That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth; The body they may kill, God's truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever. From the German of Martin Luther, by Frederick Henry Hedge [1805-1890] PRAYER TO THE TRINITY LEAD us, heavenly Father, lead us Every blessing, If our God our Father be. Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us; All our weakness Thou dost know; Faint and weary, Through the desert Thou didst go. Spirit of our God, descending, Fill our hearts with heavenly joy, Pardoned, guided, Nothing can our peace destroy. James Edmeston (1791-1867] IN SORROW GENTLY, Lord, oh, gently lead us, In the hour of pain and anguish, In the hour when death draws near, Suffer not our hearts to languish, Suffer not our souls to fear; And, when mortal life is ended, Bid us in Thine arms to rest, Till, by angel bands attended, We awake among the blest. Thomas Hastings [1784-1872] "JUST FOR TO-DAY" LORD, for to-morrow and its needs, I do not pray: Keep me, my God, from stain of sin, Just for to-day; Let me no wrong or idle word Unthinking say: Set Thou a seal upon my lips, Just for to-day. Let me both diligently work, And duly pray; Let me be kind in word and deed, Just for to-day; Let me in season, Lord, be grave, In season, gay; Let me be faithful to Thy grace. Just for to-day. THE VOICE FROM GALILEE I HEARD the voice of Jesus say, Come unto Me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast." Weary, and worn, and sad, I heard the voice of Jesus say, The living water, thirsty one, Of that life-giving stream; My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, I heard the voice of Jesus say, And in that Light of life I'll walk Horatius Bonar (1808-1889] FAITH My faith looks up to Thee, Saviour divine! Now hear me while I pray, O let me from this day HE STANDETH AT THE DOOR In the silent midnight watches, How it knocketh-knocketh-knocketh Knocketh evermore! Say not 'tis thy pulse's beating: 'Tis thy heart of sin; 'Tis thy Saviour knocks, and crieth, "Rise, and let Me in!" Death comes on with reckless footsteps, To the hall and hut: Think you Death will tarry, knocking, Where the door is shut? |