2 Religion can assuage
The tempest of the soul;
And every fear shall lose its rage
At her divine control.
3 Through life's bewilder'd way,
Her hand unerring leads;
And o'er the path her heavenly ray
A cheering lustre sheds.
4 When reason, tired and blind,
Sinks helpless and afraid,
Thou blest supporter of the mind,
How powerful is thine aid!
5 Oh, let me feel thy power,
And find thy sweet relief,
To brighten ev'ry gloomy hour,
And soften ev'ry grief.
HERE is a glorious world on high,
Resplendent with eternal day;
Faith views the blissful prospects nigh,
While God's own word reveals the way.
2 How blest are those, how truly wise,
Who learn and keep the sacred road!
Happy the men whom heaven employs
To turn rebellious hearts to God!
3 The shining firmament shall fade,
And sparkling stars resign their light:
But these shall know nor change nor shade,
For ever fair, for ever bright.
4 On wings of faith and strong desire,
Oh, may our spirits daily rise;
And reach at last the shining choir,
In the bright mansions of the skies!
OW do Thy mercies close me round! For ever be Thy name adored; I blush in all things to abound; The servant is above his Lord!
2 Inured to poverty and pain,
A suff'ring life my Master led:
The Son of God, the Son of man,
He had not where to lay His head.
3 But lo! a place He hath prepared
For me, whom watchful angels keep;
Yea, He himself becomes my guard;
He smooths my bed and gives me sleep.
4 Jesus protects; my fears, begone:
What can the Rock of Ages move?
Safe in Thine arms I lay me down,
Thine everlasting arms of love.
5 I rest beneath th' Almighty's shade,
My griefs expire, my troubles cease;
Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stay'd,
Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.
6 Me for Thine own Thou lov'st to take In time and in eternity;
Thou never, never wilt forsake
A helpless worm that trusts in Thee
WATCHFULNESS AND SELF-EXAMINA
E servants of the Lord,
Each in his office wait,
Observant of His heavenly word,
And watchful at 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! 't is your Lord's command,
And while we speak, He's near;
Mark the first signal of His hand,
And ready all appear.
4 Oh, happy servant he
In such a posture found!
He shall his Lord with rapture see,
And be with honor crown'd.
AWAKE, my soul; stretch ev'ry nerve,
And press with vigor on;
A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown.
2 A cloud of witnesses around
Hold thee in full survey;
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way.
3 'Tis God's all-animating voice
That calls thee from on high;
'Tis His own hand presents the prize
To thine uplifted eye;—
4 That prize, with peerless glories bright,
Which shall new lustre boast,
When victors' wreaths and monarchs' gems
Shall blend in common dust.
HARK, my soul, it is the Lord!
'Tis thy Saviour, hear His word:
Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee:
"Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou Me?
2 "I deliver'd thee, when bound,
And when wounded heal'd thy wound;
Sought thee wand'ring, set thee right,
Turn'd thy darkness into light.
3 "Mine is an unchanging Love,
Higher than the heights above,
Deeper than the depths beneath,
Free and faithful, strong as death.
4 "Thou shalt see My glory soon,
When the work of grace is done;
Partner of My throne shalt be:
Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou Me?"
5 Lord, it is my chief complaint,
That my love is weak and faint;
Yet I love Thee and adore;
Oh, for grace to love Thee more!
'TIS a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought,
Do I love the Lord, or no?
Am I His, or am I not?
2 When I turn mine eyes within,
All is dark, and vain, and wild:
Fill'd with unbelief and sin,
Can I deem myself a child?
3 Lord, decide the doubtful case!
Thou who art Thy people's sun,
Shine upon Thy work of grace,
If it be indeed begun.
4 Let me love Thee more and more,
If I love at all, I pray:
If I have not loved before,
Help me to begin to-day.
ESUS, my Saviour and my God,
By ties, both natural and divine,
I am, and ever will be Thine.
2 But ah! should this inconstant heart,
Ere I'm aware, from Thee depart,
What dire reproach would fall on me
For such ingratitude to Thee!
3 The thought I dread, the crime I hate;
The guilt, the shame, I deprecate:
And yet so mighty are my foes,
I dare not trust my warmest vows.
4 Pity my frailty, dearest Lord!
Grace in the needful hour afford:
Oh, steel this tim'rous heart of mine
With fortitude and love divine.
|