HYMNS. (continued 4)

3 Yet while mourning, O our lost one, Come no visions of despair! Seated on thy tomb, Faith’s angel Saith, thou art not, art not there.

4 Where, then, art thou? with the Saviour, Blest, forever blest, to be; ’Mid the sinless little children Who have heard his “Come to me.”

5 Passed the shades of death’s dark valley, Thou art leaning on his breast, Where the wicked may not enter, And the weary are at rest.

6 Plead, that in a Father’s mercy All our sins may be forgiven; Angel! plead, that thou may’st greet us, Ransomed, at the gates of heaven.

1 To the Father’s love we trust That which was enshrined in dust; While we give the earth to earth, Finds the soul its heavenly birth. Angels wait the angel child, Gentle, young, and undefiled.

2 Said not oft those pleading eyes That they longed for purer skies? Did not oft the falling tear Speak of roughening billows here? Prayed we not that she might rest On her Heavenly Father’s breast?

3 Give the spirit, then, to God, And its vesture to the sod; Life, henceforth, shall have a ray Kindled ne’er to pass away, And a light from angel eyes Draw us upward to the skies.

1 In the broad fields of heaven,— In the immortal bowers, By life’s clear river dwelling, Amid undying flowers,— [323] There hosts of beauteous spirits, Fair children of the earth, Linked in bright bands celestial, Sing of their human birth.

2 They sing of earth and heaven,— Divinest voices rise To God, their gracious Father, Who called them to the skies: They all are there,—in heaven,— Safe, safe, and sweetly blest; No cloud of sin can shadow Their bright and holy rest.

1 Mighty One, whose name is holy, Thou wilt save Thy work alive, And the spirit of the lowly Thou wilt visit and revive. What Thy prophets thus have spoken, Ages witness as they roll; Bleeding hearts and spirits broken, Touched by Thee, O God, are whole.

2 By Thy pitying spirit guided, Jesus sought the sufferer’s door; Comfort for the poor provided, And the mourner’s sorrows bore;— So Thy mercy’s angel, bending, Heard a friendless prisoner’s call, And through night’s cold vault descending, Loosed from chains Thy servant Paul.

3 Father, as Thy love is endless, Working by Thy servants thus, The forsaken and the friendless Deign to visit, e’en by us; So shall each, with spirit fervent Laboring with Thee here below, Be declared Thy faithful servant, Where there’s neither want nor woe.

1 Lord, from Thy blessed throne, Sorrow look down upon! God save the Poor! Teach them true liberty, Make them from tyrants free, Let their homes happy be! God save the Poor!

2 The arms of wicked men Do Thou with might restrain,— God save the Poor! Raise Thou their lowliness, Succor Thou their distress, Thou whom the meanest bless! God save the Poor!

3 Give them stanch honesty, Let their pride manly be, God save the Poor! Help them to hold the right, Give them both truth and might, Lord of all life and light! God save the Poor!

1 From Greenland’s icy mountains, From India’s coral strand, Where Afric’s sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand; From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver Their land from error’s chain.

2 What though the spicy breezes Blow soft o’er Ceylon’s isle; Though every prospect pleases, And only man is vile? In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strewn; The heathen in his blindness Bows down to wood and stone.

3 Shall we, whose souls are lighted By wisdom from on high, Shall we to men benighted The lamp of life deny? Salvation! O salvation! The joyful sound proclaim, Till earth’s remotest nation Shall learn Messiah’s name.

1 Where, for a thousand miles, The sweet Ohio smiles, On bed of sand; Where prairies blossom broad, Fair gardens sown by God, And lakes their ocean-flood Pour from His hand;

2 Where sleep in rest profound, Beneath each ancient mound, A buried race; There, brother, go and teach; From heart to heart shall reach Thy free and earnest speech Of heavenly grace.

3 Where the tall forest waves Above those mouldering graves, God’s truth declare; While his first temples spread Their arches o’er thy head, Lift, o’er the slumbering dead, The voice of prayer.

4 While rolls the living tide, Down Alleghany’s side, Its ceaseless flood; Upon the mountains, there, How beautiful appear The feet of those who bear Tidings of good!

5 O Thou, whose suns and rains Upon those mighty plains Fall evermore; Send down the dews of peace, The sun of righteousness, And let Thy light increase From shore to shore!

1 Westward, Lord, the world alluring, Has Thy risen day-star beamed, And, the sinking soul assuring, O’er the world’s wide ocean streamed. Westward, still, the midnight breaking, Westward, still, its light be poured! Heathen Thy possession making, Utmost lands Thy dwelling, Lord!

2 Westward, where the waving prairie, Dark as slumbering ocean, lies, Let thy starlight, Son of Mary, O’er the shadowed billows rise! Here be heard, ye herald voices, Till the Lord his glory shows, And the lonely place rejoices With the bloom of Sharon’s rose.

3 Where the wilderness is lying, And the trees of ages nod, Westward, in the desert crying, Make a highway for our God. [328] Westward, till the church be kneeling In the forest aisles so dim, And the wild-wood’s arches pealing With the people’s holy hymn.

1 Not with the flashing steel, Not with the cannon’s peal, Or stir of drum; But in the bonds of love, Our white flag floats above; Her emblem is the dove;— ’Tis thus we come.

2 The laws of Christian light,— These are our weapons bright, Our mighty shield; Christ is our leader high; And the broad plains which lie Beneath the blessed sky, Our battle-field.

3 What is that great intent On which each heart is bent, Our hosts among? It is that hate may die, That war’s red curse may fly, And war’s high praise for aye No more be sung.

4 On, then, in God’s great name! Let each pure spirit’s flame Burn bright and clear; Stand firmly in your lot, Cry ye aloud, doubt not, Be every fear forgot; Christ leads us here!

5 So shall earth’s distant lands, In happy, holy bands, One brotherhood, Together rise and sing, Gifts to one altar bring, And heaven’s Eternal King Pronounce it good.

1 Lord, once our faith in man no fear could move; Now save it from despair! The trial comes; strengthen the might of love: Father, Thou hearest prayer!

2 Thou hearest; and we hear, above this din, Thy blessed word sound clear: “I purge this land from slavery and sin; The reign of heaven draws near.”

3 O, never falter, ye who strive to bring In men the heavenly birth; For still the angel hosts unfaltering sing, “Peace to the weary earth!”

4 O, never falter! peace must come by pain; Heaven is not found, but won; Hold the dark angel till he moulds again The peace he hath undone.

5 We know not, Lord, what storms and trials strong Must work our world’s new birth; But we will toil, with this for working-song,— “Peace to the weary earth!”

6 Peace to the weary, struggling, sin-sick earth! Peace to the heart of man! Storm shall bring calm; that high reward is worth All we must bear, or can.

1 Down the dark future, through long generations, The sounds of war grow fainter and then cease; And, like a bell with solemn, sweet vibrations, I hear once more the voice of Christ say, “Peace!”

2 Peace! and no longer, from its brazen portals, The blast of war’s great organ shakes the skies; But beautiful as songs of the immortals, The holy melodies of love arise.

1 “To God be glory! Peace on earth!” Let us repeat again The hymn that hailed the Saviour’s birth,— “Peace and good will to men!”

2 Good will to men! O God, we hail This of Thy law the sum; For as this shall o’er earth prevail, So shall Thy kingdom come!

1 We love the venerable house Our fathers built to God; In heaven are kept their grateful vows, Their dust endears the sod.

2 Here holy thoughts a light have shed From many a radiant face, And prayers of tender hope have spread A perfume through the place.

3 And anxious hearts have pondered here The mystery of life, And prayed the Eternal Spirit clear Their doubts and aid their strife.

4 From humble tenements around Came up the pensive train, And in the church a blessing found, Which filled their homes again.

5 For faith, and peace, and mighty love, That from the Godhead flow, Showed them the life of heaven above Springs from the life below.

6 They live with God, their homes are dust; But here their children pray, And, in this fleeting lifetime, trust To find the narrow way.

7 On him who by the altar stands, On him Thy blessing fall! Speak through his lips Thy pure commands, Thou Heart, that lovest all!

1 A wondrous star our pioneer, We left the mystic land Where heaven-nurtured childhood slept, Where yet old visions stand.

2 O God! the land of dreams we left, Repose we left for aye, And followed meekly to the place Where our Redeemer lay.

3 That humble manger we have found; The world his cradle is; His life is hidden far below Its sins and miseries.

4 The world throws wide its brazen gates; With Thee we enter in; O, grant us, in our humble sphere, To free that world from sin.

5 We have one mind in Christ our Lord To stand and point above; To hurl rebuke at social wrong; But all, O God, in love.

6 The star is resting in the sky; To worship Christ we came; The moments haste; O, touch our tongues With Thy celestial flame!

7 The truest worship is a life; All dreaming we resign; We lay our offerings at thy feet,— Our lives, O Christ, are thine!

1 Thou Lord of Hosts, whose guiding hand Hast brought us here, before Thy face, Our spirits wait for Thy command, Our silent hearts implore Thy peace!

2 Those spirits lay their noblest powers, As offerings, on Thy holy shrine; Thine was the strength that nourished ours; The children of the cross are Thine.

3 While watching on our arms, at night, We saw Thine angels round us move: We heard Thy call, we felt Thy light, And followed, trusting to Thy love.

4 And now, with hymn and prayer we stand, To give our strength to Thee, great God! We would redeem Thy holy land, That land which sin so long has trod.

5 Send us where’er Thou wilt, O Lord, Through rugged toil and wearying fight; Thy conquering love shall be our sword, And faith in Christ our truest might.

6 Send down Thy constant aid, we pray; Be Thy pure angels with us still; Thy truth, be that our firmest stay; Our only rest, to do Thy will.

1 An offering at the shrine of power Our hands shall never bring; A garland on the car of pomp Our hands shall never fling; Applauding in the conqueror’s path Our voices ne’er shall be; But we have hearts to honor those Who bade the world go free!

2 Praise to the good, the pure, the great, Who made us what we are,— Who lit the flame which yet shall glow With radiance brighter far! Glory to them in coming time, And through eternity, Who burst the captive’s galling chain, And bade the world go free!

1 The kings of old have shrine and tomb In many a minster’s haughty gloom; And green, along the ocean-side, The mounds arise where heroes died; But show me on thy flowery breast, Earth! where thy nameless martyrs rest!

2 The thousands that, uncheered by praise, Have made one offering of their days; For truth, for heaven, for freedom’s sake, Resigned the bitter cup to take; And silently, in fearless faith, Have bowed their noble souls to death.

3 O, haply all around lie strewed The ashes of that multitude! It may be that each day we tread Where thus devoted hearts have bled, And the sweet flowers the children sow Take root in holy dust below.

4 What though no stone the record bears Of their deep thoughts and lonely prayers, May not our inmost hearts be stilled, With knowledge of their presence filled, And by their lives be taught to prize The meekness of self-sacrifice?

1 Flung to the heedless winds, Or on the waters cast, Their ashes shall be watched, And gathered at the last; And from that scattered dust, Around us and abroad, Shall spring a plenteous seed Of witnesses for God.

2 The Father hath received Their latest living breath; Yet vain is Satan’s boast Of victory in their death; Still, still, though dead, they speak, And, trumpet-tongued, proclaim To many a wakening land The one prevailing name.

1 Glory to God! whose witness-train, Those heroes bold in faith, Could smile on poverty and pain, And triumph even in death.

2 O, may that faith our hearts sustain, Wherein they fearless stood When, in the power of cruel men, They poured their willing blood.

3 God, whom we serve, our God, can save; Can damp the scorching flame, Can build an ark, or smooth the wave, For such as love His name.

4 Yea, should it even to man appear, At times, as though the Lord Forsook His chosen servants here, We yet will trust His word.

5 Lord! if Thine arm support us still With its eternal strength, We shall o’ercome the mightiest ill, And conquerors prove, at length.

1 Heave, mighty ocean, heave! And blow, thou boisterous wind! Onward we swiftly glide, and leave Our home and friends behind.

2 Away, away we steer, Upon the ocean’s breast; And dim the distant heights appear, Like clouds along the west.

3 There is a loneliness Upon the mighty deep; And hurried thoughts upon us press, As onward still we sweep.

4 But there is hope and joy, Wherever we may be; Danger nor death can e’er destroy Our trust, O God, in Thee!

5 Then wherefore should we grieve Or what have we to fear? Though home and friends and life we leave, Our God is ever near.

6 Sweep, mighty ocean, sweep! Ye winds, blow foul or fair! Our God is with us on the deep, Our home is everywhere.

1 Launch thy bark, mariner! Christian, God speed thee! Let loose the rudder bands, Good angels lead thee! Set thy sails warily, Tempests will come; Steer thy course steadily, Christian, steer home!

2 Look to the weather bow, Breakers are round thee; Let fall thy plummet now, Shallows may ground thee. Reef in thy foresail there; Hold the helm fast; So,—let the vessel wear,— By swept the blast.

3 Slacken no sail yet, at Inlet or island; Straight for the beacon steer,— Straight for the highland; Crowd all the canvass on, Cut through the foam;— Christian! cast anchor now; Heaven is thy home!

1 Many a power within earth’s bosom, Noiseless, hidden, works beneath; Hence are seed and leaf and blossom, Golden ear and clustered wreath.

2 Wind and frost, and hour and season, Land and water, sun and shade,— Work with these, as bids thy reason, For they work thy toil to aid.

3 Sow thy seed and reap in gladness! Man himself is all a seed; Hope and hardship, joy and sadness, Slow the plant to ripeness lead.

1 In pleasant lands have fallen the lines That bound our goodly heritage, And safe beneath our sheltering vines Our youth is blest, and soothed our age.

2 What thanks, O God, to Thee are due, That Thou didst plant our fathers here, And watch and guard them as they grew, A vineyard to the planter dear!

3 The toils they bore our ease have wrought; They sowed in tears,—in joy we reap; The birthright they so dearly bought We’ll guard, till we with them shall sleep.

4 Thy kindness to our fathers shown, In weal and woe, through all the past, Their grateful sons, O God, shall own, While here their name and race shall last.

1 From foes that would our land devour; From guilty pride and lust of power; From wild sedition’s lawless hour; From yoke of slavery;

2 From blinded zeal, by faction led; From giddy change, by fancy bred; From poisoned error’s serpent head; Good Lord, preserve us free!

1 O Thou, whose presence went before Our fathers in their weary way, As with Thy chosen moved of yore The fire by night, the cloud by day!

2 When, from each temple of the free, A nation’s song ascends to heaven, Most holy Father, unto Thee Now let our humble prayer be given.

3 Sweet peace be here; and hope and love Be round us as a mantle thrown, As unto Thee, supreme above, The knee of prayer is bowed alone.

4 And grant, O Father, that the time Of earth’s deliverance may be near, When every land, and tongue, and clime, The message of Thy love shall hear;—

5 When, smitten as with fire from heaven, The captive’s chain shall sink in dust, And to his fettered soul be given The glorious freedom of the just.

1 The land our fathers left to us Is foul with hateful sin; When shall, O Lord, this sorrow end, And hope and joy begin?

2 What good, though growing might and wealth Shall stretch from shore to shore, If thus the fatal poison-taint Be only spread the more?

3 Wipe out, O God, the nation’s sin, Then swell the nation’s power; But build not high our yearning hopes, To wither in an hour!

4 No outward show nor fancied strength From Thy stern justice saves; There is no liberty for them Who make their brethren slaves!

1 Men! whose boast it is that ye Come of fathers brave and free, If there breathe on earth a slave, Are ye truly free and brave? If ye do not feel the chain, When it works a brother’s pain, Are ye not base slaves indeed, Slaves unworthy to be freed?

2 Is true freedom but to break Fetters for our own dear sake, And with leathern hearts forget That we owe mankind a debt? No! true freedom is to share All the chains our brothers wear, And with heart and hand to be Earnest to make others free.

3 They are slaves, who fear to speak For the fallen and the weak; They are slaves, who will not choose Hatred, scoffing, and abuse, Rather than, in silence, shrink From the truth they needs must think; They are slaves, who dare not be In the right with two or three.

1 Lord, when Thine ancient people cried, Oppressed and bound by Egypt’s king, Thou didst Arabia’s sea divide, And forth Thy fainting Israel bring.

2 Lo, in these latter days, our land Groans with the anguish of the slave: Lord God of hosts! stretch forth Thy hand, Not shortened that it cannot save.

3 Roll back the swelling tide of sin, The lust of gain, the lust of power; The day of freedom usher in: How long delays the appointed hour?

4 As Thou of old to Miriam’s hand The thrilling timbrel didst restore, And to the joyful song her land Echoed from desert to the shore;

5 O let Thy smitten ones again Take up the chorus of the free,— Praise ye the Lord! His power proclaim, For He hath conquered gloriously!

1 Ages, ages have departed, Since the first dark vessel bore Afric’s children, broken-hearted, To this far-off western shore; She, like Rachel, Weeping, for they were no more.

2 Millions, millions have been slaughtered In the fight and on the deep; Millions, millions more have watered, With such tears as captives weep, Fields of labor Where their wasted bodies sleep.

3 Mercy, mercy, vainly pleading, Rends her garments, smites her breast, Till a voice from heaven proceeding Gladden all the waiting west: “Come, ye weary! Come, and I will give you rest!”

4 Tidings, tidings of salvation! Brothers, rise with one accord, Purge the plague-spot from our nation, Till, unto their rights restored, Slaves no longer, All are freemen in the Lord!

1 Climb we the mountain afar, In the still hour of even; Led by yon beautiful star, First of the daughters of heaven: Darkness yet covers the face of the deep; Spirit of freedom! go forth in thy might, Break the slave’s bondage like infancy’s sleep, The moment when God shall say, Let there be light!

2 Gaze we meanwhile for the day, Praying in thought while we gaze; Watch for the morning’s first ray; Prayer then be turned into praise! Shout to the valleys, Behold ye the morn, Long, long desired, but denied to our sight; Lo, myriads of slaves into men are new-born; The word was omnipotent, and there is light!

1 O Thou, at whose rebuke, the grave Back to warm life the sleeper gave, Who, waking, saw with joy, above, A brother’s face of tenderest love;—

2 Thou, unto whom the blind and lame, The sorrowing, and the sin-sick came; The burden of thy holy faith Was love and life, not hate and death.

3 O, once again thy healing lay On the blind eyes which know thee not, And let the light of thy pure day Shine in upon the darkened thought!

4 O, touch the hearts of men, and show The power which in forbearance lies; And let them feel that Mercy now Is better than old Sacrifice!

1 What precept, Jesus, is like thine,— Forgive, as ye would be forgiven! In this we see the power divine, Which shall transform our earth to heaven.

2 O, not the harsh and scornful word The victory over sin can gain, Not the dark prison, or the sword, The shackle, or the weary chain.

3 But from our spirits there must flow A love that will the wrong outweigh; Our lips must only blessings know, And wrath and sin shall die away.

4 ’Twas heaven that formed the holy plan To win the wanderer back by love; Thus let us save our brother, man, And imitate our God above.

1 O, say not, think not, heavenly notes To childish ears are vain,— That the young mind at random floats, And cannot reach the strain.

2 Was not our Lord a little child, Taught by degrees to pray, By father dear and mother mild Instructed day by day?

3 And loved he not of heaven to talk With children in his sight, To meet them in his daily walk, And to his arms invite?

4 And though some tones be weak and low, What are all prayers beneath, But cries of babes, that cannot know Half the deep thought they breathe?

5 In his own words we Christ adore; But angels, as we speak, Higher above our meaning soar Than we o’er children weak.

6 And yet his words mean more than they, And yet he owns their praise; O, think not that he turns away From infants’ simple lays!

1 By cool Siloam’s shady rill How sweet the lily grows! How sweet the breath, beneath the hill, Of Sharon’s dewy rose!

2 Lo, such the child whose early feet The paths of peace have trod; Whose secret heart, with influence sweet, Is upward drawn to God!

3 O Thou who giv’st us life and breath, We seek Thy grace alone, In childhood, manhood, age, and death, To keep us still Thine own!

1 See Israel’s gentle Shepherd stand With all-engaging charms! Hark, how he calls the tender lambs, And folds them in his arms!

2 “Suffer the little ones,” he says, “Forbid them not to come; Of such is heaven; and souls like these Shall find in heaven their home.”

3 We bring them, Lord, with thankful hands, And yield them up to Thee; Joyful that we ourselves are Thine, Thine let our offspring be!

1 Ye joyous ones! upon whose brow The light of youth is shed, O’er whose glad path life’s early flowers In glowing beauty spread; Forget not Him whose love hath poured Around that golden light, And tinged those opening buds of hope With hues so softly bright.

2 Thou tempted one! just entering Upon enchanted ground, Ten thousand snares are spread for thee, Ten thousand foes surround: A dark and a deceitful band, Upon thy path they lower; Trust not thine own unaided strength To save thee from their power.

3 Thou whose yet bright and joyous eye May soon be dimmed with tears, To whom the hours of bitterness Must come in coming years; Teach early thy confiding eye To pierce the cloudy screen, To look above the storms of life, Eternally serene.

1 While yet the youthful spirit bears The image of its God within, And uneffaced that beauty wears, Which may too soon be stained by sin;

2 Then is the time for faith and love To take in charge their precious care,— Teach the young heart to look above, Teach the young lips to speak in prayer.

3 The world will come with care and crime, And tempt too oft that heart astray; Still the seed sown in early time Shall not be wholly cast away.

4 The infant prayer, the infant hymn, Within the darkened soul will rise, When age’s weary eye is dim, And the grave’s shadow round us lies.

5 The infant hymn is heard again, The infant prayer is breathed once more; Reclasping thus the broken chain, We turn to all we loved before.

1 Great God! and wilt Thou condescend To be my Father and my Friend? I but a child,—and Thou so high, The Lord of earth and air and sky!

2 Art Thou my Father?—Let me be A meek, obedient child to Thee; And try, in word and deed and thought, To serve and please Thee as I ought.

3 Art Thou my Father?—I’ll depend Upon the care of such a friend; And only wish to do and be Whatever seemeth good to Thee.

4 Art Thou my Father?—Then, at last, When all my days on earth are past, Send down, and take me, in Thy love, To be Thy better child above.

1 Our country is Immanuel’s ground; We seek that promised soil; The songs of Zion cheer our hearts, While strangers here we toil.

2 Oft do our eyes with joy o’erflow, And oft are bathed in tears; But only heaven our hopes can raise, And sin alone, our fears.

3 We tread the path our Master trod; We bear the cross he bore; And every thorn that wounds our feet His temples pierced before.

4 The flowers that spring along the road We scarcely stoop to pluck; We walk o’er beds of shining ore, Nor waste one wishful look.

5 We purge our mortal dross away, Refining as we run; And while we die to earth and sense, Our heaven is here begun.

1 There is a world we have not seen, That time can ne’er destroy, Where mortal footstep hath not been, Nor ear hath heard its joy.

2 There is a world,—and O how blest! Fairer than prophets told; And never did an angel guest One half its peace unfold.

3 And this pure world is ever bright With radiance all its own; The streams of uncreated light Flow round it from the throne.

4 Look not abroad with roving mind To seek that fair abode; It comes, where’er the lowly find The perfect peace of God.

1 Now gird your patient loins again, Your wasting torches trim! The chief of all the sons of men, Shall we not welcome him? Fill all his courts with sacred songs, And from the temple wall Wave garlands o’er the joyful throngs That crowd his festival!

2 And still more freshly in the mind Store up the hopes sublime Which then were born for all mankind, So blessed was the time; And, underneath these hallowed eaves, A Saviour will be born In every heart that him receives, On his triumphal morn.

1 Jesus, while he dwelt below, As divine historians say, To a place would often go, Near to Kedron’s brook that lay: In this place he loved to be, And ’twas named Gethsemane.

2 ’Twas a garden, as we read, At the foot of Olivet, Low and proper to be made The Redeemer’s lone retreat: When from noise he would be free, Then he sought Gethsemane.

3 Thither, by their Master brought, His disciples likewise came; There the heavenly truths he taught Often set their hearts on flame: Therefore they, as well as he, Visited Gethsemane.

4 Oft conversing here they sat; Or might join with Christ in prayer; O, what blest devotion that, When the Lord himself is there! All things there did so agree To endear Gethsemane.

5 Full of love to man’s lost race, On the conflict much he thought; This he knew the destined place, And he loved the sacred spot: Therefore Jesus chose to be Often in Gethsemane.

1 The saints on earth and those above But one communion make; Joined to their Lord in bonds of love, All of His grace partake.

2 One family, we dwell in Him; One church above, beneath; Though now divided by the stream, The narrow stream of death.

3 One army of the living God, To His command we bow; Part of the host have crossed the flood And part are crossing now.

4 O God, be Thou our constant guide! Then, when the word is given, Bid Thou death’s flood its waves divide, And land us safe in heaven.

1 Not to the terrors of the Lord, The tempest, fire, and smoke; Not to the thunder of that word Which God on Sinai spoke;—

2 But we are come to Zion’s hill, The city of our God, Where milder words declare His will, And spread His love abroad.

3 Behold the great, the glorious host Of angels, clothed in light! Behold the spirits of the just, Whose faith is turned to sight!

4 In such society as this, My weary soul would rest; For he who dwells where Jesus is Must be forever blest.

1 By earth hemmed in, by earth oppressed, ’Tis hard to labor,—hard to pray; And of the week, for prayer and rest, We’ve but one Sabbath day.

2 But purer spirits walk above, Who worship alway; who are blest With an upspringing might of love That makes all labor, rest.

3 Father, while here, we would arise In spirit to that realm; and there Be every act a sacrifice, And every thought a prayer!

1 Grows dark thy path before thee? Press on! still undismayed; Heaven shines resplendent o’er thee, Though earth be wrapped in shade.

2 And God, thy trust, hath given, With word from swerving free, The angels of high heaven A charge concerning thee.

3 Then though thy feet may falter Even at early morn, And from hope’s burning altar The light may be withdrawn,—

4 Yet from thy self-prostration Thou shalt awake in power; From tears and lamentation, To conquest every hour.

5 Strong in thy perfect weakness, Thy strength shall never fail; Mighty in holy meekness, Thine arm shall still prevail.

1 When thirst for power or for gold Hath led our souls astray; When, blind, by blinder guides we’re told, “Lo, here thou’lt find the way;”

2 Look down, O Father, from above; Set us from error free; Teach us to serve Thee here in love, And find our home in Thee.

3 When faith Thy guidance humbly takes, And seeks Thy will to do, Clear light upon our pathway breaks, The world to guide us through.

4 Thy spirit send, our souls to keep; Thy wisdom make our own; And though our way leads through the deep, We wander not alone.

1 The light pours down from heaven, And enters where it may; The eyes of all earth’s children Are cheered with one bright day.

2 So let the mind’s true sunshine Be spread o’er earth as free, And fill men’s waiting spirits, As the waters fill the sea.

3 The soul can shed a glory On every work well done; As even things most lowly Are radiant in the sun.

4 Then let each human spirit Enjoy the vision bright; The truth which comes from heaven Shall spread like heaven’s own light;

5 Till earth becomes God’s temple; And every human heart Shall join in one great service, Each happy in his part.

1 Beneath Thy trees to-day we met, Amid Thy summer flowers; And every heart is blessing yet These happy, fleeting hours.

2 But creeping shades to vespers call, And timely lore impart, To make our latest shadows fall From sunshine in the heart.

3 Yes, even so; the summer leaf, The summer flowers, declare Their childlike, chastening belief, That Thou dost make them fair.

4 O, let us cherish nature’s creed, And live and bloom to Thee; For only childlike hearts, we read, Can grace eternity.

1 Our Father! we thank Thee for sleep, For quiet and peaceable rest; We bless the kind care that doth keep Thy children from being distressed: O, how in their weakness shall children repay Thy fatherly kindness, by night and by day?

2 Our voices shall utter Thy praise, Our hearts shall o’erflow with Thy love; O, teach us to walk in Thy ways, And lift us earth’s trials above! The heart’s true affection is all we can give; In love’s pure devotion, O, help us to live!

3 So long as Thou seest it right That here upon earth we should stay, We pray Thee to guard us by night, And help us to serve Thee by day; And when all the days of this life shall be o’er, Receive us in heaven, to serve Thee the more.

1 O’er silent field and lonely lawn Her dusky mantle night hath drawn; At twilight’s holy, heartfelt hour, In man his better soul hath power.

2 The passions are at peace within, And stilled each stormy thought of sin; The yielding bosom, overawed, Breathes love to man, and love to God.

1 Sweet is the light of Sabbath eve, And soft the sunbeam lingering there; Those sacred hours this low earth leave, Wafted on wings of praise and prayer.

2 The time, how lovely and how still! Peace shines and smiles on all below; The plain, the stream, the wood, the hill, All fair with evening’s setting glow!

3 Season of rest! the tranquil soul Feels thy sweet calm, and melts in love; And while these sacred moments roll, Faith sees a smiling heaven above.

4 Thou God of mercy, swift to hear, More swift than man to tell his need; Be Thou to us, this evening, near, And to Thy fount our spirits lead!

1 Come at the morning hour, Come, let us kneel and pray; Prayer is the Christian pilgrim’s staff To walk with God all day.

2 At noon, beneath the Rock Of Ages, rest and pray; Sweet is that shelter from the sun In the weary heat of day.

3 At evening, in thy home, Around its altar, pray; And finding there the house of God, With heaven then close the day.

4 When midnight veils our eyes, O, it is sweet to say, I sleep, but my heart waketh, Lord, With Thee to watch and pray.

1 Approach not the altar with gloom in thy soul, Nor let thy feet falter from terror’s control; God loves not the sadness of fear and mistrust; O, serve Him with gladness,—the Loving and Just!

2 His bounty is tender, His being is love; His smile fills with splendor the blue arch above; Confiding, believing, O, enter always His courts with thanksgiving, His portals with praise!

3 Come not to His temple with pride in thy mien But lowly and simple, in courage serene; Bring meekly before Him the faith of a child, Bow down and adore Him with heart undefiled!

1 Heralds of creation! cry,— Praise the Lord, the Lord most high! Heaven and earth! obey the call; Praise the Lord, the Lord of all.

2 For He spake, and forth from night Sprang the universe to light; He commanded,—nature heard, And stood fast upon His word.

3 Praise Him, all ye hosts above; Spirits perfected in love! Sun and moon! your voices raise; Sing, ye stars! your Maker’s praise.

4 Earth! from all thy depths below, Ocean’s hallelujahs flow; Lightning, vapor, wind, and storm, Hail and snow! His will perform.

5 Birds! on wings of rapture soar, Warble at His temple’s door; Joyful sounds from herds and flocks, Echo back, ye caves and rocks!

6 High above all height His throne; Excellent His name alone; Him let all His works confess! Him let all His children bless!

1 God is in His holy temple: Thoughts of earth, be silent now, While with reverence we assemble, And before His presence bow. He is with us now and ever, When we call upon His name, Aiding every good endeavor, Guiding every upward aim.

2 God is in His holy temple;— In the pure and holy mind; In the reverent heart and simple; In the soul from sense refined: Then let every low emotion Banished far and silent be! And our souls, in pure devotion, Lord, be temples worthy Thee!

1 O Thou whose power o’er moving worlds presides, Whose voice created, and whose wisdom guides! On darkling man in pure effulgence shine, And cheer the clouded mind with light divine!

2 ’Tis Thine alone to calm the pious breast With silent confidence and holy rest; From Thee, great God! we spring, to Thee we tend, Path, Motive, Guide, Original, and End!

1 Praise to God, immortal praise, For the love that crowns our days! Bounteous Source of every joy, Let Thy praise our tongues employ! All to Thee, our God, we owe, Source whence all our blessings flow!

2 All the blessings of the fields, All the stores the garden yields, Flocks that whiten all the plain, Yellow sheaves of ripened grain;— Lord, for these our souls shall raise Grateful vows and solemn praise!

3 All that spring with bounteous hand Scatters o’er the smiling land, All the plenty summer pours, Autumn’s rich, o’erflowing stores;— Lord, for these our souls shall raise Grateful vows and solemn praise!

4 Peace, prosperity, and health, Private bliss and public wealth, Knowledge, with its gladdening streams, Pure religion’s holier beams;— Lord, for these our souls shall raise Grateful vows and solemn praise!

1 Lo, my Shepherd’s hand divine! Want shall never more be mine. In a pasture fair and large He shall feed His happy charge, And my couch with tenderest care ’Midst the springing grass prepare

2 When I faint with summer’s heat, He shall lead my weary feet To the streams that, still and slow, Through the verdant meadow flow: When through devious paths I stray, He shall teach the better way

3 Though the dreary vale I tread, By the shades of death o’erspread, I shall walk from terror free, While each needed strength I see By Thy rod and staff supplied; This my guard, and that my guide.

4 Thou my plenteous board hast spread; Thou with oil refreshed my head; Filled by Thee, my cup o’erflows; For Thy love no limit knows; And unto my latest end Thou my footsteps shalt attend.

1 Father, whate’er of earthly bliss Thy sovereign will denies, Accepted at Thy throne, let this, My humble prayer, arise:—

2 Give me a calm and thankful heart, From every murmur free; The blessings of Thy grace impart, And make me live to Thee;—

3 Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine My life and death attend, Thy presence through my journey shine, And bless my journey’s end.

1 Eternal God! Almighty Cause Of earth, and seas, and worlds unknown! All things are subject to Thy laws; All things depend on Thee alone.

2 Thy glorious being singly stands, Of all within itself possessed; By none controlled in Thy commands, And in Thyself completely blessed.

3 Worship to Thee alone belongs, Worship to Thee alone we give; Thine be our hearts, and Thine our songs, And to Thy glory may we live.

4 O, spread Thy truth through every land, In every heart Thy love be known; Subdue the world to Thy command, And, as Thou art, reign God alone.

1 The Lord descended from above, And bowed the heavens most high, And underneath His feet He cast The darkness of the sky.

2 On cherubim and seraphim Full royally He rode, And on the wings of mighty winds Came flying all abroad.

3 He sat serene upon the floods, Their fury to restrain; And He as sovereign Lord and King For evermore shall reign.

1 From Zion’s holy hill there rose A fount divine, that ever flows; Heaven’s smile is on its waters shed, By heaven’s own dews the fount is fed.

2 That stream of Truth—a silver thread, Scarce known, save by its fountain-head— Now onward pours, a mighty flood, And fills the new-formed world with good.

3 Where’er that living fountain flows, New life its healing wave bestows, And man, from sin’s corruptions free, Inspires with its own purity.

4 A spirit, breathed from Zion’s hill, In holy hearts is living still,— That Comforter from heaven above, The presence of celestial love.

5 O, may this spirit ever be Our bond of peace and unity! Thus shall we teach, as Christ began, Through love, the brotherhood of man.

1 The winds are hushed; the peaceful moon Looks down on Zion’s hill; The city sleeps; ’tis night’s calm moon, And all the streets are still.

2 How soft, how holy, is the light! And hark! a sweet, low song, As gently as these dews of night, Floats on the air along.

3 Affection’s wish, devotion’s prayer, Are in that holy strain; And hope and love and trust are there, And triumph, won through pain.

4 ’Tis Jesus and his faithful few That soul-deep hymn who pour;— O Christ! may we the song renew, And learn to love thee more.

1 O Thou who driest the mourner’s tear, How dark this world would be, If, when deceived and wounded here, We could not fly to Thee!

2 But Thou wilt heal the broken heart, Which, like the plants that throw Their fragrance from the wounded part, Breathes sweetness out of woe.

3 When joy no longer soothes or cheers, And e’en the hope that threw A moment’s sparkle o’er our tears Is dimmed and vanished too;

4 O, who would bear life’s stormy doom, Did not Thy wing of love Come, brightly wafting through the gloom Our peace-branch from above?

5 Then sorrow, touched by Thee, grows bright, With more than rapture’s ray; The darkness shows us worlds of light We never saw by day.

1 There is a book, who runs may read, Which heavenly truth imparts; And all the lore its scholars need, Pure eyes and loving hearts.

2 The works of God, above, below, Within us, and around, Are pages in that book, to show How God himself is found.

3 The glorious sky, embracing all, Is like the Father’s love; Wherewith encompassed, great and small In peace and order move.

4 The dew of heaven is like His grace; It steals in silence down; But where it lights, the favored place By richest fruits is known.

5 Two worlds are ours; ’tis only sin Forbids us to descry The mystic heaven and earth within, Plain as the earth and sky.

6 Thou, who hast given me eyes to see And love this sight so fair, Give me a heart to find out Thee, And read Thee everywhere!

1 O Thou, the primal fount of life and peace, Who shedd’st Thy breathing quiet all around, In me command that pain and conflict cease, And tune to music every jarring sound.

2 Make Thou in me, O God, through shame and pain, A heart attuned to Thy celestial calm; Let not the spirit’s pangs be roused in vain, But heal the wounded breast with soothing balm!

3 So, firm in steadfast hope, in thought secure, In full accord with all Thy works of joy, May I be nerved to labors high and pure, And Thou Thy child to do Thy work employ.

4 In One who walked on earth, a man of woe, Was holier peace than even this hour inspires; From him to me let inward quiet flow, And give the might my failing will requires.

5 So this great universe,—so he, and Thou, The central source and wondrous bound of things, May fill my heart with rest as deep as now To land and sea and air Thy presence brings.

1 The breaking waves dashed high On a stern and rock-bound coast, And the woods against a stormy sky Their giant branches tossed, And the heavy night hung dark, The hills and waters o’er, When a band of exiles moored their bark On the wild New England shore.

2 Not as the conqueror comes, They, the true-hearted, came; Not with the roll of the stirring drums, And the trumpet that sings of fame. Not as the flying come, In silence and in fear; They shook the depths of the desert’s gloom With their hymns of lofty cheer.

3 Amidst the storm they sang; And the stars heard, and the sea! And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang To the anthem of the free. The ocean eagle soared From his nest by the white wave’s foam, And the rocking pines of the forest roared,— This was their welcome home!

4 What sought they thus afar? Bright jewels of the mine? The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? They sought a faith’s pure shrine! Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod! They have left unstained, what there they found: Freedom to worship God.

1 Of all the thoughts of God, that are Borne in upon our souls afar Along the Psalmist’s music deep, O, tell me if there any is, For gift or grace, surpassing this,— “He giveth His beloved sleep.”

2 O earth, so full of dreary noises! O men, with wailing in your voices! O delved gold, the wailers’ heap! O strife, O curse, that o’er it fall! God makes a silence through you all,— He giveth His beloved sleep.

3 His dews drop mutely on the hill, His cloud above it saileth still, Though on its slope men toil and reap; More softly than the dew is shed, Or cloud is floated overhead, He giveth His beloved sleep.

1 Come, Thou almighty King! Help us Thy name to sing, Help us to praise! Father all-glorious, O’er all victorious, Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days!

2 Come, Thou eternal Word, By heaven and earth adored, Our prayer attend! Come and this people bless; Give to Thy truth success; Spirit of Holiness, On us descend!

3 Come, holy Comforter, Thy sacred witness bear In this glad hour! Thou who almighty art, Rule now in every heart, Never from us depart, Spirit of Power!

1 Earth’s busy sounds and ceaseless din Wake not this morning air! A holy calm should welcome in This solemn hour of prayer.

2 Now peace, be still, unhallowed care, And hushed within the breast! A holy joy should welcome there This happy day of rest.

3 Each better thought the spirit knows, This hour, the spirit fill! And Thou, from whom its being flows, O, teach it all Thy will!

4 Then shall this day, which God hath blest, Hallow life’s every hour, And bear us to our better rest, Eternal, perfect, sure.

1 O Thou, who hast Thy servants taught That not by words alone, But by the fruits of holiness, The life of God is shown;

2 While in Thy house of prayer we meet, And call Thee God and Lord, Give us a heart to follow Thee, Obedient to Thy word!

3 When we our voices lift in praise, Give Thou us grace to bring An offering of unfeigned thanks, And with the spirit sing.

4 And in the dangerous path of life Uphold us as we go; That with our lips and in our lives Thy glory we may show.

1 Holy Spirit, source of gladness, Shine amid the clouds of night; O’er our weariness and sadness Breathe Thy life, and shed Thy light! Send us Thine illumination, Banish all our fears at length, Rest upon this congregation, Spirit of unfailing Strength!

2 Let that love, which knows no measure, Now in quickening showers descend, Bringing us the richest treasure Man can wish or God can send; Hear our earnest supplication, Every struggling heart release, Rest upon this congregation, Spirit of eternal Peace!

1 We bless Thee for this sacred day, Thou who hast every blessing given, Which sends the dreams of earth away, And yields a glimpse of opening heaven.

2 Rich day of holy, thoughtful rest, We would improve the calm repose; And, in God’s service truly blest, Forget the world, its joys and woes.

3 Lord! may Thy truth, upon the heart, Now fall and dwell as heavenly dew, And flowers of grace in freshness start Where once the weeds of error grew.

4 May prayer now lift her sacred wings, Contented with that aim alone Which bears her to the King of kings, And rests her at his sheltering throne.

1 Thou givest Thy Sabbath, Lord; the din is stilled Of man’s unquiet care; A sacred calm, with Thy deep presence filled, Breathes through the silent air.

2 O leave us not, through long and darkened hours, In night of woe and sin, But shed Thy Sabbath with its radiant powers Upon the world within.

3 Purge from our hearts the stains so deep and foul, Of wrath and pride and care; Send Thine own holy calm upon the soul, And bid it settle there.

4 Banish this craving self that still has sought Lord of the soul to be; Teach us to turn to fellow-men our thought; Teach us to turn to Thee!

5 Teach us to love Thy creatures great and small To live as in Thine eye; Thou who hast freely given Thy love to all;— Thou who to all art nigh!

1 O Thou, at whose divine command Good seed is sown in every land, Thy holy spirit now impart, And for Thy word prepare each heart!

2 Not ’mid the thorns of worldly thought, Nor soon by passing plunderers caught, Nor lacking depth the root to feed, May we receive Thy spirit’s seed;

3 But may it, where Thy sowers toil, Fall in a good and honest soil; And springing up from firmest root, Through patience, bear abundant fruit.

1 Our Father God! not face to face May mortal sense commune with Thee, Nor lift the curtains of that place Where dwells Thy secret Majesty. Yet whereso’er our spirits bend In rev’rent faith and humble prayer, Thy promised blessing will descend, And we shall find Thy spirit there.

2 Lord! be the spot where now we meet An open gateway into heaven; Here may we sit at Jesus’ feet, And feel our deepest sins forgiven. Here may desponding care look up; And sorrow lay its burden down, Or learn, of him, to drink the cup, To bear the cross, and win the crown.

3 Here may the sick and wandering soul To truth still blind, to sin a slave, Find better than Bethesda’s pool, Or than Siloam’s healing wave. [381] And may we learn, while here apart From the world’s passion and its strife; That Thy true shrine’s a loving heart, And Thy best praise a holy life!

1 Hear, Father, hear our prayer! Thou who art pity where sorrow prevaileth, Thou who art safety when mortal help faileth, Strength to the feeble and hope to despair, Hear, Father, hear our prayer!

2 Hear, Father, hear our prayer! Wandering alone in the land of the stranger, Be with all travellers in sickness or danger, Guard Thou their path, guide their feet from the snare: Hear, Father, hear our prayer!

3 Hear Thou the poor that cry! Feed Thou the hungry and lighten their sorrow, Grant them the sunshine of hope for the morrow; They are Thy children, their trust is on high: Hear Thou the poor that cry!

4 Dry Thou the mourner’s tear! Heal Thou the wounds of time-hallowed affection; Grant to the widow and orphan protection; Be in their trouble a friend ever near; Dry Thou the mourner’s tear!

6 Hear, Father, hear our prayer! Long hath Thy goodness our footsteps attended; Be with the pilgrim whose journey is ended: When at Thy summons for death we prepare, Hear, Father, hear our prayer!

1 From the recesses of a lowly spirit, Our humble prayer ascends; O Father! hear it, Upsoaring on the wings of awe and meekness; Forgive its weakness!

2 We see Thy hand; it leads us, it supports us: We hear Thy voice; it counsels and it courts us: And then we turn away; and still Thy kindness Forgives our blindness.

3 O how long-suffering, Lord! but Thou delightest To win with love the wandering; Thou invitest, By smiles of mercy, not by frowns or terrors, Man from his errors.

4 Father and Saviour! plant within each bosom The seeds of holiness; and bid them blossom In fragrance and in beauty bright and vernal, And spring eternal.

5 Then place them in Thine everlasting gardens, Where angels walk, and seraphs are the wardens; Where every flower escaped through death’s dark portal, Becomes immortal.

1 Father, adored in worlds above! Thy glorious name be hallowed still; Thy kingdom come in truth and love; And earth, like heaven, obey Thy will.

2 Lord, make our daily wants Thy care; Forgive the sins which we forsake; In Thy compassion let us share, As fellow-men of ours partake.

3 Evils beset us every hour; Thy kind protection we implore, Thine is the kingdom, Thine the power, The glory Thine forever more.

1 Holy and reverend is the name Of our eternal King; Thrice holy, Lord! the angels cry; Thrice holy, let us sing.

2 The deepest reverence of the mind Pay, O my soul, to God; Lift with thy hands a holy heart To His sublime abode.

3 With sacred awe pronounce His name, Whom words nor thoughts can reach; A reverent heart shall please Him more Than the best forms of speech.

4 Thou holy God! preserve my soul From sinful passion free; And, pure in heart, may I behold A God of purity!

1 Thy bounteous hand with food can bless The bleak and barren wilderness, And Thou hast taught us, Lord, to pray For daily bread from day to day.

2 And O, when through the wilds we roam That part us from our heavenly home; When, lost in danger, want, and woe, Our faithless tears begin to flow;

3 Do Thou Thy gracious comfort give, By which alone the soul can live; And grant Thy children, Lord, we pray, The bread of life from day to day!

1 Heavenly Father! to whose eye Future things unfolded lie; Through the desert when I stray Let Thy counsels guide my way.

2 Leave me not, for flesh is frail, Where fierce trials would assail; Leave me not in darkened hour, To withstand the tempter’s power.

3 Lord! uphold me day by day; Shed a light upon my way; Guide me through perplexing snares; Care for me in all my cares.

4 Should Thy wisdom, Lord, decree Trials long and sharp for me, Pain, or sorrow, care or shame,— Father! glorify Thy name.

5 Let me neither faint nor fear, Feeling still that Thou art near; In the course my Saviour trod, Tending home to Thee, my God.

To Thee, the Lord almighty, Our noblest praise we give, Who all things hast created, And blessest all that live; [386] Whose goodness, never-failing Through countless ages gone, Forever and forever Shall still keep shining on.

1 All, from the sun’s uprise Unto his setting rays, Resound in jubilees The great Creator’s praise! Him serve alone; In triumph bring Your gifts, and sing Before His throne!

2 Man drew from man his birth; But God his noble frame, (Built of the ruddy earth,) Filled with celestial flame. His sons we are, By Him are led, Preserved and fed With tender care.

3 Then to His portals press In your divine resorts; With thanks His power profess, And praise Him in His courts. How good! how pure! His mercies last; His promise past Is ever sure.

1 O, give thanks to Him who made Morning light and evening shade; Source and Giver of all good, Nightly sleep and daily food: Quickener of our wearied powers, Guard of our unconscious hours!

2 O, give thanks to nature’s King, Who made every breathing thing; His our warm and sentient frame; His the mind’s immortal flame; O, how close the ties that bind Spirits to the Eternal Mind!

3 O give thanks with heart and lip, For we are His workmanship, And all creatures are His care; Not a bird that cleaves the air Falls unnoticed;—but who can Speak the Father’s love to man!

4 O give thanks for him who came, In a mortal, suffering frame, Temple of the Deity;— Came to bear our souls on high; In the path himself hath trod, Leading back his saints to God.

1 Meet and right it is to sing, In every time and place, Praises to our heavenly King, The God of truth and grace. Join we then in sweet accord, All in one thanksgiving join; Holy, holy, holy Lord, Eternal praise be Thine!

2 Thee, the first-born sons of light, In choral symphonies, Praise alway, day without night, In songs that never cease. And with them our hearts aspire, On the wings of faith and love, Vying with the heavenly choir, Who chant Thy praise above.

3 Still they sing, with glory crowned, Thanksgiving to Thy name; Lower if our voices sound, Our hymn is still the same; “Glory be to God on high!” So the song of angels ran, And our voices still reply, “Good-will on earth to man!”

1 Hallelujah! best and sweetest Of the hymns of praise above; Hallelujah! thou repeatest, Angel-host, these notes of love; This ye utter, While your golden harps ye move.

2 Hallelujah! strains of gladness Comfort not the faint and worn; Hallelujah! sounds of sadness Best become the heart forlorn: Our offences We with bitter tears must mourn.

3 But our earnest supplication, Holy God! we raise to Thee; Visit us with Thy salvation, Make us all Thy peace to see! Hallelujah! Ours at length this strain shall be.

1 All ye nations, praise the Lord; All ye lands, your voices raise; Heaven and earth, with loud accord, Praise the Lord, forever praise.

2 For His truth and mercy stand, Past, and present, and to be, Like the years of His right hand, Like His own eternity.

3 Praise Him, ye who know His love; Praise Him, from the depths beneath; Praise Him in the heights above; Praise your Maker, all that breathe!

O Thou great Spirit! who along The waters first did move, And straight, from warring chaos sprung Light, harmony and love; Upon our waiting spirits brood, Bid all their discord cease, And breathe upon the troubled soul Thy last, best gift of peace!

1 Father, supply my every need; Sustain the life Thyself hast given; Oh! grant the never-failing bread, The manna that comes down from heaven!

2 The gracious fruits of righteousness, Thy blessings’ unexhausted store, In me abundantly increase, Nor ever let me hunger more!

1 Lead us with Thy gentle sway, As a willing child is led; Speed us on our upward way, As a pilgrim, Lord, is sped, Who with prayers and helps divine Seeks a consecrated shrine.

2 Lead us, Father! Thou dost know All the way; but, wanderers, we Often miss our way below, And stretch out our hands to Thee; Guide us, save us, and prepare Our appointed mansion there!

1 Ere to the world again we go, Its pleasures, cares, and idle show, Thy grace once more, O God, we crave, From folly and from sin to save.

2 May the great truths we here have heard— The lessons of Thy holy word— Dwell in our inmost bosoms deep, And all our souls from error keep.

3 Oh! may the influence of this day Long as our memory with us stay, And as an angel guardian prove, To guide us to our home above.

1 Lord of the families below! To Thee our prayers we send; Do Thou from danger and from woe This dwelling-place defend.

2 Here let Thy peace, O Father, rest; Here let Thy love abide! Our every joy in Thee more blest, Each sorrow sanctified.

3 May our petitions when we meet, And every secret prayer, Come up before Thy mercy-seat, And find acceptance there.

4 Teach us, with hearts made one in love, To do Thy pure commands; And give us, in Thy time, above, A house not made with hands.

1 Lord! subdue our selfish will; Each to each our tempers suit, By Thy modulating skill, Heart to heart, as lute to lute.

2 Sweetly on our spirits move; Gently touch the trembling strings; Make the harmony of love, Music for the King of kings!

1 It is the hour of prayer: Draw near and bend the knee, And fill the calm and holy air With voice of melody! O’erwearied with the heat And burden of the day, Now let us rest our wandering feet, And gather here to pray.

2 The dark and deadly blight That walks at noontide hour, The midnight arrow’s secret flight, O’er us have had no power: But smiles from loving eyes Have been around our way, And lips on which a blessing lies Have bidden us to pray.

3 O, blessed is the hour That lifts our hearts on high! Like sunlight when the tempests lower, Prayer to the soul is nigh; Though dark may be our lot, Our eyes be dim with care, These saddening thoughts shall trouble not This holy hour of prayer.

1 For mercies past we praise Thee, Lord, The fruits of earth, the hopes of heaven, Thy helping arm, Thy guiding word, And answered prayers, and sins forgiven.

2 Whene’er we tread on danger’s height, Or walk temptation’s slippery way, Be still, to lead our steps aright, Thy word our guide, Thine arm our stay!

3 Be ours Thy blessed presence still; United hearts, unchanging love; No thought that contradicts Thy will, No wish that centres not above!

4 And since we must be parted here, Support us when the hour shall come; Dry gently Thou the mourner’s tear, Rejoin us in our heavenly home.

1 Now from the altar of our hearts Let warmest thanks arise; Assist us, Lord, to offer up Our evening sacrifice.

2 This day our God has been our sun, Our keeper and our guide, His arm around our weakness thrown, His angels at our side.

3 Moments and mercies multiplied Have made up all the day; Moments came fast, but mercies were More swift and free than they.

4 New hours, new blessings, and new joys, Do a new song require; Till we can praise Thee as we should, Accept our hearts’ desire!

1 Father, we bless the gentle care That watches o’er us day by day, That guards us from the tempter’s snare, And guides us in the heavenward way:— We bless Thee for the tender love That mingles all our hearts in one,— The music of the soul;—above ’Tis purer spirits’ unison.

2 Father, ’tis evening’s solemn hour, And cast we now our cares on Thee; Darkly the storm may round us lower, Peace is within,—Christ makes us free;— And when life’s toil and joy are o’er, And evening gathers on its sky, Our circle broke,—we sing no more,— O, may we meet and sing on high.

1 Like morning, when her early breeze Breaks up the surface of the seas, That, in their furrows, dark with night, Her hand may sow the seeds of light;

2 Thy grace can send its breathings o’er The spirit, dark and lost before; And freshening all its depths, prepare For truth divine to enter there!

3 Till David touched his sacred lyre, In silence lay the unbreathing wire, But when he swept its chords along, E’en angels stooped to hear the song.

4 So sleeps the soul, till Thou, O Lord, Shall deign to touch its lifeless chord; Till, waked by Thee, its breath shall rise In music worthy of the skies.

1 Brother, will you slight the message Sent in mercy from above? Every sentence, O how tender, Every line how full of love! Heavenly accents Full of strength and peace and love!

2 Tempted souls, they bring you succor; Fearful hearts, they quell your fears; And with deepest consolation Chase away the falling tears; Tender heralds, Blessed he their word who hears!

3 Holy angels, hovering round us! Waiting spirits! speed your way, Hasten to the court of heaven, Tidings bear without delay, That our spirits Glad the message will obey.

1 O Thou, who all things dost control, Chase this dead slumber from my soul! With reverent joy, with loving awe, Give me to keep Thy perfect law.

2 O, let a ray from Thy pure light Pierce through the gathering shades of night! Touch my cold breast with heavenly fire, And holy conquering faith inspire.

3 This deadly slumber when I feel Afresh upon my spirit steal, Then, Lord, descend with quickening power, And wake me, that I sleep no more!

1 O Thou, in whom the weary find Alone their permanent repose; Send light into my doubting mind, Relieve my fears, assuage my woes; O let my soul on Thee be cast, Till sin’s fierce tyranny be past.

2 Far, far from Thee, O God, removed, Long have I wandered to and fro; O’er earth in endless circles roved, Nor found whereon to rest below; Back unto Thee, at last, I fly: Save! for the waters still are high.

3 Selfish pursuits and pleasure’s maze, The things of earth, for Thee I leave; Pat forth Thy hand, Thy hand of grace, Into the ark of love receive; Take this poor fluttering soul to rest, And still it, Father, on Thy breast.

4 Fill with inviolable peace; ’Stablish in faith my restless heart; In Thee let all my wanderings cease, From Thee may I no more depart; Never again from Thee remove, Loved with an everlasting love!

1 Father divine, this deadening power control, Which to the senses binds the immortal soul; O break this bondage, Lord! I would be free, And in my soul would find my heaven, in Thee.

2 My heaven in Thee! O God, no other heaven To the immortal soul can e’er be given; O, let Thy kingdom now within me come, And as above, so here, Thy will be done!

3 My heaven in Thee, O Father, let me find— My heaven in Thee, within a heart resigned; No more, of heaven and bliss, my soul, despair, For where my God is found, my heaven is there.

1 Father, this slumber shake From off my heavy soul! Say to me now,—awake! awake! And I will make thee whole!

2 Touch with Thy strengthening hand; Arouse me in this hour; And make me fully understand The thunder of Thy power.

3 Give me on Thee to call; Always to watch and pray, Lest I into temptation fall, And cast my shield away.

4 For each assault prepared And watchful may I be, Forever standing on my guard, And looking unto Thee.

1 Thou seest my feebleness; Father! be Thou my power, My help and refuge in distress, My fortress and my tower!

2 Give me to trust in Thee; Be Thou my sure abode; My helm and sword and buckler be, My Saviour and my God!

3 Myself I cannot save, Myself I cannot keep; But strength in Thee I surely have, Whose eyelids never sleep.

4 My soul to Thee alone, For always, I commend; Thou lovest me, Father, as Thine own, And lovest to the end.

1 O come and dwell in me, Spirit of power within! And bring Thy glorious liberty From sorrow, fear and sin.

2 The inward, deep disease, Spirit of Health, remove! Spirit of perfect Holiness! Spirit of perfect Love!

3 Hasten the joyful day Which shall all sin consume; When old things shall be done away, And all things new become!

1 O, for a heart to praise my God, A heart from sin set free; A heart that always feels how good, Thou, Lord, hast been to me.

2 O for an humble, trustful heart, Believing, true, and clean, Which neither life nor death can part From Him who dwells within;—

3 A heart in every thought renewed, And full of love divine, Perfect, and right, and pure, and good, Conformed, O Lord, to Thine.

4 Thy spirit, gracious Lord, impart; Come quickly from above; O, write Thy name upon my heart! Thy name, O God, is love.

1 Come to me, thoughts of heaven! My fainting spirit bear On your bright wings, by morning given, Up to celestial air, Away, far, far away, From thoughts by passion given, Fold me in pure, still, cloudless day, O blessed thoughts of heaven!

2 Come in my tempted hour, Sweet thoughts! and yet again O’er sinful wish and memory, shower Your soft effacing rain; Waft me where gales divine With dark clouds ne’er have striven; Where living founts forever shine; O blessed Thoughts of heaven!

1 O, for a faith that will not shrink Though pressed by every foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any earthly woe!

2 A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without; That when in danger knows no fear, In darkness feels no doubt;—

3 Lord, give us such a faith as this, And then, whate’er may come, We’ll taste, e’en here, the hallowed bliss Of an eternal home.

1 One prayer I have,—all prayers in one, When I am wholly Thine; Thy will, my God, Thy will be done, And let that will be mine.

2 All-wise, almighty, and all-good, In Thee I firmly trust; Thy ways, unknown or understood, Are merciful and just.

3 May I remember that to Thee Whate’er I have I owe; And back in gratitude from me May all Thy bounties flow.

4 Thy gifts are only then enjoyed, When used as talents lent; Those talents only well employed, When in Thy service spent.

5 And though Thy wisdom takes away, Shall I arraign Thy will? No, let me bless Thy name, and say “The Lord is gracious still.”

6 A pilgrim through the earth I roam, Of nothing long possessed, And all must fail when I go home, For this is not my rest.

1 Speak with us, Lord; Thyself reveal, While here on earth we rove; Speak to our hearts, and let us feel The kindlings of Thy love.

2 With Thee conversing, we forget All toil and time and care; Labor is rest, and pain is sweet, If Thou art present there.

3 Here then, our God, be pleased to stay, And bid our hearts rejoice; Our bounding hearts shall own Thy sway, And echo to Thy voice.

4 Thou callest us to seek Thy face; Thy face, O God, we seek, Attend the whispers of Thy grace, And hear Thee inly speak.

1 Father divine, our wants relieve In this our evil day; To all Thy tempted children give The power to watch and pray.

2 Long as our fiery trials last, Long as the cross we bear, O, let our souls on Thee be cast, In never-ceasing prayer!

3 Thy spirit of untroubled peace Give us in faith to claim, To wrestle till we see Thy face, And know Thy hidden name.

4 Till Thou Thy perfect love impart, Till Thou Thyself bestow, Be this the cry of every heart,— I will not let Thee go;

5 I will not let Thee go, unless Thou tell Thy name to me; With all Thy great salvation bless, And make me all like Thee.

6 Then let us, on the mountain top, Behold Thine unveiled face, Where faith in sight is swallowed up, And prayer in endless praise.

1 O almighty God of love! Thy holy arm display; Send us succor from above, Against the evil day; Arm our weakness with Thy power; Put Thy strength our hearts within; Be our stronghold and our tower Against the assaults of sin.

2 Could we of Thy strength take hold, And always feel Thee near, Confident, divinely bold, Our souls would know no fear. Nothing could their firmness shock; Though the gates of hell assail, Were we built upon the rock They never could prevail.

3 Thou would’st, in the trying hour, A sure protection be, Guard us from temptation’s power, And fix our souls on Thee. Lord, on Thee our trust is placed; Never thence may we remove; In the arms of love embraced, Thine everlasting love.

1 We pray for truth and peace; With weary hearts we ask Some rest in which our souls may cease From life’s perplexing task. We weep—yet none is found; We weep—yet hope grows faint;— And deeper in its mournful sound Goes up our wild complaint.

2 Only to living faith The promises are shown; And by the love that passes death The rest is won alone. [407] Be ours the earnest heart, Be ours the steady will, To work in silent trust our part; For God is working still.

3 Then newer lights shall rise Above these clouds of sin, And heaven’s unfolding mysteries To glad our souls begin. Our hearts from fear and wrong Shall win their full release, With God’s own might forever strong, And calm with God’s own peace.

1 That might of faith, O Lord! bestow, Which cannot ask in vain; Which will not let the angel go Until the prayer it gain.

2 On me the faith divine bestow Which doth the mountain move; And all my spotless life shall show The omnipotence of love.

3 And, Father, when I doubt that I Can live, and sin no more; Then if on Thee I dare rely, The faith shall bring the power.

1 Father of might, my bonds I feel, And long for perfect liberty; I would deny my selfish will, And, Father, give up all to Thee!

2 O, with Thy strength my weakness fill! That strength shall every foe subdue; The doubts that tempt, the sins that kill, The wishes to the cross untrue.

3 A sinless mind in me reveal, Thy spirit’s fulness, Lord, impart! Till all my spotless life shall tell The abundance of a loving heart.

4 So shall I own Thy perfect sway, And, sitting humbly at Thy feet, Thy law with all my heart obey, And all my soul to Thee submit.

1 Holy Father, Thou hast taught me I should live to Thee alone; Year by year, Thy hand hath brought me On through dangers oft unknown. When I wandered, Thou hast found me; When I doubted, sent me light; Still Thine arm has been around me, All my paths were in Thy sight.

2 In the world will foes assail me, Craftier, stronger far than I; And the strife may never fail me, Well I know, before I die. Therefore, Lord, I come, believing Thou canst give the power I need; Through the prayer of faith receiving Strength,—the spirit’s strength indeed.

3 I would trust in Thy protecting, Wholly rest upon Thine arm, Follow wholly Thy directing, Thou mine only guard from harm! Keep me from mine own undoing, Help me turn to Thee when tried, Still my footsteps, Father, viewing, Keep me ever at Thy side!

1 Wait on the Lord, ye heirs of hope, And let His word support your souls; Well can He bear your courage up, And all your foes and fears control.

2 He waits His own well-chosen hour The intended mercy to display; And His paternal pities move, While wisdom dictates the delay.

3 Blest are the humble souls that wait With sweet submission to His will; Harmonious all their passions move, And in the midst of storms are still;—

4 Still, till their Father’s well-known voice Wakens their silence into songs; Then earth grows vocal with His praise, And heaven the grateful shout prolongs.

1 God of my life, whose gracious power Through varied deaths my soul hath led, Or turned aside the fatal hour, Or lifted up my sinking head!

2 In all my ways Thy hand I own, Thy ruling providence I see: Assist me still my course to run, And still direct my paths to Thee.

3 Whither, oh whither should I fly, But to my loving Father’s breast; Secure within Thine arms to lie, And safe beneath Thy wings to rest!

4 I have no skill the snare to shun, But Thou, O God, my wisdom art; I ever into ruin run: But Thou art greater than my heart.

5 Foolish, and ignorant, and blind, Lead me a way I have not known; Bring me where I my heaven may find, The heaven of loving Thee alone.

1 My God! in life’s most doubtful hour, In sharpest pains of death, Who waits on Thee hath peace and power; Thou present help of faith!

2 Thy crown of joy upon his head, Thy light upon his face, Through storms and strife Thy Christ could tread, On to the happy place.

3 And though the cross were sharp and high, The lifted Lord could see The souls he loved drawn nearer by His love’s last energy.

4 Help me, O God! to seek—to win, Through struggles and through prayer, The faith which frees my soul from sin, And brings Thy blessing there.

5 So shall my cross of conquered shame My fainting brothers raise, So Thy triumphant mercy flame Around my path of praise.

6 And earth, with all its pain and toil, By love’s pure presence blest, Shall wear the calm celestial smile Of heaven’s eternal rest.

1 Bear on, my soul! the bitter cross Of every trial here Shall lift thee to thy heaven above, But shall not enter there.

2 Bear on, my soul! on God rely; Deliverance will come; A thousand ways the Father hath To bring His children home.

3 And Thou, my heavenly Friend and Guide, Hast kindly led me on; Taught me to rest my fainting head Upon Thy heart alone.

4 So comforted and so sustained, With dark events I strove, And found, when rightly understood, All, messengers of love.

1 We will not weep; for God is standing by us, And tears will blind us to the blessed sight; We will not doubt,—if darkness still doth try us, Our souls have promise of serenest light.

2 We will not faint,—if heavy burdens bind us, They press no harder than our souls can bear, The thorniest way is lying still behind us, We shall be braver for the past despair.

3 O, not in doubt shall be our journey’s ending, Sin with its fears shall leave us at the last, All its best hopes in glad fulfilment blending, Life shall be with us when the Death is past.

4 Help us, oh Father!—when the world is pressing On our frail hearts, that faint without their friend, Help us, oh Father! let Thy constant blessing Strengthen our weakness,—till the joyful end.

1 Call the Lord thy sure salvation, Rest beneath the Almighty’s shade; In His secret habitation Dwell, nor ever be dismayed!

2 There no tumult can alarm thee, Thou shalt dread no hidden snare, Guile nor violence shall harm thee, In eternal safeguard there.

3 There, though winds and waves are swelling, God, thy hope, shall bear through all; Plague shall not come nigh thy dwelling, Thee no evil shall befall.

4 He shall charge His angel legions Watch and ward o’er thee to keep, Though thou walk through hostile regions, Though in desert wilds thou sleep.

5 Since, with pure and firm affection, Thou on God hast set thy love, With the wings of His protection He shall shield thee from above.

1 Cross, reproach, and tribulation, Ye to me are welcome guests, When I have this consolation, That my soul in Jesus rests.

2 The reproach of Christ is glorious; Those who here his burden bear In the end shall prove victorious, And eternal gladness share.

3 Bear then the reproach of Jesus, Ye who live a life of faith! Lift triumphant songs and praises, Even in martyrdom and death.

4 Bonds and stripes, and evil story, Are our honorable crowns; Pain is peace, and shame is glory, Gloomy dungeons are as thrones.

1 Let the world despise and leave me,— Once they left my Saviour too; Let all human hopes deceive me, Thou wilt never be untrue; And whilst Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love and might! Foes may hate and friends disown me, Yet the darkness shall be light.

2 Go, then, earthly fame and treasure; Come, disaster, scorn and pain! In Thy service pain is pleasure, With Thy favor loss is gain. I have learned to call Thee Father, I have fixed my heart on Thee; Storms may howl and clouds may gather, All must work for good to me.

3 Man may trouble and distress me, ’Twill but drive me to Thy breast; Life with trials hard may press me, Thou canst give me sweetest rest. O, ’tis not in grief to harm me, While Thy love is left to me; O, ’twere not in joy to charm me, Were that joy unmixed with Thee!

1 Eternal and immortal King! Thy peerless splendors none can bear; But darkness veils seraphic eyes, When God with all his glory’s there.

2 Yet faith can pierce the awful gloom, The great Invisible can see; And with its tremblings mingle joy, In fixed regard, great GOD! to Thee.

3 Then every tempting form of sin, Shamed in Thy presence, disappears; And all the glowing raptured soul The likeness it contemplates, wears.

4 O ever conscious to my heart! Witness to its supreme desire: Behold it presseth on to Thee, For it hath caught the heavenly fire.

5 This one petition would it urge— To bear Thee ever in its sight; In life, in death, in worlds unknown, Its only portion and delight!

1 Supreme disposer of the heart! Thou, since the world was made, Hast the blest fruits of holiness To holy hearts displayed.

2 Here, hope and faith their links unite With love in one sweet chain; But when all fleeting things are past, Love shall alone remain.

3 O love! O true and fadeless light! And shall it ever be, That after all our toils and tears Thy sabbath we shall see?

4 ’Mid thousand fears and dangers now We sow our seed, with prayer, But know that joyful hands shall reap The shining harvests there.

5 O God of justice, God of power! Our faith and hope increase, And crown them, in the future years, With endless love and peace.

1 Father! we look up to Thee; Let us in Thy love agree; Thou, who art the God of peace, Bid contention ever cease.

2 Make us of one heart and mind, Self-forgetful, true and kind; Strong, yet meek in thought and word, Like Thy Son, our blessed Lord.

3 Let us for each other care, Each the other’s burden bear; Ready, when reviled, to bless; Studious of the law of peace.

4 Father! all our souls inspire, Fill us with love’s sacred fire; Guided by that blessed light, Order all our steps aright.

5 Free from anger, free from pride, Let us thus in Thee abide; All the depths of love express,— All the heights of holiness.

1 Sow in the morn thy seed, At eve hold not thy hand; To doubt and fear give thou no heed, Broadcast it o’er the land! Beside all waters sow, The highway furrows stock, Drop it where thorns and thistles grow, Drop it upon the rock!

2 The good, the fruitful ground Expect not here nor there; O’er hill and dale and plain ’tis found, Go forth, then, everywhere! And duly shall appear, In verdure, beauty, strength, The tender blade, the stalk, the ear, And the full corn at length.

3 Thou canst not toil in vain; Cold, heat, and moist and dry, Shall foster and mature the grain For garners in the sky; [419] Then when the glorious end, The day of God, shall come, The angel-reapers shall descend, At heaven’s great harvest-home.

1 Awake, our souls, away, our fears; Let every trembling thought be gone. Awake and run the heavenly race, And put a cheerful courage on.

2 True ’tis a strait and thorny road, And mortal spirits tire and faint; But they forget the mighty God, That feeds the strength of every saint.

3 From Thee, the overflowing spring, Our souls shall drink a fresh supply, While such as trust in human strength Shall melt away, and droop, and die.

4 Swift as an eagle cuts the air, We’ll mount aloft to Thine abode; On wings of love our souls shall fly, Nor tire amidst the heavenly road.

1 Followers of Christ! arise, And put your armor on, Strong in the strength which God supplies To each obedient son.

2 Stand forth in His great might, With all His strength endued; But take, to arm you for the fight, The panoply of God.

3 And, above all, lay hold Of faith’s victorious shield; Armed with that adamant and gold, Ye cannot lose the field.

4 Leave no unguarded place, No weakness of the soul; Take every virtue, every grace, And consecrate the whole.

5 That having all things done, And conquered in the strife, To nobler service ye pass on, And an undying life!

1 My soul, be on thy guard; Ten thousand foes arise; The hosts of sin are pressing hard To draw thee from the skies.

2 O, watch, and strive, and pray; The battle ne’er give o’er; Renew it boldly every day, And help divine implore.

3 Ne’er think the victory won, Nor lay thine armor down: Thy arduous work will not be done Till thou obtain thy crown.

4 Fight on, my soul, till death Shall bring thee to thy God; He’ll take thee, at thy parting breath, To His divine abode.

1 Every bird that upward springs Bears the Cross upon his wings; We without it cannot rise Upward to our native skies.

2 Every ship that meets the waves By the Cross their fury braves; We, on life’s wide ocean tossed, If we have it not are lost.

3 Hope it gives us when distrest, When we faint it gives us rest; Satan’s craft, and Satan’s might, By the Cross are put to flight.

4 That from sin earth might be free, Jesus bore it; so must we; Ne’er through faintness lay it down: First the Cross, and then the crown!

1 Oh God, that mad’st the earth and sky, The darkness and the day, Oh listen to Thy children’s cry, And help us when we pray!

2 For wide the waves of bitterness Around our vessel roar, And heavy grows the burdened heart, To view the rocky shore.