1. ALONG the mountain track of life,
Along the weary lea,

In rocks, in storms, in joy, in strife,
Let this my heart-cry be-

"Nearer to Thee!" "Nearer to Thee!"

2. This pilgrim-path by Thee was trod,
Jesus! my King! by Thee—

Traced by Thy feet, Thy tears, Thy blood,
In love, in death, for me-

O! bring my soul nearer to Thee!

3. Let every step, let every thought,
Sweet memories bear of Thee!

And hear the soul Thy love hath bought,
Whose every cry shall be

"Nearer to Thee!" "Nearer to Thee!"

4. Thou wilt! Thou dost!-a still small voice Whispers of faith in Thee,

Of hope that might in grief rejoice,
If still the way-cry be

"Nearer to Thee!" "Nearer to Thee!"

5. Yet a few days to me, perhaps,

And time shall no more be

But boundless love can know no lapse,

Thou art eternity!

Draw then, my soul, "Nearer to Thee!"

1. JESUS, the very thought of Thee,
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

2. Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find

A sweeter sound than Thy blest name,
O Saviour of mankind!

3. O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!

To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

4. But what to those who find? Ah! this,
Nor tongue nor pen can show,

The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

440.

C. M.

ST. BERNARD.

1. LORD, see what floods of sorrow rise,
And beat upon my soul:
One trouble to another cries;
Billows on billows roll.

2. From fear to hope, from hope to fear,
My shipwrecked soul is tost,
Till I am tempted, in despair,

To give up all for lost."

3. Yet through the stormy clouds I'll look
Once more to Thee, my God;
O, fix my feet upon the rock,

Beyond the raging flood.

4. One look of mercy from Thy face
Will set my heart at ease;

One all-commanding word of grace
Will make the tempest cease.

STENNETT.

1. Он, my dear Saviour, when Thy cares,
Thy toils for me I read,

My eyes run o'er with grateful tears,
And I bow down my head.

2. Thy suffering life I can not trace,
Or read Thy sacred word;

But I'm o'ercome with thankfulness
To Thee, my gracious Lord.

3. What am I, Lord, that Thou so much
Should'st love and value me?
Vile dust I am, yet Thou for such
Didst bear Thy misery.

1. THE Lord will happiness divine
On contrite hearts bestow!

MORAVIAN.

Then tell me, gracious God, is mine
A contrite heart, or no?

2. I hear, but seem to hear in vain,
Insensible as steel;

If aught is felt, 't is only pain
To find I can not feel.

3. My best desires are faint and few:
Fain would I strive for more;

But, when I cry, "My strength renew,"
Seem weaker than before.

4. Thy saints are comforted, I know,
And love thy house of prayer;
I therefore go where others go,
But find no comfort there.

5. Oh! make this heart rejoice or ache;
Decide this doubt for me;

And if it be not broken, break-
And heal it, if it be.

COWPER.

1. How oft, alas! this wretched heart
Has wandered from the Lord!
How oft my roving thoughts depart-
Forgetful of His word!

2. Yet sovereign mercy calls-"Return!"
Dear Lord! and may I come?
My vile ingratitude I mourn;
Oh! take the wanderer home.

3. And canst Thou-wilt Thou yet forgive,
And bid my crimes remove!
And shall a pardoned rebel live
To speak Thy wondrous love?

4. Almighty grace! Thy healing power,
How glorious-how divine!

That can to life and bliss restore
A heart so vile as mine!

5. Thy pard'ning love-so free, so sweet—
Dear Saviour! I adore;

Oh! keep me at Thy sacred feet,
And let me rove no more.

MRS. STEELE,

1. WITH tears of anguish I lament,
Here, at Thy feet, my God,
My passion, pride, and discontent,
And vile ingratitude.

2. Sure there was ne'er a heart so base,
So false as mine has been;

So faithless to its promises,

So prone to every

sin!

3. My reason tells me Thy commands
Are holy, just, and true;

Tells me whate'er my God demands
Is His most righteous due.

4. Reason, I hear, her counsels weigh,
And all her words approve;
But still I find it hard t' obey,
And harder yet to love.

5. How long, dear Saviour, shall I feel
These struggles in my breast?
When wilt Thou bow my stubborn will,
And give my conscience rest?

6. Break, Sovereign Grace, O break the charm,
And set the captive free;

Reveal, Almighty God, Thine arm,
And haste to rescue me.

STENNETT.

1. My God! the covenant of Thy love
Abides forever sure;

And in its matchless grace I feel
My happiness secure.

2. Since Thou, the everlasting God,
My Father art become,

Jesus my guardian and my friend,
And heaven my final home;—

3. I welcome all Thy sovereign will,.
For all that will is love;

And when I know not what Thou dost,
I wait the light above.

4. Thy covenant in the darkest gloom
Shall heavenly rays impart,

446.

And when my eyelids close in death,
Sustain my fainting heart.

C. M.

DODDRIDGE.

1. ALAS! and did my Saviour bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?

Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

2. Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

3. Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,

When God, the mighty Maker, died
For man the creature's sin.