and breathe a contrite prayer
With faith to God above:
His Love forbids thee to despair,
And yield, O yield to Love!
THAT in word, in spirit, and in deed,
Almighty Father, I could live to Thee!
O that, from sin's dark thrall for ever freed
This heart could more anticipate the meed
It hopes to reap throughout eternity!
But I am weak, and sinful, Lord, as weak;
To-day's resolve to-morrow melts away;
I need Thy help, yet all too coldly seek!
O let Thy Spirit in my bosom speak,
Revealing both my wants, and how to pray!
What shall I plead with Thee? a contrite path
Through the dark pilgrimage of future years?
If the poor mourner give Thee all he hath,
Wilt Thou not stay Thy too deservèd wrath,
And grant the prayer of penitential tears? Jesus, I trust in Thee! that boundless grace,
Which prompted Thee to bear the sinner's part, Now moves Thee still, before Thy Father's face, To plead his cause: so in Thy hands I place My prayer for holiness of life and heart.
OW blest, if now the voice of song
Should move some heart to pray
For joys that to Thy saints belong,
And cast false joys away!
How blest, if, while our strains ascend,
Some soul should quit the dust,
And fix her hope where sorrows end,
And make the Lord her trust!
All things are possible to Thee:
A single note of praise
May wake the sleeper mightily,
On Truth sublime to gaze :
To gaze until its power be felt,
All idle dreams above;
And so the softened spirit melt
In penitence and love.
O Father! wield Thy mercy's strength,
Vouchsafe Thy grace divine,
Till each, yet heedless here, at length
Be Thine, for ever Thine!
WHEN comes the Tempter, may mine eye,
suffering Saviour, turn to Thee;
And clearly still by faith descry
Gethsemane and Calvary.
The drops upon Thy pallid brow,
The stream from Thy pierced side shall aid Each firm resolve, each holy vow,
My earliest adoration made.
If Thou Thy Spirit from above
Vouchsafe me in the trying hour, One thought on Thy remembered love
Shall nerve me with a seraph's power.
My heart to Thee shall still be true,
Shall swell with grateful love to Thee,
If Thou wilt aid mine eye to view
Gethsemane and Calvary.
SLOWLY fashioned, link by link,
Slowly waxing strong,
Till the spirit never shrink,
Save from touch of wrong;
Holy habits are our wealth,
Golden, pleasant chains,
Passing earth's prime blessing, health,
Endless, priceless gains.
Holy habits give us place
With the noblest, best,
All most Godlike of our race,
And with Seraphs blest.
Holy habits are our joy,
Wisdom's happy ways,
Yielding good without alloy,
Lengthening too our days.
Brethren, let us, night and morn,
Let us, noon and even,
Seek them, till our souls be born,
Without stain, in Heaven!
T were unmeasured bounty, Lord,
Didst Thou a life of changeless love
And faultless purity reward
With peace below and bliss above.
How weak then mortal lips to tell
The goodness that can deign to bless
A heart Thou seest oft rebel,
And all too coldly love profess!
A heart that further yet would stray,
But that a spark of love is there,
Which, lit by Thee, from day to day
Lives on by Thine unwearied care!
O Lord my God, what love is Thine!
What grace untold adorns Thy throne!
Thou pardonest whatsoe'er is mine,
And Thou rewardest but Thine own!
+ The Entrance into Jerusalem.
IDE on! ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die!
O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin
O'er captive death, and conquered sin.
Ride on ride on in majesty !
The winged squadrons of the sky
Look down with sad and wondering eyes,
To see the approaching sacrifice.
Ride on! ride on in majesty!
Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;
The Father, on His sapphire throne,
Expects His own anointed Son.
Ride on! ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp, ride on to die!
Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain;
Then take, O God, Thy power and reign!*
ESUS, Refuge of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the waves around me roll,
While the tempest still is high;
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last!
Other refuge have I none;
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee:
Leave, ah! leave me not alone;
Still support and comfort me:
All my trust on Thee is stayed;
All my help from Thee I bring;
defenceless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint;
Heal the sick, and lead the blind:
Thou of life the fountain art;
Freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart;
Rise to all eternity!
Meetness for Heaven.
CALM, confiding, loving, pure,
Ever meet to soar above,
Thee to adore with saints mature,
Keep me, O Thou God of Love!
|