III. JESUS CHRIST.

82.7s. M.Methodist.God Everywhere Present.1They who seek the throne of graceFind that throne in every place;If we live a life of prayer,God is present everywhere.2In our sickness and our health,In our want, or in our wealth,If we look to God in prayer,God is present everywhere.3When our earthly comforts fail,When the woes of life prevail,’Tis the time for earnest prayer;—God is present everywhere.4Then, my soul, in every straitTo thy Father come, and wait;He will answer every prayer;—God is present everywhere.83.L. M.Moore.God in All.1There’s nothing bright, above, below,From flowers that bloom to stars that glow,But in its light my soul can seeSome feature of the Deity.2There’s nothing dark, below, above,But in its gloom I trace Thy love,And meekly wait the moment whenThy touch shall make all bright again.3The heavens, the earth, 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.84.L. M.Moore.God’s Presence in Nature.1Thou art, O God, the life and lightOf all this 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.2When day, with farewell beam, delaysAmong the opening clouds of even,And we can almost think we gazeThrough golden vistas into heaven,Those hues that make the sun’s declineSo soft, so radiant, Lord, are Thine.3When night, with wings of starry gloom,O’ershadows all the earth and skies,Like some dark, beauteous bird, whose plumeIs sparkling with unnumbered eyes,That sacred gloom, those fires divine,So grand, so countless, Lord, are Thine.4When youthful spring around us breathes,Thy spirit warms her fragrant sigh;And every flower the summer wreathesIs born beneath Thy kindling eye:Where’er we turn, Thy glories shine,And all things fair and bright are Thine.85.C. M.Whittier.Nature’s Worship.1The ocean looketh up to heaven,As ’twere a living thing;The homage of its waves is given,In ceaseless worshipping.2They kneel upon the sloping sandAs bends the human knee;A beautiful and tireless band,The priesthood of the sea.3The mists are lifted from the rills,Like the white wing of prayer;They kneel above the ancient hills,As doing homage there.4The forest-tops are lowly castO’er breezy hill and glen,As if a prayerful spirit passedOn nature as on men.5The sky is as a temple’s arch:The blue and wavy airIs glorious with the spirit marchOf messengers at prayer.86.L. M.H. M. Williams.God in Nature.1My God! all nature owns Thy sway;Thou giv’st the night and Thou the day:When all Thy loved creation wakes,When morning, rich in lustre, breaks,And bathes in dew the opening flower,To Thee we owe her fragrant hour;And when she pours her choral song,Her melodies to Thee belong.2Or when, in paler tints arrayed,The evening slowly spreads her shade,That soothing shade, that grateful gloom,Can, more than day’s enlivening bloom,Still every fond and vain desire,And calmer, purer thoughts inspire;From earth the longing spirit free,And lead the softened heart to Thee.3As o’er Thy work the seasons roll,And soothe, with change of bliss, the soul,O, never may their smiling trainPass o’er the human sense in vain!But, oft as on their charms we gaze,Attune the wondering soul to praise;And be the joys that most we prizeThe joys that from Thy favor rise!87.L. M.Wreford.God in His Works and Word.1God of the ocean, earth, and sky,In Thy bright presence we rejoice;We feel Thee, see Thee ever nigh,And gladly hear Thy gracious voice.2We feel Thee in the sunny beam;We see Thee walk the mountain waves;We hear Thee in the murmuring stream,And when the tempest wildly raves.3God on the lonely hills we meet,God, in the vale and fragrant grove,While birds and whispering winds repeat,That God is there,—the God of love.4We meet Thee in the pensive hourWhen wearied nature sinks to rest;When dies the breeze, and sleeps the flowerAnd peace is given to every breast.5We see Thee when, at eve, afarWe upward lift our wondering sight,We see Thee in each silent starThat glorifies the gloom of night.6But better still, and still more clear,Thee in Thy holy Son we see;There Thy own glorious words we hear,And learn the way to heaven and Thee.88.L. M.Fox’s Hymns.The Great Temple.1Though wandering in a stranger-land,Though on the waste no altar stand,Take comfort! thou art not alone,While Faith hath marked thee for her own.2Wouldst thou a temple? look above,—The heavens stretch over all in love;A book? for thine evangel scanThe wondrous history of man.3And though no organ-peal be heard,In harmony the winds are stirred;And there the morning stars upraiseTheir ancient songs of deathless praise.89.L. M.W. H. Burleigh.The Heavens Declare the Glory of God.1Not only doth the voiceful dayThy loving kindness, Lord! proclaim,But night, with its sublime arrayOf worlds, doth magnify Thy name.Yea, while adoring seraphimBefore Thee bend the willing knee,From every star a choral hymnGoes up unceasingly to Thee.2Day unto day doth utter speech,And night to night Thy voice makes known;Through all the earth, where thought may reach,Is heard the glad and solemn tone;And worlds, beyond the farthest starWhose light hath reached a human eye,Catch the high anthem from afar,That rolls along immensity.90.L. M.Bulfinch.Voice of God in the Soul.1Hath not thy heart within thee burnedAt evening’s calm and holy hour,As if its inmost depths discernedThe presence of a loftier power?2Hast thou not heard ’mid forest glades,While ancient rivers murmured by,A voice from forth the eternal shades,That spake a present Deity?3And as, upon the sacred page,Thine eye in rapt attention turnedO’er records of a holier age,Hath not thy heart within thee burned?4It was the voice of God that spakeIn silence to thy silent heart;And bade each worthier thought awake,And every dream of earth depart.5Voice of our God, O, yet be near!In low, sweet accents, whisper peace;Direct us on our pathway here,Then bid in heaven our wanderings cease.91.C. M.Jones Very.The Light from Within.1I saw on earth another lightThan that which lit my eyeCome forth, as from my soul within,And from a higher sky.2Its beams still shone unclouded on,When in the distant westThe sun I once had known had sunkForever to his rest.3And on I walked, though dark the night,Nor rose his orb by day;As one to whom a surer guideWas pointing out the way.4’Twas brighter far than noonday’s beam,It shone from God within;And lit, as by a lamp from heaven,The world’s dark track of sin.92.7s. M.Anonymous.Silent Worship.1Wouldst thou in thy lonely hourPraises to the Eternal pour?I will teach thy soul to beTemple, hymn, and harmony.2Sweeter songs than poets singThou shalt for thine offering bring;Softly murmured hymns, that dwellIn devotion’s deepest cell.3Know that music’s holiest strainLoves to linger, loves to reign,In that calm of quiet thoughtWhich the passions trouble not.4Wouldst thou in thy lonely hourPraises to the Eternal pour?Thus thy soul may learn to beTemple, hymn, and harmony.93.7 & 6s. M.Methodist.Quiet Worship.1Open, Lord, mine inward ear,And bid my heart rejoice;Bid my quiet spirit hearThe comfort of Thy voice;Never in the whirlwind found,Or where earthquakes rock the place,Still and silent is the sound,The whisper of Thy grace.2From the world of sin, and noise,And hurry, I withdraw;For the small and inward voiceI wait with humble awe;Silent am I now and still,Will not in Thy presence move;To my waiting soul revealThe secret of Thy love!94.C.M.Cowper.Retirement.1Far from the world, O Lord! I flee,From strife and tumult far;From scenes where sin is waging stillIts most successful war.2The calm retreat, the silent shade,With prayer and praise agree;And seem by Thy sweet bounty made,For those who follow Thee.3There, if Thy presence cheer the soul,And grace her mean abode,O, with what peace, and joy, and love,She communes with her God!4There, like the nightingale, she poursHer solitary lays;Nor asks a witness of her song,Nor thirsts for human praise.5Author and Guardian of my life,Sweet source of light divine,And,—all harmonious names in one,—My Father! Thou art mine!95.C. M.H. M. Williams.Habitual Devotion.1While Thee I seek, protecting Power!Be my vain wishes stilled;And may this consecrated hourWith better hopes be filled.2Thy love the powers of thought bestowed;To Thee my thoughts would soar;Thy mercy o’er my life has flowed;That mercy I adore!3In each event of life, how clearThy ruling hand I see!Each blessing to my soul more dear,Because conferred by Thee.4In every joy that crowns my days,In every pain I bear,My heart shall find delight in praise,Or seek relief in prayer.5When gladness wings my favored hour,Thy love my thoughts shall fill;Resigned, when storms of sorrow lower,My soul shall meet Thy will.6My lifted eye, without a tear,The gathering storm shall see;My steadfast heart shall know no fear;That heart shall rest on Thee!96.P. M.Moore.The Heart’s Prayer.1As, down in the sunless retreats of the ocean,Sweet flowers are springing no mortal can see,So, deep in my soul, the still prayer of devotion,Unheard by the world, rises, silent, to Thee,My God! silent, to Thee,—Pure, warm, silent, to Thee.2As still to the star of its worship, though clouded,The needle points faithfully o’er the dim sea,So, dark when I roam, in this wintry world shrouded,The hope of my spirit turns, trembling, to Thee,My God! trembling, to Thee,—True, sure, trembling, to Thee.97.7 & 6s. M.Anonymous.Pray Without Ceasing.1Go when the morning shineth,Go when the noon 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.2Remember 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 petitionThy great Redeemer’s name.3Or, if ’tis e’er denied theeIn solitude to pray,Should holy thoughts come o’er theeWhen friends are round thy way,E’en then, the silent breathingThy spirit lifts aboveWill reach His throne of glory,Where dwells eternal love.4O, not a joy or blessingWith this can we compare,—The grace our Father gives usTo pour our souls in prayer:Whene’er thou pin’st in sadness,On Him who saveth, call!Remember, in thy gladness,His love who gave thee all.98.7s. M.Mrs. Hemans.All Must Pray.1Child, amidst the flowers at play,While the red light fades away;Mother, with thine earnest eye,Ever following silently;2Father, by the breeze of eveCalled thy daily toil to leave;Pray! ere yet the dark hours be,Lift the heart, and bend the knee!3Traveller in the stranger’s land,Far from thine own household band;Mourner, haunted by the toneOf a voice from this world gone;4Captive, in whose narrow cellSunshine hath not leave to dwell;Sailor, on the darkening sea,Lift the heart, and bend the knee!5Ye that triumph, ye that sigh,Kindred by one holy tie,Heaven’s first star alike ye see;Lift the heart, and bend the knee!99.C. M.Montgomery.What is Prayer?1Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,Unuttered or expressed,The motion of a hidden fire,That trembles in the breast.2Prayer is the burden of a sigh,The falling of a tear,The upward glancing of an eye,When none but God is near.3Prayer is the simplest form of speechThat infant lips can try;Prayer, the sublimest strains that reachThe Majesty on high.4Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,The Christian’s native air,His watchword at the gates of death;He enters heaven with prayer.5Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voiceReturning from his ways;While angels in their songs rejoice,And cry, “Behold, he prays!”6In prayer, on earth, the saints are one;They’re one in word and mind;When with the Father and the SonSweet fellowship they find.7O Thou by whom we come to God,The Life, the Truth, the Way,The path of prayer thyself hast trod;Lord, teach us how to pray!100.L. M.Hart.Prayer the Life of the Soul.1Prayer is to God the soul’s sure way;So flows the grace he waits to give;Long as they live should Christians pray;They learn to pray when first they live.2If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress,If cares distract, or fears dismay,If guilt deject, if sin distress,In every need, still watch and pray.3’Tis prayer supports the soul that’s weak,Though poor and broken be its word;Pray if thou canst, or canst not, speak;The breathings of the soul are heard.4Depend on Him; thou shalt prevail;Make all thy wants and wishes known;Fear not, His mercy will not fail;Ask but in faith, it shall be done.101.C. M.Anonymous.Silent Prayer.1Sweet is the prayer whose holy streamIn earnest pleading flows;Devotion dwells upon the theme,And warm and warmer glows.2Faith grasps the blessing she desires,Hope points the upward gaze;And love, untrembling love, inspiresThe eloquence of praise.3But sweeter far the still, small voice,Heard by no human ear,When God hath made the heart rejoice,And dried the bitter tear.4Nor accents flow, nor words ascend;All utterance faileth there;But listening spirits comprehend,And God accepts the prayer.III. JESUS CHRIST.102.7s. M.Bowring.Advent.1Watchman! tell us of the night,What its signs of promise are;Traveller! o’er yon mountain’s height,See that glory-beaming star!Watchman! does its beauteous rayAught of hope or joy foretell?Traveller! yes; it brings the day,Promised day of Israel!2Watchman! tell us of the night,Higher yet the star ascends;Traveller! blessedness and light,Peace and truth, its course portends.Watchman! will its beams aloneGild the spot that gave them birth?Traveller! ages are its own;See, it bursts o’er all the earth.3Watchman! tell us of the night,For the morning seems to dawn;Traveller! darkness takes its flight;Doubt and terror are withdrawn.Watchman! let thy wanderings cease;Hie thee to thy quiet home;Traveller! lo! the Prince of Peace,Lo! the Son of God, is come.103.11s. M.Drummond.“Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!”1A Voice from the desert comes awful and shrill;The Lord is advancing; prepare ye the way!The word of Jehovah he comes to fulfil,And o’er the dark world pour the splendor of day.2Bring down the proud mountain, though towering to heaven,And be the low valley exalted on high;The rough path and crooked be made smooth and even,For, Zion! your King, your Redeemer, is nigh.3The beams of salvation his progress illume,The lone, dreary wilderness sings of her God;The rose and the myrtle there suddenly bloom,And the olive of peace spreads its branches abroad.104.8 & 7s. M.Gaskell.The Dayspring From on High.1Darkness o’er the world was broodingSadder than Egyptian gloom;Souls by myriads lay in slumberDeep as of the sealed tomb.2Earth had lost the links which bound itTo the throne of light above;Yet an eye was watching o’er it,And that eye was full of love.3Like a glorious beam of morning,Straight a ray pierced through the cloud,Spirits mightily awakeningFrom their dark and heavy shroud.4Still that ray shines on and brightens,Chasing mist and gloom away;Happy they on whom it gathersWith its full and perfect day!105.C. M.Patrick.The Nativity.1While shepherds watched their flocks by night,All seated on the ground,The angel of the Lord came down,And glory shone around.2“Fear not,” said he,—for mighty dreadHad seized their troubled mind,—“Glad tidings of great joy I bringTo you and all mankind.3“To you, in David’s town, this dayIs born, of David’s line,The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;And this shall be the sign:4“The heavenly babe you there shall findTo human view displayed,All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,And in a manger laid.”5Thus spake the seraph, and forthwithAppeared a shining throngOf angels, praising God, who thusAddress their joyful song:6“All glory be to God on high,And to the earth be peace!Good-will henceforth, from heaven to men,Begin and never cease!”106.C. M.E. H. Sears.The Birth-Song of Christ.1Calm on the listening ear of nightCome heaven’s melodious strains,Where wild Judea stretches farHer silver-mantled plains!2Celestial choirs from courts aboveShed sacred glories there;And angels, with their sparkling lyres,Make music on the air.3The answering hills of PalestineSend back the glad reply;And greet, from all their holy heights,The dayspring from on high.4O’er the blue depths of GalileeThere comes a holier calm,And Sharon waves, in solemn praise,Her silent groves of palm.5“Glory to God!” the sounding skiesLoud with their anthems ring,“Peace to the earth, good-will to menFrom heaven’s Eternal King!”6Light on thy hills, Jerusalem!The Saviour now is born!And bright on Bethlehem’s joyous plainsBreaks the first Christmas morn.107.P. M.Mrs. Hemans.Hymn for Christmas.1O Lovely Voices of the sky,Which hymned the Saviour’s birth,Are ye not singing still on high,Ye that sang, “Peace on earth”?To us yet speak the strains,Wherewith, in time gone by,Ye blessed the Syrian swains,—O Voices of the sky!2O clear and shining Light, whose beams,That hour, heaven’s glory shedAround the palms, and o’er the streams,And on the shepherds’ head!Be near, through life and death,As in that holiest nightOf hope, and joy, and faith;O clear and shining Light!3O Star which led to Him whose loveBrought down man’s ransom free!Where art thou?—’midst the host aboveMay we still gaze on thee?In heaven thou art not set,Thy rays earth may not dim;Send them to guide us yet,O Star which led to Him!108.11 & 10s. M.Heber.Epiphany.1Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!Star of the East, the horizon adorning,Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!2Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,Odors of Edom, and offerings divine?Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?3Vainly we offer each costly oblation;Vainly with gifts would his favor secure:Richer by far is the heart’s adoration;Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.4Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!Star of the East, the horizon adorning,Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.109.C. M.Doddridge.Mission of Christ.1Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes,The Saviour promised long;Let every heart prepare a home,And every voice a song.2On him the Spirit, largely poured,Abides with holy fire;Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,His sacred breast inspire.3He comes the prisoners to release,In wretched bondage held;The gates of brass before him burst,The iron fetters yield.4He comes, the broken heart to bind,The bleeding soul to cure,And, with the treasures of his grace,Enrich the humble poor.5Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace!Thy welcome shall proclaim;And heaven’s eternal arches ringWith thy beloved name.110.C. M.Watts.Christ’s Coming.1Joy to the world! the Lord is come!Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare him room,And heaven and nature sing.2Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns!Let men their songs employ;While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plainsRepeat the sounding joy.3No more let sins and sorrows grow,Nor thorns infest the ground;He comes to make his blessings flowAs far as sin is found.4He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of his righteousness,And wonders of his love.111.7s. M.C. Wesley.The Star of Bethlehem.1Sons of men, behold from far,Hail the long-expected Star!Star of truth, that, ’mid the night,Guides bewildered man aright.2Mild it shines on all beneath,Piercing through the shades of death,Scattering error’s wide-spread night,Kindling darkness into light.3Nations all, remote and near,Haste to see your Lord appear;Haste, for him your hearts prepare,Meet him manifested there!4There behold the dayspring rise,Pouring light on mortal eyes;See it chase the shades away,Shining to the perfect day.112.S. M.Needham.The Prince of Peace.1Behold, the Prince of Peace,The chosen of the Lord,God’s well beloved Son, fulfilsThe sure prophetic word!2No royal pomp adornsThis King of Righteousness;Meekness and patience, truth and love,Compose his princely dress.3The Spirit of the Lord,In rich abundance shed,On this great prophet gently lights,And rests upon his head.4Jesus, the light of men!His doctrine life imparts;O, may we feel its quickening powerTo warm and glad our hearts!5Cheered by its beams, our soulsShall run the heavenly way;The path which Christ has marked and trodWill lead to endless day.113.L. M.Anonymous.Tempted As We Are.1As oft, with worn and weary feet,We tread earth’s rugged pathway o’er,The thought how comforting and sweet,—Christ trod this very path before;Our wants, our weaknesses, he knows,From life’s first dawning to its close.2If we, beneath temptation’s stress,Do fight against dark powers within,So, in Judea’s wilderness,Christ wrestled with the thoughts of sin,When, in a weary, lonely hour,The tempter came with all his power.3So, tried as I, this earth he trod,Knew every human ill but sin,And though the holiest Son of God,As I am now so hath he been;Jesus, my Saviour! look on me;For help and strength I turn to thee!114.7s. M.Bulfinch.“The Works Which I Do Bear Witness of Me.”1Holy Son of God most high!Clothed in heavenly majesty,Many a miracle and sign,In thy Father’s name divine,Manifested forth thy mightIn the chosen people’s sight.2But, O Saviour! not aloneThus thy glory was made known;With the mourner thou didst grieve,Every human want relieve;Far thy matchless power aboveStands the witness of thy love.3Thou, who by the open grave,Ere thy voice was raised to save,Didst with those fond sisters shedTears above the faithful dead;Even thy word of might appearsLess resistless than thy tears.4Lord! it is not ours to gazeOn thy works of ancient days;But thy love, unchanged and bright,More than all those works of might,More than miracle or sign,Makes us ever, ever thine.115.C. M.Mrs. Hemans.Christ Stilling the Tempest.1Fear was within the tossing bark,When stormy winds grew loud;And waves came rolling high and dark,And the tall mast was bowed.2But the wind ceased,—it ceased,—a wordPassed through the gloomy sky;The troubled billows knew their Lord,And sank beneath his eye.3And slumber settled on the deep,And silence on the blast;They sank as flowers that fold to sleepWhen sultry day is past.4O Thou that in its wildest hourDidst rule the tempest’s mood,Send now thy Spirit forth in powerO’er our dark souls to brood!5Thou that didst bow the billows’ pride,Thy mandate to fulfil,Speak, speak to passion’s raging tide,Speak, and say, “Peace, be still!”116.C. M.Bulfinch.The Pool of Bethesda.1The aged sufferer waited longUpon Bethesda’s brink;Till hopes, once rising warm and strong,Began in fears to sink;And heavy were the sighs he drew,And fervent was his prayer,For he, with safety full in view,Still languished helpless there.2His hope grew dim; but one was nighWho saw the sufferer’s grief;That gentle voice, that pitying eye,Gave promise of relief.Each pang that human weakness knowsObeyed that powerful word;He spake, and lo! the sick arose,Rejoicing in his Lord.3Father of Jesus, when oppressedWith grief and pain we lie,And, longing for Thy heavenly rest,Despair to look on high,O, may the Saviour’s words of peaceWithin the wounded heartBid every doubt and suffering cease,And strength and joy impart!117.C. M.Bulfinch.Christ Walking on the Sea.1Lord, in whose might the Saviour trodThe dark and stormy wave,And trusted in his Father’s arm,Omnipotent to save;2When darkly round our footsteps riseThe floods and storms of life,Send Thou Thy Spirit down to stillThe dark and fearful strife.3Strong in our trust, on Thee reposed,The ocean-path we’ll dare,Though waves around us rage and foam,Since Thou art present there.

82.7s. M.Methodist.God Everywhere Present.1They who seek the throne of graceFind that throne in every place;If we live a life of prayer,God is present everywhere.2In our sickness and our health,In our want, or in our wealth,If we look to God in prayer,God is present everywhere.3When our earthly comforts fail,When the woes of life prevail,’Tis the time for earnest prayer;—God is present everywhere.4Then, my soul, in every straitTo thy Father come, and wait;He will answer every prayer;—God is present everywhere.

7s. M.

Methodist.

1They who seek the throne of graceFind that throne in every place;If we live a life of prayer,God is present everywhere.

1They who seek the throne of grace

Find that throne in every place;

If we live a life of prayer,

God is present everywhere.

2In our sickness and our health,In our want, or in our wealth,If we look to God in prayer,God is present everywhere.

2In our sickness and our health,

In our want, or in our wealth,

If we look to God in prayer,

God is present everywhere.

3When our earthly comforts fail,When the woes of life prevail,’Tis the time for earnest prayer;—God is present everywhere.

3When our earthly comforts fail,

When the woes of life prevail,

’Tis the time for earnest prayer;—

God is present everywhere.

4Then, my soul, in every straitTo thy Father come, and wait;He will answer every prayer;—God is present everywhere.

4Then, my soul, in every strait

To thy Father come, and wait;

He will answer every prayer;—

God is present everywhere.

83.L. M.Moore.God in All.1There’s nothing bright, above, below,From flowers that bloom to stars that glow,But in its light my soul can seeSome feature of the Deity.2There’s nothing dark, below, above,But in its gloom I trace Thy love,And meekly wait the moment whenThy touch shall make all bright again.3The heavens, the earth, 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.

L. M.

Moore.

1There’s nothing bright, above, below,From flowers that bloom to stars that glow,But in its light my soul can seeSome feature of the Deity.

1There’s nothing bright, above, below,

From flowers that bloom to stars that glow,

But in its light my soul can see

Some feature of the Deity.

2There’s nothing dark, below, above,But in its gloom I trace Thy love,And meekly wait the moment whenThy touch shall make all bright again.

2There’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.

3The heavens, the earth, 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.

3The heavens, the earth, 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.

84.L. M.Moore.God’s Presence in Nature.1Thou art, O God, the life and lightOf all this 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.2When day, with farewell beam, delaysAmong the opening clouds of even,And we can almost think we gazeThrough golden vistas into heaven,Those hues that make the sun’s declineSo soft, so radiant, Lord, are Thine.3When night, with wings of starry gloom,O’ershadows all the earth and skies,Like some dark, beauteous bird, whose plumeIs sparkling with unnumbered eyes,That sacred gloom, those fires divine,So grand, so countless, Lord, are Thine.4When youthful spring around us breathes,Thy spirit warms her fragrant sigh;And every flower the summer wreathesIs born beneath Thy kindling eye:Where’er we turn, Thy glories shine,And all things fair and bright are Thine.

L. M.

Moore.

1Thou art, O God, the life and lightOf all this 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.

1Thou art, O God, the life and light

Of all this 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.

2When day, with farewell beam, delaysAmong the opening clouds of even,And we can almost think we gazeThrough golden vistas into heaven,Those hues that make the sun’s declineSo soft, so radiant, Lord, are Thine.

2When day, with farewell beam, delays

Among the opening clouds of even,

And we can almost think we gaze

Through golden vistas into heaven,

Those hues that make the sun’s decline

So soft, so radiant, Lord, are Thine.

3When night, with wings of starry gloom,O’ershadows all the earth and skies,Like some dark, beauteous bird, whose plumeIs sparkling with unnumbered eyes,That sacred gloom, those fires divine,So grand, so countless, Lord, are Thine.

3When night, with wings of starry gloom,

O’ershadows all the earth and skies,

Like some dark, beauteous bird, whose plume

Is sparkling with unnumbered eyes,

That sacred gloom, those fires divine,

So grand, so countless, Lord, are Thine.

4When youthful spring around us breathes,Thy spirit warms her fragrant sigh;And every flower the summer wreathesIs born beneath Thy kindling eye:Where’er we turn, Thy glories shine,And all things fair and bright are Thine.

4When youthful spring around us breathes,

Thy spirit warms her fragrant sigh;

And every flower the summer wreathes

Is born beneath Thy kindling eye:

Where’er we turn, Thy glories shine,

And all things fair and bright are Thine.

85.C. M.Whittier.Nature’s Worship.1The ocean looketh up to heaven,As ’twere a living thing;The homage of its waves is given,In ceaseless worshipping.2They kneel upon the sloping sandAs bends the human knee;A beautiful and tireless band,The priesthood of the sea.3The mists are lifted from the rills,Like the white wing of prayer;They kneel above the ancient hills,As doing homage there.4The forest-tops are lowly castO’er breezy hill and glen,As if a prayerful spirit passedOn nature as on men.5The sky is as a temple’s arch:The blue and wavy airIs glorious with the spirit marchOf messengers at prayer.

C. M.

Whittier.

1The ocean looketh up to heaven,As ’twere a living thing;The homage of its waves is given,In ceaseless worshipping.

1The ocean looketh up to heaven,

As ’twere a living thing;

The homage of its waves is given,

In ceaseless worshipping.

2They kneel upon the sloping sandAs bends the human knee;A beautiful and tireless band,The priesthood of the sea.

2They kneel upon the sloping sand

As bends the human knee;

A beautiful and tireless band,

The priesthood of the sea.

3The mists are lifted from the rills,Like the white wing of prayer;They kneel above the ancient hills,As doing homage there.

3The mists are lifted from the rills,

Like the white wing of prayer;

They kneel above the ancient hills,

As doing homage there.

4The forest-tops are lowly castO’er breezy hill and glen,As if a prayerful spirit passedOn nature as on men.

4The forest-tops are lowly cast

O’er breezy hill and glen,

As if a prayerful spirit passed

On nature as on men.

5The sky is as a temple’s arch:The blue and wavy airIs glorious with the spirit marchOf messengers at prayer.

5The sky is as a temple’s arch:

The blue and wavy air

Is glorious with the spirit march

Of messengers at prayer.

86.L. M.H. M. Williams.God in Nature.1My God! all nature owns Thy sway;Thou giv’st the night and Thou the day:When all Thy loved creation wakes,When morning, rich in lustre, breaks,And bathes in dew the opening flower,To Thee we owe her fragrant hour;And when she pours her choral song,Her melodies to Thee belong.2Or when, in paler tints arrayed,The evening slowly spreads her shade,That soothing shade, that grateful gloom,Can, more than day’s enlivening bloom,Still every fond and vain desire,And calmer, purer thoughts inspire;From earth the longing spirit free,And lead the softened heart to Thee.3As o’er Thy work the seasons roll,And soothe, with change of bliss, the soul,O, never may their smiling trainPass o’er the human sense in vain!But, oft as on their charms we gaze,Attune the wondering soul to praise;And be the joys that most we prizeThe joys that from Thy favor rise!

L. M.

H. M. Williams.

1My God! all nature owns Thy sway;Thou giv’st the night and Thou the day:When all Thy loved creation wakes,When morning, rich in lustre, breaks,And bathes in dew the opening flower,To Thee we owe her fragrant hour;And when she pours her choral song,Her melodies to Thee belong.

1My God! all nature owns Thy sway;

Thou giv’st the night and Thou the day:

When all Thy loved creation wakes,

When morning, rich in lustre, breaks,

And bathes in dew the opening flower,

To Thee we owe her fragrant hour;

And when she pours her choral song,

Her melodies to Thee belong.

2Or when, in paler tints arrayed,The evening slowly spreads her shade,That soothing shade, that grateful gloom,Can, more than day’s enlivening bloom,Still every fond and vain desire,And calmer, purer thoughts inspire;From earth the longing spirit free,And lead the softened heart to Thee.

2Or when, in paler tints arrayed,

The evening slowly spreads her shade,

That soothing shade, that grateful gloom,

Can, more than day’s enlivening bloom,

Still every fond and vain desire,

And calmer, purer thoughts inspire;

From earth the longing spirit free,

And lead the softened heart to Thee.

3As o’er Thy work the seasons roll,And soothe, with change of bliss, the soul,O, never may their smiling trainPass o’er the human sense in vain!But, oft as on their charms we gaze,Attune the wondering soul to praise;And be the joys that most we prizeThe joys that from Thy favor rise!

3As o’er Thy work the seasons roll,

And soothe, with change of bliss, the soul,

O, never may their smiling train

Pass o’er the human sense in vain!

But, oft as on their charms we gaze,

Attune the wondering soul to praise;

And be the joys that most we prize

The joys that from Thy favor rise!

87.L. M.Wreford.God in His Works and Word.1God of the ocean, earth, and sky,In Thy bright presence we rejoice;We feel Thee, see Thee ever nigh,And gladly hear Thy gracious voice.2We feel Thee in the sunny beam;We see Thee walk the mountain waves;We hear Thee in the murmuring stream,And when the tempest wildly raves.3God on the lonely hills we meet,God, in the vale and fragrant grove,While birds and whispering winds repeat,That God is there,—the God of love.4We meet Thee in the pensive hourWhen wearied nature sinks to rest;When dies the breeze, and sleeps the flowerAnd peace is given to every breast.5We see Thee when, at eve, afarWe upward lift our wondering sight,We see Thee in each silent starThat glorifies the gloom of night.6But better still, and still more clear,Thee in Thy holy Son we see;There Thy own glorious words we hear,And learn the way to heaven and Thee.

L. M.

Wreford.

1God of the ocean, earth, and sky,In Thy bright presence we rejoice;We feel Thee, see Thee ever nigh,And gladly hear Thy gracious voice.

1God of the ocean, earth, and sky,

In Thy bright presence we rejoice;

We feel Thee, see Thee ever nigh,

And gladly hear Thy gracious voice.

2We feel Thee in the sunny beam;We see Thee walk the mountain waves;We hear Thee in the murmuring stream,And when the tempest wildly raves.

2We feel Thee in the sunny beam;

We see Thee walk the mountain waves;

We hear Thee in the murmuring stream,

And when the tempest wildly raves.

3God on the lonely hills we meet,God, in the vale and fragrant grove,While birds and whispering winds repeat,That God is there,—the God of love.

3God on the lonely hills we meet,

God, in the vale and fragrant grove,

While birds and whispering winds repeat,

That God is there,—the God of love.

4We meet Thee in the pensive hourWhen wearied nature sinks to rest;When dies the breeze, and sleeps the flowerAnd peace is given to every breast.

4We meet Thee in the pensive hour

When wearied nature sinks to rest;

When dies the breeze, and sleeps the flower

And peace is given to every breast.

5We see Thee when, at eve, afarWe upward lift our wondering sight,We see Thee in each silent starThat glorifies the gloom of night.

5We see Thee when, at eve, afar

We upward lift our wondering sight,

We see Thee in each silent star

That glorifies the gloom of night.

6But better still, and still more clear,Thee in Thy holy Son we see;There Thy own glorious words we hear,And learn the way to heaven and Thee.

6But better still, and still more clear,

Thee in Thy holy Son we see;

There Thy own glorious words we hear,

And learn the way to heaven and Thee.

88.L. M.Fox’s Hymns.The Great Temple.1Though wandering in a stranger-land,Though on the waste no altar stand,Take comfort! thou art not alone,While Faith hath marked thee for her own.2Wouldst thou a temple? look above,—The heavens stretch over all in love;A book? for thine evangel scanThe wondrous history of man.3And though no organ-peal be heard,In harmony the winds are stirred;And there the morning stars upraiseTheir ancient songs of deathless praise.

L. M.

Fox’s Hymns.

1Though wandering in a stranger-land,Though on the waste no altar stand,Take comfort! thou art not alone,While Faith hath marked thee for her own.

1Though wandering in a stranger-land,

Though on the waste no altar stand,

Take comfort! thou art not alone,

While Faith hath marked thee for her own.

2Wouldst thou a temple? look above,—The heavens stretch over all in love;A book? for thine evangel scanThe wondrous history of man.

2Wouldst thou a temple? look above,—

The heavens stretch over all in love;

A book? for thine evangel scan

The wondrous history of man.

3And though no organ-peal be heard,In harmony the winds are stirred;And there the morning stars upraiseTheir ancient songs of deathless praise.

3And though no organ-peal be heard,

In harmony the winds are stirred;

And there the morning stars upraise

Their ancient songs of deathless praise.

89.L. M.W. H. Burleigh.The Heavens Declare the Glory of God.1Not only doth the voiceful dayThy loving kindness, Lord! proclaim,But night, with its sublime arrayOf worlds, doth magnify Thy name.Yea, while adoring seraphimBefore Thee bend the willing knee,From every star a choral hymnGoes up unceasingly to Thee.2Day unto day doth utter speech,And night to night Thy voice makes known;Through all the earth, where thought may reach,Is heard the glad and solemn tone;And worlds, beyond the farthest starWhose light hath reached a human eye,Catch the high anthem from afar,That rolls along immensity.

L. M.

W. H. Burleigh.

1Not only doth the voiceful dayThy loving kindness, Lord! proclaim,But night, with its sublime arrayOf worlds, doth magnify Thy name.Yea, while adoring seraphimBefore Thee bend the willing knee,From every star a choral hymnGoes up unceasingly to Thee.

1Not only doth the voiceful day

Thy loving kindness, Lord! proclaim,

But night, with its sublime array

Of worlds, doth magnify Thy name.

Yea, while adoring seraphim

Before Thee bend the willing knee,

From every star a choral hymn

Goes up unceasingly to Thee.

2Day unto day doth utter speech,And night to night Thy voice makes known;Through all the earth, where thought may reach,Is heard the glad and solemn tone;And worlds, beyond the farthest starWhose light hath reached a human eye,Catch the high anthem from afar,That rolls along immensity.

2Day unto day doth utter speech,

And night to night Thy voice makes known;

Through all the earth, where thought may reach,

Is heard the glad and solemn tone;

And worlds, beyond the farthest star

Whose light hath reached a human eye,

Catch the high anthem from afar,

That rolls along immensity.

90.L. M.Bulfinch.Voice of God in the Soul.1Hath not thy heart within thee burnedAt evening’s calm and holy hour,As if its inmost depths discernedThe presence of a loftier power?2Hast thou not heard ’mid forest glades,While ancient rivers murmured by,A voice from forth the eternal shades,That spake a present Deity?3And as, upon the sacred page,Thine eye in rapt attention turnedO’er records of a holier age,Hath not thy heart within thee burned?4It was the voice of God that spakeIn silence to thy silent heart;And bade each worthier thought awake,And every dream of earth depart.5Voice of our God, O, yet be near!In low, sweet accents, whisper peace;Direct us on our pathway here,Then bid in heaven our wanderings cease.

L. M.

Bulfinch.

1Hath not thy heart within thee burnedAt evening’s calm and holy hour,As if its inmost depths discernedThe presence of a loftier power?

1Hath not thy heart within thee burned

At evening’s calm and holy hour,

As if its inmost depths discerned

The presence of a loftier power?

2Hast thou not heard ’mid forest glades,While ancient rivers murmured by,A voice from forth the eternal shades,That spake a present Deity?

2Hast thou not heard ’mid forest glades,

While ancient rivers murmured by,

A voice from forth the eternal shades,

That spake a present Deity?

3And as, upon the sacred page,Thine eye in rapt attention turnedO’er records of a holier age,Hath not thy heart within thee burned?

3And as, upon the sacred page,

Thine eye in rapt attention turned

O’er records of a holier age,

Hath not thy heart within thee burned?

4It was the voice of God that spakeIn silence to thy silent heart;And bade each worthier thought awake,And every dream of earth depart.

4It was the voice of God that spake

In silence to thy silent heart;

And bade each worthier thought awake,

And every dream of earth depart.

5Voice of our God, O, yet be near!In low, sweet accents, whisper peace;Direct us on our pathway here,Then bid in heaven our wanderings cease.

5Voice of our God, O, yet be near!

In low, sweet accents, whisper peace;

Direct us on our pathway here,

Then bid in heaven our wanderings cease.

91.C. M.Jones Very.The Light from Within.1I saw on earth another lightThan that which lit my eyeCome forth, as from my soul within,And from a higher sky.2Its beams still shone unclouded on,When in the distant westThe sun I once had known had sunkForever to his rest.3And on I walked, though dark the night,Nor rose his orb by day;As one to whom a surer guideWas pointing out the way.4’Twas brighter far than noonday’s beam,It shone from God within;And lit, as by a lamp from heaven,The world’s dark track of sin.

C. M.

Jones Very.

1I saw on earth another lightThan that which lit my eyeCome forth, as from my soul within,And from a higher sky.

1I saw on earth another light

Than that which lit my eye

Come forth, as from my soul within,

And from a higher sky.

2Its beams still shone unclouded on,When in the distant westThe sun I once had known had sunkForever to his rest.

2Its beams still shone unclouded on,

When in the distant west

The sun I once had known had sunk

Forever to his rest.

3And on I walked, though dark the night,Nor rose his orb by day;As one to whom a surer guideWas pointing out the way.

3And on I walked, though dark the night,

Nor rose his orb by day;

As one to whom a surer guide

Was pointing out the way.

4’Twas brighter far than noonday’s beam,It shone from God within;And lit, as by a lamp from heaven,The world’s dark track of sin.

4’Twas brighter far than noonday’s beam,

It shone from God within;

And lit, as by a lamp from heaven,

The world’s dark track of sin.

92.7s. M.Anonymous.Silent Worship.1Wouldst thou in thy lonely hourPraises to the Eternal pour?I will teach thy soul to beTemple, hymn, and harmony.2Sweeter songs than poets singThou shalt for thine offering bring;Softly murmured hymns, that dwellIn devotion’s deepest cell.3Know that music’s holiest strainLoves to linger, loves to reign,In that calm of quiet thoughtWhich the passions trouble not.4Wouldst thou in thy lonely hourPraises to the Eternal pour?Thus thy soul may learn to beTemple, hymn, and harmony.

7s. M.

Anonymous.

1Wouldst thou in thy lonely hourPraises to the Eternal pour?I will teach thy soul to beTemple, hymn, and harmony.

1Wouldst thou in thy lonely hour

Praises to the Eternal pour?

I will teach thy soul to be

Temple, hymn, and harmony.

2Sweeter songs than poets singThou shalt for thine offering bring;Softly murmured hymns, that dwellIn devotion’s deepest cell.

2Sweeter songs than poets sing

Thou shalt for thine offering bring;

Softly murmured hymns, that dwell

In devotion’s deepest cell.

3Know that music’s holiest strainLoves to linger, loves to reign,In that calm of quiet thoughtWhich the passions trouble not.

3Know that music’s holiest strain

Loves to linger, loves to reign,

In that calm of quiet thought

Which the passions trouble not.

4Wouldst thou in thy lonely hourPraises to the Eternal pour?Thus thy soul may learn to beTemple, hymn, and harmony.

4Wouldst thou in thy lonely hour

Praises to the Eternal pour?

Thus thy soul may learn to be

Temple, hymn, and harmony.

93.7 & 6s. M.Methodist.Quiet Worship.1Open, Lord, mine inward ear,And bid my heart rejoice;Bid my quiet spirit hearThe comfort of Thy voice;Never in the whirlwind found,Or where earthquakes rock the place,Still and silent is the sound,The whisper of Thy grace.2From the world of sin, and noise,And hurry, I withdraw;For the small and inward voiceI wait with humble awe;Silent am I now and still,Will not in Thy presence move;To my waiting soul revealThe secret of Thy love!

7 & 6s. M.

Methodist.

1Open, Lord, mine inward ear,And bid my heart rejoice;Bid my quiet spirit hearThe comfort of Thy voice;Never in the whirlwind found,Or where earthquakes rock the place,Still and silent is the sound,The whisper of Thy grace.

1Open, Lord, mine inward ear,

And bid my heart rejoice;

Bid my quiet spirit hear

The comfort of Thy voice;

Never in the whirlwind found,

Or where earthquakes rock the place,

Still and silent is the sound,

The whisper of Thy grace.

2From the world of sin, and noise,And hurry, I withdraw;For the small and inward voiceI wait with humble awe;Silent am I now and still,Will not in Thy presence move;To my waiting soul revealThe secret of Thy love!

2From the world of sin, and noise,

And hurry, I withdraw;

For the small and inward voice

I wait with humble awe;

Silent am I now and still,

Will not in Thy presence move;

To my waiting soul reveal

The secret of Thy love!

94.C.M.Cowper.Retirement.1Far from the world, O Lord! I flee,From strife and tumult far;From scenes where sin is waging stillIts most successful war.2The calm retreat, the silent shade,With prayer and praise agree;And seem by Thy sweet bounty made,For those who follow Thee.3There, if Thy presence cheer the soul,And grace her mean abode,O, with what peace, and joy, and love,She communes with her God!4There, like the nightingale, she poursHer solitary lays;Nor asks a witness of her song,Nor thirsts for human praise.5Author and Guardian of my life,Sweet source of light divine,And,—all harmonious names in one,—My Father! Thou art mine!

C.M.

Cowper.

1Far from the world, O Lord! I flee,From strife and tumult far;From scenes where sin is waging stillIts most successful war.

1Far from the world, O Lord! I flee,

From strife and tumult far;

From scenes where sin is waging still

Its most successful war.

2The calm retreat, the silent shade,With prayer and praise agree;And seem by Thy sweet bounty made,For those who follow Thee.

2The calm retreat, the silent shade,

With prayer and praise agree;

And seem by Thy sweet bounty made,

For those who follow Thee.

3There, if Thy presence cheer the soul,And grace her mean abode,O, with what peace, and joy, and love,She communes with her God!

3There, if Thy presence cheer the soul,

And grace her mean abode,

O, with what peace, and joy, and love,

She communes with her God!

4There, like the nightingale, she poursHer solitary lays;Nor asks a witness of her song,Nor thirsts for human praise.

4There, like the nightingale, she pours

Her solitary lays;

Nor asks a witness of her song,

Nor thirsts for human praise.

5Author and Guardian of my life,Sweet source of light divine,And,—all harmonious names in one,—My Father! Thou art mine!

5Author and Guardian of my life,

Sweet source of light divine,

And,—all harmonious names in one,—

My Father! Thou art mine!

95.C. M.H. M. Williams.Habitual Devotion.1While Thee I seek, protecting Power!Be my vain wishes stilled;And may this consecrated hourWith better hopes be filled.2Thy love the powers of thought bestowed;To Thee my thoughts would soar;Thy mercy o’er my life has flowed;That mercy I adore!3In each event of life, how clearThy ruling hand I see!Each blessing to my soul more dear,Because conferred by Thee.4In every joy that crowns my days,In every pain I bear,My heart shall find delight in praise,Or seek relief in prayer.5When gladness wings my favored hour,Thy love my thoughts shall fill;Resigned, when storms of sorrow lower,My soul shall meet Thy will.6My lifted eye, without a tear,The gathering storm shall see;My steadfast heart shall know no fear;That heart shall rest on Thee!

C. M.

H. M. Williams.

1While Thee I seek, protecting Power!Be my vain wishes stilled;And may this consecrated hourWith better hopes be filled.

1While Thee I seek, protecting Power!

Be my vain wishes stilled;

And may this consecrated hour

With better hopes be filled.

2Thy love the powers of thought bestowed;To Thee my thoughts would soar;Thy mercy o’er my life has flowed;That mercy I adore!

2Thy love the powers of thought bestowed;

To Thee my thoughts would soar;

Thy mercy o’er my life has flowed;

That mercy I adore!

3In each event of life, how clearThy ruling hand I see!Each blessing to my soul more dear,Because conferred by Thee.

3In each event of life, how clear

Thy ruling hand I see!

Each blessing to my soul more dear,

Because conferred by Thee.

4In every joy that crowns my days,In every pain I bear,My heart shall find delight in praise,Or seek relief in prayer.

4In every joy that crowns my days,

In every pain I bear,

My heart shall find delight in praise,

Or seek relief in prayer.

5When gladness wings my favored hour,Thy love my thoughts shall fill;Resigned, when storms of sorrow lower,My soul shall meet Thy will.

5When gladness wings my favored hour,

Thy love my thoughts shall fill;

Resigned, when storms of sorrow lower,

My soul shall meet Thy will.

6My lifted eye, without a tear,The gathering storm shall see;My steadfast heart shall know no fear;That heart shall rest on Thee!

6My lifted eye, without a tear,

The gathering storm shall see;

My steadfast heart shall know no fear;

That heart shall rest on Thee!

96.P. M.Moore.The Heart’s Prayer.1As, down in the sunless retreats of the ocean,Sweet flowers are springing no mortal can see,So, deep in my soul, the still prayer of devotion,Unheard by the world, rises, silent, to Thee,My God! silent, to Thee,—Pure, warm, silent, to Thee.2As still to the star of its worship, though clouded,The needle points faithfully o’er the dim sea,So, dark when I roam, in this wintry world shrouded,The hope of my spirit turns, trembling, to Thee,My God! trembling, to Thee,—True, sure, trembling, to Thee.

P. M.

Moore.

1As, down in the sunless retreats of the ocean,Sweet flowers are springing no mortal can see,So, deep in my soul, the still prayer of devotion,Unheard by the world, rises, silent, to Thee,My God! silent, to Thee,—Pure, warm, silent, to Thee.

1As, down in the sunless retreats of the ocean,

Sweet flowers are springing no mortal can see,

So, deep in my soul, the still prayer of devotion,

Unheard by the world, rises, silent, to Thee,

My God! silent, to Thee,—

Pure, warm, silent, to Thee.

2As still to the star of its worship, though clouded,The needle points faithfully o’er the dim sea,So, dark when I roam, in this wintry world shrouded,The hope of my spirit turns, trembling, to Thee,My God! trembling, to Thee,—True, sure, trembling, to Thee.

2As still to the star of its worship, though clouded,

The needle points faithfully o’er the dim sea,

So, dark when I roam, in this wintry world shrouded,

The hope of my spirit turns, trembling, to Thee,

My God! trembling, to Thee,—

True, sure, trembling, to Thee.

97.7 & 6s. M.Anonymous.Pray Without Ceasing.1Go when the morning shineth,Go when the noon 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.2Remember 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 petitionThy great Redeemer’s name.3Or, if ’tis e’er denied theeIn solitude to pray,Should holy thoughts come o’er theeWhen friends are round thy way,E’en then, the silent breathingThy spirit lifts aboveWill reach His throne of glory,Where dwells eternal love.4O, not a joy or blessingWith this can we compare,—The grace our Father gives usTo pour our souls in prayer:Whene’er thou pin’st in sadness,On Him who saveth, call!Remember, in thy gladness,His love who gave thee all.

7 & 6s. M.

Anonymous.

1Go when the morning shineth,Go when the noon 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.

1Go when the morning shineth,

Go when the noon 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.

2Remember 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 petitionThy great Redeemer’s name.

2Remember 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.

3Or, if ’tis e’er denied theeIn solitude to pray,Should holy thoughts come o’er theeWhen friends are round thy way,E’en then, the silent breathingThy spirit lifts aboveWill reach His throne of glory,Where dwells eternal love.

3Or, 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.

4O, not a joy or blessingWith this can we compare,—The grace our Father gives usTo pour our souls in prayer:Whene’er thou pin’st in sadness,On Him who saveth, call!Remember, in thy gladness,His love who gave thee all.

4O, not a joy or blessing

With this can we compare,—

The grace our Father gives us

To pour our souls in prayer:

Whene’er thou pin’st in sadness,

On Him who saveth, call!

Remember, in thy gladness,

His love who gave thee all.

98.7s. M.Mrs. Hemans.All Must Pray.1Child, amidst the flowers at play,While the red light fades away;Mother, with thine earnest eye,Ever following silently;2Father, by the breeze of eveCalled thy daily toil to leave;Pray! ere yet the dark hours be,Lift the heart, and bend the knee!3Traveller in the stranger’s land,Far from thine own household band;Mourner, haunted by the toneOf a voice from this world gone;4Captive, in whose narrow cellSunshine hath not leave to dwell;Sailor, on the darkening sea,Lift the heart, and bend the knee!5Ye that triumph, ye that sigh,Kindred by one holy tie,Heaven’s first star alike ye see;Lift the heart, and bend the knee!

7s. M.

Mrs. Hemans.

1Child, amidst the flowers at play,While the red light fades away;Mother, with thine earnest eye,Ever following silently;

1Child, amidst the flowers at play,

While the red light fades away;

Mother, with thine earnest eye,

Ever following silently;

2Father, by the breeze of eveCalled thy daily toil to leave;Pray! ere yet the dark hours be,Lift the heart, and bend the knee!

2Father, 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!

3Traveller in the stranger’s land,Far from thine own household band;Mourner, haunted by the toneOf a voice from this world gone;

3Traveller in the stranger’s land,

Far from thine own household band;

Mourner, haunted by the tone

Of a voice from this world gone;

4Captive, in whose narrow cellSunshine hath not leave to dwell;Sailor, on the darkening sea,Lift the heart, and bend the knee!

4Captive, in whose narrow cell

Sunshine hath not leave to dwell;

Sailor, on the darkening sea,

Lift the heart, and bend the knee!

5Ye that triumph, ye that sigh,Kindred by one holy tie,Heaven’s first star alike ye see;Lift the heart, and bend the knee!

5Ye that triumph, ye that sigh,

Kindred by one holy tie,

Heaven’s first star alike ye see;

Lift the heart, and bend the knee!

99.C. M.Montgomery.What is Prayer?1Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,Unuttered or expressed,The motion of a hidden fire,That trembles in the breast.2Prayer is the burden of a sigh,The falling of a tear,The upward glancing of an eye,When none but God is near.3Prayer is the simplest form of speechThat infant lips can try;Prayer, the sublimest strains that reachThe Majesty on high.4Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,The Christian’s native air,His watchword at the gates of death;He enters heaven with prayer.5Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voiceReturning from his ways;While angels in their songs rejoice,And cry, “Behold, he prays!”6In prayer, on earth, the saints are one;They’re one in word and mind;When with the Father and the SonSweet fellowship they find.7O Thou by whom we come to God,The Life, the Truth, the Way,The path of prayer thyself hast trod;Lord, teach us how to pray!

C. M.

Montgomery.

1Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,Unuttered or expressed,The motion of a hidden fire,That trembles in the breast.

1Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,

Unuttered or expressed,

The motion of a hidden fire,

That trembles in the breast.

2Prayer is the burden of a sigh,The falling of a tear,The upward glancing of an eye,When none but God is near.

2Prayer is the burden of a sigh,

The falling of a tear,

The upward glancing of an eye,

When none but God is near.

3Prayer is the simplest form of speechThat infant lips can try;Prayer, the sublimest strains that reachThe Majesty on high.

3Prayer is the simplest form of speech

That infant lips can try;

Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach

The Majesty on high.

4Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,The Christian’s native air,His watchword at the gates of death;He enters heaven with prayer.

4Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,

The Christian’s native air,

His watchword at the gates of death;

He enters heaven with prayer.

5Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voiceReturning from his ways;While angels in their songs rejoice,And cry, “Behold, he prays!”

5Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice

Returning from his ways;

While angels in their songs rejoice,

And cry, “Behold, he prays!”

6In prayer, on earth, the saints are one;They’re one in word and mind;When with the Father and the SonSweet fellowship they find.

6In prayer, on earth, the saints are one;

They’re one in word and mind;

When with the Father and the Son

Sweet fellowship they find.

7O Thou by whom we come to God,The Life, the Truth, the Way,The path of prayer thyself hast trod;Lord, teach us how to pray!

7O Thou by whom we come to God,

The Life, the Truth, the Way,

The path of prayer thyself hast trod;

Lord, teach us how to pray!

100.L. M.Hart.Prayer the Life of the Soul.1Prayer is to God the soul’s sure way;So flows the grace he waits to give;Long as they live should Christians pray;They learn to pray when first they live.2If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress,If cares distract, or fears dismay,If guilt deject, if sin distress,In every need, still watch and pray.3’Tis prayer supports the soul that’s weak,Though poor and broken be its word;Pray if thou canst, or canst not, speak;The breathings of the soul are heard.4Depend on Him; thou shalt prevail;Make all thy wants and wishes known;Fear not, His mercy will not fail;Ask but in faith, it shall be done.

L. M.

Hart.

1Prayer is to God the soul’s sure way;So flows the grace he waits to give;Long as they live should Christians pray;They learn to pray when first they live.

1Prayer is to God the soul’s sure way;

So flows the grace he waits to give;

Long as they live should Christians pray;

They learn to pray when first they live.

2If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress,If cares distract, or fears dismay,If guilt deject, if sin distress,In every need, still watch and pray.

2If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress,

If cares distract, or fears dismay,

If guilt deject, if sin distress,

In every need, still watch and pray.

3’Tis prayer supports the soul that’s weak,Though poor and broken be its word;Pray if thou canst, or canst not, speak;The breathings of the soul are heard.

3’Tis prayer supports the soul that’s weak,

Though poor and broken be its word;

Pray if thou canst, or canst not, speak;

The breathings of the soul are heard.

4Depend on Him; thou shalt prevail;Make all thy wants and wishes known;Fear not, His mercy will not fail;Ask but in faith, it shall be done.

4Depend on Him; thou shalt prevail;

Make all thy wants and wishes known;

Fear not, His mercy will not fail;

Ask but in faith, it shall be done.

101.C. M.Anonymous.Silent Prayer.1Sweet is the prayer whose holy streamIn earnest pleading flows;Devotion dwells upon the theme,And warm and warmer glows.2Faith grasps the blessing she desires,Hope points the upward gaze;And love, untrembling love, inspiresThe eloquence of praise.3But sweeter far the still, small voice,Heard by no human ear,When God hath made the heart rejoice,And dried the bitter tear.4Nor accents flow, nor words ascend;All utterance faileth there;But listening spirits comprehend,And God accepts the prayer.

C. M.

Anonymous.

1Sweet is the prayer whose holy streamIn earnest pleading flows;Devotion dwells upon the theme,And warm and warmer glows.

1Sweet is the prayer whose holy stream

In earnest pleading flows;

Devotion dwells upon the theme,

And warm and warmer glows.

2Faith grasps the blessing she desires,Hope points the upward gaze;And love, untrembling love, inspiresThe eloquence of praise.

2Faith grasps the blessing she desires,

Hope points the upward gaze;

And love, untrembling love, inspires

The eloquence of praise.

3But sweeter far the still, small voice,Heard by no human ear,When God hath made the heart rejoice,And dried the bitter tear.

3But sweeter far the still, small voice,

Heard by no human ear,

When God hath made the heart rejoice,

And dried the bitter tear.

4Nor accents flow, nor words ascend;All utterance faileth there;But listening spirits comprehend,And God accepts the prayer.

4Nor accents flow, nor words ascend;

All utterance faileth there;

But listening spirits comprehend,

And God accepts the prayer.

III. JESUS CHRIST.102.7s. M.Bowring.Advent.1Watchman! tell us of the night,What its signs of promise are;Traveller! o’er yon mountain’s height,See that glory-beaming star!Watchman! does its beauteous rayAught of hope or joy foretell?Traveller! yes; it brings the day,Promised day of Israel!2Watchman! tell us of the night,Higher yet the star ascends;Traveller! blessedness and light,Peace and truth, its course portends.Watchman! will its beams aloneGild the spot that gave them birth?Traveller! ages are its own;See, it bursts o’er all the earth.3Watchman! tell us of the night,For the morning seems to dawn;Traveller! darkness takes its flight;Doubt and terror are withdrawn.Watchman! let thy wanderings cease;Hie thee to thy quiet home;Traveller! lo! the Prince of Peace,Lo! the Son of God, is come.

7s. M.

Bowring.

1Watchman! tell us of the night,What its signs of promise are;Traveller! o’er yon mountain’s height,See that glory-beaming star!Watchman! does its beauteous rayAught of hope or joy foretell?Traveller! yes; it brings the day,Promised day of Israel!

1Watchman! tell us of the night,

What its signs of promise are;

Traveller! o’er yon mountain’s height,

See that glory-beaming star!

Watchman! does its beauteous ray

Aught of hope or joy foretell?

Traveller! yes; it brings the day,

Promised day of Israel!

2Watchman! tell us of the night,Higher yet the star ascends;Traveller! blessedness and light,Peace and truth, its course portends.Watchman! will its beams aloneGild the spot that gave them birth?Traveller! ages are its own;See, it bursts o’er all the earth.

2Watchman! tell us of the night,

Higher yet the star ascends;

Traveller! blessedness and light,

Peace and truth, its course portends.

Watchman! will its beams alone

Gild the spot that gave them birth?

Traveller! ages are its own;

See, it bursts o’er all the earth.

3Watchman! tell us of the night,For the morning seems to dawn;Traveller! darkness takes its flight;Doubt and terror are withdrawn.Watchman! let thy wanderings cease;Hie thee to thy quiet home;Traveller! lo! the Prince of Peace,Lo! the Son of God, is come.

3Watchman! tell us of the night,

For the morning seems to dawn;

Traveller! darkness takes its flight;

Doubt and terror are withdrawn.

Watchman! let thy wanderings cease;

Hie thee to thy quiet home;

Traveller! lo! the Prince of Peace,

Lo! the Son of God, is come.

103.11s. M.Drummond.“Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!”1A Voice from the desert comes awful and shrill;The Lord is advancing; prepare ye the way!The word of Jehovah he comes to fulfil,And o’er the dark world pour the splendor of day.2Bring down the proud mountain, though towering to heaven,And be the low valley exalted on high;The rough path and crooked be made smooth and even,For, Zion! your King, your Redeemer, is nigh.3The beams of salvation his progress illume,The lone, dreary wilderness sings of her God;The rose and the myrtle there suddenly bloom,And the olive of peace spreads its branches abroad.

11s. M.

Drummond.

1A Voice from the desert comes awful and shrill;The Lord is advancing; prepare ye the way!The word of Jehovah he comes to fulfil,And o’er the dark world pour the splendor of day.

1A Voice from the desert comes awful and shrill;

The Lord is advancing; prepare ye the way!

The word of Jehovah he comes to fulfil,

And o’er the dark world pour the splendor of day.

2Bring down the proud mountain, though towering to heaven,And be the low valley exalted on high;The rough path and crooked be made smooth and even,For, Zion! your King, your Redeemer, is nigh.

2Bring down the proud mountain, though towering to heaven,

And be the low valley exalted on high;

The rough path and crooked be made smooth and even,

For, Zion! your King, your Redeemer, is nigh.

3The beams of salvation his progress illume,The lone, dreary wilderness sings of her God;The rose and the myrtle there suddenly bloom,And the olive of peace spreads its branches abroad.

3The beams of salvation his progress illume,

The lone, dreary wilderness sings of her God;

The rose and the myrtle there suddenly bloom,

And the olive of peace spreads its branches abroad.

104.8 & 7s. M.Gaskell.The Dayspring From on High.1Darkness o’er the world was broodingSadder than Egyptian gloom;Souls by myriads lay in slumberDeep as of the sealed tomb.2Earth had lost the links which bound itTo the throne of light above;Yet an eye was watching o’er it,And that eye was full of love.3Like a glorious beam of morning,Straight a ray pierced through the cloud,Spirits mightily awakeningFrom their dark and heavy shroud.4Still that ray shines on and brightens,Chasing mist and gloom away;Happy they on whom it gathersWith its full and perfect day!

8 & 7s. M.

Gaskell.

1Darkness o’er the world was broodingSadder than Egyptian gloom;Souls by myriads lay in slumberDeep as of the sealed tomb.

1Darkness o’er the world was brooding

Sadder than Egyptian gloom;

Souls by myriads lay in slumber

Deep as of the sealed tomb.

2Earth had lost the links which bound itTo the throne of light above;Yet an eye was watching o’er it,And that eye was full of love.

2Earth had lost the links which bound it

To the throne of light above;

Yet an eye was watching o’er it,

And that eye was full of love.

3Like a glorious beam of morning,Straight a ray pierced through the cloud,Spirits mightily awakeningFrom their dark and heavy shroud.

3Like a glorious beam of morning,

Straight a ray pierced through the cloud,

Spirits mightily awakening

From their dark and heavy shroud.

4Still that ray shines on and brightens,Chasing mist and gloom away;Happy they on whom it gathersWith its full and perfect day!

4Still that ray shines on and brightens,

Chasing mist and gloom away;

Happy they on whom it gathers

With its full and perfect day!

105.C. M.Patrick.The Nativity.1While shepherds watched their flocks by night,All seated on the ground,The angel of the Lord came down,And glory shone around.2“Fear not,” said he,—for mighty dreadHad seized their troubled mind,—“Glad tidings of great joy I bringTo you and all mankind.3“To you, in David’s town, this dayIs born, of David’s line,The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;And this shall be the sign:4“The heavenly babe you there shall findTo human view displayed,All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,And in a manger laid.”5Thus spake the seraph, and forthwithAppeared a shining throngOf angels, praising God, who thusAddress their joyful song:6“All glory be to God on high,And to the earth be peace!Good-will henceforth, from heaven to men,Begin and never cease!”

C. M.

Patrick.

1While shepherds watched their flocks by night,All seated on the ground,The angel of the Lord came down,And glory shone around.

1While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,

And glory shone around.

2“Fear not,” said he,—for mighty dreadHad seized their troubled mind,—“Glad tidings of great joy I bringTo you and all mankind.

2“Fear not,” said he,—for mighty dread

Had seized their troubled mind,—

“Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind.

3“To you, in David’s town, this dayIs born, of David’s line,The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;And this shall be the sign:

3“To you, in David’s town, this day

Is born, of David’s line,

The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;

And this shall be the sign:

4“The heavenly babe you there shall findTo human view displayed,All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,And in a manger laid.”

4“The heavenly babe you there shall find

To human view displayed,

All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,

And in a manger laid.”

5Thus spake the seraph, and forthwithAppeared a shining throngOf angels, praising God, who thusAddress their joyful song:

5Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith

Appeared a shining throng

Of angels, praising God, who thus

Address their joyful song:

6“All glory be to God on high,And to the earth be peace!Good-will henceforth, from heaven to men,Begin and never cease!”

6“All glory be to God on high,

And to the earth be peace!

Good-will henceforth, from heaven to men,

Begin and never cease!”

106.C. M.E. H. Sears.The Birth-Song of Christ.1Calm on the listening ear of nightCome heaven’s melodious strains,Where wild Judea stretches farHer silver-mantled plains!2Celestial choirs from courts aboveShed sacred glories there;And angels, with their sparkling lyres,Make music on the air.3The answering hills of PalestineSend back the glad reply;And greet, from all their holy heights,The dayspring from on high.4O’er the blue depths of GalileeThere comes a holier calm,And Sharon waves, in solemn praise,Her silent groves of palm.5“Glory to God!” the sounding skiesLoud with their anthems ring,“Peace to the earth, good-will to menFrom heaven’s Eternal King!”6Light on thy hills, Jerusalem!The Saviour now is born!And bright on Bethlehem’s joyous plainsBreaks the first Christmas morn.

C. M.

E. H. Sears.

1Calm on the listening ear of nightCome heaven’s melodious strains,Where wild Judea stretches farHer silver-mantled plains!

1Calm on the listening ear of night

Come heaven’s melodious strains,

Where wild Judea stretches far

Her silver-mantled plains!

2Celestial choirs from courts aboveShed sacred glories there;And angels, with their sparkling lyres,Make music on the air.

2Celestial choirs from courts above

Shed sacred glories there;

And angels, with their sparkling lyres,

Make music on the air.

3The answering hills of PalestineSend back the glad reply;And greet, from all their holy heights,The dayspring from on high.

3The answering hills of Palestine

Send back the glad reply;

And greet, from all their holy heights,

The dayspring from on high.

4O’er the blue depths of GalileeThere comes a holier calm,And Sharon waves, in solemn praise,Her silent groves of palm.

4O’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 skiesLoud with their anthems ring,“Peace to the earth, good-will to menFrom heaven’s Eternal King!”

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!”

6Light on thy hills, Jerusalem!The Saviour now is born!And bright on Bethlehem’s joyous plainsBreaks the first Christmas morn.

6Light on thy hills, Jerusalem!

The Saviour now is born!

And bright on Bethlehem’s joyous plains

Breaks the first Christmas morn.

107.P. M.Mrs. Hemans.Hymn for Christmas.1O Lovely Voices of the sky,Which hymned the Saviour’s birth,Are ye not singing still on high,Ye that sang, “Peace on earth”?To us yet speak the strains,Wherewith, in time gone by,Ye blessed the Syrian swains,—O Voices of the sky!2O clear and shining Light, whose beams,That hour, heaven’s glory shedAround the palms, and o’er the streams,And on the shepherds’ head!Be near, through life and death,As in that holiest nightOf hope, and joy, and faith;O clear and shining Light!3O Star which led to Him whose loveBrought down man’s ransom free!Where art thou?—’midst the host aboveMay we still gaze on thee?In heaven thou art not set,Thy rays earth may not dim;Send them to guide us yet,O Star which led to Him!

P. M.

Mrs. Hemans.

1O Lovely Voices of the sky,Which hymned the Saviour’s birth,Are ye not singing still on high,Ye that sang, “Peace on earth”?To us yet speak the strains,Wherewith, in time gone by,Ye blessed the Syrian swains,—O Voices of the sky!

1O Lovely Voices of the sky,

Which hymned the Saviour’s birth,

Are ye not singing still on high,

Ye that sang, “Peace on earth”?

To us yet speak the strains,

Wherewith, in time gone by,

Ye blessed the Syrian swains,—

O Voices of the sky!

2O clear and shining Light, whose beams,That hour, heaven’s glory shedAround the palms, and o’er the streams,And on the shepherds’ head!Be near, through life and death,As in that holiest nightOf hope, and joy, and faith;O clear and shining Light!

2O clear and shining Light, whose beams,

That hour, heaven’s glory shed

Around the palms, and o’er the streams,

And on the shepherds’ head!

Be near, through life and death,

As in that holiest night

Of hope, and joy, and faith;

O clear and shining Light!

3O Star which led to Him whose loveBrought down man’s ransom free!Where art thou?—’midst the host aboveMay we still gaze on thee?In heaven thou art not set,Thy rays earth may not dim;Send them to guide us yet,O Star which led to Him!

3O Star which led to Him whose love

Brought down man’s ransom free!

Where art thou?—’midst the host above

May we still gaze on thee?

In heaven thou art not set,

Thy rays earth may not dim;

Send them to guide us yet,

O Star which led to Him!

108.11 & 10s. M.Heber.Epiphany.1Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!Star of the East, the horizon adorning,Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!2Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,Odors of Edom, and offerings divine?Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?3Vainly we offer each costly oblation;Vainly with gifts would his favor secure:Richer by far is the heart’s adoration;Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.4Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!Star of the East, the horizon adorning,Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

11 & 10s. M.

Heber.

1Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!Star of the East, the horizon adorning,Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!

1Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,

Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!

2Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,Odors of Edom, and offerings divine?Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

2Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,

Odors of Edom, and offerings divine?

Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,

Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

3Vainly we offer each costly oblation;Vainly with gifts would his favor secure:Richer by far is the heart’s adoration;Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

3Vainly we offer each costly oblation;

Vainly with gifts would his favor secure:

Richer by far is the heart’s adoration;

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

4Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!Star of the East, the horizon adorning,Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

4Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,

Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid!

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

109.C. M.Doddridge.Mission of Christ.1Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes,The Saviour promised long;Let every heart prepare a home,And every voice a song.2On him the Spirit, largely poured,Abides with holy fire;Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,His sacred breast inspire.3He comes the prisoners to release,In wretched bondage held;The gates of brass before him burst,The iron fetters yield.4He comes, the broken heart to bind,The bleeding soul to cure,And, with the treasures of his grace,Enrich the humble poor.5Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace!Thy welcome shall proclaim;And heaven’s eternal arches ringWith thy beloved name.

C. M.

Doddridge.

1Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes,The Saviour promised long;Let every heart prepare a home,And every voice a song.

1Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes,

The Saviour promised long;

Let every heart prepare a home,

And every voice a song.

2On him the Spirit, largely poured,Abides with holy fire;Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,His sacred breast inspire.

2On him the Spirit, largely poured,

Abides with holy fire;

Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,

His sacred breast inspire.

3He comes the prisoners to release,In wretched bondage held;The gates of brass before him burst,The iron fetters yield.

3He comes the prisoners to release,

In wretched bondage held;

The gates of brass before him burst,

The iron fetters yield.

4He comes, the broken heart to bind,The bleeding soul to cure,And, with the treasures of his grace,Enrich the humble poor.

4He comes, the broken heart to bind,

The bleeding soul to cure,

And, with the treasures of his grace,

Enrich the humble poor.

5Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace!Thy welcome shall proclaim;And heaven’s eternal arches ringWith thy beloved name.

5Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace!

Thy welcome shall proclaim;

And heaven’s eternal arches ring

With thy beloved name.

110.C. M.Watts.Christ’s Coming.1Joy to the world! the Lord is come!Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare him room,And heaven and nature sing.2Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns!Let men their songs employ;While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plainsRepeat the sounding joy.3No more let sins and sorrows grow,Nor thorns infest the ground;He comes to make his blessings flowAs far as sin is found.4He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of his righteousness,And wonders of his love.

C. M.

Watts.

1Joy to the world! the Lord is come!Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare him room,And heaven and nature sing.

1Joy to the world! the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing.

2Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns!Let men their songs employ;While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plainsRepeat the sounding joy.

2Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy.

3No more let sins and sorrows grow,Nor thorns infest the ground;He comes to make his blessings flowAs far as sin is found.

3No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make his blessings flow

As far as sin is found.

4He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of his righteousness,And wonders of his love.

4He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of his righteousness,

And wonders of his love.

111.7s. M.C. Wesley.The Star of Bethlehem.1Sons of men, behold from far,Hail the long-expected Star!Star of truth, that, ’mid the night,Guides bewildered man aright.2Mild it shines on all beneath,Piercing through the shades of death,Scattering error’s wide-spread night,Kindling darkness into light.3Nations all, remote and near,Haste to see your Lord appear;Haste, for him your hearts prepare,Meet him manifested there!4There behold the dayspring rise,Pouring light on mortal eyes;See it chase the shades away,Shining to the perfect day.

7s. M.

C. Wesley.

1Sons of men, behold from far,Hail the long-expected Star!Star of truth, that, ’mid the night,Guides bewildered man aright.

1Sons of men, behold from far,

Hail the long-expected Star!

Star of truth, that, ’mid the night,

Guides bewildered man aright.

2Mild it shines on all beneath,Piercing through the shades of death,Scattering error’s wide-spread night,Kindling darkness into light.

2Mild it shines on all beneath,

Piercing through the shades of death,

Scattering error’s wide-spread night,

Kindling darkness into light.

3Nations all, remote and near,Haste to see your Lord appear;Haste, for him your hearts prepare,Meet him manifested there!

3Nations all, remote and near,

Haste to see your Lord appear;

Haste, for him your hearts prepare,

Meet him manifested there!

4There behold the dayspring rise,Pouring light on mortal eyes;See it chase the shades away,Shining to the perfect day.

4There behold the dayspring rise,

Pouring light on mortal eyes;

See it chase the shades away,

Shining to the perfect day.

112.S. M.Needham.The Prince of Peace.1Behold, the Prince of Peace,The chosen of the Lord,God’s well beloved Son, fulfilsThe sure prophetic word!2No royal pomp adornsThis King of Righteousness;Meekness and patience, truth and love,Compose his princely dress.3The Spirit of the Lord,In rich abundance shed,On this great prophet gently lights,And rests upon his head.4Jesus, the light of men!His doctrine life imparts;O, may we feel its quickening powerTo warm and glad our hearts!5Cheered by its beams, our soulsShall run the heavenly way;The path which Christ has marked and trodWill lead to endless day.

S. M.

Needham.

1Behold, the Prince of Peace,The chosen of the Lord,God’s well beloved Son, fulfilsThe sure prophetic word!

1Behold, the Prince of Peace,

The chosen of the Lord,

God’s well beloved Son, fulfils

The sure prophetic word!

2No royal pomp adornsThis King of Righteousness;Meekness and patience, truth and love,Compose his princely dress.

2No royal pomp adorns

This King of Righteousness;

Meekness and patience, truth and love,

Compose his princely dress.

3The Spirit of the Lord,In rich abundance shed,On this great prophet gently lights,And rests upon his head.

3The Spirit of the Lord,

In rich abundance shed,

On this great prophet gently lights,

And rests upon his head.

4Jesus, the light of men!His doctrine life imparts;O, may we feel its quickening powerTo warm and glad our hearts!

4Jesus, the light of men!

His doctrine life imparts;

O, may we feel its quickening power

To warm and glad our hearts!

5Cheered by its beams, our soulsShall run the heavenly way;The path which Christ has marked and trodWill lead to endless day.

5Cheered by its beams, our souls

Shall run the heavenly way;

The path which Christ has marked and trod

Will lead to endless day.

113.L. M.Anonymous.Tempted As We Are.1As oft, with worn and weary feet,We tread earth’s rugged pathway o’er,The thought how comforting and sweet,—Christ trod this very path before;Our wants, our weaknesses, he knows,From life’s first dawning to its close.2If we, beneath temptation’s stress,Do fight against dark powers within,So, in Judea’s wilderness,Christ wrestled with the thoughts of sin,When, in a weary, lonely hour,The tempter came with all his power.3So, tried as I, this earth he trod,Knew every human ill but sin,And though the holiest Son of God,As I am now so hath he been;Jesus, my Saviour! look on me;For help and strength I turn to thee!

L. M.

Anonymous.

1As oft, with worn and weary feet,We tread earth’s rugged pathway o’er,The thought how comforting and sweet,—Christ trod this very path before;Our wants, our weaknesses, he knows,From life’s first dawning to its close.

1As oft, with worn and weary feet,

We tread earth’s rugged pathway o’er,

The thought how comforting and sweet,—

Christ trod this very path before;

Our wants, our weaknesses, he knows,

From life’s first dawning to its close.

2If we, beneath temptation’s stress,Do fight against dark powers within,So, in Judea’s wilderness,Christ wrestled with the thoughts of sin,When, in a weary, lonely hour,The tempter came with all his power.

2If we, beneath temptation’s stress,

Do fight against dark powers within,

So, in Judea’s wilderness,

Christ wrestled with the thoughts of sin,

When, in a weary, lonely hour,

The tempter came with all his power.

3So, tried as I, this earth he trod,Knew every human ill but sin,And though the holiest Son of God,As I am now so hath he been;Jesus, my Saviour! look on me;For help and strength I turn to thee!

3So, tried as I, this earth he trod,

Knew every human ill but sin,

And though the holiest Son of God,

As I am now so hath he been;

Jesus, my Saviour! look on me;

For help and strength I turn to thee!

114.7s. M.Bulfinch.“The Works Which I Do Bear Witness of Me.”1Holy Son of God most high!Clothed in heavenly majesty,Many a miracle and sign,In thy Father’s name divine,Manifested forth thy mightIn the chosen people’s sight.2But, O Saviour! not aloneThus thy glory was made known;With the mourner thou didst grieve,Every human want relieve;Far thy matchless power aboveStands the witness of thy love.3Thou, who by the open grave,Ere thy voice was raised to save,Didst with those fond sisters shedTears above the faithful dead;Even thy word of might appearsLess resistless than thy tears.4Lord! it is not ours to gazeOn thy works of ancient days;But thy love, unchanged and bright,More than all those works of might,More than miracle or sign,Makes us ever, ever thine.

7s. M.

Bulfinch.

1Holy Son of God most high!Clothed in heavenly majesty,Many a miracle and sign,In thy Father’s name divine,Manifested forth thy mightIn the chosen people’s sight.

1Holy Son of God most high!

Clothed in heavenly majesty,

Many a miracle and sign,

In thy Father’s name divine,

Manifested forth thy might

In the chosen people’s sight.

2But, O Saviour! not aloneThus thy glory was made known;With the mourner thou didst grieve,Every human want relieve;Far thy matchless power aboveStands the witness of thy love.

2But, O Saviour! not alone

Thus thy glory was made known;

With the mourner thou didst grieve,

Every human want relieve;

Far thy matchless power above

Stands the witness of thy love.

3Thou, who by the open grave,Ere thy voice was raised to save,Didst with those fond sisters shedTears above the faithful dead;Even thy word of might appearsLess resistless than thy tears.

3Thou, who by the open grave,

Ere thy voice was raised to save,

Didst with those fond sisters shed

Tears above the faithful dead;

Even thy word of might appears

Less resistless than thy tears.

4Lord! it is not ours to gazeOn thy works of ancient days;But thy love, unchanged and bright,More than all those works of might,More than miracle or sign,Makes us ever, ever thine.

4Lord! it is not ours to gaze

On thy works of ancient days;

But thy love, unchanged and bright,

More than all those works of might,

More than miracle or sign,

Makes us ever, ever thine.

115.C. M.Mrs. Hemans.Christ Stilling the Tempest.1Fear was within the tossing bark,When stormy winds grew loud;And waves came rolling high and dark,And the tall mast was bowed.2But the wind ceased,—it ceased,—a wordPassed through the gloomy sky;The troubled billows knew their Lord,And sank beneath his eye.3And slumber settled on the deep,And silence on the blast;They sank as flowers that fold to sleepWhen sultry day is past.4O Thou that in its wildest hourDidst rule the tempest’s mood,Send now thy Spirit forth in powerO’er our dark souls to brood!5Thou that didst bow the billows’ pride,Thy mandate to fulfil,Speak, speak to passion’s raging tide,Speak, and say, “Peace, be still!”

C. M.

Mrs. Hemans.

1Fear was within the tossing bark,When stormy winds grew loud;And waves came rolling high and dark,And the tall mast was bowed.

1Fear was within the tossing bark,

When stormy winds grew loud;

And waves came rolling high and dark,

And the tall mast was bowed.

2But the wind ceased,—it ceased,—a wordPassed through the gloomy sky;The troubled billows knew their Lord,And sank beneath his eye.

2But the wind ceased,—it ceased,—a word

Passed through the gloomy sky;

The troubled billows knew their Lord,

And sank beneath his eye.

3And slumber settled on the deep,And silence on the blast;They sank as flowers that fold to sleepWhen sultry day is past.

3And slumber settled on the deep,

And silence on the blast;

They sank as flowers that fold to sleep

When sultry day is past.

4O Thou that in its wildest hourDidst rule the tempest’s mood,Send now thy Spirit forth in powerO’er our dark souls to brood!

4O Thou that in its wildest hour

Didst rule the tempest’s mood,

Send now thy Spirit forth in power

O’er our dark souls to brood!

5Thou that didst bow the billows’ pride,Thy mandate to fulfil,Speak, speak to passion’s raging tide,Speak, and say, “Peace, be still!”

5Thou that didst bow the billows’ pride,

Thy mandate to fulfil,

Speak, speak to passion’s raging tide,

Speak, and say, “Peace, be still!”

116.C. M.Bulfinch.The Pool of Bethesda.1The aged sufferer waited longUpon Bethesda’s brink;Till hopes, once rising warm and strong,Began in fears to sink;And heavy were the sighs he drew,And fervent was his prayer,For he, with safety full in view,Still languished helpless there.2His hope grew dim; but one was nighWho saw the sufferer’s grief;That gentle voice, that pitying eye,Gave promise of relief.Each pang that human weakness knowsObeyed that powerful word;He spake, and lo! the sick arose,Rejoicing in his Lord.3Father of Jesus, when oppressedWith grief and pain we lie,And, longing for Thy heavenly rest,Despair to look on high,O, may the Saviour’s words of peaceWithin the wounded heartBid every doubt and suffering cease,And strength and joy impart!

C. M.

Bulfinch.

1The aged sufferer waited longUpon Bethesda’s brink;Till hopes, once rising warm and strong,Began in fears to sink;And heavy were the sighs he drew,And fervent was his prayer,For he, with safety full in view,Still languished helpless there.

1The aged sufferer waited long

Upon Bethesda’s brink;

Till hopes, once rising warm and strong,

Began in fears to sink;

And heavy were the sighs he drew,

And fervent was his prayer,

For he, with safety full in view,

Still languished helpless there.

2His hope grew dim; but one was nighWho saw the sufferer’s grief;That gentle voice, that pitying eye,Gave promise of relief.Each pang that human weakness knowsObeyed that powerful word;He spake, and lo! the sick arose,Rejoicing in his Lord.

2His hope grew dim; but one was nigh

Who saw the sufferer’s grief;

That gentle voice, that pitying eye,

Gave promise of relief.

Each pang that human weakness knows

Obeyed that powerful word;

He spake, and lo! the sick arose,

Rejoicing in his Lord.

3Father of Jesus, when oppressedWith grief and pain we lie,And, longing for Thy heavenly rest,Despair to look on high,O, may the Saviour’s words of peaceWithin the wounded heartBid every doubt and suffering cease,And strength and joy impart!

3Father of Jesus, when oppressed

With grief and pain we lie,

And, longing for Thy heavenly rest,

Despair to look on high,

O, may the Saviour’s words of peace

Within the wounded heart

Bid every doubt and suffering cease,

And strength and joy impart!

117.C. M.Bulfinch.Christ Walking on the Sea.1Lord, in whose might the Saviour trodThe dark and stormy wave,And trusted in his Father’s arm,Omnipotent to save;2When darkly round our footsteps riseThe floods and storms of life,Send Thou Thy Spirit down to stillThe dark and fearful strife.3Strong in our trust, on Thee reposed,The ocean-path we’ll dare,Though waves around us rage and foam,Since Thou art present there.

C. M.

Bulfinch.

1Lord, in whose might the Saviour trodThe dark and stormy wave,And trusted in his Father’s arm,Omnipotent to save;

1Lord, in whose might the Saviour trod

The dark and stormy wave,

And trusted in his Father’s arm,

Omnipotent to save;

2When darkly round our footsteps riseThe floods and storms of life,Send Thou Thy Spirit down to stillThe dark and fearful strife.

2When darkly round our footsteps rise

The floods and storms of life,

Send Thou Thy Spirit down to still

The dark and fearful strife.

3Strong in our trust, on Thee reposed,The ocean-path we’ll dare,Though waves around us rage and foam,Since Thou art present there.

3Strong in our trust, on Thee reposed,

The ocean-path we’ll dare,

Though waves around us rage and foam,

Since Thou art present there.

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