Miscellaneous.

Miscellaneous.SUMMER SONG.Go forth, my heart, and seek delightIn this summer time so bright,The bounties God displayeth,The garden's splendour go and see,Behold how God for me and theeThem gorgeously arrayeth.The trees with leaves are cover'd o'er,The earth with carpet spreads her floorOf green, all fresh and tender,The tulip and narcissus wearAttire of finer texture fairThan Solomon in splendour.The lark aspiring soars on high,Flies from her cleft the dove so shy,And seeks the woodland shadow;The nightingale with song so rareDelights and fills the ev'ning airO'er mountain, vale, and meadow.Leads forth her little brood the hen,The stork builds near the haunts of men,And feed their young the swallows;The stag so swift, the roe so lightOf foot, come bounding from the heightInto the grassy hollows.The brooklets murmur in the sand,And fringe the edge on either handWith myrtle rich in shadow;The shepherds and the sheep rejoice,In joy and mirth you hear their voiceSound from the neighb'ring meadow.The bee through all the live-long hours,Unwearied roams among the flow'rs,Its precious stores to gather;The strong juice of the vine each hourIs ever gaining strength and pow'rThis glorious summer weather.While springeth fast the precious grain,The young and old exult again,Praise Him with all their powers,Whose benefits unceasing are,With gifts so manifold and rareWho human nature dowers.I cannot rest, I never dare,In my Creator's gracious careMy inmost soul rejoices,To God most High, when all things raiseA song of universal praise,My voice shall join their voices.Methinks it is so pleasant here,All things so beautiful appearIn this our poor world even;What will it be when earth we leave,And at its golden gates receiveGlad welcome into Heaven?What purest light, what ecstasy,Will in the Saviour's garden be!How will it sound when 'fore Thee,All with united heart and voice,Ten thousand seraphins rejoiceAnd rev'rently adore Thee.Ah! blessèd God, oh! were I thereBefore Thy throne, and did I bearMy branch of palm victorious,As angels do, my voice I'd raiseThine ever blessèd name to praise,In songs of triumph glorious.But though I still am dwelling here,And still the body's burden bear,Can I be silent?—Never!My heart, no matter where I be,Or here or there, shall bend to Thee,In adoration ever.Help! Lord, my soul with blessings crown,With blessings that from Heav'n flow down,That I may blossom ever!And may the summer of Thy graceCause fruits of faith to grow apace,Fruits that shall wither never.And may Thy Spirit dwell in me,May I a good branch ever beIngrafted in the Saviour!In Thine own garden may I beTo Thy name's praise a goodly tree,Implanted by Thy favour!Grant me Thy paradise to share,And more fruit may I ever bearWhile I am going thither.Thine honour, Lord, to me is dear,Thee and Thee only shall I hereAnd yonder serve for ever.OCCASIONED BY GREAT AND UNSEASONABLE RAIN.O God! who dost Heav'n's sceptre wieldWhat is it that now makes our field,And everything that it doth bear,Such sad and ruin'd aspect wear?Nought else, in truth, but that the bandOf men from Thee on every handHave fallen utterly away,Their guilt increasing every day.They who as God's own propertyHis name should praise continually,And of God's word should love the light,Like heathen are involv'd in night.The Heav'ns are all with darkness clad,The firmament's clear light doth fade;We wait to see the light againAt dawn of day, but wait in vain.In ceaseless strifes involv'd men are,In every place is fearful war,In every corner hate and spite,Contentions every class delight.The elements o'er all the landAre stretching out 'gainst us the hand,And troubles from the sea arise,And troubles come down from the skies.It is a time of anguish sore,For hunted, plagued their time beforeThe people are into the grave,No rest to them do they vouchsafe.The source of joy becometh sad,The sun hath ceas'd to make us glad,And all at once the clouds descend,Shed tears that never seem to end.Ah, child of man! go weep alone,Thy many grievous sins bemoan,Henceforward from thy crimes refrain,Repent, and be thou clean again.Fall on thy knees, thyself now throwOn God, that He may mercy show,That His deservèd wrath may beBy Him to grace turn'd speedily.He's faithful, and aye true will be,Nought else desireth but that weWith reverence and godly fearTo seek His mercy should draw near.Ah! Father, Father, hear our cry,Redeem us, 'neath sin's yoke we lie,From out the world drawn may we be,And Thou Thyself turn us to Thee.Subdue Thou our rebellious mood,And make us, sinners, pure and good;Whom Thou dost turn, soon turn'd is he,Who heareth Thee, is heard by Thee!And let Thine eye now friendly be,The anguish'd cry that reacheth TheeFrom earth, from our sad hearts, O Lord,With gracious ear do Thou regard.Wrath's black robe tear off with Thy handAnd comfort Thou us and our land,And may the genial sun shine forthAnd ripen the fair fruits of earth.And, Lord, as long as we may liveOur daily bread in bounty give,And when the end of time we seeThe bread give of eternity!THANKSGIVING FOR GRACIOUS SUNSHINE.Now gone is all the rain,Rejoice my heart again,Sing after times of sadnessTo God thy Lord with gladness!Our God His heart hath turnèdOur pray'r He hath not spurnèd.On sea and on our landOutstretchèd was His hand,In anger us addressing;He said, “Ye're aye transgressing,In ways of sin ye wander,Nor ever turn, nor ponder.“So shall my Heaven's lightIts countenance so brightWith robe of blackness cover,With dark clouds be spread over;No longer shine in gloryBut shall be weeping o'er thee.”Appeas'd His wrath our sighsThat to His ears did rise,For He forgetteth neverHis mercy that dures ever,His Spirit tow'rd us yearning,His anger ceas'd from burning.The clouds away then sped,The path the damp winds tread,From whence the rain descended,Was clos'd, the torrents ended,And from the deeps of HeavenNo waters more were given.Now wearied field awayThy robe of sadness lay,Arise from out thy sadnessAnd let us hear with gladnessThee songs of summer raising,Thy great Creator praising.The glorious sun, see there,Comes forth again so fair,With blessings earth doth cover;Now all the rains are over,Hills, valleys are receivingIts wondrous beams life-giving.The earth's reviv'd again;What drown'd was by the rainWill once again be livingAnd precious fruit be giving,The fields good wheat forth bringing,In meadows grass be springing.The trees so very fairFruit-laden will stand there;From hill-sides like a riverWill wine and oil flow ever;In warm and quiet weatherWill bees their honey gather.Our portion He will giveWho in the Heav'ns doth live.He'll bounteously bestow it,We shall partake and know it;And what earth will supply usWill amply satisfy us.God faithful is and true,His mercy's ever new,His anger soon is turnèd.He gives what we've ne'er earnèdHe doth Himself discoverTo us, our sins looks over.O man! direct thy ways,And all thou dost, to praiseThy Master's love and favour,So that thy heart may neverHis faithful heart be grieving,To Him offence be giving!THE WONDERFUL ESTATE OF MATRIMONY.[10]Full of wonder, full of art,Full of wisdom, full of pow'r,Full of kindness, grace, and heart,Full of comfort flowing o'er,Full of wonder, still I say,Is Love's chaste and gentle sway.Those who've never met before,Ne'er each other known nor seen,Never in the idlest hourThus employ'd their thoughts have been,Yet whose hearts and hands in loveTieth God who lives above!His child doththisfather guide,Thatone traineth his each day,Each their special wind and tideSpeed upon their sep'rate way,When the time appointed's there,Lo! they're a well-mated pair!Here grows up a prudent son,And a noble daughter there;One will be the other's crown,One the other's rest from careEach will be the other's light,But from both 'tis hidden quite,Till it's pleasing in His sightWho the world holds in His pow'r,To all giveth what is rightFreely in th' appointed hour;Then appears in word and deedWhat hath been by Him decreed.Then Ahasuerus' eyeFirst doth quiet Esther see;To where Sara peacefullyDwells, Tobias leadeth He;David then, with pliant will,Fetcheth prudent Abigail.Jacob flees from Esau's face,And he meeteth Rachel fair;Joseph in a foreign placeServes, and winneth Asnath there;Moses did with Jethro stay,And bore Zipporah away.Each one taketh, each doth findWhat the Lord doth choose for him;What in Heaven is design'd,Comes to pass on earth in time.And whatever happens thusOrder'd wisely is for us.This or that might better be,Oft this foolish thought is ours;But as midnight utterlyFails to be like noonday's hours,So the feeble mind of manGod's great wisdom cannot scan.Whom God joins together live,What the best is knoweth He,Our thoughts only can deceive,His from all defects are free;God's work standeth firm for aye,When all other must decay.Look at pious children whoEnter'd have the holy state,How well for them God doth do,See what joys upon them wait;To their doings God doth sendEvermore a happy end.Of their virtues the renownBlossometh for evermore,As a shadow when is goneOf all other love the flow'r;When truth faileth everywhere,Their's still bloometh fresh and fair,Fresh their love is evermore,Ever doth its youth renew,Love their table covers o'er,Sweetens all they say and do.Love their hearts aye giveth rest,When they're burden'd and oppress'd.Though things oft go crookedly,Even then this love is still,Can the cross bear patiently,Thinking 'tis the Father's will.From this thought doth comfort taste,Better days will come at lastMeanwhile streams of blessing givesGod with bounty rich and free,Mind and body He relieves,And the house too foundeth He;What is small and men despise,Makes He great and multiplies.And when all is over hereThat the Lord designs in love,For His faithful children dear,Taketh them to courts above,And with great delight in graceFolds them in His warm embrace.Now 'tis ever full of heart,Full of comfort flowing o'er,Full of wonder, full of art,Full of wisdom, full of pow'r,Full of wonder, still I say,Is love's chaste and gentle sway.[10]This song used to be sung in Germany after wedding dinners, and in some places on the way to church before solemnization.SONG OF CONSOLATION FOR MARRIED CHRISTIANS.Oh, Jesus Christ! how bright and fairThe state of holy marriage whereThy blessing rich is givenWhat gracious gifts Thou dost bestow,What streams of blessing ever flowDown from Thy holy heaven,When theyTrue stayTo Thee ever,Leave Thee never,Whose troth plighted,In one life have been united.When man and wife are mated well,In harmony together dwell,Are faithful to each other,The streams of bliss flow constantlyWhat bliss of angels is on highFrom hence may we discover;No storm,No wormCan destroy it,Can e'er gnaw it,What God givethTo the pair that in Him liveth.He giveth of His grace the boon,And in its bosom late and soonHis own belov'd He keepeth,His arms He daily spreadeth o'er,Guards as a Father by His pow'rUs and our house, nor sleepeth.Still weMust beHere and thitherRoaming ever,Till He gives usPious homes, and thus relieves us.The husband's like a goodly treeWhose branches spread so fair and free;The wife a vine that givethMuch fruit, and nurtures what it bears,Whose fruit increaseth with the years,Fruit that remains and liveth.Jewel,All hail!Husband's treasure!House's pleasure!Crown of honour!On His throne God thinketh on her.O wife! the Lord hath chosen theeThat from thy womb brought forth should beThe folk His church that buildeth;His wondrous work goes on for aye,The mighty word His mouth doth say,What thou beholdest, yieldeth,Sons fairStand there,Daughters sittingWorking, knitting,Finely spinning,And with art time wisely winning.Be of good cheer, it was not weWho first this order did decree,It was a higher Father,Who lov'd and loveth us for aye,And from whose lips when griev'd each dayWe friendly counsel gather;Good endHe'll send,What we're doingAnd pursuing,Or conceivingWise and happy issue giving.A time will come, it cannot fail,When we 'neath trials sore shall quail,And tears be freely flowing;To him who bears it patiently,By God's grace shall his sorrow beTurn'd into joy o'erflowing.Toil now,Wait thou,He arrivethWho rest giveth,Who can everBanish care and soon deliver.Come hither then, my King so bless'd!In trials guide, in pain give rest,In anxious times relieving!To Thee we shall ascribe the praise,Our hearts and voices we shall raiseIn one loud song, thanks giving,Till weWith TheeEver dwelling,And fulfillingThy will ever,Thy name cease to praise shall never.Of Death, the Last Day, and Eternal Life.OF DEATH AND DYING.—PSALM XC.Lord God! Thou art for evermoreThy people's habitation,And Thou existence hadst beforeWas laid the earth's foundation!Ere yet the hills began to beThou lived'st in eternity,Of all things the beginning!Thou lettest all the crowds of menThrough death's dark portals wander,And biddest them return again,Those others follow yonder.With Thee a thousand years are ayeLike watch of night or yesterdayWhen it is gone for ever.Thou lettest the base hosts of menE'en as a stream be flowing,And as a ship upon the mainThat fav'ring winds are blowing,And as a sleep and dream of nightThat when men wake at morning lightThey can no more remember.We're like an herb that early dies,Or grass in fields that groweth,That in the morning flourishes,Ere night the mower moweth.So is't with man: he blooms to-day,To-morrow he is borne awayIf but a breath doth touch him!Because Thy wrath 'gainst us doth glow,Lord! we so early vanish,And for our sins Thou lay'st us low,And from Thy face dost banish.Our sins Thou sett'st before Thine eyes,Then doth Thine indignation riseIn Thine heart ever holy!This fire it is consumes in allOur bones the marrow ever;And hence it is that great or smallFrom death escapeth never.And hence our days are passing o'erLike tales that oft beguile an hourAnd that are soon forgotten.And scarcely doth our life on earthTo seventy years last even;And what are all our labours worthIf four-score years be given.What is the sum of all our gainFrom youth to age, but toil and pain,Heart-sorrow and vexation?We're ever toiling full of care,And ere we do bethink usTo stop our work, lo! death is there,Into the grave to sink us.And speedily we pass away,Yet of their end none ever stayTo think, nor of God's anger.O teach us, Lord! to think each dayUpon this earth's affliction,That when we think on death we mayGrow wiser by reflection.Ah! turn on us again Thy faceAnd be at peace, O God of grace!With Thy rebellious children.And early with Thy mercy freeBe soul and body filling,And late and early, Lord, may weThy glorious praise be telling.O chiefest joy! our hearts now cheer,And once more give us good times here,The days have been so evil.We've borne the cross these weary years,Now let Thy sun be shining,Vouchsafe us laughter after tears,And pleasure after pining.And evermore, O Lord! make knownThy works of wonder to Thine own,Thine honour to Thy children.Be Thou our faithful friend and God,Establish us for ever!And when we err from wisdom's roadGive penitence and favour!Turn Thou our hearts again to Thee,May all our works establish'd be,Crown all we do with blessing!A REST HERE HAVE I NEVER.—PS. CXIX.A rest here have I never,A guest on earth am I,Heav'n will be mine for ever,My Fatherland's on high.Here up and down I'm driven;In rest eternal there,God's gift of grace is givenThat endeth toil and care.What hath my whole life everFrom youth been to this hour,But labour ceasing never,As long as I have pow'rTo tell of; days of anguishI've past, and oft the nightIn sorrow did I languishUntil the morning light.And on the ways I've wander'dWhat storms have terrified,It blew, rain'd, lighten'd, thunder'd,Fear was on every side.Hate, envy, oppositionRag'd, undeserv'd by me,This was the sad conditionI must bear patiently.So liv'd the honour'd fathersIn whose footsteps we tread,From whom the saint oft gathersThe wisdom he may needOf trial what full measureHad father Abraham,Ere he attain'd his pleasure,To his right dwelling came.How rough too and unevenThe way that Isaac trod,And Jacob, who had strivenAnd had prevail'd with God;What bitter grief and wearingFelt he, what woe and smart;In fear and in despairingOft sank his fainting heart.The holy souls and blessèdWent forward on their race,They chang'd with hearts distressèdTheir wonted dwelling-place:They hither went and thither,Great crosses bore each day,Till death came to deliver,Them in the grave to lay.In patience am I givingMyself to just such woe?Could I be better livingThan such have liv'd below?Here must we suffer ever,Here must we upwards strive;Who fights not well shall neverIn joy eternal live.While on the earth I'm staying,My life shall thus be spent,I would not be delayingFor aye in this strange tent.Along the paths I wanderThat lead me to my home,God boundless comfort yonderWill give me when I come.My home is high above me,Where angel hosts for ayePraise Him whose heart doth love me,Who ruleth all each day,Who aye preserves and bearethAll in His hand of might,Who orders and preparethWhat good seems in His sight.For home my tir'd heart yearneth,I'd gladly thither go,From earth away it turnethFrom all I've here pass'd through.The longer here I'm stayingI less of pleasure taste,My spirit's thirst allaying,The world's an arid waste.The dwelling is unholy,The trouble is too great.Why com'st Thou, Lord, so slowlyTo free me from this state?Come, make a happy endingOf all my wanderings,Relief by Thy pow'r sending,From all my sufferings.Where I've so long remainèdIs not my proper home;When my life's end is gainèd,Then forth from it I'll come,What here I've needed everI'll put it all away;When soul and body sever,Me in the grave they'll lay.Thou, who my Joy art ever,And of my life the Light,When death life's thread doth sever,Bring'st me to heav'n so bright,To mansions everlasting,Where I shall ever shine,E'en as the sun, while tastingOf pleasures all divine.There I'll be ever livingNot merely as a guest,With those who crowns receivingFrom Thee are ever bless'd;I'll celebrate in gloryThine ev'ry mighty deed,My portion have before Thee,From every evil freed.CHRISTIAN JOY IN DEATH.My face, why should'st thou troubled beWhen thou of death art hearing?Know it, it cannot injure thee,Contemplate it, ne'er fearing.When thou dost knowDeath, all its woeWill soon be disappearing.From the old serpent's face first tearThe mask he is assuming,And lo! no poison more is there,'Tis harmless through the comingOf Christ to save,Who to the graveWent down, death thus o'ercoming.Thou, Lord, didst break our foe's great pow'r,His sting thus from him taking,The butt of scorn he's evermore,No mischief can be making.Thy precious bloodDamps his hot mood,His ardour's him forsaking.'Twas sin that was the sting of death,And on to dying drove us,For ever done away sin hathOur Saviour, who did love us.Its pow'r and mightIs broken quite,Though it to grief may move us.Now sin is dead, God's anger's turn'd,He's reconcil'd; the SaviourHath borne the curse our debts had earn'd,Restor'd us to God's favour.Who was our foeOur friend is now,Is full of grace for ever.It cannot be, if Thou'rt my friend,That Thou would'st kill me ever;Thy Father's heart can ne'er intendTo death me to deliver,And who is e'erThy child and heirBy ill is injur'd never.But Thou, O Father! doest wellWhen trials sore are grieving,When misery the life doth fill,The waves around us heaving,That us Thy handTo FatherlandBrings, from the floods relieving.When from the angry skies storms break,And mountains quake before them,The thunder of Thy wrath doth shakeThe hills, and pealeth o'er them,Then dost Thou comeAnd takest homeThine own, Thou carest for them.When rage around our enemies,Our injury are seeking,When lions, wolves, and bears arise,Their vengeance on us wreaking,Thou tak'st Thy sheep,Dost safely keepThem near Thee, comfort speaking.And if the world treats evillyHim who to Thee is cleaving,Thou sayest, “Come to me, my son!Come, from me be receivingLove, pleasure, joy,That never cloy,That I for aye am giving.”And angel hosts then joyfullyDescend, and round us hover,And tend the soul so carefully;And when life's course is overTo God on highIt peacefullyGoes with them 'neath their cover.The Lord His bride meets joyfullyAnd saith, “Now welcome ever,I have espousèd thee to me,To all mine own come hither!Whom I 'fore theeHave brought to me,From yon world did deliver.“Thou true and faithful wast in heart,Wast ne'er asham'd to own me,And now receivest thou thy part,With crown of joy I crown thee.Thy part am I,EternallyBeside me I enthrone thee.“Of thine eyes now I dry the flood,Thy bitter tears am stilling;Here turn'd is to thy highest good,The grief thou once wert feeling;Of thy grief's seaNo one shall beHere save with rapture telling.“All my belov'd ones clothe I hereIn pure white linen ever,With joy in heaven they appear,Here envy felt is never.Here is no death,No cross nor scath,Good friends at all can sever.”O God! why should the thought of deathWith terror make me shiver?'Tis he who'll from the yoke beneathOf mis'ry me deliver.From torture HeWill set me free,I can regret it never.For death is the Red Sea to me,Through which on dry land everThine Israel, so dear to Thee,Pass to the land of favour,Where milk and wineFlow ever inFull streams that cease shall never.It is heav'n's golden door to me,The fiery car God sendeth,Wherein my spirit speedilyTo th' angel choir ascendeth,When God shall say“Thy working dayOf life below now endeth.”O sweetest joy, O blessèd rest!To all true-hearted given,Come, let mine eyes by Thee be press'd,In peace take me to heaven.May I roam there'Mong pastures fairWhere day ne'er knoweth even.What fails us here, there will He give,Full measure to us bringing,Our grateful songs shall He receive,From loving hearts up-springing.And there shall IToo, willinglySong after song be singing.JOYFUL RESIGNATION TO A HAPPY DEPARTURE FROM THIS WEARY WORLD.Be glad, my heart! now fear no more,Let nothing ever grieve thee;Christ lives, who lov'd thee long beforeThy being He did give thee,And ere He made thy wondrous frame;His love remaineth still the same,It ne'er can change to hatred.Be of good cheer! thy nearing end,My heart! need not appal thee,No ill's in it; God doth extend,His loving hand and call theeFrom all the thousand forms of woeThat in this vale of tears below,Thou ever hast endurèd.'Tis true, 'tis call'd death's agony,But yet it is no dying;The death of death is Christ, for HePrevents it from destroying,That though it puts forth all its pow'r,No hair it hurteth in the hourWhen I from hence am taken.The sting of death in sin doth lie,And in our evil doing;Poor child of Adam! eagerlyThis path was I pursuing.In Christ's blood sin is wash'd away,Forgiven are we now for aye,Ne'er fall in condemnation.My sin is gone, and I am clean,Whoever would deprive me,Henceforth is life eternal mine;The thought may never grieve meOf sin's dread wages earn'd by me;Who's reconcil'd, must ever be,Unhurt by opposition.Now God's free grace I with me take,And all His joy and gladness,On this last journey that I make,And know no grief nor sadness.The foe becomes to me a sheep,His ire becomes a blessèd sleep,Of quiet rest the pillow.Thou Jesus! O thou sweetest Friend,My light and life art ever!Thou holdest me, dost me defend,The foe can move Thee never.In Thee I am, Thou art in me,As we are here, we'll ever be,Nought here or there can part us.My body down to rest doth lie,Fatigued with life's sad story;The soul then mounteth up on high,With chosen ones in gloryIt mingles, and keeps joyfully,The endless year of JubileeWith all the holy angels.Oh! Highest Prince of great and small,May that bless'd day be nearing;When Thou shalt by Thy trumpet call,And all the dead be hearing.Again shall soul and body beOne, and Thy joy shall taste and see,Thy Father's kingdom enter.If 'tis Thy will, O Lord, appear,To peace and bliss to take meFor ever, Thee may I be near,How joyful would it make me!Be open'd wide—of death, thou gate!That to so bliss'd place and stateThrough thee I may pass over.THE BEREAVED FATHER COMFORTS HIMSELF CONCERNING HIS NOW SAINTED SON.Mine art thou still, and mine shalt be,Who will be this denying?Not only thou belong'st to me,The Lord of Life undyingThe greatest right hath aye in thee;He taketh, He demands from meThee, O my son, my treasure,My heart's delight and pleasure!If wish avail'd, my soul's sweet star!My free choice would I make thee,Than earth's fair treasures rather far,I evermore would take thee.Would say to thee, Abide with me,The joy of all my dwelling be,I ever more shall love thee,Till death itself remove me.Thus saith my heart, and meaneth well,But God doth mean still better;Great love doth in my bosom dwell,In God there dwelleth greater.I am a father, nothing more,Of fathers God's the crown and pow'r,The fountain who is givingTheir being to all living.I long and yearn for my dear son;God, by whom he was given,Wills he should stand beside His throne,Should live with Him in heaven.I say, Alas! my light is gone!God saith, “I welcome thee, my son,I'd have thee ever near me,With endless joys would cheer thee!”O lovely word! O sweet decree!More holy than we everCan think; with God no ill can be,Mischance, or sickness never,No care, no want, no oversight,With God no sorrow e'er can blight;Whom God cares for and lovethNo trouble ever moveth.We men much thought and time expendOn our dear ones' adorning;Our thoughts and efforts ever bend,Are planning night and morningTo gain for them a happy place;And yet how seldom 'tis the caseThey reach the destinationWe had in contemplation.How oft a young and hopeful oneFrom virtue's path far roameth,By him through ill example's doneWhat Christians ne'er becometh.Then God's just anger doth he earn,On earth he meeteth scoffs and scorn,His father's heart he fillethWith pain that nothing stilleth.Now such can never be my case,My son is safely yonder,Appeareth now before God's face,Doth in Christ's garden wander,Is fill'd with joy, is ever bless'd,And from heart-sorrow doth he rest,Sees, hears the hosts so gloriousWho here are watching o'er us.He angels yonder hears and sees,Part in their songs he taketh,And knows all wisdom's mysteries;His high discourse he makethWhat none of us can ever knowWith all our searching here below,To none on earth 'tis given,Reserv'd it is for Heaven.Ah! could I even draw so near,Could it to me be givenThe faintest sounds of praise to hearThat fill the courts of Heaven,When prais'd is the thrice holy One,Who thee hath sanctified, my son!Joy would my heart be swelling,Tears from mine eyes be welling.Would I then say, Stay with me here,Henceforth I'll murmur never;Alas! my son! wert thou but near!No, but come quickly hitherThou fiery car, and take me whereMy child and all the blessèd are,Who speak of things so glorious,O'er every ill victorious.Now be it so, I'd have it so,I'll never more deplore thee;Thou liv'st, pure joys thy heart o'erflow,Bright suns shine ever o'er thee,The suns of endless joy and rest.Live then, and be for ever bless'd,I shall, when God wills, yonderIn bliss hereafter wander.BY THE BIER OF A FRIEND.On thy bier how calm thou'rt sleepingYet thou livest, oh our crown!Watch eternal art thou keeping,Standing near thy Saviour's throne.Endless joy thy portion now!Why should tears so freely flow?What should thus in sorrow sink us?Up! aright let us bethink us!Grudge we to our friends their pleasure;When they laugh, we laugh again;Bitter tears shed without measure,When we see them sunk in pain.When we see them conq'rors come,From the cross triumphant home;When is o'er life's toil and anguish,Then no more in grief we languish.Noble heart! in peace now rest thee,Thou hast vanquish'd every foe,All afflictions that oppress'd thee,Overwhelm'd thy heart with woe;All the toil and misery,All care and anxiety,All that made thee sleep in sorrow,Wake in anguish on the morrow.God who sendeth all temptations,Knows the burden each can bear;He appoints all tribulations,Who in loving, gracious care,Sent thee every trial soreThat thou now hast triumphed o'er,Who hath strength enough to bear it,Must in larger measure share it.Hadst thou been at heart a craven,Shrinking from the chilly blast,Loving most the quiet haven,With no cloud the sky o'ercast,God, the giver of all good,Never such a grievous loadOf affliction had ordain'd thee,As dishearten'd oft and pain'd thee.Triumph now, for thou, victoriousBy the pow'r of God most high,Sonlike in thy strength so glorious,Walk'st amid the CompanyOf the city fair and new,Which the Lord hath built for you;With the angels join'st in singing,Sweetest songs from heart up-springing.Jesus bids thee cease from weepingWipes the tear-drop from thine eye;Free thy heart from sorrow keepingAll thy need doth He supply.In thy cup now running o'erWishest thou but one thing more,That thy friends who here still wanderWere thy bliss now sharing yonder.To the realms we'll come so glorious,Out of sorrow into joy;Thee with myriad saints victoriousSee in bliss without alloy.Oh! how bless'd and fair 'twill be,When we all shall dwell with Thee;When is o'er life's chequer'd story,And we reign in endless glory.OF THE LAST DAY.The time is very nearWhen, Lord, Thou wilt be hereThe signs whereof Thou'st spokenThine advent should betoken,We've seen them oft fulfillingIn number beyond telling.What shall I do then, Lord?But rest upon Thy word,The promise Thou hast givenThat Thou wilt come from heaven,Me from the grave deliverAnd from all woe for ever.Ah! Jesus Christ, how fairWilt be my portion there!The welcome Thou'lt address me,Thy glances, how they'll bless me,When I the earth forsaking,My flight to Thee am taking.Ah! what will be the wordThou'lt speak, my Shepherd Lord!What will be then Thy greeting,Me and my brethren meeting?Thy members Thou wilt own us,And near Thyself enthrone us.And in that blessèd hour,How shall I have the pow'rMine eyelids dry of keeping,How tears of joy from weepingRefrain, that flowing overMy cheeks, like floods would cover?And what a beauteous lightWill from Thy face so brightBeam on me, then in heaven,When sight of Thee is given,Thy goodness then me filling,Joy will my breast be swelling.I'll see then and adoreThy body bruisèd sore,Whereon our faith is founded,The prints of nails that woundedThy hands and feet be greeting,Thy gaze with rapture meeting.Thou, Lord, alone dost knowThe joys so pure that flowIn life's unfailing riverIn paradise for ever,Thou can'st portray, and show them:By faith alone I know them.What I've believ'd stands sure,Remaineth aye secure;My part the wealth surpasseth;The richest here amasseth;All other wealth decayethMy portion ever stayeth.My God, my fairest Part!How will my bounding heartWith joy be overflowing,Praise evermore renewing,When through the door of heavenBy Thee is entrance given?Thou'lt say, “Come, taste and see,Oh! child, belov'd by me,Come, taste the gifts so preciousI and my Father graciousHave to bestow, come hither,In pleasure bask for ever.”Alas! thou world so poor!Of wealth, what is thy store?Mean is it to be holden,Compar'd with all the goldenCrowns and thrones Jesus placethFor whom He loves and graceth.Here is the angel's home,Bless'd spirits hither come,Here nought is heard but singing,Nought seen but joy up-springing,No cross, no death, no sorrow,No parting on the morrow.Hold! hold! my sense so weak!What dost thou think and speak,What's fathomless, art sounding?What's measureless, art bounding?Here must man's wit be bendingThe eloquent be ending.Lord! I delight in Thee,Thou ne'er shalt go from me,Thy hand in bounty givethMore than my heart conceiveth,Or I can e'er be counting,So high Thy mercy's mounting.How sad, O Lord, am I,Until I from on highSee Thee in glory hitherCome, Thine own to deliver,Wert Thou but now revealingThyself! my wish fulfilling!The time is known to Thee;It best becometh meTo be prepar'd for going,And all things so be doing,That every moment evenMy heart may be in Heaven.This grant, Lord, and me bless.That so Thy truth and graceMay keep me ever waking,That Thy day not o'ertakingMe unawares, affright me,But may, O Lord! delight me.FROM THE REVELATION OF JOHN.—CHAP. VII.By John was seen a wondrous sight,A noble light,A picture very glorious:A multitude stood 'fore him thereAll bright and fair,On heav'nly plain victorious;Their heart and moodWere full of good,That mortal manWith gold ne'er canProcure, so high 'tis o'er us.Palm branches in their hands they bore,They stood beforeThe Lamb's throne, 'fore the Saviour;Praise from their lips did ever flow,Their robes like snow,Their song still higher ever,So sweetly rang;Glad thanks they sang,And in their songThe holy throngOf angels joinèd ever.“Who,” said the wond'ring John, “are theyIn white array,Whom now I see before me?”“They are,” said one from out the crowdThat round him stood,One of the elders hoary,“They're men, my son,Who fought and wonThe fight of faith,Despis'd the scath,Attain'd the prize of glory.“They're those who on the earth below,Long, long ago,Pass'd through great tribulation;Who for the honour of their LordAnd of His word,All grief and all vexation,From blame all freeBut patiently,Though smarting soreBy God's help bore,O'ercame with exultation.“They wash'd their robes and made them white(Their hearts were right),In faith's bath them renewing,And they resisted evermoreWith all their pow'rHell's art, it quite subduing,Did aye derideEarth's pomp and pride,Chose Jesu's bloodAs their chief good,All other good eschewing.“And therefore with their doings, theyStand there for aye,Where God's fair temple's standing,The temple where they night and dayPraise God for aye,His glorious name commending.There do they liveWith nought to grieve,From toil all freeJoys taste and see,That never know an ending.“There in His dwelling sitteth GodAnd spreads abroadHis goodness as a cover,There with bliss manifold is bless'dIn quiet rest,The wearied whose life's over;What pleasure gives,The heart relieves,The longing stills,And the eye fills,In full bloom stands there ever.“No thirst, nor hunger there, no need;The heav'nly breadAll wants aye satisfieth;And shineth there the sun no moreIn too great pow'r,Its light pure joy supplieth;Heav'n's sun so brightAnd heart's delight,Is our great LordThe living Word,Who no good thing denieth.”The Lamb His flock will ever feedE'en as they need,In pastures never wasting;He will them to the fountain bring,Whence ever springStreams of life everlasting;And certainlyNe'er rest will He,Till wash'd awayAll tears for ayeAre, and His bliss we're tasting.LONDON:PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

Miscellaneous.SUMMER SONG.Go forth, my heart, and seek delightIn this summer time so bright,The bounties God displayeth,The garden's splendour go and see,Behold how God for me and theeThem gorgeously arrayeth.The trees with leaves are cover'd o'er,The earth with carpet spreads her floorOf green, all fresh and tender,The tulip and narcissus wearAttire of finer texture fairThan Solomon in splendour.The lark aspiring soars on high,Flies from her cleft the dove so shy,And seeks the woodland shadow;The nightingale with song so rareDelights and fills the ev'ning airO'er mountain, vale, and meadow.Leads forth her little brood the hen,The stork builds near the haunts of men,And feed their young the swallows;The stag so swift, the roe so lightOf foot, come bounding from the heightInto the grassy hollows.The brooklets murmur in the sand,And fringe the edge on either handWith myrtle rich in shadow;The shepherds and the sheep rejoice,In joy and mirth you hear their voiceSound from the neighb'ring meadow.The bee through all the live-long hours,Unwearied roams among the flow'rs,Its precious stores to gather;The strong juice of the vine each hourIs ever gaining strength and pow'rThis glorious summer weather.While springeth fast the precious grain,The young and old exult again,Praise Him with all their powers,Whose benefits unceasing are,With gifts so manifold and rareWho human nature dowers.I cannot rest, I never dare,In my Creator's gracious careMy inmost soul rejoices,To God most High, when all things raiseA song of universal praise,My voice shall join their voices.Methinks it is so pleasant here,All things so beautiful appearIn this our poor world even;What will it be when earth we leave,And at its golden gates receiveGlad welcome into Heaven?What purest light, what ecstasy,Will in the Saviour's garden be!How will it sound when 'fore Thee,All with united heart and voice,Ten thousand seraphins rejoiceAnd rev'rently adore Thee.Ah! blessèd God, oh! were I thereBefore Thy throne, and did I bearMy branch of palm victorious,As angels do, my voice I'd raiseThine ever blessèd name to praise,In songs of triumph glorious.But though I still am dwelling here,And still the body's burden bear,Can I be silent?—Never!My heart, no matter where I be,Or here or there, shall bend to Thee,In adoration ever.Help! Lord, my soul with blessings crown,With blessings that from Heav'n flow down,That I may blossom ever!And may the summer of Thy graceCause fruits of faith to grow apace,Fruits that shall wither never.And may Thy Spirit dwell in me,May I a good branch ever beIngrafted in the Saviour!In Thine own garden may I beTo Thy name's praise a goodly tree,Implanted by Thy favour!Grant me Thy paradise to share,And more fruit may I ever bearWhile I am going thither.Thine honour, Lord, to me is dear,Thee and Thee only shall I hereAnd yonder serve for ever.OCCASIONED BY GREAT AND UNSEASONABLE RAIN.O God! who dost Heav'n's sceptre wieldWhat is it that now makes our field,And everything that it doth bear,Such sad and ruin'd aspect wear?Nought else, in truth, but that the bandOf men from Thee on every handHave fallen utterly away,Their guilt increasing every day.They who as God's own propertyHis name should praise continually,And of God's word should love the light,Like heathen are involv'd in night.The Heav'ns are all with darkness clad,The firmament's clear light doth fade;We wait to see the light againAt dawn of day, but wait in vain.In ceaseless strifes involv'd men are,In every place is fearful war,In every corner hate and spite,Contentions every class delight.The elements o'er all the landAre stretching out 'gainst us the hand,And troubles from the sea arise,And troubles come down from the skies.It is a time of anguish sore,For hunted, plagued their time beforeThe people are into the grave,No rest to them do they vouchsafe.The source of joy becometh sad,The sun hath ceas'd to make us glad,And all at once the clouds descend,Shed tears that never seem to end.Ah, child of man! go weep alone,Thy many grievous sins bemoan,Henceforward from thy crimes refrain,Repent, and be thou clean again.Fall on thy knees, thyself now throwOn God, that He may mercy show,That His deservèd wrath may beBy Him to grace turn'd speedily.He's faithful, and aye true will be,Nought else desireth but that weWith reverence and godly fearTo seek His mercy should draw near.Ah! Father, Father, hear our cry,Redeem us, 'neath sin's yoke we lie,From out the world drawn may we be,And Thou Thyself turn us to Thee.Subdue Thou our rebellious mood,And make us, sinners, pure and good;Whom Thou dost turn, soon turn'd is he,Who heareth Thee, is heard by Thee!And let Thine eye now friendly be,The anguish'd cry that reacheth TheeFrom earth, from our sad hearts, O Lord,With gracious ear do Thou regard.Wrath's black robe tear off with Thy handAnd comfort Thou us and our land,And may the genial sun shine forthAnd ripen the fair fruits of earth.And, Lord, as long as we may liveOur daily bread in bounty give,And when the end of time we seeThe bread give of eternity!THANKSGIVING FOR GRACIOUS SUNSHINE.Now gone is all the rain,Rejoice my heart again,Sing after times of sadnessTo God thy Lord with gladness!Our God His heart hath turnèdOur pray'r He hath not spurnèd.On sea and on our landOutstretchèd was His hand,In anger us addressing;He said, “Ye're aye transgressing,In ways of sin ye wander,Nor ever turn, nor ponder.“So shall my Heaven's lightIts countenance so brightWith robe of blackness cover,With dark clouds be spread over;No longer shine in gloryBut shall be weeping o'er thee.”Appeas'd His wrath our sighsThat to His ears did rise,For He forgetteth neverHis mercy that dures ever,His Spirit tow'rd us yearning,His anger ceas'd from burning.The clouds away then sped,The path the damp winds tread,From whence the rain descended,Was clos'd, the torrents ended,And from the deeps of HeavenNo waters more were given.Now wearied field awayThy robe of sadness lay,Arise from out thy sadnessAnd let us hear with gladnessThee songs of summer raising,Thy great Creator praising.The glorious sun, see there,Comes forth again so fair,With blessings earth doth cover;Now all the rains are over,Hills, valleys are receivingIts wondrous beams life-giving.The earth's reviv'd again;What drown'd was by the rainWill once again be livingAnd precious fruit be giving,The fields good wheat forth bringing,In meadows grass be springing.The trees so very fairFruit-laden will stand there;From hill-sides like a riverWill wine and oil flow ever;In warm and quiet weatherWill bees their honey gather.Our portion He will giveWho in the Heav'ns doth live.He'll bounteously bestow it,We shall partake and know it;And what earth will supply usWill amply satisfy us.God faithful is and true,His mercy's ever new,His anger soon is turnèd.He gives what we've ne'er earnèdHe doth Himself discoverTo us, our sins looks over.O man! direct thy ways,And all thou dost, to praiseThy Master's love and favour,So that thy heart may neverHis faithful heart be grieving,To Him offence be giving!THE WONDERFUL ESTATE OF MATRIMONY.[10]Full of wonder, full of art,Full of wisdom, full of pow'r,Full of kindness, grace, and heart,Full of comfort flowing o'er,Full of wonder, still I say,Is Love's chaste and gentle sway.Those who've never met before,Ne'er each other known nor seen,Never in the idlest hourThus employ'd their thoughts have been,Yet whose hearts and hands in loveTieth God who lives above!His child doththisfather guide,Thatone traineth his each day,Each their special wind and tideSpeed upon their sep'rate way,When the time appointed's there,Lo! they're a well-mated pair!Here grows up a prudent son,And a noble daughter there;One will be the other's crown,One the other's rest from careEach will be the other's light,But from both 'tis hidden quite,Till it's pleasing in His sightWho the world holds in His pow'r,To all giveth what is rightFreely in th' appointed hour;Then appears in word and deedWhat hath been by Him decreed.Then Ahasuerus' eyeFirst doth quiet Esther see;To where Sara peacefullyDwells, Tobias leadeth He;David then, with pliant will,Fetcheth prudent Abigail.Jacob flees from Esau's face,And he meeteth Rachel fair;Joseph in a foreign placeServes, and winneth Asnath there;Moses did with Jethro stay,And bore Zipporah away.Each one taketh, each doth findWhat the Lord doth choose for him;What in Heaven is design'd,Comes to pass on earth in time.And whatever happens thusOrder'd wisely is for us.This or that might better be,Oft this foolish thought is ours;But as midnight utterlyFails to be like noonday's hours,So the feeble mind of manGod's great wisdom cannot scan.Whom God joins together live,What the best is knoweth He,Our thoughts only can deceive,His from all defects are free;God's work standeth firm for aye,When all other must decay.Look at pious children whoEnter'd have the holy state,How well for them God doth do,See what joys upon them wait;To their doings God doth sendEvermore a happy end.Of their virtues the renownBlossometh for evermore,As a shadow when is goneOf all other love the flow'r;When truth faileth everywhere,Their's still bloometh fresh and fair,Fresh their love is evermore,Ever doth its youth renew,Love their table covers o'er,Sweetens all they say and do.Love their hearts aye giveth rest,When they're burden'd and oppress'd.Though things oft go crookedly,Even then this love is still,Can the cross bear patiently,Thinking 'tis the Father's will.From this thought doth comfort taste,Better days will come at lastMeanwhile streams of blessing givesGod with bounty rich and free,Mind and body He relieves,And the house too foundeth He;What is small and men despise,Makes He great and multiplies.And when all is over hereThat the Lord designs in love,For His faithful children dear,Taketh them to courts above,And with great delight in graceFolds them in His warm embrace.Now 'tis ever full of heart,Full of comfort flowing o'er,Full of wonder, full of art,Full of wisdom, full of pow'r,Full of wonder, still I say,Is love's chaste and gentle sway.[10]This song used to be sung in Germany after wedding dinners, and in some places on the way to church before solemnization.SONG OF CONSOLATION FOR MARRIED CHRISTIANS.Oh, Jesus Christ! how bright and fairThe state of holy marriage whereThy blessing rich is givenWhat gracious gifts Thou dost bestow,What streams of blessing ever flowDown from Thy holy heaven,When theyTrue stayTo Thee ever,Leave Thee never,Whose troth plighted,In one life have been united.When man and wife are mated well,In harmony together dwell,Are faithful to each other,The streams of bliss flow constantlyWhat bliss of angels is on highFrom hence may we discover;No storm,No wormCan destroy it,Can e'er gnaw it,What God givethTo the pair that in Him liveth.He giveth of His grace the boon,And in its bosom late and soonHis own belov'd He keepeth,His arms He daily spreadeth o'er,Guards as a Father by His pow'rUs and our house, nor sleepeth.Still weMust beHere and thitherRoaming ever,Till He gives usPious homes, and thus relieves us.The husband's like a goodly treeWhose branches spread so fair and free;The wife a vine that givethMuch fruit, and nurtures what it bears,Whose fruit increaseth with the years,Fruit that remains and liveth.Jewel,All hail!Husband's treasure!House's pleasure!Crown of honour!On His throne God thinketh on her.O wife! the Lord hath chosen theeThat from thy womb brought forth should beThe folk His church that buildeth;His wondrous work goes on for aye,The mighty word His mouth doth say,What thou beholdest, yieldeth,Sons fairStand there,Daughters sittingWorking, knitting,Finely spinning,And with art time wisely winning.Be of good cheer, it was not weWho first this order did decree,It was a higher Father,Who lov'd and loveth us for aye,And from whose lips when griev'd each dayWe friendly counsel gather;Good endHe'll send,What we're doingAnd pursuing,Or conceivingWise and happy issue giving.A time will come, it cannot fail,When we 'neath trials sore shall quail,And tears be freely flowing;To him who bears it patiently,By God's grace shall his sorrow beTurn'd into joy o'erflowing.Toil now,Wait thou,He arrivethWho rest giveth,Who can everBanish care and soon deliver.Come hither then, my King so bless'd!In trials guide, in pain give rest,In anxious times relieving!To Thee we shall ascribe the praise,Our hearts and voices we shall raiseIn one loud song, thanks giving,Till weWith TheeEver dwelling,And fulfillingThy will ever,Thy name cease to praise shall never.

SUMMER SONG.Go forth, my heart, and seek delightIn this summer time so bright,The bounties God displayeth,The garden's splendour go and see,Behold how God for me and theeThem gorgeously arrayeth.The trees with leaves are cover'd o'er,The earth with carpet spreads her floorOf green, all fresh and tender,The tulip and narcissus wearAttire of finer texture fairThan Solomon in splendour.The lark aspiring soars on high,Flies from her cleft the dove so shy,And seeks the woodland shadow;The nightingale with song so rareDelights and fills the ev'ning airO'er mountain, vale, and meadow.Leads forth her little brood the hen,The stork builds near the haunts of men,And feed their young the swallows;The stag so swift, the roe so lightOf foot, come bounding from the heightInto the grassy hollows.The brooklets murmur in the sand,And fringe the edge on either handWith myrtle rich in shadow;The shepherds and the sheep rejoice,In joy and mirth you hear their voiceSound from the neighb'ring meadow.The bee through all the live-long hours,Unwearied roams among the flow'rs,Its precious stores to gather;The strong juice of the vine each hourIs ever gaining strength and pow'rThis glorious summer weather.While springeth fast the precious grain,The young and old exult again,Praise Him with all their powers,Whose benefits unceasing are,With gifts so manifold and rareWho human nature dowers.I cannot rest, I never dare,In my Creator's gracious careMy inmost soul rejoices,To God most High, when all things raiseA song of universal praise,My voice shall join their voices.Methinks it is so pleasant here,All things so beautiful appearIn this our poor world even;What will it be when earth we leave,And at its golden gates receiveGlad welcome into Heaven?What purest light, what ecstasy,Will in the Saviour's garden be!How will it sound when 'fore Thee,All with united heart and voice,Ten thousand seraphins rejoiceAnd rev'rently adore Thee.Ah! blessèd God, oh! were I thereBefore Thy throne, and did I bearMy branch of palm victorious,As angels do, my voice I'd raiseThine ever blessèd name to praise,In songs of triumph glorious.But though I still am dwelling here,And still the body's burden bear,Can I be silent?—Never!My heart, no matter where I be,Or here or there, shall bend to Thee,In adoration ever.Help! Lord, my soul with blessings crown,With blessings that from Heav'n flow down,That I may blossom ever!And may the summer of Thy graceCause fruits of faith to grow apace,Fruits that shall wither never.And may Thy Spirit dwell in me,May I a good branch ever beIngrafted in the Saviour!In Thine own garden may I beTo Thy name's praise a goodly tree,Implanted by Thy favour!Grant me Thy paradise to share,And more fruit may I ever bearWhile I am going thither.Thine honour, Lord, to me is dear,Thee and Thee only shall I hereAnd yonder serve for ever.

Go forth, my heart, and seek delightIn this summer time so bright,The bounties God displayeth,The garden's splendour go and see,Behold how God for me and theeThem gorgeously arrayeth.

Go forth, my heart, and seek delight

In this summer time so bright,

The bounties God displayeth,

The garden's splendour go and see,

Behold how God for me and thee

Them gorgeously arrayeth.

The trees with leaves are cover'd o'er,The earth with carpet spreads her floorOf green, all fresh and tender,The tulip and narcissus wearAttire of finer texture fairThan Solomon in splendour.

The trees with leaves are cover'd o'er,

The earth with carpet spreads her floor

Of green, all fresh and tender,

The tulip and narcissus wear

Attire of finer texture fair

Than Solomon in splendour.

The lark aspiring soars on high,Flies from her cleft the dove so shy,And seeks the woodland shadow;The nightingale with song so rareDelights and fills the ev'ning airO'er mountain, vale, and meadow.

The lark aspiring soars on high,

Flies from her cleft the dove so shy,

And seeks the woodland shadow;

The nightingale with song so rare

Delights and fills the ev'ning air

O'er mountain, vale, and meadow.

Leads forth her little brood the hen,The stork builds near the haunts of men,And feed their young the swallows;The stag so swift, the roe so lightOf foot, come bounding from the heightInto the grassy hollows.

Leads forth her little brood the hen,

The stork builds near the haunts of men,

And feed their young the swallows;

The stag so swift, the roe so light

Of foot, come bounding from the height

Into the grassy hollows.

The brooklets murmur in the sand,And fringe the edge on either handWith myrtle rich in shadow;The shepherds and the sheep rejoice,In joy and mirth you hear their voiceSound from the neighb'ring meadow.

The brooklets murmur in the sand,

And fringe the edge on either hand

With myrtle rich in shadow;

The shepherds and the sheep rejoice,

In joy and mirth you hear their voice

Sound from the neighb'ring meadow.

The bee through all the live-long hours,Unwearied roams among the flow'rs,Its precious stores to gather;The strong juice of the vine each hourIs ever gaining strength and pow'rThis glorious summer weather.

The bee through all the live-long hours,

Unwearied roams among the flow'rs,

Its precious stores to gather;

The strong juice of the vine each hour

Is ever gaining strength and pow'r

This glorious summer weather.

While springeth fast the precious grain,The young and old exult again,Praise Him with all their powers,Whose benefits unceasing are,With gifts so manifold and rareWho human nature dowers.

While springeth fast the precious grain,

The young and old exult again,

Praise Him with all their powers,

Whose benefits unceasing are,

With gifts so manifold and rare

Who human nature dowers.

I cannot rest, I never dare,In my Creator's gracious careMy inmost soul rejoices,To God most High, when all things raiseA song of universal praise,My voice shall join their voices.

I cannot rest, I never dare,

In my Creator's gracious care

My inmost soul rejoices,

To God most High, when all things raise

A song of universal praise,

My voice shall join their voices.

Methinks it is so pleasant here,All things so beautiful appearIn this our poor world even;What will it be when earth we leave,And at its golden gates receiveGlad welcome into Heaven?

Methinks it is so pleasant here,

All things so beautiful appear

In this our poor world even;

What will it be when earth we leave,

And at its golden gates receive

Glad welcome into Heaven?

What purest light, what ecstasy,Will in the Saviour's garden be!How will it sound when 'fore Thee,All with united heart and voice,Ten thousand seraphins rejoiceAnd rev'rently adore Thee.

What purest light, what ecstasy,

Will in the Saviour's garden be!

How will it sound when 'fore Thee,

All with united heart and voice,

Ten thousand seraphins rejoice

And rev'rently adore Thee.

Ah! blessèd God, oh! were I thereBefore Thy throne, and did I bearMy branch of palm victorious,As angels do, my voice I'd raiseThine ever blessèd name to praise,In songs of triumph glorious.

Ah! blessèd God, oh! were I there

Before Thy throne, and did I bear

My branch of palm victorious,

As angels do, my voice I'd raise

Thine ever blessèd name to praise,

In songs of triumph glorious.

But though I still am dwelling here,And still the body's burden bear,Can I be silent?—Never!My heart, no matter where I be,Or here or there, shall bend to Thee,In adoration ever.

But though I still am dwelling here,

And still the body's burden bear,

Can I be silent?—Never!

My heart, no matter where I be,

Or here or there, shall bend to Thee,

In adoration ever.

Help! Lord, my soul with blessings crown,With blessings that from Heav'n flow down,That I may blossom ever!And may the summer of Thy graceCause fruits of faith to grow apace,Fruits that shall wither never.

Help! Lord, my soul with blessings crown,

With blessings that from Heav'n flow down,

That I may blossom ever!

And may the summer of Thy grace

Cause fruits of faith to grow apace,

Fruits that shall wither never.

And may Thy Spirit dwell in me,May I a good branch ever beIngrafted in the Saviour!In Thine own garden may I beTo Thy name's praise a goodly tree,Implanted by Thy favour!

And may Thy Spirit dwell in me,

May I a good branch ever be

Ingrafted in the Saviour!

In Thine own garden may I be

To Thy name's praise a goodly tree,

Implanted by Thy favour!

Grant me Thy paradise to share,And more fruit may I ever bearWhile I am going thither.Thine honour, Lord, to me is dear,Thee and Thee only shall I hereAnd yonder serve for ever.

Grant me Thy paradise to share,

And more fruit may I ever bear

While I am going thither.

Thine honour, Lord, to me is dear,

Thee and Thee only shall I here

And yonder serve for ever.

OCCASIONED BY GREAT AND UNSEASONABLE RAIN.O God! who dost Heav'n's sceptre wieldWhat is it that now makes our field,And everything that it doth bear,Such sad and ruin'd aspect wear?Nought else, in truth, but that the bandOf men from Thee on every handHave fallen utterly away,Their guilt increasing every day.They who as God's own propertyHis name should praise continually,And of God's word should love the light,Like heathen are involv'd in night.The Heav'ns are all with darkness clad,The firmament's clear light doth fade;We wait to see the light againAt dawn of day, but wait in vain.In ceaseless strifes involv'd men are,In every place is fearful war,In every corner hate and spite,Contentions every class delight.The elements o'er all the landAre stretching out 'gainst us the hand,And troubles from the sea arise,And troubles come down from the skies.It is a time of anguish sore,For hunted, plagued their time beforeThe people are into the grave,No rest to them do they vouchsafe.The source of joy becometh sad,The sun hath ceas'd to make us glad,And all at once the clouds descend,Shed tears that never seem to end.Ah, child of man! go weep alone,Thy many grievous sins bemoan,Henceforward from thy crimes refrain,Repent, and be thou clean again.Fall on thy knees, thyself now throwOn God, that He may mercy show,That His deservèd wrath may beBy Him to grace turn'd speedily.He's faithful, and aye true will be,Nought else desireth but that weWith reverence and godly fearTo seek His mercy should draw near.Ah! Father, Father, hear our cry,Redeem us, 'neath sin's yoke we lie,From out the world drawn may we be,And Thou Thyself turn us to Thee.Subdue Thou our rebellious mood,And make us, sinners, pure and good;Whom Thou dost turn, soon turn'd is he,Who heareth Thee, is heard by Thee!And let Thine eye now friendly be,The anguish'd cry that reacheth TheeFrom earth, from our sad hearts, O Lord,With gracious ear do Thou regard.Wrath's black robe tear off with Thy handAnd comfort Thou us and our land,And may the genial sun shine forthAnd ripen the fair fruits of earth.And, Lord, as long as we may liveOur daily bread in bounty give,And when the end of time we seeThe bread give of eternity!

O God! who dost Heav'n's sceptre wieldWhat is it that now makes our field,And everything that it doth bear,Such sad and ruin'd aspect wear?

O God! who dost Heav'n's sceptre wield

What is it that now makes our field,

And everything that it doth bear,

Such sad and ruin'd aspect wear?

Nought else, in truth, but that the bandOf men from Thee on every handHave fallen utterly away,Their guilt increasing every day.

Nought else, in truth, but that the band

Of men from Thee on every hand

Have fallen utterly away,

Their guilt increasing every day.

They who as God's own propertyHis name should praise continually,And of God's word should love the light,Like heathen are involv'd in night.

They who as God's own property

His name should praise continually,

And of God's word should love the light,

Like heathen are involv'd in night.

The Heav'ns are all with darkness clad,The firmament's clear light doth fade;We wait to see the light againAt dawn of day, but wait in vain.

The Heav'ns are all with darkness clad,

The firmament's clear light doth fade;

We wait to see the light again

At dawn of day, but wait in vain.

In ceaseless strifes involv'd men are,In every place is fearful war,In every corner hate and spite,Contentions every class delight.

In ceaseless strifes involv'd men are,

In every place is fearful war,

In every corner hate and spite,

Contentions every class delight.

The elements o'er all the landAre stretching out 'gainst us the hand,And troubles from the sea arise,And troubles come down from the skies.

The elements o'er all the land

Are stretching out 'gainst us the hand,

And troubles from the sea arise,

And troubles come down from the skies.

It is a time of anguish sore,For hunted, plagued their time beforeThe people are into the grave,No rest to them do they vouchsafe.

It is a time of anguish sore,

For hunted, plagued their time before

The people are into the grave,

No rest to them do they vouchsafe.

The source of joy becometh sad,The sun hath ceas'd to make us glad,And all at once the clouds descend,Shed tears that never seem to end.

The source of joy becometh sad,

The sun hath ceas'd to make us glad,

And all at once the clouds descend,

Shed tears that never seem to end.

Ah, child of man! go weep alone,Thy many grievous sins bemoan,Henceforward from thy crimes refrain,Repent, and be thou clean again.

Ah, child of man! go weep alone,

Thy many grievous sins bemoan,

Henceforward from thy crimes refrain,

Repent, and be thou clean again.

Fall on thy knees, thyself now throwOn God, that He may mercy show,That His deservèd wrath may beBy Him to grace turn'd speedily.

Fall on thy knees, thyself now throw

On God, that He may mercy show,

That His deservèd wrath may be

By Him to grace turn'd speedily.

He's faithful, and aye true will be,Nought else desireth but that weWith reverence and godly fearTo seek His mercy should draw near.

He's faithful, and aye true will be,

Nought else desireth but that we

With reverence and godly fear

To seek His mercy should draw near.

Ah! Father, Father, hear our cry,Redeem us, 'neath sin's yoke we lie,From out the world drawn may we be,And Thou Thyself turn us to Thee.

Ah! Father, Father, hear our cry,

Redeem us, 'neath sin's yoke we lie,

From out the world drawn may we be,

And Thou Thyself turn us to Thee.

Subdue Thou our rebellious mood,And make us, sinners, pure and good;Whom Thou dost turn, soon turn'd is he,Who heareth Thee, is heard by Thee!

Subdue Thou our rebellious mood,

And make us, sinners, pure and good;

Whom Thou dost turn, soon turn'd is he,

Who heareth Thee, is heard by Thee!

And let Thine eye now friendly be,The anguish'd cry that reacheth TheeFrom earth, from our sad hearts, O Lord,With gracious ear do Thou regard.

And let Thine eye now friendly be,

The anguish'd cry that reacheth Thee

From earth, from our sad hearts, O Lord,

With gracious ear do Thou regard.

Wrath's black robe tear off with Thy handAnd comfort Thou us and our land,And may the genial sun shine forthAnd ripen the fair fruits of earth.

Wrath's black robe tear off with Thy hand

And comfort Thou us and our land,

And may the genial sun shine forth

And ripen the fair fruits of earth.

And, Lord, as long as we may liveOur daily bread in bounty give,And when the end of time we seeThe bread give of eternity!

And, Lord, as long as we may live

Our daily bread in bounty give,

And when the end of time we see

The bread give of eternity!

THANKSGIVING FOR GRACIOUS SUNSHINE.Now gone is all the rain,Rejoice my heart again,Sing after times of sadnessTo God thy Lord with gladness!Our God His heart hath turnèdOur pray'r He hath not spurnèd.On sea and on our landOutstretchèd was His hand,In anger us addressing;He said, “Ye're aye transgressing,In ways of sin ye wander,Nor ever turn, nor ponder.“So shall my Heaven's lightIts countenance so brightWith robe of blackness cover,With dark clouds be spread over;No longer shine in gloryBut shall be weeping o'er thee.”Appeas'd His wrath our sighsThat to His ears did rise,For He forgetteth neverHis mercy that dures ever,His Spirit tow'rd us yearning,His anger ceas'd from burning.The clouds away then sped,The path the damp winds tread,From whence the rain descended,Was clos'd, the torrents ended,And from the deeps of HeavenNo waters more were given.Now wearied field awayThy robe of sadness lay,Arise from out thy sadnessAnd let us hear with gladnessThee songs of summer raising,Thy great Creator praising.The glorious sun, see there,Comes forth again so fair,With blessings earth doth cover;Now all the rains are over,Hills, valleys are receivingIts wondrous beams life-giving.The earth's reviv'd again;What drown'd was by the rainWill once again be livingAnd precious fruit be giving,The fields good wheat forth bringing,In meadows grass be springing.The trees so very fairFruit-laden will stand there;From hill-sides like a riverWill wine and oil flow ever;In warm and quiet weatherWill bees their honey gather.Our portion He will giveWho in the Heav'ns doth live.He'll bounteously bestow it,We shall partake and know it;And what earth will supply usWill amply satisfy us.God faithful is and true,His mercy's ever new,His anger soon is turnèd.He gives what we've ne'er earnèdHe doth Himself discoverTo us, our sins looks over.O man! direct thy ways,And all thou dost, to praiseThy Master's love and favour,So that thy heart may neverHis faithful heart be grieving,To Him offence be giving!

Now gone is all the rain,Rejoice my heart again,Sing after times of sadnessTo God thy Lord with gladness!Our God His heart hath turnèdOur pray'r He hath not spurnèd.

Now gone is all the rain,

Rejoice my heart again,

Sing after times of sadness

To God thy Lord with gladness!

Our God His heart hath turnèd

Our pray'r He hath not spurnèd.

On sea and on our landOutstretchèd was His hand,In anger us addressing;He said, “Ye're aye transgressing,In ways of sin ye wander,Nor ever turn, nor ponder.

On sea and on our land

Outstretchèd was His hand,

In anger us addressing;

He said, “Ye're aye transgressing,

In ways of sin ye wander,

Nor ever turn, nor ponder.

“So shall my Heaven's lightIts countenance so brightWith robe of blackness cover,With dark clouds be spread over;No longer shine in gloryBut shall be weeping o'er thee.”

“So shall my Heaven's light

Its countenance so bright

With robe of blackness cover,

With dark clouds be spread over;

No longer shine in glory

But shall be weeping o'er thee.”

Appeas'd His wrath our sighsThat to His ears did rise,For He forgetteth neverHis mercy that dures ever,His Spirit tow'rd us yearning,His anger ceas'd from burning.

Appeas'd His wrath our sighs

That to His ears did rise,

For He forgetteth never

His mercy that dures ever,

His Spirit tow'rd us yearning,

His anger ceas'd from burning.

The clouds away then sped,The path the damp winds tread,From whence the rain descended,Was clos'd, the torrents ended,And from the deeps of HeavenNo waters more were given.

The clouds away then sped,

The path the damp winds tread,

From whence the rain descended,

Was clos'd, the torrents ended,

And from the deeps of Heaven

No waters more were given.

Now wearied field awayThy robe of sadness lay,Arise from out thy sadnessAnd let us hear with gladnessThee songs of summer raising,Thy great Creator praising.

Now wearied field away

Thy robe of sadness lay,

Arise from out thy sadness

And let us hear with gladness

Thee songs of summer raising,

Thy great Creator praising.

The glorious sun, see there,Comes forth again so fair,With blessings earth doth cover;Now all the rains are over,Hills, valleys are receivingIts wondrous beams life-giving.

The glorious sun, see there,

Comes forth again so fair,

With blessings earth doth cover;

Now all the rains are over,

Hills, valleys are receiving

Its wondrous beams life-giving.

The earth's reviv'd again;What drown'd was by the rainWill once again be livingAnd precious fruit be giving,The fields good wheat forth bringing,In meadows grass be springing.

The earth's reviv'd again;

What drown'd was by the rain

Will once again be living

And precious fruit be giving,

The fields good wheat forth bringing,

In meadows grass be springing.

The trees so very fairFruit-laden will stand there;From hill-sides like a riverWill wine and oil flow ever;In warm and quiet weatherWill bees their honey gather.

The trees so very fair

Fruit-laden will stand there;

From hill-sides like a river

Will wine and oil flow ever;

In warm and quiet weather

Will bees their honey gather.

Our portion He will giveWho in the Heav'ns doth live.He'll bounteously bestow it,We shall partake and know it;And what earth will supply usWill amply satisfy us.

Our portion He will give

Who in the Heav'ns doth live.

He'll bounteously bestow it,

We shall partake and know it;

And what earth will supply us

Will amply satisfy us.

God faithful is and true,His mercy's ever new,His anger soon is turnèd.He gives what we've ne'er earnèdHe doth Himself discoverTo us, our sins looks over.

God faithful is and true,

His mercy's ever new,

His anger soon is turnèd.

He gives what we've ne'er earnèd

He doth Himself discover

To us, our sins looks over.

O man! direct thy ways,And all thou dost, to praiseThy Master's love and favour,So that thy heart may neverHis faithful heart be grieving,To Him offence be giving!

O man! direct thy ways,

And all thou dost, to praise

Thy Master's love and favour,

So that thy heart may never

His faithful heart be grieving,

To Him offence be giving!

THE WONDERFUL ESTATE OF MATRIMONY.[10]Full of wonder, full of art,Full of wisdom, full of pow'r,Full of kindness, grace, and heart,Full of comfort flowing o'er,Full of wonder, still I say,Is Love's chaste and gentle sway.Those who've never met before,Ne'er each other known nor seen,Never in the idlest hourThus employ'd their thoughts have been,Yet whose hearts and hands in loveTieth God who lives above!His child doththisfather guide,Thatone traineth his each day,Each their special wind and tideSpeed upon their sep'rate way,When the time appointed's there,Lo! they're a well-mated pair!Here grows up a prudent son,And a noble daughter there;One will be the other's crown,One the other's rest from careEach will be the other's light,But from both 'tis hidden quite,Till it's pleasing in His sightWho the world holds in His pow'r,To all giveth what is rightFreely in th' appointed hour;Then appears in word and deedWhat hath been by Him decreed.Then Ahasuerus' eyeFirst doth quiet Esther see;To where Sara peacefullyDwells, Tobias leadeth He;David then, with pliant will,Fetcheth prudent Abigail.Jacob flees from Esau's face,And he meeteth Rachel fair;Joseph in a foreign placeServes, and winneth Asnath there;Moses did with Jethro stay,And bore Zipporah away.Each one taketh, each doth findWhat the Lord doth choose for him;What in Heaven is design'd,Comes to pass on earth in time.And whatever happens thusOrder'd wisely is for us.This or that might better be,Oft this foolish thought is ours;But as midnight utterlyFails to be like noonday's hours,So the feeble mind of manGod's great wisdom cannot scan.Whom God joins together live,What the best is knoweth He,Our thoughts only can deceive,His from all defects are free;God's work standeth firm for aye,When all other must decay.Look at pious children whoEnter'd have the holy state,How well for them God doth do,See what joys upon them wait;To their doings God doth sendEvermore a happy end.Of their virtues the renownBlossometh for evermore,As a shadow when is goneOf all other love the flow'r;When truth faileth everywhere,Their's still bloometh fresh and fair,Fresh their love is evermore,Ever doth its youth renew,Love their table covers o'er,Sweetens all they say and do.Love their hearts aye giveth rest,When they're burden'd and oppress'd.Though things oft go crookedly,Even then this love is still,Can the cross bear patiently,Thinking 'tis the Father's will.From this thought doth comfort taste,Better days will come at lastMeanwhile streams of blessing givesGod with bounty rich and free,Mind and body He relieves,And the house too foundeth He;What is small and men despise,Makes He great and multiplies.And when all is over hereThat the Lord designs in love,For His faithful children dear,Taketh them to courts above,And with great delight in graceFolds them in His warm embrace.Now 'tis ever full of heart,Full of comfort flowing o'er,Full of wonder, full of art,Full of wisdom, full of pow'r,Full of wonder, still I say,Is love's chaste and gentle sway.[10]This song used to be sung in Germany after wedding dinners, and in some places on the way to church before solemnization.

Full of wonder, full of art,Full of wisdom, full of pow'r,Full of kindness, grace, and heart,Full of comfort flowing o'er,Full of wonder, still I say,Is Love's chaste and gentle sway.

Full of wonder, full of art,

Full of wisdom, full of pow'r,

Full of kindness, grace, and heart,

Full of comfort flowing o'er,

Full of wonder, still I say,

Is Love's chaste and gentle sway.

Those who've never met before,Ne'er each other known nor seen,Never in the idlest hourThus employ'd their thoughts have been,Yet whose hearts and hands in loveTieth God who lives above!

Those who've never met before,

Ne'er each other known nor seen,

Never in the idlest hour

Thus employ'd their thoughts have been,

Yet whose hearts and hands in love

Tieth God who lives above!

His child doththisfather guide,Thatone traineth his each day,Each their special wind and tideSpeed upon their sep'rate way,When the time appointed's there,Lo! they're a well-mated pair!

His child doththisfather guide,

Thatone traineth his each day,

Each their special wind and tide

Speed upon their sep'rate way,

When the time appointed's there,

Lo! they're a well-mated pair!

Here grows up a prudent son,And a noble daughter there;One will be the other's crown,One the other's rest from careEach will be the other's light,But from both 'tis hidden quite,

Here grows up a prudent son,

And a noble daughter there;

One will be the other's crown,

One the other's rest from care

Each will be the other's light,

But from both 'tis hidden quite,

Till it's pleasing in His sightWho the world holds in His pow'r,To all giveth what is rightFreely in th' appointed hour;Then appears in word and deedWhat hath been by Him decreed.

Till it's pleasing in His sight

Who the world holds in His pow'r,

To all giveth what is right

Freely in th' appointed hour;

Then appears in word and deed

What hath been by Him decreed.

Then Ahasuerus' eyeFirst doth quiet Esther see;To where Sara peacefullyDwells, Tobias leadeth He;David then, with pliant will,Fetcheth prudent Abigail.

Then Ahasuerus' eye

First doth quiet Esther see;

To where Sara peacefully

Dwells, Tobias leadeth He;

David then, with pliant will,

Fetcheth prudent Abigail.

Jacob flees from Esau's face,And he meeteth Rachel fair;Joseph in a foreign placeServes, and winneth Asnath there;Moses did with Jethro stay,And bore Zipporah away.

Jacob flees from Esau's face,

And he meeteth Rachel fair;

Joseph in a foreign place

Serves, and winneth Asnath there;

Moses did with Jethro stay,

And bore Zipporah away.

Each one taketh, each doth findWhat the Lord doth choose for him;What in Heaven is design'd,Comes to pass on earth in time.And whatever happens thusOrder'd wisely is for us.

Each one taketh, each doth find

What the Lord doth choose for him;

What in Heaven is design'd,

Comes to pass on earth in time.

And whatever happens thus

Order'd wisely is for us.

This or that might better be,Oft this foolish thought is ours;But as midnight utterlyFails to be like noonday's hours,So the feeble mind of manGod's great wisdom cannot scan.

This or that might better be,

Oft this foolish thought is ours;

But as midnight utterly

Fails to be like noonday's hours,

So the feeble mind of man

God's great wisdom cannot scan.

Whom God joins together live,What the best is knoweth He,Our thoughts only can deceive,His from all defects are free;God's work standeth firm for aye,When all other must decay.

Whom God joins together live,

What the best is knoweth He,

Our thoughts only can deceive,

His from all defects are free;

God's work standeth firm for aye,

When all other must decay.

Look at pious children whoEnter'd have the holy state,How well for them God doth do,See what joys upon them wait;To their doings God doth sendEvermore a happy end.

Look at pious children who

Enter'd have the holy state,

How well for them God doth do,

See what joys upon them wait;

To their doings God doth send

Evermore a happy end.

Of their virtues the renownBlossometh for evermore,As a shadow when is goneOf all other love the flow'r;When truth faileth everywhere,Their's still bloometh fresh and fair,

Of their virtues the renown

Blossometh for evermore,

As a shadow when is gone

Of all other love the flow'r;

When truth faileth everywhere,

Their's still bloometh fresh and fair,

Fresh their love is evermore,Ever doth its youth renew,Love their table covers o'er,Sweetens all they say and do.Love their hearts aye giveth rest,When they're burden'd and oppress'd.

Fresh their love is evermore,

Ever doth its youth renew,

Love their table covers o'er,

Sweetens all they say and do.

Love their hearts aye giveth rest,

When they're burden'd and oppress'd.

Though things oft go crookedly,Even then this love is still,Can the cross bear patiently,Thinking 'tis the Father's will.From this thought doth comfort taste,Better days will come at last

Though things oft go crookedly,

Even then this love is still,

Can the cross bear patiently,

Thinking 'tis the Father's will.

From this thought doth comfort taste,

Better days will come at last

Meanwhile streams of blessing givesGod with bounty rich and free,Mind and body He relieves,And the house too foundeth He;What is small and men despise,Makes He great and multiplies.

Meanwhile streams of blessing gives

God with bounty rich and free,

Mind and body He relieves,

And the house too foundeth He;

What is small and men despise,

Makes He great and multiplies.

And when all is over hereThat the Lord designs in love,For His faithful children dear,Taketh them to courts above,And with great delight in graceFolds them in His warm embrace.

And when all is over here

That the Lord designs in love,

For His faithful children dear,

Taketh them to courts above,

And with great delight in grace

Folds them in His warm embrace.

Now 'tis ever full of heart,Full of comfort flowing o'er,Full of wonder, full of art,Full of wisdom, full of pow'r,Full of wonder, still I say,Is love's chaste and gentle sway.

Now 'tis ever full of heart,

Full of comfort flowing o'er,

Full of wonder, full of art,

Full of wisdom, full of pow'r,

Full of wonder, still I say,

Is love's chaste and gentle sway.

[10]This song used to be sung in Germany after wedding dinners, and in some places on the way to church before solemnization.

[10]This song used to be sung in Germany after wedding dinners, and in some places on the way to church before solemnization.

SONG OF CONSOLATION FOR MARRIED CHRISTIANS.Oh, Jesus Christ! how bright and fairThe state of holy marriage whereThy blessing rich is givenWhat gracious gifts Thou dost bestow,What streams of blessing ever flowDown from Thy holy heaven,When theyTrue stayTo Thee ever,Leave Thee never,Whose troth plighted,In one life have been united.When man and wife are mated well,In harmony together dwell,Are faithful to each other,The streams of bliss flow constantlyWhat bliss of angels is on highFrom hence may we discover;No storm,No wormCan destroy it,Can e'er gnaw it,What God givethTo the pair that in Him liveth.He giveth of His grace the boon,And in its bosom late and soonHis own belov'd He keepeth,His arms He daily spreadeth o'er,Guards as a Father by His pow'rUs and our house, nor sleepeth.Still weMust beHere and thitherRoaming ever,Till He gives usPious homes, and thus relieves us.The husband's like a goodly treeWhose branches spread so fair and free;The wife a vine that givethMuch fruit, and nurtures what it bears,Whose fruit increaseth with the years,Fruit that remains and liveth.Jewel,All hail!Husband's treasure!House's pleasure!Crown of honour!On His throne God thinketh on her.O wife! the Lord hath chosen theeThat from thy womb brought forth should beThe folk His church that buildeth;His wondrous work goes on for aye,The mighty word His mouth doth say,What thou beholdest, yieldeth,Sons fairStand there,Daughters sittingWorking, knitting,Finely spinning,And with art time wisely winning.Be of good cheer, it was not weWho first this order did decree,It was a higher Father,Who lov'd and loveth us for aye,And from whose lips when griev'd each dayWe friendly counsel gather;Good endHe'll send,What we're doingAnd pursuing,Or conceivingWise and happy issue giving.A time will come, it cannot fail,When we 'neath trials sore shall quail,And tears be freely flowing;To him who bears it patiently,By God's grace shall his sorrow beTurn'd into joy o'erflowing.Toil now,Wait thou,He arrivethWho rest giveth,Who can everBanish care and soon deliver.Come hither then, my King so bless'd!In trials guide, in pain give rest,In anxious times relieving!To Thee we shall ascribe the praise,Our hearts and voices we shall raiseIn one loud song, thanks giving,Till weWith TheeEver dwelling,And fulfillingThy will ever,Thy name cease to praise shall never.

Oh, Jesus Christ! how bright and fairThe state of holy marriage whereThy blessing rich is givenWhat gracious gifts Thou dost bestow,What streams of blessing ever flowDown from Thy holy heaven,When theyTrue stayTo Thee ever,Leave Thee never,Whose troth plighted,In one life have been united.

Oh, Jesus Christ! how bright and fair

The state of holy marriage where

Thy blessing rich is given

What gracious gifts Thou dost bestow,

What streams of blessing ever flow

Down from Thy holy heaven,

When they

True stay

To Thee ever,

Leave Thee never,

Whose troth plighted,

In one life have been united.

When man and wife are mated well,In harmony together dwell,Are faithful to each other,The streams of bliss flow constantlyWhat bliss of angels is on highFrom hence may we discover;No storm,No wormCan destroy it,Can e'er gnaw it,What God givethTo the pair that in Him liveth.

When man and wife are mated well,

In harmony together dwell,

Are faithful to each other,

The streams of bliss flow constantly

What bliss of angels is on high

From hence may we discover;

No storm,

No worm

Can destroy it,

Can e'er gnaw it,

What God giveth

To the pair that in Him liveth.

He giveth of His grace the boon,And in its bosom late and soonHis own belov'd He keepeth,His arms He daily spreadeth o'er,Guards as a Father by His pow'rUs and our house, nor sleepeth.Still weMust beHere and thitherRoaming ever,Till He gives usPious homes, and thus relieves us.

He giveth of His grace the boon,

And in its bosom late and soon

His own belov'd He keepeth,

His arms He daily spreadeth o'er,

Guards as a Father by His pow'r

Us and our house, nor sleepeth.

Still we

Must be

Here and thither

Roaming ever,

Till He gives us

Pious homes, and thus relieves us.

The husband's like a goodly treeWhose branches spread so fair and free;The wife a vine that givethMuch fruit, and nurtures what it bears,Whose fruit increaseth with the years,Fruit that remains and liveth.Jewel,All hail!Husband's treasure!House's pleasure!Crown of honour!On His throne God thinketh on her.

The husband's like a goodly tree

Whose branches spread so fair and free;

The wife a vine that giveth

Much fruit, and nurtures what it bears,

Whose fruit increaseth with the years,

Fruit that remains and liveth.

Jewel,

All hail!

Husband's treasure!

House's pleasure!

Crown of honour!

On His throne God thinketh on her.

O wife! the Lord hath chosen theeThat from thy womb brought forth should beThe folk His church that buildeth;His wondrous work goes on for aye,The mighty word His mouth doth say,What thou beholdest, yieldeth,Sons fairStand there,Daughters sittingWorking, knitting,Finely spinning,And with art time wisely winning.

O wife! the Lord hath chosen thee

That from thy womb brought forth should be

The folk His church that buildeth;

His wondrous work goes on for aye,

The mighty word His mouth doth say,

What thou beholdest, yieldeth,

Sons fair

Stand there,

Daughters sitting

Working, knitting,

Finely spinning,

And with art time wisely winning.

Be of good cheer, it was not weWho first this order did decree,It was a higher Father,Who lov'd and loveth us for aye,And from whose lips when griev'd each dayWe friendly counsel gather;Good endHe'll send,What we're doingAnd pursuing,Or conceivingWise and happy issue giving.

Be of good cheer, it was not we

Who first this order did decree,

It was a higher Father,

Who lov'd and loveth us for aye,

And from whose lips when griev'd each day

We friendly counsel gather;

Good end

He'll send,

What we're doing

And pursuing,

Or conceiving

Wise and happy issue giving.

A time will come, it cannot fail,When we 'neath trials sore shall quail,And tears be freely flowing;To him who bears it patiently,By God's grace shall his sorrow beTurn'd into joy o'erflowing.Toil now,Wait thou,He arrivethWho rest giveth,Who can everBanish care and soon deliver.

A time will come, it cannot fail,

When we 'neath trials sore shall quail,

And tears be freely flowing;

To him who bears it patiently,

By God's grace shall his sorrow be

Turn'd into joy o'erflowing.

Toil now,

Wait thou,

He arriveth

Who rest giveth,

Who can ever

Banish care and soon deliver.

Come hither then, my King so bless'd!In trials guide, in pain give rest,In anxious times relieving!To Thee we shall ascribe the praise,Our hearts and voices we shall raiseIn one loud song, thanks giving,Till weWith TheeEver dwelling,And fulfillingThy will ever,Thy name cease to praise shall never.

Come hither then, my King so bless'd!

In trials guide, in pain give rest,

In anxious times relieving!

To Thee we shall ascribe the praise,

Our hearts and voices we shall raise

In one loud song, thanks giving,

Till we

With Thee

Ever dwelling,

And fulfilling

Thy will ever,

Thy name cease to praise shall never.

Of Death, the Last Day, and Eternal Life.OF DEATH AND DYING.—PSALM XC.Lord God! Thou art for evermoreThy people's habitation,And Thou existence hadst beforeWas laid the earth's foundation!Ere yet the hills began to beThou lived'st in eternity,Of all things the beginning!Thou lettest all the crowds of menThrough death's dark portals wander,And biddest them return again,Those others follow yonder.With Thee a thousand years are ayeLike watch of night or yesterdayWhen it is gone for ever.Thou lettest the base hosts of menE'en as a stream be flowing,And as a ship upon the mainThat fav'ring winds are blowing,And as a sleep and dream of nightThat when men wake at morning lightThey can no more remember.We're like an herb that early dies,Or grass in fields that groweth,That in the morning flourishes,Ere night the mower moweth.So is't with man: he blooms to-day,To-morrow he is borne awayIf but a breath doth touch him!Because Thy wrath 'gainst us doth glow,Lord! we so early vanish,And for our sins Thou lay'st us low,And from Thy face dost banish.Our sins Thou sett'st before Thine eyes,Then doth Thine indignation riseIn Thine heart ever holy!This fire it is consumes in allOur bones the marrow ever;And hence it is that great or smallFrom death escapeth never.And hence our days are passing o'erLike tales that oft beguile an hourAnd that are soon forgotten.And scarcely doth our life on earthTo seventy years last even;And what are all our labours worthIf four-score years be given.What is the sum of all our gainFrom youth to age, but toil and pain,Heart-sorrow and vexation?We're ever toiling full of care,And ere we do bethink usTo stop our work, lo! death is there,Into the grave to sink us.And speedily we pass away,Yet of their end none ever stayTo think, nor of God's anger.O teach us, Lord! to think each dayUpon this earth's affliction,That when we think on death we mayGrow wiser by reflection.Ah! turn on us again Thy faceAnd be at peace, O God of grace!With Thy rebellious children.And early with Thy mercy freeBe soul and body filling,And late and early, Lord, may weThy glorious praise be telling.O chiefest joy! our hearts now cheer,And once more give us good times here,The days have been so evil.We've borne the cross these weary years,Now let Thy sun be shining,Vouchsafe us laughter after tears,And pleasure after pining.And evermore, O Lord! make knownThy works of wonder to Thine own,Thine honour to Thy children.Be Thou our faithful friend and God,Establish us for ever!And when we err from wisdom's roadGive penitence and favour!Turn Thou our hearts again to Thee,May all our works establish'd be,Crown all we do with blessing!A REST HERE HAVE I NEVER.—PS. CXIX.A rest here have I never,A guest on earth am I,Heav'n will be mine for ever,My Fatherland's on high.Here up and down I'm driven;In rest eternal there,God's gift of grace is givenThat endeth toil and care.What hath my whole life everFrom youth been to this hour,But labour ceasing never,As long as I have pow'rTo tell of; days of anguishI've past, and oft the nightIn sorrow did I languishUntil the morning light.And on the ways I've wander'dWhat storms have terrified,It blew, rain'd, lighten'd, thunder'd,Fear was on every side.Hate, envy, oppositionRag'd, undeserv'd by me,This was the sad conditionI must bear patiently.So liv'd the honour'd fathersIn whose footsteps we tread,From whom the saint oft gathersThe wisdom he may needOf trial what full measureHad father Abraham,Ere he attain'd his pleasure,To his right dwelling came.How rough too and unevenThe way that Isaac trod,And Jacob, who had strivenAnd had prevail'd with God;What bitter grief and wearingFelt he, what woe and smart;In fear and in despairingOft sank his fainting heart.The holy souls and blessèdWent forward on their race,They chang'd with hearts distressèdTheir wonted dwelling-place:They hither went and thither,Great crosses bore each day,Till death came to deliver,Them in the grave to lay.In patience am I givingMyself to just such woe?Could I be better livingThan such have liv'd below?Here must we suffer ever,Here must we upwards strive;Who fights not well shall neverIn joy eternal live.While on the earth I'm staying,My life shall thus be spent,I would not be delayingFor aye in this strange tent.Along the paths I wanderThat lead me to my home,God boundless comfort yonderWill give me when I come.My home is high above me,Where angel hosts for ayePraise Him whose heart doth love me,Who ruleth all each day,Who aye preserves and bearethAll in His hand of might,Who orders and preparethWhat good seems in His sight.For home my tir'd heart yearneth,I'd gladly thither go,From earth away it turnethFrom all I've here pass'd through.The longer here I'm stayingI less of pleasure taste,My spirit's thirst allaying,The world's an arid waste.The dwelling is unholy,The trouble is too great.Why com'st Thou, Lord, so slowlyTo free me from this state?Come, make a happy endingOf all my wanderings,Relief by Thy pow'r sending,From all my sufferings.Where I've so long remainèdIs not my proper home;When my life's end is gainèd,Then forth from it I'll come,What here I've needed everI'll put it all away;When soul and body sever,Me in the grave they'll lay.Thou, who my Joy art ever,And of my life the Light,When death life's thread doth sever,Bring'st me to heav'n so bright,To mansions everlasting,Where I shall ever shine,E'en as the sun, while tastingOf pleasures all divine.There I'll be ever livingNot merely as a guest,With those who crowns receivingFrom Thee are ever bless'd;I'll celebrate in gloryThine ev'ry mighty deed,My portion have before Thee,From every evil freed.CHRISTIAN JOY IN DEATH.My face, why should'st thou troubled beWhen thou of death art hearing?Know it, it cannot injure thee,Contemplate it, ne'er fearing.When thou dost knowDeath, all its woeWill soon be disappearing.From the old serpent's face first tearThe mask he is assuming,And lo! no poison more is there,'Tis harmless through the comingOf Christ to save,Who to the graveWent down, death thus o'ercoming.Thou, Lord, didst break our foe's great pow'r,His sting thus from him taking,The butt of scorn he's evermore,No mischief can be making.Thy precious bloodDamps his hot mood,His ardour's him forsaking.'Twas sin that was the sting of death,And on to dying drove us,For ever done away sin hathOur Saviour, who did love us.Its pow'r and mightIs broken quite,Though it to grief may move us.Now sin is dead, God's anger's turn'd,He's reconcil'd; the SaviourHath borne the curse our debts had earn'd,Restor'd us to God's favour.Who was our foeOur friend is now,Is full of grace for ever.It cannot be, if Thou'rt my friend,That Thou would'st kill me ever;Thy Father's heart can ne'er intendTo death me to deliver,And who is e'erThy child and heirBy ill is injur'd never.But Thou, O Father! doest wellWhen trials sore are grieving,When misery the life doth fill,The waves around us heaving,That us Thy handTo FatherlandBrings, from the floods relieving.When from the angry skies storms break,And mountains quake before them,The thunder of Thy wrath doth shakeThe hills, and pealeth o'er them,Then dost Thou comeAnd takest homeThine own, Thou carest for them.When rage around our enemies,Our injury are seeking,When lions, wolves, and bears arise,Their vengeance on us wreaking,Thou tak'st Thy sheep,Dost safely keepThem near Thee, comfort speaking.And if the world treats evillyHim who to Thee is cleaving,Thou sayest, “Come to me, my son!Come, from me be receivingLove, pleasure, joy,That never cloy,That I for aye am giving.”And angel hosts then joyfullyDescend, and round us hover,And tend the soul so carefully;And when life's course is overTo God on highIt peacefullyGoes with them 'neath their cover.The Lord His bride meets joyfullyAnd saith, “Now welcome ever,I have espousèd thee to me,To all mine own come hither!Whom I 'fore theeHave brought to me,From yon world did deliver.“Thou true and faithful wast in heart,Wast ne'er asham'd to own me,And now receivest thou thy part,With crown of joy I crown thee.Thy part am I,EternallyBeside me I enthrone thee.“Of thine eyes now I dry the flood,Thy bitter tears am stilling;Here turn'd is to thy highest good,The grief thou once wert feeling;Of thy grief's seaNo one shall beHere save with rapture telling.“All my belov'd ones clothe I hereIn pure white linen ever,With joy in heaven they appear,Here envy felt is never.Here is no death,No cross nor scath,Good friends at all can sever.”O God! why should the thought of deathWith terror make me shiver?'Tis he who'll from the yoke beneathOf mis'ry me deliver.From torture HeWill set me free,I can regret it never.For death is the Red Sea to me,Through which on dry land everThine Israel, so dear to Thee,Pass to the land of favour,Where milk and wineFlow ever inFull streams that cease shall never.It is heav'n's golden door to me,The fiery car God sendeth,Wherein my spirit speedilyTo th' angel choir ascendeth,When God shall say“Thy working dayOf life below now endeth.”O sweetest joy, O blessèd rest!To all true-hearted given,Come, let mine eyes by Thee be press'd,In peace take me to heaven.May I roam there'Mong pastures fairWhere day ne'er knoweth even.What fails us here, there will He give,Full measure to us bringing,Our grateful songs shall He receive,From loving hearts up-springing.And there shall IToo, willinglySong after song be singing.JOYFUL RESIGNATION TO A HAPPY DEPARTURE FROM THIS WEARY WORLD.Be glad, my heart! now fear no more,Let nothing ever grieve thee;Christ lives, who lov'd thee long beforeThy being He did give thee,And ere He made thy wondrous frame;His love remaineth still the same,It ne'er can change to hatred.Be of good cheer! thy nearing end,My heart! need not appal thee,No ill's in it; God doth extend,His loving hand and call theeFrom all the thousand forms of woeThat in this vale of tears below,Thou ever hast endurèd.'Tis true, 'tis call'd death's agony,But yet it is no dying;The death of death is Christ, for HePrevents it from destroying,That though it puts forth all its pow'r,No hair it hurteth in the hourWhen I from hence am taken.The sting of death in sin doth lie,And in our evil doing;Poor child of Adam! eagerlyThis path was I pursuing.In Christ's blood sin is wash'd away,Forgiven are we now for aye,Ne'er fall in condemnation.My sin is gone, and I am clean,Whoever would deprive me,Henceforth is life eternal mine;The thought may never grieve meOf sin's dread wages earn'd by me;Who's reconcil'd, must ever be,Unhurt by opposition.Now God's free grace I with me take,And all His joy and gladness,On this last journey that I make,And know no grief nor sadness.The foe becomes to me a sheep,His ire becomes a blessèd sleep,Of quiet rest the pillow.Thou Jesus! O thou sweetest Friend,My light and life art ever!Thou holdest me, dost me defend,The foe can move Thee never.In Thee I am, Thou art in me,As we are here, we'll ever be,Nought here or there can part us.My body down to rest doth lie,Fatigued with life's sad story;The soul then mounteth up on high,With chosen ones in gloryIt mingles, and keeps joyfully,The endless year of JubileeWith all the holy angels.Oh! Highest Prince of great and small,May that bless'd day be nearing;When Thou shalt by Thy trumpet call,And all the dead be hearing.Again shall soul and body beOne, and Thy joy shall taste and see,Thy Father's kingdom enter.If 'tis Thy will, O Lord, appear,To peace and bliss to take meFor ever, Thee may I be near,How joyful would it make me!Be open'd wide—of death, thou gate!That to so bliss'd place and stateThrough thee I may pass over.THE BEREAVED FATHER COMFORTS HIMSELF CONCERNING HIS NOW SAINTED SON.Mine art thou still, and mine shalt be,Who will be this denying?Not only thou belong'st to me,The Lord of Life undyingThe greatest right hath aye in thee;He taketh, He demands from meThee, O my son, my treasure,My heart's delight and pleasure!If wish avail'd, my soul's sweet star!My free choice would I make thee,Than earth's fair treasures rather far,I evermore would take thee.Would say to thee, Abide with me,The joy of all my dwelling be,I ever more shall love thee,Till death itself remove me.Thus saith my heart, and meaneth well,But God doth mean still better;Great love doth in my bosom dwell,In God there dwelleth greater.I am a father, nothing more,Of fathers God's the crown and pow'r,The fountain who is givingTheir being to all living.I long and yearn for my dear son;God, by whom he was given,Wills he should stand beside His throne,Should live with Him in heaven.I say, Alas! my light is gone!God saith, “I welcome thee, my son,I'd have thee ever near me,With endless joys would cheer thee!”O lovely word! O sweet decree!More holy than we everCan think; with God no ill can be,Mischance, or sickness never,No care, no want, no oversight,With God no sorrow e'er can blight;Whom God cares for and lovethNo trouble ever moveth.We men much thought and time expendOn our dear ones' adorning;Our thoughts and efforts ever bend,Are planning night and morningTo gain for them a happy place;And yet how seldom 'tis the caseThey reach the destinationWe had in contemplation.How oft a young and hopeful oneFrom virtue's path far roameth,By him through ill example's doneWhat Christians ne'er becometh.Then God's just anger doth he earn,On earth he meeteth scoffs and scorn,His father's heart he fillethWith pain that nothing stilleth.Now such can never be my case,My son is safely yonder,Appeareth now before God's face,Doth in Christ's garden wander,Is fill'd with joy, is ever bless'd,And from heart-sorrow doth he rest,Sees, hears the hosts so gloriousWho here are watching o'er us.He angels yonder hears and sees,Part in their songs he taketh,And knows all wisdom's mysteries;His high discourse he makethWhat none of us can ever knowWith all our searching here below,To none on earth 'tis given,Reserv'd it is for Heaven.Ah! could I even draw so near,Could it to me be givenThe faintest sounds of praise to hearThat fill the courts of Heaven,When prais'd is the thrice holy One,Who thee hath sanctified, my son!Joy would my heart be swelling,Tears from mine eyes be welling.Would I then say, Stay with me here,Henceforth I'll murmur never;Alas! my son! wert thou but near!No, but come quickly hitherThou fiery car, and take me whereMy child and all the blessèd are,Who speak of things so glorious,O'er every ill victorious.Now be it so, I'd have it so,I'll never more deplore thee;Thou liv'st, pure joys thy heart o'erflow,Bright suns shine ever o'er thee,The suns of endless joy and rest.Live then, and be for ever bless'd,I shall, when God wills, yonderIn bliss hereafter wander.BY THE BIER OF A FRIEND.On thy bier how calm thou'rt sleepingYet thou livest, oh our crown!Watch eternal art thou keeping,Standing near thy Saviour's throne.Endless joy thy portion now!Why should tears so freely flow?What should thus in sorrow sink us?Up! aright let us bethink us!Grudge we to our friends their pleasure;When they laugh, we laugh again;Bitter tears shed without measure,When we see them sunk in pain.When we see them conq'rors come,From the cross triumphant home;When is o'er life's toil and anguish,Then no more in grief we languish.Noble heart! in peace now rest thee,Thou hast vanquish'd every foe,All afflictions that oppress'd thee,Overwhelm'd thy heart with woe;All the toil and misery,All care and anxiety,All that made thee sleep in sorrow,Wake in anguish on the morrow.God who sendeth all temptations,Knows the burden each can bear;He appoints all tribulations,Who in loving, gracious care,Sent thee every trial soreThat thou now hast triumphed o'er,Who hath strength enough to bear it,Must in larger measure share it.Hadst thou been at heart a craven,Shrinking from the chilly blast,Loving most the quiet haven,With no cloud the sky o'ercast,God, the giver of all good,Never such a grievous loadOf affliction had ordain'd thee,As dishearten'd oft and pain'd thee.Triumph now, for thou, victoriousBy the pow'r of God most high,Sonlike in thy strength so glorious,Walk'st amid the CompanyOf the city fair and new,Which the Lord hath built for you;With the angels join'st in singing,Sweetest songs from heart up-springing.Jesus bids thee cease from weepingWipes the tear-drop from thine eye;Free thy heart from sorrow keepingAll thy need doth He supply.In thy cup now running o'erWishest thou but one thing more,That thy friends who here still wanderWere thy bliss now sharing yonder.To the realms we'll come so glorious,Out of sorrow into joy;Thee with myriad saints victoriousSee in bliss without alloy.Oh! how bless'd and fair 'twill be,When we all shall dwell with Thee;When is o'er life's chequer'd story,And we reign in endless glory.OF THE LAST DAY.The time is very nearWhen, Lord, Thou wilt be hereThe signs whereof Thou'st spokenThine advent should betoken,We've seen them oft fulfillingIn number beyond telling.What shall I do then, Lord?But rest upon Thy word,The promise Thou hast givenThat Thou wilt come from heaven,Me from the grave deliverAnd from all woe for ever.Ah! Jesus Christ, how fairWilt be my portion there!The welcome Thou'lt address me,Thy glances, how they'll bless me,When I the earth forsaking,My flight to Thee am taking.Ah! what will be the wordThou'lt speak, my Shepherd Lord!What will be then Thy greeting,Me and my brethren meeting?Thy members Thou wilt own us,And near Thyself enthrone us.And in that blessèd hour,How shall I have the pow'rMine eyelids dry of keeping,How tears of joy from weepingRefrain, that flowing overMy cheeks, like floods would cover?And what a beauteous lightWill from Thy face so brightBeam on me, then in heaven,When sight of Thee is given,Thy goodness then me filling,Joy will my breast be swelling.I'll see then and adoreThy body bruisèd sore,Whereon our faith is founded,The prints of nails that woundedThy hands and feet be greeting,Thy gaze with rapture meeting.Thou, Lord, alone dost knowThe joys so pure that flowIn life's unfailing riverIn paradise for ever,Thou can'st portray, and show them:By faith alone I know them.What I've believ'd stands sure,Remaineth aye secure;My part the wealth surpasseth;The richest here amasseth;All other wealth decayethMy portion ever stayeth.My God, my fairest Part!How will my bounding heartWith joy be overflowing,Praise evermore renewing,When through the door of heavenBy Thee is entrance given?Thou'lt say, “Come, taste and see,Oh! child, belov'd by me,Come, taste the gifts so preciousI and my Father graciousHave to bestow, come hither,In pleasure bask for ever.”Alas! thou world so poor!Of wealth, what is thy store?Mean is it to be holden,Compar'd with all the goldenCrowns and thrones Jesus placethFor whom He loves and graceth.Here is the angel's home,Bless'd spirits hither come,Here nought is heard but singing,Nought seen but joy up-springing,No cross, no death, no sorrow,No parting on the morrow.Hold! hold! my sense so weak!What dost thou think and speak,What's fathomless, art sounding?What's measureless, art bounding?Here must man's wit be bendingThe eloquent be ending.Lord! I delight in Thee,Thou ne'er shalt go from me,Thy hand in bounty givethMore than my heart conceiveth,Or I can e'er be counting,So high Thy mercy's mounting.How sad, O Lord, am I,Until I from on highSee Thee in glory hitherCome, Thine own to deliver,Wert Thou but now revealingThyself! my wish fulfilling!The time is known to Thee;It best becometh meTo be prepar'd for going,And all things so be doing,That every moment evenMy heart may be in Heaven.This grant, Lord, and me bless.That so Thy truth and graceMay keep me ever waking,That Thy day not o'ertakingMe unawares, affright me,But may, O Lord! delight me.FROM THE REVELATION OF JOHN.—CHAP. VII.By John was seen a wondrous sight,A noble light,A picture very glorious:A multitude stood 'fore him thereAll bright and fair,On heav'nly plain victorious;Their heart and moodWere full of good,That mortal manWith gold ne'er canProcure, so high 'tis o'er us.Palm branches in their hands they bore,They stood beforeThe Lamb's throne, 'fore the Saviour;Praise from their lips did ever flow,Their robes like snow,Their song still higher ever,So sweetly rang;Glad thanks they sang,And in their songThe holy throngOf angels joinèd ever.“Who,” said the wond'ring John, “are theyIn white array,Whom now I see before me?”“They are,” said one from out the crowdThat round him stood,One of the elders hoary,“They're men, my son,Who fought and wonThe fight of faith,Despis'd the scath,Attain'd the prize of glory.“They're those who on the earth below,Long, long ago,Pass'd through great tribulation;Who for the honour of their LordAnd of His word,All grief and all vexation,From blame all freeBut patiently,Though smarting soreBy God's help bore,O'ercame with exultation.“They wash'd their robes and made them white(Their hearts were right),In faith's bath them renewing,And they resisted evermoreWith all their pow'rHell's art, it quite subduing,Did aye derideEarth's pomp and pride,Chose Jesu's bloodAs their chief good,All other good eschewing.“And therefore with their doings, theyStand there for aye,Where God's fair temple's standing,The temple where they night and dayPraise God for aye,His glorious name commending.There do they liveWith nought to grieve,From toil all freeJoys taste and see,That never know an ending.“There in His dwelling sitteth GodAnd spreads abroadHis goodness as a cover,There with bliss manifold is bless'dIn quiet rest,The wearied whose life's over;What pleasure gives,The heart relieves,The longing stills,And the eye fills,In full bloom stands there ever.“No thirst, nor hunger there, no need;The heav'nly breadAll wants aye satisfieth;And shineth there the sun no moreIn too great pow'r,Its light pure joy supplieth;Heav'n's sun so brightAnd heart's delight,Is our great LordThe living Word,Who no good thing denieth.”The Lamb His flock will ever feedE'en as they need,In pastures never wasting;He will them to the fountain bring,Whence ever springStreams of life everlasting;And certainlyNe'er rest will He,Till wash'd awayAll tears for ayeAre, and His bliss we're tasting.LONDON:PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

OF DEATH AND DYING.—PSALM XC.Lord God! Thou art for evermoreThy people's habitation,And Thou existence hadst beforeWas laid the earth's foundation!Ere yet the hills began to beThou lived'st in eternity,Of all things the beginning!Thou lettest all the crowds of menThrough death's dark portals wander,And biddest them return again,Those others follow yonder.With Thee a thousand years are ayeLike watch of night or yesterdayWhen it is gone for ever.Thou lettest the base hosts of menE'en as a stream be flowing,And as a ship upon the mainThat fav'ring winds are blowing,And as a sleep and dream of nightThat when men wake at morning lightThey can no more remember.We're like an herb that early dies,Or grass in fields that groweth,That in the morning flourishes,Ere night the mower moweth.So is't with man: he blooms to-day,To-morrow he is borne awayIf but a breath doth touch him!Because Thy wrath 'gainst us doth glow,Lord! we so early vanish,And for our sins Thou lay'st us low,And from Thy face dost banish.Our sins Thou sett'st before Thine eyes,Then doth Thine indignation riseIn Thine heart ever holy!This fire it is consumes in allOur bones the marrow ever;And hence it is that great or smallFrom death escapeth never.And hence our days are passing o'erLike tales that oft beguile an hourAnd that are soon forgotten.And scarcely doth our life on earthTo seventy years last even;And what are all our labours worthIf four-score years be given.What is the sum of all our gainFrom youth to age, but toil and pain,Heart-sorrow and vexation?We're ever toiling full of care,And ere we do bethink usTo stop our work, lo! death is there,Into the grave to sink us.And speedily we pass away,Yet of their end none ever stayTo think, nor of God's anger.O teach us, Lord! to think each dayUpon this earth's affliction,That when we think on death we mayGrow wiser by reflection.Ah! turn on us again Thy faceAnd be at peace, O God of grace!With Thy rebellious children.And early with Thy mercy freeBe soul and body filling,And late and early, Lord, may weThy glorious praise be telling.O chiefest joy! our hearts now cheer,And once more give us good times here,The days have been so evil.We've borne the cross these weary years,Now let Thy sun be shining,Vouchsafe us laughter after tears,And pleasure after pining.And evermore, O Lord! make knownThy works of wonder to Thine own,Thine honour to Thy children.Be Thou our faithful friend and God,Establish us for ever!And when we err from wisdom's roadGive penitence and favour!Turn Thou our hearts again to Thee,May all our works establish'd be,Crown all we do with blessing!

Lord God! Thou art for evermoreThy people's habitation,And Thou existence hadst beforeWas laid the earth's foundation!Ere yet the hills began to beThou lived'st in eternity,Of all things the beginning!

Lord God! Thou art for evermore

Thy people's habitation,

And Thou existence hadst before

Was laid the earth's foundation!

Ere yet the hills began to be

Thou lived'st in eternity,

Of all things the beginning!

Thou lettest all the crowds of menThrough death's dark portals wander,And biddest them return again,Those others follow yonder.With Thee a thousand years are ayeLike watch of night or yesterdayWhen it is gone for ever.

Thou lettest all the crowds of men

Through death's dark portals wander,

And biddest them return again,

Those others follow yonder.

With Thee a thousand years are aye

Like watch of night or yesterday

When it is gone for ever.

Thou lettest the base hosts of menE'en as a stream be flowing,And as a ship upon the mainThat fav'ring winds are blowing,And as a sleep and dream of nightThat when men wake at morning lightThey can no more remember.

Thou lettest the base hosts of men

E'en as a stream be flowing,

And as a ship upon the main

That fav'ring winds are blowing,

And as a sleep and dream of night

That when men wake at morning light

They can no more remember.

We're like an herb that early dies,Or grass in fields that groweth,That in the morning flourishes,Ere night the mower moweth.So is't with man: he blooms to-day,To-morrow he is borne awayIf but a breath doth touch him!

We're like an herb that early dies,

Or grass in fields that groweth,

That in the morning flourishes,

Ere night the mower moweth.

So is't with man: he blooms to-day,

To-morrow he is borne away

If but a breath doth touch him!

Because Thy wrath 'gainst us doth glow,Lord! we so early vanish,And for our sins Thou lay'st us low,And from Thy face dost banish.Our sins Thou sett'st before Thine eyes,Then doth Thine indignation riseIn Thine heart ever holy!

Because Thy wrath 'gainst us doth glow,

Lord! we so early vanish,

And for our sins Thou lay'st us low,

And from Thy face dost banish.

Our sins Thou sett'st before Thine eyes,

Then doth Thine indignation rise

In Thine heart ever holy!

This fire it is consumes in allOur bones the marrow ever;And hence it is that great or smallFrom death escapeth never.And hence our days are passing o'erLike tales that oft beguile an hourAnd that are soon forgotten.

This fire it is consumes in all

Our bones the marrow ever;

And hence it is that great or small

From death escapeth never.

And hence our days are passing o'er

Like tales that oft beguile an hour

And that are soon forgotten.

And scarcely doth our life on earthTo seventy years last even;And what are all our labours worthIf four-score years be given.What is the sum of all our gainFrom youth to age, but toil and pain,Heart-sorrow and vexation?

And scarcely doth our life on earth

To seventy years last even;

And what are all our labours worth

If four-score years be given.

What is the sum of all our gain

From youth to age, but toil and pain,

Heart-sorrow and vexation?

We're ever toiling full of care,And ere we do bethink usTo stop our work, lo! death is there,Into the grave to sink us.And speedily we pass away,Yet of their end none ever stayTo think, nor of God's anger.

We're ever toiling full of care,

And ere we do bethink us

To stop our work, lo! death is there,

Into the grave to sink us.

And speedily we pass away,

Yet of their end none ever stay

To think, nor of God's anger.

O teach us, Lord! to think each dayUpon this earth's affliction,That when we think on death we mayGrow wiser by reflection.Ah! turn on us again Thy faceAnd be at peace, O God of grace!With Thy rebellious children.

O teach us, Lord! to think each day

Upon this earth's affliction,

That when we think on death we may

Grow wiser by reflection.

Ah! turn on us again Thy face

And be at peace, O God of grace!

With Thy rebellious children.

And early with Thy mercy freeBe soul and body filling,And late and early, Lord, may weThy glorious praise be telling.O chiefest joy! our hearts now cheer,And once more give us good times here,The days have been so evil.

And early with Thy mercy free

Be soul and body filling,

And late and early, Lord, may we

Thy glorious praise be telling.

O chiefest joy! our hearts now cheer,

And once more give us good times here,

The days have been so evil.

We've borne the cross these weary years,Now let Thy sun be shining,Vouchsafe us laughter after tears,And pleasure after pining.And evermore, O Lord! make knownThy works of wonder to Thine own,Thine honour to Thy children.

We've borne the cross these weary years,

Now let Thy sun be shining,

Vouchsafe us laughter after tears,

And pleasure after pining.

And evermore, O Lord! make known

Thy works of wonder to Thine own,

Thine honour to Thy children.

Be Thou our faithful friend and God,Establish us for ever!And when we err from wisdom's roadGive penitence and favour!Turn Thou our hearts again to Thee,May all our works establish'd be,Crown all we do with blessing!

Be Thou our faithful friend and God,

Establish us for ever!

And when we err from wisdom's road

Give penitence and favour!

Turn Thou our hearts again to Thee,

May all our works establish'd be,

Crown all we do with blessing!

A REST HERE HAVE I NEVER.—PS. CXIX.A rest here have I never,A guest on earth am I,Heav'n will be mine for ever,My Fatherland's on high.Here up and down I'm driven;In rest eternal there,God's gift of grace is givenThat endeth toil and care.What hath my whole life everFrom youth been to this hour,But labour ceasing never,As long as I have pow'rTo tell of; days of anguishI've past, and oft the nightIn sorrow did I languishUntil the morning light.And on the ways I've wander'dWhat storms have terrified,It blew, rain'd, lighten'd, thunder'd,Fear was on every side.Hate, envy, oppositionRag'd, undeserv'd by me,This was the sad conditionI must bear patiently.So liv'd the honour'd fathersIn whose footsteps we tread,From whom the saint oft gathersThe wisdom he may needOf trial what full measureHad father Abraham,Ere he attain'd his pleasure,To his right dwelling came.How rough too and unevenThe way that Isaac trod,And Jacob, who had strivenAnd had prevail'd with God;What bitter grief and wearingFelt he, what woe and smart;In fear and in despairingOft sank his fainting heart.The holy souls and blessèdWent forward on their race,They chang'd with hearts distressèdTheir wonted dwelling-place:They hither went and thither,Great crosses bore each day,Till death came to deliver,Them in the grave to lay.In patience am I givingMyself to just such woe?Could I be better livingThan such have liv'd below?Here must we suffer ever,Here must we upwards strive;Who fights not well shall neverIn joy eternal live.While on the earth I'm staying,My life shall thus be spent,I would not be delayingFor aye in this strange tent.Along the paths I wanderThat lead me to my home,God boundless comfort yonderWill give me when I come.My home is high above me,Where angel hosts for ayePraise Him whose heart doth love me,Who ruleth all each day,Who aye preserves and bearethAll in His hand of might,Who orders and preparethWhat good seems in His sight.For home my tir'd heart yearneth,I'd gladly thither go,From earth away it turnethFrom all I've here pass'd through.The longer here I'm stayingI less of pleasure taste,My spirit's thirst allaying,The world's an arid waste.The dwelling is unholy,The trouble is too great.Why com'st Thou, Lord, so slowlyTo free me from this state?Come, make a happy endingOf all my wanderings,Relief by Thy pow'r sending,From all my sufferings.Where I've so long remainèdIs not my proper home;When my life's end is gainèd,Then forth from it I'll come,What here I've needed everI'll put it all away;When soul and body sever,Me in the grave they'll lay.Thou, who my Joy art ever,And of my life the Light,When death life's thread doth sever,Bring'st me to heav'n so bright,To mansions everlasting,Where I shall ever shine,E'en as the sun, while tastingOf pleasures all divine.There I'll be ever livingNot merely as a guest,With those who crowns receivingFrom Thee are ever bless'd;I'll celebrate in gloryThine ev'ry mighty deed,My portion have before Thee,From every evil freed.

A rest here have I never,A guest on earth am I,Heav'n will be mine for ever,My Fatherland's on high.Here up and down I'm driven;In rest eternal there,God's gift of grace is givenThat endeth toil and care.

A rest here have I never,

A guest on earth am I,

Heav'n will be mine for ever,

My Fatherland's on high.

Here up and down I'm driven;

In rest eternal there,

God's gift of grace is given

That endeth toil and care.

What hath my whole life everFrom youth been to this hour,But labour ceasing never,As long as I have pow'rTo tell of; days of anguishI've past, and oft the nightIn sorrow did I languishUntil the morning light.

What hath my whole life ever

From youth been to this hour,

But labour ceasing never,

As long as I have pow'r

To tell of; days of anguish

I've past, and oft the night

In sorrow did I languish

Until the morning light.

And on the ways I've wander'dWhat storms have terrified,It blew, rain'd, lighten'd, thunder'd,Fear was on every side.Hate, envy, oppositionRag'd, undeserv'd by me,This was the sad conditionI must bear patiently.

And on the ways I've wander'd

What storms have terrified,

It blew, rain'd, lighten'd, thunder'd,

Fear was on every side.

Hate, envy, opposition

Rag'd, undeserv'd by me,

This was the sad condition

I must bear patiently.

So liv'd the honour'd fathersIn whose footsteps we tread,From whom the saint oft gathersThe wisdom he may needOf trial what full measureHad father Abraham,Ere he attain'd his pleasure,To his right dwelling came.

So liv'd the honour'd fathers

In whose footsteps we tread,

From whom the saint oft gathers

The wisdom he may need

Of trial what full measure

Had father Abraham,

Ere he attain'd his pleasure,

To his right dwelling came.

How rough too and unevenThe way that Isaac trod,And Jacob, who had strivenAnd had prevail'd with God;What bitter grief and wearingFelt he, what woe and smart;In fear and in despairingOft sank his fainting heart.

How rough too and uneven

The way that Isaac trod,

And Jacob, who had striven

And had prevail'd with God;

What bitter grief and wearing

Felt he, what woe and smart;

In fear and in despairing

Oft sank his fainting heart.

The holy souls and blessèdWent forward on their race,They chang'd with hearts distressèdTheir wonted dwelling-place:They hither went and thither,Great crosses bore each day,Till death came to deliver,Them in the grave to lay.

The holy souls and blessèd

Went forward on their race,

They chang'd with hearts distressèd

Their wonted dwelling-place:

They hither went and thither,

Great crosses bore each day,

Till death came to deliver,

Them in the grave to lay.

In patience am I givingMyself to just such woe?Could I be better livingThan such have liv'd below?Here must we suffer ever,Here must we upwards strive;Who fights not well shall neverIn joy eternal live.

In patience am I giving

Myself to just such woe?

Could I be better living

Than such have liv'd below?

Here must we suffer ever,

Here must we upwards strive;

Who fights not well shall never

In joy eternal live.

While on the earth I'm staying,My life shall thus be spent,I would not be delayingFor aye in this strange tent.Along the paths I wanderThat lead me to my home,God boundless comfort yonderWill give me when I come.

While on the earth I'm staying,

My life shall thus be spent,

I would not be delaying

For aye in this strange tent.

Along the paths I wander

That lead me to my home,

God boundless comfort yonder

Will give me when I come.

My home is high above me,Where angel hosts for ayePraise Him whose heart doth love me,Who ruleth all each day,Who aye preserves and bearethAll in His hand of might,Who orders and preparethWhat good seems in His sight.

My home is high above me,

Where angel hosts for aye

Praise Him whose heart doth love me,

Who ruleth all each day,

Who aye preserves and beareth

All in His hand of might,

Who orders and prepareth

What good seems in His sight.

For home my tir'd heart yearneth,I'd gladly thither go,From earth away it turnethFrom all I've here pass'd through.The longer here I'm stayingI less of pleasure taste,My spirit's thirst allaying,The world's an arid waste.

For home my tir'd heart yearneth,

I'd gladly thither go,

From earth away it turneth

From all I've here pass'd through.

The longer here I'm staying

I less of pleasure taste,

My spirit's thirst allaying,

The world's an arid waste.

The dwelling is unholy,The trouble is too great.Why com'st Thou, Lord, so slowlyTo free me from this state?Come, make a happy endingOf all my wanderings,Relief by Thy pow'r sending,From all my sufferings.

The dwelling is unholy,

The trouble is too great.

Why com'st Thou, Lord, so slowly

To free me from this state?

Come, make a happy ending

Of all my wanderings,

Relief by Thy pow'r sending,

From all my sufferings.

Where I've so long remainèdIs not my proper home;When my life's end is gainèd,Then forth from it I'll come,What here I've needed everI'll put it all away;When soul and body sever,Me in the grave they'll lay.

Where I've so long remainèd

Is not my proper home;

When my life's end is gainèd,

Then forth from it I'll come,

What here I've needed ever

I'll put it all away;

When soul and body sever,

Me in the grave they'll lay.

Thou, who my Joy art ever,And of my life the Light,When death life's thread doth sever,Bring'st me to heav'n so bright,To mansions everlasting,Where I shall ever shine,E'en as the sun, while tastingOf pleasures all divine.

Thou, who my Joy art ever,

And of my life the Light,

When death life's thread doth sever,

Bring'st me to heav'n so bright,

To mansions everlasting,

Where I shall ever shine,

E'en as the sun, while tasting

Of pleasures all divine.

There I'll be ever livingNot merely as a guest,With those who crowns receivingFrom Thee are ever bless'd;I'll celebrate in gloryThine ev'ry mighty deed,My portion have before Thee,From every evil freed.

There I'll be ever living

Not merely as a guest,

With those who crowns receiving

From Thee are ever bless'd;

I'll celebrate in glory

Thine ev'ry mighty deed,

My portion have before Thee,

From every evil freed.

CHRISTIAN JOY IN DEATH.My face, why should'st thou troubled beWhen thou of death art hearing?Know it, it cannot injure thee,Contemplate it, ne'er fearing.When thou dost knowDeath, all its woeWill soon be disappearing.From the old serpent's face first tearThe mask he is assuming,And lo! no poison more is there,'Tis harmless through the comingOf Christ to save,Who to the graveWent down, death thus o'ercoming.Thou, Lord, didst break our foe's great pow'r,His sting thus from him taking,The butt of scorn he's evermore,No mischief can be making.Thy precious bloodDamps his hot mood,His ardour's him forsaking.'Twas sin that was the sting of death,And on to dying drove us,For ever done away sin hathOur Saviour, who did love us.Its pow'r and mightIs broken quite,Though it to grief may move us.Now sin is dead, God's anger's turn'd,He's reconcil'd; the SaviourHath borne the curse our debts had earn'd,Restor'd us to God's favour.Who was our foeOur friend is now,Is full of grace for ever.It cannot be, if Thou'rt my friend,That Thou would'st kill me ever;Thy Father's heart can ne'er intendTo death me to deliver,And who is e'erThy child and heirBy ill is injur'd never.But Thou, O Father! doest wellWhen trials sore are grieving,When misery the life doth fill,The waves around us heaving,That us Thy handTo FatherlandBrings, from the floods relieving.When from the angry skies storms break,And mountains quake before them,The thunder of Thy wrath doth shakeThe hills, and pealeth o'er them,Then dost Thou comeAnd takest homeThine own, Thou carest for them.When rage around our enemies,Our injury are seeking,When lions, wolves, and bears arise,Their vengeance on us wreaking,Thou tak'st Thy sheep,Dost safely keepThem near Thee, comfort speaking.And if the world treats evillyHim who to Thee is cleaving,Thou sayest, “Come to me, my son!Come, from me be receivingLove, pleasure, joy,That never cloy,That I for aye am giving.”And angel hosts then joyfullyDescend, and round us hover,And tend the soul so carefully;And when life's course is overTo God on highIt peacefullyGoes with them 'neath their cover.The Lord His bride meets joyfullyAnd saith, “Now welcome ever,I have espousèd thee to me,To all mine own come hither!Whom I 'fore theeHave brought to me,From yon world did deliver.“Thou true and faithful wast in heart,Wast ne'er asham'd to own me,And now receivest thou thy part,With crown of joy I crown thee.Thy part am I,EternallyBeside me I enthrone thee.“Of thine eyes now I dry the flood,Thy bitter tears am stilling;Here turn'd is to thy highest good,The grief thou once wert feeling;Of thy grief's seaNo one shall beHere save with rapture telling.“All my belov'd ones clothe I hereIn pure white linen ever,With joy in heaven they appear,Here envy felt is never.Here is no death,No cross nor scath,Good friends at all can sever.”O God! why should the thought of deathWith terror make me shiver?'Tis he who'll from the yoke beneathOf mis'ry me deliver.From torture HeWill set me free,I can regret it never.For death is the Red Sea to me,Through which on dry land everThine Israel, so dear to Thee,Pass to the land of favour,Where milk and wineFlow ever inFull streams that cease shall never.It is heav'n's golden door to me,The fiery car God sendeth,Wherein my spirit speedilyTo th' angel choir ascendeth,When God shall say“Thy working dayOf life below now endeth.”O sweetest joy, O blessèd rest!To all true-hearted given,Come, let mine eyes by Thee be press'd,In peace take me to heaven.May I roam there'Mong pastures fairWhere day ne'er knoweth even.What fails us here, there will He give,Full measure to us bringing,Our grateful songs shall He receive,From loving hearts up-springing.And there shall IToo, willinglySong after song be singing.

My face, why should'st thou troubled beWhen thou of death art hearing?Know it, it cannot injure thee,Contemplate it, ne'er fearing.When thou dost knowDeath, all its woeWill soon be disappearing.

My face, why should'st thou troubled be

When thou of death art hearing?

Know it, it cannot injure thee,

Contemplate it, ne'er fearing.

When thou dost know

Death, all its woe

Will soon be disappearing.

From the old serpent's face first tearThe mask he is assuming,And lo! no poison more is there,'Tis harmless through the comingOf Christ to save,Who to the graveWent down, death thus o'ercoming.

From the old serpent's face first tear

The mask he is assuming,

And lo! no poison more is there,

'Tis harmless through the coming

Of Christ to save,

Who to the grave

Went down, death thus o'ercoming.

Thou, Lord, didst break our foe's great pow'r,His sting thus from him taking,The butt of scorn he's evermore,No mischief can be making.Thy precious bloodDamps his hot mood,His ardour's him forsaking.

Thou, Lord, didst break our foe's great pow'r,

His sting thus from him taking,

The butt of scorn he's evermore,

No mischief can be making.

Thy precious blood

Damps his hot mood,

His ardour's him forsaking.

'Twas sin that was the sting of death,And on to dying drove us,For ever done away sin hathOur Saviour, who did love us.Its pow'r and mightIs broken quite,Though it to grief may move us.

'Twas sin that was the sting of death,

And on to dying drove us,

For ever done away sin hath

Our Saviour, who did love us.

Its pow'r and might

Is broken quite,

Though it to grief may move us.

Now sin is dead, God's anger's turn'd,He's reconcil'd; the SaviourHath borne the curse our debts had earn'd,Restor'd us to God's favour.Who was our foeOur friend is now,Is full of grace for ever.

Now sin is dead, God's anger's turn'd,

He's reconcil'd; the Saviour

Hath borne the curse our debts had earn'd,

Restor'd us to God's favour.

Who was our foe

Our friend is now,

Is full of grace for ever.

It cannot be, if Thou'rt my friend,That Thou would'st kill me ever;Thy Father's heart can ne'er intendTo death me to deliver,And who is e'erThy child and heirBy ill is injur'd never.

It cannot be, if Thou'rt my friend,

That Thou would'st kill me ever;

Thy Father's heart can ne'er intend

To death me to deliver,

And who is e'er

Thy child and heir

By ill is injur'd never.

But Thou, O Father! doest wellWhen trials sore are grieving,When misery the life doth fill,The waves around us heaving,That us Thy handTo FatherlandBrings, from the floods relieving.

But Thou, O Father! doest well

When trials sore are grieving,

When misery the life doth fill,

The waves around us heaving,

That us Thy hand

To Fatherland

Brings, from the floods relieving.

When from the angry skies storms break,And mountains quake before them,The thunder of Thy wrath doth shakeThe hills, and pealeth o'er them,Then dost Thou comeAnd takest homeThine own, Thou carest for them.

When from the angry skies storms break,

And mountains quake before them,

The thunder of Thy wrath doth shake

The hills, and pealeth o'er them,

Then dost Thou come

And takest home

Thine own, Thou carest for them.

When rage around our enemies,Our injury are seeking,When lions, wolves, and bears arise,Their vengeance on us wreaking,Thou tak'st Thy sheep,Dost safely keepThem near Thee, comfort speaking.

When rage around our enemies,

Our injury are seeking,

When lions, wolves, and bears arise,

Their vengeance on us wreaking,

Thou tak'st Thy sheep,

Dost safely keep

Them near Thee, comfort speaking.

And if the world treats evillyHim who to Thee is cleaving,Thou sayest, “Come to me, my son!Come, from me be receivingLove, pleasure, joy,That never cloy,That I for aye am giving.”

And if the world treats evilly

Him who to Thee is cleaving,

Thou sayest, “Come to me, my son!

Come, from me be receiving

Love, pleasure, joy,

That never cloy,

That I for aye am giving.”

And angel hosts then joyfullyDescend, and round us hover,And tend the soul so carefully;And when life's course is overTo God on highIt peacefullyGoes with them 'neath their cover.

And angel hosts then joyfully

Descend, and round us hover,

And tend the soul so carefully;

And when life's course is over

To God on high

It peacefully

Goes with them 'neath their cover.

The Lord His bride meets joyfullyAnd saith, “Now welcome ever,I have espousèd thee to me,To all mine own come hither!Whom I 'fore theeHave brought to me,From yon world did deliver.

The Lord His bride meets joyfully

And saith, “Now welcome ever,

I have espousèd thee to me,

To all mine own come hither!

Whom I 'fore thee

Have brought to me,

From yon world did deliver.

“Thou true and faithful wast in heart,Wast ne'er asham'd to own me,And now receivest thou thy part,With crown of joy I crown thee.Thy part am I,EternallyBeside me I enthrone thee.

“Thou true and faithful wast in heart,

Wast ne'er asham'd to own me,

And now receivest thou thy part,

With crown of joy I crown thee.

Thy part am I,

Eternally

Beside me I enthrone thee.

“Of thine eyes now I dry the flood,Thy bitter tears am stilling;Here turn'd is to thy highest good,The grief thou once wert feeling;Of thy grief's seaNo one shall beHere save with rapture telling.

“Of thine eyes now I dry the flood,

Thy bitter tears am stilling;

Here turn'd is to thy highest good,

The grief thou once wert feeling;

Of thy grief's sea

No one shall be

Here save with rapture telling.

“All my belov'd ones clothe I hereIn pure white linen ever,With joy in heaven they appear,Here envy felt is never.Here is no death,No cross nor scath,Good friends at all can sever.”

“All my belov'd ones clothe I here

In pure white linen ever,

With joy in heaven they appear,

Here envy felt is never.

Here is no death,

No cross nor scath,

Good friends at all can sever.”

O God! why should the thought of deathWith terror make me shiver?'Tis he who'll from the yoke beneathOf mis'ry me deliver.From torture HeWill set me free,I can regret it never.

O God! why should the thought of death

With terror make me shiver?

'Tis he who'll from the yoke beneath

Of mis'ry me deliver.

From torture He

Will set me free,

I can regret it never.

For death is the Red Sea to me,Through which on dry land everThine Israel, so dear to Thee,Pass to the land of favour,Where milk and wineFlow ever inFull streams that cease shall never.

For death is the Red Sea to me,

Through which on dry land ever

Thine Israel, so dear to Thee,

Pass to the land of favour,

Where milk and wine

Flow ever in

Full streams that cease shall never.

It is heav'n's golden door to me,The fiery car God sendeth,Wherein my spirit speedilyTo th' angel choir ascendeth,When God shall say“Thy working dayOf life below now endeth.”

It is heav'n's golden door to me,

The fiery car God sendeth,

Wherein my spirit speedily

To th' angel choir ascendeth,

When God shall say

“Thy working day

Of life below now endeth.”

O sweetest joy, O blessèd rest!To all true-hearted given,Come, let mine eyes by Thee be press'd,In peace take me to heaven.May I roam there'Mong pastures fairWhere day ne'er knoweth even.

O sweetest joy, O blessèd rest!

To all true-hearted given,

Come, let mine eyes by Thee be press'd,

In peace take me to heaven.

May I roam there

'Mong pastures fair

Where day ne'er knoweth even.

What fails us here, there will He give,Full measure to us bringing,Our grateful songs shall He receive,From loving hearts up-springing.And there shall IToo, willinglySong after song be singing.

What fails us here, there will He give,

Full measure to us bringing,

Our grateful songs shall He receive,

From loving hearts up-springing.

And there shall I

Too, willingly

Song after song be singing.

JOYFUL RESIGNATION TO A HAPPY DEPARTURE FROM THIS WEARY WORLD.Be glad, my heart! now fear no more,Let nothing ever grieve thee;Christ lives, who lov'd thee long beforeThy being He did give thee,And ere He made thy wondrous frame;His love remaineth still the same,It ne'er can change to hatred.Be of good cheer! thy nearing end,My heart! need not appal thee,No ill's in it; God doth extend,His loving hand and call theeFrom all the thousand forms of woeThat in this vale of tears below,Thou ever hast endurèd.'Tis true, 'tis call'd death's agony,But yet it is no dying;The death of death is Christ, for HePrevents it from destroying,That though it puts forth all its pow'r,No hair it hurteth in the hourWhen I from hence am taken.The sting of death in sin doth lie,And in our evil doing;Poor child of Adam! eagerlyThis path was I pursuing.In Christ's blood sin is wash'd away,Forgiven are we now for aye,Ne'er fall in condemnation.My sin is gone, and I am clean,Whoever would deprive me,Henceforth is life eternal mine;The thought may never grieve meOf sin's dread wages earn'd by me;Who's reconcil'd, must ever be,Unhurt by opposition.Now God's free grace I with me take,And all His joy and gladness,On this last journey that I make,And know no grief nor sadness.The foe becomes to me a sheep,His ire becomes a blessèd sleep,Of quiet rest the pillow.Thou Jesus! O thou sweetest Friend,My light and life art ever!Thou holdest me, dost me defend,The foe can move Thee never.In Thee I am, Thou art in me,As we are here, we'll ever be,Nought here or there can part us.My body down to rest doth lie,Fatigued with life's sad story;The soul then mounteth up on high,With chosen ones in gloryIt mingles, and keeps joyfully,The endless year of JubileeWith all the holy angels.Oh! Highest Prince of great and small,May that bless'd day be nearing;When Thou shalt by Thy trumpet call,And all the dead be hearing.Again shall soul and body beOne, and Thy joy shall taste and see,Thy Father's kingdom enter.If 'tis Thy will, O Lord, appear,To peace and bliss to take meFor ever, Thee may I be near,How joyful would it make me!Be open'd wide—of death, thou gate!That to so bliss'd place and stateThrough thee I may pass over.

Be glad, my heart! now fear no more,Let nothing ever grieve thee;Christ lives, who lov'd thee long beforeThy being He did give thee,And ere He made thy wondrous frame;His love remaineth still the same,It ne'er can change to hatred.

Be glad, my heart! now fear no more,

Let nothing ever grieve thee;

Christ lives, who lov'd thee long before

Thy being He did give thee,

And ere He made thy wondrous frame;

His love remaineth still the same,

It ne'er can change to hatred.

Be of good cheer! thy nearing end,My heart! need not appal thee,No ill's in it; God doth extend,His loving hand and call theeFrom all the thousand forms of woeThat in this vale of tears below,Thou ever hast endurèd.

Be of good cheer! thy nearing end,

My heart! need not appal thee,

No ill's in it; God doth extend,

His loving hand and call thee

From all the thousand forms of woe

That in this vale of tears below,

Thou ever hast endurèd.

'Tis true, 'tis call'd death's agony,But yet it is no dying;The death of death is Christ, for HePrevents it from destroying,That though it puts forth all its pow'r,No hair it hurteth in the hourWhen I from hence am taken.

'Tis true, 'tis call'd death's agony,

But yet it is no dying;

The death of death is Christ, for He

Prevents it from destroying,

That though it puts forth all its pow'r,

No hair it hurteth in the hour

When I from hence am taken.

The sting of death in sin doth lie,And in our evil doing;Poor child of Adam! eagerlyThis path was I pursuing.In Christ's blood sin is wash'd away,Forgiven are we now for aye,Ne'er fall in condemnation.

The sting of death in sin doth lie,

And in our evil doing;

Poor child of Adam! eagerly

This path was I pursuing.

In Christ's blood sin is wash'd away,

Forgiven are we now for aye,

Ne'er fall in condemnation.

My sin is gone, and I am clean,Whoever would deprive me,Henceforth is life eternal mine;The thought may never grieve meOf sin's dread wages earn'd by me;Who's reconcil'd, must ever be,Unhurt by opposition.

My sin is gone, and I am clean,

Whoever would deprive me,

Henceforth is life eternal mine;

The thought may never grieve me

Of sin's dread wages earn'd by me;

Who's reconcil'd, must ever be,

Unhurt by opposition.

Now God's free grace I with me take,And all His joy and gladness,On this last journey that I make,And know no grief nor sadness.The foe becomes to me a sheep,His ire becomes a blessèd sleep,Of quiet rest the pillow.

Now God's free grace I with me take,

And all His joy and gladness,

On this last journey that I make,

And know no grief nor sadness.

The foe becomes to me a sheep,

His ire becomes a blessèd sleep,

Of quiet rest the pillow.

Thou Jesus! O thou sweetest Friend,My light and life art ever!Thou holdest me, dost me defend,The foe can move Thee never.In Thee I am, Thou art in me,As we are here, we'll ever be,Nought here or there can part us.

Thou Jesus! O thou sweetest Friend,

My light and life art ever!

Thou holdest me, dost me defend,

The foe can move Thee never.

In Thee I am, Thou art in me,

As we are here, we'll ever be,

Nought here or there can part us.

My body down to rest doth lie,Fatigued with life's sad story;The soul then mounteth up on high,With chosen ones in gloryIt mingles, and keeps joyfully,The endless year of JubileeWith all the holy angels.

My body down to rest doth lie,

Fatigued with life's sad story;

The soul then mounteth up on high,

With chosen ones in glory

It mingles, and keeps joyfully,

The endless year of Jubilee

With all the holy angels.

Oh! Highest Prince of great and small,May that bless'd day be nearing;When Thou shalt by Thy trumpet call,And all the dead be hearing.Again shall soul and body beOne, and Thy joy shall taste and see,Thy Father's kingdom enter.

Oh! Highest Prince of great and small,

May that bless'd day be nearing;

When Thou shalt by Thy trumpet call,

And all the dead be hearing.

Again shall soul and body be

One, and Thy joy shall taste and see,

Thy Father's kingdom enter.

If 'tis Thy will, O Lord, appear,To peace and bliss to take meFor ever, Thee may I be near,How joyful would it make me!Be open'd wide—of death, thou gate!That to so bliss'd place and stateThrough thee I may pass over.

If 'tis Thy will, O Lord, appear,

To peace and bliss to take me

For ever, Thee may I be near,

How joyful would it make me!

Be open'd wide—of death, thou gate!

That to so bliss'd place and state

Through thee I may pass over.

THE BEREAVED FATHER COMFORTS HIMSELF CONCERNING HIS NOW SAINTED SON.Mine art thou still, and mine shalt be,Who will be this denying?Not only thou belong'st to me,The Lord of Life undyingThe greatest right hath aye in thee;He taketh, He demands from meThee, O my son, my treasure,My heart's delight and pleasure!If wish avail'd, my soul's sweet star!My free choice would I make thee,Than earth's fair treasures rather far,I evermore would take thee.Would say to thee, Abide with me,The joy of all my dwelling be,I ever more shall love thee,Till death itself remove me.Thus saith my heart, and meaneth well,But God doth mean still better;Great love doth in my bosom dwell,In God there dwelleth greater.I am a father, nothing more,Of fathers God's the crown and pow'r,The fountain who is givingTheir being to all living.I long and yearn for my dear son;God, by whom he was given,Wills he should stand beside His throne,Should live with Him in heaven.I say, Alas! my light is gone!God saith, “I welcome thee, my son,I'd have thee ever near me,With endless joys would cheer thee!”O lovely word! O sweet decree!More holy than we everCan think; with God no ill can be,Mischance, or sickness never,No care, no want, no oversight,With God no sorrow e'er can blight;Whom God cares for and lovethNo trouble ever moveth.We men much thought and time expendOn our dear ones' adorning;Our thoughts and efforts ever bend,Are planning night and morningTo gain for them a happy place;And yet how seldom 'tis the caseThey reach the destinationWe had in contemplation.How oft a young and hopeful oneFrom virtue's path far roameth,By him through ill example's doneWhat Christians ne'er becometh.Then God's just anger doth he earn,On earth he meeteth scoffs and scorn,His father's heart he fillethWith pain that nothing stilleth.Now such can never be my case,My son is safely yonder,Appeareth now before God's face,Doth in Christ's garden wander,Is fill'd with joy, is ever bless'd,And from heart-sorrow doth he rest,Sees, hears the hosts so gloriousWho here are watching o'er us.He angels yonder hears and sees,Part in their songs he taketh,And knows all wisdom's mysteries;His high discourse he makethWhat none of us can ever knowWith all our searching here below,To none on earth 'tis given,Reserv'd it is for Heaven.Ah! could I even draw so near,Could it to me be givenThe faintest sounds of praise to hearThat fill the courts of Heaven,When prais'd is the thrice holy One,Who thee hath sanctified, my son!Joy would my heart be swelling,Tears from mine eyes be welling.Would I then say, Stay with me here,Henceforth I'll murmur never;Alas! my son! wert thou but near!No, but come quickly hitherThou fiery car, and take me whereMy child and all the blessèd are,Who speak of things so glorious,O'er every ill victorious.Now be it so, I'd have it so,I'll never more deplore thee;Thou liv'st, pure joys thy heart o'erflow,Bright suns shine ever o'er thee,The suns of endless joy and rest.Live then, and be for ever bless'd,I shall, when God wills, yonderIn bliss hereafter wander.

Mine art thou still, and mine shalt be,Who will be this denying?Not only thou belong'st to me,The Lord of Life undyingThe greatest right hath aye in thee;He taketh, He demands from meThee, O my son, my treasure,My heart's delight and pleasure!

Mine art thou still, and mine shalt be,

Who will be this denying?

Not only thou belong'st to me,

The Lord of Life undying

The greatest right hath aye in thee;

He taketh, He demands from me

Thee, O my son, my treasure,

My heart's delight and pleasure!

If wish avail'd, my soul's sweet star!My free choice would I make thee,Than earth's fair treasures rather far,I evermore would take thee.Would say to thee, Abide with me,The joy of all my dwelling be,I ever more shall love thee,Till death itself remove me.

If wish avail'd, my soul's sweet star!

My free choice would I make thee,

Than earth's fair treasures rather far,

I evermore would take thee.

Would say to thee, Abide with me,

The joy of all my dwelling be,

I ever more shall love thee,

Till death itself remove me.

Thus saith my heart, and meaneth well,But God doth mean still better;Great love doth in my bosom dwell,In God there dwelleth greater.I am a father, nothing more,Of fathers God's the crown and pow'r,The fountain who is givingTheir being to all living.

Thus saith my heart, and meaneth well,

But God doth mean still better;

Great love doth in my bosom dwell,

In God there dwelleth greater.

I am a father, nothing more,

Of fathers God's the crown and pow'r,

The fountain who is giving

Their being to all living.

I long and yearn for my dear son;God, by whom he was given,Wills he should stand beside His throne,Should live with Him in heaven.I say, Alas! my light is gone!God saith, “I welcome thee, my son,I'd have thee ever near me,With endless joys would cheer thee!”

I long and yearn for my dear son;

God, by whom he was given,

Wills he should stand beside His throne,

Should live with Him in heaven.

I say, Alas! my light is gone!

God saith, “I welcome thee, my son,

I'd have thee ever near me,

With endless joys would cheer thee!”

O lovely word! O sweet decree!More holy than we everCan think; with God no ill can be,Mischance, or sickness never,No care, no want, no oversight,With God no sorrow e'er can blight;Whom God cares for and lovethNo trouble ever moveth.

O lovely word! O sweet decree!

More holy than we ever

Can think; with God no ill can be,

Mischance, or sickness never,

No care, no want, no oversight,

With God no sorrow e'er can blight;

Whom God cares for and loveth

No trouble ever moveth.

We men much thought and time expendOn our dear ones' adorning;Our thoughts and efforts ever bend,Are planning night and morningTo gain for them a happy place;And yet how seldom 'tis the caseThey reach the destinationWe had in contemplation.

We men much thought and time expend

On our dear ones' adorning;

Our thoughts and efforts ever bend,

Are planning night and morning

To gain for them a happy place;

And yet how seldom 'tis the case

They reach the destination

We had in contemplation.

How oft a young and hopeful oneFrom virtue's path far roameth,By him through ill example's doneWhat Christians ne'er becometh.Then God's just anger doth he earn,On earth he meeteth scoffs and scorn,His father's heart he fillethWith pain that nothing stilleth.

How oft a young and hopeful one

From virtue's path far roameth,

By him through ill example's done

What Christians ne'er becometh.

Then God's just anger doth he earn,

On earth he meeteth scoffs and scorn,

His father's heart he filleth

With pain that nothing stilleth.

Now such can never be my case,My son is safely yonder,Appeareth now before God's face,Doth in Christ's garden wander,Is fill'd with joy, is ever bless'd,And from heart-sorrow doth he rest,Sees, hears the hosts so gloriousWho here are watching o'er us.

Now such can never be my case,

My son is safely yonder,

Appeareth now before God's face,

Doth in Christ's garden wander,

Is fill'd with joy, is ever bless'd,

And from heart-sorrow doth he rest,

Sees, hears the hosts so glorious

Who here are watching o'er us.

He angels yonder hears and sees,Part in their songs he taketh,And knows all wisdom's mysteries;His high discourse he makethWhat none of us can ever knowWith all our searching here below,To none on earth 'tis given,Reserv'd it is for Heaven.

He angels yonder hears and sees,

Part in their songs he taketh,

And knows all wisdom's mysteries;

His high discourse he maketh

What none of us can ever know

With all our searching here below,

To none on earth 'tis given,

Reserv'd it is for Heaven.

Ah! could I even draw so near,Could it to me be givenThe faintest sounds of praise to hearThat fill the courts of Heaven,When prais'd is the thrice holy One,Who thee hath sanctified, my son!Joy would my heart be swelling,Tears from mine eyes be welling.

Ah! could I even draw so near,

Could it to me be given

The faintest sounds of praise to hear

That fill the courts of Heaven,

When prais'd is the thrice holy One,

Who thee hath sanctified, my son!

Joy would my heart be swelling,

Tears from mine eyes be welling.

Would I then say, Stay with me here,Henceforth I'll murmur never;Alas! my son! wert thou but near!No, but come quickly hitherThou fiery car, and take me whereMy child and all the blessèd are,Who speak of things so glorious,O'er every ill victorious.

Would I then say, Stay with me here,

Henceforth I'll murmur never;

Alas! my son! wert thou but near!

No, but come quickly hither

Thou fiery car, and take me where

My child and all the blessèd are,

Who speak of things so glorious,

O'er every ill victorious.

Now be it so, I'd have it so,I'll never more deplore thee;Thou liv'st, pure joys thy heart o'erflow,Bright suns shine ever o'er thee,The suns of endless joy and rest.Live then, and be for ever bless'd,I shall, when God wills, yonderIn bliss hereafter wander.

Now be it so, I'd have it so,

I'll never more deplore thee;

Thou liv'st, pure joys thy heart o'erflow,

Bright suns shine ever o'er thee,

The suns of endless joy and rest.

Live then, and be for ever bless'd,

I shall, when God wills, yonder

In bliss hereafter wander.

BY THE BIER OF A FRIEND.On thy bier how calm thou'rt sleepingYet thou livest, oh our crown!Watch eternal art thou keeping,Standing near thy Saviour's throne.Endless joy thy portion now!Why should tears so freely flow?What should thus in sorrow sink us?Up! aright let us bethink us!Grudge we to our friends their pleasure;When they laugh, we laugh again;Bitter tears shed without measure,When we see them sunk in pain.When we see them conq'rors come,From the cross triumphant home;When is o'er life's toil and anguish,Then no more in grief we languish.Noble heart! in peace now rest thee,Thou hast vanquish'd every foe,All afflictions that oppress'd thee,Overwhelm'd thy heart with woe;All the toil and misery,All care and anxiety,All that made thee sleep in sorrow,Wake in anguish on the morrow.God who sendeth all temptations,Knows the burden each can bear;He appoints all tribulations,Who in loving, gracious care,Sent thee every trial soreThat thou now hast triumphed o'er,Who hath strength enough to bear it,Must in larger measure share it.Hadst thou been at heart a craven,Shrinking from the chilly blast,Loving most the quiet haven,With no cloud the sky o'ercast,God, the giver of all good,Never such a grievous loadOf affliction had ordain'd thee,As dishearten'd oft and pain'd thee.Triumph now, for thou, victoriousBy the pow'r of God most high,Sonlike in thy strength so glorious,Walk'st amid the CompanyOf the city fair and new,Which the Lord hath built for you;With the angels join'st in singing,Sweetest songs from heart up-springing.Jesus bids thee cease from weepingWipes the tear-drop from thine eye;Free thy heart from sorrow keepingAll thy need doth He supply.In thy cup now running o'erWishest thou but one thing more,That thy friends who here still wanderWere thy bliss now sharing yonder.To the realms we'll come so glorious,Out of sorrow into joy;Thee with myriad saints victoriousSee in bliss without alloy.Oh! how bless'd and fair 'twill be,When we all shall dwell with Thee;When is o'er life's chequer'd story,And we reign in endless glory.

On thy bier how calm thou'rt sleepingYet thou livest, oh our crown!Watch eternal art thou keeping,Standing near thy Saviour's throne.Endless joy thy portion now!Why should tears so freely flow?What should thus in sorrow sink us?Up! aright let us bethink us!

On thy bier how calm thou'rt sleeping

Yet thou livest, oh our crown!

Watch eternal art thou keeping,

Standing near thy Saviour's throne.

Endless joy thy portion now!

Why should tears so freely flow?

What should thus in sorrow sink us?

Up! aright let us bethink us!

Grudge we to our friends their pleasure;When they laugh, we laugh again;Bitter tears shed without measure,When we see them sunk in pain.When we see them conq'rors come,From the cross triumphant home;When is o'er life's toil and anguish,Then no more in grief we languish.

Grudge we to our friends their pleasure;

When they laugh, we laugh again;

Bitter tears shed without measure,

When we see them sunk in pain.

When we see them conq'rors come,

From the cross triumphant home;

When is o'er life's toil and anguish,

Then no more in grief we languish.

Noble heart! in peace now rest thee,Thou hast vanquish'd every foe,All afflictions that oppress'd thee,Overwhelm'd thy heart with woe;All the toil and misery,All care and anxiety,All that made thee sleep in sorrow,Wake in anguish on the morrow.

Noble heart! in peace now rest thee,

Thou hast vanquish'd every foe,

All afflictions that oppress'd thee,

Overwhelm'd thy heart with woe;

All the toil and misery,

All care and anxiety,

All that made thee sleep in sorrow,

Wake in anguish on the morrow.

God who sendeth all temptations,Knows the burden each can bear;He appoints all tribulations,Who in loving, gracious care,Sent thee every trial soreThat thou now hast triumphed o'er,Who hath strength enough to bear it,Must in larger measure share it.

God who sendeth all temptations,

Knows the burden each can bear;

He appoints all tribulations,

Who in loving, gracious care,

Sent thee every trial sore

That thou now hast triumphed o'er,

Who hath strength enough to bear it,

Must in larger measure share it.

Hadst thou been at heart a craven,Shrinking from the chilly blast,Loving most the quiet haven,With no cloud the sky o'ercast,God, the giver of all good,Never such a grievous loadOf affliction had ordain'd thee,As dishearten'd oft and pain'd thee.

Hadst thou been at heart a craven,

Shrinking from the chilly blast,

Loving most the quiet haven,

With no cloud the sky o'ercast,

God, the giver of all good,

Never such a grievous load

Of affliction had ordain'd thee,

As dishearten'd oft and pain'd thee.

Triumph now, for thou, victoriousBy the pow'r of God most high,Sonlike in thy strength so glorious,Walk'st amid the CompanyOf the city fair and new,Which the Lord hath built for you;With the angels join'st in singing,Sweetest songs from heart up-springing.

Triumph now, for thou, victorious

By the pow'r of God most high,

Sonlike in thy strength so glorious,

Walk'st amid the Company

Of the city fair and new,

Which the Lord hath built for you;

With the angels join'st in singing,

Sweetest songs from heart up-springing.

Jesus bids thee cease from weepingWipes the tear-drop from thine eye;Free thy heart from sorrow keepingAll thy need doth He supply.In thy cup now running o'erWishest thou but one thing more,That thy friends who here still wanderWere thy bliss now sharing yonder.

Jesus bids thee cease from weeping

Wipes the tear-drop from thine eye;

Free thy heart from sorrow keeping

All thy need doth He supply.

In thy cup now running o'er

Wishest thou but one thing more,

That thy friends who here still wander

Were thy bliss now sharing yonder.

To the realms we'll come so glorious,Out of sorrow into joy;Thee with myriad saints victoriousSee in bliss without alloy.Oh! how bless'd and fair 'twill be,When we all shall dwell with Thee;When is o'er life's chequer'd story,And we reign in endless glory.

To the realms we'll come so glorious,

Out of sorrow into joy;

Thee with myriad saints victorious

See in bliss without alloy.

Oh! how bless'd and fair 'twill be,

When we all shall dwell with Thee;

When is o'er life's chequer'd story,

And we reign in endless glory.

OF THE LAST DAY.The time is very nearWhen, Lord, Thou wilt be hereThe signs whereof Thou'st spokenThine advent should betoken,We've seen them oft fulfillingIn number beyond telling.What shall I do then, Lord?But rest upon Thy word,The promise Thou hast givenThat Thou wilt come from heaven,Me from the grave deliverAnd from all woe for ever.Ah! Jesus Christ, how fairWilt be my portion there!The welcome Thou'lt address me,Thy glances, how they'll bless me,When I the earth forsaking,My flight to Thee am taking.Ah! what will be the wordThou'lt speak, my Shepherd Lord!What will be then Thy greeting,Me and my brethren meeting?Thy members Thou wilt own us,And near Thyself enthrone us.And in that blessèd hour,How shall I have the pow'rMine eyelids dry of keeping,How tears of joy from weepingRefrain, that flowing overMy cheeks, like floods would cover?And what a beauteous lightWill from Thy face so brightBeam on me, then in heaven,When sight of Thee is given,Thy goodness then me filling,Joy will my breast be swelling.I'll see then and adoreThy body bruisèd sore,Whereon our faith is founded,The prints of nails that woundedThy hands and feet be greeting,Thy gaze with rapture meeting.Thou, Lord, alone dost knowThe joys so pure that flowIn life's unfailing riverIn paradise for ever,Thou can'st portray, and show them:By faith alone I know them.What I've believ'd stands sure,Remaineth aye secure;My part the wealth surpasseth;The richest here amasseth;All other wealth decayethMy portion ever stayeth.My God, my fairest Part!How will my bounding heartWith joy be overflowing,Praise evermore renewing,When through the door of heavenBy Thee is entrance given?Thou'lt say, “Come, taste and see,Oh! child, belov'd by me,Come, taste the gifts so preciousI and my Father graciousHave to bestow, come hither,In pleasure bask for ever.”Alas! thou world so poor!Of wealth, what is thy store?Mean is it to be holden,Compar'd with all the goldenCrowns and thrones Jesus placethFor whom He loves and graceth.Here is the angel's home,Bless'd spirits hither come,Here nought is heard but singing,Nought seen but joy up-springing,No cross, no death, no sorrow,No parting on the morrow.Hold! hold! my sense so weak!What dost thou think and speak,What's fathomless, art sounding?What's measureless, art bounding?Here must man's wit be bendingThe eloquent be ending.Lord! I delight in Thee,Thou ne'er shalt go from me,Thy hand in bounty givethMore than my heart conceiveth,Or I can e'er be counting,So high Thy mercy's mounting.How sad, O Lord, am I,Until I from on highSee Thee in glory hitherCome, Thine own to deliver,Wert Thou but now revealingThyself! my wish fulfilling!The time is known to Thee;It best becometh meTo be prepar'd for going,And all things so be doing,That every moment evenMy heart may be in Heaven.This grant, Lord, and me bless.That so Thy truth and graceMay keep me ever waking,That Thy day not o'ertakingMe unawares, affright me,But may, O Lord! delight me.

The time is very nearWhen, Lord, Thou wilt be hereThe signs whereof Thou'st spokenThine advent should betoken,We've seen them oft fulfillingIn number beyond telling.

The time is very near

When, Lord, Thou wilt be here

The signs whereof Thou'st spoken

Thine advent should betoken,

We've seen them oft fulfilling

In number beyond telling.

What shall I do then, Lord?But rest upon Thy word,The promise Thou hast givenThat Thou wilt come from heaven,Me from the grave deliverAnd from all woe for ever.

What shall I do then, Lord?

But rest upon Thy word,

The promise Thou hast given

That Thou wilt come from heaven,

Me from the grave deliver

And from all woe for ever.

Ah! Jesus Christ, how fairWilt be my portion there!The welcome Thou'lt address me,Thy glances, how they'll bless me,When I the earth forsaking,My flight to Thee am taking.

Ah! Jesus Christ, how fair

Wilt be my portion there!

The welcome Thou'lt address me,

Thy glances, how they'll bless me,

When I the earth forsaking,

My flight to Thee am taking.

Ah! what will be the wordThou'lt speak, my Shepherd Lord!What will be then Thy greeting,Me and my brethren meeting?Thy members Thou wilt own us,And near Thyself enthrone us.

Ah! what will be the word

Thou'lt speak, my Shepherd Lord!

What will be then Thy greeting,

Me and my brethren meeting?

Thy members Thou wilt own us,

And near Thyself enthrone us.

And in that blessèd hour,How shall I have the pow'rMine eyelids dry of keeping,How tears of joy from weepingRefrain, that flowing overMy cheeks, like floods would cover?

And in that blessèd hour,

How shall I have the pow'r

Mine eyelids dry of keeping,

How tears of joy from weeping

Refrain, that flowing over

My cheeks, like floods would cover?

And what a beauteous lightWill from Thy face so brightBeam on me, then in heaven,When sight of Thee is given,Thy goodness then me filling,Joy will my breast be swelling.

And what a beauteous light

Will from Thy face so bright

Beam on me, then in heaven,

When sight of Thee is given,

Thy goodness then me filling,

Joy will my breast be swelling.

I'll see then and adoreThy body bruisèd sore,Whereon our faith is founded,The prints of nails that woundedThy hands and feet be greeting,Thy gaze with rapture meeting.

I'll see then and adore

Thy body bruisèd sore,

Whereon our faith is founded,

The prints of nails that wounded

Thy hands and feet be greeting,

Thy gaze with rapture meeting.

Thou, Lord, alone dost knowThe joys so pure that flowIn life's unfailing riverIn paradise for ever,Thou can'st portray, and show them:By faith alone I know them.

Thou, Lord, alone dost know

The joys so pure that flow

In life's unfailing river

In paradise for ever,

Thou can'st portray, and show them:

By faith alone I know them.

What I've believ'd stands sure,Remaineth aye secure;My part the wealth surpasseth;The richest here amasseth;All other wealth decayethMy portion ever stayeth.

What I've believ'd stands sure,

Remaineth aye secure;

My part the wealth surpasseth;

The richest here amasseth;

All other wealth decayeth

My portion ever stayeth.

My God, my fairest Part!How will my bounding heartWith joy be overflowing,Praise evermore renewing,When through the door of heavenBy Thee is entrance given?

My God, my fairest Part!

How will my bounding heart

With joy be overflowing,

Praise evermore renewing,

When through the door of heaven

By Thee is entrance given?

Thou'lt say, “Come, taste and see,Oh! child, belov'd by me,Come, taste the gifts so preciousI and my Father graciousHave to bestow, come hither,In pleasure bask for ever.”

Thou'lt say, “Come, taste and see,

Oh! child, belov'd by me,

Come, taste the gifts so precious

I and my Father gracious

Have to bestow, come hither,

In pleasure bask for ever.”

Alas! thou world so poor!Of wealth, what is thy store?Mean is it to be holden,Compar'd with all the goldenCrowns and thrones Jesus placethFor whom He loves and graceth.

Alas! thou world so poor!

Of wealth, what is thy store?

Mean is it to be holden,

Compar'd with all the golden

Crowns and thrones Jesus placeth

For whom He loves and graceth.

Here is the angel's home,Bless'd spirits hither come,Here nought is heard but singing,Nought seen but joy up-springing,No cross, no death, no sorrow,No parting on the morrow.

Here is the angel's home,

Bless'd spirits hither come,

Here nought is heard but singing,

Nought seen but joy up-springing,

No cross, no death, no sorrow,

No parting on the morrow.

Hold! hold! my sense so weak!What dost thou think and speak,What's fathomless, art sounding?What's measureless, art bounding?Here must man's wit be bendingThe eloquent be ending.

Hold! hold! my sense so weak!

What dost thou think and speak,

What's fathomless, art sounding?

What's measureless, art bounding?

Here must man's wit be bending

The eloquent be ending.

Lord! I delight in Thee,Thou ne'er shalt go from me,Thy hand in bounty givethMore than my heart conceiveth,Or I can e'er be counting,So high Thy mercy's mounting.

Lord! I delight in Thee,

Thou ne'er shalt go from me,

Thy hand in bounty giveth

More than my heart conceiveth,

Or I can e'er be counting,

So high Thy mercy's mounting.

How sad, O Lord, am I,Until I from on highSee Thee in glory hitherCome, Thine own to deliver,Wert Thou but now revealingThyself! my wish fulfilling!

How sad, O Lord, am I,

Until I from on high

See Thee in glory hither

Come, Thine own to deliver,

Wert Thou but now revealing

Thyself! my wish fulfilling!

The time is known to Thee;It best becometh meTo be prepar'd for going,And all things so be doing,That every moment evenMy heart may be in Heaven.

The time is known to Thee;

It best becometh me

To be prepar'd for going,

And all things so be doing,

That every moment even

My heart may be in Heaven.

This grant, Lord, and me bless.That so Thy truth and graceMay keep me ever waking,That Thy day not o'ertakingMe unawares, affright me,But may, O Lord! delight me.

This grant, Lord, and me bless.

That so Thy truth and grace

May keep me ever waking,

That Thy day not o'ertaking

Me unawares, affright me,

But may, O Lord! delight me.

FROM THE REVELATION OF JOHN.—CHAP. VII.By John was seen a wondrous sight,A noble light,A picture very glorious:A multitude stood 'fore him thereAll bright and fair,On heav'nly plain victorious;Their heart and moodWere full of good,That mortal manWith gold ne'er canProcure, so high 'tis o'er us.Palm branches in their hands they bore,They stood beforeThe Lamb's throne, 'fore the Saviour;Praise from their lips did ever flow,Their robes like snow,Their song still higher ever,So sweetly rang;Glad thanks they sang,And in their songThe holy throngOf angels joinèd ever.“Who,” said the wond'ring John, “are theyIn white array,Whom now I see before me?”“They are,” said one from out the crowdThat round him stood,One of the elders hoary,“They're men, my son,Who fought and wonThe fight of faith,Despis'd the scath,Attain'd the prize of glory.“They're those who on the earth below,Long, long ago,Pass'd through great tribulation;Who for the honour of their LordAnd of His word,All grief and all vexation,From blame all freeBut patiently,Though smarting soreBy God's help bore,O'ercame with exultation.“They wash'd their robes and made them white(Their hearts were right),In faith's bath them renewing,And they resisted evermoreWith all their pow'rHell's art, it quite subduing,Did aye derideEarth's pomp and pride,Chose Jesu's bloodAs their chief good,All other good eschewing.“And therefore with their doings, theyStand there for aye,Where God's fair temple's standing,The temple where they night and dayPraise God for aye,His glorious name commending.There do they liveWith nought to grieve,From toil all freeJoys taste and see,That never know an ending.“There in His dwelling sitteth GodAnd spreads abroadHis goodness as a cover,There with bliss manifold is bless'dIn quiet rest,The wearied whose life's over;What pleasure gives,The heart relieves,The longing stills,And the eye fills,In full bloom stands there ever.“No thirst, nor hunger there, no need;The heav'nly breadAll wants aye satisfieth;And shineth there the sun no moreIn too great pow'r,Its light pure joy supplieth;Heav'n's sun so brightAnd heart's delight,Is our great LordThe living Word,Who no good thing denieth.”The Lamb His flock will ever feedE'en as they need,In pastures never wasting;He will them to the fountain bring,Whence ever springStreams of life everlasting;And certainlyNe'er rest will He,Till wash'd awayAll tears for ayeAre, and His bliss we're tasting.LONDON:PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

By John was seen a wondrous sight,A noble light,A picture very glorious:A multitude stood 'fore him thereAll bright and fair,On heav'nly plain victorious;Their heart and moodWere full of good,That mortal manWith gold ne'er canProcure, so high 'tis o'er us.

By John was seen a wondrous sight,

A noble light,

A picture very glorious:

A multitude stood 'fore him there

All bright and fair,

On heav'nly plain victorious;

Their heart and mood

Were full of good,

That mortal man

With gold ne'er can

Procure, so high 'tis o'er us.

Palm branches in their hands they bore,They stood beforeThe Lamb's throne, 'fore the Saviour;Praise from their lips did ever flow,Their robes like snow,Their song still higher ever,So sweetly rang;Glad thanks they sang,And in their songThe holy throngOf angels joinèd ever.

Palm branches in their hands they bore,

They stood before

The Lamb's throne, 'fore the Saviour;

Praise from their lips did ever flow,

Their robes like snow,

Their song still higher ever,

So sweetly rang;

Glad thanks they sang,

And in their song

The holy throng

Of angels joinèd ever.

“Who,” said the wond'ring John, “are theyIn white array,Whom now I see before me?”“They are,” said one from out the crowdThat round him stood,One of the elders hoary,“They're men, my son,Who fought and wonThe fight of faith,Despis'd the scath,Attain'd the prize of glory.

“Who,” said the wond'ring John, “are they

In white array,

Whom now I see before me?”

“They are,” said one from out the crowd

That round him stood,

One of the elders hoary,

“They're men, my son,

Who fought and won

The fight of faith,

Despis'd the scath,

Attain'd the prize of glory.

“They're those who on the earth below,Long, long ago,Pass'd through great tribulation;Who for the honour of their LordAnd of His word,All grief and all vexation,From blame all freeBut patiently,Though smarting soreBy God's help bore,O'ercame with exultation.

“They're those who on the earth below,

Long, long ago,

Pass'd through great tribulation;

Who for the honour of their Lord

And of His word,

All grief and all vexation,

From blame all free

But patiently,

Though smarting sore

By God's help bore,

O'ercame with exultation.

“They wash'd their robes and made them white(Their hearts were right),In faith's bath them renewing,And they resisted evermoreWith all their pow'rHell's art, it quite subduing,Did aye derideEarth's pomp and pride,Chose Jesu's bloodAs their chief good,All other good eschewing.

“They wash'd their robes and made them white

(Their hearts were right),

In faith's bath them renewing,

And they resisted evermore

With all their pow'r

Hell's art, it quite subduing,

Did aye deride

Earth's pomp and pride,

Chose Jesu's blood

As their chief good,

All other good eschewing.

“And therefore with their doings, theyStand there for aye,Where God's fair temple's standing,The temple where they night and dayPraise God for aye,His glorious name commending.There do they liveWith nought to grieve,From toil all freeJoys taste and see,That never know an ending.

“And therefore with their doings, they

Stand there for aye,

Where God's fair temple's standing,

The temple where they night and day

Praise God for aye,

His glorious name commending.

There do they live

With nought to grieve,

From toil all free

Joys taste and see,

That never know an ending.

“There in His dwelling sitteth GodAnd spreads abroadHis goodness as a cover,There with bliss manifold is bless'dIn quiet rest,The wearied whose life's over;What pleasure gives,The heart relieves,The longing stills,And the eye fills,In full bloom stands there ever.

“There in His dwelling sitteth God

And spreads abroad

His goodness as a cover,

There with bliss manifold is bless'd

In quiet rest,

The wearied whose life's over;

What pleasure gives,

The heart relieves,

The longing stills,

And the eye fills,

In full bloom stands there ever.

“No thirst, nor hunger there, no need;The heav'nly breadAll wants aye satisfieth;And shineth there the sun no moreIn too great pow'r,Its light pure joy supplieth;Heav'n's sun so brightAnd heart's delight,Is our great LordThe living Word,Who no good thing denieth.”

“No thirst, nor hunger there, no need;

The heav'nly bread

All wants aye satisfieth;

And shineth there the sun no more

In too great pow'r,

Its light pure joy supplieth;

Heav'n's sun so bright

And heart's delight,

Is our great Lord

The living Word,

Who no good thing denieth.”

The Lamb His flock will ever feedE'en as they need,In pastures never wasting;He will them to the fountain bring,Whence ever springStreams of life everlasting;And certainlyNe'er rest will He,Till wash'd awayAll tears for ayeAre, and His bliss we're tasting.

The Lamb His flock will ever feed

E'en as they need,

In pastures never wasting;

He will them to the fountain bring,

Whence ever spring

Streams of life everlasting;

And certainly

Ne'er rest will He,

Till wash'd away

All tears for aye

Are, and His bliss we're tasting.

LONDON:PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

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