2 Illumine those who blindly roam, O call the wanderer kindly home; The hearts astray that union crave, And those in doubt confirm and save. 3 O that the deaf may hear Thy voice, The dumb to speak of Thee rejoice;

The thankless heart its silence break, And, taught by Thee, confession make. 4 Those who in error wander wide, Let Thy bright beams of mercy guide; Whom sin hath bruised and wounded, heal,

To all the hope of glory seal.

5 So they who sing Thy praise above
With us shall join in bonds of love;
And Thee for all Thy grace adore,
On earth, in heaven, for evermore.
HEERMAN, trans. W. BALL.

693

CLOSE OF SERVICE.

10S.

ABIDE with me, fast falls the eventide:

The darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide ;

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass

away;

Change and decay in all around I see: O Thou who changest not, abide with me!

3 Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord

Familiar, condescending, patient, free,
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me!

4 Come not in terrors, as the King of kings, But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;

Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea; Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me!

5 I need Thy presence every passing hour,— What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!

6 I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless : Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

7 Reveal Thyself before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies:

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life and death, O Lord, abide with

694

me!

H. F. LYTE.

AS the sun's enlivening eye

78.

Shines on every place the same;

So the Lord is always nigh

To the souls that love His name.

2 When they move at duty's call,
He is with them by the way:
He is ever with them all,

Those who go, and those who stay. 3 From His holy mercy-seat

Nothing can their souls confine:
Still in spirit they may meet,
Still in sweet communion join.
4 For a season called to part,

Let us then ourselves commend
To the gracious eye and heart
Of our ever-present Friend.
5 Jesus! hear our humble prayer!
Tender Shepherd of Thy sheep!
Let Thy mercy and Thy care
All our souls in safety keep!
6 In Thy strength may we be strong;
Sweeten every cross and pain
Give us, if we live, ere long
Here to meet in peace again.

J. NEWTON.

695

L.M.

COME, Christian brethren, ere we part,

Join every voice and every heart; One solemn hymn to God we raise, One final song of grateful praise. 2 Christians! we here may meet no more, But there is yet a happier shore; And there, released from toil and pain, Brethren, we all shall meet again.

696

H. K. WHITE.

L.M.

COME, dearest Lord, descend and dwell

By faith and love in every breast;

Then shall we know, and taste, and feel, The joys that cannot be exprest.

2 Come, fill our hearts with inward strength; Make our enlarged souls possess,

And learn the height and breadth and length

Of Thine unmeasurable grace.

3 Now to the God, whose power can do More than our thoughts or wishes know, Be everlasting honours done

By all the church, through Christ His

697

Son.

WATTS.

L.M.

NTER our hearts, Redeemer blest!
Enter, Thou ever-honoured guest;

Not for one transient hour alone,
But there to fix Thy lasting throne.

2 Own this mean dwelling as Thy home,
And when our life's last hour is come,
Let us but die as in Thy sight,
And death shall vanish in delight.

698

DODDRIDGE.

78. double.

Ho OLY Father! whom we praise

With imperfect accents here;

Ancient of eternal days,

Lord of heaven, and earth, and air;
Stooping from amid the blaze

Of the flaming seraphim;
Hear and help us while we raise
This our Sabbath evening hymn.

2 We have trod Thy temple, Lord;
We have joined the public praise;
We have heard Thy holy word;

We have sought Thy heavenly grace :
All Thy goodness we record;

All our powers to Thee we bring;
Let Thy faithfulness afford

Now the shadow of Thy wing.

3 We have seen Thy dying love-
Jesus! once for sinners slain;
We will follow Thee above;

We, like Thee, would rise and reign.
Let revolving Sabbaths prove
Seasons of delight in Thee:
Let Thy presence, holy Dove,
Fit us for eternity.

T. BINNEY.