Thine its power, its zeal, its unearthly spirit,

And its beauteous, heaven-like mien.

M. Eternal Jesus, truly hast Thou said,

66

The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." P. Priestly craft, idolatrous treachery,

Roman legions, and imperial power failed : C. Might, undisguised, unscrupulous,

Fierce, terrible, unrelenting, and fiendish,

Sought thy destruction, Church of the Living God,
But succeeded not.

P. The gentler might of truth prevailed.
C. As execution raged the saints increased.
P. Decaying piety, and inner treachery,

Basely tried thy ruin, Church of the Faithful One,
And ignominiously failed.

C. Blaspheming popes, proud bishops,

Wanton monks, indulgences, saints, and relics,
Worked not thy ruin as Satan meant.

P. The glorious reformation came.

C. The Church itself was renovated and purified.
P. The subtilty of hell was patent.

C. The mask fell-the Church was saved.
P. Science and criticism assailed thy bulwarks,
City of the living God, rampant and hectoring.
C. In dream they joyed o'er thy carcase,

Bride of heaven.

P. Forsooth they had done what might could not.
C. Forsooth honestly they had succeeded

Where treachery failed.

P. The Church was proved the spawn of ignorance.

C. The Church was based on falsity and myth.

P. But science faltered,-confessed her error.

C. Criticism going too far itself outwitted.

P. O Church of God, science is not thy foe, but friend. C. O Church of Christ, criticism is thy strong ally.

All. All-seeing Jesus, wonderful in thought
And counsel, thine enemies do lick the dust.
All, all is unavailing against thine own—

All that has been of force, or treachery, or skill,
All that is of mammon principle and pride;
And all that shall be in forms as yet unseen.
Jesus, General of thine enlisted host,
Myriad voices and myriad hearts this day
Thy triumph sound o'er all thy foes.
Reign! reign Thou for ever,

Discomforting thine adversaries in ways
They forecast not, and save thy people.
M. Christ crucified is the chief corner stone;
P. The twelve apostles are the twelve foundations;
C. Faith is the rock on which the temple

Rests, beauteous and indestructible.

All. We believe in the supremacy of Jesus,
None is head but He; neither pope, nor king,
Nor prince, however sage and holy too.
We believe in the spirituality of the Church,
As an organ not for magistrates nor princes
To use for their blind purposes, but for God
To show his marvels by, and work salvation.
We believe the forgiving love of God through Christ
To all the sinful and forlorn of earth.

We believe the authority of holy writ.
We believe in Jesus more than in Luther,
Or Calvin, or Wesley, or any doctor, whether
Of ancient or modern days. We believe
That what is evangelical, true, right,
Or acceptable, should be done without waiting
For the patronage or suffrages of men. We believe
Suffering preferable to the betrayal of

Religious principles. We believe character

To be entitled to more respect than mere status

In society. We believe in Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit, to whom we attribute

All praise, honour, and glory, now and evermore.

M. May we practice what we profess.
P. May the Lord graciously grant us power

To do what we sincerely approve.

C. May we be both enlightened and sanctified.

Amen.

All. Make us, O Lord, worthy members of thy Church,
In all gentleness of disposition, kindness
Of sentiment, firmness of godly purpose,

And in all adherence to truth and Thee.

Amen, and Amen.

XL. EARNESTNESS.

M. God is true and earnest.

P. He that trifleth with physical existence,
And ignoreth its laws, payeth the penalty.
C. He that idleth, starveth:

He that soweth not, reaps not.

P. God is the rewarder of all them

That diligently seek Him in faith.

C. He that careth not for his soul, loseth it:
He that neglecteth his salvation, hath not life.
All. Supreme and Sovereign in all thy manifestations,
O God of truth and righteousness,

Thou teachest us by terrible things to be earnest.
M. Jesus, Lord of Life, in thine earthly mission
Ever zealous for thy Father's honour,

Ever doing good, ever watchful, ever prayerful,
Thy spirit and thy life were earnestness itself.

P. Thou commandest and inspirest the Church
To be earnest, by thy matchless example.
C. The lukewarm Thou detestest,

And summonest to repentance.

All. Earnestness becometh the people of God
For ever. May thy followers, O Lord,
Everywhere be earnest, as Thou wast earnest.
M. Spirit of all earnestness, baptize us

With hallowed and unextinguishable fire!
P. The enthusiastic artist succeeds.

C. The all-absorbed and all-glowing poet
Dies not.

P. The eminent and immortal are the earnest
Souls of their generation.

C. He that is earnest, createth earnestness;
He that is enthusiastic, enthusiasm.

All. Spirit of all wisdom, such are thy laws :
We cannot, we dare not ignore them in religion.
Thou Favourer and Blesser of the earnest,
Make us earnest in things divine.

M. Earnest was Peter on the Day of Pentecost.
P. Earnest was John in calm and lofty thought.
C. Earnest was Paul in speech and deed.

P. Earnest was Stephen for the truth of Christ.
C. Earnest was Apollos in warm and lively eloquence.
All. Earnest were all the apostles of Christ;

Instant in season and out of season;

In journeyings oft, in perils oft, in hunger oft,
In prison oft, in scourgings oft, under sentence oft.

M. May all pastors of churches faithful be,
And earnest.

P. Earnest in personal religion and piety.
C. Earnest in public labours and preaching.
P. Earnest in visitation of the sick.

C. Earnest in works of benevolence and love.

All. May, O Lord, the apostolic and martyr-spirit
Rest upon them.

M. May all missionaries earnest be,

Devoted and Christ-like.

P. May they preach the gospel boldly and powerfully :
C. May they translate the Word readily and faithfully:

All. May, O Lord, the apostolic and martyr-spirit
Rest upon them.

M. By the zeal of pastors and missionaries

May thy kingdom come,

P. And thy will be done on earth as in heaven :
All. For thine, O Lord, is the kingdom, the power
And the glory, for ever and ever.

M. Let all Sabbath-school teachers

Be characterized by diligence and devotedness.
P. May they give themselves wholly to teaching :
C. May they impress us by their spirit and manner.
All. Suffer not, O Lord, the spirit of routine

To influence teachers and their work.
M. Christ summonses all to earnestness.
P. O Jesus, am I earnest for Thee?
C. O Saviour, am I devoted to Thee?

P. Lord, intensify the earnestness of my soul!
C. Lord, intensify the earnestness of my soul!
P. Let me not hinder others by lukewarmness,
C. Let me not perish through carelessness.
All. Lord and Saviour, who lovest us greatly,

We would respond to thy call, fill us with thy Spirit, And sustain us now and ever in earnestness of thought and deed.

M. Let the whole Church of Christ be earnest :
P. Pastors and people, rich and poor,

C. Young and old, learned and unlearned,
P. Fathers, mothers, guardians, and employers,
C. Sons and daughters, married and unmarried,