2 We speak of its pathways of gold,
Of its walls deck'd with jewels most rare,
Its wonders and pleasures untold;
But what must it be to be there?
3 We speak of its freedom from sin,
From sorrow, temptation, and care,
From trials without and within;
But what must it be to be there?
4 We speak of its anthems of praise,
With which we can never compare,
The sweetest on earth' we can raise ;
But what must it be to be there?
5 We speak of its service of love,
Of the robes which the glorified wear,
The church of the First-born above;
But what must it be to be there?
6 Do thou, Lord, midst pleasure or woe,
Still for heaven our spirits prepare;
And shortly we also shall know,
And feel what it is to be there.
"LET THY FATHERLY HAND, WE BESEECH THEE,
"Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be
thy God."-DEUT. xxvi. 17.
1 LORD, shall thy children come to thee?
A boon of love divine we seek :
Brought to thine arms in infancy,
Ere heart could feel, or tongue could speak,
Thy children pray for grace, that they
May come themselves to thee to-day.
2 Lord, shall we come? and come again,
Oft as we see yon table spread,
And, tokens of thy dying pain,
The wine pour'd out, the broken bread?
Bless, bless, O Lord, thy children's prayer,
That they may come and find thee there.
3 Lord, shall we come? not thus alone,
At holy time, or solemn rite,
But every hour till life be flown,
Through weal or woe, in gloom or light,
Come to thy throne of grace, that we
In faith, hope, love, confirm'd may be.
4 Lord, shall we come? come yet again?
Thy children ask one blessing more :
To come, not now alone;-but then
When life, and death, and time are o'er,
Then, then to come, O Lord, and be
Confirm'd in heaven, confirm'd by thee.
319. "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed.”
10 HAPPY day, that fix'd my choice
On thee, my Saviour and my God:
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
2 O happy bond, that seals my vows
To him who merits all my love:
Let cheerful anthems fill his house,
While to that sacred shrine I move.
3 Now rest my long-divided heart,
Fix'd on this blissful centre, rest:
O who with earth would grudge to part,
When call'd with angels to be bless'd?
4 High heaven, that heard the solemn vow,
That vow renew'd shall daily hear;
Till in life's latest hour I bow,
And bless in death a bond so dear".
"I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have
believed."-2 TIM. i. 12.
1 JESU, and shall it ever be,
A mortal man ashamed of thee?
Ashamed of thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days?
2 Ashamed of Jesus,-of that Friend
On whom my hopes of heaven depend?
No, when I blush, be this my shame,
That I no more revere his name.
3 Ashamed of Jesus? Yes, I may
When I've no guilt to wash away,
No tear to wipe, no joy to crave,
No fears to quell, no soul to save.
4 Till then-nor is the boasting vain—
Till then I boast a Saviour slain;
And O may this my portion be,
That Saviour not ashamed of mea.
"What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."-PHIL. iii. 7.
1 JESU, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shalt be:
Perish every fond ambition,
All I've sought, or hoped, or known ;
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.
2 Man may trouble and distress me,
"Twill but drive me to thy breast;
Life with trials hard may press me,
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
O'tis not in grief to harm me,
While thy love is left to me;
O'twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmix'd with thee.
3 Take, my soul, thy full salvation;
Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care;
Joy to find in every station
Something still to do or bear:
Think what Spirit dwells within thee;
What a Father's smile is thine;
What a Saviour died to win thee;
Child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?
4 Haste then on from grace to glory,
Arm'd by faith, and wing'd by prayer ;
Heaven's eternal day 's before thee,
God's own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days;
Hope soon change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise".
JESU, my strength, my hope,
On thee I cast my care;
With humble confidence look up,
And know thou hear'st my prayer.
Give me on thee to wait
Till I can all things do;
On thee, almighty to create,
Almighty to renew.
I want a sober mind,
A self-renouncing will,
That tramples down and casts behind
The baits of pleasing ill;
A soul inured to pain,
To hardship, grief, and loss,
Bold to take up, firm to maintain
The consecrated cross.
I want a godly fear,
A quick discerning eye,
That looks to thee when sin is near,
And sees the tempter fly;
A spirit still prepared,
And arm'd with jealous care,
For ever standing on its guard,
And watching unto prayer.
I rest upon thy word,
The promise is for me;
My succour and salvation, Lord,
Shall surely come from thee.
But let me still abide,
Nor from my hope remove,
Till thou my patient spirit guide
Into thy perfect love.
323. "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house
of my pilgrimage."-Ps. cxix. 54.
1 CHILDREN of the heavenly King,
As ye journey, sweetly sing;
Sing your Saviour's worthy praise,
Glorious in his works and ways.
2 We are travelling home to God,
In the way the fathers trod :
They are happy now; and we
Soon their happiness shall see.
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