But let us hasten to the day
Which shall our flesh restore;
When death shall all be done away,
And bodies part no more.
"Be ye all of one mind."
1 PETER iii. 8.
BLEST be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love!
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
Before our Father's throne,
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,-
Our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often, for each other, flows
The sympathising tear.
But soon, from toil and pain,
And sin we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign,
To all eternity!
1 PEOPLE of the living God!
I have sought the world around,-
Paths of sin and sorrow trod,
Peace and comfort nowhere found:
Now, to you my spirit turns,
Turns-a fugitive unblest;
Brethren!-where your altar burns,
O receive me into rest!
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;
Mine the God whom you adore,
Your Redeemer shall be mine;
Earth can fill my heart no more,
Every idol I resign.
8 Tell me not of gain, or loss,
Ease, enjoyment, pomp, and power;-
Welcome poverty, and cross,
Shame, reproach, affliction's hour;
"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.
"The wise took oil in their vessels."
1 To keep the lamp alive,
With oil we fill the bowl;
'Tis water makes the willow thrive,
And grace that feeds the soul.
The Lord's unsparing hand
Supplies the living stream;
It is not at our own command,
But still derived from Him.
Beware of Peter's word;
Nor confidently say,
"I never will deny Thee, Lord,"
But-" grant I never may."
Man's wisdom is to seek
His strength in God alone:
And e'en an angel would be weak
Who trusted in his own.
Retreat beneath His wings,
And in His strength confide;
This more exalts the King of kings
Than all your works beside.
In Jesus is our store;
Grace issues from His throne;
Whoever says-"I want no more,"
Confesses he has none.
"How amiable are Thy Tabernacles."
PSALM 1xxxiv. 1.
HOW honoured, how dear,
That sacred abode
Where Christians draw near
Their Father and God!
'Mid worldly commotion,
My wearied soul faints,
For the house of devotion-
The home of Thy saints.
The birds have their home,
They fix on their nest;
Wherever they roam,
They return to their rest;
From them fondly learning,
My soul would take wing;
To Thee so returning,
My God and my King!
Thou Hearer of prayer;
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.
Me more would it please
Keeping post at Thy gate,
Than lying at ease
In chamber of state:
The meanest condition
Outshines, with Thy smiles,
The pomp of ambition,
The world with its wiles.
The Lord is a Sun,
The Lord is a Shield;
What grace has begun.
With glory is sealed.
He hears the distressed,
He succours the just;
And they shall be blessed
Who make Him their trust.
"Present your bodies a living sacrifice."
1 JESUS, our best beloved Friend,
Draw out our souls in pure desire;
Jesus, in love to us descend,
Baptise us with Thy Spirit's fire.
2 On Thy redeeming name we call,
Poor and unworthy though we be;
Pardon and sanctify us all;
Let each Thy full salvation see.
3 Our souls and bodies we resign
To fear and follow Thy commands:
O take our hearts-our hearts are Thine;
Accept the service of our hands!
4 Firm, faithful, watching unto prayer,
May we Thy blesséd will obey;
Toil in Thy vineyard here, and bear
The heat and burden of the day.
5 Yet, Lord, for us a resting-place,
In heaven, at Thy right hand prepare;
And, till we see Thee, face to face,
Be all our conversation there!
"Yield yourselves unto God."
ROM. vi. 13.
LORD, in the strength of grace,
With a glad heart and free,
Myself-my residue of days,
I consecrate to Thee.
Thy ransomed servant, I
Restore to Thee Thine own;
And, from this moment, live or die
To serve my God alone.
"He giveth power to the faint."
ISAIAH xl. 29.
1 AWAKE, our souls; away, our fears;
Let every trembling thought be gone;
Awake, and run the heavenly race,
And put a cheerful courage on.
2 True, 'tis a strait and thorny road,
And mortal spirits tire and faint;
But they forget the mighty God
That feeds the strength of every saint
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3 Thee, mighty God, whose matchless power
Is ever new, and ever young,
And firm endures, while endless years
Their everlasting circles run.
4 From Thee, the overflowing spring,
Our souls shall drink a fresh supply,-
While such as trust their native strength
Shall melt away, and droop, and die.
5 Swift as an eagle cuts the air,
We'll mount aloft to Thine abode:
On wings of love our souls shall fly,
Nor tire amidst the heavenly road.
"The fire shall ever be burning."
THOU who camest from above,
The pure celestial fire impart;
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart!
There let it, for Thy glory, burn,
With inextinguishable blaze;
And, trembling, to its source return,
In humble prayer, and fervent praise.
2 Jesus, confirm my heart's desire
To think, and speak, and work for Thee;
Still let me guard the holy fire,
And still stir up Thy gift in me:
Ready for all Thy perfect will,
My acts of faith and love repeat;
Till death Thine endless mercies seal,
And make the sacrifice complete.
"The Lord is my portion."
MY God, permit my tongue
This joy, to call Thee mine;
And let my early cries prevail
To taste Thy love divine.
For life, without Thy love,
No relish can afford;
No joy can be compared to this,
To serve and please the Lord.
Since Thou hast been my help,
To Thee my spirit flies;
And on Thy watchful providence
My cheerful hope relies.
The shadow of Thy wings
My soul in safety keeps:
I follow where my Father leads,
And He supports my steps.
"Hinder me not."
GEN. XXIV. 56.
INDER us not! 'tis Jesus calls;
He brings within these sacred walls
A band of favoured youth:
He brings them here to seek His face,
To hear the message of His grace,
To learn His holy truth.
2 Hinder us not! we work for God;
We strive to show His praise abroad,
We wish to teach his fear:
O Saviour, send Thy blessing down,
Our weak attempts to aid and crown,
Our fainting souls to cheer.
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