6 Higher yet the chorus swell:
Death o'erthrown, and captiv'd hell;
Where is hell's once dreaded king?
Where, O death, thy venom'd sting?
ESUS is the Rock of Ages;
Rais'd by our Jehovah's love,
Far above all other mountains,
Reaching to the realms above:
Rock of Ages,
Now to us a shelter prove.
2 Shelter of the weary pilgrim!
Refuge of the tempted soul!
Source of every heav'nly blessing!
All the saints of God control:
Rock of Ages,
Cheer our hearts, and make them whole.
3 Bid our faith with wings expanding,
Bear us to this safe retreat;
To the rock the saints inhabit,
Where they sing in union sweet:
Rock of Ages,
Make us feel in Thee complete.
4 From Thy tow'ring height beholding,
We can look around and smile;
Sinners here are safe from danger,
Free from sin, and care, and toil:
Rock of Ages,
Our expecting foes beguile.
5 Here afford a glorious vision,
Of the goodly distant land;
Till with all Thy ransomed people,
On its shores we joyful stand:
Rock of Ages,
Lead us to that chosen band.
4 And ye that sincerely
Confide in the Lamb,
He loves you most dearly,
Rejoice in His name.
No more the believer
From God shall be torn;
To hold him for ever
An Infant is born.
THOU very Paschal Lamb,
Whose blood for us was shed,
Thro' whom we out of Egypt came,
Thy ransom'd people lead!
Angel of gospel grace,
Fulfil Thy character!
To guard and feed Thy chosen race,
In Israel's camp appear!
Throughout the desert way,
Conduct us by Thy light!
Be Thou a cooling cloud by day,
A cheering fire by night.
Our fainting souls sustain
With blessings from above;
And ever on Thy people rain
The manna of Thy love!
ESUS, Shepherd of Thy flock;
Where the living waters flow;
To the shadow of the Rock,
Lord our willing feet would go:
Here on earth, no fountains rise,
All is desolate and dry;
Now behold us with Thine eyes,
Let us in Thy bosom lie.
2 Where the pastures green and fair,
Oft supply Thy needy sheep,
Let us, Saviour, now repair,
There our souls from danger keep:
Give us some foretastes of love,
May we now Thy face behold,
Earnests of the joys above;
When we reach the better fold.
3 We would never from Thee stray;
But continue in Thy track;
If we faithless go away,
Condescend to bring us back:
Let Thy blessed Spirit keep,
Then shall we in safety lie,
Sin no more deceive Thy sheep,
Nor temptation terrify.
4 When remov'd, where fountains flow
With Thine everlasting love,
All Thy goodness we shall know,
And Thy cov'nant mercy prove:
Led by our Good Shepherd's hand,
Where His flock shall ever rest,
We shall range the heav'nly land,
With His constant presence blest.
LORD! Thy long expecting saints
Behold a glorious Light!
Our souls are call'd from sad complaints,
And shades of darkest night.
2 To hail the Son of heav'nly birth,
A crowd of angels sing!
Glory to God, and peace on earth,
Are tidings that they bring!
3 The lowly shepherds hear the song,
To Bethlehem repair;
They leave their flocks, and hasten on
To seek their Saviour there.
4 Like them, may all Thy children here,
Leave earthly cares behind;
Press on in faith, and holy fear,
In Thee, their all to find.
ET around the sacred tomb,
Friends of Jesus, why those tears?
Midst this sad sepulchral gloom,
Shall your faith give way to fears?
He will soon ev'n as He said,
Rise triumphant from the dead!
2 Hidden from all ages past,
Was the cross's mystery;
Doubts awhile, a veil had cast
O'er that first dear family:
Till they saw Him and believed,
And as Lord and God received.
3 Now with tears of love and joy,
We remember all His pain;
Sighs and groans, and dying cry,
For the Lamb for us was slain!
And from death our souls to save,
Once for us lay in the grave!
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