The tyrant's wrath shall bless
The wrong'd that meekly bear;
Though it may yield no fruit for him
But fear, or dark despair.
The martyr's blood may seem
As water spilt in vain;
But water spilt shall rise and fall,
And blood may be as rain.
Even wealth, that feeds all vice,
Till health, strength, life depart,
May gladden many a poor man's home,
Who toils with pious heart.
O God, while none for thee
Can waste his power or pelf,
Or aught beside, preserve us each
From wasting for himself.
FETTERED, imprisoned, in a dungeon dark,
Ye note the faithful teacher with surprise;
'Tis but the dust he heedeth not ye mark;
His spirit soars, and sings, and roves the skies.
The martyr dies, and mortals o'er him weep:
Hath God forgot the gracious word He gave ?
Even while ye ask, enraptured seraphs sweep
Their golden harps above the martyr's grave.
O walk by faith! sight is a feeble power;
Nay, oft is treacherous to the hearts that trust:
While yet ye may, the viewless, endless dower
Grasp with a hand that sinks not to the dust!
LORD, Thy servants forth are going,
With glad tidings from above,
Wondrously to mortals showing
Thy unutterable love.
O be with them, guard and guide them;
Still, their faith, their zeal, increase;
And, whatever ills betide them,
Whisper to their spirits peace.
Make them wise to deal with folly;
Meek to bear reproach and wrong;
Shining lights, examples holy;
Through Thy Life within them strong.
Crown their labours with Thy blessing;
And, when rest at last is given,
O do Thou, Thine own confessing,
Show them their success in heaven.
Who Winneth Souls is Wise.
O forth to toil; to spend, be spent ;
Thy joy to do Thy Father's will:
It is the way the Master went;
And it must be the servant's still.
Go forth to toil: from day to day
Renew thy prayers, and toil again:
Men may not heed, men may not praise:
The Master will; and what are men?
Toil on, toil on; rebuke, exhort,
Persuade, the wanderers home to win;
Go forth into the world's high way;
Entreat, compel them to come in.
Toil on, toil on: a little while,
And rest shall come in blissful skies;
Where thou, beyond thy thought, shalt see,
That he who winneth souls is wise.
NOT like odour from the censer,
But like perfume from the flower,
Must be truth from its dispenser,
Ere it prove a note of power.
It must live within the bosom,
Go forth living from its dwelling,
As the fragrance from the blossom,
Of its own pure birth-place telling.
Lips that art alone hath gifted,
These shall not the spirit fire;
But the souls by grace uplifted,
Living souls shall life inspire.
As then, brethren, blessed and blessing,
We would spread pure joy around us,
May we, boldly truth confessing,
Live to Him who sought and found us!
CALM, and bold, and strong in love,
Wouldst thou ply the Gospel net?
Then, remember God above;
And thyself forget.
Now in lake, and now in river,
Now in stormy ocean toil;
And, successful, bless the Giver
Of Thy priceless spoil.
Like the fisher, patient be;
Try at morn, at even try ;
Hope where thou canst nothing see;
God unseen is nigh.
Never shall the net be cast
All in vain, though cast amiss:
Wait the Great Day and the Last,
Ere thou judge of this.
O! what issues that may show
Even of thy poor toil and care!
But, till then, enough to know
Thou dost neither spare
Spend, then, and be spent in love;
In all waters ply the net;
Through all skies see God above;
And thyself forget.
Teachers and Hearers.
FATHER, in Thy love draw near
To those who teach and those who hear,
And grant whate'er we need ;
The one to speak with holy zeal,
The other to receive and feel,
And each for all to plead.
By thy Good Spirit from above,
Inspire us both with peace and love,
And still our strength renew,
To cleave to Christ, the Living Way,
And Thy most holy will obey,
With hearts resolved and true.
So, Lord, may teachers live to Thee,
Nor hearers less devoted be,
Through life's momentous days;
And then may all with rapture rise
To Thy great temple in the skies,
And still together praise!
See also Hymn 475.
Baptism.
Infant Baptism.
HE Son beloved, Thy mercy gave,
An infant came, mankind to save:
That grace unspeakable to share
An infant now to Thee we bear.
O God, a tender Father be
To him we dedicate to thee:
Take Thou, and guide to realms above
This feeble child with mighty love.
No other trust our hearts shall own;
No other hope but Thee alone:
The path to bliss through danger lies;
But Thou art great, and good, and wise.
Lord, hear our prayer for Jesu's sake;
As Thine own child our treasure take;
And O! to one blest home above
Conduct us all with mighty love!
AVIOUR, who Thy flock art feeding
With the shepherd's kindest care,
All the feeble gently leading,
While the lambs Thy bosom share;
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