Confessing Christ in baptism. Mat. xii. 30.
1 WE dare no longer stand
As neuters to thy cause;
But, by the help of grace, we'll yield
Obedience to thy laws.
2 Into the watery tomb
We cheerfully descend,
In token of our faith and love
To our celestial Friend.
3 Lord, meet us here this day,
Who come to do thy will:
Grant us thy presence, dearest Lord-
Thy promis'd grace fulfil.
4 Descend, O heavenly Dove,
And wing our souls away
Up to the bright and heav'nly joys
Of everlasting day.
Montgomery. 199. 7.
Seeking the fellowship of the saints. 1 PEOPLE of the living God!
I have sought the world around,
Paths of sin and sorrow trod,
Peace and comfort no where found:
Now to you my spirit turns-
Turns, a fugitive unblest;
Brethren! where your altar burns,
Oh, receive me into rest.
2 Lonely I no longer roam,
Like the cloud, the wind, the wave:
Where you dwell shall be my home;
Where you die shall be my grave;
Mine the God whom you adore;
Your Redeemer shall be mine;
Earth can fill my soul no more—
Ev'ry idol I resign.
200. C. M.
Holy fortitude. 2 Tim. ii. 3.
1 AM I a soldier of the cross
A foll'wer of the Lamb-
And shall I fear to own his cause,
Or blush to speak his name?
2 Shall I be carried to the skies
On flow'ry beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sail'd through bloody seas?
3 Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vain world a friend to grace,
To help us on to God?
4 Sure, I must fight if I would reign:
Increase my courage, Lord,
To bear the cross, endure the shame,
Supported by thy word.
5 The saints, in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer, though they die :
They see the triumph from afar
With faith's discerning eye.
201. c. M.
Vows. Rom. x. 10.
1 WITNESS, ye men and angels, now Before the Lord we speak;
To him we make our solemn vow,-
A vow we dare not break:
2 That long as life itself shall last,
Ourselves to Christ we yield;
Nor from his cause will we depart,
Nor ever quit the field.
3 We trust not in our native strength,
But on his grace rely,
That, with returning wants, the Lord
Will all our need supply.
4 O, guide our doubtful feet aright,
And keep us in thy ways;
And, while we turn our vows to prayers,
Turn thou our vows to praise.
Not ashamed of Christ. Mark viii. 38.
1 JESUS! and shall it ever be,
A mortal man asham'd of thee?
Asham'd of thee, whom angels praise!
Whose glories shine through endless days!
2 Asham'd of Jesus! Sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star:
He sheds the beams of light divine
O'er this benighted soul of mine.
3 Asham'd of Jesus! Just as soon
Let midnight be asham'd of noon :
'Twas midnight with my soul, till he,
Bright Morning Star! bid darkness flee.
4 Asham'd of Jesus!-that dear Friend
On whom my hopes of heaven depend
No! when I blush, be this my shame,
That I no more revere his name.
5 Asham'd of Jesus! Yes, I may
When I've no guilt to wash away;
No tear to wipe-no good to crave—
No fears to quell-no soul to save.
6 His institutions would I prize;
Take up my cross-the shame despise ;
Dare to defend his noble cause,
And yield obedience to his laws.
Immersion the appointed mode. Mat. iii. 15—17.
1 WHEN we baptize, we see the mode
In honor'd Jordan's swelling flood.
We're deaf to vain tradition's voice;
The way Christ chose becomes our choice.
2 Down in the stream they both descend,
And John immers'd the sinner's Friend;
Out of the water straightway came
The Church's Head, th' obedient Lamb.
3 The Baptist saw the heavenly dove
Descend from op'ning heavens above;
And now the Father's voice is heard
Approving the incarnate word :
4 "This is my beloved Son;
Well pleas'd am I with what he's done;
In all things he my will obeys;-
Then hear and trust whate'er he says."
5 Now, ye believing souls, regard
Th' example of your glorious Lord;
Walk in his honor'd paths, and prove
How much your souls his precepts love.
Love, the essence of obedience. Mat. viii. 22. 1 O, YE blood-wash'd, ransom❜d sinners, Highly favor'd of the Lord,
Now ye prove your love to Jesus
By regarding thus his word.
Rise and follow, rise and follow,
Rise and follow Christ your Lord.
2 See his wat'ry tomb before you;
Hear him echo, "Follow me;"
For, beneath the streams of Jordan,
Christ your great Redeemer lay.
Rise and follow, rise and follow,
Rise and follow Christ to-day.
3 Yes, beneath those honor'd waters
Great Immanuel was baptiz'd;
Out of which he then ascended,
And the Father was well pleas'd
Let us follow, let us follow,
Let us follow Christ our Lord.
4 Love constrains you all to follow
Jesus to his liquid grave:
Now look up; expect his presence,
Which he promis'd you to have
While you follow, while you follow,
Jesus to his liquid grave.
5 Jesus, come! thine approbation
May we gladly see and feel;
Cause, O cause, the heavens to open,
And thy wondrous love reveal;
And we'll follow, and we'll follow,
And we'll follow thee, our all.
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