148 KING of saints, to Whom the number Of Thy starry host is known, Lights, which earth-born mists have darkened, How they toiled for Thee and suffered, All their saintly life is hidden In the knowledge of their Lord. All is veiled from us, but written There are told Thy hidden treasures; 149 ORD, not for store of worldly wealth, Nor worldly joys, which brightly bloom, Not to the world, nor to ourselves, But to Thy holy eyes We look; O give us godly fear, O make us meekly wise! True wisdom, while it gives, receives; By scattering gets increase; Honour and wealth are in her hand, True glory she bestows; A holy stream of life and joy From her pure well-spring flows. 150 AROUND the throne of God a band Bright things they see, sweet harps they hold, Some wait around Him, ready still Lord, give Thine angels every day So shall no wicked thing draw near, SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS 151 ATHER, before Thy throne of light And ever in Thy presence bright Their psalms adoring blend; And, casting down each golden crown With voice and lyre, in happy choir, And as the rainbow lustre falls pray That Thou art here for all who fear Here, where the angels see us come Teach us to seek our heavenly home, That boyhood's time and manhood's prime 152 HARK! hark my soul! angelic songs are swel ling O'er earth's green fields and ocean's wave-beat shore : How sweet the truth those blessed strains are telling Of that new life when sin shall be no more! Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night! Onward we go, for still we hear them singing, Come, weary souls, for Jesus bids you come.' And through the dark, its echoes sweetly ringing, The music of the Gospel leads us home. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night! Far, far away, like bells at evening pealing, The voice of Jesus sounds o'er land and sea; And laden souls, by thousands meekly stealing, Kind Shepherd, turn their weary steps to Thee. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night! Rest comes at length; though life be long and dreary, The day must dawn, and darksome night be past; Faith's journey ends in welcome to the weary, And heaven, the heart's true home, will come at last. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night! Angels, sing on, your faithful watches keeping, Sing us sweet fragments of the songs above; Till morning's joy shall end the night of weeping, And life's long shadows break in cloudless love. Angels of Jesus, angels of light, Singingto welcome the pilgrims of the night! |