7.6.

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WORD of GOD Incarnate;
O Wisdom from on high;
O Truth unchanged, unchanging;
O Light of our dark sky!
We praise Thee for the radiance
That from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps,

Shines on from age to age.

2 The church from her dear Master
Received the gift divine,

And still that light she lifteth
O'er all the earth to shine.
It shineth like a beacon

That o'er life's surging sea,

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'Mid mists and rocks and quicksands,
Still guides, O CHRIST! to Thee.
3 O make Thy church, dear Saviour!
A lamp of purest gold,
To bear before the nations
Thy true light, as of old.
O teach Thy wandering pilgrims
By this their path to trace,
Till clouds and darkness ended
They see Thee face to face!

*William Walsham How,

1823

S.M.

R

AISE your triumphant songs
To an immortal tune!

Let the wide earth resound the deeds
Celestial grace has done;

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2

3

4

5

Sing how eternal Love

His chief Belovèd chose,

And bade Him raise our fallen race
From their abyss of woes.

'Twas mercy filled the throne,

And wrath stood silent by,

When CHRIST was sent with pardons down To rebels doomed to die.

Now sinners dry your tears,
Let hopeless sorrow cease,
Bow to the sceptre of His love
And take the offered peace.

LORD! we obey Thy call;
We lay a humble claim

To the salvation Thou hast brought,
And love and praise Thy Name.

*Isaac Watts,

1674-1748.

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Now

OW begin the heavenly theme,
Sing aloud in JESUS' name,
Ye who His salvation prove
Triumph in redeeming love.

2 Mourning souls dry up your tears,
Banish all your guilty fears,

See your guilt and curse remove
Cancelled by redeeming love.

7's.

3 Ye who long, alas! have been
Willing slaves of death and sin,

Now from bliss no longer rove,
Stop, and taste redeeming love.

4 Welcome all by sin oppressed!
Welcome to the Saviour's breast!
Nothing brought Him from above,
Nothing, but redeeming love.

5 Hither then your music bring,
Strike aloud each tuneful string;
Mortals, join the hosts above,
Join to praise redeeming love!

William Langford, [1763].

L.M.

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Now

OW to the power of GOD supreme
Be everlasting honours given!

He saves from death, we bless His Name;
He calls our wandering feet to heaven.

2 Not for our duties or deserts,

But of His own abounding grace,
He works salvation in our hearts,
And forms a people for His praise.

3 'Twas His own purpose that begun
To rescue sinners doomed to die;
gave us grace in CHRIST His SON
Before He spread the starry sky.

He

4 JESUS the LORD appears at last,

And makes His FATHER'S counsels known;
Declares the great transactions past,
And brings immortal blessings down.

5 He dies, and in that dreadful night
Did all the power of death destroy;
Rising, He brought our heaven to light
And took possession of the joy.

Isaac Watts,

1674-1748.

THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS.

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PRA

7's.

RAISE and thanks to Thee be sung,
Mighty GOD! in sweetest tone;

Lo! from every land and tongue

Nations gather round Thy throne,
Praising Thee that Thou dost send
Daily, from Thy heaven above,
Angel messengers of love
Who Thy threatened ones defend.

2 'Tis their office, spirits bright,

Still to guard us night and day; And before their heavenly might Powers of darkness flee away;

And the wearied heart grows strong,
As an angel strengthened Him
Fainting in the garden dim,
'Neath the world's vast woe and wrong.

3 Right and seemly is it then

We should glory that our GOD Hath such honour put on men,

That He sends o'er earth abroad Princes of the realm above,

Champions, who by day and night Shield us with His holy might; Come, behold how great His love!

Rendered from the German of

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ΤΗ

HEY come, GOD'S messengers of love,
They come from realms of peace above,
From homes of never-fading light,
From blissful mansions ever bright.

2 They come to watch around us here,
To soothe our sorrow, calm our fear,
They come to speed us on our way;
GOD willeth them with us to stay.

3 But chiefly at its journey's end
'Tis theirs the spirit to befriend,
And whisper to the willing heart,
"O Christian soul, in peace depart."