unknown Are for the saints in darkness sown; Those glorious seeds shall spring and rise, And the bright harvest bless our eyes.
4 Rejoice, ye righteous, and record The sacred honors of the Lord; None but the soul that feels his grace Can triumph in his holiness.
63 L. M. God in all.
There’s nothing bright, above, below, From flowers that bloom to stars that glow, But in its light my soul can see Some features of the Deity.
2 There’s nothing dark below, above, But in its gloom I trace thy love, And meekly wait the moment when Thy touch shall make all bright again.
3 The light, the dark, where’er I look, Shall be one pure and shining book, Where I may read, in words of flame, The glories of thy wondrous name.
64 L. M. Be thou exalted, O my God.
My God, in whom are all the springs Of boundless love and grace unknown, Hide me beneath thy spreading wings, Till the dark cloud is overblown.
2 Up to the heavens I send my cry, The Lord will my desires perform; He sends his angels from the sky, And saves me from the threatening storm,
3 My heart is fixed: my song shall raise Immortal honors to thy name; Awake, my tongue, to sound his praise, My tongue, the glory of my frame.
4 High o’er earth his mercy reigns, And reaches to the utmost sky; His truth to endless years remains, When lower worlds dissolve and die.
5 Be thou exalted, O my God! Above the heavens where angels dwell; Thy power on earth be known abroad, And land to land thy wonders tell.
65 L. M. Unchanging trust.
No change of time shall ever shock My firm affection, Lord, to thee; For thou hast always been my rock, A fortress and defense to me.
2 Thou my deliverer art, my God; My trust is in thy mighty power; Thou art my shield from foes abroad— At home my safeguard and my tower.
3 To thee I will address my prayer, To whom all praise I justly owe; So shall I by thy watchful care, Be guarded from my treacherous foe.
66 L. M. God ever near.
O love divine, that stooped to share Our sharpest pang, our bitterest tear, On thee is cast each earth-born care, We smile at pain while thou art near!
2 Though long the weary way we tread, And sorrow crown each lingering year, No path we shun, no darkness dread, Our hearts still whispering thou art near!
3 When drooping pleasure turns to grief, And trembling faith is changed to fear, The murmuring wind, the quivering leaf, Shall softly tell us, thou art near!
4 On thee we fling our burdening woe, O love divine, for ever dear, Content to suffer while we know, Living and dying, thou art near!
67 L. M. Contentment. Phil. 4:11.
O Lord, how full of sweet content My years of pilgrimage are spent! Where’er I dwell, I dwell with thee, In heaven, in earth, or on the sea.
2 To me remains nor place nor time; My country is in every clime: I can be calm and free from care On any shore, since God is there.
3 While place I seek, or place I shun, The soul finds happiness in none; But with my God to guide my way, ’Tis equal joy to go or stay.
4 Could I be cast where thou art not, That were indeed a dreadful lot; But regions none remote I call, Secure of finding God in all.
68 L. M. 6 lines. Thy will be done.
He sendeth sun, he sendeth shower; Alike they’re needful for the flower; And joys and tears alike are sent To give the soul fit nourishment: As comes to me or cloud or sun, Father, thy will, not mine, be done!
2 Can loving children e’er reprove With murmurs whom they trust and love? Creator, I would ever be A trusting, loving child to thee: As comes to me or cloud or sun, Father, thy will, not mine, be done!
3 O ne’er will I at life repine! Enough that thou hast made it mine; When fall the shadow cold of death, I yet will sing, with parting breath— As comes to me or shade or sun, Father, thy will, not mine, be done!
69 L. M. The wisdom of God.
Wait, O my soul, thy Maker’s will; Tumultuous passions, all be still! Nor let a murmuring thought arise; His ways are just, his counsels wise.
2 He in the thickest darkness dwells, Performs his work, the cause conceals; But, though his methods are unknown, Judgment and truth support his throne.
3 In heaven, and earth, and air, and seas, He executes his firm decrees; And by his saints it stands confest, That what he does is ever best.
4 Wait then, my soul, submissive wait, Prostrate before his awful seat; And, ’midst the terrors of his rod, Trust in a wise and gracious God.
70 L. M. 6 lines. Psalm 23.
The Lord my pasture shall prepare, And feed me with a shepherd’s care; His presence shall my wants supply, And guard me with a watchful eye: My noonday walks he shall attend, And all my midnight hours defend.
2 When in the sultry glebe I faint, Or on the thirsty mountains pant, To fertile vales and dewy meads My weary, wandering steps he leads, Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow, Amid the verdant landscape flow.
3 Though in a bare and rugged way, Through devious, lonely wilds I stray, His bounty shall my pains beguile; The barren wilderness shall smile, With lively greens and herbage crowned, And streams shall murmur all around.
4 Though in the paths of death I tread, With gloomy horrors overspread, My steadfast heart shall fear no ill, For thou, O Lord! art with me still; Thy friendly crook shall give me aid, And guide me through the dismal shade.
71 L. M. Who is like unto thee, O Israel? Deut. 33:29.
With Israel’s God, who can compare? Or who, like Israel, happy are? O, people saved by the Lord, He is our shield and great reward.
2 Upheld by everlasting arms, We are secure from foes and harms; In vain their plots, and false their boasts— Our refuge is the Lord of hosts!
72 L. P. M. Psalm 146.
I’ll praise my Maker while I’ve breath, And when my voice is lost in death, Praise shall employ my nobler powers: My days of praise shall ne’er be past, While life and thought and being last, And immortality endures.
2 Happy the man whose hopes rely On Israel’s God: he made the sky, And earth, and seas, with all their train. His truth for ever stands secure: He saves th’ oppressed, he feeds the poor, And none shall find his promise vain.
3 The Lord pours eyesight on the blind; The Lord supports the fainting mind, He sends the laboring conscience peace: He helps the stranger in distress, The widow and the fatherless, And grants the prisoner sweet release.
4 I’ll praise him while he gives me breath, And when my voice is lost in death, Praise shall employ my nobler powers: My days of praise shall ne’er be past, While life, and thought, and being last, And immortality endures.
73 C. M. God of Bethel. Gen. 20:19-22.
O God of Bethel, by whose hand Thy people still are fed; Who through this weary pilgrimage Hast all our fathers led—
2 Our vows, our prayers we now present Before thy throne of grace; God of our fathers, be the God Of their succeeding race.
3 Through each succeeding path of life, Our wandering footsteps guide; Give us each day our daily bread, And raiment fit provide.
4 O spread thy covering wings around, Till all our wanderings cease, And at our Father’s loved abode Our souls arrive in peace.
74 C. M. God the trust of his saints.
O thou my light, my life, my joy, My glory and my all! Unsent by thee, no good can come, Nor evil can befall.
2 Such are thy schemes of providence, And methods of thy grace, That I may safely trust in thee Through all this wilderness.
3 ’Tis thine outstretched and powerful arm Upholds me in the way; And thy rich bounty well supplies The wants of every day,
4 For such compassion, O my God! Ten thousand thanks are due; For such compassion I esteem Ten thousand thanks too few.
75 C. M. Our dwelling place in all generations. Psalm 90.
Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home!
2 Under the shadow of thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure: Sufficient is thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.
3 Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame, From everlasting thou art God, To endless years the same.
4 A thousand ages in thy sight Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun.
5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten as a dream Dies at the opening day.
6 Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be thou our guard while troubles last, And our eternal home.
76 C. M. The goodness of God.
Sweet is the memory of thy grace, My God, my heavenly King; Let age to age thy righteousness In songs of glory sing.
2 God reigns on high, but ne’er confines His goodness to the skies: Through the whole earth his bounty shines, And every want supplies.
3 With longing eyes thy creatures wait On thee for daily food, Thy liberal hand provides their meat, And fills their mouths with good.
4 How kind are thy compassions, Lord! How slow thine anger moves! But soon he sends his pardoning word To cheer the souls he loves.
5 Creatures, with all their endless race, Thy power and praise proclaim: But saints that taste thy richer grace, Delight to bless thy name.
77 C. M. Your heavenly Father feedeth them. Matt. 6:25-34.
O why despond in life’s dark vale? Why sink to fears a prey? Th’ almighty power can never fail, His love can ne’er decay.
2 Behold the birds that wing the air, Nor sow nor reap the grain; Yet God, with all a father’s care, Relieves when they complain.
3 Behold the lilies of the field: They toil nor labor know; Yet royal robes to theirs must yield, In beauty’s richest glow.
4 That God who hears the raven’s cry, Who decks the lily’s form, Will surely all your wants supply, And shield you in the storm.
5 Seek first his kingdom’s grace to share: Its righteousness pursue: And all that needs your earthly care He will bestow on you.
78 C. M. Gratitude.
When all thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view I’m lost In wonder, love, and praise.
2 Unnumbered comforts on my soul Thy tender care bestowed, Before my infant heart conceived From whom those comforts flowed.
3 When in the slippery paths of youth With heedless steps I ran, Thine arm, unseen, conveyed me safe, And led me up to man.
4 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts My daily thanks employ, Nor is the least a cheerful heart, That tastes those gifts with joy.
5 Through every period of my life Thy goodness I’ll pursue; And after death, in distant worlds, The glorious theme renew.
6 Through all eternity, to thee A joyful song I’ll raise; But O! eternity’s too short To utter all thy praise!
79 C. M. Thy judgments are a great deep. Psalm 36:6.
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps on the sea, And rides upon the storm.
2 Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs, And works his gracious will.
3 You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head.
4 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
5 His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.
6 Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain: God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.
80 C. M. My God, how wonderful thou art.
My God, how wonderful thou art, Thy majesty how bright! How glorious is thy mercy-seat, In depths of burning light!
2 Yet I may love thee too, O Lord, Almighty as thou art; For thou hast stooped to ask of me The love of my poor heart.
3 No earthly father loves like thee, No mother half so mild Bears and forbears, as thou hast done With me, thy sinful child.
4 My God, how wonderful thou art, Thou everlasting Friend! On thee I stay my trusting heart, Till faith in vision end.
81 C. M. The God of my life.
Father of mercies! God of love! My Father and my God! I’ll sing the honors of thy name, And spread thy praise abroad.
2 In every period of my life Thy thoughts of love appear; Thy mercies gild each transient scene, And crown each passing year.
3 In all thy mercies, may my soul A Father’s bounty see; Nor let the gifts thy grace bestows Estrange my heart from thee.
4 Teach me, in times of deep distress, To own thy hand, O God! And in submissive silence learn The lessons of thy rod.
5 Then may I close my eyes in death, Redeemed from anxious fear: For death itself, my God, is life, If thou be with me there.
82 C. M. In the winds. Isaiah 27:8.
Great Ruler of all nature’s frame, We own thy power divine; We hear thy breath in every storm For all the winds are thine.
2 Wide as they sweep their sounding way, They work thy sovereign will; And, awed by the majestic voice, Confusion shall be still.
3 Thy mercy tempers every blast To them that seek thy face, And mingles with the tempest’s roar, The whispers of thy grace.
4 Those gentle whispers let me hear, Till all the tumult cease; And gales of paradise shall lull My weary soul to peace.
83 C. M. His tender mercies are over all his works. Psalm 145:9.
Thy goodness, Lord, our souls confess; Thy goodness we adore: A spring whose blessings never fail; A sea without a shore.
2 Sun, moon, and stars thy love attest In every golden ray; Love draws the curtains of the night, And love brings back the day.
3 Thy bounty every season crowns With all the bliss it yields, With joyful clusters loads the vines, With strengthening grain the fields.
4 But chiefly thy compassion, Lord, Is in the gospel seen; There, like a sun, thy mercy shines, Without a cloud between.
5 There, pardon, peace, and holy joy, Through Jesus’ name are given; He on the cross was lifted high, That we might reign in heaven.
84 C. M. 6 lines. Seeing him who is invisible.
Beyond, beyond that boundless sea, Above that dome of sky, Further than thought itself can flee, Thy dwelling is on high: Yet dear the awful thought to me, That thou, my God, art nigh!
2 Art nigh, and yet my laboring mind Feels after thee in vain, Thee in these works of power to find, Or to thy seat attain. Thy messenger the stormy wind; Thy path, the trackless main:
3 These speak of thee with loud acclaim; They thunder forth thy praise, The glorious honor of thy name, The wonders of thy ways: But thou art not in tempest flame Nor in the noontide blaze.
4 We hear thy voice when thunders roll Through the wide fields of air; The waves obey thy dread control; But still, thou art not there: Where shall I find him, O my soul! Who yet is everywhere?
5 O! not in circling depth or hight, But in the conscious breast, Present to faith, though vailed from sight; There doth his Spirit rest: O, come, thou Presence infinite! And make thy creature blest.
85 C. M. Just and true are thy ways. Rev. 15:3.
Since all the varying scenes of time God’s watchful eye surveys, O, who so wise to choose our lot, Or to appoint our ways!
2 Good when he gives—supremely good— Nor less when he denies; E’en crosses, from his sovereign hand, Are blessings in disguise.
3 Why should we doubt a Father’s love So constant and so kind? To his unerring, gracious will Be every wish resigned.
86 C. M. God is love. 1 John 4:8.
I can not always trace the way Where thou, almighty One, dost move; But I can always, always say, That God is love.
2 When fear her chilling mantle flings O’er earth, my soul to heaven above, As to her native home, upsprings; For God is love.
3 When mystery clouds my darkened path, I’ll check my dread, my doubts reprove; In this my soul sweet comfort hath, That God is love.
4 O may this truth my heart employ, And every gloomy thought remove; It fills my soul with boundless joy, That God is love!
87 C. M. Thou hast taught me from my youth. Psalm 71.
Almighty Father of mankind! On thee my hopes remain; And when the day of trouble comes, I shall not trust in vain.
2 In early years, thou wast my guide, And of my youth the friend; And, as my days began with thee, With thee my days shall end.
3 I know the Power in whom I trust, The arm on which I lean; He will my Saviour ever be, Who has my Saviour been.
4 Thou wilt not cast me off, when age And evil days descend; Thou wilt not leave me in despair, To mourn my latter end.
5 Therefore, in life I’ll trust in thee; In death I will adore; And after death will sing thy praise, When time shall be no more.
88 C. M. All things are yours. 1 Cor. 3:21.
Since God is mine, then present things And things to come are mine; Yea, Christ, his word, and Spirit, too, And glory all divine.
2 Since he is mine, then from his love He every trouble sends; All things are working for my good, And bliss his rod attends.
3 Since he is mine, I need not fear The rage of earth and hell; He will support my feeble power, Their utmost force repel.
4 Since he is mine, let friends forsake, Let wealth and honors flee: Sure, he who giveth me himself, Is more than these to me.
5 Since he is mine, I’ll boldly pass Through death’s dark, lonely vale: He is my comfort and my stay, When heart and flesh shall fail.
6 And now, O Lord, since thou art mine, What can I wish beside? My soul shall at the fountain live, When all the streams are dried.
89 C. M. Providence.
Let the whole race of creatures lie In dust before the Lord! Whate’er his powerful hand has formed, He governs with a word.
2 Ten thousand ages ere the skies Were into motion brought, All the long years and worlds to come Stood present to his thought.
3 There’s not a sparrow, or a worm, O’erlooked in his decrees: He raises monarchs to a throne, Or sinks with equal ease.
4 If light attend the course I go, ’Tis he provides the rays; And ’tis his hand that hides the sun, If darkness cloud my days.
5 Trusting his wisdom and his love, I would not wish to know What, in the book of his decrees, Awaits me here below.
6 Be this alone my fervent prayer: Whate’er my lot may be, Or joys, or sorrows—may they form My soul for heaven and thee!
90 C. M. Majesty of God. Psalm 18.
The Lord descended from above And bowed the heavens most high, And underneath his feet he cast The darkness of the sky.
2 On cherubim and seraphim Full royally he rode; And on the wings of mighty winds, Came flying all abroad.
3 He sat serene upon the floods, Their fury to restrain; And he, as sovereign Lord and King, For evermore shall reign.
91 S. M. Now we know in part. 1 Cor. 13:12.
Thy way is in the sea; Thy paths we can not trace; Nor solve, O Lord, the mystery Of thy unbounded grace.
2 Here the dark vails of sense Our captive souls surround; Mysterious deeps of providence Our wandering thoughts confound.
3 As through a glass we see The wonders of thy love; How little do we know of thee, Or of the joys above.
4 In part we know thy will, And bless thee for the sight; Soon will thy love the rest reveal In glory’s clearer light.
5 With joy shall we survey Thy providence and grace; And spend an everlasting day In wonder, love and praise.
92 S. M. He careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7.
How gentle God’s commands! How kind his precepts are! Come, cast your burdens on the Lord, And trust his constant care.
2 His bounty will provide, His saints securely dwell; That hand which bears creation up, Shall guard his children well.
3 Why should this anxious load Press down your weary mind? O, seek your heavenly Father’s throne, And peace and comfort find.
4 His goodness stands approved, Unchanged from day to day; I’ll drop my burden at his feet, And bear a song away.
93 S. M. Praise for mercies.
O bless the Lord, my soul! Let all within me join, And aid my tongue to bless his name Whose favors are divine.
2 O bless the Lord, my soul! Nor let his mercies lie Forgotten in unthankfulness, And without praises die.
3 ’Tis he forgives thy sins; ’Tis he relieves thy pain; ’Tis he that heals thy sicknesses, And gives thee strength again.
4 He crowns thy life with love, When rescued from the grave; He that redeemed our souls from death, Hath boundless power to save.
5 He fills the poor with good; He gives the sufferers rest: The Lord hath justice for the proud, And mercy for the oppressed.
6 His wondrous works and ways He made by Moses known; But sent the world his truth and grace By his beloved Son.
94 S. M. Psalm 23.
The Lord my shepherd is; I shall be well supplied: Since he is mine, and I am his, What can I want beside?
2 He leads me to the place Where heavenly pasture grows, Where living waters gently pass, And full salvation flows.
3 If e’er I go astray, He doth my soul reclaim, And guides me in his own right way, For his most holy name.
4 While he affords his aid, I can not yield to fear; Tho’ I should walk thro’ death’s dark shade, My shepherd’s with me there.
95 S. M. His mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 103.
My soul, repeat his praise Whose mercies are so great; Whose anger is so slow to rise, So ready to abate.
2 High as the heavens are raised Above the ground we tread, So far the riches of his grace Our highest thoughts exceed.
3 His power subdues our sins, And his forgiving love, Far as the east is from the west, Doth all our guilt remove.
4 The pity of the Lord, To those that fear his name, Is such as tender parents feel: He knows our feeble frame.
5 Our days are as the grass, Or like the morning flower: If one sharp blast sweeps o’er the field, It withers in an hour.
6 But thy compassions, Lord, To endless years endure; And children’s children ever find Thy words of promise sure.
96 S. M. The fountain.
God is the fountain whence Ten thousand blessings flow; To him my life, my health, and friends, And every good, I owe.
2 The comforts he affords Are neither few nor small; He is the source of fresh delights, My portion and my all.
3 He fills my heart with joy, My lips attunes for praise; And to his glory I’ll devote The remnant of my days.
97 7s, double. Psalm 136.
Let us with a joyful mind Praise the Lord, for he is kind; For his mercies shall endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. Let us sound his name abroad, For of gods he is the God Who by wisdom did create Heaven’s expanse and all its state;
2 Did the solid earth ordain How to rise above the main; Who, by his commanding might, Filled the new-made world with light; Caused the golden-tresséd sun All the day his course to run; And the moon to shine by night, ’Mid her spangled sisters bright.
3 All his creatures God doth feed, His full hand supplies their need; Let us therefore warble forth His high majesty and worth. He his mansion hath on high, ’Bove the reach of mortal eye; And his mercies shall endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.
98 P. M. Thou art my hiding place. Psalm 32:7.
To thee, O God! to thee, With lowly heart I bend; Lord, to my prayer attend, And haste to succor me, Thou never-failing friend! For seas of trouble o’er me roll, And ’whelm with tears my sinking soul.
2 On thee, O God! on thee, With humble hope I’ll lean; Thou who hast ever been A hiding place to me In many a troubled scene; Whose heart, with love and mercy fraught, Back to the fold thy wanderer brought.
99 8s & 7s. The elder brother.
Yes, for me, for me he careth With a brother’s tender care; Yes, with me, with me he shareth Every burden, every fear.
2 Yes, o’er me, o’er me he watcheth, Ceaseless watcheth, night and day; Yes, e’en me, e’en me he snatcheth From the perils of the way.
3 Yes, for me he standeth pleading At the mercy-seat above; Ever for me interceding, Constant in untiring love.
4 Yes, in me abroad he sheddeth Joys unearthly, love and light; And to cover me he spreadeth His paternal wing of might.
5 Yes, in me, in me he dwelleth; I in him, and he in me! And my empty soul he filleth, Here and through eternity.
6 Thus I wait for his returning, Singing all the way to heaven: Such the joyful song of morning Such the tranquil song of even.
100 10s & 11s. Jehovah jireh. Gen. 22:14.
Though troubles assail, and dangers affright, Though friends should all fail, and foes all unite, Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, The scripture assures us, The Lord will provide.
2 The birds without barn or storehouse are fed; From them let us learn to trust for our bread: His saints what is fitting shall ne’er be denied, So long as ’tis written, The Lord will provide.
3 We may, like the ships, by tempests be tossed On perilous deeps, but can not be lost: Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide, The promise engages, The Lord will provide.
4 His call we obey, like Abrah’m of old, Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold: For though we are strangers, we have a good guide, And trust, in all dangers, The Lord will provide.
5 No strength of our own, or goodness, we claim; But since we have known the Saviour’s great name, In this our strong tower for safety we hide— The Lord is our power—The Lord will provide.
6 When life sinks apace, and death is in view, The word of his grace shall comfort us through: Not fearing or doubting, with Christ on our side, We hope to die shouting, The Lord will provide.
101 8s & 7s. Praise the King of heaven.
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; To his feet thy tribute bring; Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Who like me his praise should sing? Praise him! praise him! Praise the everlasting King!
2 Praise him for his grace and favor To our fathers in distress; Praise him, still the same for ever: Slow to chide, and swift to bless; Praise him! praise him! Glorious in his faithfulness!
3 Father-like he tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame he knows; In his hands he gently bears us— Rescues us from all our foes; Praise him! praise him! Widely as his mercy flows!
4 Angels, help us to adore him: Ye behold him face to face; Sun and moon, bow down before him; Dwellers all in time and space, Praise him! praise him! Praise with us the God of grace!
102 10s & 11s. God glorious.
O, worship the King all-glorious above, And gratefully sing his wonderful love— Our shield and defender, the ancient of days, Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.
2 O tell of his might, and sing of his grace, Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space; His chariots of wrath the deep thunder-clouds form, And dark is his path on the wings of the storm.
3 Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light, It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
4 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail, Thy mercies how tender! how firm to the end, Our Maker, Defender, Preserver, and Friend.
5 O Father Almighty, how faithful thy love! While angels delight to hymn thee above, The humbler creation, though feeble their lays, With true adoration shall lisp to thy praise.
103 11s. Psalm 23.
The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know; I feed in green pastures, safe folded I rest; He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow, Restores me when wandering, redeems when opprest.
2 Through the valley and shadow of death tho’ I stray, Since thou art my guardian, no evil I fear; Thy rod shall defend me, thy staff be my stay; No harm can befall, with my comforter near.
3 In the midst of affliction my table is spread; With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o’er; With perfume and oil thou anointest my head; O what shall I ask of thy providence more?
4 Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God! Still follow my steps till I meet thee above; I seek, by the path which my forefathers trod, Through the land of their sojourn, thy kingdom of love.
104 9s & 6s. Fear not, little flock. Luke 12:32.
Yes! our Shepherd leads with gentle hand, Through the dark pilgrim-land, His flock, so dearly bought, So long and fondly sought. Hallelujah!
2 When in clouds and mist the weak ones stray, He shows again the way, And points to them afar A bright and guiding star. Hallelujah!
3 Tenderly he watches from on high With an unwearied eye; He comforts and sustains, In all their fears and pains. Hallelujah!
4 Through the parched, dreary desert he will guide To the green fountain-side: Through the dark, stormy night, To a calm land of light. Hallelujah!
5 Yes! his “little flock” are ne’er forgot; His mercy changes not: Our home is safe above, Within his arms of love. Hallelujah!
IN REDEMPTION.
105 L. M. God only wise.
Awake, my tongue; thy tribute bring To him who gave thee power to sing; Praise him who is all praise above, The source of wisdom and of love.
2 How vast his knowledge! how profound! A depth where all our thoughts are drowned; The stars he numbers, and their names He gives to all those heavenly flames.
3 Through each bright world above, behold Ten thousand thousand charms unfold; Earth, air, and mighty seas combine To speak his wisdom all divine.
4 But in redemption, O what grace! Its wonders, O, what thought can trace! Here, wisdom shines for ever bright; Praise him, my soul, with sweet delight.
106 L. M. Grace.
My God, how excellent thy grace! Whence all our hope and comfort springs; The sons of Adam in distress, Fly to the shadow of thy wings.
2 Life, like a fountain rich and free, Springs from the presence of my Lord, And in thy light our souls shall see The glories promised in thy word.
107 L. M. Creation and redemption.
Give to our God immortal praise; Mercy and truth are all his ways: Wonders of grace to God belong; Repeat his mercies in your song.
2 Give to the Lord of lords renown, The King of kings with glory crown: His mercies ever shall endure, When lords and kings are known no more.
3 He built the earth, he spread the sky, And fixed the starry lights on high: Wonders of grace to God belong; Repeat his mercies in your song.
4 He fills the sun with morning light, He bids the moon direct the night: His mercies ever shall endure, When suns and moons shall shine no more.
5 He sent his Son with power to save From guilt, and darkness, and the grave: Wonders of grace to God belong; Repeat his mercies in your song.
6 Through this vain world he guides our feet, And leads us to his heavenly seat: His mercies ever shall endure, When this vain world shall be no more.
108 L. M. The reconciliation.
O love, beyond conception great, That formed the vast, stupendous plan, Where all divine perfections meet To reconcile rebellious man:
2 There wisdom shines in fullest blaze, And justice all her right maintains— Astonished angels stoop to gaze, While mercy o’er the guilty reigns.
3 Yes, mercy reigns, and justice too; In Christ they both harmonious meet; He paid to justice all her due; And now he fills the mercy-seat.
109 L. M. What is man? Psalm 8.
Lord, what is man? Extremes how wide In this mysterious nature join! The flesh to worms and dust allied, The soul immortal and divine.
2 Divine at first, a holy flame Kindled by heaven’s inspiring breath; Till sin, with power prevailing, came; Then followed darkness, shame and death.
3 But Jesus, O amazing grace! Assumed our nature as his own, Obeyed and suffered in our place, Then took it with him to his throne.
4 Now, what is man, when grace reveals, The virtue of a Saviour’s blood? Again a life divine he feels, Despises earth and walks with God.
5 And what, in yonder realms above, Is ransomed man ordained to be! With honor, holiness, and love, No seraph more adorned than he.
6 Nearest the throne, and first in song, Man shall his hallelujahs raise; While wondering angels round him throng And swell the chorus of his praise.
110 L. M. Love—that passeth knowledge.
O love of God, how strong and true! Eternal and yet ever new: Above all price, and still unbought; Beyond all knowledge and all thought.
2 O, wide-embracing, wondrous love, We read thee in the sky above; We read thee in the earth below, In seas that swell and streams that flow.
3 We read thee best in him who came To bear for us the cross of shame; Sent by the Father from on high, Our life to live, our death to die.
4 O love of God, our shield and stay Through all the perils of the way; Eternal love, in thee we rest, For ever safe, for ever blest.
111 C. M. Nature and grace.
Father! how wide thy glory shines! How high thy wonders rise! Known through the earth by thousand signs, By thousand through the skies.
2 Those mighty orbs proclaim thy power, Their motions speak thy skill; And on the wings of every hour, We read thy patience still.
3 But when we view thy strange design To save rebellious worms, Where justice and compassion join In their divinest forms,
4 Our thoughts are lost in reverent awe, We love and we adore; The brightest angel never saw So much of God before.
5 Here the whole Deity is known; But thought can never trace Which of the glories brighter shine, The justice, or the grace.
6 Now the full glories of the Lamb Adorn the heavenly plains: Bright seraphs learn Immanuel’s name, And try their choicest strains.
7 O! may I bear some humble part In that immortal song; Wonder and joy shall tune my heart, And love command my tongue.
112 C. M. Heaven and earth are full of his glory.
Eternal Wisdom, thee we praise; Thee all thy creatures sing: While with thy name, rocks, hills, and seas, And heaven’s high palace, ring.
2 Thy hand, how wide it spread the sky; How glorious to behold! Tinged with a blue of heavenly dye, And decked with sparkling gold.
3 Almighty power, and equal skill, Shine through the worlds abroad, Our souls with vast amazement fill, And speak the builder, God.
4 But still the wonders of thy grace Our warmer passions move; Here we behold our Saviour’s face, And here adore his love.
113 C. M. God is love.
Come, ye that know and fear the Lord, And raise your souls above; Let every heart and voice accord To sing that—God is love.
2 This precious truth his word declares, And all his mercies prove; While Christ, th’ atoning Lamb, appears, To show that—God is love.
3 Behold his loving-kindness waits For those who from him rove, And calls for mercy reach their hearts, To teach them—God is love.
4 O! may we all, while here below, This best of blessings prove; Till warmer hearts, in brighter worlds, Shall shout that—God is love.
114 C. M. No joy without God. Psalm 73.
God! my supporter and my hope, My help for ever near, Thine arm of mercy held me up When sinking in despair.
2 Thy counsels, Lord, shall guide my feet Through this dark wilderness; Thy hand conduct me near thy seat, To dwell before thy face.
3 Were I in heaven without my God, ’Twould be no joy to me; And while this earth is my abode, I long for none but thee.
4 What if the springs of life were broke, And flesh and heart should faint? God is my soul’s eternal rock, The strength of every saint.
115 8s, 7s & 4. Jehovah my strength.
Guide 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, Feed me till I want no more.
2 Open thou the crystal fountain Whence the healing waters flow; Let the fiery, cloudy pillar, Lead me all my journey through; Strong Deliverer, Be thou still my strength and shield.
3 When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid the swelling stream divide; Death of death, and hell’s destruction, Land me safe on Canaan’s side! Songs of praises I will ever give to thee.
116 8s & 7s. God is light and love.
God is love; his mercy brightens All the path in which we move! Bliss he grants, and woe he lightens; God is light, and God is love.
2 Chance and change are busy ever; Worlds decay and ages move; But his mercy waneth never; God is light, and God is love.
3 E’en the hour that darkest seemeth, His unchanging goodness proves; From the cloud his brightness streameth; God is light, and God is love.
4 He our earthly cares entwineth With his comforts from above; Everywhere his glory shineth; God is light, and God is love.
CHRIST: THE NATIVITY.
117 L. M. Luke 2:11.
When Jordan hushed his waters still, And silence slept on Zion’s hill, When Bethlehem’s shepherds, thro’ the night, Watched o’er their flocks by starry light—
2 Hark! from the midnight hills around, A voice of more than mortal sound, In distant hallelujahs stole, Wild murmuring o’er the raptured soul.
3 On wheels of light, on wings of flame, The glorious hosts of Zion came; High heaven with songs of triumph rung, While thus they struck their harps and sung:
4 “O Zion, lift thy raptured eye; The long-expected hour is nigh; The joys of nature rise again; The Prince of Salem comes to reign.
5 “See, Mercy, from her golden urn, Pours a rich stream to them that mourn; Behold, she binds with tender care The bleeding bosom of despair.
6 “He comes to cheer the trembling heart: Bids Satan and his host depart; Again the day-star gilds the gloom, Again the bowers of Eden bloom.”
118 L. M. Genesis 3:15.
Behold the woman’s promised seed! Behold the great Messiah come! Behold the prophets all agreed To give him the superior room!
2 Abrah’m, the saint, rejoiced of old, When visions of the Lord he saw; Moses, the man of God, foretold This great fulfiller of his law.
3 The types bore witness to his name, Obtained their chief design, and ceased— The incense and the bleeding lamb, The ark, the altar, and the priest.
4 Predictions in abundance join To pour their witness on his head: Jesus, we bow before thy throne, And own thee as the promised seed.
HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS.
119 C. H. M. Glory to God—good will to men.
In hymns of praise, eternal God, When thy creating hand Stretched the blue arch of heaven abroad, And meted sea and land, The morning stars together sung, And shouts of joy from angels rung.
2 Than earth’s prime hour, more joyous far Was the eventful morn, When the bright beam of Bethlehem’s star Announced a Saviour born! Then sweeter strains from heaven began “Glory to God—good will to man.”
3 Babe of the manger! can it be? Art thou the Son of God? Shall subject nations bow the knee, And kings obey thy nod? Shall thrones and monarchs prostrate fall Before the tenant of a stall?
4 ’Tis he! the hymning seraphs cry, While hovering drawn to earth; ’Tis he, the shepherds’ songs reply; Hail! hail! Immanuel’s birth; The rod of peace those hands shall bear, That brow a crown of glory wear!
5 ’Tis he! the eastern sages sing, And spread their golden hoard; ’Tis he! the hills of Zion ring, Hosanna to the Lord! The Prince of long prophetic years To-day in Bethlehem appears!
120 C. M. double. Song of the angels.
It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold: “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.
2 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 blesséd angels sing.
3 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!
4 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!
5 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 splendor fling, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.
121 C. M. Mortals, awake.
Mortals! awake, with angels join, And chant the solemn lay; Love, joy, and gratitude combine To hail the auspicious day.
2 In heaven the rapturous song began, And sweet seraphic fire Through all the shining legions ran, And swept the sounding lyre.
3 The theme, the song, the joy was new To each angelic tongue; Swift through the realms of light it flew, And loud the echo rung.
4 Down through the portals of the sky The pealing anthem ran, And angels flew with eager joy To bear the news to man.
5 Hark! the cherubic armies shout, And glory leads the song, Peace and salvation swell the note Of all the heavenly throng.
6 With joy the chorus we’ll repeat, “Glory to God on high! Good will and peace are now complete— Jesus was born to die!”
7 Hail, Prince of life! for ever hail! Redeemer—brother—friend! Though earth, and time, and life shall fail, Thy praise shall never end.
122 C. M. Isaiah 9:6.
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.
2 His name shall be the Prince of Peace, For evermore adored, The Wonderful, the Counsellor, The great and mighty Lord.
3 His power, increasing, still shall spread; His reign no end shall know; Justice shall guard his throne above, And peace abound below.
123 C. M. The day-spring from on high.
Calm on the listening ear of night, Come heaven’s melodious strains, Where wild Judea stretches far Her silver-mantled plains.
2 Celestial choirs, from courts above, Shed sacred glories there, And angels, with their sparkling lyres, Make music on the air.
3 The answering hills of Palestine Send back the glad reply; And greet, from all their holy hights, The day-spring from on high.
4 O’er the blue depths of Galilee There comes a holier calm, And Sharon waves, in solemn praise, Her silent groves of palm.
5 “Glory to God!” the sounding skies Loud with their anthems ring— “Peace to the earth, good will to men, From heaven’s eternal King.”
6 Light on thy hill, Jerusalem! The Saviour now is born! And bright on Bethlehem’s joyous plains Breaks the first Advent morn.
124 C. M. The Advent.
Hark, the glad sound! the Saviour comes! The Saviour promised long! Let every heart prepare a throne, And every voice a song.
2 He comes, the prisoner to release In Satan’s bondage held; The gates of brass before him burst, The iron fetters yield.
3 He comes, from thickest films of vice To clear the mental ray, And on the eyeballs of the blind To pour celestial day.
4 He comes, the broken heart to bind, The bleeding soul to cure, And with the treasures of his grace To enrich the humble poor.
5 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, The welcome shall proclaim, And heaven’s eternal arches ring With thy belovéd name.
125 C. M. Joy to the world.
Joy to the world; the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King: Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing.
2 Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the sounding joy.
3 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.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love.
126 7s. Christ is born in Bethlehem. Luke 2.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.”
2 Joyful, all ye nations, rise; Join the triumphs of the skies; With th’ angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
3 See, 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.
4 Vailed in flesh the Godhead see! Hail, th’ incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel!
5 Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings.
6 Let us then with angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled!”
127 7s. The wonderful.
Bright and joyful was the morn When to us a child was born; From the highest realms of heaven Unto us a Son was given.
2 On his shoulder he shall bear Power and majesty—and wear On his vesture and his thigh Names most awful—names most high.
3 Wonderful in counsel he, Christ th’ incarnate Deity; Sire of ages ne’er to cease, King of kings, and Prince of Peace.
4 Come and worship at his feet, Yield to him the homage meet; From his manger to his throne, Homage due to God alone.
128 7s. Watchman, what of the night? Isaiah 21:11.
Watchman, tell us of the night, What its signs of promise are. Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s hights See that glory-beaming star!
2 Watchman, does its beauteous ray Aught of joy or hope foretell? Traveler, yes: it brings the day, Promised day of Israel.
3 Watchman, tell us of the night; Higher yet that star ascends. Traveler, blessedness and light, Peace and truth, its course portends.
4 Watchman, will its beams alone Gild the spot that gave them birth? Traveler, ages are its own: See! it bursts o’er all the earth!
5 Watchman, tell us of the night, For the morning seems to dawn. Traveler, darkness takes its flight, Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
6 Watchman, let thy wandering cease; Hie thee to thy quiet home. Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace, Lo! the Son of God is come!
129 7s. A Bethlehem hymn.
He has come! the Christ of God; Left for us his glad abode; Stooping from his throne of bliss, To this darksome wilderness.
2 He has come—the Prince of Peace— Come to bid our sorrows cease; Come to scatter, with his light, All the shadows of our night.
3 He, the mighty King, has come! Making the poor earth his home Come to bear sin’s heavy load; Son of David, Son of God.
4 He has come, whose name of grace Speaks deliverance to our race; Left for us his glad abode; Son of Mary, Son of God!
5 Unto us a child is born! Ne’er has earth beheld a morn Numbered in the morns of time, Half so glorious in its prime.
6 Unto us a Son is given! He has come from God’s own heaven; Bringing with him from above, Holy peace and holy love.
130 7s. Immanuel.
God with us! O glorious name! Let it shine in endless fame; God and man in Christ unite— O mysterious depth and hight!
2 God with us! amazing love Brought him from his courts above; Now, ye saints, his grace admire, Swell the song with holy fire.
3 God with us! O wondrous grace! Let us see him face to face; That we may Immanuel sing, As we ought, our God and King.
131 P. M. Silent night.
Silent night! hallowed night! Land and deep silent sleep; Softly glitters bright Bethlehem’s star, Beckoning Israel’s eye from afar Where the Saviour is born.
2 Silent night! hallowed night! On the plain wakes the strain, Sung by heavenly harbingers bright, Fraught with tidings of boundless delight: Christ the Saviour has come.
3 Silent night! hallowed night! Earth awake, silence break, High your anthems of melody raise, Heaven and earth in full chorus of praise: Peace for ever shall reign.
132 H. M. Good tidings of great joy. Luke 2.
Hark! hark! the notes of joy Roll o’er the heavenly plains, And seraphs find employ For their sublimest strains: Some new delight in heaven is known; Loud sound the harps around the throne.
2 Hark! hark! the sound draws nigh— The joyful host descends; The Lord forsakes the sky, To earth his footsteps bends: He comes to bless our fallen race; He comes with messages of grace.
3 Bear, bear the tidings round! Let every mortal know What love in God is found, What pity he can show: Ye winds that blow, ye waves that roll, Bear the glad news from pole to pole.
4 Strike, strike the harps again, To great Immanuel’s name! Arise, ye sons of men, And all his grace proclaim: Angels and men, wake every string, ’Tis God the Saviour’s praise we sing!
133 8s & 7s. Shepherds, hail the wondrous stranger.
Shepherds! hail the wondrous stranger, Now to Bethlehem speed your way; Lo! in yonder humble manger, Christ, the Lord, is born to-day.
2 Bright the star of your salvation, Pointing to his rude abode; Rapturous news for every nation: Now, behold the Son of God.
3 Love eternal moved the Saviour, Thus to lay his radiance by; Blessings on the Lamb for ever; Glory be to God on high.
134 8s & 7s. Chorus of the angels. Luke 2:14.
Hark! what joyful notes are swelling On the quiet midnight air! ’Tis the voice of angels telling, Jesus comes our sins to bear! Now the music, in its gladness, Breaks and swells, and glides along! Now, earth, waking from her sadness, Joins the chorus of the song! Glory in the highest heaven! Peace on earth, good-will to man! Let all praise to God be given, For Redemption’s glorious plan!
2 See all darkness disappearing, As the star begins to rise! Sin and death stand trembling, fearing, As the light falls on their eyes: Now, again, the earth rejoices, Satan’s powerful kingdom shakes, As, from all the heavenly voices, Louder still the chorus breaks! Glory in the highest heaven! etc.
3 Rise and shine, Star of Salvation! Spread thy beams o’er all the earth, Till each distant land and nation Owns and speaks thy matchless worth! Till all tongues, thy praises singing, Shall thy mighty wonders tell, Till all heaven with joy is ringing, As our hearts the chorus swell: Glory in the highest heaven! etc.
4 When our days on earth are ended, And we rise to worlds above, Then our songs shall all be blended In one song of pardoning love! Then we’ll tell the wondrous story, And our blesséd Lord adore; In our home of bliss and glory We shall sing for evermore! Glory in the highest heaven! Sound aloud the joyful strain! Glory to the Lamb be given, Who for sinners once was slain!
135 8s & 7s. Hark! what mean those holy voices?
Hark! what mean those holy voices, Sweetly sounding through the skies? Lo! th’ angelic host rejoices! Heavenly hallelujahs rise.
2 Hear them tell the wondrous story, Hear them chant in hymns of joy— “Glory to the highest, glory! Glory be to God most high!
3 “Peace on earth, good-will from heaven, Reaching far as man is found; Souls redeemed and sins forgiven!” Loud our golden harps shall sound.
4 “Christ is born, the great anointed; Heaven and earth his praises sing; O receive whom God appointed, For your Prophet, Priest, and King!
5 “Haste, ye mortals, to adore him; Learn his name, and taste his joy; Till in heaven ye sing before him— “‘Glory be to God most high!’”
136 8s & 7s. Christ, the Saviour, born.
Hail, thou long-expected Jesus! Born to set thy people free; From our sins and fears release us, Let us find our rest in thee.
2 Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the saints, thou art; Longdesired of every nation, Joy of every waiting heart.
3 Born, thy people to deliver— Born a child, yet Christ, our King— Born to reign in us for ever— Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
4 By thine own eternal Spirit, Rule in all our hearts alone; By thine all-sufficient merit, Raise us to thy glorious throne.
137 8s, 7s & 4. Come and worship.
Angels, from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth, Ye who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth: Come and worship, Worship Christ, the new-born King.
2 Shepherds, in the field abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light; Come and worship, Worship Christ, the new-born King.
3 Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great desire of nations; Ye have seen his natal star! Come and worship, Worship Christ, the new-born King.
4 Saints, before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear, Suddenly, the Lord descending, In his temple shall appear; Come and worship, Worship Christ, the new-born King.
138 11s & 10s. Hail the blest morn.
Hail the blest morn! when the great Mediator Down from the regions of glory descends! Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger; Lo! for your guide the bright angel attends! CHORUS. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thy aid: Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
2 Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining, Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall: Angels adore him in slumbers reclining, Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all!
3 Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion, Odors of Eden, and offerings divine; Gems from the mountain, and pearls from the ocean, Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?
4 Vainly we offer earth’s richest oblation Vainly with gold would his favor secure; Richer, by far, is the heart’s adoration, Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor!
139 12s. Hallelujah to the Lamb.
From the regions of love, lo! an angel descended, And told the strange news how the babe was attended; Go, shepherds, and visit the wonderful stranger; See yonder bright star! there’s your Lord in a manger. CHORUS. Hallelujah to the Lamb who has purchased our pardon, We’ll praise him again when we pass over Jordan!
2 Glad tidings I bring unto you and each nation! Glad tidings of joy—now behold your salvation; Then suddenly multitudes raise their glad voices, And shout hallelujahs, while heaven rejoices!
3 Now glory to God in the highest be given, All glory to God is re-echoed from heaven; Around the whole earth let us tell the glad story, And sing of his love, his salvation, and glory.
4 O Jesus! ride on, thy kingdom is glorious; Over sin, death, and hell, thou’lt make us victorious! Thy banner unfurl—let the nations surrender, And own thee their Saviour, their Lord and Defender!
140 P. M. Glory to God in the highest.
Hark! from the world on high Glory to God! Now swells along the sky Glory to God! Songs, like sweet notes of praise, Pour forth in rapturous lays, As all the voices raise Glory to God!
2 Hear how the angels sing Glory to God! Through all the heavens ring Glory to God! Now, let each heart on earth Sing of the Saviour’s birth, Telling his matchless worth, Glory to God!
LIFE AND MINISTRY.
141 L. M. His teaching.
How sweetly flowed the gospel sound From lips of gentleness and grace, When listening thousands gathered round, And joy and gladness filled the place!
2 From heaven he came, of heaven he spoke, To heaven he led his followers’ way; Dark clouds of gloomy night he broke, Unvailing an immortal day.
3 “Come, wanderers, to my Father’s home: Come, all ye weary ones, and rest!” Yes, sacred Teacher, we will come, Obey thee, love thee, and be blest.
142 L. M. 6 lines. His baptism.
In Jordan’s tide the Baptist stands, Immersing the repenting Jews; The Son of God the rite demands, Nor dares the holy man refuse: Jesus descends beneath the wave, The emblem of his future grave!
2 Wonder, ye heavens! your Maker lies In deeps concealed from human view; Ye saints, behold him sink and rise; A fit example this for you: The sacred record, while you read, Calls you to imitate the deed.
3 But, lo! from yonder opening skies, What beams of dazzling glory spread! Dove-like the Holy Spirit flies, And lights on the Redeemer’s head: Amazed they see the power divine Around the Saviour’s temples shine.
4 But, hark! my soul, hark, and adore! What sounds are those that roll along? Not loud, like Sinai’s awful roar; But soft and sweet as Gabriel’s song: “This is my well-belovéd Son, I see well-pleased what he hath done.”
5 Thus the eternal Father spoke, Who shakes creation with a nod, Through parting skies the accents broke, And bid us hear the Son of God; O hear the awful word to-day; Hear, all ye nations, and obey!
143 L. M. His holy life.
And is the gospel peace and love? Such let our conversation be: The serpent blended with the dove— Wisdom and meek simplicity.
2 Whene’er the angry passions rise, And tempt our thoughts or tongues to strife On Jesus let us fix our eyes, Bright pattern of the Christian life.
3 O how benevolent and kind! How mild! how ready to forgive! Be his the temper of our mind, And his the rules by which we live.
4 To do his heavenly Father’s will Was his employment and delight; Humility, and love, and zeal, Shone through his life divinely bright.
5 Dispensing good where’er he came, The labors of his life were love— O! if we love the Saviour’s name, Let his divine example move.
6 But ah! how blind, how weak we are! How frail, how apt to turn aside! Lord, we depend upon thy care; O may thy spirit be our guide!
7 Thy fair example may we trace, To teach us what we ought to be; Make us, by thy transforming grace, Lord Jesus, daily more like thee.
144 L. M. The meekness and gentleness of Christ. 2 Cor. 10:1.
How beauteous were the marks divine, That in thy meekness used to shine; That lit thy lonely pathway, trod In wondrous love, O Son of God!
2 O, who like thee—so calm, so bright, So pure, so made to live in light? O, who like thee did ever go So patient through a world of woe?
3 O, who like thee so humbly bore The scorn, the scoffs of men, before? So meek, forgiving, godlike, high, So glorious in humility?
4 The bending angels stooped to see, The lisping infant clasp thy knee, And smile, as in a father’s eye, Upon thy mild divinity.
5 And death, which sets the prisoner free, Was pang, and scoff, and scorn to thee; Yet love through all thy torture glowed, And mercy with thy life-blood flowed.
6 O, in thy light be mine to go, Illuming all my way of woe; And give me ever on the road To trace thy footsteps, Son of God!
145 L. M. His miracles.
Behold the blind their sight receive! Behold the dead awake and live! The dumb speak wonders, and the lame Leap like the hart, and bless his name!
2 Thus doth the Holy Spirit own And seal the mission of the Son; The Father vindicates his cause, While he hangs bleeding on the cross.
3 He dies: the heavens in mourning stood; He rises by the power of God: Behold the Lord ascending high, No more to bleed, no more to die!
4 Hence and for ever from my heart I bid my doubts and fears depart; And to those hands my soul resign, Which bear credentials so divine.
146 L. M. His example.
My dear Redeemer and my Lord, I read my duty in thy word; But in thy life the law appears Drawn out in living characters.
2 Such was thy truth, and such thy zeal, Such deference to thy Father’s will, Such love, and meekness so divine; I would transcribe and make them mine.
3 Cold mountains and the midnight air Witnessed the fervor of thy prayer; The desert thy temptations knew, Thy conflict and thy victory too.
4 Be thou my pattern; make me bear More of thy gracious image here; Then God the judge shall own my name Among the followers of the Lamb.
147 L. M. He so loved the world. John 3:16.
Not to condemn the sons of men, Did Christ, the Son of God, appear; No weapons in his hands are seen, No flaming sword, nor thunder there.
2 Such was the pity of our God, He loved the race of man so well, He sent his Son to bear our load Of sins, and save our souls from hell.
3 Sinners, believe the Saviour’s word; Trust in his mighty name, and live: A thousand joys his lips afford, His hands a thousand blessings give.
148 C. H. M. His poverty.
As much have I of worldly good As e’er my Master had; I diet on as dainty food, And am as richly clad; Though plain my garb, though scant my hoard, As Mary’s Son and nature’s Lord.
2 The manger was his infant bed, His home the mountain cave; He had not where to lay his head— He borrowed e’en his grave; Earth yielded him no resting-spot; Her Maker, but she knew him not.
3 As much the world’s good-will I share, Its favors and applause, As he whose blessed name I bear, Hated without a cause; Despised, rejected, mocked by pride, Betrayed, forsaken, crucified.
4 Why should I court my Master’s foe? Why should I fear its frown? Why should I seek for rest below? Or sigh for brief renown? A pilgrim to a better land, An heir of joy at God’s right hand.
149 C. M. He went about doing good. Acts 10:38.
Behold, where, in a mortal form, Appears each grace divine; The virtues, all in Jesus met, With mildest radiance shine.
2 To spread the rays of heavenly light, To give the mourner joy, To preach glad tidings to the poor, Was his divine employ.
3 ’Midst keen reproach, and cruel scorn, Patient and meek he stood; His foes, ungrateful, sought his life; He labored for their good.
4 In the last hour of deep distress, Before his Father’s throne, With soul resigned, he bowed, and said, “Thy will, not mine, be done!”
5 Be Christ our pattern and our guide; His image may we bear; O, may we tread his holy steps, His joy and glory share!
150 C. M. The man of sorrows.
A pilgrim through this lonely world, The blessed Saviour passed; A mourner all his life was he, A dying Lamb at last.
2 That tender heart which felt for all, For us its life-blood gave; It found on earth no resting-place, Save only in the grave!
3 Such was our Lord: and shall we fear The cross with all its scorn? Or love a faithless, evil world, That wreathed his brow with thorn?
4 No; facing all its frowns or smiles, Like him, obedient still, We homeward press, through storm or calm, To Zion’s blessed hill.
151 C. M. Mighty to save.
The winds were howling o’er the deep; Each wave a watery hill; The Saviour wakened from his sleep; He spake, and all was still.
2 The madman in a tomb had made His mansion of despair; Woe to the traveler who strayed, With heedless footsteps, there.
3 He met that glance so thrilling sweet, He heard those accents mild; And, melting at Messiah’s feet, Wept like a weanéd child.
4 O, madder than the raving man! O, deafer than the sea! How long the time since Christ began To call in vain to me!
5 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.
152 C. P. M. His unsearchable riches.
O could I speak the matchless worth, O could I sound the glories forth, Which in my Saviour shine; I’d soar, and touch the heavenly strings, And vie with Gabriel, while he sings In notes almost divine.
2 I’d sing the precious blood he spilt, My ransom from the dreadful guilt Of sin, and wrath divine; I’d sing his glorious righteousness, In which all-perfect, heavenly dress, My soul shall ever shine.
3 I’d sing the characters he bears, And all the forms of love he wears, Exalted on his throne; In loftiest songs of sweetest praise, I would to everlasting days Make all his glories known.
4 Well, the delightful day will come, When my dear Lord will bring me home, And I shall see his face; Then, with my Saviour, Brother, Friend, A blest eternity I’ll spend, Triumphant in his grace.
153 11s. A bruised reed he shall not break. Matt. 12:20.
To the hall of that feast came the sinful and fair: She heard in the city that Jesus was there: Unheeding the splendor that blazed on the board, She silently knelt at the feet of her Lord!
2 The hair on her forehead, so sad and so meek, Hung dark on the blushes that glowed on her cheek; And so sad and so lowly she knelt in her shame, It seemed that her spirit had fled from her frame.
3 The frown and the murmur went round thro’ them all, That one so unhallowed should tread in the hall; And some said the poor would be objects more meet For the wealth of the perfume she showered on his feet.
4 She heard but her Saviour—she spoke but in sighs, She dared not look up to the heaven of his eyes: And the hot tears gushed forth at each heave of her breast, As her lips to his sandals she throbbingly pressed.
5 In the sky, after tempest, as shineth the bow, In the glance of the sunbeam as melteth the snow, Ho looked on the lost one—her sins were forgiven, And Mary went forth in the beauty of heaven!
154 10s & 11s, peculiar. Sacred tears.
Draw near, ye weary, bowed, and broken-hearted, Ye onward travelers to a peaceful bourne; Ye from whose path the light hath all departed; Ye who are left in solitude to mourn; Though o’er your spirits hath the storm-cloud swept, Sacred are sorrow’s tears, since “Jesus wept.”
2 The bright and spotless heir of endless glory, Wept o’er the woes of those he came to save; And angels wondered when they heard the story That he who conquered death wept o’er the grave; For ’twas not when his lonely watch he kept In dark Gethsemane, that “Jesus wept.”
3 But with the friends he loved, whose hope had perished, The Saviour stood, while through his bosom rushed A tide of sympathy for those he cherished, And from his eyes the burning tear-drops gushed; And bending o’er the tomb where Lazarus slept, In agony of spirit, “Jesus wept.”
4 Lo! Jesus’ power the sleep of death hath broken, And wiped the tear from sorrow’s drooping eye! Look up, ye mourners, hear what he hath spoken: “He that believes on me, shall never die.” Through faith and love your spirits shall be kept; Hope brighter grew on earth when “Jesus wept.”
155 C. M. D. He made himself of no reputation. Phil. 2:7.
He came with his heavenly crown, His scepter clad with power; His coming was in feebleness, The infant of an hour; An humble manger cradled, first, The Virgin’s holy birth, And lowing herds surrounded there The Lord of heaven and earth.
2 He came, not in his robe of wrath, With arm outstretched to slay; But on the darkling paths of earth, To pour celestial day; To guide in peace the wandering feet, The broken heart to bind, And bear upon the painful cross, The sins of human kind.
3 And thou hast borne them, Saviour meek! And therefore unto thee, In humbleness and gratitude, Our hearts shall offered be; Our contrite hearts, an offering, Lord, Which thou wilt not despise, Our souls, our bodies, all be thine, A living sacrifice!
156 8s, 7s & 7s. Jesus wept.
Jesus wept! those tears are over, But his heart is still the same; Kinsman, Friend, and Elder Brother, Is his everlasting name. Saviour, who can love like thee? Gracious one of Bethany!
2 When the pangs of trial seize us, When the waves of sorrow roll, I will lay my head on Jesus— Pillow of the troubled soul. Truly, none can feel like thee, Weeping one of Bethany!
3 Jesus wept, and still in glory He can mark each mourner’s tear— Living to retrace the story Of the hearts he solaced here. Lord, when I am called to die, Let me think of Bethany!
4 Jesus wept! that tear of sorrow Is a legacy of love; Yesterday, to-day, to-morrow, He the same shall ever prove. Thou art all in all to me, Living one of Bethany!
CHRIST: SUFFERINGS.
157 L. M. Christ the sufferer.
O suffering Friend of human kind! How, as the fatal hour drew near, Came thronging on thy holy mind The images of grief and fear!
2 Gethsemane’s sad midnight scene, The faithless friends, th’ exulting foes, The thorny crown, the insult keen, The scourge, the cross, before thee rose.
3 Did not thy spirit shrink dismayed, As the dark vision o’er it came; And, though in sinless strength arrayed, Turn, shuddering, from the death of shame?
4 Onward, like thee, through scorn and dread, May we our Father’s call obey, Steadfast thy path of duty tread, And rise, through death, to endless day.
158 L. M. Led as a lamb to the slaughter.
The morning dawns upon the place Where Jesus spent the night in prayer; Through yielding glooms behold his face! Nor form, nor comeliness is there.
2 Brought forth to judgment, now he stands Arraigned, condemned, at Pilate’s bar; Here, spurned by fierce pretorian bands; There, mocked by Herod’s men of war.
3 He bears their buffeting and scorn— Mock-homage of the lip, the knee— The purple robe, the crown of thorn— The scourge, the nail, the accursed tree.
4 No guile within his mouth is found; He neither threatens nor complains; Meek as a lamb for slaughter bound, Dumb ’mid his murderers he remains.
5 But hark, he prays; ’tis for his foes And speaks: ’tis comfort to his friends; Answers: and paradise bestows; He bows his head: the conflict ends.
159 L. M. The midnight agony.
’Tis midnight; and on Olive’s brow The star is dimmed that lately shone; ’Tis midnight; in the garden now, The suffering Saviour prays alone.
2 ’Tis midnight; and, from all removed, The Saviour wrestles lone, with fears; E’en that disciple whom he loved Heeds not his Master’s grief and tears.
3 ’Tis midnight; and for others’ guilt The man of sorrows weeps in blood; Yet he that hath in anguish knelt Is not forsaken by his God.
4 ’Tis midnight; from the heavenly plains Is borne the song that angels know; Unheard by mortals are the strains That sweetly soothe the Saviour’s woe.
160 C. M. The bitter cup.
Dark was the night, and cold the ground On which the Lord was laid: His sweat like drops of blood ran down; In agony he prayed.
2 “Father, remove this bitter cup, If such thy sacred will; If not, content to drink it up, Thy pleasure I fulfill.”
3 Go to the garden, sinner: see Those precious drops that flow; The heavy load he bore for thee: For thee he lies so low.
4 Then learn of him the cross to bear, Thy Father’s will obey; And, when temptations press thee near, Awake to watch and pray.
161 S. M. He beheld the city, and wept over it. Luke 19:41.
Did Christ o’er sinners weep, And shall our cheeks be dry? Let tears of penitential grief Flow forth from every eye.
2 The Son of God in tears, The wondering angels see; Be thou astonished, O my soul, He shed those tears for thee.
3 He wept that we might weep, Each sin demands a tear, In heaven alone no sin is found And there’s no weeping there.
162 7s, 6 lines. His example in suffering.
Go to dark Gethsemane, Ye that feel the tempter’s power; Your Redeemer’s conflict see; Watch with him one bitter hour: Turn not from his griefs away; Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.
2 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.
3 Calvary’s mournful mountain climb; There, admiring 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.
163 6s & 5s. Christ in the garden.
Night with ebon pinion, Brooded o’er the vale; All around was silent, Save the night-wind’s wail; When Christ the man of sorrows, In tears, and sweat, and blood, Prostrate in the garden, Raised his voice to God.
2 Smitten for offenses Which were not his own, He, for our transgressions, Had to weep alone, No friend with words to comfort, Nor hand to help was there. When the meek and lowly, Humbly bowed in prayer.
3 Abba, Father, Father! If indeed it may, Let this cup of anguish, Pass from me, I pray. Yet, if it must be suffered, By me, thine only Son, Abba, Father, Father, Let thy will be done.
164 P. M. Gethsemane.
Beyond where Cedron’s waters flow, Behold the suffering Saviour go To sad Gethsemane; His countenance is all divine, Yet grief appears in every line.
2 He bows beneath the sins of men; He cries to God, and cries again, In sad Gethsemane: He lifts his mournful eyes above— “My Father, can this cup remove?”
3 With gentle resignation still, He yielded to his Father’s will In sad Gethsemane; “Behold me here, thine only Son; And, Father, let thy will be done.”
4 The Father heard; and angels, there, Sustained the Son of God in prayer, In sad Gethsemane: He drank the dreadful cup of pain— Then rose to life and joy again.
5 When storms of sorrow round us sweep, And scenes of anguish make us weep, To sad Gethsemane We’ll look, and see the Saviour there, And humbly bow, like him, in prayer.
165 C. H. M. Agony in the garden.
He knelt; the Saviour knelt and prayed, When but his Father’s eye Looked, through the lonely garden shade, On that dread agony; The Lord of high and heavenly birth Was bowed with sorrow unto death.
2 The sun went down in fearful hour; The heavens might well grow dim, When this mortality had power Thus to o’ershadow him; That he who came to save might know The very depths of human woe.
3 He knew them all—the doubt, the strife, The faint, perplexing dread; The mists that hang o’er parting life All darkened round his head; And the Deliverer knelt to pray; Yet passed it not, that cup, away.
4 It passed not, though the stormy wave Had sunk beneath his tread; It passed not, though to him the grave Had yielded up its dead; But there was sent him, from on high, A gift of strength, for man to die.
5 And was his mortal hour beset With anguish and dismay? How may we meet our conflict yet In the dark, narrow way? How, but through him that path who trod: “Save, or we perish, Son of God.”
166 S. H. M. Betrayal.
Among the mountain trees, The winds were whispering low, And night’s ten thousand harmonies Were harmonies of woe; A voice of grief was on the gale, It came from Cedron’s gloomy vale.
2 It was the Saviour’s prayer That on the silence broke, Imploring strength from heaven to bear The sin-avenging stroke, As in Gethsemane he knelt, And pangs unknown his bosom felt.
3 The fitful starlight shone In dim and misty gleams, Deep was his agonizing groan, And large the vital streams That trickled to the dewy sod, While Jesus raised his voice to God.
4 The chosen three that staid, Their nightly watch to keep, Left him through sorrows deep to wade, And gave themselves to sleep: Meekly and sad he prayed alone; Strangely forgotten by his own.
5 Along the streamlet’s bank The reckless traitor came, And heavy on his bosom sank The load of guilt and shame; Yet unto them that waited nigh He gave the Lamb of God to die.
6 Among the mountain trees The winds were whispering low, And night’s ten thousand harmonies Were harmonies of woe; For cruel voices filled the gale That came from Cedron’s gloomy vale.
167 11s. Thou sweet gliding Cedron.
Thou sweet gliding Cedron, by thy silver stream Our Saviour would linger in moonlight’s soft beam: And by thy bright waters till midnight would stay, And lose in thy murmurs the toils of the day. CHORUS. Come, saints, and adore him; come bow at his feet; O give him the glory, the praise that is meet; Let joyful hosannas unceasing arise, And join the full chorus that gladdens the skies.
2 How damp were the vapors that fell on his head, How hard was his pillow, how humble his bed; The angels beholding, amazed at the sight, Attended their Master with solemn delight.
3 O garden of Olives! thou dear honored spot, The fame of thy wonders shall ne’er be forgot; The theme most transporting to seraphs above, The triumph of sorrow, the triumph of love!
THE CRUCIFIXION.
168 L. M. The bitter cry.
From Calvary a cry was heard— A bitter and heart-rending cry: My Saviour! every mournful word Bespeaks thy soul’s deep agony.
2 A horror of great darkness fell On thee, thou spotless holy One! And all the swarming hosts of hell Conspired to tempt God’s only Son.
3 The scourge, the thorns, the deep disgrace— These thou couldst bear, nor once repine; But when Jehovah vailed his face, Unutterable pangs were thine.
4 Let the dumb world its silence break; Let pealing anthems rend the sky; Awake, my sluggish soul, awake! He died, that we might never die.
5 Lord! on thy cross I fix mine eye; If e’er I lose its strong control, O! let that dying, piercing cry, Melt and reclaim my wandering soul.
169 L. M. Looking to the cross.
O Lord! when faith with fixéd eyes Beholds thy wondrous sacrifice, Love rises to an ardent flame, And we all other hope disclaim.
2 With cold affections who can see The thorns, the scourge, the nails, the tree, The flowing tears and crimson sweat, The bleeding hands, and head, and feet?
3 Jesus, what millions of our race Have seen the triumphs of thy grace! And millions more to thee shall fly, And on thy sacrifice rely.
4 The sorrow, shame, and death, were thine, And all the stores of wrath divine! Ours are the pardon, life, and bliss; What love can be compared to this!
170 L. M. Herein is love! 1 John 4:10.
Have we no tears to shed for him, While soldiers scoff, and Jews deride? Ah! look, how patiently he hangs— Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
2 What was thy crime, my dearest Lord? By earth, by heaven, thou hast been tried, And guilty found of too much love; Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
3 Found guilty of excess of love, It was thine own sweet will that tied Thee tighter far than helpless nails; Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
4 O break, O break, hard heart of mine! Thy weak self-love and guilty pride His Pilate and his Judas were; Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
171 L. M. Behold the Man!
Behold the Man! how glorious he! Before his foes he stands unawed, And, without wrong or blasphemy, He claims equality with God.
2 Behold the Man! by all condemned, Assaulted by a host of foes; His person and his claims contemned: A Man of suffering and of woes.
3 Behold the Man! he stands alone, His foes are ready to devour; Not one of all his friends will own Their Master in this trying hour.
4 Behold the Man! though scorned below, He bears the greatest name above; The angels at his footstool bow, And all his royal claims approve.
172 L. M. Darkness and light.
He dies, the friend of winners dies! Lo! Salem’s daughters weep around! A solemn darkness vails the skies, A sudden trembling shakes the ground.
2 Here’s love and grief beyond degree! The Lord of glory dies for men! But, lo! what sudden joys we see— Jesus the dead revives again!
3 The rising Lord forsakes the tomb! (The tomb in vain forbids his rise!) Cherubic legions guard him home, And shout him welcome to the skies!
4 Break off your tears, you saints, and tell How high our great Deliverer reigns; Sing how he spoiled the hosts of hell, And led the monster Death in chains.
5 Say, “Live for ever, wondrous King! Born to redeem, and strong to save!” Then ask the monster, “Where’s thy sting? And where’s thy victory, boasting grave?”
173 C. M. His condescension.
And did the holy and the just, The Sovereign of the skies, Stoop down to wretchedness and dust That guilty man might rise?
2 Yes, the Redeemer left his throne, His radiant throne on high; Surpassing mercy! love unknown! To suffer, bleed, and die.
3 He took the dying rebel’s place, And suffered in our stead; For sinful man, O wondrous grace! For sinful man he bled!
4 O Lord! what heavenly wonders dwell In thy most precious blood? By this are sinners saved from hell, And rebels brought to God.
174 C. M. He conquered when he fell.
We sing the Saviour’s wondrous death— He conquered when he fell: ’Tis finished, said his dying breath, And shook the gates of hell.
2 ’Tis finished, our Immanuel cries, The dreadful work is done; Hence shall his sovereign throne arise, His kingdom is begun.
3 His cross a sure foundation laid For glory and renown, When through the regions of the dead He passed to reach the crown.
4 Raise your devotion, mortal tongues, His praises to record; Sweet be the accents of your songs To your victorious Lord.
5 Bright angels, strike your loudest strings, Your sweetest voices raise; Let heaven and all created things Sound our Immanuel’s praise!
175 C. M. They nailed him to the cross.
Behold the Saviour of mankind Nailed to the shameful tree! How vast the love that him inclined To bleed and die for me!
2 Hark! how he groans, while nature shakes, And earth’s strong pillars bend! The temple’s vail asunder breaks, The solid marbles rend.
3 ’Tis finished! now the ransom’s paid, “Receive my soul!” he cries: See—how he bows his sacred head! He bows his head and dies!
4 But soon from death he’ll rise again, And in full glory shine; O Lamb of God! was ever pain— Was ever love like thine?
176 C. M. The dying penitent.
As on the cross the Saviour hung, And groaned, and bled, and died, He looked with pity on a wretch That languished by his side.
2 The dying thief in Jesus saw A majesty divine; While scoffing Jews around him stood, And asked him for a sign!
3 The kingdom, Lord, is thine, he said; ’Tis thine o’er men to reign: Thy wondrous works thy lordship prove, These pains thy love proclaim:
4 Honors divine await thee soon, A scepter and a crown: With shame thy foes shall yet behold Thee seated on a throne.
5 Then, gracious Lord, remember me! Is not forgiveness thine? My crimes have brought me to thy side— Thy love brought thee to mine!
6 His prayer the dying Jesus hears, And instantly replies, To-day your parting soul shall be With me in paradise.
177 7s & 6s. Surely he hath borne our griefs.
O sacred head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down— O sacred brow, surrounded With thorns, thine only crown: Once on a throne of glory, Adorned with light divine; Now all despised and gory, I joy to call thee mine.
2 On me, as thou art dying, O, turn thy pitying eye; To thee for mercy crying, Before thy cross I lie. Thine, thine the bitter passion; Thy pain is all for me; Mine, mine the deep transgression; My sins are all on thee.
3 What language can I borrow To praise thee, heavenly Friend, For all this dying sorrow, Of all my woes the end? O, can I leave thee ever? Then do not thou leave me; Lord, let me never, never Outlive my love to thee.
4 Be near when I am dying; Then close beside me stand; Let me, while faint and sighing, Lean calmly on thy hand: These eyes, new faith receiving, From thee shall never move, For he who dies believing, Dies safely—in thy love.
178 8s, 7s & 4. It is finished. John 19:30.
Hark! the voice of love and mercy Sounds aloud from Calvary; See! it rends the rocks asunder, Shakes the earth and vails the sky! It is finished! Hear the dying Saviour cry.
2 It is finished! O what pleasure Do these precious words afford! Heavenly blessings without measure Flow to us from Christ the Lord; It is finished! Saints, the dying words record.
3 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 this your comfort draw.
4 Tune your harps anew, you seraphs, Join to sing the pleasing theme; All on earth and all in heaven, Join to praise Immanuel’s name: Hallelujah! Glory to the bleeding Lamb!
179 8s & 6s. Behold the Lamb of God. John 1:20.
The Son of Man they did betray; He was condemned, and led away, Think, O my soul, on that dread day, Look on Mount Calvary; Behold him, lamb-like, led along Surrounded by a wicked throng, Accused by every lying tongue, And then the Lamb of God they hung Upon the shameful tree.
2 Now, hung between the earth and skies, Behold! in agony he dies; O sinners, hear his mournful cries, Come, see his torturing pain! The morning sun withdrew his light, Blushed, and refused to view the sight, The azure clothed in robes of night, All nature mourned, and stood affright, When Christ the Lord was slain.
3 All glory be to God on high, Who reigns enthroned above the sky; Who sent his Son to bleed and die; Glory to him be given: While heaven above his praise resounds, O Zion, sing—his grace abounds; I hope to shout eternal rounds, In flaming love that knows no bounds, When glorified in heaven.
BURIAL AND RESURRECTION.
180 L. M. He rose—according to the Scriptures. 1 Cor. 15:4.
When we the sacred grave survey, In which the Saviour deigned to lie, We see fulfilled what prophets say, And all the power of death defy,
2 This empty tomb shall now proclaim How weak the bands of conquered death; Sure pledge that all who trust his name Shall rise and draw immortal breath.
3 Our surety freed declares us free, For whose offenses he was seized: In his release our own we see, And joy to see Jehovah pleased.
4 Jesus, once numbered with the dead, Unseals his eyes to sleep no more; And ever lives their cause to plead, For whom the pains of death he bore.
5 Then, though in dust we lay our head, Yet, gracious God, thou wilt not leave Our flesh for ever with the dead, Nor lose thy children in the grave!
181 L. M. The joy that was set before him. Heb. 12:2.
Now for a song of lofty praise To great Jehovah’s only Son; Awake, my voice, in heavenly lays, And tell the wonders he hath done.
2 Sing how he left the worlds of light, And those bright robes he wore above: How swift and joyful was his flight, On wings of everlasting love!
3 Deep in the shades of gloomy death, Th’ almighty Captive prisoner lay; Th’ almighty Captive left the earth, And rose to everlasting day.
4 Among a thousand harps and songs, Jesus, the Lord, exalted reigns: His sacred name fills all their tongues, And echoes through the heavenly plains.
182 C. M. He hath begotten us to a lively hope. 1 Peter 1:3.
Blessed be the everlasting God, The Father of our Lord; Be his abounding mercy praised, His majesty adored.
2 When from the dead he raised his Son, And called him to the sky, He gave our souls a lively hope That they should never die.
3 What though the first man’s sin requires Our flesh to see the dust; Yet, as the Lord our Saviour rose, So all his followers must.
4 There’s an inheritance divine, Reserved against that day; ’Tis uncorrupted, undefiled, And can not fade away!
5 Saints by the power of God are kept, Till the salvation come; We walk by faith as strangers here, Till Christ shall take us home.
183 C. M. Now is Christ risen from the dead. 1 Cor. 15:20.
Blest morning! whose young dawning rays Beheld our rising Lord: That saw him triumph o’er the dust, And leave his dark abode.
2 In the cold prison of a tomb The great Redeemer lay, Till the revolving skies had brought The third, th’ appointed day.
3 Hell and the grave unite their force To hold our Lord, in vain; The sleeping Conqueror arose, And burst their feeble chain.
4 To thy great name, almighty Lord, These sacred hours we pay; And loud hosannas shall proclaim The triumph of the day.
5 Salvation and immortal praise To our victorious King! Let heaven, and earth, and rocks, and seas, With glad hosannas ring.
184 C. M. The forsaken sepulcher.
Ye humble souls that seek the Lord, Chase all your fears away; And bow with reverence down, to see The place where Jesus lay.
2 Thus low the Lord of life was brought; Such wonders love can do! Thus cold in death that bosom lay, Which throbbed and bled for you.
3 If ye have wept at yonder cross, And still your sorrows rise, Stoop down and view the vanquished grave, Then wipe your weeping eyes.
4 But dry your tears, and tune your songs, The Saviour lives again; Not all the bolts and bars of death The Conqueror could detain.
5 High o’er the angelic band he rears His once dishonored head; And through unnumbered years he reigns, Who dwelt among the dead.
185 C. M. The Resurrection, and the Life.
Hosanna to the Prince of light, That clothed himself in the clay, Entered the iron gates of death, And tore the bars away.
2 Death is no more the king of dread, Since our Immanuel rose; He took the tyrant’s sting away, And spoiled our hellish foes.
3 Raise your devotion, mortal tongues, To reach his blest abode; Sweet be the accents of your songs To our incarnate God.
4 Bright angels, strike your loudest strings, Your sweetest voices raise, Let heaven and all created things, Sound our Immanuel’s praise.
186 C. H. M. The Lord is risen.
How calm and beautiful the morn That gilds the sacred tomb Where once the Crucified was borne, And vailed in midnight gloom! Oh! weep no more the Saviour slain; The Lord is risen—he lives again.
2 Ye mourning saints! dry every tear For your departed Lord; “Behold the place—he is not here;” The tomb is all unbarred: The gates of death were closed in vain, The Lord is risen—he lives again.
3 Now cheerful to the house of prayer Your early footsteps bend, The Saviour will himself be there, Your advocate and friend: Once by the law your hopes were slain, But now in Christ ye live again.
4 How tranquil now the rising day! ’Tis Jesus still appears, A risen Lord to chase away Your unbelieving fears: O! weep no more your comforts slain; The Lord is risen—he lives again.
5 And when the shades of evening fall, When life’s last hour draws nigh— If Jesus shine upon the soul, How blissful then to die: Since he has risen who once was slain, Ye die in Christ to live again.
187 S. M. Redemption completed.
“The Lord is risen indeed!” Then is his work performed; The mighty captive now is freed, And death, our foe, disarmed.
2 “The Lord is risen indeed!” He lives to die no more; He lives, his people’s cause to plead, Whose curse and shame he bore.
3 “The Lord is risen indeed!” The grave has lost his prey: With him is risen the ransomed seed, To reign in endless day.
4 “The Lord is risen indeed!”— Attending angels! hear; Up to the courts of heaven with speed, The joyful tidings bear.
5 Then wake your golden lyres, And strike each cheerful chord; Join, all ye bright, celestial choirs! To sing our risen Lord.
188 H. M. Thou reigning Son of God.
Yes, the Redeemer rose: The Saviour left the dead, And o’er his hellish foes High raised his conquering head: In wild dismay, The guards around Fall to the ground, And sink away.
2 Lo! the angelic bands In full assembly meet, To wait his high commands, And worship at his feet: Joyful they come, And wing their way From realms of day To Jesus’ tomb.
3 Then back to heaven they fly, The joyful news to bear; Hark! as they soar on high What music fills the air: Their anthems say, Jesus who bled Has left the dead— He rose to-day!
4 You mortals, catch the sound, Redeemed by him from hell, And send the echo round The globe on which you dwell: Transported cry, Jesus who bled Has left the dead No more to die!
5 All hail! triumphant Lord, Who saved us by thy blood: Wide be thy name adored, Thou reigning Son of God! With thee we rise, With thee we reign, And kingdoms gain Beyond the skies.
189 7s. The stone rolled away.
Angels! roll the rock away; Death! yield up thy mighty prey; See! the Saviour leaves the tomb, Glowing with immortal bloom.
2 Hark! the wondering angels raise Louder notes of joyful praise: Let the earth’s remotest bound Echo with the blissful sound.
3 Now, ye saints! lift up your eyes, See him high in glory rise! Ranks of angels, on the road, Hail him—the incarnate God.
4 Heaven unfolds its portals wide, See the Conqueror through them ride! King of glory! mount thy throne— Boundless empire is thine own.
5 Praise him, ye celestial choirs! Tune, and sweep your golden lyres: Raise, O earth! your noblest songs, From ten thousand thousand tongues.
190 7s. Christ, the first fruits.
Christ, the Lord, is risen to-day! Sons of men and angels say: Raise your joys and triumphs high: Sing ye heavens! thou earth reply!
2 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.
3 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal— Christ hath burst the gates of hell; Death in vain forbids his rise, Christ hath opened paradise.
4 Lives again our glorious King! Where, O Death, is now thy sting? Once he died, our souls to save: Where’s thy victory, boasting grave?
5 Soar we now where Christ hath led, Following our exalted Head: Made like him, like him we rise, Ours the cross, the grave, the skies!
6 King of glory, Fount of bliss, Everlasting life is this: Thee to know, thy power to prove, Thus to sing, and thus to love.
191 7s. The Resurrection.
Morning breaks upon the tomb, Jesus scatters all its gloom; Day of triumph through the skies— See the glorious Saviour rise!
2 Ye who are of death afraid, Triumph in the scattered shade; Drive your anxious cares away; See the place where Jesus lay!
3 Christian! dry your flowing tears, Chase your unbelieving fears; Look on his deserted grave; Doubt no more his power to save.
192 7s, double. Mary at the tomb.
Mary to the Saviour’s tomb Hasted at the early dawn; Spice she brought, and sweet perfume, But the Lord she loved had gone: For a while she lingering stood, Filled with sorrow and surprise; Trembling, while a crystal flood Issued from her weeping eyes.
2 Jesus who is always near, Though too often unperceived, Came her drooping heart to cheer, Kindly asking why she grieved: Though at first she knew him not, When he called her by her name, She her heavy griefs forgot, For she found him still the same.
3 And her sorrows, quickly fled, When she heard his welcome voice; Christ had risen from the dead, Now he bids her heart rejoice: What a change his word can make— Turning darkness into day; You who weep for Jesus’ sake, He will wipe your tears away.
193 8s. He hath abolished death. 2 Tim. 1:10.
The angels that watched round the tomb Where low the Redeemer was laid, When deep in mortality’s gloom He hid for a season his head;
2 That vailed their fair face while he slept, And ceased their sweet harps to employ, Have witnessed his rising, and swept The chords with the triumphs of joy.
3 You saints, who once languished below, But long since have entered your rest, I pant to be glorified too, To lean on Immanuel’s breast.
4 The grave in which Jesus was laid Has buried my guilt and my fears; And while I contemplate its shade, The light of his presence appears.
5 O sweet is the season of rest, When life’s weary journey is done! The blush that spreads over its west, The last lingering ray of its sun!
6 Though dreary the empire of night, I soon shall emerge from its gloom, And see immortality’s light Arise on the shades of the tomb.
7 Then welcome the last rending sighs, When these aching heartstrings shall break, When death shall extinguish these eyes, And moisten with dew the pale cheek.
8 No terror the prospect begets, I am not mortality’s slave, The sunbeam of life as it sets, Paints a rainbow of peace on the grave.
194 8s. The darkness is passed, etc. 1 John 2:8.
Behold, the bright morning appears, And Jesus revives from the grave; His rising removes all our fears, And shows him almighty to save.
2 How strong were his tears and his cries, The worth of his blood, how divine! How perfect was his sacrifice, Who rose though he suffered for sin.
3 The man that was crownéd with thorns, The man that on Calvary died, The man that bore scourging and scorns, Whom sinners agreed to deride—
4 Now blesséd for ever is made, And life has rewarded his pain, Now glory has crownéd his head; Heaven sings of the Lamb that was slain.
3 Believing, we share in his joy; By faith, we partake in his rest; With this we can cheerfully die, For with him we hope to be blest.
THE ASCENSION.
195 L. M. Lift up your heads, ye gates. Psalm 24:7.
Our Lord is risen from the dead, Our Jesus is gone up on high; The powers of hell are captive led, Dragged to the portals of the sky.
2 There his triumphal chariot waits, And angels chant the solemn lay; Lift up your heads, you heavenly gates! You everlasting doors give way!
3 Loose all your bars of massy light, And wide unfold the radiant scene! He claims those mansions as his right— Receive the King of glory in!
4 Who is the King of glory?—Who? The Lord, who all his foes o’ercame; The world, sin, death, and hell o’erthrew, And Jesus is the conqueror’s name.
5 Lo! his triumphal chariot waits, And angels chant the solemn lay: Lift up your heads, you heavenly gates! You everlasting doors, give way!
6 Who is the King of glory?—who? The Lord, of boundless might possessed, The King of saints and angels too, Lord over all, for ever blest.
196 L. M. The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Psalm 24.
Lift up your heads, ye gates! and wide Your everlasting doors display; Ye angel-guards, like flames divide, And give the King of glory way.
2 Who is the King of glory?—he, The Lord omnipotent to save; Whose own right arm, in victory, Led captive death, and spoiled the grave.
3 Lift up your heads, ye gates! and high Your everlasting portals heave; Welcome the King of glory nigh: Him must the heaven of heavens receive.
4 Who is the King of glory—who? The Lord of hosts; behold his name! The kingdom, power, and honor due, Yield him, ye saints, with glad acclaim!
197 C. M, Psalm 24.
Lift up your stately heads, ye doors, With hasty reverence rise, Ye everlasting doors that guard The passage to the skies.
Chorus.—For see, for see The King of glory comes, The King of glory comes Along the eternal road.
2 Swift from your golden hinges leap, Your barriers roll away, And throw your blazing portals wide, And burst the gates of day.
198 C. M. Received up into glory. 1 Tim. 3:16.
Triumphant, Christ ascends on high, The glorious work complete; Sin, death, and hell, now vanquished lie Beneath his awful feet.
2 There, with eternal glory crowned, The Lord, the Conqueror reigns; His praise the heavenly choirs resound, In their immortal strains.
3 Amid the splendors of his throne, Unchanging love appears; The names he purchased for his own, Still on his heart he bears.
4 O, the rich depths of love divine! Of bliss a boundless store: Dear Saviour, let me call thee mine; I can not wish for more.
5 On thee alone, my hope relies; Beneath thy cross I fall, My Lord, my Life, my Sacrifice, My Saviour, and my All.
199 C. M. God is gone up with a shout. Psalm 47:5.
Arise, ye people, and adore, Exulting strike the chord; Let all the earth, from shore to shore, Confess th’ almighty Lord.
2 Glad shouts aloud—wide echoing round, Th’ ascending Lord proclaim; The angelic choir respond the sound, And shake creation’s frame.
3 They sing of death and hell o’erthrown In that triumphant hour; And God exalts his conquering Son To his right hand of power.
4 O shout, ye people, and adore, Exulting strike the chord; Let all the earth, from shore to shore, Confess th’ almighty Lord.
200 6s & 10s. He became obedient unto death. Phil. 2:8.
Thou, who didst stoop below To drain the cup of woe, And wear the form of frail mortality, Thy blesséd labors done, Thy crown of victory won, Hast passed from earth—passed to thy home on high.
2 It was no path of flowers, Through this dark world of ours, Belovéd of the Father! thou didst tread; And shall we in dismay Shrink from the narrow way, When clouds and darkness are around it spread.
3 O thou who art our Life, Be with us through the strife; Thy own meek head with rudest storms was bowed! Raise thou our eyes above To see a Father’s love Beam, like the bow of promise, through the cloud.
4 E’en through the awful gloom Which hovers o’er the tomb, That light of love our guiding star shall be; Our spirits shall not dread The shadowy way to tread, Friend, Guardian, Saviour! which doth lead to thee.
201 6s & 4s. Rule thou, in the midst of thine enemies. Psalm 110:2.
Rise, glorious Conqueror, rise Into thy native skies— Assume thy right; And where in many a fold, The clouds are backward rolled— Pass through those gates of gold, And reign in light!
2 Victor o’er death and hell! Cherubic legions swell The radiant train; Praises all heaven inspire, Each angel sweeps his lyre, And waves his wings of fire, Thou Lamb once slain!
3 Enter, incarnate God! No feet but thine have trod The serpent down: Blow the full trumpets, blow! Wider yon portals throw! Saviour, triumphant, go And take thy crown!
4 Lion of Judah—hail! And let thy name prevail From age to age: Lord of the rolling years— Claim for thine own the spheres, For thou hast bought with tears Thy heritage.
202 7s, 6s & 7s. Psalm 45.
Burst, ye emerald gates, and bring To my raptured vision All the ecstatic joys that spring Round the bright elysian; Lo! we lift our longing eyes! Break, ye intervening skies! Sons of righteousness, arise, Ope the gates of paradise.
2 Floods of everlasting light Freely flash before him; Myriads, with supreme delight, Instantly adore him Angelic trumps resound his fame; Lutes of lucid gold proclaim All the music of his name; Heaven resounding with the theme.
3 Hark! the thrilling symphonies Seem, methinks, to seize us; Join we too the holy lays— Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Sweetest sound in seraph’s song, Sweetest note on mortal tongue, Sweetest carol ever sung— Jesus, Jesus, flow along.
THE CORONATION.
203 C. M.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him Lord of all.
2 Crown him, you martyrs of our God, Who from his altar call; Extol the stem of Jesse’s rod, And crown him Lord of all.
3 You chosen seed of Israel’s race, A remnant weak and small, Hail him who saves you by his grace, And crown him Lord of all.
4 You gentle sinners, ne’er forget The wormwood and the gall; Go, spread your trophies at his feet, And crown him Lord of all.
5 Babes, men, and sires, who know his love, Who feel your sin and thrall, Now join with all the hosts above, And crown him Lord of all.
6 Let every kindred, every tribe, On this terrestrial ball, To him all majesty ascribe, And crown him Lord of all.
7 O that with yonder sacred throng We at his feet may fall! We’ll join the everlasting song, And crown him Lord of all.
204 C. M. Sit thou at my right hand. Psalm 110:1.
Jesus, our Lord, ascend thy throne, And near thy Father sit: In Zion shall thy power be known, And make thy foes submit.
2 What wonders shall thy gospel do! Thy converts shall surpass The numerous drops of morning dew, And own thy saving grace.
3 Jesus, our Priest, for ever lives To plead for us above; Jesus, our King, for ever gives The blessings of his love.
4 God shall exalt his glorious head, And his high throne maintain; Shall strike the powers and princes dead, Who dare oppose his reign.
205 8s & 7s. Thou art worthy.
Crown his head with endless blessing, Who, in God the Father’s name, With compassion never ceasing, Comes, salvation to proclaim.
2 Jesus, thee our Saviour hailing, Thee our God in praise we own; Highest honors, never failing, Rise eternal round thy throne.
3 Now, ye saints, his power confessing, In your grateful strains adore; For his mercy, never ceasing, Flows, and flows for evermore.
206 C. M. Worthy the Lamb.
Come, let us join our cheerful songs With angels round the throne; Ten thousand thousand are their tongues, But all their joys are one.
2 Worthy the Lamb that died, they cry, To be exalted thus! Worthy the Lamb, our lips reply, For he was slain for us!
3 Jesus is worthy to receive Honor and power divine; And blessings more than we can give, Be, Lord, for ever thine.
4 Let all who dwell above the sky, On earth, in air, and seas, Conspire to lift thy glories high, And speak thy endless praise.
5 The whole creation join in one, To bless the sacred name Of him that sits upon the throne, And to adore the Lamb.
207 8s, 7s & 4. King of kings, etc. Rev. 19:16.
Look, ye saints—the sight is glorious; See the Man of Sorrows now From the fight returned victorious; Every knee to him shall bow. Crown him! crown him! Crowns become the Victor’s brow.
2 Crown the Saviour! angels, crown him! Rich the trophies Jesus brings; In the seat of power enthrone him, While the heavenly concert rings, Crown him! crown him! Crown the Saviour King of kings.
3 Sinners in derision crowned him, Mocking thus the Saviour’s claim; Saints and angels! crowd around him, Own his title, praise his name. Crown him! crown him! Spread abroad the Victor’s name.
4 Hark! those bursts of acclamation! Hark! those loud triumphant chords! Jesus takes the highest station; O, what joy the sight affords! Crown him! crown him! King of kings, and Lord of lords.
MEDIATORIAL REIGN.
208 L. M. Of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:33.
King Jesus, reign for evermore, Unrivaled in thy courts above; While we, with all thy saints, adore The wonders of redeeming love.
2 No other Lord but thee we’ll know No other power but thine confess; We’ll spread thine honors while below, And heaven shall hear us shout thy grace.
3 We’ll sing along the heavenly road That leads us to thy blest abode; Till with the vast unnumbered throng We join in heaven’s triumphant song—
4 Till with pure hands and voices sweet, We cast our crowns at Jesus feet, And sing of everlasting love In everlasting strains above.
209 L. M. All nations shall serve him. Psalm 72:11.
Jesus 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.
2 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.
3 People and realms of every tongue Dwell on his love with sweetest song; And infant voices shall proclaim Their early blessings on his name.
4 Blessings abound where’er he reigns; The prisoner leaps to loose his chains, The weary find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest.
5 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.
6 Let every creature rise, and bring Peculiar honors to our King; Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the long Amen.
210 L. M. Give the King thy judgments. Psalm 72:1.
Exalted Prince of Life, we own The royal honors of thy throne; ’Tis fixed by God’s almighty hand, And seraphs bow at thy command.
2 Exalted Saviour, we confess The mighty triumphs of thy grace; Where beams of gentle radiance shine And temper majesty divine.
3 Wide thy resistless scepter sway, Till all thine enemies obey; Wide let thy cross its virtues prove, And conquer millions by its love!
211 L. M. My heart is inditing a good matter. Psalm 45:1.
Now be my heart inspired to sing The glories of my Saviour King; He comes with blessings from above, And wins the nations to his love.
2 Thy throne, O Lord, for ever stands; Grace is the scepter in thy hands; Thy laws and works are just and right, But truth and mercy thy delight.
3 Let endless honors crown thy head; Let every age thy praises spread; Let all the nations know thy word, And every tongue confess thee Lord.
212 L. M. I know that my Redeemer liveth. Job 19:25.
He lives! the great Redeemer lives! What joy the blest assurance gives! And now, before his Father, God, Pleads the full merit of his blood.
2 Repeated crimes awake our fears, And justice armed with frowns appears; But in the Saviour’s lovely face Sweet mercy smiles, and all is peace.
3 In every dark, distressful hour, When sin and Satan join their power, Let this dear hope repel the dart, That Jesus bears us on his heart.
4 Great Advocate, almighty Friend! On him our humble hopes depend; Our cause can never, never fail, For Jesus pleads, and must prevail.
213 L. M. Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Psalm 72:19.
Great God! whose universal sway The known and unknown worlds obey, Now give the kingdom to thy Son; Extend his power, exalt his throne.
2 Thy scepter well becomes his hands; All heaven submits to his commands; His justice shall avenge the poor, And pride and rage prevail no more.
3 The heathen lands, that lie beneath The shades of overspreading death, Revive at his first dawning light; And deserts blossom at the sight.
4 The saints shall flourish in his days, Dressed in the robes of joy and praise; Peace, like a river, from his throne Shall flow to nations yet unknown.
214 L. M. The Lord is King.
The Lord is King! lift up thy voice, O earth, and all ye heavens, rejoice! From world to world the joy shall ring— “The Lord omnipotent is King!”
2 The Lord is King! who then shall dare Resist his will, distrust his care? Holy and true are all his ways: Let every creature speak his praise.
215 L. M. He humbled himself. Phil. 2:8.
O Christ! our King, Creator, Lord! Saviour of all who trust thy word! To them who seek thee, ever near, Now to our praises bend thine ear.
2 In thy dear cross a grace is found— It flows from every streaming wound— Whose power our inbred sin controls, Breaks the firm bond and frees our souls!
3 Thou didst create the stars of night: Yet thou hast vailed in flesh thy light— Hast deigned a mortal form to wear, A mortal’s painful lot to bear.
4 When thou didst hang upon the tree, The quaking earth acknowledged thee; When thou didst there yield up thy breath, The world grew dark as shades of death.
5 Now in the Father’s glory high, Great Conqueror, never more to die, Us by thy mighty power defend, And reign through ages without end!
216 L. M. His promises are yea and amen.
Saviour, I lift my trembling eyes, To that bright seat, where, placed on high, The great, the atoning sacrifice, For me, for all, is ever nigh.
2 Be thou my guard on peril’s brink; Be thou my guide through weal or woe; And teach me of thy cup to drink, And make me in thy faith to go.
3 For what is earthly change or loss? Thy promises are still my own: The feeblest frame may bear thy cross, The lowliest spirit share thy throne.
217 L. M. Let all the angels of God worship him. Heb. 1:6.
Thee we adore, O gracious Lord! We praise thy name with one accord; Thy saints, who here thy goodness see, Through all the world do worship thee.
2 To thee aloud all angels cry, And ceaseless raise their songs on high, Both cherubim and seraphim, The heavens and all the powers therein:
3 The apostles join the glorious throng; The prophets swell the immortal song; The martyrs’ noble army raise Eternal anthems to thy praise.
4 Thee, holy, holy, holy King! Thee, O Lord God of hosts, they sing: Thus earth below, and heaven above, Resound thy glory and thy love.
218 L. M. He hath the keys of hell and of death. Rev. 1:18.
Hail to the Prince of Life and Peace, Who holds the keys of death and hell; The spacious world unseen is his, The sovereign power becomes him well.
2 In shame and anguish once he died; But now he lives for ever more; Bow down, you saints, around his seat, And all you angel bands adore.
3 Live, live for ever, glorious Lord, To crush thy foes and guard thy friends, While all thy chosen tribes rejoice That thy dominion never ends.
4 Worthy thy hand to hold the keys, Guided by wisdom and by love; Worthy to rule our mortal lives, O’er worlds below and worlds above.
5 For ever reign, victorious King! Wide through the earth thy name be known; And call our longing souls to sing Sublimer anthems near thy throne.
219 L. M. My Redeemer liveth. Job 19:25.
I know that my Redeemer lives; What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives who once was dead, He lives, my ever-living Head!
2 He lives to bless me with his love, He lives to plead for me above, He lives my hungry soul to feed, He lives to bless in time of need.
3 He lives to grant me rich supply, He lives to guide me with his eye, He lives to comfort me when faint, He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
4 He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend, He lives, and loves me to the end; He lives, and while he lives I’ll sing, He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King!
5 He lives, and grants me daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death; He lives my mansion to prepare, He lives to bring me safely there.
6 He lives, all glory to his name! He lives, my Jesus, still the same! O the sweet joy this sentence gives— I know that my Redeemer lives!
220 L. M. No other name. Acts 4:12.
Jesus, the spring of joys divine, Whence all our hopes and comforts flow: Jesus, no other name but thine Can save us from eternal woe.
2 In vain would boasting reason find Thy way to happiness and God; Her weak directions leave the mind Bewildered in a dubious road.
3 No other name will heaven approve; Thou art the true, the living way, Ordained by everlasting love, To the bright realms of endless day.
4 Here let our constant feet abide, Nor from the heavenly path depart; O let thy Spirit, gracious Guide! Direct our steps, and cheer our heart.
5 Safe lead us through this world of night, And bring us to the blissful plains— The regions of unclouded light Where perfect joy for ever reigns.
221 L. M. Excellency of the knowledge of Christ.
Let everlasting glories crown Thy head, my Saviour and my Lord; Thy hands have brought salvation down, And stored the blessings in thy word.
2 In vain the trembling conscience seeks Some solid ground to rest upon; With long despair the spirit breaks, Till we apply to Christ alone.
3 How well thy blesséd truths agree! How wise and holy thy commands! Thy promises, how firm they be! How firm our hope and comfort stands!
4 Should all the forms that men devise Assault my faith with treacherous art, I’d call them vanity and lies, And bind the gospel to my heart.
222 L. M. Lord, to whom shall we go? John 6:68.
Thou only Sovereign of my heart, My Refuge, my almighty Friend— And can my soul from thee depart, On whom alone my hopes depend?
2 Whither, ah! whither shall I go, A wretched wanderer from my Lord? Can this dark world of sin and woe One glimpse of happiness afford?
3 Eternal life thy words impart; On these my fainting spirit lives; Here sweeter comforts cheer my heart, Than all the round of nature gives.
4 Let earth’s alluring joys combine; While thou art near, in vain they call! One smile, one blissful smile of thine, My dearest Lord, outweighs them all.
5 Thy name my inmost powers adore; Thou art my life, my joy, my care; Depart from thee—’tis death—’tis more— ’Tis endless ruin, deep despair!
6 Low at thy feet my soul would lie; Here safety dwells, and peace divine; Still let me live beneath thine eye, For life, eternal life, is thine.
223 L. M. Christ the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Thou art the way; and he who sighs, Amid this starless waste of woe, To find a pathway to the skies, A light from heaven’s eternal glow, By thee must come, thou gate of love, Through which the saints undoubting trod, Till faith discovers, like the dove, An ark, a resting-place in God.
2 Thou art the Truth, whose steady day Shines on through earthly blight and bloom; The pure, the everlasting Ray, The Lamp that shines e’en in the tomb; The light that out of darkness springs, And guideth those that blindly go; The Word whose precious radiance flings Its luster upon all below.
3 Thou art the Life, the blesséd Well With living waters gushing o’er, Which those that drink shall ever dwell Where sin and thirst are known no more, Thou art the mystic Pillar given, Our Lamp by night, our Light by day; Thou art the sacred Bread from heaven; Thou art the Life, the Truth, the Way.
224 L. M. 6 lines. A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1.
Still nigh me, O my Saviour, stand, And guard in fierce temptation’s hour; Support by thy almighty hand, Show forth in me thy saving power; Still be thine arm my sure defense, Nor earth nor hell shall pluck me thence.
2 In suffering be thy love my peace, In weakness be thy love my power; And when the storms of life shall cease, O, Saviour, in that trying hour, In death, as life, be thou my guide, And save me, who for me hast died.
225 L. M. 6 lines. Christ all and in all.
Jesus, thou source of calm repose, All fullness dwells in thee divine; Our strength, to quell the proudest foes; Our light, in deepest gloom to shine; Thou art our fortress, strength, and tower, Our trust, and portion, evermore.
2 Jesus, our Comforter, thou art Our rest in toil, our ease in pain; The balm to heal each broken heart: In storms our peace, in loss our gain; Our joy, beneath the worldling’s frown; In shame, our glory and our crown:
3 In want, our plentiful supply; In weakness, our almighty power; In bonds, our perfect liberty; Our refuge in temptation’s hour; Our comfort, ’midst all grief and thrall; Our life in death; our all in all.
226 L. M. 6 lines. Prophet, Priest, and King.
My Prophet thou, my heavenly Guide, Thy sweet instructions I will hear; The words that from thy lips proceed, O how divinely sweet they are! Thee, my great Prophet, I would love, And imitate the blest above.
2 My great High Priest, whose precious blood Did once atone upon the cross, Who now dost intercede with God, And plead the friendless sinner’s cause: In thee I trust, thee would I love, And imitate the blest above.
3 My King supreme, to thee I bow A willing subject at thy feet; All other lords I disavow, And to thy government submit; My Saviour King, this heart would love, And imitate the blest above.
227 L. M. He is precious. 1 Peter 2:7.
Jesus! the very thought is sweet; In that dear name all heart-joys meet; But sweeter than the honey far The glimpses of his presence are.
2 No word is sung more sweet than this; No name is heard more full of bliss; No thought brings sweeter comfort nigh, Than Jesus, Son of God, most high.
3 Jesus, the hope of souls forlorn! How good to them for sin that mourn; To them that seek thee, O how kind! But what art thou to them that find?
4 No tongue of mortal can express, No letters write its blessedness; Alone, who hath thee in his heart, Knows, love of Jesus, what thou art.
228 C. M. Christ a merciful High Priest
With joy we meditate the grace Of our High Priest above: His heart is full of tenderness; His bosom glows with love.
2 Touched with a sympathy within, He knows our feeble frame; He knows what sore temptations mean, For he has felt the same.
3 He in the days of feeble flesh, Poured out his cries and tears; And in his measure feels afresh What every member bears.
4 Then let our humble faith address His mercy and his power; We shall obtain delivering grace In each distressing hour.
229 C. M. The bright and morning star. Rev. 22:16.
Bright was the guiding star that led, With mild, benignant ray, The Gentiles to the lowly shed Where the Redeemer lay.
2 But, lo! a brighter, clearer light Now points to his abode; It shines through sin and sorrow’s night To guide us to our God.
3 O haste to follow where it leads; The gracious call obey, Be rugged wilds or flowery meads The Christian’s destined way.
4 O gladly tread the narrow path While light and grace are given: Who meekly follow Christ on earth, Shall reign with him in heaven.
230 C. M. They shall speak of the glory, etc. Psalm 145:11.
Come, you that love the Saviour’s name, And joy to make it known; The Sovereign of your heart proclaim, And bow before his throne.
2 Behold your King, your Saviour, crowned With glories all divine; And tell the wondering nations round How bright these glories shine.
3 Infinite power and boundless grace In him unite their rays; You that have seen his lovely face, Can you forbear his praise?
4 When in the earthly courts we view The beauties of our King, We long to love as angels do, And wish like them to sing.
5 And shall we long and wish in vain? Lord, teach our songs to rise! Thy love can animate our strain, And bid it reach the skies.
6 O for the day, the glorious day! When heaven and earth shall raise, With all their powers, the raptured lay, To celebrate thy praise.
231 C. M. Thou dear Redeemer, dying Lamb.
Thou dear Redeemer, dying Lamb, I love to hear of thee; No music’s like thy charming name, Nor half so sweet can be.
2 O, may I ever hear thy voice In mercy to me speak; In thee, my Priest, will I rejoice, And thy salvation seek.
3 My Jesus shall be still my theme, While on this earth I stay; I’ll sing my Jesus’ lovely name, When all things else decay.
232 C. M. Offices of Christ.
We bless the Prophet of the Lord, That comes with truth and grace; Jesus, thy Spirit and thy Word, Shall lead us in thy ways.
2 We reverence our High Priest above, Who offered up his blood, And lives to carry on his love By pleading with our God.
3 We honor our exalted King; How sweet are his commands! He guards our souls from hell and sin By his almighty hands.
233 C. M. A merciful and faithful High Priest. Heb. 2:17.
Come, let us join in songs of praise To our ascended Priest; He entered heaven with all our names Engraven on his breast.
2 On earth he washed our guilt away By his atoning blood; Now he appears before the throne, And pleads our cause with God.
3 What though while here we oft must feel Temptation’s keenest dart; Our tender High Priest feels it too, And will appease the smart.
4 Clothed with our nature still, he knows The weakness of our frame, And how to shield us from the foes Which he himself o’ercame.
5 Nor time nor distance e’er shall quench The fervor of his love; For us he died in kindness here, For us he lives above.
6 O may we ne’er forget his grace, Nor blush to wear his name! Still may our hearts hold fast his faith, Our lips his praise proclaim!
234 C. M. Children’s Hymn.
Hosanna! raise the pealing hymn To David’s Son and Lord; With cherubim and seraphim Exalt th’ incarnate Word.
2 Hosanna! Lord, our feeble tongue No lofty strains can raise: But thou wilt not despise the young Who meekly chant thy praise.
3 Hosanna! Sovereign, Prophet, Priest, How vast thy gifts, how free! Thy Blood, our life; thy Word, our feast; Thy Name, our only plea.
4 Hosanna! Master, lo! we bring Our offerings to thy throne; Not gold, nor myrrh, nor mortal thing, But hearts to be thine own.
5 Hosanna! once thy gracious ear Approved a lisping throng; Be gracious still, and deign to hear Our poor but grateful song.
6 O Saviour, if, redeemed by thee, Thy temple we behold, Hosannas through eternity We’ll sing to harps of gold.
235 C. M. Consider the High Priest, etc. Heb. 3:1.
Now let our cheerful eyes survey Our great High Priest above, And celebrate his constant care And sympathetic love.
2 Though raised to heaven’s exalted throne Where angels bow around, And high o’er all the hosts of light, With matchless honors crowned—
3 The names of all his saints he bears Deep graven on his heart; Nor shall the weakest Christian say That he has lost his part.
4 Those characters shall fair abide, Our everlasting trust, When gems, and monuments, and crowns, Have moldered down to dust.
5 So, gracious Saviour, on my breast May thy loved name be worn— A sacred ornament and guard, To endless ages borne.
236 C. M. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. Rev. 5:12.
Behold the glories of the Lamb Amidst his Father’s throne; Prepare new honors for his name, And songs before unknown.
2 Let elders worship at his feet, The church adore around, With vials full of odors sweet, And harps of sweeter sound.
3 Now to the Lamb that once was slain, Be endless blessings paid; Salvation, glory, joy, remain For ever on thy head!
4 Thou hast redeemed our souls with blood, Hast set the prisoners free, Hast made us kings and priests to God, And we shall reign with thee.
237 C. M. Christ—all in all.
Infinite excellence is thine, Thou lovely Prince of Grace! Thy uncreated beauties shine With never-fading rays.
2 Sinners from earth’s remotest end Come bending at thy feet; To thee their prayers and praise ascend, In thee their wishes meet.
3 Thy name, as precious ointment shed, Delights the church around; Sweetly the sacred odors spread, And purest joys abound.
4 Millions of happy spirits live On thy exhaustless store; From thee they all their bliss receive, And still thou givest more.
5 Thou art their triumph and their joy; They find their all in thee; Thy glories will their tongues employ Through all eternity.
238 C. M. He died for our sins. 1 Cor. 15:3.
Jesus, in thy transporting name What blissful glories rise! Jesus, the angels’ sweetest theme— The wonder of the skies!
2 Well might the skies with wonder view A love so strange as thine! No thought of angels ever knew Compassion so divine!
3 Jesus, and didst thou leave the sky To bear our sins and woes? And didst thou bleed, and groan, and die, For vile rebellious foes?
4 Victorious love! can language tell The wonders of thy power, Which conquered all the force of hell In that tremendous hour!
5 What glad return can I impart For favors so divine? O take this heart, this worthless heart, And make it only thine!
239 C. M. The Name above every name.
The Saviour! O what endless charms Dwell in the blissful sound! Its influence every fear disarms, And spreads sweet peace around.
2 Here pardon, life, and joys divine, In rich profusion flow; For guilty rebels, lost in sin, And doomed to endless woe.
3 Th’ almighty Former of the skies Stooped to our vile abode; While angels viewed, with wondering eyes, And hailed th’ incarnate God.
4 O the rich depths of love divine! Of bliss a boundless store! Blest Saviour, let me call thee mine; I can not wish for more.
5 On thee, alone, my hope relies, Beneath thy cross I fall; My Lord, my life, my sacrifice, My Saviour and my all.
240 C. M. He suffered, the Just for the unjust. 1 Pet. 3:18.
Alas! and did my Saviour bleed? And did my Sovereign die? Would he devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?
2 Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
3 Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in, When God’s own son was crucified For man the creature’s sin.
4 Thus might I hide my blushing face While his dear cross appears, Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt mine eyes to tears.
5 But drops of grief can ne’er repay The debt of love I owe: Here, Lord, I give myself away; ’Tis all that I can do.
241 C. M. Remember me.
Jesus, thou art the sinner’s friend; As such I look to thee; Now, in the fullness of thy love, O Lord, remember me!
2 Remember thy pure word of grace, Remember Calvary; Remember all thy promises, And then remember me.
3 Thou mighty Advocate with God! I yield myself to thee; While thou art sitting on thy throne, O Lord, remember me!
4 I own I’m guilty—own I’m vile; Yet thy salvation’s free; Then, in thy all-abounding grace, O Lord, remember me!
5 Howe’er forsaken or distressed, Howe’er oppressed I be, Howe’er afflicted here on earth, Do thou remember me!
6 And when I close my eyes in death, And creature helps all flee, Then, O my great Redeemer, Lord, I pray, remember me!
242 C. M. An unchangeable priesthood. Heb. 7:24.
Jesus, in thee our eyes behold A thousand glories more Than the rich gems and polished gold The sons of Aaron wore.
2 They first their own burnt-offerings brought To purge themselves from sin: Thy life was pure, without a spot, And all thy nature clean.
3 Fresh blood, as constant as the day, Was on their altar spilt; But thy one offering takes away For ever all our guilt.
4 Their priesthood ran through several hands, For mortal was their race; Thy never-changing office stands Eternal as thy days.
5 Once, in the circuit of a year, With blood, but not his own, Aaron with the vail appeared Before the golden throne;
6 But Christ, with his own precious blood, Ascends above the skies, And in the presence of our God Shows his own sacrifice.
7 Jesus, the King of glory, reigns On Zion’s holy hill; Looks like a lamb that had been slain, And wears his priesthood still.
8 He ever lives in heaven to plead The cause which cost his blood, And saves unto the utmost those Who by him come to God.
243 C. M. He is Lord of all. Acts 10:36.
Hosanna to our conquering King! All hail incarnate Love! Ten thousand songs and glories wait To crown thy head above.
2 Thy victories and thy deathless fame Through all the world shall run, And everlasting ages sing The triumphs thou hast won.
244 C. M. Grace is poured into thy lips. Psalm 45:2.
O Jesus! King most wonderful! Thou Conqueror renowned! Thou Sweetness most ineffable! In whom all joys are found.
2 May every heart confess thy name, And ever thee adore; And seeking thee, itself inflame To seek thee more and more.
3 Thee may our tongues for ever bless, Thee may we love alone; And ever in our lives express The image of thine own.
245 C. M. Rise, Lord, let thine enemies be scattered. Num. 10:35.
Jesus, immortal King! arise, Assert thy rightful sway, Till earth, subdued, its tribute brings, And distant lands obey.
2 Ride forth, victorious Conqueror! ride, Till all thy foes submit, And all the powers of hell resign Their trophies at thy feet.
3 Send forth thy word, and let it fly The spacious earth around, Till every soul beneath the sun Shall hear the joyful sound.
4 From sea to sea, from shore to shore, May Jesus be adored! And earth, with all her millions, shout Hosannas to the Lord.
246 C. M. The shadow of a great rock, etc. Isaiah 32:2.
He who on earth as man was known, And bore our sins and pains, Now seated on th’ eternal throne, The Lord of glory reigns.
2 His hands the wheels of nature guide With sure, unerring skill, And countless worlds, extended wide, Obey his sovereign will.
3 While harps unnumbered sound his praise In yonder worlds above, His saints on earth admire his ways, And glory in his love.
4 This land through which his pilgrims go, Is desolate and dry; But streams of grace from him o’erflow, Their thirst to satisfy.
5 When troubles, like a burning sun, Beat heavy on their head, To this high Rock for rest they run, And find a pleasing shade.
6 How glorious he, how happy they In such a generous friend, Whose love secures them all the way, And crowns them at the end.
247 C. M. Ye are complete in him. Col. 2:10.
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer’s ear; It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear!
2 It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast; ’Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary rest.
3 By thee my prayers acceptance gain, Although with sin defiled; Satan accuses me in vain, And I am owned a child.
4 Jesus, my Shepherd, Guardian, Friend, My Prophet, Priest, and King, My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, Accept the praise I bring.
5 Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought; But when I see thee as thou art, I’ll praise thee as I ought.
6 Till then, I would thy love proclaim With every fleeting breath; And may the music of thy name Refresh my soul in death!
248 C. M. The true and living Way.
Thou art the Way—to thee alone From sin and death we flee; And he who would the Father seek, Must seek him, Lord, by thee.
2 Thou art the Truth—thy word alone True wisdom can impart; Thou only canst inform the mind, And purify the heart.
3 Thou art the Life—the rending tomb Proclaims thy conquering arm; And those who put their trust in thee, Nor death nor hell shall harm.
4 Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life; Grant us that way to know, That truth to keep, that life to win, Whose joys eternal flow.
249 C. M. Blessed are all they, etc. Psalm 2:12.
My Saviour! my almighty Friend! When I begin thy praise, Where will the growing numbers end— The numbers of thy grace?
2 Thou art my everlasting trust; Thy goodness I adore; And since I knew thy graces first, I speak thy glories more.
3 My feet shall travel all the length Of the celestial road; And march, with courage, in thy strength, To see my Father God.
4 How will my lips rejoice to tell The victories of my King! My soul, redeemed from sin and hell, Shall thy salvation sing.
250 C. M. Chief among ten thousand.
Majestic sweetness sits enthroned Upon the Saviour’s brow; His head with radiant glories crowned, His lips with grace o’erflow.
2 No mortal can with him compare Among the sons of men; Fairer is he than all the fair Who fill the heavenly train.
3 He saw me plunged in deep distress, And flew to my relief; For me he bore the shameful cross, And carried all my grief.
4 To him I owe my life and breath, And all the joys I have! He makes me triumph over death, And saves me from the grave.
5 To heaven, the place of his abode, He brings my weary feet; Shows me the glories of my God, And makes my joys complete.
6 Since from thy bounty I receive Such proofs of love divine, Had I a thousand hearts to give, Lord, they should all be thine.
251 C. M. Altogether lovely.
Jesus, I love thy charming name; ’Tis music to my ear; Fain would I sound it out so loud That all the earth might hear.
2 Yes, thou art precious to my soul, My transport and my trust; Jewels to thee are gaudy toys, And gold is sordid dust.
3 All that my ardent soul can wish In thee doth richly meet; Nor to my eyes is light so dear, Nor friendship half so sweet.
4 Thy grace shall dwell upon my heart, And shed its fragrance there; The noblest balm of all its wounds, The cordial of its care.
5 I’ll speak the honors of thy name With my last laboring breath; And, dying, triumph in thy cross— The antidote of death.
252 C. M. I looked—and there was none to help. Isaiah 63:5.
Plunged in a gulf of dark despair, We wretchéd sinners lay, Without one cheerful beam of hope, Or spark of glimmering day.
2 With pitying eyes the Prince of grace Beheld our helpless grief; He saw, and—O! amazing love! He ran to our relief.
3 Down from the shining seats above, With joyful haste he fled, Entered the grave in mortal flesh, And dwelt among the dead.
4 O! for this love let rocks and hills Their lasting silence break; And all harmonious human tongues The Saviour’s praises speak.
5 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.
253 C. M. A fountain for sin. Zech. 13:1.
There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And sinners plunged beneath that flood, Loose all their guilty stains.
2 The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day; And there have I, as vile as he, Washed all my sins away.
3 O Lamb of God, thy precious blood Shall never lose its power, Till all the ransomed Church of God Be saved to sin no more.
4 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.
5 And when this lisping, stammering tongue Lies silent in the grave, Then, in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing thy power to save.
254 C. M. He shall save his people from their sins. Matt. 1:21.
Salvation! O the joyful sound; ’Tis pleasure to our ears; A sovereign balm for every wound, A cordial for our fears.
2 Buried in sorrow and in sin, At hell’s dark door we lay; But we arise by grace divine, To see a heavenly day.
3 Salvation! let the echo fly The spacious earth around; While all the armies of the sky Conspire to raise the sound.
255 C. M. The Reign of Christ.
Let earth, with every isle and sea, Rejoice; the Saviour reigns: His word, like fire, prepares his way, And mountains melt to plains.
2 His presence sinks the proudest hills And makes the valleys rise; The humble soul enjoys his smiles, The haughty sinner dies.
3 Adoring angels, at his birth, Made our Redeemer known; Thus shall he come to judge the earth, And angels guard his throne.
4 His foes shall tremble at his sight, And hills and seas retire; His children take their upward flight, And leave the world on fire.
5 The seeds of joy and glory sown For saints in darkness here, Shall rise and spring in worlds unknown, And a rich harvest bear.
256 C. H. M. Thou hast put all things under his feet. Heb. 2:8.
O North, with all thy vales of green, O South, with all thy palms, From peopled towns, and fields between, Uplift the voice of psalms; Raise, ancient East, the anthem high, And let the youthful West reply.
2 Lo! in the clouds of heaven appears God’s well-belovéd Son; He brings a train of brighter years— His kingdom is begun: He comes, a guilty world to bless With mercy, truth and righteousness.
3 O Father, haste the promised hour When at his feet shall lie All rule, authority, and power, Beneath the ample sky, When he shall reign from pole to pole, The Lord of every human soul.
4 When all shall heed the words he said, Amid their daily cares, And by the loving life he led Shall strive to pattern theirs; And he who conquered Death shall win, The mighty conquest over Sin.
257 C. P. M. The only foundation.
Had I ten thousand gifts beside, I’d cleave to Jesus crucified, And build on him alone; For no foundation is there given On which to place my hopes of heaven, But Christ, the corner-stone.
2 Possessing Christ I all possess, Wisdom, and strength, and righteousness, And holiness complete; Bold in his name, I dare draw nigh Before the Ruler of the sky, And all his justice meet.
3 There is no path to heavenly bliss, To solid joy or lasting peace, But Christ, th’ appointed road; O may we tread the sacred way, By faith rejoice, and praise, and pray, Till we sit down with God!
4 The types and shadows of the word Unite in Christ, the Man, the Lord, The Saviour kind and true; O may we still his word believe, And all his promises receive, And all his precepts do.
5 As he above for ever lives, And life to dying mortals gives, Eternal and divine; O may his Spirit in me dwell! Then, saved from sin, and death, and hell, Eternal life is mine.
258 S. M. All we like sheep have gone astray. Isaiah. 53:6.
Like sheep we went astray, And broke the fold of God; Each wandering in a different way, But all the downward road.
2 How dreadful was the hour When God our wanderings laid, And did at once his vengeance pour Upon the Shepherd’s head.
3 How glorious was the grace When Christ sustained the stroke! His life and blood the Shepherd pays, A ransom for the flock.
4 But God hath raised his head O’er all the sons of men, And made him see a numerous seed To recompense his pain.
259 S. M. Seen of angels. 1 Tim. 3:16.
Beyond the starry skies, Far as th’ eternal hills, Yon heaven of heavens, with living light, Our great Redeemer fills.
2 Around him angels fair, In countless armies shine; And ever, in exalted lays, They offer songs divine.
3 “Hail, Prince of life!” they cry, “Whose unexampled love Moved thee to quit those glorious realms And royalties above.”
4 And when he stooped to earth, And suffered rude disdain, They cast their honors at his feet, And waited in his train.
5 They saw him on the cross, While darkness vailed the skies; And when he burst the gates of death, They saw the Conqueror rise.
6 They thronged his chariot wheels, And bore him to his throne; Then swept their golden harps and sung— “The glorious work is done.”
260 8s & 5s. And they sung a new song. Rev. 14:3.
Sing of Jesus, sing for ever Of the love that changes never! Who, or what, from him can sever Those he makes his own?
2 With his blood the Lord hath bought them, When they knew him not, he sought them, And from all their wanderings brought them; His the praise alone.
3 Through the desert Jesus leads them, With the bread of heaven he feeds them, And through all their way he speeds them To their home above.
4 There they see the Lord who bought them, Him who came from heaven and sought them, Him who by his Spirit taught them, Him they serve and love.
261 7s, 6 lines. And that rock was Christ. 1 Cor. 10:4.
Rock of ages, cleft for 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.
2 Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill the 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.
3 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.
4 While I draw this fleeting breath, When my heart-strings break in death, When I soar to worlds unknown, See thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee.
262 7s, double. A covert from the storm. Isaiah 4:6.
Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly, While the billows near me 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.
2 Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on thee! Leave, O leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me: All my trust on thee is stayed, All my help from thee I bring, Cover my defenseless head With the shadow of thy wing.
3 Thou, O Christ, art all I want, Boundless love in thee I find; Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind. Just and holy is thy name, Prince of Peace and Righteousness; Most unworthy, Lord, I am, Thou art full of love and grace.
4 Plenteous grace with thee is found, Grace to pardon all my sins; 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.
263 8s, 7s & 4s. Friend of sinners.
One there is above all others, Well deserves the name of Friend; His is love beyond a brother’s, Costly, free, and knows no end; Hallelujah! Costly, free, and knows no end.
2 Which of all our friends to save us, Could or would have shed his blood? But this Saviour died, to have us Reconciled in him to God. Hallelujah! Reconciled in him to God.
3 When he lived on earth abaséd, Friend of sinners was his name; Now above all glory raiséd, He rejoices in the same; Hallelujah! He rejoices in the same.
264 11s. The Rock that is higher than I.
In seasons of grief to my God I’ll repair, When my heart is o’erwhelmed with sorrow and care: From the end of the earth unto thee will I cry, Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I! Higher than I, higher than I, Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
2 When Satan the tempter comes in like a flood To drive my poor soul from the fountain of good, I’ll pray to the Lord who for sinners did die— Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
3 And when I have finished my pilgrimage here, Complete in Christ’s righteousness I shall appear, In the swellings of Jordan, all dangers defy, And look to the Rock that is higher than I.
4 And when the last trumpet shall sound thro’ the skies, And the dead from the dust of the earth shall arise, Transported I’ll join with the ransomed on high, To praise the great Rock that is higher than I! Higher than I, higher than I, To praise the great Rock that is higher than I.
265 6s & 4s. I am Alpha and Omega.
Cling to the mighty One, Ps. lxxxix. 19. Cling in thy grief; Heb. xii. 11. Cling to the Holy One, Heb. vii. 26. He gives relief; Ps. cxvi. 8. Cling to the Gracious One, Ps. cxvi. 5. Cling in thy pain, Ps. lv. 4. Cling to the Faithful One, 1 Thess. v. 24. He will sustain. Ps. xxviii. 8.
2 Cling to the Living One, Heb. vii. 25. Cling in thy woe, Ps. lxxxvi. 7. Cling to the Loving One 1 John iv. 16. Through all below; Romans viii. 38, 39. Cling to the Pardoning One, Is. lv. 7. He speaketh peace; John xiv. 27. Cling to the Healing One, Exod. xv. 26. Anguish shall cease. Ps. cxvi. 8.
3 Cling to the Bleeding One, 1 John i. 7. Cling to his side; John xx. 27. Cling to the Risen One, Rom. vi. 9. In him abide; John xv. 4. Cling to the Coming One, Rev. xxii. 20. Hope shall arise; Titus ii. 13. Cling to the Reigning One, Eph. i. 20-23. Joy lights thine eyes. Ps. xvi. 11.
THE GOSPEL—THE PROCLAMATION.
266 L. M. The Christian banner.
The Christian banner! dread no loss Where that broad ensign floats unrolled; But let the fair and sacred cross Blaze out from every radiant fold: Stern foes arise, a countless throng, Loud as the storms of Kara’s sea, But though the strife be fierce and long, That cross shall wave in victory.
2 Sound the shrill trumpet, sound, and call The people of the mighty King, And bid them keep that standard all In martial thousands gathering: Let them come forth from every clime That lies beneath the circling sun, Various, as flowers in that sweet clime Where flowers are, in heart, but one.
3 Soldiers of heaven! take sword and shield, Look up to him who rules on high, And forward to the glorious field, Where noble martyrs bleed and die; Press onward, scorning flight or fear, As deep waves burst on Norway’s coast, And let the startled nations hear The war-shout of the Christian host.
4 Lift up the banner: rest no more, Nor let this righteous warfare cease, Till man’s last tribe shall bow before The Lord of lords—the Prince of Peace: Go! bear it forth, ye strong and brave; Let not those bright folds once be furled, Till that high sun shall see them wave Above a blest but conquered world.
267 L. M. The Spirit of the Lord, etc. Isaiah 59:19.
Fling out the banner! let it float Sky-ward and sea-ward, high and wide: The sun, that lights its shining folds, The cross, on which the Saviour died.
2 Fling out the banner! angels bend, In anxious silence, o’er the sign; And vainly seek to comprehend The wonder of the love divine.
3 Fling out the banner! heathen lands Shall see, from far, the glorious sight, And nations, crowding to be born, Baptize their spirits in its light.
4 Fling out the banner! sin-sick souls, That sink and perish in the strife, Shall touch in faith its radiant hem, And spring immortal into life.
5 Fling out the banner! let it float Sky-ward and sea-ward, high and wide; Our glory, only in the cross; Our only hope, the Crucified.
6 Fling out the banner! wide and high, Sea-ward and sky-ward, let it shine; Nor skill, nor might, nor merit, ours; We conquer only in that sign.
268 L. M. The power of God unto salvation. Rom. 1:16.
God, in the gospel of his Son, Makes his eternal counsels known; ’Tis here his richest mercy shines, And truth is drawn in fairest lines.
2 Here sinners of a humble frame May taste his grace and learn his name; ’Tis writ in characters of blood, Severely just—immensely good.
3 Here Jesus, in ten thousand ways, His soul-attracting charms displays; Recounts his poverty and pains, And tells his love in melting strains.
4 May this blest volume ever lie Close to my heart, and near my eye— Till life’s last hour my soul engage, And be my chosen heritage!
269 L. M. Pentecost. Acts 2.
Great was the day, the joy was great, When the beloved disciples met; And on their heads the Spirit came, And sat like tongues of cloven flame.
2 What gifts, what miracles he gave! The power to kill, the power to save, Furnished their tongues with wondrous words, Instead of shields, and spears, and swords.
3 Thus armed, he sent the champions forth, From east to west, from south to north; Go, and assert your Saviour’s cause— Go, spread the mystery of the cross!
4 These weapons of the holy war, Of what almighty force they are To make our stubborn passions bow, And lay the proudest rebel low!
5 The Greeks and Jews, the learned and rude, Are by these heavenly arms subdued; While Satan rages at his loss, And hates the doctrine of the cross.
270 S. M. How beautiful are the feet, etc. Rom. 10:15.
How beauteous are their feet Who stand on Zion’s hill! Who bring salvation on their tongues, And words of peace reveal!
2 How charming is their voice! How sweet the tidings are! “Zion, behold thy Saviour King, He reigns and triumphs here.”
3 How happy are our ears That hear this joyful sound, Which kings and prophets waited for, And sought, but never found!
4 How blesséd are our eyes That see this heavenly light! Prophets and kings desired it long, But died without the sight.
5 The watchmen join their voice, And tuneful notes employ; Jerusalem breaks forth in songs, And deserts learn the joy.
6 The Lord makes bare his arm Through all the earth abroad; Let every nation now behold Their Saviour and their God.
271 S. M. Power of God’s word.
Behold, the morning sun Begins his glorious way; His beams through all the nations run, And light and life convey.
2 But where the gospel comes, It spreads diviner light; It calls dead sinners from their tombs, And gives the blind their sight.
3 How perfect is thy word! And all thy judgments just! For ever sure thy promise, Lord, And we securely trust.
4 My gracious God, how plain Are thy directions given! O, may I never read in vain, But find the path to heaven.
272 8s & 7s. The gospel trumpet.
Hark! how the gospel trumpet sounds! Through all the world the echo bounds! And Jesus, by redeeming blood, Is bringing sinners back to God, And guides them safely by his word To endless day.
2 Hail, Jesus! all victorious Lord! Be thou by all mankind adored! For us didst thou the fight maintain, And o’er our foes the victory gain, That we with thee might ever reign In endless day.
3 Fight on, ye conquering souls, fight on, And when the conquest you have won, Then palms of victory you shall hear, And in his kingdom have a share, And crowns of glory ever wear, In endless day.
4 There we shall in full chorus join, With saints and angels all combine To sing of his redeeming love, When rolling years shall cease to move, And this shall be our theme above, In endless day.
273 H. M. The year of jubilee.
Blow 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.
2 Exalt the Lamb of God, The sin-atoning Lamb; Redemption by his blood, Through all the lands, proclaim: The year of jubilee is come; Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.
3 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.
4 The gospel trumpet hear, The news of pardoning grace: Ye happy souls, draw near; Behold your Saviour’s face: The year of jubilee is come; Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.
5 Jesus, our great High Priest, Has full atonement made; Ye weary spirits, rest; Ye mourning souls, be glad: The year of jubilee is come; Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.
274 8s, peculiar. The royal proclamation.
Hear the royal proclamation, The glad tidings of salvation, Publishing to every creature, To the ruined sons of nature, Jesus reigns—he reigns victorious, Over heaven and earth most glorious! Jesus reigns.
2 See the royal banners flying, Hear the heralds loudly crying: “Rebel sinners, royal favor Now is offered by the Saviour.”
3 Here is wine, and milk, and honey, Come and purchase without money, Mercy like a flowing fountain Streaming from the holy mountain.
4 Shout, you tongues of every nation, To the bounds of the creation, Shout the praise of Judah’s Lion, The almighty King of Zion.
5 Shout, O saints! make joyful mention, Christ has purchased our redemption; Angels, shout the joyful story, Through the brighter worlds of glory.
275 6s & 4s. Holding forth the word of life. Phil. 2:16.
Sound, sound the truth abroad! Bear ye the word of God Through the wide world; Tell what our Lord has done, Tell how the day is won, Tell from his lofty throne Satan is hurled.
2 Far over sea and land, Go at your Lord’s command, Bear ye his name; Bear it to every shore, Regions unknown explore, Enter at every door; Silence is shame.
3 Speed on the wings of love; Jesus who reigns above Bids us to fly; They who his message bear Should neither doubt nor fear; He will their friend appear, He will be nigh.
4 When on the mighty deep, He will their spirits keep, Stayed on his word; When in a foreign land, No other friend at hand, Jesus will by them stand, Jesus their Lord.
INVITATIONS.
276 L. M. peculiar. Haste thee; escape thither. Gen. 19:22.
Haste, traveler, 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, traveler, haste!
2 Awake, awake! pursue thy way With steady course, while yet ’tis day; While thou art sleeping on the ground, Danger and darkness gather round; Haste, traveler, haste!
3 The rising tempest sweeps the sky; The rains descend, the winds are high; The waters swell, and death and fear Beset thy path; no refuge near: Haste, traveler, haste!
4 Haste, while a shelter you may gain— A covert from the wind and rain; A hiding-place, a rest, a home— A refuge from the wrath to come: Haste, traveler, haste!
5 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, traveler, haste!
277 L. M. The night cometh. John 9:4.
While life prolongs its precious light, Mercy is found, and peace is given; But soon, ah! soon, approaching night Shall blot out every hope of heaven.
2 While God invites, how blest the day! How sweet the gospel’s charming sound! Come, sinners, haste, O haste away, While yet a pardoning God is found.
3 Soon, borne on time’s most rapid wing, Shall death command you to the grave, Before his bar your spirits bring, And none be found to hear or save.
4 In that lone land of deep despair, No Sabbath’s heavenly light shall rise; No God regard your bitter prayer, Nor Saviour call you to the skies.
5 Now God invites, how blest the day! How sweet the gospel’s charming sound! Come, sinners, haste, O haste away, While yet a pardoning God is found.
278 L. M. Come unto me. Matt. 11:28.
With tearful eyes I look around; Life seems a dark and stormy sea; Yet midst the gloom I hear a sound, A heavenly whisper, Come to me!
2 It tells me of a place of rest; It tells me where my soul may flee: O! to the weary, faint, opprest, How sweet the bidding, Come to me!
3 Come, for all else must fail and die; Earth is no resting-place for thee; To heaven direct thy weeping eye; I am thy portion; Come to me!
4 O voice of mercy, voice of love! In conflict, grief, and agony, Support me, cheer me from above, And gently whisper, Come to me!
279 L. M. To-day, if you will hear his voice. Heb. 4:7.
To-day, if you will hear his voice, Now is the time to make your choice; Say will you to Mount Zion go? Say, will you come to Christ or no?
2 Say, will you be for ever blest, And with this glorious Jesus rest? Will you be saved from guilt and pain? Will you with Christ for ever reign?
3 Make now your choice, and halt no more; He now is waiting for the poor: Say, now, poor souls, what will you do? Say, will you come to Christ or no?
4 Fathers and sons for ruin bound, Amidst the gospel’s joyful sound, Come, go with us, and seek to prove The joys of Christ’s redeeming love.
5 Matrons and maids, we look to you; Are you resolved to perish, too? To rush in carnal pleasures on, And sink in flaming ruin down?
6 Once more we ask you in his name, (We know his love remains the same), Say, will you to Mount Zion go? Say, will you come to Christ or no?
280 L. M. An evening expostulation.
O, do not let the word depart, And close thine eye against the light; Poor sinner, harden not thy heart; Thou wouldst be saved; why not to-night?
2 To-morrow’s sun may never rise To bless thy long deluded sight; This is the time; O, then be wise! Thou wouldst be saved; why not to-night?
3 Our God in pity lingers still; And wilt thou thus his love requite? Renounce at length thy stubborn will; Thou wouldst be saved; why not to-night?
4 Our blesséd Lord refuses none Who would to him their souls unite; Then be the work of grace begun: Thou wouldst be saved; why not to-night?
281 L. M. Inviting.
Come, weary souls, with sin distressed, Come and accept the promised rest; The Saviour’s gracious call obey, And cast your gloomy fears away.
2 Oppressed with guilt, a heavy load, O! come and bow before your God; Divine compassion, mighty love, Will all the painful load remove.
3 Here mercy’s boundless ocean flows To cleanse your guilt and heal your woes; Pardon, and life, and endless peace— How rich the gift, how free the grace!
4 Lord, we accept with thankful heart The hope thy gracious words impart: We come with trembling, yet rejoice, And bless thy kind inviting voice.
282 L. M. One thing needful.
Why will ye waste on trifling cares That life which God’s compassion spares; While, in the various range of thought, The one thing needful is forgot?
2 Shall God invite you from above? Shall Jesus urge his dying love? Shall troubled conscience give you pain? And all these pleas unite in vain?
3 Not so your eyes will always view Those objects which you now pursue: Not so will heaven and hell appear When death’s decisive hour is near.
4 Almighty God! thy power impart; Fix deep conviction on each heart; Nor let us waste on trifling cares That life which thy compassion spares.
283 L. M. The broad and the narrow way. Matt. 7:13, 14.
Broad is the road that leads to death; And thousands walk together there; But wisdom shows a narrow path, With here and there a traveler.
2 “Deny thyself, and take thy cross,” Is the Redeemer’s great command; Nature must count her gold but dross, If she would gain this heavenly land.
3 The fearful soul that tires and faints, And walks the ways of God no more, Is but esteemed almost a saint, And makes his own destruction sure.
4 Lord, let my hopes be not in vain, Create my heart entirely new; This hypocrites could ne’er attain; This false apostates never knew.
284 L. M. Ecclesiastes 9:10.
Life is the time to serve the Lord, The time t’ insure the great reward; And while the lamp holds out to burn, O hasten, sinner, to return!
2 Life is the hour that God has given To ’scape from hell and fly to heaven, The day of grace, when mortals may Secure the blessings of the day.
3 The living know that they must die, Beneath the clods their dust must lie; Then have no share in all that’s done Beneath the circle of the sun.
4 Then what my thoughts design to do, My hands, with all your might pursue: Since no device nor work is found, Nor faith, nor hope, beneath the ground.
5 There are no acts of pardon passed In the cold grave to which we haste; O may we all receive thy grace, And see with joy thy smiling face.
285 C. M. Come, for all things are now ready. Luke 14:17.
Come, sinners, to the gospel feast; O, do no longer stay; Let every soul be Jesus’ guest, O, do no longer stay away! CHORUS. O, do no longer stay away, For now your Saviour calls, And the gospel sounds the jubilee; O, do no longer stay away.
2 Hark! ’tis the Saviour’s gracious call, The invitation is to all; Come, all the world—come, sinner, thou— All things in Christ are ready now.
3 Come, all you souls by sin oppressed, You weary wanderers after rest; You poor and maimed, and halt and blind, In Christ a hearty welcome find.
4 The message, as from God, receive— You all may come to Christ and live; O let his love your hearts constrain, Nor suffer him to call in vain.
5 This is the time—no more delay; The Saviour calls you all to-day: O may his call effectual prove! Accept the offers of his love!
286 C. M. Hear and your soul shall live. Isaiah 55:3.
Let every mortal ear attend, And every heart rejoice; The trumpet of the gospel sounds With an inviting voice:
2 Ho! all you hungry, starving souls, Who feed upon the wind, And vainly strive with earthly toys To fill an empty mind.
3 Eternal wisdom has prepared A soul-reviving feast, And bids your longing appetites The rich provision taste.
4 Ho! you that pant for living streams, And pine away and die, Here may you quench your raging thirst With springs that never dry.
5 Rivers of love and mercy here In a rich ocean join; Salvation in abundance flows, Like floods of milk and wine.
6 Great God! the treasures of thy love Are everlasting mines, Deep as our helpless miseries are, And boundless as our sins.
7 The happy gates of gospel grace Stand open night and day: Lord, we are come to seek supplies, And drive our wants away.
287 C. M. For there is no difference. Rom. 10:12.
How free and boundless is the grace Of our redeeming God! Extending to the Greek and Jew, And men of every blood.
2 Come, all you wretched sinners, come, He’ll form your souls anew; His gospel and his heart have room For rebels such as you.
3 His doctrine is almighty love; There’s virtue in his name To turn a raven to a dove, A lion to a lamb.
4 Come, then, accept the offered grace, And make no more delay; His love will all your guilt efface, And soothe your fears away.
288 C. M. Let him return unto the Lord. Isaiah 55:7.
Return, O wanderer, now return, And seek thy Father’s face; Those new desires which in thee burn Were kindled by his grace.
2 Return, O wanderer, now return! He hears thy humble sigh! He sees thy softened spirit mourn, When no one else is nigh.
3 Return, O wanderer, now return! Thy Saviour bids thee live; Go to his feet, and grateful learn How freely he’ll forgive.
4 Return, O wanderer, now return! And wipe the falling tear; Thy Father calls—no longer mourn, ’Tis love invites thee near.
289 C. M. Incline your ear, and come. Isaiah 55:3.
The Saviour calls; let every ear Attend the heavenly sound; Ye doubting souls, dismiss your fear; Hope smiles reviving round.
2 For every thirsty, longing heart, Here streams of bounty flow, And life, and health, and bliss impart, To banish mortal woe.
3 Ye sinners, come; ’tis mercy’s voice; That gracious voice obey; ’Tis Jesus calls to heavenly joys; And can you yet delay?
4 Dear Saviour, draw reluctant hearts; To thee let sinners fly, And take the bliss thy love imparts, And drink, and never die.
290 C. M. Let him that is athirst, come. Rev. 22:17.
O what amazing words of grace Are in the gospel found, Suited to every sinner’s case Who hears the joyful sound!
2 Come, then, with all your wants and wounds Your every burden bring; Here love, unchanging love, abounds— A deep celestial spring.
3 This spring with living water flows, And heavenly joy imparts; Come, thirsty souls! your wants disclose, And drink with thankful hearts.
4 Millions of sinners, vile as you, Have here found life and peace; Come then, and prove its virtues too, And drink, adore, and bless.
291 C. M. That whoso believeth might not perish. John 3:15.
Come, humble sinner, in whose breast A thousand thoughts revolve; Come, with your guilt and fear oppressed, And make this last resolve:
2 I’ll go to Jesus, though my sin Has like a mountain rose; His kingdom now I’ll enter in, Whatever may oppose.
3 Humbly I’ll bow at his command, And there my guilt confess; I’ll own I am a wretch undone, Without his sovereign grace.
4 Surely he will accept my plea, For he has bid me come; Forthwith I’ll rise, and to him flee, For yet, he says, there’s room.
5 I can not perish if I go; I am resolved to try: For if I stay away, I know I must for ever die.
292 C. M. Come to the Ark. Gen. 7:1.
Come to the ark, come to the ark; To Jesus come away; The pestilence walks forth by night, The arrow flies by day.
2 Come to the ark; the waters rise, The seas their billows rear: While darkness gathers o’er the skies, Behold a refuge near!
3 Come to the ark, all, all that weep Beneath the sense of sin: Without, deep calleth unto deep, But all is peace within.
4 Come to the ark, ere yet the flood Your lingering steps oppose; Come, for the door, which open stood, Is now about to close.
293 C. M. He that cometh to me shall never hunger. John 6:35.
Ye wretched, hungry, starving poor, Behold a royal feast, Where mercy spreads her bounteous store For every humble guest.
2 See, Jesus stands with open arms; He calls, he bids you come; Guilt holds you back, and fear alarms, But see, there yet is room,
3 Room in the Saviour’s bleeding heart; There love and pity meet: Nor will he bid the soul depart That trembles at his feet.
4 O come, and with his children taste The blessings of his love, While hope attends the sweet repast Of nobler joys above.
5 There, with united heart and voice, Before th’ eternal throne, Ten thousand thousand souls rejoice In ecstasies unknown.
6 And yet ten thousand thousand more Are welcome still to come; Ye longing souls, the grace adore; Approach—there yet is room.
294 C. M. In this mountain shall the Lord, etc. Isaiah 25:6.
The King of heaven his table spreads, And dainties crown the board; Not paradise, with all its joys, Could such delights afford.
2 Pardon and peace to dying men, And endless life are given, Through the rich blood that Jesus shed, To raise our souls to heaven.
3 You hungry poor, that long have strayed In sin’s dark mazes, come; Come from your most obscure retreat, And grace shall find you room.
4 Millions of souls in glory now Were fed and feasted here; And millions more still on the way Around the board appear.
5 Yet are his heart and house so large That millions more may come: Nor could the whole assembled world O’erfill the spacious room.
6 All things are ready: come away, Nor weak excuses frame; Crowd to your places at the feast, And bless the Founder’s name.
295 C. M. None excluded.
Jesus, thy blessings are not few, Nor is thy gospel weak; Thy grace can melt the stubborn Jew, And heal the dying Greek.
2 Wide as the reach of Satan’s rage Doth thy salvation flow; ’Tis not confined to sex nor age, The lofty nor the low.
3 While grace is offered to the prince, The poor may take his share; No mortal has a just pretense To perish in despair.
4 Come, all ye wretched sinners, come, He’ll form your souls anew; His gospel and his heart have room For rebels such as you.
5 His doctrine is almighty love; There’s virtue in his name To turn the raven to a dove, The lion to a lamb.
296 C. M. peculiar. Draw nigh to God, etc. James 4:8.
Return, O wanderer, to thy home, Thy Father calls for thee; No longer now an exile roam, In guilt and misery: Return, return!
2 Return, O wanderer, to thy home, ’Tis Jesus calls for thee; The Spirit and the Bride say—come; O! now for refuge flee; Return, return!
3 Return, O wanderer, to thy home, ’Tis madness to delay; There are no pardons in the tomb, And brief is mercy’s day: Return, return!
297 S. M. Now is the accepted time. 2 Cor. 6:2.
Now is th’ accepted time, Now is the day of grace; Now, sinners, come, without delay, And seek the Saviour’s face.
2 Now is th’ accepted time, The Saviour calls to-day; To-morrow it may be too late— Then why should you delay?
3 Now is th’ accepted time, The gospel bids you come; And every promise in his word Declares there yet is room.
298 S. M. Now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor. 6:2.
Now is the day of grace; Now to the Saviour come; The Lord is calling, “Seek my face, And I will guide you home.”
2 The Father bids you speed; O, wherefore then delay? He calls in love; he sees your need; He bids you come to-day.
3 To-day the prize is won; The promise is to save; Then, O, be wise; to-morrow’s sun May shine upon your grave.
299 S. M. Give me thy heart. Prov. 23:26.
Give to the Lord thine heart; In him all pleasures meet: O, come and choose the better part, Low at the Saviour’s feet.
2 Hear, and your soul shall live; His peace shall be your stay— Peace, which the world can never give, Can never take away.
300 S. M. Where shall the ungodly, etc. 1 Pet. 4:18.
And will the Judge descend? And must the dead arise? And not a single soul escape His all-discerning eyes?
2 How will my heart endure The terrors of that day, When earth and heaven before his face, Astonished, shrink away?
3 But ere the trumpet shakes The mansions of the dead; Hark! from the Gospel’s cheering sound, What joyful tidings spread.
4 Ye sinners! seek his grace, Whose wrath you can not bear; Flee to the shelter of his cross, And find salvation there.
5 Come! take his offers now, From every sin depart, Perform thy oft-repeated vow, And render him thy heart.
6 Repent! return! receive The grace through Jesus given; Sure, if with God on earth we live, We live with God in heaven.
301 S. M. The gospel call.
Ye trembling captives! hear; The gospel-trumpet sounds; No music more can charm the ear, Or heal your heart-felt wounds.
2 ’Tis not the trump of war, Nor Sinai’s awful roar; Salvation’s news it spreads afar, And vengeance is no more.
3 Forgiveness, love, and peace, Glad heaven aloud proclaims; And earth, the jubilee’s release, With eager rapture claims.
4 Far, far to distant lands The saving news shall spread; And Jesus all his willing bands In glorious triumph lead.
302 S. M. Boast not thyself of to-morrow. Prov. 27:1.
To-morrow, Lord! is thine, Lodged in thy sovereign hand; And if its sun arise and shine, It shines by thy command.
2 The present moment flies, And bears our life away; O, make thy servants truly wise, That they may live to-day.
3 Since on this fleeting hour Eternity is hung, Awake, by thine almighty power, The agéd and the young.
4 One thing demands our care; O, be it still pursued! Lest, slighted once, the season fair Should never be renewed.
5 To Jesus may we fly, Swift as the morning light, Lest life’s young, golden beams should die In sudden, endless night.
303 7s, 6 lines. Come and welcome.
From the cross, uplifted high, Where the Saviour deigns to die, What melodious sounds we hear, Bursting on the ravished ear! “Love’s redeeming work is done; Come and welcome, sinner, come.
2 “Sprinkled now with blood the throne, Why beneath thy burdens groan? On my piercéd body laid, Justice owns the ransom paid; Bow the knee, embrace the Son; Come and welcome, sinner, come.
3 “Spread for thee the festal board, See with richest dainties stored; To thy Father’s bosom pressed, Yet again a child confessed, Never from his house to roam— Come and welcome, sinner, come.
4 “Soon the days of life shall end; Lo! I come, your Saviour, Friend, Safe your spirits to convey To the realms of endless day, Up to my eternal home; Come and welcome, sinner, come.”
304 7s. Turn ye; for why will ye die? Ezekiel 18:31.
Sinners, turn—why will you die? God, your Maker, asks you why: God, who did your being give, Made you with himself to live.
2 Sinners, turn—why will you die? Christ, your Saviour, asks you why; He, who did your souls retrieve, He, who died that you might live.
3 Will you let him die in vain? Crucify your Lord again? Why, you ransomed sinners, why, Will you slight his grace and die?
4 Will you not his grace receive? Will you still refuse to live? O! you dying sinners, why— Why will you for ever die?
305 7s, double. What could have been done, etc. Isaiah 5:4.
What could your Redeemer do More than he has done for you? To procure your peace with God, Could he more than shed his blood? After all this flow of love, All his drawings from above, Why will you your Lord deny? Why will you resolve to die?
2 Turn, he cries, O sinner, turn! By his life your God hath sworn He would have you turn and live, He would all the world receive: If your death were his delight, Would he thus to life invite? Would he ask, beseech and cry, Why will you resolve to die?
3 Sinners, turn, while God is near! He has left you naught to fear; Now, e’en now, your Saviour stands, All day long he spreads his hands: Cries, “You will not happy be, No, you will not come to me: Me who life to none deny— Why will you resolve to die?”
4 Can you doubt that God is love, Who thus calls you from above? Will you not his word receive? Will you not his oath believe? See, the suffering Lord appears; Jesus weeps—believe his tears! Mingled with his blood, they cry, “Why will you resolve to die?”
306 7s. Earnest entreaty.
Haste, O sinner, to be wise, Stay not for the morrow’s sun; Wisdom warns thee from the skies, All the paths of death to shun.
2 Haste, and mercy now implore; Stay not for the morrow’s sun; Thy probation may be o’er Ere this evening’s work is done.
3 Haste, O sinner, now return; Stay not for the morrow’s sun; Lest thy lamp should cease to burn Ere salvation’s work is done.
4 Haste, while yet thou canst be blest; Stay not for the morrow’s sun, Death may thy poor soul arrest Ere the morrow is begun.
307 7s. Fullness of Christ.
Bleeding hearts, defiled by sin, Jesus Christ can make you clean; Contrite souls, with guilt oppressed, Jesus Christ can give you rest.
2 You that mourn o’er follies past, Precious hours and years laid waste; Turn to God, O turn and live, Jesus Christ can still forgive.
3 You that oft have wandered far From the light of Bethlehem’s star, Trembling, now your steps retrace, Jesus Christ is full of grace.
4 Souls benighted and forlorn, Grieved, afflicted, tempest-worn, Now in Israel’s rock confide, Jesus Christ for man has died.
5 Fainting souls, in peril’s hour, Yield not to the tempter’s power; On the risen Lord rely, Jesus Christ now reigns on high.
308 7s, double. Flee from the wrath to come. Matt. 3:7.
Sinner, art thou still secure? Wilt thou still refuse to pray? Can thy heart or hands endure In the Lord’s avenging day? See his mighty arm made bare! Awful terrors clothe his brow! For his judgment now prepare, Thou must either break or bow.
2 At his presence nature shakes; Earth, affrighted, hastes to flee; Solid mountains melt like wax; What will then become of thee? Who his coming may abide? You that glory in your shame, Will you find a place to hide When the world is wrapt in flame?
3 Then the great, the rich, the wise, Trembling, guilty, self-condemned, Must behold the wrathful eyes Of the Judge they once blasphemed. Where are now their haughty looks? O! their horror and despair, When they see the opened books, And their dreadful sentence hear!
4 Lord, prepare us by thy grace: Soon we must resign our breath, And our souls be called to pass Through the iron gate of death. Let us now our days improve, Listen to the gospel voice; Seek the things that are above; Scorn the world’s pretended joys.
309 7s, 6 lines. My peace I give unto you. John 14:27.
Ye who in his courts are found Listening to the joyful sound, Lost and hopeless as ye are, Sons of sorrow, sin and care, Glorify the King of kings; Take the peace the gospel brings.
2 Turn to Christ your longing eyes; View his bleeding sacrifice; See in him your sins forgiven, Pardon, holiness, and heaven; Glorify the King of kings; Take the peace the gospel brings.
310 7s. The night is past. 1 John 2:8.
Weeping sinners, dry your tears; Jesus on the throne appears; Mercy comes with balmy wing, Bids you his salvation sing.
2 Peace he brings you by his death, Peace he speaks with every breath; Can you slight such heavenly charms? Flee, O flee to Jesus’ arms.
311 8s & 7s. The pearl of great price. Matt. 13:46.
Sinner, seek the priceless treasure, Offered without price from God; Here is mercy without measure, Flowing in the Saviour’s blood. Come, then, to the fount of healing, Come, and prove its virtues true; Turn not from love’s sweet appealing, Jesus shed his blood for you!
2 Come, begin the race for heaven; Start to-day, O do not wait; Now’s the time that God has given; Sinner, do not be too late. When the door of mercy closes, You will stand and knock in vain; For, when justice interposes, Mercy will not call again!
312 8s, 7s & 4s. Look unto me and be saved. Isaiah 45:22.
Come, you sinners, poor and needy, Weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love and power; He is able, He is willing—doubt no more.
2 Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream; All the fitness he requireth, Is to feel your need of him; This he gives you, ’Tis the Saviour’s rising beam.
3 Come, you weary, heavy laden, Bruised and mangled by the fall; If you tarry till you’re better, You will never come at all: Not the righteous— Sinners Jesus came to call.
4 Agonizing in the garden, Lo! your Saviour prostrate lies! On the bloody tree behold him! Hear him cry before he dies, “It is finished!” Sinners, will not this suffice?
5 Lo! the rising Lord, ascending, Pleads the virtue of his blood: Venture on him, venture freely, Let no other trust intrude: None but Jesus Can do helpless sinners good.
6 Saints and angels, joined in concert, Sing the praises of the Lamb, While the blissful seats of heaven Sweetly echo to his name, Hallelujah! Sinners now his love proclaim.
313 8s & 7s. We are on the ocean sailing.
We are on the ocean sailing, Homeward bound we sweetly glide; We are on the ocean sailing, To a home beyond the tide. Chorus.— All the storms will soon be over, Then we’ll anchor in the harbor; We are out on the ocean sailing To a home beyond the tide.
2 Millions now are safely landed Over on the golden shore; Millions more are on their journey, Yet there’s room for millions more;
3 Come on board, O ship for glory, Be in haste, make up your mind, For our vessel’s weighing anchor— You will soon be left behind.
4 You have kindred over yonder, On that bright and happy shore; By and by we’ll swell the number; When the toils of life are o’er.
5 Spread your sails, while heavenly breezes Gently waft our vessel on; All on board are sweetly singing; Free salvation is the song.
6 When we all are safely landed, Over on the shining shore, We will walk about the city, And we’ll sing for evermore.
All the storms of life are over, Landed in the port of glory: Now no more on the ocean sailing— Safe at home beyond the tide.
314 8s, 7s & 4. He that hath ears let him hear. Matt. 13:9.
Sinners, will you scorn the message Sent in mercy from above? Every sentence, O how tender! Every line is full of love; Listen to it; Every line is full of love.
2 Hear the heralds of the gospel News from Zion’s King proclaim; “Pardon to each rebel sinner; Free forgiveness in his name:” O how gracious! “Free forgiveness in his name.”
3 Will you not receive the message— Listen to the joyful word; And embrace the news of pardon Offered to you by the Lord? Can you slight it— Offered to you by the Lord?
4 O ye angels, hovering round us, Waiting spirits, speed your way, Haste ye to the court of heaven; Tidings bear without delay; Rebel sinners Glad the message will obey.
315 8s, 7s & 4. The gospel invitation.
Listen to the gospel, telling How the Lord was crucified; How upon the cross he suffered, When he bowed his head and died, All for sinners! Come, then, to his bleeding side.
2 Listen to the gospel calling! Hear, O sinner, and obey! Come to Jesus, he will save you, Now, no longer stay away; He invites you; Sinner, then, make no delay,
3 Listen to the gospel pleading, Hasten, sinner, to arise; Come and cast yourself on Jesus, He to none his love denies; Trust him freely, Wait no longer; now be wise.
4 Listen to the gospel blessing All who trust the Saviour’s love; And to those who now obey him, Bringing pardon from above; Careless sinner, Will you still refuse to move?
5 Listen to the gospel warning; All who stay away must die; Come, then, while all things are ready, Mercy calls you from on high; Come and welcome, Hear, O hear the Saviour cry!
316 8s, 7s & 4. The voice of mercy.
Hear, O sinner! mercy hails you, Now with sweetest voice she calls; Bids you haste to seek the Saviour, Ere the hand of Justice falls: Trust in Jesus; ’Tis the voice of mercy calls.
2 Haste, O sinner! to the Saviour— Seek his mercy while you may; Soon the day of grace is over; Soon your life will pass away! Haste to Jesus; You must perish if you stay.
317 7s, 6s & 7s. The alarm.
Stop, poor sinner, stop and think, Before you further go; Will you sport upon the brink Of everlasting woe! On the verge of ruin stop— Now the friendly warning take— Stay your footsteps—ere you drop Into the burning lake.
2 Say, have you an arm like God, That you his will oppose? Fear ye not that iron rod With which he breaks his foes? Can you stand in that dread day Which his justice shall proclaim— When the earth shall melt away Like wax before the flame?
3 Ghastly death will quickly come, And drag you to his bar; Then, to hear your awful doom, Will fill you with despair! All your sins will round you crowd— You shall mark their crimson dye— Each for vengeance crying loud; And what can you reply?
4 Though your heart were made of steel, Your forehead lined with brass, God at length will make you feel— He will not let you pass: Sinners then in vain will call— Those who now despise his grace— “Rocks and mountains, on us fall, And hide us from his face.”
318 8s & 6s. If any man thirst, let him come unto me. John 7:37.
Burdened with guilt, wouldst thou be blest? Trust not the world; it gives no rest: I bring relief to hearts oppressed; O, weary sinner, come!
2 Come, leave thy burden at the cross; Count all thy gains but empty dross; My grace repays all earthly loss: O, needy sinner, come!
3 Come, hither bring thy boding fears, Thine aching heart, thy bursting tears; ’Tis mercy’s voice salutes thine ears: O, trembling sinner, come!
4 “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come;” Rejoicing saints re-echo, Come! Who faints, who thirsts, who will, may come: Thy Saviour bids thee come.
319 6s. Sinner, come.
Sinner! come, ’mid thy gloom, All thy guilt confessing; Trembling now, contrite bow, Take the offered blessing.
2 Sinner! come, while there’s room— While the feast is waiting; While the Lord, by his word, Kindly is inviting.
3 Sinner! come, ere thy doom Shall be sealed for ever; Now return, grieve and mourn, Flee to Christ, the Saviour.
4 Sinner! come to thy home, High in heaven gleaming; To the sky lift thine eye, With true sorrow streaming.
5 Sinner! haste, time fleets fast, And the grave is yawning; Win renown, seize the crown, Eternity is dawning.
320 8s & 3s. Will you go?
We’re traveling home to heaven above; Will you go? To sing the Saviour’s dying love; Will you go? Millions have reached that blest abode, Anointed kings and priests to God, And millions more are on the road; Will you go?
2 We’re going to see the bleeding Lamb; Will you go? In rapturous strains to praise his name; Will you go? The crown of life we there shall wear, The conqueror’s palms our hands shall bear, And all the joys of heaven we’ll share; Will you go?
3 We’re going to join the heavenly choir; Will you go? To raise our voice and tune the lyre; Will you go? There saints and angels gladly sing Hosanna to their God and King, And make the heavenly arches ring; Will you go?
4 Ye weary, heavy-laden, come; Will you go? In the blest house there still is room; Will you go? The Lord is waiting to receive, If thou wilt on him now believe, He’ll give thy troubled conscience ease; Come, believe.
5 The way to heaven is straight and plain, Will you go? Believe, repent, be born again; Will you go? The Saviour cries aloud to thee “Take up thy cross, and follow me, And thou shalt my salvation see; Come to me.”
6 O, could I hear some sinner say, I will go, I’ll start this moment, clear the way, Let me go! My old companions, fare you well, I will not go with you to hell, With Jesus Christ I mean to dwell, Let me go! fare you well.
321 9s & 8s. The Spirit and the Bride say come. Rev. 22:17.
All you that are weary and sad—come! And you that are cheerful and glad—come! In robes of humility clad—come! The Saviour invites you to-day. CHORUS. Let youth in its freshness and bloom—come! Let man in the pride of his noon—come! Let age on the verge of the tomb—come! Let none in his pride stay away.
2 Let the halt, and the maimed, and the blind—come! Let all who are freely inclined—come! With an humble and peaceable mind—come! Away from the waters of strife.
3 The Spirit and Bride freely say—Come! And let him that heareth it, say—Come! And let him that thirsteth to-day—come! And drink of the fountain of life.
322 6s & 4s, peculiar. The garment of praise, etc. Isaiah 61:3.
Child of sin and sorrow, filled with dismay, Wait not for to-morrow, yield thee to-day; Heaven bids thee come While yet there’s room: Child of sin and sorrow, Hear and obey.
2 Child of sin and sorrow, why wilt thou die? Come, while thou canst borrow help from on high: Grieve not that love, Which from above— Child of sin and sorrow— Would bring thee nigh.
3 Child of sin and sorrow, where wilt thou flee? Through that long to-morrow, eternity! Exiled from home, Darkly to roam— Child of sin and sorrow, Where wilt thou flee?
4 Child of sin and sorrow, lift up thine eye! Heirship thou canst borrow in worlds on high! In that high home, Graven thy name; Child of sin and sorrow, Swift homeward fly!
323 6s & 4s. To-day.
To-day the Saviour calls. Ye wanderers, come: O, ye benighted souls Why longer roam?
2 To-day the Saviour calls; O, hear him now; Within these sacred walls To Jesus bow.
3 To-day the Saviour calls; For refuge fly; The storm of vengeance falls, And death is nigh.
4 The Spirit calls to-day; Yield to his power; O, grieve him not away; ’Tis mercy’s hour.
324 P. M. Come.
Come—come—come to the Saviour, Rich—rich mercy receive; Here—here you will find pardon, Jesus from sin will relieve; Come—come—come—come, Come to the Saviour and live.
2 Come—come laden and weary, Christ Christ calls thee to come; Leave—leave paths dark and dreary, Cease from the Saviour to roam; Come—come—come—come, Jesus will guide thee safe home.
3 Come—come seek his salvation, Now—now hear and obey; Hark—hark the sweet invitation, Angels invite you away; Come—come—come—come, Sinner, believe and obey.
4 Hark—hark, angels are singing, Love—love—love is their theme; Peace—peace joyfully bringing, Mercy from God the Supreme: Come—come—come—come, Jesus is rich to redeem.
325 7s & 6s. Early piety.
O come in life’s gay morning, Ere in thy sunny way The flowers of hope have withered, And sorrow end thy day. Come, while from joy’s bright fountain The streams of pleasure flow, Come ere thy buoyant spirits Have felt the blight of wo.
2 “Remember thy Creator” Now in thy youthful days, And he will guide thy footsteps Through life’s uncertain maze. “Remember thy Creator,” He calls in tones of love, And offers deathless glories In brighter worlds above.
3 And in the hour of sadness, When earthly joys depart, His love shall be thy solace, And cheer thy drooping heart. And when life’s storm is over, And thou from earth art free, Thy God will be thy portion Throughout eternity.
326 H. M. The year of jubilee.
Fair shines the morning star, The silver trumpets sound, Their notes re-echoing far, While dawns the day around: Joy to the slave; the slave is free; It is the year of jubilee.
2 Prisoners of hope, in gloom And silence left to die, With Christ’s unfolding tomb, Your portals open fly; Rise with your Lord; he sets you free; It is the year of jubilee.
3 Ye, who yourselves have sold For debts to justice due, Ransomed, but not with gold, He gave himself for you! The blood of Christ hath made you free; It is the year of jubilee.
4 Captives of sin and shame, O’er earth and ocean, hear An angel’s voice proclaim The Lord’s accepted year; Let Jacob rise, be Israel free; It is the year of jubilee.
327 6s & 7s. The land of promise.
Sinner, go; will you go To the highlands of heaven? Where the storms never blow, And the long summer’s given; Where the bright, blooming flowers Are their odors emitting; And the leaves of the bowers In the breezes are flitting.
2 Where the rich golden fruit Is in bright clusters pending, And the deep laden boughs, Of life’s fair tree are bending; And where life’s crystal stream Is unceasingly flowing, And the verdure is green, And eternally growing.
2 Where the saints robed in white— Cleansed in life’s flowing fountain— Shining beauteous and bright, They inhabit the mountain; Where no sin, nor dismay, Neither trouble nor sorrow, Will be felt for a day, Nor be feared for the morrow.
4 He’s prepared thee a home— Sinner, canst thou believe it? And invites thee to come, Sinner, wilt thou receive it? O come, sinner, come, For the tide is receding, And the Saviour will soon, And for ever, cease pleading.
328 9s, 8s & 6s. Awake thou that sleepest.
Hail, ransomed world! awake to glory! For God, the Saviour, bids you rise; Angelic hosts proclaim the story, And speed the tidings from the skies: Shall then the Prince of Darkness reigning, Oppress the earth from pole to pole, And bind in chains the immortal soul— His hands all sacred things profaning? Awake! O Church, awake! The tyrant’s fetters break! In God’s right arm of strength resolved On glorious victory.
2 Far let the gospel-trump be sounding— O’er sea, and continent, and isle; While the sweet voice of grace abounding, Shall make the burdened captive smile. Yes! to a world in bondage lying, Go teach a bleeding Saviour’s name— Freedom from sin and death proclaim, On every breeze salvation flying— And seize the gospel sword! And with our mighty Lord, March on, march on, all hearts resolved On glorious victory.
329 11s. Repent and turn. Ezekiel 18:30.
O turn you! O turn you, for why will you die, When God in his mercy is coming so nigh? Now Jesus invites you, the Spirit says Come, The brethren are waiting to welcome you home.
2 How vain the delusion, that while you delay Your hearts may grow better by staying away; Come wretched, come starving, come just as you be, Here streams of salvation are flowing most free.
3 Here Jesus is ready your souls to receive; O, how can you question, since now you believe? Since sin is your burden, why will you not come? He now bids you welcome—he now says there’s room.
4 In riches, in pleasure, what can you obtain, To soothe your affliction, or banish your pain; To bear up your spirit when summoned to die, Or waft you to mansions of glory on high?
5 Why will you be starving and feeding on air? There’s mercy in Jesus, enough and to spare; If still you are doubting, make trial and see, And prove that his mercy is boundless and free.
330 11s. Delay not.
Delay not, delay not, O sinner, draw near, The waters of life are now flowing for thee; No price is demanded, the Saviour is here, Redemption is purchased—salvation is free.
2 Delay not, delay not! why longer abuse The love and compassion of Jesus our Lord! A fountain is opened; how canst thou refuse To wash and be cleansed in his pardoning blood?
3 Delay not, delay not! O sinner, to come; For mercy still lingers, and calls thee to-day; Her voice is not heard in the vale of the tomb; Her message, unheeded, will soon pass away.
4 Delay not, delay not! the Spirit of grace, Long grieved and resisted, entreats thee to come; Beware, lest in darkness thou finish thy race, And sink to the vale of eternity’s gloom.
5 Delay not, delay not! the hour is at hand, The earth shall dissolve and the heavens shall fade; The dead, small and great, in the judgment shall stand: What power, then, O sinner, shall lend thee its aid?
331 12s, 11s & 6. The Eden above.
We’re bound for the land of the pure and the holy, The home of the happy, the kingdom of love, Ye wanderers from God, in the broad road of folly, O say, will you go to the Eden above, Will you go, will you go, O say, will you go to the Eden above?
2 In that blesséd land neither sighing nor anguish Can breathe in the fields where the glorified move. Ye heart-burdened ones, who in misery languish, O say, will you go to the Eden above? Will you go, etc.
3 Nor fraud, nor deceit, nor the hand of oppression, Can injure the dwellers in that holy grove; No wickedness there, not a shade of transgression: O say, will you go to the Eden above? Will you go, etc.
4 Each saint has a mansion, prepared and all furnished, Ere from this clay house he is summoned to move; Its gates and its towers with glory are burnished, O say, will you go to the Eden above? Will you go, etc.
5 March on, happy pilgrims, that land is before you, And soon its ten thousand delights we shall prove; Yes, soon we shall walk o’er the hills of bright glory, And drink the pure joys of the Eden above. We will go, we will go; O yes, we will go to the Eden above.
6 And yet, guilty sinner, we would not forsake thee, We halt yet a moment as onward we move; O come to thy Lord, in his arms he will take thee, And bear thee along to the Eden above. Will you go, will you go, O say, will you go to the Eden above?
332 12s. The voice of free grace.
The voice of free grace cries, “Escape to the mountain!” For Adam’s lost race Christ hath opened a fountain; For sin and uncleanness, and every transgression, His blood flows most freely in streams of salvation. CHORUS. Hallelujah to the Lamb! he hath purchased our pardon; We’ll praise him again when we pass over Jordan.
2 Ye souls that are wounded! O! flee to the Saviour; He calls you in mercy—’tis infinite favor; Your sins are increasing—escape to the mountain— His blood can remove them, it flows from the fountain.
3 O Jesus! ride onward, triumphantly glorious, O’er sin, death, and hell, thou art more than victorious; Thy name is the theme of the great congregation, While angels and saints raise the shout of salvation.
333 11s & 10s. The wandering sinner, etc.
Restless thy spirit, poor wandering sinner, Restless and roving: O, come to thy home! Return to the arms, to the bosom, of mercy; The Saviour of sinners invites thee to come.
2 Darkness surrounds thee, and tempests are rising, Fearful and dangerous the path thou hast trod; But mercy shines forth in the rainbow of promise, To welcome the wanderer home to his God.
3 Peace to the storm in thy soul shall be spoken, Guilt from thy bosom be banished away; And heaven’s sweet breezes, o’er death’s rolling billows, Shall waft thee at last to the regions of day.
334 12s & 11s. The harvest is past, etc. Jer. 8:20.
Hark, sinner, while God from on high doth entreat thee, And warnings with accents of mercy do blend; Give ear to his voice, lest in judgment he meet thee; “The harvest is passing, the summer will end.”
2 How oft of thy danger and guilt he hath told thee! How oft still the message of mercy doth send! Haste, haste, while he waits in his arms to enfold thee; “The harvest is passing, the summer will end.”
3 Despised and rejected, at length he may leave thee: What anguish and horror thy bosom will rend! Then, haste thee, O sinner, while he will receive thee; “The harvest is passing, the summer will end.”
4 Ere long, and Jehovah will come in his power; Our God will arise, with his foes to contend: Haste, haste thee, O sinner; prepare for that hour; “The harvest is passing, the summer will end.”
5 The Saviour will call thee in judgment before him: O, bow to his scepter, and make him thy Friend; Now yield him thy heart; make haste to adore him; “The harvest is passing, the summer will end.”
335 8s, 6s & 4. Entreaty.
Sinners, come; no longer wander; Turn you from your evil way; Precious time no longer squander: Come, come away.
2 Christ for you his life has offered, What can you excusing say, If you slight the pardon proffered? Come, come away.
3 Hold not back in hesitation, There is danger in delay, Haste, secure your soul’s salvation, Come, come away.
4 You may feel regret and sorrow, If you fail to come to-day, God may grant you no to-morrow, Come, come away.
FAITH AND REPENTANCE.
336 L. M. The wise choice.
Though all the world my choice deride, Yet Jesus shall my portion be; For I am pleased with none beside; The fairest of the fair is he.
2 Sweet is the vision of thy face, And kindness o’er thy lips is shed; Lovely art thou, and full of grace, And glory beams around thy head.
3 Thy sufferings I embrace with thee, Thy poverty and shameful cross; The pleasure of the world I flee, And deem its treasures only dross.
4 Be daily dearer to my heart, And ever let me feel thee near; Then willingly with all I’d part, Nor count it worthy of a tear.
337 L. M. The solace of faith.
When human hopes and joys depart, I give thee, Lord, a contrite heart; And on my weary spirit steal The thoughts that pass all earthly weal.
2 I cast above my tearful eyes, And muse upon the starry skies; And think that he who governs there Still keeps me in his guardian care.
3 I gaze upon the opening flower, Just moistened with the evening shower; And bless the love which made it bloom, To chase away my transient gloom.
4 I think, whene’er this mortal frame Returns again to whence it came, My soul shall wing its happy flight To regions of eternal light.
338 L. M. Christ the soul’s portion.
Let thoughtless thousands choose the road That leads the soul away from God; This happiness, blest Lord, be mine, To live and die entirely thine.
2 On Christ, by faith, my soul would live, From him my life, my all receive; To him devote my fleeting hours, Serve him alone with all my powers.
3 Christ is my everlasting all; To him I look, on him I call; He will my every want supply In time and through eternity.
4 Soon will the Lord, my life, appear; Soon shall I end my trials here; Leave sin and sorrow, death and pain; To live is Christ, to die is gain.
339 L. M. God calling yet.
God calling yet! shall I not hear? Earth’s pleasures shall I still hold dear? Shall life’s swift passing years all fly, And still my soul in slumbers lie?
2 God calling yet! shall I not rise? Can I his loving voice despise, And basely his kind care repay? He calls me still: can I delay?
3 God calling yet! and shall he knock, And I my heart the closer lock? He still is waiting to receive, And shall I dare his Spirit grieve?
4 God calling yet! and shall I give No heed, but still in bondage live? I wait, but he does not forsake; He calls me still! my heart, awake!
5 God calling yet! I can not stay; My heart I yield without delay; Vain world, farewell! from thee I part; The voice of God hath reached my heart.
340 L. M. Christ the Redeemer and Judge.
Now to the Lord, who makes us know The wonders of his dying love, Be humble honors paid below, And strains of nobler praise above.
2 ’Twas he who cleansed us from our sins, And washed us in his precious blood; ’Tis he who makes us priests and kings, And brings us, rebels, near to God.
3 To Jesus, our atoning Priest, To Jesus, our eternal King, Be everlasting power confessed; Let every tongue his glory sing.
4 Behold, on flying clouds he comes, And every eye shall see him move; Though with our sins we pierced him once, Now he displays his pardoning love.
5 The unbelieving world shall wail, While we rejoice to see the day: Come, Lord, nor let thy promise fail, Nor let the chariot long delay.
341 L. M. Self-abasement.
Ah! wretched, vile, ungrateful heart! That can from Jesus thus depart; Thus fond of trifles, widely rove, Forgetful of a Saviour’s love.
2 Dear Lord! to thee I would return, And at thy feet, repentant, mourn; There let me view thy pardoning love, And never from thy sight remove.
3 O let thy love, with sweet control, Bind every passion of my soul; Bid every vain desire depart, And dwell for ever in my heart.
342 L. M. Returning.
Awaked from sin’s delusive sleep, My heavy guilt I feel, and weep; Beneath a weight of woes oppressed, I come to thee, my Lord, for rest.
2 Now, from thy throne of grace above, Look down upon my soul in love; That smile shall sweeten all my pain, And make my soul rejoice again.
3 By thy divine, transforming power, My ruined nature now restore; And let my life and temper shine, In blest resemblance, Lord! to thine.
343 L. M. Just as I am.
Just 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.
2 Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot— To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come.
3 Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt, With fears within, and foes without— O Lamb of God, I come.
4 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.
5 Just as I am, thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve, Because thy promise I believe— O Lamb of God, I come.
6 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.
344 L. M. God, be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18:13.
Hear, gracious God! a sinner’s cry, For I have nowhere else to fly; My hope, my only hope’s in thee; O God, be merciful to me!
2 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!
3 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!
4 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!
5 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!
6 To thee I come, a sinner lost, Nor have I aught wherein to trust, But where thou art, Lord, I would be, O God, be merciful to me!
345 L. M. The love of Christ constraineth. 2 Cor. 5:14.
Lord, when my thoughts delighted rove Amid the wonders of thy love, Sweet hope revives my drooping heart, And bids intruding fears depart.
2 For mortal crimes a sacrifice, The Lord of life, the Saviour dies; What love! what mercy! how divine! Jesus, and can I call thee mine?
3 Repentant sorrows fill my heart, But mingling joy allays the smart; O, may my future life declare This sorrow and the joy sincere.
4 Be all my heart and all my days Devoted to my Saviour’s praise; And let my glad obedience prove How much I owe, how much I love.
346 L. M. The contrite heart.
Show pity, Lord; O Lord forgive; Let a repentant rebel live; Are not thy mercies large and free? May not a sinner trust in thee?
2 My crimes, though great, can not surpass The power and glory of thy grace; Great God, thy nature hath no bound; So let thy pardoning love be found.
3 O, wash my soul from every sin, And make my guilty conscience clean; Here, on my heart, the burden lies, And past offenses pain my eyes.
4 My lips, with shame, my sins confess, Against thy law, against thy grace; Lord, should thy judgment grow severe, I am condemned, but thou art clear.
5 Should sudden vengeance seize my breath, I must pronounce thee just in death; And if my soul were sent to hell, Thy righteous law approves it well.
6 Yet save a trembling sinner, Lord, Whose hope, still hovering round thy word, Would light on some sweet promise there, Some sure support against despair.
347 L. M. Restore unto to me the joy of thy salvation. Psalm 51.
A broken heart, my God, my King, Is all the sacrifice I bring; The God of grace will ne’er despise A broken heart for sacrifice.
2 My soul lies humbled in the dust, And owns thy dreadful sentence just; Look down, O Lord, with pitying eye, And save the soul condemned to die.
3 Then will I teach the world thy ways; Sinners shall learn thy sovereign grace; I’ll lead them to my Saviour’s blood, And they shall praise a pardoning God.
4 O, may thy love inspire my tongue! Salvation shall be all my song; And all my powers shall join to bless The Lord, my Strength and Righteousness.
348 L. M. 6 lines. Here is my heart.
Here is my heart—I give it thee! My God, I heard thee call, and say, “Not to the world, my child—to me!” I heard thy voice and will obey; Here is love’s offering to my King, Which in glad sacrifice I bring.
2 Here is my heart! so hard before, But now by thy rich grace made meet; Yet bruised and sad, it can but pour Its tears and anguish at thy feet: It groans beneath the weight of sin, It sighs salvation’s joy to win.
3 Here is my heart! its longings end In Christ as near his cross it draws; It says, “Thou art my rest, my Friend, Thy precious blood my ransom was;” In thee, the Saviour, it has found That peace and blessedness abound.
349 L. M. 6 lines. Bethesda.
Around Bethesda’s healing wave, Waiting to hear the rustling wind Which spoke the angel nigh, who gave Its virtue to that holy spring, With patience and with hope endued, Were seen the gathered multitude.
2 Bethesda’s pool has lost its power! No angel, by his glad descent Dispenses that diviner dower Which with its healing waters went; But he, whose word surpassed its wave, Is still omnipotent to save.
3 Saviour! thy love is still the same As when that healing word was spoke; Still in thine all-redeeming name Dwells power to burst the strongest yoke! O, be that power, that love, displayed, Help those whom thou alone canst aid.
350 L. M. 6 lines. Come unto me, all ye that labor. Matt. 11:28.
Peace, troubled soul, whose plaintive moan Hath taught each scene the notes of woe; Cease thy complaint, suppress thy groan, And let thy tears forget to flow: Behold, the precious balm is found To lull thy pain, to heal thy wound.
2 Come, freely come, by sin oppressed; On Jesus cast thy weighty load; In him thy refuge find, thy rest, Safe in the mercy of thy God: Thy God’s thy Saviour—glorious word! O, hear, believe, and bless the Lord!
351 L. M. The Star of Bethlehem.
When marshaled on the nightly plain, The glittering host bestud the sky, One star alone, of all the train, Can fix the sinner’s wandering eye.
2 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.
3 Once on the raging seas I rode; The storm was loud, the night was dark, The ocean yawned, and rudely blowed The wind that tossed my foundering bark.
4 Deep horror then my vitals froze; Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem; When suddenly a star arose— It was the Star of Bethlehem.
5 It was my guide, my light, my all; It bade my dark forebodings cease; And through the storm and danger’s thrall, It led me to the port of peace.
6 Now safely moored, my perils o’er, I’ll sing, first in night’s diadem, For ever, and for evermore, The Star—the Star of Bethlehem.
352 C. M. Power of faith.
Faith adds new charms to earthly bliss, And saves us from its snares; It yields support in all our toils, And softens all our cares.
2 The wounded conscience knows its power The healing balm to give; That balm the saddest heart can cheer, And make the dying live.
3 Unvailing wide the heavenly world, Where endless pleasures reign, It bids us seek our portion there, Nor bids us seek in vain.
4 There, still unshaken, would we rest Till this frail body dies; And then, on faith’s triumphant wing, To endless glory rise.
353 C. M. Increase our faith. Luke 17:5.
O for a faith that will not shrink, Though pressed by every foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any earthly woe!
2 That will not murmur nor complain Beneath the chastening rod, But, in the hour of grief or pain, Will lean upon its God;
3 A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without; That, when in danger, knows no fear, In darkness feels no doubt;
4 That bears, unmoved, the world’s dread frown, Nor heeds its scornful smile; That seas of trouble can not drown, Nor Satan’s arts beguile.
5 A faith that keeps the narrow way Till life’s last hour is fled, And with a pure and heavenly ray, Lights up a dying bed.
6 Lord, give us such a faith as this; And then, whate’er may come, We’ll taste, e’en here, the hallowed bliss Of an eternal home.
354 C. M. A living faith.
Mistaken souls, that dream of heaven, And make their empty boast Of inward joys, and sins forgiven, While they are slaves to lust!
2 How vain are fancy’s airy flights, If faith be cold and dead! None but a living power unites To Christ, the living Head.
3 ’Tis faith that purifies the heart; ’Tis faith that works by love; That bids all sinful joys depart, And lifts the thoughts above.
4 Faith must obey our Father’s will, As well as trust his grace; A pardoning God requires us still To walk in all his ways.
5 This faith shall every fear control By its celestial power, With holy triumph fill the soul In death’s approaching hour.
355 C. M. Glorying in the cross.
Didst thou, Lord Jesus, suffer shame, And bear the cross for me? And shall I fear to own thy name, Or thy disciple be?
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should dread To suffer shame or loss; O, let me in thy footsteps tread, And glory in thy cross.
356 C. M. Call to repentance.
Repent! the voice celestial cries, No longer dare delay: The soul that scorns the mandate dies, And meets a fiery day.
2 No more the sovereign eye of God O’erlooks the crimes of men; His heralds now are sent abroad To warn the world of sin.
3 O sinners! in his presence bow, And all your guilt confess; Accept the offered Saviour now Nor trifle with his grace.
4 Soon will the awful trumpet sound, And call you to his bar; His mercy knows the appointed bound, And yields to justice there.
5 Amazing love—that yet will call, And yet prolong our days! Our hearts, subdued by goodness, fall, And weep, and love, and praise.
357 C. M. God giveth grace to the humble.
Come, let us to the Lord our God, With contrite hearts return! Our God is gracious, nor will leave The desolate to mourn.
2 His voice commands the tempest forth, And stills the stormy wave; And though his arm be strong to smite, ’Tis also strong to save.
3 Our hearts, if God we seek to know, Shall know him and rejoice; His coming like the morn shall be; Like morning songs his voice.
4 As dew upon the tender herb, Diffusing fragrance round; As showers that usher in the spring, And cheer the thirsty ground:
5 So shall his presence bless our souls, And shed a joyful light That hallowed morn shall chase away The sorrows of the night.
358 C. M. There is joy over one sinner, etc. Luke 15:7.
O how divine, how sweet the joy, When but one sinner turns, And, with a humble, broken heart, His sins and errors mourns!
2 Pleased with the news, the saints below, In songs their tongues employ; Beyond the skies the tidings go, And heaven is filled with joy.
3 Well pleased the Father sees, and hears The conscious sinner’s moan; Jesus receives him in his arms, And claims him for his own.
4 Nor angels can their joy contain, But kindle with new fire; “The sinner lost is found,” they sing, And strike the sounding lyre.
359 C. M. The heart’s surrender.
Welcome, O Saviour! to my heart; Possess thy humble throne; Bid every rival hence depart, And claim me for thine own.
2 The world and Satan I forsake— To thee, I all resign; My longing heart, O Jesus! take, And fill with love divine.
3 O! may I never turn aside, Nor from thy bosom flee; Let nothing here my heart divide— I give it all to thee.
360 C. M. Whoso forsaketh not all that he hath. Luke 14:33.
And must I part with all I have, Jesus, my Lord! for thee? This is my joy, since thou hast done Much more than this for me.
2 Yes, let it go; one look from thee Will more than make amends For all the losses I sustain Of credit, riches, friends.
3 Ten thousand worlds, ten thousand lives, How worthless they appear, Compared with thee, supremely good, Divinely bright and fair.
4 Saviour of souls! while I from thee A single smile obtain, Though destitute of all things else, I’ll glory in my gain.
361 C. M. A plea for mercy.
Mercy alone can meet my case, For mercy, Lord, I cry; Jesus, Redeemer, show thy face In mercy, or I die.
2 I perish, and my doom were just; But wilt thou leave me? No! I hold thee fast, my hope, my trust; I will not let thee go.
3 To thee, thee only, will I cleave; Thy word is all my plea; That word is truth, and I believe— Have mercy, Lord, on me.
362 C. M. It is I: be not afraid. Matt. 14:27.
When I sink down in gloom or fear, Hope blighted or delayed, Thy whisper, Lord, my heart shall cheer, “’Tis I: be not afraid!”
2 Or, startled at some sudden blow, If fretful thoughts I feel, “Fear not, it is but I!” shall flow As balm my wound to heal.
3 Nor will I quit thy way, though foes Some onward pass defend; From each rough voice the watchword goes, “Be not afraid! ... a friend!”
4 And O! when judgment’s trumpet clear Awakes me from the grave, Still in its echo may I hear, “’Tis Christ! he comes to save.”
363 C. P. M. Christ our only hope.
Desponding soul, O cease thy woe; Dry up thy tears; to Jesus go, In faith’s appointed way; Let not thy unbelieving fears Still hold thee back—thy Saviour hears— From him no longer stay.
2 No works of thine can e’er impart A balm to heal thy wounded heart, Or solid comfort give; Turn, then, to him who freely gave His precious blood thy soul to save: E’en now he bids thee live.
3 Helpless and lost, to Jesus fly! His power and love are ever nigh To those who seek his face; Thy deepest guilt on him was laid; He bore thy sins, thy ransom paid; O, haste to share his grace.
364 S. M. You shall find rest for your souls. Matt. 11:29.
Ah! what avails my strife, My wandering to and fro? Thou hast the words of endless life; Ah! whither should I go?
2 Thy condescending grace To me did freely move; It calls me still to seek thy face, And stoops to ask my love.
3 Lord! at thy feet I fall; I long to be set free; I fain would now obey the call, And give up all for thee.
365 S. M. Yielding.
And can I yet delay My little all to give? To tear my soul from earth away For Jesus to receive?
2 Nay, but I yield, I yield; I can hold out no more; I sink, by dying love compelled, And own thee conqueror.
3 Though late, I all forsake; My friends, my all, resign; Gracious Redeemer! take, O take, And seal me ever thine.
4 Come, and possess me whole, Nor hence again remove; Settle and fix my wavering soul With all thy weight of love.
5 My one desire be this, Thy only love to know; To seek and taste no other bliss, No other good below.
366 S. M. God’s mercy to the penitent.
Sweet is the friendly voice Which speaks of life and peace; Which bids the penitent rejoice, And sin and sorrow cease.
2 No balm on earth like this Can cheer the contrite heart; No flattering dreams of earthly bliss Such pure delight impart.
3 Still merciful and kind, Thy mercy, Lord, reveal; The broken heart thy love can bind, The wounded spirit heal.
4 Thy presence shall restore Peace to my anxious breast; Lord, let my steps be drawn no more From paths which thou hast blessed.
367 7s. Father, I have sinned. Luke 15:18.
Love for all! and can it be? Can I hope it is for me? I, who strayed so long ago, Strayed so far, and fell so low!
2 I, the disobedient child, Wayward, passionate and wild; I, who left my Father’s home In forbidden ways to roam!
3 I, who spurned his loving hold, I, who would not be controlled; I, who would not hear his call, I, the willful prodigal!
4 I, who wasted and misspent Every talent he had lent; I, who sinned again, again, Giving every passion rein!
5 To my Father can I go? At his feet myself I’ll throw, In his house there yet may be Place, a servant’s place, for me.
6 See, my Father waiting stands; See, he reaches out his hands; God is love! I know, I see, Love for me—yes, even me.
368 7s. Sighing for home.
People of the living God! I have sought the world around, Paths of sin and sorrow trod, Peace and comfort nowhere found.
2 Now to you my spirit turns, Turns, a fugitive unblessed; Brethren! where your altar burns, O receive me into rest.
3 Lonely I no longer roam, Like the cloud, the wind, the wave: Where you dwell shall be my home, Where you die shall be my grave.
4 Mine the God whom you adore, Your Redeemer shall be mine; Earth can fill my heart no more, Every idol I resign.
5 Tell me not of gain or loss, Ease, enjoyment, pomp, and power; Welcome! poverty and cross, Shame, reproach, affliction’s hour.
6 “Follow me!” I know thy voice, Jesus, Lord! thy steps I see; Now I take thy yoke by choice; Light thy burden now to me.
369 7s, double. Longing for rest.
Does the gospel word proclaim Rest for those that weary be? Then, my soul, put in thy claim— Sure that promise speaks to thee: Marks of grace I can not show, All polluted is my best; But I weary am, I know, And the weary long for rest.
2 Burdened with a load of sin, Harassed with tormenting doubt, Hourly conflicts from within, Hourly crosses from without; All my little strength is gone, Sink I must without supply; Sure upon the earth is none Can more weary be than I.
3 In the ark the weary dove Found a welcome resting-place; Thus my spirit longs to prove Rest in Christ, the Ark of grace; Tempest-tossed I long have been, And the flood increases fast; Open, Lord, and take me in, Till the storm be overpast!
370 7s. Forward. Exodus 14:15.
When we can not see our way, Let us trust, and still obey; He who bids us forward go, Can not fail the way to show.
2 Though the sea be deep and wide, Though a passage seem denied; Fearless let us still proceed, Since the Lord vouchsafes to lead.
3 Though it seems the gloom of night, Though we see no ray of light; Since the Lord himself is there, ’Tis not meet that we should fear.
4 Night with him is never night; Where he is, there all is light; When he calls us, why delay? They are happy who obey.
5 Be it ours, then, while we’re here, Him to follow without fear; Where he calls us, there to go, What he bids us, that to do.
371 8s & 6s. The unseen Friend.
O holy Saviour! Friend unseen, Since on thine arm thou bidd’st me lean, Help me, throughout life’s changing scene, By faith to cling to thee!
2 Blest with this fellowship divine, Take what thou wilt, I’ll not repine; For, as the branches to the vine, My soul would cling to thee.
3 Though far from home, fatigued, oppressed, Here have I found a place of rest; An exile still, yet not unblest, Because I cling to thee.
4 What though the world deceitful prove, And earthly friends and hopes remove; With patient, uncomplaining love, Still would I cling to thee.
5 Though oft I seem to tread alone Life’s dreary waste, with thorns o’ergrown, Thy voice of love in gentlest tone, Still whispers, “Cling to me!”
6 Though faith and hope are often tried, I ask not, need not aught beside; So safe, so calm, so satisfied, The soul that clings to thee!
372 6s. Cling to the Crucified.
Cling to the Crucified! His eye shall guard thee well— For thee, fast from his side, The crimson current fell.
2 Cling to the Crucified! My weary feet in peace His tender hand shall guide Till all thy wanderings cease.
3 Cling to the Crucified! His love the golden door For thee shall open wide, And bless thee evermore.
BAPTISM.
373 L. M. Ashamed of Jesus.
Jesus, and shall it ever be, A mortal man ashamed of thee: Ashamed of thee, whom angels praise, Whose glory shines through endless days.
2 Ashamed of Jesus! Sooner far Let evening blush to own a star! He sheds the beams of light divine O’er this benighted soul of mine.
3 Ashamed of Jesus! Just as soon Let morning be ashamed of noon; ’Tis midnight with my soul, till he, Bright Morning Star, bid darkness flee.
4 Ashamed of Jesus! that dear friend, On whom my hopes of heaven depend! No! when I blush, be this my shame, That I no more revere his name.
5 Ashamed of Jesus! Yes, I may, When I’ve no guilt to wash away, No tear to wipe, no good to crave, No fears to quell, no soul to save.
6 Till then—nor is my boasting vain— Till then I’ll boast a Saviour slain! And O! may this my glory be, That Christ is not ashamed of me!
7 His institutions would I prize, Take up my cross, the shame despise— Dare to defend his noble cause, And yield obedience to his laws.
374 L. M. The spirit of obedience.
We love thy name, we love thy laws, And joyfully embrace thy cause; We love thy cross, the shame, the pain, O Lamb of God, for sinners slain.
2 We sink beneath the mystic flood; O, bathe us in thy cleansing blood; We die to sin, and seek a grave, With thee, beneath the yielding wave.
3 And as we rise, with thee to live, O, let the Holy Spirit give The sealing unction from above, The breath of life, the fire of love.
375 L. M. Following.
Jesus my all to heaven has gone, He whom I fix my hopes upon; His path I see, and I’ll pursue The narrow way, till him I view.
2 The way the holy prophets went, The road that leads from banishment, The King’s highway of holiness— I’ll go, for all his paths are peace.
376 L. M. Christ’s example.
Our Saviour bowed beneath the wave, And meekly sought a watery grave; Come see the sacred path he trod, A path well-pleasing to our God.
2 His voice we hear, his footsteps trace, And hither come to seek his face, To do his will, to feel his love, And join our songs with songs above.
3 Hosanna to the Lamb divine! Let endless glories round him shine! High o’er the heavens for ever reign, O Lamb of God! for sinners slain!
377 L. M. The baptism of Jesus.
Come, happy souls, adore the Lamb, Who loved our race ere time began, Who vailed his Godhead in our clay, And in an humble manger lay.
2 To Jordan’s stream the Spirit led, To mark the path his saints should tread; With joy they trace the sacred way, To see the place where Jesus lay.
3 Baptized by John in Jordan’s wave, The Saviour left his watery grave; Heaven owned the deed, approved the way, And blessed the place where Jesus lay.
4 Come, all who love his precious name; Come tread his steps, and learn of him; Happy beyond expression they Who find the place where Jesus lay.
378 L. M. A baptismal hymn.
The great Redeemer we adore, Who came the lost to seek and save— Went humbly down from Jordan’s shore To find a tomb beneath its wave!
2 With thee into thy watery tomb, Lord, ’tis our glory to descend; ’Tis wondrous grace that gives us room To share the grave of such a friend.
3 Yet, as the yielding waves give way To let us see the light again, So, on the resurrection day, The bands of death proved weak and vain.
4 Thus, when thou shalt again appear, The gates of death shall open wide: Our dust thy mighty voice shall hear, And rise and triumph at thy side.
379 L. M. If any man serve me, etc. John 12:26.
See how the willing converts trace The path their great Redeemer trod: And follow through his liquid grave The meek, the lowly Son of God!
2 Here they renounce their former deeds, And to a heavenly life aspire, Their rags for glorious robes exchanged, They shine in clean and bright attire.
3 O sacred rite, by thee the name Of Jesus we to own begin; This is our resurrection pledge, Pledge of the pardon of our sin.
4 Glory to God on high be given, Who shows his grace to sinful men; Let saints on earth, and hosts in heaven, In concert join their loud Amen.
380 C. M. Hinder me not. Gen. 24:56.
In all my Lord’s appointed ways, My journey I’ll pursue; Hinder me not, you much-loved saints, For I must go with you.
2 Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead, I’ll follow where he goes; Hinder me not, shall be my cry, Though earth and hell oppose.
3 Through trials and through sufferings too, I’ll go at his command; Hinder me not, for I am bound To my Immanuel’s land.
4 And when my Saviour calls me home, Still this my cry shall be— Hinder me not—come, welcome death— I’ll gladly go with thee.
381 C. M. He that is ashamed of me, and of my word. Mark 8:38.
Ashamed of Christ! our souls disdain The mean, ungenerous thought; Shall we disown that friend whose blood To man salvation brought?
2 With the glad news of love and peace, From heaven to earth he came; For us endured the painful cross, For us despised the shame.
3 To his command let us submit Ourselves without delay; Our lives—yea, thousand lives of ours, His love can ne’er repay.
4 Each faithful follower Jesus views With infinite delight; Their lives to him are dear—their death Is precious in his sight.
5 To bear his name—his cross to bear— Our highest honor this! Who nobly suffers for him now, Shall reign with him in bliss.
382 C. M. He left us an example.
Buried beneath the yielding wave, The great Redeemer lies; Faith views him in the watery grave, And thence beholds him rise.
2 With joy we in his footsteps tread, And would his cause maintain, Like him be numbered with the dead, And with him rise and reign.
3 Now, blest Redeemer, we to thee Our grateful voices raise; Washed in the fountain of thy blood, Our lives shall be thy praise.
383 C. M. Lord, if thou wilt, etc. Matt. 8:2.
O Lord, and will thy pardoning love Embrace a wretch so vile? Wilt thou my load of guilt remove, And bless me with thy smile?
2 Hast thou the cross for me endured, And all its shame despised? And shall I be ashamed, O Lord, With thee to be baptized?
3 Didst thou the great example lead, In Jordan’s swelling flood! And shall my pride disdain the deed, That’s worthy of my God!
4 O Lord, the ardor of thy love Reproves my cold delays; And now my willing footsteps move In thy delightful ways.
384 C. M. The Holy Spirit descended, etc. Luke 3:22.
Meekly in Jordan’s flowing stream The great Redeemer bowed; Bright was the glory’s sacred beam That hushed the wondering crowd.
2 Thus God descended to approve The deed that Christ had done; Thus came the emblematic Dove, And hovered over the Son.
3 So may the Spirit come to-day To our baptismal scene; Let thoughts of earth be far away, And every mind serene.
4 This day we give to holy joy; This day to heaven belongs; Raised to new life, we will employ In melody our tongues.
385 C. M. I come to do thy will. Heb. 10:7.
“I come,” the great Redeemer cries, “To do thy will, O Lord!” At Jordan’s flood, behold! he seals The sure prophetic word.
2 “Thus it becomes us to fulfill All righteousness,” he said; He spake obedient, and beneath The yielding wave was laid.
3 Hark! a glad voice—the Father speaks, From heaven’s exalted hight; “This is my Son, my well beloved, In whom I do delight.”
4 Jesus, the Saviour, well beloved! His name we will profess, Like him, desirous to fulfill Each law of righteousness.
5 No more we’ll count ourselves our own, But his in bonds of love; O! may such bonds for ever draw Our souls to things above.
386 S. M. Math. 3:16.
Come and behold the place Where once your Saviour lay; Confess that he is Lord of all, And humble homage pay.
2 Laid in the watery grave, He quickly rose again; Buried with him, we too shall rise, And endless life obtain.
3 Now may the Spirit crown, With tokens of his grace, The solemn service of this day, And bid us go in peace.
387 S. M. The same.
Saviour, thy law we love, Thy pure example bless, And with a firm, unwavering zeal, Would in thy footsteps press.
2 Not to the fiery pains By which the martyrs bled; Not to the scourge, the thorn, the cross, Our favored feet are led—
3 But, at this peaceful tide, Assembled in thy fear, The homage of obedient hearts, We humbly offer here.
388 S. M. Follow thou me. John 21:22.
Here, Saviour, we would come, In thine appointed way; Obedient to thy high commands, Our solemn vows we pay.
2 O, bless this sacred rite, To bring us near to thee; And may we find that as our day, Our strength shall also be.
389 S. M. Thus it becometh us. Matt. 3:15.
With willing hearts we tread The path the Saviour trod; We love th’ example of our Head, The glorious Lamb of God.
2 On thee, on thee alone, Our hope and faith rely; O thou who didst for sin atone, Who didst for sinners die.
3 We trust thy sacrifice, To thy dear cross we flee; O, may we die to sin, and rise To life and bliss in thee.
390 7s, 6 lines. Lord, save me. Matt. 14:30.
Jesus, Lamb of God, for me Thou, the Lord of life, didst die; Whither—whither, but to thee, Can a trembling sinner fly? Death’s dark waters o’er me roll, Save, O save, my sinking soul!
2 Never bowed a martyred head, Weighed with equal sorrow down; Never blood so rich was shed, Never king wore such a crown! To thy cross and sacrifice, Faith now lifts her tearful eyes.
3 All my soul, by love subdued, Melts in deep contrition there; By thy mighty grace renewed, New-born hope forbids despair; Lord, thou canst my guilt forgive, Thou hast bid me look and live.
4 While with broken heart I kneel, Sinks the inward storm to rest; Life—immortal life—I feel Kindled in my throbbing breast; Thine—for ever thine—I am, Glory to the bleeding Lamb!
391 7s. And hath washed us from our sins, etc. Rev. 1:5.
Jesus, to thy wounds I fly; Purge my sins of deepest dye; Lamb of God, for sinners slain, Wash away my crimson stain.
2 Purge me in that sacred flood, In that fountain of thy blood; Then thy Father’s eye shall see Not a spot of guilt in me.
392 7s, 6 lines. He is our peace. Eph. 2:14.
Weary souls that wander wide From the central point of bliss, Turn to Jesus crucified; Fly to those dear wounds of his; Sink into the purple flood, Rise into the life of God.
2 Find in Christ the way of peace Peace unspeakable, unknown; By his pain he gives you ease, Life, by his expiring groan; Rise, exalted by his fall; Find in Christ your all in all.
3 O believe the record true, God to you his Son hath given! You may now be happy too; Find on earth the life of heaven; Live the life of heaven above, All the life of glorious love.
393 8s & 7s. Hear and obey.
Humble souls, who seek salvation Through the Lamb’s redeeming blood, Hear the voice of revelation; Tread the path that Jesus trod.
2 Hear the blest Redeemer call you; Listen to his heavenly voice; Dread no ills that can befall you, While you make his way your choice.
3 Plainly here his footsteps tracing, Follow him without delay, Gladly his command embracing; Lo! your Captain leads the way.
394 8s, 7s & 4. Calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16.
Gracious Saviour, we adore thee; Purchased by thy precious blood We present ourselves before thee, Now to walk the narrow road: Saviour guide us— Guide us to our heavenly home.
2 Thou didst mark our path of duty; Thou wast laid beneath the wave; Thou didst rise in glorious beauty, From the semblance of the grave; May we follow In the same delightful way.
REMISSION OF SINS.
395 L. M. The joys of pardon.
Forgiveness! ’tis a joyful sound To malefactors doomed to die; Publish the bliss the world around; You seraphs, shout it from the sky!
2 ’Tis the rich gift of love divine; ’Tis full, outmeasuring every crime; Unclouded shall its glories shine, And feel no change by changing time.
3 For this stupendous love of heaven, What grateful honors shall we show! Where much transgression is forgiven, Let love in equal ardors glow.
4 By this inspired, let all our days With gospel holiness be crowned; Let truth and goodness, prayer and praise In all abide, in all abound.
396 L. M. Blessed is the man whose sin is covered. Rom. 4:7.
Earth has a joy unknown in heaven— The new-born joy of sins forgiven! Tears of such pure and deep delight, O angels! never dimmed your sight.
2 You saw of old on chaos rise The beauteous pillars of the skies; You know where morn exulting springs, And evening folds her drooping wings.
3 Bright heralds of th’ Eternal Will, Abroad his errands you fulfill; Or, throned in floods of beamy day, Symphonies in his presence play.
4 Loud is the song—the heavenly plain Is shaken with the choral strain; And dying echoes, floating far, Draw music from each chiming star.
5 But I amid your choirs shall shine, And all your knowledge shall be mine; You on your harps must lean to hear A secret chord that mine shall bear.
397 L. M. Self-dedication.
Lord, I am thine, entirely thine, Purchased alone by blood divine; With full consent I yield to thee, And own thy sovereign right to me.
2 Grant me, in mercy, now a place Among the children of thy grace; A wretched sinner, lost to God, But ransomed by Immanuel’s blood.
3 Thee, my new Master, now I call, And consecrate to thee my all: Lord, let me live and die to thee; Be thine through all eternity.
398 L. M. Happy day.
O happy day, that fixed my choice On thee, my Saviour and my God! Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad. CHORUS. Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away; He taught me how to watch and pray, And live rejoicing every day.
2 O happy bond, that seals my vows To him who merits all my love! Let cheerful anthems fill his house, While to that sacred shrine I move.
3 ’Tis done; the great transaction’s done; I am my Lord’s, and he is mine; He drew me, and I followed on, Charmed to confess the voice divine.
4 Now rest, my long divided heart! Fixed on this blissful center rest; Here have I found a nobler part, Here heavenly pleasures fill my breast.
5 High heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renewed shall daily hear; Till in life’s latest hour I bow, And bless in death a bond so dear.
399 L. M. Joy of consecration to Christ.
O sweetly breathe the lyres above, When angels touch the quivering string, And wake, to chant Immanuel’s love, Such strains as angel-lips can sing!
2 And sweet, on earth, the choral swell, From mortal tongues, of gladsome lays; When pardoned souls their raptures tell, And, grateful, hymn Immanuel’s praise.
3 Jesus, thy name our souls adore; We own the bond that makes us thine; And carnal joys, that charmed before, For thy dear sake we now resign.
4 Our hearts, by dying love subdued, Accept thine offered grace to-day; Beneath the cross, with blood bedewed, We bow, and give ourselves away.
5 In thee we trust—on thee rely; Though we are feeble, thou art strong; O, keep us till our spirits fly To join the bright, immortal throng!
400 L. M. 6 lines. The sure refuge.
Now I have found the ground wherein Sure my soul’s anchor may remain; The wounds of Jesus, for my sin, Before the world’s foundation slain; Whose mercy shall unshaken stay, When heaven and earth are fled away.
2 O Love, thou bottomless abyss! My sins are swallowed up in thee; Covered is my unrighteousness; From condemnation now I’m free; While Jesus’ blood through earth and skies, Mercy, free, boundless mercy! cries.
3 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 here.
4 Tho’ waves and storms go o’er my head, Tho’ strength, and health, and friends, be gone: Tho’ joys be withered all, and dead; Tho’ every comfort be withdrawn— Steadfast on this my soul relies: Father, thy mercy never dies.
401 L. M. What shall I render unto thee. Psalm 116:12.
Redeemed from guilt, redeemed from fears, My soul enlarged, and dried my tears, What can I do, O Love Divine, What to repay such gifts as thine?
2 What can I do, so poor, so weak, But from thy hands new blessings seek, A heart to feel thy mercies more, A soul to know thee, and adore?
3 O teach me at thy feet to fall, And yield thee up myself, my all! Before thy saints my debts to own, And live and die to thee alone!
4 Thy Spirit, Lord, at large impart, Expand, and raise, and fill my heart! So may I hope my life shall be Some faint return, O Lord, to thee.
402 C. M. Not as the world giveth. John 14:27.
How happy is the Christian’s state! His sins are all forgiven; A cheering ray confirms the grace, And lifts his hopes to heaven.
2 Though in the rugged path of life He heaves the pensive sigh; Yet, trusting in his God, he finds Delivering grace is nigh.
3 If, to prevent his wandering steps, He feels the chastening rod, The gentle stroke shall bring him back To his forgiving God.
4 And when the welcome message comes To call his soul away, His soul in raptures shall ascend To everlasting day.
403 C. M. I was blind, but now I see. John 9:25.
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound!) That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.
3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.
3 The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.
4 Yes, when this heart and flesh shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess within the vail A life of joy and peace.
404 C. M. Newness of life. Rom. 6:4.
How happy every child of grace, Who knows his sins forgiven! This earth, he cries, is not my place— I seek my home in heaven.
2 A country far from mortal sight, Yet O, by faith I see The land of rest, the saint’s delight, The heaven prepared for me.
3 O what a blesséd hope is ours! While here on earth we stay, We more than taste the heavenly powers, And antedate that day.
4 We feel the resurrection near, Our life in Christ concealed, And with his glorious presence here, Our earthen vessels filled.
5 O, would he all of heaven bestow! Then like our Lord we’ll rise; Our bodies, fully ransomed, go To take the glorious prize.
6 On him with rapture then I’ll gaze, Who bought the bliss for me, And shout and wonder at his grace, Through all eternity.
405 S. M. By grace are ye saved. Eph. 2:8.
Grace! ’tis a charming sound, Harmonious to the ear; Heaven with the echo shall resound, And all the earth shall hear.
2 Grace first contrived the way To save rebellious man; And all the steps that grace display, Which drew the wondrous plan.
3 Grace led our wandering feet To tread the heavenly road; And new supplies each hour we meet, While pressing on to God.
4 Grace all the work shall crown Through everlasting days; It lays in heaven the topmost stone, And well deserves our praise.
406 S. M. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. Psalm 139:6.
Blest Saviour! Friend divine! Thou source of boundless love! The hope of all thy saints on earth, The joy of all above!
2 How can I tell thy worth! How make thy glories known! No language can thy goodness speak, No tongue thy mercies own!
3 My words can not express The sweetness of thy name! Nor can my feeble lips declare The wonders of thy fame!
4 Then take my trusting heart, I can not give thee more; Make rich my soul’s deep poverty, From thine unwasting store!
407 8s & 7s, peculiar. A new creature. 2 Cor. 5:17.
Since first thy word awaked my heart, Like light new dawning o’er me, Where’er I turn my eyes, thou art All light and love before me.
2 Naught else I feel, or hear, or see, All bonds of earth I sever; Thee, O my Lord, and only thee, I live for, now, and ever.
3 Like him whose fetters dropped away When light shone o’er his prison, My soul now touched by mercy’s ray, Hath from its chains arisen.
4 And shall the soul thou bidd’st be free, Return to bondage? Never; Thee, O my God, and only thee, I live for, now, and ever.
408 P. M. Joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8.
How happy are they who their Saviour obey, And have laid up their treasures above! Tongue can not express the sweet comfort and peace Of a soul in its earliest love!
2 This comfort is mine, since the favor divine I have found in the blood of the Lamb: Since the truth I believed what a joy I’ve received, What a heaven in Jesus’ blest name!
3 ’Tis a heavén below my Redeemer to know, And the angels can do nothing more Than to fall at his feet, and the story repeat, And the lover of sinners adore!
4 Jesus all the day long is my joy and my song; O that all to this refuge may fly! He has loved me, I cried, he has suffered and died To redeem such a rebel as I!
5 On the wings of his love I am carried above All my sin, and temptation, and pain; O why should I grieve, while on him I believe! O why should I sorrow again!
6 O the rapturous hight of that holy delight, Which I find in the life-giving blood! Of my Saviour possessed, I am perfectly blessed, Being filled with the fullness of God!
7 Now my remnant of days will I spend to his praise Who has died me from sin to redeem; Whether many or few, all my years are his due; They shall all be devoted to him.
8 What a mercy is this! what a heaven of bliss! How unspeakably happy am I! Gathered into the fold, with believers enrolled— With believers to live and to die!
SPIRIT OF ADOPTION.
409 L. M. You hath he quickened. Col. 2:13.
Like morning—when her early breeze Breaks up the surface of the seas, That, in their furrows, dark with night, Her hand may sow the seeds of light—
2 Thy grace can send its breathings o’er The spirit dark and lost before; And, freshening all its depths, prepare For truth divine to enter there.
3 Till David touched his sacred lyre, In silence lay the unbreathing wire; But when he swept its chords along, Then angels stooped to hear the song.
4 So sleeps the soul, till thou, O Lord, Shall deign to touch its lifeless chord; Till, waked by thee, its breath shall rise, In music worthy of the skies.
410 L. M. The gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38.
O Lord! and shall thy Spirit rest In such a wretched heart as mine! Unworthy dwelling! glorious guest! Favor astonishing, divine!
2 When sin prevails, and gloomy fear, And hope almost expires in night, Lord, can thy Spirit then be here, Great Spring of comfort, life, and light?
3 Sure the blest Comforter is nigh! ’Tis he sustains my fainting heart; Else would my hopes for ever die, And every cheering ray depart.
4 When some kind promise glads my soul, Do I not find his healing voice The tempest of my fears control, And bid my drooping powers rejoice!
5 Let thy kind Spirit in my heart For ever dwell, O God of love! And light and heavenly peace impart— Sweet earnest of the joys above.
411 L. M. The beatitudes.
Blessed are the humble souls that see Their emptiness and poverty; Treasures of grace to them are given, And crowns of joy laid up in heaven.
2 Blessed are the men of broken heart, Who mourn for sin with inward smart; The blood of Christ divinely flows, A healing balm for all their woes.
3 Blessed are the souls who thirst for grace, Hunger and thirst for righteousness; They shall be well supplied, and fed With living streams and living bread.
4 Blessed are the men of peaceful life, Who quench the glowing coals of strife; They shall be called the heirs of bliss, The sons of God, the God of peace.
5 Blessed are the sufferers who partake Of pain and shame for Jesus’ sake; Their souls shall triumph in the Lord: Glory and joy are their reward.
412 L. M. In Christ.
God of my life! thy boundless grace, Chose, pardoned, and adopted me; My rest, my home, my dwelling-place; Father! I come, I come to thee.
2 Jesus, my Hope, my Rock, my Shield! Whose precious blood was shed for me, Into thy hands my soul I yield; Saviour! I come, I come to thee.
413 L. M. He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Heb. 2:11.
Honor and happiness unite To make the Christian’s name a praise; How fair the scene, how clear the light, That fills the remnant of his days!
2 A kingly character he bears, No change his priestly office knows; Unfading is the crown he wears, His joys can never reach a close.
3 Adorned with glory from on high, Salvation shines upon his face; His robe is of the ethereal dye, His steps are dignity and grace.
4 Inferior honors he disdains, Nor stoops to take applause from earth, The King of kings himself maintains The expenses of his heavenly birth.
5 The noblest creature seen below, Ordained to fill a throne above; God gives him all he can bestow, His kingdom of eternal love!
6 My soul is ravished at the thought! Methinks from earth I see him rise! Angels congratulate his lot, And shout him welcome to the skies!
414 C. M. Peace in the storm.
Lord, in whose might the Saviour trod The dark and stormy wave, And trusted in his Father’s arm, Omnipotent to save;—
2 When thickly round our footsteps rise The floods and storms of life, Grant us thy Spirit, Lord, to still The dark and fearful strife.
3 Strong in our trust, on thee reposed, The ocean path we’ll dare, Though waves around us rage and foam, Since thou art present there.
415 C. M. Crying, Abba, Father. Gal. 4:6.
Father! I wait before thy throne; Call me a child of thine; And let the Spirit of thy Son, Fill this poor heart of mine.
2 There shed thy promised love abroad, And make my comfort strong; Then shall I say, my Father, God! With an unwavering tongue.
416 C. M. We have left all, etc. Matt. 19:27.
There is a name I love to hear, I love to speak its worth; It sounds like music in mine ear, The sweetest name on earth.
2 It tells me of a Saviour’s love, Who died to set me free; It tells me of his precious blood, The sinner’s perfect plea.
3 It tells me of a Father’s smile, Beaming upon his child; It cheers me through this “little while,” Through desert, waste, and wild.
4 It bids my trembling heart rejoice; It dries each rising tear; It tells me in “a still small voice,” To trust and never fear.
5 Jesus! the name I love so well, The name I love to hear! No saint on earth its worth can tell, No heart conceive how dear.
6 This name shall shed its fragrance still Along this thorny road, Shall sweetly smooth the rugged hill That leads me up to God.
417 C. M. The Spirit of God dwelleth within you. 1 Cor. 3:16.
Lord, let thy Spirit penetrate This heart and soul of mine; And my whole being with thy grace Pervade, O Life divine!
2 As this clear air surrounds the earth, Thy grace around me roll; As the fresh light pervades the air, So pierce and fill my soul.
3 As from these clouds drops down in love The precious summer rain, So from thyself pour down the flood That freshens all again.
4 As these fair flowers exhale their scent In gladness at our feet, So from thyself let fragrance breathe, More heavenly and more sweet.
5 Thus life within our lifeless hearts, Shall make its glad abode; And we shall shine in beauteous light Filled with the light of God.
418 S. M. D. I will write my law in their hearts. Heb. 8:10.
Great source of life and light! Thy heavenly grace impart, Thy Holy Spirit grant, and write Thy law upon my heart; My soul would cleave to thee; Let naught my purpose move; O, let my faith more steadfast be, And more intense my love!
2 Long as my trials last, Long as the cross I bear, O, let my soul on thee be cast In confidence and prayer! Conduct me to the shore Of everlasting peace, Where storm and tempest rise no more, Where sin and sorrow cease.
419 S. M. That they may be one in us. John 17:21.
Thy Spirit shall unite Our souls to thee our Head; Shall form us to thine image bright, That we thy paths may tread.
2 Death may our souls divide From these abodes of clay; But love shall keep us near thy side Through all the gloomy way.
3 Since Christ and we are one, Why should we doubt or fear! If he in heaven hath fixed his throne, He’ll fix his members there.
420 7s, 6 lines. In whom we have redemption. Col. 1:14.
Blesséd are the sons of God; They are bought with Jesus’ blood; They are ransomed from the grave Life eternal they shall have; With them numbered may we be, Here, and in eternity.
2 They are justified by grace, They enjoy the Saviour’s peace; All their sins are washed away; They shall stand in God’s great day: With them numbered may we be, Here, and in eternity.
3 They are lights upon the earth— Children of a heavenly birth— One with God, with Jesus one; Glory is in them begun; With them numbered may we be, Here, and in eternity.
421 8s & 7s. God, our salvation.
Call Jehovah thy salvation, Rest beneath th’ Almighty’s shade; In his secret habitation Dwell, and never be dismayed. Guile nor violence can harm thee, In eternal silence there; There no tumult shall alarm thee; Thou shalt dread no hidden snare.
2 Since with pure and firm affection Thou on God hast set thy love, With the wings of his protection He will shield thee from above: Thou shalt call on him in trouble; He will hearken; he will save; Here for grief reward thee double; Crown with life beyond the grave.
422 8s, 6s & 4s. The Holy Spirit the Comforter.
Our blest Redeemer, ere he breathed His tender, last farewell, A Guide, a Comforter, bequeathed With us to dwell.
2 He came in tongues of living flame, To teach, convince, subdue; All powerful as the wind he came, As viewless too.
3 He came, sweet influence to impart, A gracious, willing guest, While he can find one humble heart Wherein to rest.
4 And his that gentle voice we hear, Soft as the breeze of even, That checks each fault, that calms each fear, And speaks of heaven.
423 P. M. The peace of God. Phil. 4:7.
We ask for peace, O Lord! Thy children ask thy peace; Not what the world calls rest, That toil and care should cease, That through bright sunny hours Calm life should fleet away, And tranquil night should fade In smiling day— It is not for such peace that we would pray.
2 We ask for peace, O Lord! Yet not to stand secure, Girt round with iron pride, Contented to endure: Crushing the gentle strings, That human hearts should know, Untouched by others’ joys Or others’ woe; Thou, O dear Lord, wilt never teach us so.
3 We ask thy peace, O Lord! Through storm, and fear, and strife, To light and guide us on, Through a long struggling life: While no success or gain Shall cheer the desperate fight, Or nerve, what the world calls, Our wasted might: Yet pressing through the darkness to the light.
4 It is thine own, O Lord! Who toil while others sleep, Who sow with loving care What other hands shall reap: They lean on thee entranced In calm and perfect rest: Give us that peace, O Lord! Divine and blest, Thou keepest for those hearts who love thee best.
424 H. M. He will give the Holy Spirit, etc. Luke 11:13.
O Thou that hearest prayer, Attend our humble cry, And let thy servants share Thy blessings from on high: We plead the promise of thy word; Grant us thy Holy Spirit, Lord.
2 If earthly parents hear Their children when they cry— If they, with love sincere, Their varied wants supply— Much more wilt thou thy love display, And answer when thy children pray.
425 C. H. M. The world knoweth us not. 1 John 3:1.
Let others boast their ancient line, In long succession great; In the proud list let heroes shine, And monarchs swell the state, Descended from the King of kings, Each saint a nobler title sings.
2 Pronounce me, gracious God, thy son, Own me an heir divine; I’ll pity princes on the throne, When I can call thee mine: Scepters and crowns unenvied rise, And lose their luster in my eyes.
3 Content, obscure, I pass my days, To all I meet unknown, And wait till thou thy child shalt raise, And seat me near thy throne: No name, no honors here I crave, Well pleased with those beyond the grave.
4 Jesus, my elder brother, lives; With him I, too, shall reign; Nor sin, nor death, while he survives, Shall make the promise vain; In him my title stands secure, And shall while endless years endure.
5 When he, in robes divinely bright, Shall once again appear, Thou, too, my soul, shalt shine in light, And his full image bear: Enough!—I wait th’ appointed day— Blessed Saviour, haste, and come away!
THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE.
426 L. M. Our life is a vapor. James 4:14.
How vain is all beneath the skies! How transient every earthly bliss! How slender all the fondest ties That bind us to a world like this!
2 The evening cloud, the morning dew, The withering grass, the fading flower, Of earthly hopes are emblems true, The glory of a passing hour.
3 But though earth’s fairest blossoms die, And all beneath the skies is vain, There is a brighter world on high, Beyond the reach of care and pain.
4 Then let the hope of joys to come Dispel our cares and chase our fears; If God be ours, we’re traveling home, Though passing through a vale of tears.
427 L. M. Fight the good fight of faith. 1 Tim. 6:12.
Stand up, my soul, shake off thy fears, And gird the gospel armor on; March to the gates of endless joy, Where Jesus, the great Captain’s gone.
2 Hell and thy sins resist thy course; But hell and sin are vanquished foes; Thy Saviour nailed them to the cross, And sung the triumph when he rose.
3 Then let my soul march boldly on, Press forward to the heavenly gate; There peace and joy eternal reign, And glittering robes for conquerors wait.
4 There shall I wear a starry crown, And triumph in almighty grace, While all the armies of the skies Join in my glorious Leader’s praise.
428 C. M. The land of promise.
There is a land of pure delight, Where saints immortal reign, Infinite day excludes the night, And pleasures banish pain.
2 There everlasting spring abides, And never withering flowers; Death, like a narrow sea, divides This heavenly land from ours.
3 Sweet fields, beyond the swelling flood, Stand dressed in living green; So to the Jews old Canaan stood, While Jordan rolled between.
4 But timorous mortals start and shrink To cross this narrow sea, And linger, shivering on the brink, And fear to launch away.
5 O! could we make our doubts remove, Those gloomy doubts that rise, And see the Canaan that we love, With unbeclouded eyes;
6 Could we but climb where Moses stood, And view the landscape o’er; Not Jordan’s stream, nor death’s cold flood, Should fright us from the shore.
429 C. M. The land that is afar off. Isaiah 33:17.
Far from these narrow scenes of night, Unbounded glories rise; And realms of infinite delight, Unknown to mortal eyes.
2 Celestial land! could our weak eyes But half thy charms explore, How would our spirits long to rise; And dwell on earth no more:
3 There pain and sickness never come, And grief no place obtains; Health triumphs in immortal bloom, And endless pleasure reigns!
4 No cloud these blissful regions know, For ever bright and fair! For sin, the source of every woe, Can never enter there.
5 There no alternate night is known, Nor sun’s faint sickly ray; But glory from the sacred throne Spreads everlasting day.
430 C. M. We all shall meet in heaven.
Hail, sweetest, dearest tie, that binds Our glowing hearts in one; Hail, sacred hope, that tunes our minds To harmony divine. It is the hope, the blissful hope, Which Jesus’ grace has given— The hope, when days and years are past, We all shall meet in heaven.
2 What though the northern wintry blast Shall howl around our cot; What though beneath an eastern sun Be cast our distant lot; Yet still we share the blissful hope, Which Jesus’ grace has given— The hope, when days and years are past, We all shall meet in heaven.
3 From eastern shores, from northern lands, From western hill and plain, From southern climes, the brother-bands May hope to meet again; It is the hope, the blissful hope, Which Jesus’ grace has given— The hope, when life and time are o’er, We all shall meet in heaven.
4 From Burmah’s shores, from Afric’s strand, From India’s burning plain, From Europe, from Columbia’s land, We hope to meet again; It is the hope, the blissful hope, Which Jesus’ grace has given— The hope, when days and years are past, We all shall meet in heaven.
5 No lingering look, nor parting sigh, Our future meeting knows; There friendship beams from every eye, And love immortal glows. O sacred hope! O blissful hope! Which Jesus’ grace has given— The hope, when days and years are past We all shall meet in heaven.
431 C. M. The heavenly Canaan.
On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, And cast a wishful eye To Canaan’s fair and happy land, Where my possessions lie.
2 O the transporting, rapturous scene, That rises to my sight! Sweet fields arrayed in living green, And rivers of delight!
3 There generous fruits that never fail On trees immortal grow; There rocks and hills, and brooks and vales, With milk and honey flow.
4 All o’er these wide, extended plains, Shines one eternal day; There God, the Son, for ever reigns, And scatters night away.
5 No chilling winds nor poisonous breath Can reach that healthful shore; Sickness and sorrow, pain and death, Are felt and feared no more.
6 When shall I reach that happy place, And be for ever blest! When shall I see my Father’s face, And in his bosom rest!
7 Filled with delight, my raptured soul Would here no longer stay; Though Jordan’s waves around me roll, Fearless I’d launch away.
432 C. M. Hope in trouble.
When musing sorrow weeps the past, And mourns the present pain, ’Tis sweet to think of peace at last, And feel that death is gain.
2 ’Tis not that murmuring thoughts arise, And dread a Father’s will; ’Tis not that meek submission flies, And would not suffer still.
3 It is that heaven-born faith surveys The path that leads to light, And longs her eagle plumes to raise, And lose herself in sight.
4 It is that troubled conscience feels The pangs of struggling sin, And sees, though far, the hand that heals, And ends the strife within.
5 O, let me wing my hallowed flight From earth-born woe and care, And soar above these clouds of night, My Saviour’s bliss to share.
433 C. M. Light in darkness.
O there’s a better world on high; Hope on, thou pious breast; Faint not, thou traveler; on the sky Thy weary feet shall rest.
2 Anguish may rend each vital part; Poor man, thy strength how frail! Yet heaven’s own strength shall shield thy heart, When flesh and heart shall fail.
3 Through death’s dark vale, of deepest shade, Thy feet must surely go; Yet there, e’en there, walk undismayed; ’Tis thy last scene of woe.
4 Thy God—and with the tenderest hand— Shall guard the traveler through; “Hail!” shalt thou cry: “hail! promised land! And, wilderness, adieu!”
5 O Father, make our souls thy care, And bring us safe to thee; Where’er thou art—we ask not where— But there ’tis heaven to be.
434 C. M. Abiding in hope.
Since I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, I bid farewell to every fear, And wipe my weeping eyes.
2 Should earth against my soul engage, And fiery darts be hurled, Then I would smile at Satan’s rage, And face a frowning world.
3 Let cares, like a wild deluge, come, And storms of sorrow fall, May I but safely reach my home, My God, my heaven, my all.
4 There shall I bathe my weary soul In seas of heavenly rest; And not a wave of trouble roll Across my peaceful breast.
435 C. M. God our only hope.
When reft of all, and hopeless care Would sink us to the tomb, What power shall save us from despair, What dissipate the gloom?
2 No balm that earthly plants distill Can soothe the mourner’s smart, No mortal hand, with lenient skill, Bind up the broken heart.
3 But One alone, who reigns above, Our woe to joy can turn, And light the lamp of life and love, That long has ceased to burn.
4 Then, O my soul! to that One flee, To God thy woes reveal; His eye alone thy wounds can see, His power alone can heal.
436 C. M. Hope thou in God. Psalm 42:5.
My soul! triumphant in the Lord, Proclaim thy joys abroad, And march with holy vigor on, Supported by thy God.
2 Through every winding maze of life, His hand has been my guide; And in his long-experienced care, My heart shall still confide.
3 His grace through all the desert flows, An unexhausted stream; That grace, on Zion’s sacred mount, Shall be my endless theme.
4 Beyond the choicest joys of time, Thy courts on earth I love; But O! I burn with strong desire To view thy house above.
5 There, joined with all the shining band, My soul would thee adore; A pillar in thy temple fixed, To be removed no more.
437 8s & 4s. Vain world, adieu.
When for eternal worlds we steer, And seas are calm, and skies are clear, And faith, in lively exercise, Sees distant fields of Canaan rise, The soul for joy then spreads her wings, And loud her lovely sonnet sings, Vain world, adieu.
2 With cheerful hope, her eyes explore Each land-mark on the distant shore, The trees of life, the pastures green, The golden streets, the crystal stream; Again for joy she spreads her wings, And loud her lovely sonnet sings, I’m going home.
3 The nearer still she draws to land, More eager all her powers expand; With steady helm, and free bent sail, Her anchor drops within the vail; And now for joy she folds her wings, And her celestial sonnet sings, I’m safe at home.
438 C. M. Hope maketh not ashamed. Rom. 5:5.
The world may change from old to new, From new to old again; Yet hope and heaven, for ever true, Within our hearts remain.
2 Hope leads the child to plant the flower, The man to sow the seed; Nor leaves fulfillment to her hour— But prompts again to deed.
3 And ere upon the old man’s dust The grass is seen to wave, We look through falling tears, to trust Hope’s sunshine on the grave.
4 O, no, it is no flattering lure, No fancy weak or fond, When hope would bid us rest secure In better life beyond.
5 Nor love, nor shame, nor grief, nor tears, Her promise may gainsay; The voice divine speaks through our years, To cheer us on our way.
439 P. M. The Rock of Salvation.
If life’s pleasures charm you, give them not your heart, Lest the gift ensnare you from your God to part; His favor seek, his praises speak; Fix here your hope’s foundation; Serve him, and he will ever be The Rock of your Salvation.
2 If distress befall you, painful though it be, Let not grief appall you—to your Saviour flee; He ever near, your prayer will hear, And calm your perturbation; The waves of woe shall ne’er o’erflow The Rock of your Salvation.
3 When earth’s prospects fail you, let it not distress, Better comforts wait you—Christ will surely bless; To Jesus flee—your prop he’ll be, Your heavenly consolation; For griefs below can not o’erthrow The Rock of your Salvation.
4 Dangers may approach you; let them not alarm; Christ will ever watch you, and protect from harm, He near you stands, with mighty hands To ward off each temptation; To Jesus fly; he’s ever nigh, The Rock of your Salvation.
5 Let not death alarm you, shrink not from his blow; For your God shall arm you, and victory bestow, For death shall bring to you no sting, The grave no desolation: ’Tis sweet to die with Jesus nigh, The Rock of your Salvation.
440 6s & 4s. Jesus is mine.
Now I have found a friend, Jesus is mine; His love shall never end, Jesus is mine. Though earthly joys decrease; Though human friendships cease, Now I have lasting peace; Jesus is mine.
2 Though I grow poor and old, Jesus is mine; He will my faith uphold, Jesus is mine; He shall my wants supply, His precious blood is nigh, Nought can my hope destroy, Jesus is mine!
3 When earth shall pass away, Jesus is mine. In the great Judgment day, Jesus is mine. O! what a glorious thing Then to behold my King, On tuneful harp to sing, Jesus is mine.
4 Farewell mortality! Jesus is mine. Welcome eternity! Jesus is mine, He my Redemption is, Wisdom and Righteousness, Life, Light and Holiness, Jesus is mine.
THE CHURCH—DIVINE CONSTITUTION.
441 L. M. God is the midst of her. Psalm 46:5.
Happy the church, thou sacred place, The seat of thy Creator’s grace! Thine holy courts are his abode, Thou earthly palace of our God!
2 Thy walls are strength, and at thy gates A guard of heavenly warriors waits; Nor shall thy deep foundations move, Fixed on his counsels and his love.
3 Thy foes in vain designs engage; Against his throne in vain they rage: Like rising waves, with angry roar, That dash and die upon the shore.
4 God is our shield, and God our sun; Swift as the fleeting moments run, On us he sheds new beams of grace, And we reflect his brightest praise.
442 L. M. God is our refuge. Psalm 46:1.
God is the refuge of his saints, When storms of sharp distress invade; Ere we can offer our complaints, Behold him present with his aid.
2 Let mountains from their seats be hurled Down to the deep, and buried there; Convulsions shake the solid world; Our faith shall never yield to fear.
3 Zion enjoys her monarch’s love, Secure against a threatening hour; Nor can her firm foundations move, Built on his truth, and armed with power.
443 C. M. A kingdom which can not be moved. Heb. 12:28.
Thy kingdom, Lord, for ever stands, While earthly thrones decay; And time submits to thy commands, While ages roll away.
2 Thy sovereign bounty freely gives Its unexhausted store; And universal nature lives On thy sustaining power.
3 Holy and just in all thy ways, Thy providence divine; In all thy works, immortal rays Of power and mercy shine.
4 The praise of God—delightful theme! Shall fill my heart and tongue; Let all creation bless his name, In one eternal song.
444 C. M. A sure foundation. Isaiah 28:16.
Behold the sure foundation-stone, Which God in Zion lays, To build our heavenly hopes upon, And his eternal praise!
2 Chosen of God, to sinners dear, And saints adore the name; They trust their whole salvation here, Nor shall they suffer shame.
3 The foolish builders, scribe, and priest, Reject it with disdain; Yet on this rock the church shall rest, And envy rage in vain.
4 What though the gates of hell withstood, Yet must this building rise: ’Tis thy own work, almighty God, And wondrous in our eyes.
445 C. M. Let us go into the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:1.
How did my heart rejoice to hear My friends devoutly say, “In Zion let us all appear, And keep the solemn day.”
2 I love her gates, I love the road: The church, adorned with grace, Stands like a palace, built for God, To show his milder face.
3 Up to her courts, with joys unknown, The holy tribes repair; The Son of David holds his throne, And sits in judgment there.
4 He hears our praises and complaints; And while his awful voice Divides the sinners from the saints, We tremble and rejoice.
5 Peace be within this sacred place, And joy a constant guest! With holy gifts and heavenly grace, Be her attendants blest!
6 My soul shall pray for Zion still, While life or breath remains; There my best friends, my kindred, dwell, There God, my Saviour reigns.
446 C. M. Yet will I not forget thee. Isaiah 49:15.
A mother may forgetful be, For human love is frail; But thy Creator’s love to thee, O Zion! can not fail.
2 No! thy dear name engraven stands, In characters of love, On thy almighty Father’s hands, And never shall remove.
3 Before his ever watchful eye Thy mournful state appears; And every groan, and every sigh, Divine compassion hears.
4 O Zion! learn to doubt no more, Be every fear suppressed; Unchanging truth, and love, and power, Dwell in thy Saviour’s breast.
447 C. M. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Psalm 27:1.
The Lord of glory is my light, And my salvation too; God is my strength, nor will I fear What all my foes can do.
2 One blessing, Lord, my heart desires; O, grant me my abode Among the churches of thy saints, The temples of my God.
3 There shall I offer my requests, And see thy glory still; Shall hear thy messages of love, And learn thy holy will.
4 When troubles rise, and storms appear, There may his children hide; God has a strong pavilion, where He makes my soul abide.
5 Now shall my head be lifted high Above my foes around, And songs of joy and victory Within thy temple sound.
448 C. M. Fear not, little flock. Luke 12:32.
There is a little, lonely fold, Whose flock one Shepherd keeps, Through summer’s heat and winter’s cold, With eye that never sleeps.
2 By evil beast, or burning sky, Or damp of midnight air, Not one in all that flock shall die Beneath that Shepherd’s care.
3 For if, unheeding or beguiled, In danger’s path they roam, His pity follows through the wild, And guards them safely home.
4 O, gentle Shepherd, still behold Thy helpless charge in me; And take a wanderer to thy fold, That, trembling, turns to thee.
449 C. M. You are come unto Mount Zion. Heb. 12:22.
Not to the terrors of the Lord, The tempest, fire, and smoke— Not to the thunder of that word Which God on Sinai spoke;—
2 But we are come to Zion hill, The city of our God, Where milder words declare his will, And spread his love abroad.
3 Behold the great, the glorious host Of angels clothed in light! Behold the spirits of the just, Whose faith is turned to sight!
4 Behold the blest assembly there, Whose names are writ in heaven! And God, the Judge, who doth declare Their vilest sins forgiven!
5 Saints here, and those in Jesus dead, But one communion make; All join in Christ, their living head, And of his grace partake.
6 In such society as this My weary soul would rest; The man that dwells where Jesus is Must be for ever blessed.
450 C. M. Rev. 1:20.
Our Christ hath reached his heavenly seat, Through sorrows and through scars; The golden lamps are at his feet, And in his hand the stars.
2 O God of life, and truth, and grace, Ere nature was begun! Make welcome to our erring race Thy Spirit and thy Son.
3 We hail the Church, built high o’er all The heathens’ rage and scoff; Thy providence its fenced wall, “The Lamb the light thereof.”
4 O, may he walk among us here, With his rebuke and love— A brightness o’er this lower sphere, A ray from worlds above!
451 C. M. His kingdom is everlasting. Danl. 7:27.
O where are kings and empires now, Of old that went and came? But holy Church is praying yet, A thousand years the same.
2 Mark ye her holy battlements, And her foundations strong: And hear within, the solemn voice, And her unending song.
3 For not like kingdoms of the world, The Holy Church of God! Though earthquake shocks are rocking her, And tempests are abroad;
4 Unshaken as eternal hills, Unmovable she stands— A mountain that shall fill the earth, A fane unbuilt by hands.
452 S. M. The Lord is great in Zion. Psalm 99:2.
Great is the Lord our God, And let his praise be great; He makes his churches his abode, His most delightful seat.
2 These temples of his grace, How beautiful they stand! The honors of our native place, And bulwarks of our land.
3 In Zion God is known, A refuge in distress; How bright has his salvation shone, Through all her palaces!
4 When kings against her joined, And saw the Lord was there, In wild confusion of the mind, They fled with hasty fear.
5 Oft have our fathers told, Our eyes have often seen, How well our God secures the fold Where his own sheep have been.
6 In every new distress We’ll to his house repair; We’ll call to mind his wondrous grace, And seek deliverance there.
453 S. M. I love thy kingdom, Lord.
I Love thy kingdom, Lord— The house of thine abode, The church our blest Redeemer saved With his own precious blood.
2 I love thy Church, O God! Her walls before thee stand, Dear as the apple of thine eye, And graven on thy hand.
3 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.
4 Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.
5 Jesus, thou Friend divine, Our Saviour and our King, Thy hand from every snare and foe Shall great deliverance bring.
6 Sure as thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven.
454 S. M. How amiable are thy tabernacles. Psalm 84:1.
How charming is the place Where my Redeemer God Unvails the beauties of his face, And sheds his love abroad!
2 Not the fair palaces To which the great resort, Are once to be compared with this, Where Jesus holds his court.
3 Here on the mercy-seat, With radiant glory crowned, Our joyful eyes behold him sit, And smile on all around.
4 To him their prayers and cries Each humble soul presents; He listens to their broken sighs, And grants them all their wants.
5 Give me, O Lord, a place Within thy blessed abode, Among the children of thy grace, The servants of my God.
455 S. M. It shall stand for ever. Dan. 2:44.
Thy kingdom, gracious Lord, Shall never pass away; Firm as thy truth it still shall stand, When earthly thrones decay.
2 Thy people here have found, Through many weary years, The sweet communion, joy and peace, To banish all their fears.
3 And now while in thy courts, Do thou our love increase; Give us the food our spirits need, And fill our hearts with peace.
456 S. M. The ark of God.
Like Noah’s weary dove, That soared the earth around, But not a resting-place above The cheerless waters found;
2 O cease, my wandering soul, On restless wing to roam; All the wide world, to either pole, Has not for thee a home.
3 Behold the ark of God, Behold the open door; Hasten to gain that dear abode, And rove, my soul, no more.
4 There safe thou shalt abide, There sweet shall be thy rest, And every longing satisfied, With full salvation blest.
5 And when the waves of ire, Again the earth shall fill, The ark shall ride the sea of fire; Then rest on Zion’s hill.
457 S. M. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion. Psalm 87:2.
How honored is the place, Where we adoring stand! Zion, the glory of the earth, And beauty of the land.
2 Bulwarks of grace defend The city where we dwell; While walls of strong salvation made, Defy th’ assaults of hell.
3 Lift up th’ eternal gates, The doors wide open fling; Enter, ye nations, that obey The statutes of our King.
4 Here taste unmingled joys, And live in perfect peace; You that have known Jehovah’s name, And ventured on his grace.
5 Trust in the Lord, ye saints; And banish all your fears, Strength in the Lord Jehovah dwells, Eternal as his years.
458 S. M. The joy of the whole earth. Psalm 48:2.
Far as thy name is known The world declares thy praise; The saints, O Lord, before thy throne Their songs of honor raise.
2 With joy, thy people stand On Zion’s chosen hill, Proclaim the wonders of thy hand, And counsels of thy will.
3 Let strangers walk around The city where we dwell, Compass and view thy holy ground, And mark the building well.
4 How comely and how wise! How glorious to behold! Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes, And rites adorned with gold.
5 The God we worship now Will guide us till we die; Will be our God while here below, And ours above the sky.
459 S. M. The church in the wilderness.
Far down the ages now, Much of her journey done, The pilgrim church pursues her way, Until her crown be won.
2 The story of the past Comes up before her view: How well it seems to suit her still— Old, and yet ever new!
3 It is the oft-told tale Of sin and weariness— Of grace and love yet flowing down To pardon and to bless.
4 No wider is the gate, No broader is the way, No smoother is the ancient path, That leads to life and day.
5 No sweeter is the cup, Nor less our lot of ill: ’Twas tribulation ages since, ’Tis tribulation still.
6 No slacker grows the fight, No feebler is the foe, Nor less the need of armor tried, Of shield, and spear, and bow.
7 Thus onward still we press, Through evil and through good— Through pain, and poverty, and want, Through peril and through blood.
8 Still faithful to our God, And to our Captain true, We follow where he leads the way, The kingdom in our view.
460 8s & 7s. Glorious things are spoken of thee. Psalm 87:3.
Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God! He, whose word can not be broken, Formed thee for his own abode: On the Rock of ages founded, What can shake thy sure repose? With salvation’s wall surrounded, Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
2 See the streams of living waters, Springing from Eternal Love, Well supply thy sons and daughters, And all fear of drought remove: Who can faint while such a river Ever flows their thirst t’ assuage! Grace, which like the Lord, the giver, Never fails from age to age.
3 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.
4 Blest inhabitants of Zion, Washed in the Redeemer’s blood, Jesus, whom their souls rely on, Makes them kings and priests to God: ’Tis his love his people raises With himself to reign as kings; And, as priests, his solemn praises Each for a thank-offering brings.
5 Saviour, since 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 treasure, All his boasted pomp and show! Solid joys and lasting pleasure None but Zion’s children know.
461 10s. When the Lord shall bring again Zion. Isaiah 52:8.
Restore, O Father! to our times restore The peace which filled thine infant Church of yore, Ere lust of power had sown the seeds of strife, And quenched the new-born charities of life.
2 O, never more may different judgments part From kindled sympathy a brother’s heart! But, linked in one, believing thousands kneel, And share with each the sacred joy they feel.
3 From soul to soul, quick as the sunbeam’s ray, Let concord spread one universal day; And faith by love lead all mankind to thee, Parent of peace, and Fount of harmony!
462 8s, 7s & 4s. Living waters.
See, from Zion’s sacred mountain, Streams of living water flow; God has opened there a fountain That supplies the world below; They are blesséd Who its sovereign virtues know.
2 Through ten thousand channels flowing, Streams of mercy find their way: Life, and health, and joy bestowing, Waking beauty from decay. O, ye nations, Hail the long-expected day.
3 Gladdened by the flowing treasure, All-enriching as it goes, Lo! the desert smiles with pleasure, Buds and blossoms as the rose; Lo! the desert Sings for joy where’er it flows.
463 12s. The house of the Lord.
You may sing of the beauty of mountain and dale, Of the silvery streamlets and flowers of the vale; But the place most delightful this earth can afford, Is the place of devotion, the house of the Lord.
2 You may boast of the sweetness of day’s early dawn, Of the sky’s softening graces when day is just gone; But there’s no other season or time can compare, With the hour of devotion, the season of prayer.
3 You may value the friendships of youth and of age, And select for your comrades the noble and sage; But the friends that most cheer me on life’s rugged road, Are the friends of my Master, the children of God.
4 You may talk of your prospects, of fame, or of wealth, And the hopes that oft flatter the favorites of health; But the hope of bright glory, of heavenly bliss— Take away every other, and give me but this.
5 Ever hail, blessed temple, abode of my Lord! I will turn to thee often, to hear from his word; I will walk to thine altar with those that I love, And rejoice in the prospects revealed from above.
464 8s, 7s & 4s. Mount Zion, etc. Psalm 125:1.
Zion stands with hills surrounded— Zion kept by power divine; All her foes shall be confounded, Though the world in arms combine: Happy Zion, What a favored lot is thine.
2 Every human tie may perish; Friend to friend unfaithful prove; Mothers cease their own to cherish; Heaven and earth at last remove; But no changes Can attend Jehovah’s love.
3 In the furnace God may prove thee, Thence to bring thee forth more bright, But can never cease to love thee; Thou art precious in his sight: God is with thee— God, thine everlasting light.
OFFICERS.
465 L. M. Go ye into all the world. Mark 16:15.
Ye Christian heralds! go, proclaim Salvation through Immanuel’s name; To distant climes the tidings bear, And plant the rose of Sharon there.
2 He’ll shield you with a wall of a fire, With holy zeal your hearts inspire, Bid raging winds their fury cease, And hush the tempest into peace.
3 And when our labors all are o’er, Then we shall meet to part no more— Meet with the blood-bought throng, to fall, And crown our Jesus—Lord of all!
466 L. M. Go, teach all nations. Matt. 28:19.
Go—messenger of peace and love! To nations plunged in shades of night; Like angels sent from fields above, Be thine to shed celestial light.
2 Go—to the hungry food impart; To paths of peace the wanderer guide, And lead the thirsty, panting heart, Where streams of living water glide.
3 Go—bid the bright and morning-star From Bethlehem’s plains resplendent shine, And, piercing through the gloom afar, Shed heavenly light and love divine.
4 From north to south, from east to west, Messiah yet shall reign supreme; His name by every tongue confessed— His praise—the universal theme.
467 L. M. Pray for us. 2 Thess. 3:1.
Father of mercies, bow thine ear, Attentive to our earnest prayer: We plead for those who plead for thee; Successful pleaders may they be.
2 How great their work! how vast their charge! Do thou their anxious souls enlarge: Their best endowments are our gain; We share the blessings they obtain.
3 O, clothe with energy divine Their words; and let those words be thine; To them thy sacred truth reveal; Suppress their fears, inflame their zeal.
4 Teach them to sow the precious seed; Teach them thy chosen flock to feed; Teach them immortal souls to gain— And thus reward their toil and pain.
5 Let thronging multitudes around, Hear from their lips the joyful sound, In humble strains thy grace implore, And feel thy Spirit’s living power.
468 C. M. Ordination of elders or deacons.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, thy presence now, Direct us in thy fear; Before thy throne we humbly bow, And offer fervent prayer.
2 Give us the men whom thou shalt choose, Thy house on earth to guide; Those who shall ne’er their power abuse, Or rule with haughty pride.
3 Inspired with wisdom from above, And with discretion blessed; Displaying meekness, temperance, love— Of every grace possessed;
4 These are the men we seek of thee, O God of righteousness: Such may thy servants ever be, With such thy people bless.
469 C. M. Ordination.
With joy we own thy servant, Lord, Thy minister below, Ordained to spread thy truth abroad, That all thy name may know.
2 O may he now, and ever, keep His eye intent on thee: Do thou, great Shepherd of the sheep, His bright example be.
3 With plenteous grace his heart prepare To execute thy will; And give him patience, love, and care, And faithfulness and skill.
4 Inflame his mind with ardent zeal, Thy flock to feed and teach; And let him live, and let him feel, The truths he’s called to preach.
5 As showers refresh the thirsty plain, So let his labors prove: By him extend thy righteous reign— The reign of truth and love.
470 S. M. On the departure of a missionary.
You messengers of Christ, His sovereign voice obey; Arise and follow where he leads— And peace attend your way.
2 The master whom you serve Will needful strength bestow; Depending on his promised aid, With sacred courage go.
3 Mountains shall sink to plains, And hell in vain oppose; The cause is God’s, and must prevail In spite of all his foes.
4 Go, spread a Saviour’s fame, And tell his matchless grace, To the most guilty and depraved Of Adam’s numerous race.
5 We wish you, in his name, The most divine success; Assured that he who sends you forth Will your endeavors bless.
471 S. M. The same.
Go with thy servant, Lord, His every step attend; All needful help to him afford, And bless him to the end.
2 Preserve him from all wrong; Stand thou at his right hand: And keep him from the slanderous tongue And persecuting band.
3 May he proclaim aloud The wonders of thy grace; And do thou, to the listening crowd, His faithful labors bless.
4 Farewell, dear laborer, go; We part with thee in love; And if we meet no more below, O may we meet above.
472 S. M. Be ye therefore ready also. Luke 12:40.
Ye servants of the Lord, Each in his office wait; With joy obey his heavenly word, And watch before his gate.
2 Let all your lamps be bright, And trim the golden flame; Gird up your loins, as in his sight; For awful is his name.
3 Watch! ’tis the Lord’s command; And while we speak, he’s near; Mark the first signal of his hand, And ready all appear.
4 O happy servant he, In such a posture found! He shall his Lord with rapture see, And be with honor crowned.
473 S. M. D. Math. 9:38.
Lord of the harvest! hear Thy needy servants’ cry; Answer our faith’s effectual prayer, And all our wants supply. On thee we humbly wait; Our wants are in thy view; The harvest truly, Lord! is great, The laborers are few.
2 Convert and send forth more Into thy Church abroad; And let them speak thy word of power, As workers with their God. Give the pure gospel-word, The word of general grace; Thee let them preach, the common Lord, The Saviour of our race.
3 O, let them spread thy name; Their mission fully prove; Thy universal grace proclaim, Thy all-redeeming love. On all mankind, forgiven, Empower them still to call, And tell each creature under heaven, That thou hast died for all.
474 5s & 6s. Preach the word. 2 Tim. 4:2.
You servants of God, Your Master proclaim, And publish abroad His wonderful name: The name all victorious Of Jesus extol; His kingdom is glorious, And rules over all.
2 Christ ruleth on high, Almighty to save: And still he is nigh— His presence we have: The great congregation His triumph shall sing, Ascribing salvation To Jesus our King.
3 Salvation to him, Who sits on the throne— Let all cry aloud, And honor the Son; Our Saviour’s praises The angels proclaim, They fall on their faces And worship the Lamb.
4 Him let us adore, And give him his right; All glory and power, And wisdom and might; All honor and blessing With angels above, And thanks never ceasing, For infinite love.
475 7s. Prayer for deacons.
Son of God, our glorious Head! On us now thy blessing shed; From thy throne let mercy flow To thy waiting flock below.
2 Taught by thee, with prayer sincere, We have called thy servants here, For thy needy ones to care, And thy holy feast to bear.
3 May the Spirit from above Fill their hearts with faith and love; Make them humble, zealous, wise, Strife to shun, and good devise.
4 When their earthly work is done, When the crown of life is won, May they, with thy favor blest, Pass from labor into rest.
476 7s & 6s. The fields are white already to harvest. John 4:35.
Ho, reapers of life’s harvest, Why stand with rusted blade, Until the night draws round thee, And day begins to fade? Why stand ye idle, waiting For reapers more to come? The golden morn is passing, Why sit ye idle, dumb?
2 Thrust in your sharpened sickle, And gather in the grain: The night is fast approaching, And soon will come again. Thy Master calls for reapers; And shall he call in vain? Shall sheaves lie there ungathered, And waste upon the plain?
3 Come down from hill and mountain, In morning’s ruddy glow, Nor wait until the dial Points to the noon below; And come with the strong sinew, Nor faint in heat or cold; And pause not till the evening Draws round its wealth of gold.
4 Mount up the hights of wisdom, And crush each error low; Keep back no words of knowledge That human hearts should know; Be faithful to thy mission In service of thy Lord; And then a golden chaplet Shall be thy just reward.
LOVE, UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP.
477 L. M. Christian fellowship.
Kindred in Christ, for his dear sake A hearty welcome here receive; May we together now partake The joys which only he can give.
2 May he, by whose kind care we meet, Send his good spirit from above; Make our communications sweet, And cause our hearts to burn with love.
3 Forgotten be each worldly theme, When Christians meet together thus; We only wish to speak of him Who lived, and died, and reigns for us.
4 We’ll talk of all he did, and said, And suffered for us here below; The path he marked for us to tread, And what he’s doing for us now.
5 Thus—as the moments pass away— We’ll love, and wonder, and adore; And hasten on the glorious day When we shall meet to part no more.
478 L. M. Come in, thou blessed of the Lord. Gen. 24:31.
Come in, thou blesséd of our God, In Jesus’ name we bid thee come; No more thy feet shall roam abroad, Henceforth a brother—welcome home.
2 Those joys which earth can not afford, We’ll seek in fellowship to prove, Joined in one spirit to our Lord, Together bound by mutual love.
3 And while we pass this vale of tears We’ll make our joys and sorrows known; We’ll share each other’s hopes and fears, And count a brother’s cares our own.
4 Once more our welcome we repeat, Receive assurance of our love; O may we all together meet Around the throne of God above.
479 L. M. Christian affection.
How blest the sacred tie that binds, In sweet communion, kindred minds! How swift the heavenly course they run, Whose hearts, whose faith, whose hopes are one!
2 To each the soul of each how dear! What tender love, what holy fear! How doth the generous flame within Refine from earth, and cleanse from sin!
3 Their streaming eyes together flow For human guilt and mortal woe; Their ardent prayers together rise Like mingling flames in sacrifice.
4 Nor shall the glowing flame expire, When dimly burns frail nature’s fire; Then shall they meet in realms above, A heaven of joy, a heaven of love.
480 L. M. The more excellent way. 1 Cor. 12:31.
Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews, And nobler speech than angels use, If love be absent, I am found, Like tinkling brass, an empty sound.
2 Were I inspired to preach and tell All that is done in heaven and hell— Or could my faith the world remove— Still I am nothing without love.
3 Should I distribute all my store To feed the hungry, clothe the poor— Or give my body to the flame, To gain a martyr’s glorious name—
4 If love to God and love to men Be absent, all my hopes are vain; Nor tongues, nor gifts, nor fiery zeal, The work of love can e’er fulfill.
481 L. M. The pilgrim band.
Come, you that love the Lord indeed, Who are from sin and bondage freed, Submit to all the ways of God, And walk the narrow, happy road. CHORUS. We’re all united heart and hand, Joined in one band completely; We’re marching through Immanuel’s land, Where waters flow most sweetly.
2 Great tribulation you shall meet, But soon shall walk the golden street; Though hell may rage and vent its spite, Yet Christ will save his heart’s delight.
3 That happy day will soon appear When Michael’s trumpet you shall hear Sound through the earth—yea, down to hell, And call the nations, great and small.
4 Behold the righteous marching home, And all the angels bid them come, While Christ the Judge these words proclaims, “Here come my saints—I own their names!”
5 “You everlasting gates, fly wide, Make ready to receive my bride; You harps of heaven, now sound aloud, Here come the ransomed by my blood!”
6 In grandeur see the royal line, In glittering robes the sun outshine! See saints and angels join in one, And march in splendor to the throne.
7 They stand, and wonder, and look on: They join in one eternal song, Their great Redeemer to admire, While rapture sets their souls on fire.
482 L. M. Thy little flock in safety keep.
Jesus, thou Shepherd of the sheep, Thy little flock in safety keep; These lambs within thine arms now take, Nor let them e’er thy fold forsake.
2 Secure them from the scorching beam, And lead them to the living stream; In verdant pastures let them lie, And watch them with a shepherd’s eye!
3 O, teach them to discern thy voice, And in its sacred sound rejoice! From strangers may they ever flee, And know no other guide but thee.
4 Lord, bring thy sheep that wander yet, And let their number be complete; Then let the flock from earth remove, And reach the heavenly fold above.
483 L. M. Organization of a church.
Lord, bless thy saints assembled here, In solemn covenant now to join; Unite them in thy holy fear, And in thy love their hearts combine.
2 O give this church a large increase Of such as thou wilt own and bless; Lord, fill their hearts with joy and peace, And clothe them with thy righteousness.
3 Make her a garden walled with grace, A temple built for God below, Where thy blest saints may see thy face; And fruits of thy blessed Spirit grow.
484 L. M. You are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3:28.
Still one in life and one in death, One in our hope of rest above; One in our joy, our trust, our faith, One in each other’s faithful love,
2 Yet must we part, and, parting, weep; What else has earth for us in store? Our farewell pangs, how sharp and deep! But soon we’ll meet to part no more.
485 L. M. Parting hymn.
My Christian friends in bonds of love, Whose hearts the sweetest union prove; Your friendship’s like the strongest band, Yet we must take the parting hand.
2 Your presence sweet, our union dear, What joys we feel together here! And when I see that we must part, You draw like chords around my heart.
3 How sweet the hours have passed away, Since we have met to sing and pray; How loath are we to leave the place Where Jesus shows his smiling face!
4 O could I stay with friends so kind, How would it cheer my fainting mind! But pilgrims in a foreign land, We oft must take the parting hand.
5 My Christian friends, both old and young, I trust you will in Christ go on; Press on, and soon you’ll win the prize— A crown of glory in the skies.
6 A few more days, or years at most, And we shall reach fair Canaan’s coast: When, in that holy, happy land, We’ll take no more the parting hand.
7 O blesséd day! O glorious hope! My soul rejoices at the thought, When, in that holy, happy land, We’ll take no more the parting hand.
486 C. M. Go on, you pilgrims.
Go on, you pilgrims, while below, In the sure path of peace, Determined nothing else to know But Jesus and his grace.
2 Observe your leader, follow him; He through this world has been Often reviled; but like a lamb Did ne’er revile again.
3 O! take the pattern he has given, And love your enemies; And learn the only way to heaven Through self-denial lies.
4 Remember, you must watch and pray While journeying on the road, Lest you should fall out by the way, And wound the cause of God.
5 Go on rejoicing night and day; Your crown is yet before, Defy the trials of the way, The storm will soon be o’er.
6 Soon we shall reach the promised land, With all the ransomed race, And join with all the glorious band, To sing redeeming grace.
487 C. M. Planting a church.
Planted in Christ, the living vine, This day, with one accord, Ourselves, with humble faith and joy, We yield to thee, O Lord.
2 Joined in one body may we be; One inward life partake; One be our heart; one heavenly hope In every bosom wake.
3 In prayer, in effort, tears, and toils, One wisdom be our guide; Taught by one Spirit from above, In thee may we abide.
4 Around this feeble, trusting band, Thy sheltering pinions spread, Nor let the storms of trial beat Too fiercely on our head.
5 Then, when, among the saints in light, Our joyful spirits shine, Shall anthems of immortal praise, O Lamb of God, be thine.
488 C. M. The unity of the Spirit. Eph. 4:3.
Blessed be the dear uniting love, That will not let us part; Our bodies may far off remove— We still are one in heart.
2 Joined in one Spirit to our Head, Where he appoints, we go; And still in Jesus’ footsteps tread, And show his praise below.
3 Partakers of the Saviour’s grace, The same in mind and heart; Nor joy, nor grief, nor time, nor place, Nor life, nor death, can part.
489 C. M. We will serve the Lord. Josh. 24:15.
Ye men and angels, witness now— Before the Lord we speak, To him we make our solemn vow— A vow we dare not break:
2 That, long as life itself shall last, Ourselves to Christ we yield; Nor from his cause will we depart, Or ever quit the field.
3 We trust not in our native strength, But on his grace rely; May he, with our returning wants, All needful aid supply.
4 O, guide our doubtful feet aright, And keep us in thy ways; And, while we turn our vows to prayers, Turn thou our prayers to praise.
490 C. M. Restore such a one, etc. Gal. 6:1.
Think gently of the erring one! O, let us not forget, However darkly stained by sin, He is our brother yet.
2 Heir of the same inheritance, Child of the self-same God, He hath but stumbled in the path We have in weakness trod.
3 Speak gently to the erring ones! We yet may lead them back, With holy words and tones of love, From misery’s thorny track.
4 Forget not, brother, thou hast sinned, And sinful yet may be; Deal gently with the erring heart, As God hath dealt with thee.
491 C. M. Before and behind the vail.
Happy the souls to Jesus joined, And made in spirit one: Walking in all his ways, they find Their heaven on earth begun.
2 The church triumphant in thy love, Their mighty joys we know; They sing the Lamb in hymns above, And we in hymns below.
3 Thee in thy glorious realm they praise, And bow before thy throne; We in the kingdom of thy grace; The kingdoms are but one.
4 The holy to the holiest leads; To heaven our spirits rise; And he that in thy statutes treads, Shall meet thee in the skies.
492 C. M. Spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Eph. 1:3.
O happy they who know the Lord, With whom he deigns to dwell! He feeds and cheers them by his word, His arm supports them well.
2 To them, in each distressing hour, His throne of grace is near; And when they plead his love and power, He stands engaged to hear.
3 His presence sweetens all our cares, And makes our burdens light; A word from him dispels our fears, And gilds the gloom of night.
4 Lord, we expect to suffer here, Nor would we dare repine; But give us still to find thee near, And own us still for thine.
5 Let us enjoy and highly prize These tokens of thy love, Till thou shalt bid our spirits rise To worship thee above.
493 C. M. The bond of perfectness. Col. 3:14.
How sweet, how heavenly is the sight, When those that love the Lord, In one another’s peace delight, And so fulfill the word.
2 When each can feel his brother’s sigh, And with him bear a part; When sorrow flows from eye to eye, And joy from heart to heart:
3 When free from envy, scorn, and pride, Our wishes all above, Each can his brother’s failing hide, And show a brother’s love:
4 When love in one delightful stream Through every bosom flows, When union sweet and dear esteem In every action glows.
5 Love is the golden chain that binds, The happy souls above, And he’s an heir of heaven that finds His bosom glow with love.
494 C. M. The whole family in heaven and earth. Eph 3:15.
Come, let us join our friends above, Who have obtained the prize, And on the eagle wings of love, To joy celestial rise.
2 Let saints below in concert sing With those to glory gone; For all the servants of our King, In heaven and earth are one:
3 One family—we dwell in him; One church—above, beneath; Though now divided by the stream— The narrow stream of death.
4 One army of the living God, To his command we bow; Part of the host have crossed the flood, And part are crossing now.
5 Even now to their eternal home Some happy spirits fly; And we are to the margin come, Expecting soon to die!
6 Dear Saviour! be our constant guide; Then, when the word is given, Bid Jordan’s narrow stream divide, And land us safe in heaven.
495 S. M. Love as brethren. 1 Pet. 3:8.
Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.
2 Before our Father’s throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one, Our comforts and our cares.
3 We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.
4 Though often called to part, Amid these scenes of pain; Yet, we shall still be joined in heart, And hope to meet again.
5 This glorious hope revives Our courage by the way; While each in expectation lives, And longs to see the day.
6 From sorrow, toil, and pain, And sin, we shall be free; And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity.
496 S. M. Stand fast in the Lord. Phil. 4:1.
All you that have confessed That Jesus is the Lord, And to his people joined yourselves, According to his word:
2 In Zion you must dwell, Her altar ne’er forsake; Must come to all her solemn feasts, Of all her joys partake.
3 She must employ your thoughts, And your unceasing care; Her welfare be your constant wish, And her increase your prayer.
4 With humbleness of mind, Among her sons rejoice; A meek and quiet spirit is With God of highest price.
5 Never offend, nor grieve Your brethren by the way; But shun the dark abodes of strife, Like children of the day.
6 In all your Saviour’s ways, With willing footsteps move; Be faithful unto death, and then You’ll reign with him above.
497 S. M. Let there be no divisions among you. 1 Cor. 1:10.
Let party names no more The Christian world o’erspread, Gentile and Jew, and bond and free, Are one in Christ, their Head.
2 Among the saints on earth Let mutual love be found; Heirs of the same inheritance, With mutual blessings crowned.
3 Thus will the church below Resemble that above, Where streams of pleasure ever flow, And every heart is love.
498 7s. Strangers and pilgrims. 1 Pet. 2:11.
Children of the heavenly King, As ye journey, sweetly sing; Sing your Saviour’s worthy praise, Glorious in his works and ways.
2 Ye are traveling home to God, In the way the fathers trod: They are happy now—and ye Soon there happiness shall see.
3 Shout, ye little flock, and blest; You on Jesus’ throne shall rest: There your seat is now prepared— There your kingdom and reward.
4 Fear not, brethren, joyful stand On the borders of your land; Jesus Christ, your Father’s Son, Bids you undismayed go on.
5 Lord, submissive make us go, Gladly leaving all below; Only thou our leader be, And we still will follow thee.
499 7s. Bond of peace. Eph. 4:3.
Jesus, Lord, we look to thee; Let us in thy name agree; Show thyself the Prince of Peace; Bid our jars for ever cease.
2 By thy reconciling love, Every stumbling-block remove: Each to each unite, endear; Come, and spread thy banner here.
3 Make us of one heart and mind— Courteous, pitiful and kind; Lowly, meek, in thought and word— Altogether like our Lord.
4 Let us for each other care; Each the other’s burden bear; To thy Church the pattern give; Show how true believers live.
5 Free from anger and from pride, Let us thus in God abide; All the depths of love express— All the hights of holiness.
6 Let us then with joy remove To the family above; On the wings of angels fly; Show how true believers die.
500 8s. Love is of God. 1 John 4:7.
Say, whence does this union arise, Where hatred is conquered by love? It fastens our souls with such ties, That distance nor time can remove.
2 It can not in Eden be found, Nor yet in a Paradise lost; It grows on Immanuel’s ground, And Jesus’ life’s blood it has cost.
3 My friends so endeared unto me, Our souls so united in love; Where Jesus is gone we shall be, In yonder blest mansions above.
4 Why then so unwilling to part, Since there we shall soon meet again; Engraved on Immanuel’s heart, At distance we can not remain.
5 And then we shall see that bright day, And join with the angels above, Set free from our prisons of clay, United in Jesus’ kind love.
6 With Jesus we ever shall reign, And all his bright glory shall see; Then sing hallelujahs—Amen! Amen! Even so let it be!
501 8s & 7s. Receive ye one another. Rom. 15:7.
Come, dear friends, we all are brethren, Bound for Canaan’s happy land; Come, unite and walk together, Christ, our Leader, gives command. Cease to boast of party merit, Wound the cause of God no more, Be united by his spirit; Zion’s peace again restore.
2 Now our hand, our heart and spirit, Here in fellowship we give; Let us love and peace inherit, Show the world how Christians live. We’ll be one in Christ our Saviour, Male and female, bond and free! Christ is all in all for ever, In him we shall blesséd be.
502 7s, 6 lines. Parting friends.
When shall we all meet again? When shall we all meet again? Oft shall glowing hope expire, Oft shall wearied love retire, Oft shall death and sorrow reign, Ere we all shall meet again.
2 Though in distant lands we sigh, Parched beneath a hostile sky; Though the deep between us rolls— Friendship shall unite our souls: And in fancy’s wide domain, Oft shall we all meet again.
3 When the dreams of life are fled, And its wasted lamp is dead: When in cold oblivion’s shade, Beauty, wealth, and fame are laid; Where immortal spirits reign, There may we all meet again.
503 P. M. We shall meet no more to part.
We shall meet no more to part; Cease thy sorrows, mourning heart! Weary days will soon depart— Then we may rest for ever! When the work of life is done, When the victor’s crown is won, Then, immortal life begun, We no more shall sever. We shall meet, no more to part; Cease thy sorrows, mourning heart! Weary days will soon depart— Then we may rest for ever!
2 In the house of peace and bliss, In the world where Jesus is, When we bid adieu to this, Then we may love for ever. Purified from every stain, Through the Lamb that once was slain, Brethren, we shall meet again, And be parted never!
504 6s & 5s. When shall we meet again.
When shall we meet again? Meet ne’er to sever? When will Peace wreathe her chain Round us for ever? Our hearts will ne’er repose Safe from each blast that blows In this dark vail of woes, Never—no, never!
2 When shall love freely flow, Pure as life’s river? When shall sweet friendship glow, Changeless for ever? Where joys celestial thrill, Where bliss each heart shall fill, And fears of parting chill, Never—no, never!
3 Up to that world of light Take us, dear Saviour; May we all there unite, Happy for ever: Where kindred spirits dwell, There may our music swell, And time our joys dispel, Never—no, never!
4 Soon shall we meet again, Meet ne’er to sever: Soon shall Peace wreathe her chain Round us for ever: Our hearts will then repose Secure from worldly woes; Our songs of praise shall close, Never—no, never!
505 C. P. M. He that dwelleth in love, etc. 1 John 4:16.
O love divine, how sweet thou art! When shall I find my wandering heart All taken up in thee! O may I daily live to prove The sweetness of redeeming love, The love of Christ to me.
2 God only knows the love of God; O may it now be shed abroad To cheer my fainting heart! I want to feel that love divine; This heavenly portion, Lord, be mine— Be mine this better part.
3 O that I could for ever sit With Mary at the Master’s feet! Be this my happy choice; My only care, delight, and bliss, My joy, my heaven on earth, be this, To hear the Bridegroom’s voice.
4 O that I might, with happy John, Recline my weary head upon The blessed Redeemer’s breast! From care, and fear, and sorrow free, Give me, O Lord, to find in thee My everlasting rest.
506 6s, 4s & 5s. A parting hymn.
Peacefully, tenderly, Here, as we part, The farewell that lingers Be breathed from the heart: No place more fitting, O house of the Lord— Here be it spoken, That last prayerful word.
2 Thoughtfully, carefully, Solemn and slow! Tears are bedewing The path that we go; Perils before us We know not to-day— Kindly and safely, O Lord, lead the way.
3 Upwardly, steadfastly, Gaze on that brow: Jesus, our Leader, Reigns conqueror now. His steps let us follow, His sufferings dare, Go up to glory, His blessedness share.
4 Patiently, cheerfully, Up, and depart To labor and duty With gladness of heart; The ransomed, with triumph, To Zion we’ll bring, Shouting salvation To Jesus, our King.
507 L. M. Pilgrim’s farewell.
Farewell, my friends, time rolls along, Nor waits for mortal care or bliss; I leave you here to travel on, Till I arrive where Jesus is. Chorus.—Farewell, farewell, farewell, My Christian friends, farewell.
2 Farewell, my brethren in the Lord, To you I’m bound in cords of love, Yet we believe his gracious word, That we ere long shall meet above.
3 Farewell, old soldiers of the cross, You’ve struggled long and hard for heaven, You’ve counted all things here but dross, Fight on, the crown will soon be given.
4 Farewell, poor careless sinners, too, It grieves my soul to leave you here. Eternal sorrow waits for you, O turn, and find salvation near.
508 10s & 8s. Waiting on God. Isaiah. 40:31.
O happy children who follow Jesus Into the house of prayer and praise, And join in union while love increases, Resolved this way to spend our days: Although we’re hated by the world and Satan, By the flesh and such as love not God; Yet happy moments and joyful seasons We ofttimes find on Canaan’s road.
2 Since we’ve been waiting on lovely Jesus, We’ve felt some strength come from above, Our hearts have burned with holy rapture, We long to be absorbed in love: Let us sing praises for what is given, And trust in God for time to come; Sure we shall find the way to heaven; So farewell, brethren—we’re going home.
3 And as we go let us praise our Saviour, And pray for those who spurn his grace, Lest they should lose love’s richest treasure, And ne’er enjoy his smiling face. Now here’s my hand and my best wishes, In token of my Christian love; In hopes with you to praise my Jesus: So farewell, brethren,—we’ll meet above.
509 C. P. M. Heavenward. Col. 3:2.
Come on, my partners in distress, My comrades in the wilderness, Who feel your sorrows still; A while forget your griefs and fears And look beyond this vale of tears To that celestial hill.
2 Beyond the bounds of time and space, Look forward to that heavenly place, The saint’s secure abode; On faith’s strong eagle pinions rise, And force your passage to the skies, And scale the mount of God.
3 Who suffer with our Master here, Shall there before his face appear, And by his side sit down: To patient faith the prize is sure; And all that to the end endure The cross, shall wear the crown.
510 11s. Home. Phil. 3:20.
’Mid scenes of confusion and creature complaints, How sweet to my soul is communion with saints; To find at the banquet of mercy there’s room, And feel in the presence of Jesus at home.
2 Sweet bonds, that unite all the children of peace; And thrice blesséd Jesus, whose love can not cease; Though oft from thy presence in sadness I roam, I long to behold thee in glory at home.
3 While here in the valley of conflict I stray, O give me submission and strength as my day; In all my afflictions to thee would I come, Rejoicing in hope of my glorious home.
4 I long, dearest Lord, in thy beauty to shine; No more as an exile in sorrow to pine; And in thy dear image arise from the tomb, With glorified millions to praise thee at home.
511 S. H. M. Ephesians 4:5.
One baptism and one faith, One Lord below, above, The fellowship of Zion hath One only watchword—Love. From different temples though it rise, One song ascendeth to the skies.
2 Our sacrifice is One; One priest before the throne— The crucified, the risen Son, Redeemer, Lord alone! And sighs from contrite hearts that spring, Our chief, our choicest offering.
3 O why should they who love One gospel to unfold, Who look for one bright home above, On earth be strange and cold? Why, subjects of the Prince of Peace, In strife abide, and bitterness?
4 O may that holy prayer— His tenderest and his last, The utterance of his latest care Ere to the cross he passed— No longer unfulfilled remain, The World’s offense, thy people’s stain!
THE LORD’S SUPPER.
512 L. M. Glorying only in the cross. Gal. 6:14.
When 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!
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ, my Lord: All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
3 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?
4 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!
513 L. M. Delight in Christ.
Jesus, 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.
2 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!
3 We taste thee, O thou Living Bread, And long to feed upon thee still; We drink of thee, the Fountain Head, And thirst our souls from thee to fill.
4 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.
5 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!
514 L. M. Soft be the gently breathing notes.
Soft be the gently breathing notes That sing the Saviour’s dying love; Soft as the evening zephyr floats, Soft as the tuneful lyres above: Soft as the morning dews descend, While warbling birds exulting soar; So soft to our almighty Friend Be every sigh our bosoms pour.
2 Pure as the sun’s enlivening ray, That scatters life and joy abroad; Pure as the lucid orb of day, That wide proclaims its Maker, God; Pure as the breath of vernal skies, So pure let our contrition be; And purely let our sorrows rise To him who bled upon the tree.
515 L. M. Communion in Christ.
How pleasing to behold and see The friends of Jesus all agree— To sit around the sacred board As members of one common Lord.
2 Here we behold the dawn of bliss— Here we behold the Saviour’s grace— Here we behold his precious blood, Which sweetly pleads for us with God.
3 While here we sit, we would implore That love may spread from shore to shore, Till all the saints, like us, combine To praise the Lord in songs divine.
4 To all we freely give our hand, Who love the Lord in every land; For all are one in Christ our head, To whom be endless honors paid.
516 L. M. Welcome to young converts.
Welcome, ye hopeful heirs of heaven, To this rich feast of gospel love— This pledge is but the prelude given To that immortal feast above.
2 How great the blessing, thus to meet According to our Saviour’s word, And hold by faith communion sweet, With our unseen yet present Lord.
3 And if so sweet this feast below, What will it be to meet above, Where all we see, and feel, and know, Are fruits of everlasting love!
4 Soon shall we tune the heavenly lyre, While listening worlds the song approve; Eternity itself expire, Ere we exhaust the theme of love.
517 L. M. The last scenes.
’Twas on that night when doomed to know The eager rage of every foe, That night in which he was betrayed, The Saviour of the world took bread;
2 And, after thanks and glory given To him that rules in earth and heaven, That symbol of his flesh he broke, And thus to all his followers spoke:
3 My broken body thus I give To you, my friends; take, eat, and live; And oft the sacred feast renew, That brings my wondrous love to view.
4 Then in his hands the cup he raised, And God anew he thanked and praised; While kindness in his bosom glowed, And from his lips salvation flowed.
5 My blood I thus pour forth, he cries, To cleanse the soul in sin that lies; In this the covenant is sealed, And heaven’s eternal grace revealed.
6 This cup is fraught with love to men; Let all partake who love my name; Through latest ages let it pour In memory of my dying hour.
518 L. M. The bread of life.
Away from earth my spirit turns— Away from every transient good: With strong desire my bosom burns To feast on heaven’s diviner food.
2 Thou, Saviour, art the living bread; Thou wilt my every want supply; By thee sustained, and cheered, and led, I’ll press through dangers to the sky.
3 What though temptations oft distress, And sin assails, and breaks my peace; Thou wilt uphold, and save, and bless, And bid the storms of passion cease.
4 Then let me take thy gracious hand, And walk beside thee onward still; Till my glad feet shall safely stand Forever firm on Zion’s hill.
519 C. M. They came together to break bread. Acts 20:7.
Lord, may the spirit of this feast— The earnest of thy love— Maintain a dwelling in our breast Until we meet above.
2 The healing sense of pardoned sin, The hope that never tires, The strength a pilgrim’s race to win, The joy that heaven inspires:
3 Still may their light our duties trace In lines of hallowed flame, Like that upon the prophet’s face, When from the mount he came.
4 But if no more with kindred dear The broken bread we share, Nor at the banquet board appear To breathe the grateful prayer;
5 Forget us not—when on the bed Of dire disease we waste, Or to the chambers of the dead, And bar of judgment haste.
6 Forget not—thou who bore the woe Of Calvary’s fatal tree— Those who within these courts below Have thus remembered thee.
520 C. M. Remembering Christ.
If human kindness meets return, And owns the grateful tie— If tender thoughts within us burn To feel a friend is nigh;
2 O, shall not warmer accents tell The gratitude we owe To him who died our fears to quell, And save from endless woe?
3 While yet his anguished soul surveyed Those pangs he would not flee, What love his latest words displayed— “Meet and remember me.”
4 Remember thee! thy death, thy shame, The griefs which thou didst bear! O memory, leave no other name But His recorded there.
521 C. M. Spiritual refreshment.
O God, unseen yet ever near! Reveal thy presence now, While we, in love that hath no fear, Before thy glory bow.
2 Here may obedient spirits find The blessings of thy love— The streams that through the desert wind, The manna from above.
3 Awhile beside the fount we stay, And eat this bread of thine, Then go, rejoicing, on our way, Renewed with strength divine.
522 C. M. Reception of members.
Come in, thou blesséd of the Lord; Stranger nor foe art thou: We welcome thee with warm accord, Our friend, our brother now.
2 The hand of fellowship, the heart Of love, we offer thee: Leaving the world, thou dost but part From lies and vanity.
3 The cup of blessing which we bless, The heavenly bread we break— Our Saviour’s blood and righteousness, Freely with us partake.
4 In weal or woe, in joy or care, Thy portion shall be ours; Christians their mutual burdens bear; They lend their mutual powers.
5 Come with us, we will do thee good, As God to us hath done; Stand but in him, as those have stood, Whose faith the victory won.
6 And when, by turns, we pass away As star by star grows dim, May each, translated into day, Be lost, and found in him.
523 C. M. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matt. 5:3.
Lord, at thy table we behold The wonders of thy grace; But most of all admire that we Should find a welcome place.
2 What strange, surprising grace is this, That we, so lost, have room! Jesus our weary souls invites, And freely bids us come!
3 Ye saints below, and hosts of heaven, Join all your sacred powers: No theme is like redeeming love; No Saviour is like ours.
524 C. M. In remembrance of me. 1 Cor. 11:24.
In memory of the Saviour’s love, We keep the sacred feast, Where every humble, contrite heart Is made a welcome guest.
2 Under his banner thus we sing The wonders of his love, And thus anticipate by faith The heavenly feast above.
525 C. M. He was known of them, etc. Luke 24:35.
Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless Thy chosen pilgrim flock, With manna from the wilderness, With water from the rock.
2 Hungry and thirsty, faint and weak (As thou when here below), Our souls the joys celestial seek, That from thy sorrows flow.
3 We would not live by bread alone, But by thy word of grace— In strength of which we travel on To our abiding place.
4 Be known to us in breaking bread, But do not then depart— Saviour abide with us, and spread Thy table in our heart.
5 Then sup with us in love divine; Thy body and thy blood, That living bread and heavenly wine, Be our immortal food.
526 S. M. You do show the Lord’s death. 1 Cor. 11:26.
Jesus, the Friend of man, Invites us to his board; The welcome summons we obey, And own our gracious Lord.
2 Here we show forth his love, Which spake in every breath, Prompted each action of his life, And triumphed in his death.
3 Here let our powers unite His honored name to raise; Let grateful joy fill every mind, And every voice be praise.
4 One faith, one hope, one Lord One God alone we know; Brethren we are; let every heart With kind affections grow.
527 S. M. After the supper.
Now let each happy guest The sacred concert raise, To close the honors of the feast, And sing the Master’s praise.
2 His condescending love First calls our wonder forth; He left the blesséd realms above, To dwell with men on earth.
3 His precepts, how divine! How suited to our state! How bright his acts of mercy shine His promises how great!
4 Redemption’s glorious plan, How wondrous in our view! The salutary source to man Of peace and pardon too.
528 S. M. Truly our fellowship is with the Father, etc. 1 John 1:3.
Our heavenly Father calls, And Christ invites us near; With both, our friendship shall be sweet, And our communion dear.
2 God pities all our griefs: He pardons every day; Almighty to protect our souls, And wise to guide our way.
3 How large his bounties are! What various stores of good, Diffused from our Redeemer’s hand, And purchased with his blood!
4 Jesus, our living Head, We bless thy faithful care; Our Advocate before the throne, And our forerunner there.
5 Here fix my roving heart! Here wait my warmest love! Till the communion be complete, In nobler scenes above.
529 C. M. Take this, etc. Luke 22:17.
Jesus invites his saints To meet around his board; Here pardoned rebels sit, and hold Communion with their Lord.
2 This holy bread and wine Maintain our fainting breath, By union with our living Lord, And interest in his death.
3 Let all our powers be joined His glorious name to raise; Let holy love fill every mind, And every voice be praise.
530 S. M. And when they had sung a hymn, etc. Matt. 26:30.
A parting hymn we sing, Around thy table, Lord; Again our grateful tribute bring, Our solemn vows record.
2 Here have we seen thy face, And felt thy presence here; So may the savor of thy grace In word and life appear.
3 The purchase of thy blood— By sin no longer led— The path our dear Redeemer trod May we rejoicing tread.
4 In self-forgetting love Be Christian union shown, Until we join the Church above, And know as we are known.
531 S. M. Behold the Lamb of God. John 1:36.
Not all the blood of beasts, On Jewish altars slain, Could give the guilty conscience peace, Or wash away its stain.
2 But Christ, the heavenly Lamb, Bears all our sins away; A sacrifice of nobler name And richer blood than they.
3 My faith would lay her hand On that dear head of thine, While like a penitent I stand, And there confess my sin.
4 Believing, we rejoice To see the curse remove; We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice, And sing his dying love.
532 S. M. Foretastes. Mark 14:25.
Blest feast of love divine! ’Tis grace that makes us free To feed upon this bread and wine, In memory, Lord, of thee!
2 That blood which flowed for sin, In symbol here we see, And feel the blesséd pledge within, That we are loved of thee.
3 O, if this glimpse of love Be so divinely sweet, What will it be, O Lord, above, Thy gladdening smile to meet!
4 To see thee face to face— Thy perfect likeness wear— And all thy ways of wondrous grace Through endless years declare!
533 8s & 7s. I will draw all men unto me. John 12:32.
It is finished! Man of Sorrows! From thy cross our frailty borrows Strength to bear and conquer thus.
2 While extended there we view thee, Mighty Sufferer! draw us to thee; Sufferer victorious!
3 Not in vain for us uplifted, Man of Sorrows, wonder-gifted! May that sacred emblem be;
4 Lifted high amid the ages, Guide of heroes, saints, and sages; May it guide us still to thee!
534 7s. The body and blood of Christ.
Bread of heaven, on thee we feed, For thy flesh is meat indeed; Ever let our souls be fed With this true and living bread.
2 Vine of heaven, thy blood supplies This blest cup of sacrifice; Lord, thy wounds our healing give; To thy cross we look and live.
3 Day by day with strength supplied, Through the life of him who died, Lord of life, O let us be Rooted, grafted, built on thee.
535 8s & 7s. Leaving the Lord’s table.
From the table now retiring, Which for us the Lord hath spread, May our souls, refreshment finding, Grow in all things like our Head.
2 His example by beholding, May our lives his image bear; Him our Lord and Master calling, His commands may we revere.
3 Love to God and man displaying, Walking steadfast in his way, Joy attend us in believing, Peace from God, through endless day.
536 P. M. It was for us.
Near the cross our station taking, Earthly cares and joys forsaking, Meet it is for us to mourn: ’Twas for us he came from heaven, ’Twas for us his heart was riven; All his griefs for us were borne.
2 When no eye its pity gave us, When there was no arm to save us, He his love and power displayed: By his stripes our help and healing, By his death our life revealing, He for us the ransom paid.
3 Jesus, may thy love constrain us, That from sin we may refrain us, In thy griefs may deeply grieve; Thee our best affections giving, To thy praise and honor living, May we in thy glory live!
537 P. M. My peace I give unto you.
Lamb of God! whose bleeding love We now recall to mind, Send thy blessing 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!
2 By thine agonizing pain, And bloody sweat, we pray— By thy dying love to man, Take all our sins away: By thy passion on the tree, Let our griefs and troubles cease: O, remember Calvary, And bid us go in peace!
538 8s & 7s. Looking to Jesus. Heb. 12:2.
Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, Which before the cross I spend; Life, and health, and peace possessing, From the sinner’s dying friend.
2 Here I’ll sit, for ever viewing Mercy streaming in his blood; Precious drops! my soul bedewing, Plead they now my peace with God.
3 Truly blesséd is this station, Here unfolds his wondrous grace; While I see divine compassion Beaming in his lovely face.
4 Here it is I find my heaven, While upon the cross I gaze; Here the joy of sins forgiven Shall inspire my songs of praise.
5 Love and grief my heart dividing, While his feet I bathe with tears; Constant still in faith abiding— Hope triumphant o’er my fears.
6 Lord! in ceaseless contemplation, Fix my trusting heart on thee, Till I know thy full salvation, And thy face in glory see.
539 P. M. My meditation shall be sweet. Psalm 104:34.
Here I sink before thee lowly, Filled with gladness deep and holy, As with trembling awe and wonder On thy mighty work I ponder— On this banquet’s mystery, On the depths we can not see: Far beyond all mortal sight Lie the secrets of thy might.
2 Sun, who all my life dost brighten! Light, who dost my soul enlighten! Joy, the sweetest man e’er knoweth! Fount, whence all my being floweth! Humbly draw I near to thee; Grant that I may worthily Take this blesséd heavenly food, To thy praise, and to my good.
3 Jesus, Bread of Life from heaven, Never be thou vainly given, Nor I to my hurt invited; Be thy love with love requited; Let me learn its depths indeed, While on thee my soul doth feed; Let me, here so richly blest, Be hereafter, too, thy guest.
540 8s & 7s. Whom having not seen, we love. 1 Pet. 1:8.
While in sweet communion feeding On this earthly bread and wine, Saviour may we see thee bleeding On the cross to make us thine.
2 Though unseen, now be thou near us, With the still small voice of love, Whispering words of peace to cheer us— Every doubt and fear remove.
3 Bring before us all the story, Of thy life, and death of woe! And with hopes of endless glory, Wean our hearts from all below.
541 P. M. To Him be glory. Eph. 3:21.
Jesus has died for me, Glory to God! From sin he set me free, Glory to God! And, if I trust his grace, I soon shall win the race; Then see his lovely face, Glory to God.
2 Soon, I shall sing above, Glory to God! Tell of his wondrous love, Glory to God: Free from all death and wrong, Then shall my notes prolong One loud, triumphant song, Glory to God!
542 6s & 4s. Christ our confidence.
My 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream Shall o’er me roll; Blest Saviour, then, in love, Fear and distress remove; O bear me safe above— A ransomed soul.
543 7s & 6s. The Cross—the power of God. 1 Cor. 1:18.
I saw the cross of Jesus When burdened with my sin; I sought the cross of Jesus To give me peace within; I brought my soul to Jesus; He cleansed it in his blood; And in the cross of Jesus I found my peace with God.
2 I love the cross of Jesus— It tells what I am; A vile and guilty creature, Saved only through the Lamb. No righteousness, no merit, No beauty can I plead; Yet in the cross I glory, My title there I read.
3 I clasp the cross of Jesus In every trying hour, My sure and certain refuge, My never-failing tower. In every fear and conflict, I more than conqueror am; Living I’m safe, or dying, Through Christ the risen Lamb.
4 Sweet is the cross of Jesus! There let my weary heart Still rest in peace and safety Till life itself depart; And then in strains of glory I’ll sing thy wondrous power, Where sin can never enter, And death is known no more.
544 10s. Communion of the body and blood of Christ.
Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face; Here would I touch and handle things unseen; Here grasp with firmer hand the eternal grace, And all my weariness upon thee lean.
2 Here would I feed upon the bread of God; Here drink with thee the royal wine of heaven; Here would I lay aside each earthly load, Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.
3 Too soon we rise; the symbols disappear; The feast, though not the love, is passed and gone: The bread and wine remove, but thou art here— Nearer than ever—still my Shield and Sun.
4 Feast after feast thus comes and passes by; Yet, passing, points to the glad feast above— Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy, The Lamb’s great bridal feast of bliss and love.
545 H. M. Believing, we rejoice. 1 Peter 1:8.
Ye saints, your music bring, Attuned to sweetest sound, Strike every trembling string, Till earth and heaven resound; The triumphs of the cross we sing; Awake, ye saints, each joyful string.
2 The cross, the cross alone, Subdued the powers of hell; Like lightning from his throne The prince of darkness fell, The triumphs of the cross we sing, Awake, ye saints, each joyful string.
3 The cross hath power to save From all the foes that rise; The cross hath made the grave A passage to the skies; The triumphs of the cross we sing; Awake, ye saints, each joyful string.
546 7s, 6 lines. The true Passover.
Once the angel started back, When he saw the blood-stained door, Pausing on his vengeful track, And the dwelling passing o’er. Once the sea from Israel fled, Ere it rolled o’er Egypt’s dead.
2 Now our Passover is come, Dimly shadowed in the past, And the very Paschal Lamb, Christ, the Lord, is slain at last. Then with hearts and hands made meet, Our unleavened bread we’ll eat.
3 Blesséd Victim sent from heaven, Whom all angel hosts obey, To whose will all earth is given, At whose word hell shrinks away. Thou hast conquered death’s dread strife, Thou hast brought us light and life.
PRAYER AND SOCIAL MEETINGS.
547 L. M. The Mercy Seat.
From every stormy wind that blows, From every swelling tide of woes, There is a calm, a sure retreat— ’Tis found beneath the Mercy Seat.
2 There is a place where Jesus sheds The oil of gladness on our heads, A place than all besides more sweet— It is the blood-bought Mercy Seat.
3 There is a scene where spirits blend, Where friend holds fellowship with friend; Though sundered far, by faith they meet Around one common Mercy Seat.
4 Ah! whither could we flee for aid, When tempted, desolate, dismayed; Or how the host of hell defeat, Had suffering souls no Mercy Seat?
5 There! there on eagle wings we soar, And sin and sense seem all no more, And heaven comes down our souls to greet, And glory crowns the Mercy Seat!
6 O let my hand forget her skill, My tongue be silent cold and still, This bounding heart forget to beat, Ere I forget the Mercy Seat!
548 L. M. This is the gate of heaven. Gen. 28:17.
How sweet to leave the world awhile And seek the presence of our Lord! Dear Saviour! on thy people smile, And come according to thy word.
2 From busy scenes we now retreat, That we may here converse with thee: Ah! Lord! behold us at thy feet— Let this the “gate of heaven” be.
3 “Chief of ten thousand!” now appear, That we by faith may see thy face: O! grant that we thy voice may hear, And let thy presence fill this place.
549 L. M. For a business meeting.
Benignant God of love and power, Be with us in this solemn hour; Smile on our souls; our plans approve, By which we seek to spread thy love.
2 Let each discordant thought be gone, And love unite our hearts in one; Let all we have and are combine To forward objects so divine.
550 L. M. Hour of prayer.
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer, That calls me from a world of care, And bids me at my Father’s throne, Make all my wants and wishes known! In seasons of distress and grief, My soul has often found relief, And oft escaped the tempter’s snare, By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
2 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! The joy I feel, the bliss I share, Of those whose anxious spirits burn With strong desires for thy return. With such I hasten to the place Where God my Saviour shows his face, And gladly take my station there, And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.
3 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! Thy wings shall my petition bear To him whose truth and faithfulness Engage the waiting soul to bless; And since he bids me seek his face, Believe his word and trust his grace, I’ll cast on him my every care, And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.
551 L. M. Isaiah 57:15.
Jesus, 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.
2 For thou, within no walls confined, Inhabitest the humble mind; Such ever bring thee where they come, And, going, take thee to their home.
3 Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few, Thy former mercies here renew; Here to our waiting hearts proclaim The sweetness of thy saving name.
4 Here may we prove the power of prayer To strengthen faith and banish care; To teach our faint desires to rise, And bring all heaven before our eyes.
552 L. M. There am I. Matt. 18:20.
Where two or three, with sweet accord, Obedient to their sovereign Lord, Meet to recount his acts of grace, And offer solemn prayer and praise;
2 “There,” says the Saviour, “will I be, Amid the little company; To them unvail my smiling face, And shed my glories round the place.”
3 We meet at thy command, O Lord, Relying on thy faithful word; Be present in each waiting heart, And strength and heavenly peace impart.
553 L. M. No other friend can I desire.
My precious Lord, for thy dear name I bear the cross, despise the shame; Nor do I faint while thou art near; I lean on thee, how can I fear?
2 No other name but thine is given To cheer my soul in earth or heaven; No other wealth will I require: No other friend can I desire.
3 Yea, into nothing would I fall For thee alone, my All in All; To feel thy love, my only joy; To tell thy love, my sole employ.
554 L. M. Christ, all in all. Col. 3:11.
O thou pure light of souls that love, True joy of every human breast, Sower of life’s immortal seed, Our Saviour and Redeemer blest!
2 Be thou our guide, be thou our goal; Be thou our pathway to the skies; Our joy when sorrow fills the soul; In death our everlasting prize.
555 L. M. The tranquil hour.
Thou, Saviour, from thy throne on high, Enrobed with light, and girt with power, Dost note the thought, the prayer, the sigh, Of hearts that love the tranquil hour.
2 Oft thou thyself didst steal away, At eventide, from labor done, In some still peaceful shade to pray, Till morning watches were begun.
3 Thou hast not, dearest Lord, forgot Thy wrestlings on Judea’s hills; And still thou lovest the quiet spot Where praise the lowly spirit fills.
4 Now to our souls, withdrawn awhile From earth’s rude noise, thy face reveal, And, as we worship, kindly smile, And for thine own our spirits seal.
5 To thee we bring each grief and care, To thee we fly while tempests lower; Thou wilt the weary burdens bear Of hearts that love the tranquil hour.
556 L. M. Exhortation to prayer.
What various hindrances we meet In coming to a mercy-seat! Yet who, that knows the worth of prayer, But wishes to be often there?
2 Prayer makes the darkened clouds withdraw; Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw, Gives exercise to faith and love, Brings every blessing from above.
3 Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Prayer makes the Christian’s armor bright; And Satan trembles, when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.
4 Have you no words? Ah, think again; Words flow apace when we complain, And fill a fellow-creature’s ear With the sad tale of all our care.
5 Were half the breath thus vainly spent, To heaven in supplication sent, Our cheerful song would oftener be, “Hear what the Lord has done for me!”
557 L. M. They that believe do enter into rest. Heb. 4:3.
My only Saviour! when I feel O’erwhelmed in spirit, faint, oppressed, ’Tis sweet to tell thee, while I kneel Low at thy feet, thou art my rest.
2 I’m weary of the strife within; Strong powers against my soul contest; O, let me turn from self and sin, To thy dear cross, for there is rest!
3 O! sweet will be the welcome day, When from her toils and woes released, My parting soul in death shall say, “Now, Lord! I come to thee for rest.”
558 C. M. Prayer for contentment.
Father, whate’er of earthly bliss Thy sovereign will denies, Accepted at thy throne of grace, Let this petition rise:
2 Give me a calm, a thankful heart, From every murmur free; The blessings of thy grace impart, And make me live to thee.
3 Let the sweet hope that thou art mine, My life, and death attend; Thy presence through my journey shine, And crown my journey’s end.
559 C. M. Tempest-tossed.
O Jesus, Saviour of the lost, My Rock and Hiding-place, By storms of sin and sorrow tost, I seek thy sheltering grace.
2 Guilty, forgive me, Lord! I cry; Pursued by foes, I come; A sinner, save me, or I die; An outcast, take me home.
3 Once safe in thine almighty arms, Let storms come on amain; There danger never, never harms; There death itself is gain.
4 And when I stand before thy throne And all thy glory see, Still be my righteousness alone To hide myself in thee.
560 C. M. Thy will be done.
How sweet to be allowed to pray To God, the Holy One; With filial love and trust to say, “O God, thy will be done.”
2 We in these sacred words can find A cure for every ill; They calm and soothe the troubled mind, And bid all care be still.
3 O let that Will which gave me breath, And an immortal soul, In joy or grief, in life or death, My every wish control.
4 O, could my heart thus ever pray, Thus imitate thy Son! Teach me, O God, with truth to say, Thy will, not mine, be done.
561 C. M. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. 1 Pet 3:15.
While thee I seek, protecting Power, Be my vain wishes stilled; And may this consecrated hour With better hopes be filled.
2 Thy love the power of thought bestowed; To thee my thoughts would soar; Thy mercy o’er my life has flowed; That mercy I adore.
3 In each event of life, how clear Thy ruling hand I see! Each blessing to my soul more dear, Because conferred by thee.
4 In every joy that crowns my days, In every pain I bear, My heart shall find delight in praise, Or seek relief in prayer.
5 When gladness wings my favored hour, Thy love my thoughts shall fill; Resigned, when storms of sorrow lower, My soul shall meet thy will.
6 My lifted eye, without a tear, The gathering storm shall see; My steadfast heart shall banish fear; That heart shall rest on thee.
562 C. M. Retirement and meditation.
I love to steal awhile away From every cumbering care, And spend the hours of setting day In humble, grateful prayer.
2 I love in solitude to shed The penitential tear; And all his promises to plead, Where none but God can hear.
3 I love to think on mercies past, And future good implore, And all my cares and sorrows cast On him whom I adore.
4 I love, by faith, to take a view Of brighter scenes in heaven; The prospect doth my strength renew, While here by tempests driven.
5 Thus, when life’s toilsome day is o’er, May its departing ray Be calm as this impressive hour, And lead to endless day.
563 C. M. My Saviour died for me.
Thou art my hiding-place, O Lord, In thee I fix my trust, Encouraged by thy holy word, A feeble child of dust.
2 I have no argument beside, I urge no other plea, And ’tis enough—the Saviour died, The Saviour died for me.
3 When storms of fierce temptation beat, And furious foes assail, My refuge is the mercy-seat, My hope within the vail.
4 From strife of tongues and bitter words, My spirit flies to thee; Joy to my heart the thought affords— My Saviour died for me.
5 And when thy awful voice commands This body to decay, And life, in its last lingering sands, Is ebbing fast away—
6 Then, though it be in accents weak, My voice shall call on thee, And ask for strength in death to speak— “My Saviour died for me.”
564 C. M. Let us draw near. Heb. 10:22.
Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat, Where Jesus answers prayer; There humbly fall before his feet, For none can perish there.
2 Thy promise is my only plea, With this I venture nigh; Thou callest burdened souls to thee, And such, O Lord, am I.
3 Bowed down beneath a load of sin, By Satan sorely pressed, By war without, and fear within, I come to thee for rest.
4 Be thou my shield and hiding-place; That, sheltered near thy side, I may my fierce accuser face, And tell him, “Thou hast died.”
5 O, wondrous love, to bleed and die, To bear the cross and shame, That guilty sinners, such as I, Might plead thy gracious name!
565 C. M. Prayer.
Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, Unuttered or expressed; The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast.
2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear; The upward glancing of an eye When none but God is near.
3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try; Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high.
4 Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice, Returning from his ways, While angels in their songs rejoice, And say—“Behold he prays.”
5 Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, The Christian’s native air, His watchword at the gate of death; He enters heaven with prayer.
566 C. M. Filled with all the fullness of God.
O Lord, I would delight in thee, And on thy care depend; To thee in every trouble flee, My best, my only Friend.
2 When all created streams are dried, Thy fullness is the same; May I with this be satisfied, And glory in thy name!
3 No good in creatures can be found, But what is found in thee: I must have all things and abound While God is God to me.
4 O that I had a stronger faith, To look within the vail— To credit what my Saviour saith, Whose word can never fail.
5 He who has made my heaven secure, Will here all good provide: While Christ is rich, can I be poor? What can I want beside?
6 O Lord, I cast my care on thee; I triumph and adore: Henceforth my great concern shall be To love and please thee more.
567 S. M. Ask and it shall be given you. Luke 11:9.
Jesus, my strength, my hope, On thee I cast my care, With humble confidence look up, And know thou hearest my prayer.
2 Give me on thee to wait Till I can all things do; On thee, almighty to create, Almighty to renew.
3 I want a sober mind, A self-renouncing will, That tramples down, and casts behind, The baits of pleasing ill;
4 A soul inured to pain, To hardships, grief, and loss; Bold to take up, firm to sustain The consecrated cross;
5 I want a godly fear, A quick-discerning eye, That looks to thee when sin is near, And sees the tempter fly;
6 A spirit still prepared, And armed with jealous care, For ever standing on its guard, And watching unto prayer.
568 S. M. D. Opening prayer meeting.
It is the hour of prayer: Draw near and bend the knee, And fill the calm and holy air With voice of melody! O’erwearied with the heat And burden of the day, Now let us rest our wandering feet, And gather here to pray.
2 O, blesséd is the hour That lifts our hearts on high! Like sunlight when the tempests lower, Prayer to the soul is nigh; Though dark may be our lot, Our eyes be dim with care, These saddening thoughts shall trouble not This holy hour of prayer.
569 C. H. M. Come, let us pray.
Come, let us pray; ’tis sweet to feel That God himself is near; That while we at his footstool kneel, His mercy deigns to hear: Though sorrows cloud life’s dreary way, This is our solace—let us pray.
2 Come, let us pray: the burning brow, The heart oppressed with care, And all the woes that throng us now, Will be relieved by prayer: Jesus will smile our griefs away; O, glorious thought!—come! let us pray.
3 Come, let us pray: the mercy-seat Invites the fervent prayer, And Jesus ready stands to greet The contrite spirit there: O, loiter not, nor longer stay From him who loves us; let us pray.
570 S. M. Invitation to prayer.
Come to the house of prayer, O thou afflicted, come; The God of peace shall meet thee there; He makes that house his home.
2 Come to the house of praise, Ye who are happy now; In sweet accord your voices raise, In kindred homage bow.
3 Ye agéd, hither come, For you have felt his love; Soon shall your trembling tongues be dumb, Your lips forget to move.
4 Ye young, before his throne Come, bow; your voices raise; Let not your hearts his praise disown Who gives the power to praise.
5 Thou, whose benignant eye In mercy looks on all— Who seest the tear of misery, And hearest the mourner’s call—
6 Up to thy dwelling-place Bear our frail spirits on, Till they outstrip time’s tardy pace, And heaven on earth be won.
571 7s, 6 lines. Heavenly places.
If ’tis sweet to mingle where Christians meet for social prayer; If ’tis sweet with them to raise Songs of holy joy and praise— Passing sweet that state must be, Where they meet eternally.
2 Saviour, may these meetings prove Antepasts to that above; While we worship in this place, May we go from grace to grace, Till we each, in his degree, Fit for endless glory be.
572 7s. Deliver us from evil.
Heavenly Father! to whose eye Future things unfolded lie; Through the desert when I stray Let thy counsels guide my way.
2 Lord! uphold me day by day; Shed a light upon my way; Guide me through perplexing snares, Care for me in all my cares.
3 Should thy wisdom, Lord, decree Trials long and sharp for me, Pain, or sorrow, care or shame— Father! glorify thy name.
4 Let me neither faint nor fear, Feeling still that thou art near; In the course my Saviour trod, Tending home to thee, my God.
573 7s. God is present everywhere.
They who seek the throne of grace Find that throne in every place; If we live a life of prayer, God is present everywhere.
2 In our sickness and our health, In our want, or in our wealth, If we look to God in prayer, God is present everywhere.
3 When our earthly comforts fail, When the woes of life prevail, ’Tis the time for earnest prayer; God is present everywhere.
4 Then, my soul, in every strait, To thy Father come, and wait; He will answer every prayer; God is present everywhere.
574 7s. Lift the heart, and bend the knee.
Child, amid the flowers at play, While the red light fades away; Mother, with thine earnest eye Ever following silently;
2 Father, by the breeze of eve, Called thy daily toil to leave; Pray! ere yet the dark hours be, Lift the heart, and bend the knee!
3 Traveler in the stranger’s land, Far from thine own household band; Mourner, haunted by the tone Of a voice from this world gone;
4 Captive, in whose narrow cell Sunshine hath not leave to dwell; Sailor, on the darkening sea, Lift the heart, and bend the knee!
5 Ye that triumph, ye that sigh, Kindred by one holy tie, Heaven’s first star alike ye see; Lift the heart, and bend the knee!
575 7s. Lead me, O Lord.
Shepherd of thy little flock, Lead me to the shadowing rock, Where the richest pasture grows; Where the living water flows;
2 By that pure and silent stream, Sheltered from the scorching beam; Shepherd, Saviour, Guardian, Guide, Keep me ever near thy side.
576 7s, 6 lines. Draw near with a true heart. Heb. 10:22.
Holy Lord, our hearts prepare For the solemn work of prayer; Grant that while we bend the knee, All our thoughts may turn to thee; Let thy presence here be found, Breathing peace and joy around.
2 Lord, when we approach thy throne, Make thy power and glory known: Thus may we be taught to call Humbly on the Lord of all, And with reverence and fear, At thy footstool to appear.
3 Teach us, as we breathe our woes, On thy promise to repose; All thy tender love to trace In the Saviour’s work of grace; And with confidence depend On a gracious God and Friend.
577 7s. The Lord make his face shine upon thee. Num. 6:25.
Stealing from the world away, We are come to seek thy face; Kindly meet us, Lord, we pray, Grant us thy reviving grace.
2 Yonder stars that gild the sky, Shine but with a borrowed light: We, unless thy light be nigh, Wander, wrapt in gloomy night.
3 Sun of Righteousness! dispel All our darkness, doubts and fears; May thy light within us dwell, Till eternal day appears.
578 7s, double. Hear us when to thee we cry.
Saviour, when in dust to thee Low we bow th’ adoring knee: When repentant, to the skies Scarce we lift our streaming eyes; O, by all thy pains and woe, Suffered once for man below, Bending from thy throne on high, Hear us when to thee we cry.
2 By thy birth and early years, By thy human griefs and fears, By thy fasting and distress In the lonely wilderness; By thy victory in the hour Of the subtle tempter’s power; Jesus look with pitying eye, Hear our humble, earnest cry.
3 By thine hour of dark despair, By thine agony of prayer, By thy purple robe of scorn, By thy wounds, thy crown of thorn, By thy cross, thy pangs and cries, By thy perfect sacrifice; Jesus, look with pitying eye, Listen to our humble cry.
4 By thy deep expiring groan, By thy sealed sepulchral stone, By thy triumph o’er the grave, By thy power from death to save: Dying, risen, ascended, Lord, To thy throne in heaven restored, Bending from thy throne on high, Hear us when to thee we cry.
579 7s & 6s. Evening, and morning, etc. Psalm 55:17.
Go, when the morning shineth, Go, when the moon is bright, Go, when the eve declineth, Go, in the hush of night; Go with pure mind and feeling, Put earthly thoughts away, And in God’s presence kneeling, Do thou in secret pray.
2 Remember all who love thee, All who are loved by thee; Pray, too, for those who hate thee, If any such there be; Then for thyself, in meekness, A blessing humbly claim; And blend with each petition Thy great Redeemer’s name.
3 Or, if ’tis e’er denied thee In solitude to pray, Should holy thoughts come o’er thee, When friends are round thy way, E’en then, the silent breathing Thy spirit lifts above, Will reach his throne of glory, Where dwells eternal love.
580 6s & 5s. After this manner pray ye. Matt. 6:9.
Our Father in heaven, We hallow thy name! May thy kingdom holy On earth be the same! O give to us daily, Our portion of bread; It is from thy bounty That all must be fed.
2 Forgive our transgressions, And teach us to know That humble compassion That pardons each foe; Keep us from temptation, From weakness and sin, And thine be the glory For ever—Amen!
581 8s & 4s. The hour of prayer.
My God! is any hour so sweet, From blush of morn to evening star, As that which calls me to thy feet— The hour of prayer?
2 Blest is the tranquil hour of morn, And blest that hour of solemn eve, When, on the wings of prayer up-borne, The world I leave.
3 Then is my strength by thee renewed; Then are my sins by thee forgiven; Then dost thou cheer my solitude With hopes of heaven.
4 No words can tell what sweet relief There for my every want I find; What strength for warfare, balm for grief, What peace of mind!
5 Hushed is each doubt, gone every fear; My spirit seems in heaven to stay; And e’en the penitential tear Is wiped away.
6 Lord! till I reach that blissful shore, No privilege so dear shall be As thus my inmost soul to pour In prayer to thee.
582 C. P. M. Casting all your care upon him. 1 Pet. 5:7.
O Lord! how happy should we be, If we could leave our cares to thee, If we from self could rest, And feel at heart that One above, In perfect wisdom, perfect love, Is working for the best.
2 For when we kneel and cast our care Upon our God in humble prayer, With strengthened souls we rise; Sure that our Father, who is nigh To hear the ravens when they cry, Will hear his children’s cries.
3 O! would these restless hearts of ours The lesson learn from birds and flowers, And learn from self to cease; Leave all things to our Father’s will, And in his mercy trusting still, Find in each trial, peace.
583 11s. Faint, yet pursuing. Judges 8:4.
Though faint, yet pursuing, we go on our way; The Lord is our Leader, his Word is our stay; Though suffering, and sorrow, and trial, be near, The Lord is our refuge, and whom can we fear?
2 He raiseth the fallen, he cheereth the faint; The weak and oppressed, he will hear their complaint; The way may be weary, and thorny the road, But how can we falter? our help is in God.
3 And to his green pastures our footsteps he leads; His flock in the desert, how kindly he feeds! The lambs in his bosom he tenderly bears, And brings back the wanderers all safe from the snares.
4 Though clouds may surround us, our God is our light; Though storms rage around us, our God is our might; So faint, yet pursuing, still onward we come; The Lord is our Leader, and heaven is our home.
584 11s & 10s. For divine strength.
Father, in thy mysterious presence kneeling, Fain would our souls feel all thy kindling love, For we are weak, and need some deep revealing Of trust, and strength, and calmness, from above.
2 Lord, we have wandered forth thro’ doubt and sorrow, And thou hast made each step an onward one; And we will ever trust each unknown morrow— Thou wilt sustain us till its work is done.
3 In the heart’s depths, a peace serene and holy Abides, and when pain seems to have her will, Or we despair—O may that peace rise slowly, Stronger than agony, and we be still.
4 Now, Father, now, in thy dear presence kneeling, Our spirits yearn to feel thy kindling love: Now make us strong, we need thy deep revealing Of trust, and strength, and calmness, from above.
585 11s. The house of prayer.
How honored, how dear, is that sacred abode, Where Christians draw near to their Father and God: ’Mid worldly commotion my wearied soul faints For the house of devotion, the home of thy saints.
2 Thou hearer of prayer, O still grant me a place Where Christians repair to the courts of thy grace, More blest beyond measure one day so employed, Than years of vain pleasure by worldlings enjoyed.
3 Me more would it please keeping post at thy gate, Than lying at ease in the chambers of state; The meanest condition outshines with thy smiles, The pomp of ambition, the world with its wiles.
4 The Lord is a Sun, and the Lord is a Shield: What grace has begun, will with glory be sealed; He hears the distresséd, he succors the just, And they shall be blesséd who make him their trust.
586 11s & 10s. Come ye disconsolate.
Come, ye disconsolate, where’er you languish, Come, at the shrine of God fervently kneel; Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow that heaven can not heal.
2 Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure! Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, Earth has no sorrow that heaven can not cure.
3 Here see the bread of life; see waters flowing Forth from the throne of God, pure from above: Come to the feast of love; come, ever-knowing, Earth has no sorrow but heaven can remove.
587 P. M. Hear, Father, hear our prayer.
Hear, Father, hear our prayer! Thou who art pity where sorrow prevaileth, Thou who art safety when mortal help faileth, Strength to the feeble and hope to despair, Hear, Father, hear our prayer!
2 Hear, Father, hear our prayer! Wandering alone in the land of the stranger, Be with all travelers in sickness or danger, Guard thou their path, guide their feet from the snare: Hear, Father, hear our prayer!
3 Hear thou the poor that cry! Feed thou the hungry and lighten their sorrow, Grant them the sunshine of hope for the morrow; They are thy children, their trust is on high: Hear thou the poor that cry!
4 Dry thou the mourner’s tear! Heal thou the wounds of time-hallowed affection; Grant to the widow and orphan protection; Be, in their trouble, a friend ever near; Dry thou the mourner’s tear!
5 Hear, Father, hear our prayer! Long hath thy goodness our footsteps attended; Be with the pilgrim whose journey is ended: When at thy summons for death we prepare, Hear, Father, hear our prayer!
588 11s & 5. Prayer of the contrite.
From the recesses of a lowly spirit, Our humble prayer ascends; O Father! hear it, Upsoaring on the wings of awe and meekness; Forgive its weakness!
2 We see thy hand: it leads us, it supports us; We hear thy voice: it counsels and it courts us: And then we turn away; and still thy kindness Forgives our blindness.
3 O, how long-suffering, Lord! but thou delightest To win with love the wandering; thou invitest, By smiles of mercy, not by frowns or terrors, Man from his errors.
4 Father and Saviour! plant within each bosom The seeds of holiness, and bid them blossom In fragrance and in beauty bright and vernal, And spring eternal.
589 11s & 10s. Strengthened with might, etc. Eph 3:16.
Father, to us thy children, humbly kneeling, Conscious of weakness, ignorance, sin and shame, Give such a force of holy thought and feeling, That we may live to glorify thy name;
2 That we may conquer base desire and passion, That we may rise from selfish thought and will, O’ercome the world’s allurement, threat and fashion, Walk humbly, gently, leaning on thee still.
3 Let all thy loving kindness which attends us, Let all thy mercy on our souls be sealed; Lord, if thou wilt, thy saving power can cleanse us; O, speak the word! thy servants shall be healed.
590 P. M. Lead thou me on.
Shed kindly light amid the encircling gloom, And lead me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead thou me on! Keep thou my feet: I do not ask to see The distant scene: one step enough for me.
2 I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou Shouldst lead me on! I loved to choose and see my path; but now, Lead thou me on! I loved day’s dazzling light, and spite of fears Pride ruled my will: remember not past years!
3 So long thy power hath blessed me, surely still ’Twill lead me on! Through dreary doubt, through pain and sorrow, till The night is gone! And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since and lost awhile.
ITS GROWTH AND FUTURE TRIUMPHS.
591 L. M. Put on thy strength, O Zion. Isaiah 52:1.
Triumphant Zion! lift thy head From dust, and darkness, and the dead! Though humbled long—awake at length, And gird thee with thy Saviour’s strength.
2 Put all thy beauteous garments on, And let thy excellence be known; Decked in the robes of righteousness, The world thy glories shall confess.
3 No more shall foes unclean invade, And fill thy hallowed walls with dread: No more shall hell’s insulting host Their victory and thy sorrows boast.
4 God, from on high, has heard thy prayer; His hand thy ruins shall repair; Nor will thy watchful Monarch cease To guard thee in eternal peace.
592 L. M. All nations shall serve him. Psalm 72:11.
Eternal Lord! from land to land Shall echo thine all-glorious name, Till kingdoms bow at thy command, And every lip thy praise proclaim.
2 Exalted high, on every shore, The banner of the cross unfurled, Shall summon thousands to adore The Saviour of a ransomed world.
3 Thousands shall join thy pilgrim band, And, by that sacred standard led, Press forward to Immanuel’s land, Nor fear the thorny path to tread.
4 Triumphant over every foe, Their ransomed hosts shall move along To that blest world, where sin and woe Shall never mingle with their song.
593 L. M. Put on thy beautiful garments. Isaiah 52:1.
Zion, awake! thy strength renew; Put on thy robes of beauteous hue; Church of our God, arise and shine, Bright with the beams of truth divine.
2 Soon shall thy radiance stream afar, Wide as the heathen nations are; Gentiles and kings thy light shall view; All shall admire and love thee too.
594 C. M. Zion’s prospects.
Let Zion and her sons rejoice; Behold the promised hour; Her God hath heard her mourning voice, And comes t’ exalt his power.
2 Her dust and ruins, that remain, Are precious in his eyes; Those ruins shall be built again, And all that dust shall rise.
3 The Lord will raise Jerusalem, And stand in glory there; All nations bow before his name, And kings attend with fear.
4 He frees the soul condemned to death; Nor, when his saints complain, Shall it be said that praying breath Was ever spent in vain.
5 This shall be known when we are dead, And left on long record, That ages yet unborn may read And praise and trust the Lord.
595 C. M. Isaiah 62.
For Zion’s sake I will not rest, I will not hold my peace Until Jerusalem be blest, And Judah dwell at ease;
2 Until her righteousness return, As daybreak after night— The lamp of her salvation burn With everlasting light.
3 The Gentiles shall her glory see, And kings declare her fame; Appointed unto her shall be A new and holy name.
4 The watchmen on her walls appear, And day and night proclaim, “Zion’s Deliverer is near; Make mention of his name.”
5 Go through, go through, prepare the way, The gates wide open fling; With loudest voice let heralds say, “Behold thy coming King.”
596 C. M. Christ’s Church. Canticles 6:10.
Say, who is she that looks abroad Like the sweet, blushing dawn, When with her living light she paints The dew-drops of the lawn?
2 Fair as the moon when in the skies Serene her throne she guides, And o’er the twinkling stars supreme In full orbed glory rides;
3 Clear as the sun, when from the east, Without a cloud he springs, And scatters boundless light and heat, From his resplendent wings.
4 Tremendous as a host that moves Majestically slow, With banners wide displayed, all armed, And fearless of the foe!
5 This is the church by heaven arrayed With strength and grace divine; Thus shall she strike her foes with dread, And thus her glories shine.
597 C. M. All nations shall flow unto it. Isaiah 2:2.
Behold the mountain of the Lord In latter days shall rise, On mountain tops above the hills, And draw the wondering eyes.
2 To this the joyful nations round, All tribes and tongues shall flow; Up to the hill of God, they’ll say, And to his house we’ll go!
3 The beam that shines from Zion hill Shall lighten every land! The King who reigns in Salem’s towers, Shall all the world command.
4 No strife shall vex Messiah’s reign, Or mar the peaceful years, To plowshares men shall beat their swords, To pruning-hooks their spears.
5 No longer hosts encountering hosts, Their millions slain deplore; They hang the trumpet in the hall, And study war no more.
6 Come, then—O come from every land, To worship at his shrine; And, walking in the light of God, With holy beauties shine.
598 P. M. We look for thine appearing.
Come, O thou mighty Saviour, We look for thine appearing; Descend, we pray, Thy love display, Our waiting spirits cheering.
2 Come, clothed with glorious power; Let all thy saints adore thee, And let thy word, The Spirit’s sword, Subdue thy foes before thee.
3 May every heart with gladness, Thine offered grace receiving, Now cease from sin, And pure within, Have peace, in thee believing.
4 Then, when thou comest to judgment, On flying clouds descending, May we rejoice When, at thy voice, The solid earth is rending.
599 7s. I, the Lord, will hasten it in his time. Isaiah 60:22.
Hasten, Lord! the glorious time, When, beneath Messiah’s sway, Every nation, every clime, Shall the gospel call obey.
2 Mightiest kings his power shall own, Heathen tribes his name adore; Satan and his host, o’erthrown, Bound in chains shall hurt no more.
3 Then shall wars and tumults cease, Then be banished grief and pain; Righteousness, and joy, and peace, Undisturbed shall ever reign.
4 Bless we, then, our gracious Lord! Ever praise his glorious name; All his mighty acts record, All his wondrous love proclaim.
600 7s, double. Rev. 19:6.
Hark! the song of Jubilee, Loud as mighty thunders roar, Or the fullness of the sea, When it breaks upon the shore! Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent, shall reign! Hallelujah! let the word Echo round the earth and main.
2 Hallelujah! hark, the sound, From the depths unto the skies, Wakes above, beneath, around, All creation’s harmonies! See Jehovah’s banner furled, Sheathed his sword; he speaks—’tis done! And the kingdoms of this world Are the kingdoms of his Son!
3 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!
601 8s & 7s. Future peace and glory of the church.
Hear what God, the Lord, hath spoken: O my people, faint and few, Comfortless, afflicted, broken, Fair abodes I build for you; Scenes of heartfelt tribulation Shall no more perplex your ways; You shall name your walls salvation, And your gates shall all be praise.
2 There, like streams that feed the garden, Pleasures without end shall flow; For the Lord, your faith rewarding, All his bounty shall bestow; Still in undisturbed possession Peace and righteousness shall reign; Never shall you feel oppression, Hear the voice of war again.
3 You, no more your suns descending, Waning moons no more shall see; But, your griefs for ever ending, Find eternal noon in me; God shall rise, and shining o’er you, Change to day the gloom of night; He, the Lord, shall be your glory, God your everlasting light.
602 8s, 7s & 4s. The day-spring. Luke 1:78.
Christian! see! the orient morning Breaks along the heathen sky; Lo! the expected day is dawning— Glorious day-spring from on high; Hallelujah!— Hail the day-spring from on high!
2 Heathens at the sight are singing; Morning wakes the tuneful lays; Precious offerings they are bringing— First-fruits of more perfect praise; Hallelujah!— Hail the day-spring from on high!
3 Zion’s Sun—salvation beaming— Gilding now the radiant hills— Rise and shine, till brighter gleaming, All the world thy glory fills; Hallelujah!— Hail the day-spring from on high!
4 Lord of every tribe and nation! Spread thy truth from pole to pole; Spread the light of thy salvation Till it shine on every soul; Hallelujah!— Hail the day-spring from on high!
603 8s, 7s & 4s. Encouraging prospects.
Yes, we trust the day is breaking; Joyful times are near at hand; God, the mighty God, is speaking, By his word, in every land: When he chooses, Darkness flies at his command.
2 While the foe becomes more daring, While he enters like a flood, God, the Saviour, is preparing Means to spread his truth abroad: Every language Soon shall tell the love of God.
3 O, ’tis pleasant, ’tis reviving To our hearts, to hear, each day, Joyful news, from far arriving, How the gospel wins its way; Those enlightening Who in death and darkness lay.
4 God of Jacob, high and glorious, Let thy people see thy hand; Let the gospel be victorious, Through the world, in every land; Then shall idols Perish, Lord, at thy command.
604 8s, 7s & 4s. How beautiful on the mountains. Isaiah 52:7.
In the mountain’s top appearing, Lo! the sacred herald stands, Welcome news to Zion is bearing— Zion long in hostile lands: Mourning captive, God himself will loose thy bands.
2 Has thy night been long and mournful? Have thy friends unfaithful proved? Have thy foes been proud and scornful, By thy sighs and tears unmoved? Cease thy mourning; Zion still is well-beloved.
3 God, thy God, will now restore thee: He himself appears thy Friend; All thy foes shall flee before thee; Here their boasts and triumphs end: Great deliverance Zion’s King will surely send.
4 Peace and joy shall now attend thee; All thy warfare now be past; God thy Saviour will defend thee; Victory is thine at last; All thy conflicts End in everlasting rest.
605 11s. Awake, awake, O Zion. Isaiah 52:1.
Daughter of Zion, awake from thy sadness; Awake, for thy foes shall oppress thee no more: Bright o’er the hills dawns the day-star of gladness, Arise, for the night of thy sorrow is o’er.
2 Strong were thy foes, but the arm that subdued them, And scattered their legions, was mightier far; They fled, like the chaff, from the scourge that pursued them, Vain were their steeds and their chariots of war.
3 Daughter of Zion, the power that hath saved thee, Extolled with the harp and the timbrel should be; Shout! for the foe is destroyed that enslaved thee, Th’ oppressor is vanquished, and Zion is free.
606 12s, 11s & 8s. In thy majesty, etc. Psalm 45:4.
The Prince of Salvation in triumph is riding, And glory attends him along his bright way; The news of his grace on the breezes is gliding, And nations are owning his sway.
2 And now thro’ the darkness of earth’s gloomy regions, The wheels of his chariot are rolling sublime; His banners unfolding his own true religion, Dispelling the errors of time.
3 Behold a bright angel from heaven descending, High lifting his trumpet, hosannas to raise: “Hail, Son of the Highest! let every knee bending, Adore thee with offerings of praise.
4 “Thy sword and thy buckler shall save and deliver The poor and the needy, from foes that assail; Thy bow and thy quiver shall vanquish for ever The prince and the legions of hell.
5 “Ride on in thy greatness, thou conquering Saviour; Let thousands of thousands submit to thy reign, Acknowledge thy goodness, entreat for thy favor, And follow thy glorious train.
6 “Ride on, till the compass of thy great dominion, The globe shall encircle from pole unto pole; And mankind, cemented with friendship and union, Obey thee with heart and with soul.
7 “Then loud shall ascend from each sanctified nation The voice of thanksgiving, the chorus of praise; And heaven shall echo the song of salvation, In rich and melodious lays.”
607 11s. Shout, inhabitant of Zion. Isaiah 12:6.
Zion, the marvelous story be telling, The Son of the Highest, how lowly his birth! The brightest of angels in glory excelling, He stoops to redeem thee—he reigns upon earth, Shout the glad tidings! exultingly sing, Jerusalem triumphs! Messiah is King!
2 Tell how he cometh from nation to nation, The heart-cheering news let the earth echo round, How free to the sinner he offers salvation! How his people with joy everlasting are crowned! Shout the glad tidings! exultingly sing, Jerusalem triumphs! Messiah is King!
3 Mortals, your homage be gratefully bringing, And sweet let the gladsome hosanna arise; You angels, the full hallelujah be singing— One chorus resound thro’ the earth and the skies! Shout the glad tidings! exultingly sing, Jerusalem triumphs! Messiah is King!
608 11s & 10s. Hail to the brightness.
Hail, to the brightness of Zion’s glad morning! Joy to the lands that in darkness have lain; Hushed be the accents of sorrow and mourning, Zion in triumph begins her mild reign.
2 Hail to the brightness of Zion’s glad morning, Long by the prophets of Israel foretold; Hail to the millions from bondage returning, Gentiles and Jews the blest vision behold.
3 Lo! in the desert rich flowers are springing, Streams ever copious are gliding along; Loud from the mountain-tops echoes are ringing, Wastes rise in verdure and mingle in song.
4 See, from all lands—from the isles of the ocean, Praise to Jehovah ascending on high; Fallen are the engines of war and commotion, Shouts of salvation are rending the sky.
609 H. M. Gird on thy sword, O most mighty! Psalm 45:3.
Gird on thy conquering sword, Ascend thy shining car, And march, almighty Lord! To wage thy holy war. Before his wheels, in glad surprise, Ye valleys, rise, and sink, ye hills.
2 Fair truth and smiling love, And injured righteousness, Under thy banners move, And seek from thee redress; Thou in thy cause shall prosperous ride, And far and wide dispense thy laws.
3 Before thine awful face Millions of foes shall fall, The captives of thy grace— The grace that captures all. The world shall know, great King of kings, What wondrous things thine arm can do.
4 Here to my willing soul Bend thy triumphant way; Here every foe control, And all thy power display; My heart, thy throne, blest Jesus! see, Bows low to thee, to thee alone.
610 P. M. Joyful tidings.
O let the joyful tidings fill the wide creation, Heirs of redeeming mercy spread the news around; Jesus, Immanuel, shall rule o’er every nation, Far as the guilty race of man is found. Now while the night of ages fills the world with sadness, Now while the prince of darkness rages in his madness; O, Sun of Righteousness, thy cheering beams display, Dawn on the earth, and bring the glorious day!
2 O Father, let thy blessing with thy saints abounding, Fill every breast with zeal, the gospel to proclaim; O sing Jerusalem, thy gates with joy surrounding, While distant isles rejoice in Jesus’ name. Watchmen of Zion, sound aloud the note of warning, Till earth’s benighted nations hail the glorious morning; O, Sun of Righteousness, thy cheering beams display, Dawn on the earth, and bring the glorious day!
3 Deep is the desolation of the race benighted Fast bound in ignorance, o’erwhelmed with guilt and fear; Folly and superstition every hope have blighted, Save where the rays of truth divine appear. Haste, haste, ye messengers, reveal the wondrous story, Tell of the cross, and of the coming tide of glory: Then, Sun of Righteousness, thy cheering beams display, Dawn on the earth, and bring the glorious day.
PUBLIC WORSHIP—THE LORD’S DAY.
611 L. M. It is a good thing to give thanks, etc. Psalm 92:1.
Sweet is the work, my God! my King! To praise thy name, give thanks and sing; To show thy love by morning light, And talk of all thy truth at night.
2 Sweet is the day of sacred rest, No mortal care shall seize my breast; O! may my heart in tune be found, Like David’s harp of solemn sound.
3 My heart shall triumph in the Lord, And bless his works, and bless his word; Thy works of grace, how bright they shine! How deep thy counsels! how divine.
4 Lord! I shall share a glorious part, When grace hath well refined my heart, And fresh supplies of joy are shed, Like holy oil, to cheer my head.
5 Then shall I see, and hear, and know All I desired or wished below: And every power find sweet employ, In that eternal world of joy.
612 L. M. As it began to dawn. Matt 28:1.
My opening eyes with rapture see The dawn of thy returning day; My thoughts, O God, ascend to thee, While thus my early vows I pay.
2 I yield my heart to thee alone, Nor would receive another guest: Eternal King, erect thy throne, And reign sole monarch in my breast.
3 O, bid this trifling world retire, And drive each carnal thought away; Nor let me feel one vain desire, One sinful thought through all the day.
4 Then, to thy courts when I repair, My soul shall rise on joyful wing, The wonders of thy love declare, And join the strains which angels sing.
613 L. M. The Lord’s day.
O sacred day of peace and joy, Thy hours are ever dear to me; Ne’er may a sinful thought destroy The holy calm I find in thee.
2 Dear are thy peaceful hours to me, For God has given them in his love, To tell how calm, how blest shall be The endless day of heaven above.
614 L. M. Christ is risen.
Hail! morning known among the blest! Morning of hope, and joy, and love, Of heavenly peace and holy rest; Pledge of the endless rest above.
2 Blessed be the Father of our Lord, Who from the dead has brought his Son! Hope to the lost was then restored, And everlasting glory won.
3 Scarce morning twilight had begun To chase the shades of night away, When Christ arose—unsetting Sun— The dawn of joy’s eternal day!
4 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.
5 God’s goodness let us bear in mind, Who to his saints this day has given, For rest and serious joy designed, To fit us for the bliss of heaven.
615 L. M. Lord’s-day evening.
Sweet is the fading light of eve; And soft the sunbeams lingering there; For these blest hours the world I leave, Wafted on wings of praise and prayer.
2 The time, how lovely and how still! Peace shines and smiles on all below: The plain, the stream, the wood, the hill, All fair with evening’s setting glow.
3 Season of rest! the tranquil soul Feels the sweet calm, and melts to love, And while these sacred moments roll, Faith sees a smiling heaven above.
4 Nor will our days of toil be long; Our pilgrimage will soon be trod, And we shall join the ceaseless song, The endless sabbath of our God.
616 L. M. Return unto thy rest, O my soul. Psalm 116:7.
Another six days’ work is done; Another day of rest begun, Return, my soul, enjoy the rest, Improve the day thy God hath blest.
2 O that our thoughts and thanks may rise, As grateful incense to the skies; And draw from heaven that sweet repose Which none but he that feels it knows.
3 This heavenly calm within the breast Is the dear pledge of glorious rest, Which for the Church of God remains, The end of cares, the end of pains.
617 L. M. There remaineth a rest to the people of God. Heb. 4:9.
Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love; But there’s a nobler rest above; To that our laboring souls aspire, With ardent pangs of strong desire.
2 No more fatigue, no more distress, Nor sin nor death shall reach the place; No groans to mingle with the songs Which warble from immortal tongues.
3 No rude alarms of raging foes, No cares to break the long repose; No midnight shade, no clouded sun, But sacred, high, eternal noon.
4 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.
618 C. M. This is the day which the Lord hath made. Psalm 118:24.
Come, let us join with one accord In hymns around the throne; This is the day our risen Lord Hath made and called his own.
2 This is the day which God has blessed, The brightest of the seven, Type of the everlasting rest The saints enjoy in heaven.
3 Then let us in his name sing on, And hasten on that day, When our Redeemer shall come down, And shadows pass away.
4 Not one, but all our days below, Our hearts his praise employ; And in our Lord rejoicing go To his eternal joy.
619 C. M. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24.
This is the day the Lord hath made, He calls the hours his own; Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad, And praise surround the throne.
2 To-day he rose and left the dead, And Satan’s empire fell; To-day the saints his triumphs spread, And all his wonders tell.
3 Hosanna to th’ anointed King, To David’s holy Son; Help us, O Lord—descend and bring Salvation from thy throne.
4 Blessed be the Lord who comes to men With messages of grace; Who comes in God his Father’s name To save our sinful race.
5 Hosanna in the highest strains The church on earth can raise; The highest heavens in which he reigns, Shall give him nobler praise.
620 C. M. I will praise thee with my whole heart. Psalm 9:1.
O Father! though the anxious fear May cloud to-morrow’s way, No fear nor doubt shall enter here; All shall be thine to-day.
2 We will not bring divided hearts To worship at thy shrine; But each unworthy thought departs, And leaves this temple thine.
3 Sleep, sleep to-day, tormenting cares, Of earth and folly born; Ye shall not dim the light that streams From this celestial morn.
621 C. M. Lev. 23:11, & 1 Cor. 15:20.
This is the day the first ripe sheaf Before the Lord was waved, And Christ, first-fruits of them that slept, Was from the dead received.
2 He rose for them for whom he died, That, like to him, they may Rise when he comes, in glory great, That ne’er shall fade away.
3 This is the day the Spirit came With us on earth to stay— A Comforter, to fill our hearts With joys that ne’er decay.
4 His comforts are the earnest sure Of that same heavenly rest Which Jesus entered on, when he Was made for ever blest.
5 This day the Christian Church began, Formed by his wondrous grace; This day the saints in concord meet, To join in prayer and praise.
622 C. M. He hath abolished death. 2 Tim. 1:10.
The Saviour risen to-day we praise, In concert with the blest; For now we see his work complete, And enter into rest.
2 On this first day a brighter scene Of glory was displayed By the Creating Word, than when The universe was made.
3 He rises who mankind has bought With grief and pain extreme: ’Twas great to speak the world from nought, ’Twas greater to redeem.
4 How vain the stone, the watch, the seal! Nought can forbid his rise: ’Tis he who shuts the gates of hell, And opens Paradise.
623 C. M. The type of endless rest.
The the worn spirit wants repose, And sighs her God to seek, How sweet to hail the evening’s close, That ends the weary week!
2 How sweet to hail the early dawn That opens on the sight, When first that soul-reviving morn Sheds forth new rays of light!
3 Sweet day! thine hours too soon will cease; Yet while they gently roll, Breathe, gracious Lord, thou source of peace, A Sabbath o’er my soul!
4 When will my pilgrimage be done, The world’s long week be o’er: That Sabbath dawn, which needs no sun, That day, which fades no more!
624 S. M. This is the Lord’s doing. Psalm 118:23.
This is the glorious day, That our Redeemer made; Let us rejoice, and sing, and pray, Let all the church be glad.
2 The work, O Lord, is thine, And wondrous in our eyes; This day declares it all divine, This day did Jesus rise.
3 Hosanna to the King, Of David’s royal blood; Bless him, you saints, he comes to bring Salvation from your God.
4 We bless thy Holy Word, Which all this grace displays, And offer on thine altar, Lord, Our sacrifice of praise.
625 S. M. The righteous doth sing and rejoice. Prov. 29:6.
Sweet is the task, O Lord, Thy glorious acts to sing, To praise thy name, and hear thy word, And grateful offerings bring.
2 Sweet, at the dawning hour, Thy boundless love to tell; And when the night-wind shuts the flower, Still on the theme to dwell.
3 Sweet, on this day of rest, To join in heart and voice With those who love and serve thee best, And in thy name rejoice.
4 To songs of praise and joy, May all our days be given, That such may be our best employ Eternally in heaven.
626 S. M. Welcome, sweet day of rest.
Welcome, sweet day of rest, That saw the Lord arise; Welcome to this reviving breast, And these rejoicing eyes.
2 The King himself comes near, And feasts his saints to-day: Here may we sit and see him here, And love, and praise, and pray.
3 One day, amid the place Where Christ my Lord, hath been, Is sweeter than ten thousand days Within the tents of sin.
4 My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this, And sit and sing herself away To everlasting bliss.
627 S. P. M. I was glad. Psalm 122:1.
How pleased and blessed was I, To hear the people cry— “Come, let us seek our God to-day!” Yes, with a cheerful zeal, We haste to Zion’s hill, And there our vows and honors pay.
2 Zion! thrice happy place, Adorned with wondrous grace And walls of strength embrace thee round; In thee our tribes appear, To pray, and praise, and hear The sacred gospel’s joyful sound.
3 May peace attend thy gate, And joy within thee wait, To bless the soul of every guest: The man who seeks thy peace, And wishes thine increase— A thousand blessings on him rest!
628 7s, double. Hail the day that saw him rise.
Hail the day that saw him rise, Ravished from his people’s eyes; Christ, awhile to mortals given, Re-ascends his native heaven. There the glorious triumph waits— “Lift your heads, you heavenly gates; Wide unfold the radiant scene, Take the King of glory in.”
2 He, whom highest heaven receives, Ever loves the friends he leaves; Though returning to his throne, Still he calls his saints his own; Still for us he intercedes, Prevalent his death he pleads; Near himself prepares a place, Harbinger of human race.
3 Taken from our eyes to-day, Master, hear us when we pray; See thy needy servants, see, Ever gazing up to thee: Grant, though parted from our sight, Far above yon azure hight, Grant our hearts may thither rise, Follow thee beyond the skies.
4 Ever upward let us move, Wafted on the wings of love; Looking when the Lord shall come, Longing, reaching after home; There for ever to remain, Partners of thy endless reign; There thy face unclouded see, Find our heaven of heavens in thee.
629 7s, 6 lines. Springs in the desert. Isaiah 49:10.
Safely through another week God has brought us on our way; Let us each a blessing seek, Waiting in his courts to-day: Day of all the week the best, Emblem of eternal rest.
2 While we seek supplies of grace Through the blest Redeemer’s name, Show thy reconciling face, Take away our sin and shame: From our worldly care set free, May we rest this day in thee.
3 Here we come thy name to praise, Let us feel thy presence near; May thy glory meet our eyes, While we in thy house appear; Here afford us, Lord, a taste Of our everlasting rest.
4 May the gospel’s joyful sound Conquer sinners—comfort saints: Make the fruits of grace abound, Bring relief to all complaints: Thus let all our worship prove, Till we join thy courts above.
5 Glory be to God on high— God, whose glory fills the sky; Glory to the Lamb be given— Glory in the highest heaven: Wisdom, riches, praise, and power, Be to God for evermore.
630 H. M. The resurrection celebrated.
Awake, ye saints, awake, And hail the sacred day; In loftiest songs of praise Your joyful homage pay; Come bless the day that God hath blest, The type of heaven’s eternal rest.
2 On this auspicious morn The Lord of life arose, And burst the bars of death, And vanquished all our foes; And now he pleads our cause above, And reaps the fruit of all his love.
3 All hail, triumphant Lord! Heaven with hosannas rings; All earth, in humbler strains, Thy praise responsive sings; Worthy the Lamb that once was slain, Through endless years to live and reign.
631 H. M. A day in thy courts, etc. Psalm 84:10.
To spend one sacred day Where God and saints abide, Affords diviner joy Than thousand days beside: Where God resorts, I love it more To keep the door, Than shine in courts.
2 God is our sun and shield, Our light and our defense; With gifts his hands are filled; We draw our blessings thence: He will bestow On Israel’s race Peculiar grace, And glory too.
3 The Lord his people loves; His hand no good withholds From those his heart approves— From pure and upright souls: Thrice happy he, O God of hosts, Whose spirit trusts Alone in thee.
632 H. M. Welcome, delightful morn.
Welcome, delightful morn, Thou day of sacred rest; I hail thy kind return— Lord, make these moments blest; From the low train of mortal toys, I soar to reach immortal joys.
2 Now may the King descend And fill his throne with grace; The scepter, Lord, extend, While saints address thy face: Let sinners feel thy quickening word, And learn to know and fear the Lord.
633 7s & 6s. The first day of the week.
O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light, O balm of care and sadness, Most beautiful, most bright, On thee, the high and lowly, Bending before the throne, Sing holy, holy, holy, To God the holy One.
2 On thee, at the creation, The light first had its birth; On thee for our salvation Christ rose from depths of earth; On thee our Lord victorious, The Spirit sent from heaven, And thus on thee most glorious, A triple light was given.
3 Thou art a port protected From storms that round us rise; A garden intersected With streams of Paradise; Thou art a cooling fountain In life’s dry, dreary sand; From thee, like Pisgah’s mountain, We view our promised land.
GRATITUDE AND PRAISE.
634 L. M. Loving kindness.
Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing the great Redeemer’s praise; He justly claims a song from me, His loving kindness, O how free!
2 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.
3 Though numerous hosts of mighty foes, Though earth and hell, my way oppose, He safely leads my soul along, His loving kindness, O how strong!
4 When trouble, like a gloomy cloud, Has gathered thick and thundered loud, He near my soul has always stood, His loving kindness, O how good!
5 Soon shall I pass the gloomy vale, Soon all my mortal powers must fail; O may my last expiring breath His loving kindness sing in death!
6 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!
635 L. M. I will praise thee for ever. Psalm 52:9.
My God, my King, thy various praise Shall fill the remnant of my days; Thy grace employ my humble tongue, Till death and glory raise the song.
2 The wings of every hour shall bear Some thankful tribute to thine ear, And every setting sun shall see New works of duty, done for thee.
3 Let distant times and nations raise The long succession of thy praise; And unborn ages make my song The joy and labor of my tongue.
4 But who can speak thy wondrous deeds? Thy greatness all my thoughts exceeds: Vast and unsearchable thy ways, Vast and immortal is thy praise.
636 L. M. Omnipresence. Psalm 138.
Lord of all being; throned afar, Thy glory flames from sun and star; Center and soul of every sphere, Yet to each loving heart how near!
2 Sun of our life, thy quickening ray Sheds on our path the glow of day; Star of our hope, thy softened light Cheers the long watches of the night.
3 Our midnight is thy smile withdrawn; Our noontide is thy gracious dawn; Our rainbow arch thy mercy’s sign; All, save the clouds of sin, are thine!
4 Lord of all life, below, above, Whose light is truth, whose warmth is love, Before thy ever-blazing throne We ask no luster of our own.
5 Grant us thy truth to make us free, And kindling hearts that burn for thee, Till all thy living altars claim One holy light, one heavenly flame!
637 L. M. His mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 106:1.
O render thanks to God above, The fountain of eternal love; Whose mercy firm through ages past Has stood, and shall for ever last.
2 Who can his mighty deeds express, Not only vast, but numberless! What mortal eloquence can raise His tribute of immortal praise!
638 L. M. Condescension of Christ.
How sweet the praise, how high the theme, To sing of him who rules supreme, Who dwells at God’s right hand on high, Yet looks on us with tender eye.
2 Th’ angelic host, in countless throngs, Recount his glories in their songs, And golden harps salute his ear; Yet our weak praise he deigns to hear.
3 The planets roll their orbits round; Unnumbered worlds, in space profound, Are ruled by him, by him controlled; Yet he’s the Shepherd of our fold.
4 Exalted high upon his throne, The universe is all his own: Untold the honors he doth wear; Yet we are objects of his care.
639 C. P. M. Matt. 1:21.
O let your mingling voices rise In grateful rapture to the skies, And hail a Saviour’s birth; Let songs of joy the day proclaim, When Jesus all-triumphant came To bless the sons of earth.
2 He came to bid the weary rest; To heal the sinner’s wounded breast; To bind the broken heart; To spread the light of truth around; And to the world’s remotest bound, The heavenly gift impart.
3 He came, our trembling souls to save From sin, from sorrow, and the grave, And chase our fears away; Victorious over death and time, To lead us to a happier clime, Where reigns eternal day.
640 P. M. To him be glory.
Rejoice, O earth! the Lord is King! To him your humble tribute bring; Let Jacob rise, and Zion sing, And all the world with praises ring, And give to Jesus glory!
2 O may the saints of every name Unite to serve the bleeding Lamb! May jars and discords cease to flame, And all the Saviour’s love proclaim, And give to Jesus glory!
3 We long to see the Christians join In union sweet and love divine, And glory through the churches shine, And Gentiles crowding to the sign, To give to Jesus glory!
4 O may the distant lands rejoice, And sinners hear the Bridegroom’s voice, While praise their happy tongues employs, And all obtain immortal joys, And give to Jesus glory!
5 Then tears shall all be wiped away, And Christians never go astray; When we are freed from cumbrous clay, We’ll praise the Lord in endless day, And give to Jesus glory.
641 C. M. My sheep—follow me. John 10:27.
To thee, my Shepherd and my Lord, A grateful song I’ll raise; O let the humblest of thy flock Attempt to speak thy praise.
2 My life, my joy, my hope, I owe To thine amazing love; Ten thousand thousand comforts here, And nobler bliss above.
3 To thee my trembling spirit flies, With sin and grief oppressed; Thy gentle voice dispels my fears, And lulls my cares to rest.
4 Lead on, dear Shepherd!—led by thee, No evil shall I fear; Soon shall I reach thy fold above, And praise thee better there.
642 P. M. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. Rev. 5:12.
Rise, tune thy voice to sacred song, Exert thy noblest powers; Rise, mingle with the choral throng, The Saviour’s praises to prolong, Amid life’s fleeting hours.
2 O! hast thou felt the Saviour’s love, That flame of heavenly birth! Then let thy strains melodious prove, With raptures soaring far above The trifling toys of earth.
3 Hast found the pearl of price unknown That cost a Saviour’s blood? Heir of a bright celestial crown, That sparkles near the eternal throne; O sing the praise of God!
4 Sing of the Lamb that once was slain That man might be forgiven; Sing how he broke death’s bars in twain, Ascending high in bliss to reign, The God of earth and heaven.
643 C. M. The Saviour died for me.
To our Redeemer’s glorious name Awake the sacred song; O may his love (immortal flame!) Tune every heart and tongue.
2 His love, what mortal thought can reach! What mortal tongue display! Imagination’s utmost stretch In wonder dies away.
3 He left his radiant throne on high, Left the bright realms of bliss, And came to earth to bleed and die! Was ever love like this?
4 Blest Lord, while we adoring pay Our humble thanks to thee, May every heart with rapture say, “The Saviour died for me!”
5 O may the sweet, the blissful theme Fill every heart and tongue, Till strangers love thy charming name, And join the sacred song.
644 C. M. Tender mercies.
Almighty Father! gracious Lord! Kind Guardian of my days! Thy mercies let my heart record In songs of grateful praise.
2 In life’s first dawn, my tender frame Was thine indulgent care, Long ere I could pronounce thy name, Or breathe the infant prayer.
3 Each rolling year new favors brought From thine exhaustless store; But, ah! in vain my laboring thought Would count thy mercies o’er.
4 Still I adore thee, gracious Lord! For favors more divine— That I have known thy sacred word. Where all thy glories shine.
5 Lord, when this mortal frame decays, And every weakness dies, Complete the wonders of thy grace, And raise me to the skies.
645 C. M. I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:1.
Long as I live I’ll praise thy name, My King, my God of love; My work and joy shall be the same In the bright world above.
2 Great is the Lord, his power unknown, And let his praise be great: I’ll sing the honors of thy throne, Thy work of grace repeat.
3 Thy grace shall dwell upon my tongue; And while my lips rejoice, The men that hear my sacred song, Shall join their cheerful voice.
4 Fathers to sons shall teach thy name, And children learn thy ways; Ages to come thy truth proclaim, And nations sound thy praise.
5 Thy glorious deeds of ancient date Shall through the world be known— Thy arm of power, thy heavenly state With public splendor shown.
6 The world is managed by thy hands, Thy saints are ruled by love; And thy eternal kingdom stands, Though rocks and hills remove.
646 C. M. Unto him that loved us. Rev. 1:5.
To him that loved the sons of men And washed us in his blood, To royal honors raised our heads, And made us priests to God:
2 To him let every tongue be praise, And every heart be love; All grateful honors paid on earth, And nobler songs above.
3 Behold, on flying clouds he comes! His saints shall bless the day: While they that pierced him sadly mourn, In anguish and dismay.
4 Thou art the First and thou the Last; Time centers all in thee; Almighty Lord, who wast, and art, And evermore shalt be.
647 C. M. Old things passed away.
Let earthly minds the world pursue; It has no charms for me; Once I admired its trifles too, But grace has set me free.
2 As, by the light of opening day, The stars are all concealed; So earthly pleasures fade away, When Jesus is revealed.
3 Creatures no more divide my choice— I bid them all depart; His name, his love, his gracious voice, Have fixed my roving heart.
4 But may I hope, that thou wilt own A worthless worm like me? Dear Lord! I would be thine alone, And wholly live to thee.
648 S. M. The song of Moses and the Lamb. Rev. 15:3.
Awake, and sing the song Of Moses and the Lamb! Wake, every heart and every tongue, To praise the Saviour’s name!
2 Sing of his dying love! Sing of his rising power! Sing how he intercedes above For those whose sins he bore!
3 Sing on your heavenly way, You ransomed sinners, sing; Sing on, rejoicing every day In Christ, the glorious King.
4 Soon shall you hear him say, “You blessed children, come,” Soon will he call you hence away, And take his pilgrims home.
649 S. M. Break forth into joy. Isaiah 52:9.
Raise your triumphant songs To an immortal tune; Let the wide earth resound the deeds Celestial grace has done.
2 Sing how Eternal Love His Chief Belovéd chose, And bade him raise our wretched race From their abyss of woes.
3 His hand no thunder bears, Nor terror clothes his brow; No bolts to drive our guilty souls To fiercer flames below.
4 He shows his Father’s love, To raise our souls on high; He came with pardon from above To rebels doomed to die.
5 Now, sinners, dry your tears; Let hopeless sorrow cease; Bow to the scepter of his love, And take the offered peace.
6 Lord, we obey thy call; We lay an humble claim To the salvation thou hast brought, And love and praise thy name.
650 S. M. Psalm 103.
O bless the Lord, my soul! His grace to thee proclaim; And all that is within me, join, To bless his holy name.
2 O bless the Lord, my soul! His mercies bear in mind; Forget not all his benefits; The Lord to thee is kind.
3 He will not always chide; He will with patience wait; His wrath is ever slow to rise, And ready to abate.
4 He pardons all thy sins, Prolongs thy feeble breath: He healeth thine infirmities, And ransoms thee from death.
5 Then bless his holy name Whose grace hath made thee whole, Whose loving-kindness crowns thy days; O bless the Lord, my soul!
651 S. M. Bless his holy name. Psalm 103:1.
Let every heart and tongue Proclaim the Saviour’s praise; He is the source of all my joy, His mercy crowns my days.
2 He knows my feeble frame; Remembers I am dust; And though he should my life destroy, In him I’ll put my trust.
3 Each day he is my strength, My hope, my life, my all; And while upon his arm I lean, I surely can not fall.
4 Then to my blesséd Lord, Let grateful songs arise, While angels bear the notes above And sound them through the skies.
652 S. M. His compassions fail not. Lam. 3:22.
How various and how new Are thy compassions, Lord! Each morning shall thy mercies show, Each night thy truth record.
2 Thy goodness, like the sun, Dawned on our early days, Ere infant reason had begun To form our lips to praise.
3 Each object we beheld Gave pleasure to our eyes; And nature all our senses held In bands of sweet surprise.
4 But pleasures more refined Awaited that blest day, When light arose upon our mind And chased our sins away.
5 How new thy mercies, then! How sovereign and how free! Our souls, that had been dead in sin, Were made alive to thee.
653 7s. Redeeming love.
Now begin the heavenly theme; Sing aloud in Jesus’ name; Ye who his salvation prove, Triumph in redeeming love.
2 Ye who see the Father’s grace Beaming in the Saviour’s face, As to Canaan on ye move, Praise and bless redeeming love.
3 Mourning souls, dry up your tears; Banish all your guilty fears; See your guilt and curse remove, Canceled by redeeming love.
4 Welcome, all by sin oppressed, Welcome to his sacred rest; Nothing brought him from above, Nothing but redeeming love.
5 Hither, then, your music bring; Strike aloud each cheerful string; Mortals, join the host above— Join to praise redeeming love.
654 7s. They shall come to Zion with songs. Isaiah 35:10
Songs of praise awoke the morn When the Prince of Peace was born; Songs of praise arose, when he Captive led captivity.
2 Heaven and earth must pass away, Songs of praise shall crown the day: God will make new heavens and earth, Songs of praise shall hail their birth.
3 And will man alone be dumb, Till that glorious kingdom come? No; the church delights to raise Psalms, and hymns, and songs of praise.
4 Saints below, with heart and voice, Still in songs of praise rejoice; Learning here, by faith and love, Songs of praise to sing above.
5 Borne upon the latest breath, Songs of praise shall conquer death; Then amidst eternal joy, Songs of praise their powers employ.
655 7s. Praise waiteth for thee, etc. Psalm 65:1.
Praise on thee, in Zion’s gates, Daily, O Jehovah, waits; Unto thee, who hearest prayer, Shall the tribes of men repair.
2 Though with conscious guilt oppressed, On thy mercy still we rest; Thy forgiving love display, Take, O Lord, our sins away.
3 O, how blesséd their reward, Chosen servants of the Lord, Who within thy courts abide, With thy goodness satisfied.
656 P. M. 1 Pet. 1:8.
Saviour! thy gentle voice Gladly we hear; Author of all our joys, Be ever near; Our souls would cling to thee, Let us thy fullness see, Our life to cheer.
2 Fountain of life divine! Thee we adore; We would be wholly thine For evermore; Freely forgive our sin, Grant heavenly peace within, Thy light restore.
3 Though to our faith unseen, While darkness reigns, On thee alone we lean While life remains; By thy free grace restored, Our souls shall bless the Lord In joyful strains!
657 8s. All things loss for Christ.
My gracious Redeemer I love! His praises aloud I’ll proclaim, And join with the armies above To shout his adorable name.
2 To gaze on his glories divine Shall be my eternal employ, And feel them incessantly shine, My boundless, ineffable joy.
3 You palaces, scepters, and crowns, Your pride with disdain I survey, Your pomps are but shadows and sounds, And pass in a moment away.
4 The crown that my Saviour bestows, Yon permanent sun shall outshine; My joy everlastingly flows— My God, my Redeemer, is mine.
658 8s. The first, and the last. Rev. 1:11.
This Lord is the Lord we adore, Our faithful unchangeable Friend, Whose love is as large as his power, And neither knows measure nor end.
2 ’Tis Jesus, the First and the Last, Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home; We’ll praise him for all that is past, And trust him for all that’s to come.
659 8s. The unsearchable riches of Christ. Eph. 3:8.
How shall I my Saviour set forth? How shall I his beauties declare? O how shall I speak of his worth, Or what his chief dignities are?
2 His angels can never express, Nor saints who sit nearest his throne, How rich are his treasures of grace— No—this is a secret unknown.
3 In him all the fullness of God For ever transcendently shines! Though once like a mortal he stood To finish his gracious designs.
4 Though once he was nailed to the cross, Vile rebels like me to set free, His glory sustainéd no loss, Eternal his kingdom shall be.
5 O sinners! believe and adore This Saviour so rich to redeem! No creature can ever explore The treasures of goodness in him.
6 Come, all you who see yourselves lost, And feel yourselves burdened with sin, Draw near, while with terror you’re tossed, Obey, and your peace shall begin.
7 He riches has ever in store, And treasures that never can waste: Here’s pardon, here’s grace—yea, and more, Here’s glory eternal at last.
660 8s & 7s. O thou Fount of every blessing.
O thou Fount of every blessing! Tune my heart to sing thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.
2 Teach me ever to adore thee, May I still thy goodness prove, While the hope of endless glory Fills my heart with joy and love.
3 Here I’ll raise my Ebenezer, Hither by thy help I’ve come, And I hope, by thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home.
4 Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from thy fold, O God! He to rescue me from danger, Interposed his precious blood.
5 O! to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind me closer still to thee!
6 Never let me wander from thee, Never leave thee whom I love; By thy Word and Spirit guide me, Till I reach thy courts above.
661 8s & 7s. Brightness of the Father’s glory. Heb. 1:3.
Brightness of the Father’s glory, Shall thy praise unuttered lie? Break, my tongue, such guilty silence; Sing the Lord, who came to die.
2 Did the angels sing thy coming? Did the shepherds learn their lays? Shame would cover me, ungrateful, Should my tongue refuse to praise.
3 From the highest throne in glory To the cross of deepest woe, All to ransom guilty captives! Flow, my praise, for ever flow.
4 Re-ascend, immortal Saviour; Leave thy footstool, take thy throne; Thence return, and reign for ever; Be the kingdom all thine own.
662 8s & 7s. Thrice holy.
Bright the vision that delighted Once the sight of Judah’s seer; Sweet the countless tongues united To entrance the prophet’s ear. Round the Lord in glory seated, Cherubim and seraphim Filled his temple, and repeated Each to each th’ alternate hymn:
2 “Lord, thy glory fills the heaven; Earth is with its fullness stored; Unto thee be glory given, Holy, holy, holy Lord!” Heaven is still with glory ringing; Earth takes up the angel’s cry, “Holy, holy, holy,” singing, “Lord of hosts, the Lord most high!”
3 Ever thus in God’s high praises, Brethren, let our tongues unite, While our thoughts his greatness raises, And our love his gifts recite. With his seraph train before him, With his holy church below, Thus conspire we to adore him, Bid we thus our anthem flow;
4 “Lord, thy glory fills the heaven; Earth is with its fullness stored; Unto thee be glory given, Holy, holy, holy Lord! Thus thy glorious name confessing, We adopt the angels’ cry, ‘Holy, holy, holy,’ blessing Thee, the Lord of hosts most high!”
663 8s & 7s, peculiar. Hark! ten thousand harps.
Hark! ten thousand harps and voices Sound the note of praise above; Jesus reigns and heaven rejoices; Jesus reigns, the God of love; See, he sits on yonder throne; Jesus rules the world alone.
2 Jesus, hail! whose glory brightens All above, and gives it worth; Lord of life, thy smile enlightens, Cheers and charms thy saints on earth; When we think of love like thine, Lord, we own it love divine.
3 King of glory, reign for ever; Thine an everlasting crown: Nothing from thy love shall sever Those whom thou hast made thine own; Happy objects of thy grace, Destined to behold thy face.
4 Saviour, hasten thine appearing; Bring, O bring the glorious day, When, the awful summons hearing, Heaven and earth shall pass away: Then, with golden harps, we’ll sing, “Glory, glory to our King.”
664 8s, 7s & 4s. Worthy is the Lamb, etc. Rev. 5:12.
Glory, glory everlasting, Be to him who bore the cross, Who redeemed our souls by tasting Death, the death deserved by us: Sound his glory While our heart with transport glows.
2 Jesus’ love is love unbounded, Without measure, without end: Human thought is here confounded; ’Tis too vast to comprehend; Praise the Saviour; Magnify the sinner’s Friend.
3 While we hear the wondrous story Of the Saviour’s cross and shame, Sing we, “Everlasting glory Be to God and to the Lamb!” Saints and angels, Give ye glory to his name.
665 11s. He hath put a new song in my mouth. Psalm 40:3.
O Jesus, the giver of all we enjoy! Our lives to thy honor we wish to employ; With praises unceasing we’ll sing of thy name! Thy goodness increasing, thy love we’ll proclaim.
2 The wonderful name of our Jesus we’ll sing, And publish the fame of our Captain and King, With sweet exultation his goodness we prove; His name is salvation—his nature is Love.
3 And when to the regions of glory we rise, And join the bright legions that shout through the skies, We’ll tell the glad story of Jesus’ kind grace, And give him the glory, and honor, and praise.
4 In this blest employment our spirits shall rest, In sweetest enjoyment on Jesus’ own breast; We’ll drink of the streams of Immanuel’s love, And bask in the beams of his glory above.
666 11s. Worthy is the Lamb. Rev. 5:12.
Come, saints, let us join in the praise of the Lamb, The theme most sublime of the angels above; They dwell with delight on the sound of his name, And gaze on his glories with wonder and love.
2 They worship the Lamb who for sinners was slain; But their loftiest songs never equal his love: The claims of his mercy will ever remain, Transcending the anthems in glory above.
3 Yet even our service he will not despise, When we join in his worship and tell of his name; Then let us unite in the song of the skies, And, trusting his mercy, sing, “Worthy the Lamb.”
667 6s & 4s. Let us awake our joys.
Let us awake our joys; Strike up with cheerful voice, Each creature sing: Angels, begin the song; Mortals, the strain prolong, In accents sweet and strong, “Jesus is King.”
2 Proclaim abroad his name; Tell of his matchless fame! What wonders done; Above, beneath, around, Let all the earth resound, ’Till heaven’s high arch rebound, “Victory is won.”
3 He vanquished sin and hell, And our last foe will quell; Mourners, rejoice; His dying love adore; Praise him now raised in power; Praise him for evermore, With joyful voice.
4 All hail the glorious day, When through the heavenly way, Lo! he shall come, While they who pierced him, wail; His promise shall not fail; Saints, see your King prevail: Great Saviour, come.
668 6s & 4s. Rev. 5:12, 13.
Glory to God on high! Let heaven and earth reply; Praise ye his name; His love and grace adore, Who all our sorrows bore, And sing for evermore, “Worthy the Lamb.”
2 Ye who surround the throne, Join cheerfully in one, Praising his name; Ye who have felt his blood Sealing your peace with God, Sound his dear name abroad: “Worthy the Lamb.”
3 Join all ye ransomed race, Our Lord and God to bless; Praise ye his name; In him we will rejoice, And make a joyful noise, Shouting with heart and voice, “Worthy the Lamb.”
4 Soon must we change our place; Yet will we never cease Praising his name: To him our songs we’ll bring, Hail him our gracious King, And through all ages sing, “Worthy the Lamb.”
669 6s & 5s. God is ever good.
See the shining dew-drops On the flowers strewed, Proving as they sparkle— God is ever good.
2 See the morning sunbeams, Lighting up the wood, Silently proclaiming— God is ever good.
3 Hear the mountain streamlet, In the solitude, With its ripple saying— God is ever good.
4 In the leafy tree-tops, Where no fears intrude, Merry birds are singing— God is ever good.
5 Bring, my heart, thy tribute, Songs of gratitude, While all nature utters— God is ever good.
670 H. M. Declare among the people his doings. Psalm 9:11.
Come, every pious heart That loves the Saviour’s name, Your noblest powers exert To celebrate his fame: Tell all above and all below The debt of love to him you owe.
2 Such was his zeal for God, And such his love for you, He nobly undertook What angels could not do; His every deed of love and grace All words exceed, all thoughts surpass.
3 He left his starry crown, And laid his robes aside; On wings of love came down, And wept, and bled, and died; What he endured, O who can tell, To save our souls from death and hell!
4 From the dark grave he rose, The mansion of the dead; And thence his mighty foes In glorious triumph led; Up through the sky the Conqueror rode, And reigns on high the Son of God.
5 From thence he’ll quickly come, His chariot will not stay, And bear our spirits home To realms of endless day: There shall we see his lovely face, And ever be in his embrace.
671 P. M. Glad homage.
Father of spirits! humbly bent before thee, Songs of glad homage unto thee we bring: Touched by thy Spirit, O teach us to adore thee; Let thy light attend us, Let thy love befriend us, Father of our spirits, Everlasting King!
2 Send forth thy mandate, gather in the nations, Through the wide universe thy name be known, Millions of voices shall join in adorations, Every soul invited, Every voice united; Joining to adore thee, Everlasting One!
672 C. P. M. The great salvation. Heb. 2:3.
To him who did salvation bring, Wake every tuneful power, and sing A song of sweetest praise: His grace diffuses as the rains Crown nature’s flowery hills and plains, And spread a thousand ways.
2 Salvation is the noblest song, O may it dwell on every tongue, And all repeat, Amen! The Lord will come from heaven to earth To give his people second birth, And make them one again.
3 We feel redemption drawing near; We soon in glory shall appear, And be for ever blessed: His promise never can delay, Our Jesus, on th’ appointed day, Will give his people rest.
4 By faith we view him coming down, With angels hovering all around; He smiles upon his saints: He cries aloud in melting strains, I come to save you from your pains, And end your sore complaints.
5 The smiling millions rise and sing All glory! glory to our King; The Grand Assize is come! You everlasting doors, fly wide; The Church is glorious as a bride, And Jesus takes her home.
6 In all the heavens there’s not a tear, Nor in the realms of bliss a fear, But pleasure yet unknown: From heaven to heaven we sound the bliss, O what a blest abode is this, For ever round the throne!
7 The joys of heaven will never end; All glory to the sinner’s Friend! Roll on, you happy scenes! You wingéd seraphs, help us praise The Author of eternal joys! Our Jesus ever reigns.
673 8s, 7s & 4s. Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord! ye saints adore him, All unite with one accord; Bring your offerings, come before him— O praise the Lord.
2 Praise the Lord! who every blessing On our heads hath richly poured; Sing aloud, his love confessing— O praise the Lord.
3 Praise the Lord! who would not praise him? He hath us to grace restored: To the highest honors raise him— O praise the Lord.
4 Praise the Lord! your songs excelling Worldly music’s richest chord; Sing—your Saviour’s glory telling; O praise the Lord.
OPENING HYMNS.
674 L. M. Psalm 100.
Before Jehovah’s awful throne, Ye nations, bow with sacred joy; Know that the Lord is God alone, He can create and he destroy.
2 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.
3 We are his people—we his care— Our souls, and all our mortal frame: What lasting honors shall we rear, Almighty Maker, to thy name?
4 We’ll 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.
5 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!
675 L. M. God exalted. Psalm 57:5.
Be thou exalted, O my God! Above the heavens where angels dwell; Thy power on earth be known abroad, And land to land thy wonders tell.
2 My heart is fixed; my song shall raise Immortal honors to thy name: Awake, my tongue, to sound his praise, My tongue, the glory of my frame.
3 High o’er the earth his mercy reigns, And reaches to the utmost sky; His truth to endless years remains, When lower worlds dissolve and die.
676 L. M. Every place a temple.
O Thou, to whom, in ancient time, The lyre of Hebrew bards was strung; Whom kings adored in songs sublime, And prophets praised with glowing tongue:
2 Not now on Zion’s hight alone Thy favored worshipers may dwell; Nor where, at sultry noon, thy Son Sat weary, by the patriarch’s well.
3 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.
4 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!
5 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!
677 L. M. Coming together in the name of Jesus. Matt. 18:20.
Great God! the followers of thy Son, We bow before thy mercy-seat, To worship thee, the holy One, And pour our wishes at thy feet.
2 O, grant thy blessing here to-day; O, give thy people joy and peace; The tokens of thy love display, And favor that shall never cease.
3 We seek the truth which Jesus brought, His path of light we long to tread; Here be his holy doctrines taught, And here their purest influence shed.
4 May faith, and hope, and love abound; Our sins and errors be forgiven; And we, from day to day, be found The sons of God and heirs of heaven.
678 L. M. 6 lines. Seeking refuge.
Forth from the dark and stormy sky, Lord, to thine altar’s shade we fly; Forth from the world, its hope and fear, Father, we seek thy shelter here: Weary and weak, thy grace we pray; Turn not, O Lord, thy guests away.
2 Long have we roamed in want and pain; Long have we sought thy rest to gain; Wildered in doubt, in darkness lost, Long have our souls been tempest-tost; Low at thy feet our sins we lay; Turn not, O Lord, thy guests away.
679 L. M. The hour of worship.
Blest hour, when mortal man retires To hold communion with his God, To send to heaven his warm desires, And listen to the sacred word.
2 Blest hour, when earthly cares resign Their empire o’er his anxious breast, While, all around, the calm divine, Proclaims the holy day of rest.
3 Blest hour, when God himself draws nigh, Well pleased his people’s voice to hear, To hush the penitential sigh, And wipe away the mourner’s tear.
4 Blest hour! for, where the Lord resorts, Foretastes of future bliss are given, And mortals find his earthly courts The house of God, the gate of heaven.
680 L. M. How amiable are thy tabernacles. Psalm 84:1.
Great God, attend while Zion sings The joy that from thy presence springs; To spend one day with thee on earth, Exceeds a thousand days of mirth.
2 Might I enjoy the meanest place Within thy house, O God of grace, Not tents of ease, nor thrones of power, Should tempt my feet to leave thy door.
3 God is our sun, he makes our day; God is our shield, he guards our way From all th’ assaults of hell and sin, From foes without and foes within.
4 All needful grace will God bestow, And crown that grace with glory too: He gives us all things, and withholds No real good from upright souls.
5 O God, our King, whose sovereign sway, The glorious hosts of heaven obey, And devils at thy presence flee; Blest is the man that trusts in thee.
681 L. M. Serve the Lord with gladness. Psalm 100:2.
Ye nations round the earth, rejoice, Before the Lord, your sovereign King; Serve him with cheerful heart and voice; With all your tongues his glory sing.
2 The Lord is God: ’tis he alone Doth life, and breath, and being give; We are his work, and not our own; The sheep that on his pastures live.
3 Enter his gates with songs of joy; With praises to his courts repair; And make it your divine employ To pay your thanks and honors there.
4 The Lord is good, the Lord is kind; Great is his grace, his mercy sure: And the whole race of men shall find His truth from age to age endure.
682 L. M. Let us worship and bow down. Psalm 95:6.
O come, loud anthems let us sing, Loud thanks to our almighty King! For we our voices high should raise, When our salvation’s Rock we praise.
2 Into his presence let us haste, To thank him for his favors past; To him address in joyful songs The praise that to his name belongs.
3 O, let us to his courts repair, And bow with adoration there! Down on our knees, devoutly, all Before the Lord, our Maker, fall.
683 L. M. Speak, Lord, thy servant heareth. 1 Sam. 3:10.
While now thy throne of grace we seek, O God! within our spirits speak; For we will hear thy voice to-day, Nor turn our hardened hearts away.
2 Speak in thy gentlest tones of love, Till all our best affections move; We long to hear thy gentle call, And feel that thou art all in all.
3 To conscience speak thy quickening word, Till all its sense of sin is stirred; For we would leave no stain of guile, To cloud the radiance of thy smile.
4 Speak, Father, to the anxious heart, Till every fear and doubt depart; For we can find no home or rest, Till with thy Spirit’s whispers blest.
5 Speak to convince, forgive, console: Childlike we yield to thy control; These hearts, too often closed before, Would grieve thy patient love no more.
684 L. M. God is here.
Be still! be still! for all around, On either hand, is holy ground: Here in his house, the Lord to-day Will listen, while his people pray.
2 Thou, tossed upon the waves of care Ready to sink with deep despair, Here ask relief, with heart sincere, And thou shalt find that God is here.
3 Thou who hast laid within the grave Those whom thou hadst no power to save, Now to the mercy-seat draw near, With all thy woes, for God is here.
4 Thou who hast dear ones far away, In foreign lands, ’mid ocean’s spray, Pray for them now, and dry the tear, And trust the God who listens here.
5 Thou who art mourning o’er thy sin, Deploring guilt that reigns within, The God of peace is ever near; The troubled spirit meets him here.
685 L. M. I will come in. Rev. 3:20.
O blest the souls, for ever blest, Where God as sovereign is confest; O happy hearts, the blesséd homes To which the King in glory comes!
2 Fling wide thy portals, O my heart! Be thou a temple set apart; So shall thy Sovereign enter in, And new and nobler life begin.
3 Deliverer, come! we open wide Our hearts to thee; here, Lord, abide! Let all thy glorious presence feel; Thou—King of saints! thyself reveal.
686 L. M. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house. Psalm 84:4.
How pleasant, how divinely fair, Lord of hosts, thy dwellings are! With long desire my spirit faints To meet the assemblies of thy saints.
2 My soul would rest in thine abode, My panting heart cries out for God; My God! my King! why should I be So far from all my joys and thee!
3 Blest are the souls who find a place Within the temple of thy grace; There they behold thy gentler rays, And seek thy face, and learn thy praise.
4 Blest are the men whose hearts are set To find the way to Zion’s gate; God is their strength, and through the road, They lean upon their Helper, God.
687 L. M. The living temple.
O Father! with protecting care, Meet us in this, our house of prayer; Assembled in thy sacred name, Thy promised blessing here we claim.
2 But chiefest in the cleanséd breast, For ever let thy Spirit rest, And make the contrite heart to be A temple pure and worthy thee.
688 L. M. My soul longeth for the courts of the Lord. Psalm 84:2.
Look from on high, great God, and see Thy saints lamenting after thee: We sigh, we languish, and complain; Revive thy gracious work again.
2 To-day thy cheering grace impart, Bind up and heal the broken heart; Our sins subdue, our souls restore, And let our foes prevail no more.
3 Thy presence in thy house afford, And bless the preaching of thy word, That sinners may their danger see, And now begin to mourn for thee.
689 C. M. Homage and devotion.
With sacred joy we lift our eyes To those bright realms above, That glorious temple in the skies, Where dwells eternal Love.
2 Before the gracious throne we bow Of heaven’s almighty King; Here we present the solemn vow, And hymns of praise we sing.
3 O Lord, while in thy house we kneel, With trust and holy fear, Thy mercy and thy truth reveal, And lend a gracious ear.
4 With fervor teach our hearts to pray, And tune our lips to sing; Nor from thy presence cast away The sacrifice we bring.
690 C. M. Lift thou the light of thy countenance, etc. Psalm 4:6
Within thy house, O Lord, our God, In glory now appear; Make this a place of thine abode, And shed thy blessings here.