Be Thou, dear Lord, still nigh,
Lest I should suffer loss:
For more the treacherous calm I dread
Than tempests bursting o'er my head.
Come, heavenly wind, and blow
A prosperous gale of grace,
To waft from all below
To heaven, my destined place:
Then, in full sail, my port I'll find,
And leave the world and sin behind.
Strangers and pilgrims.-Heb. 11. 13.
HAPPY band of pilgrims,
If onward ye will tread
With Jesus as your Fellow,
To Jesus as your Head!
2 O happy if ye labour
As Jesus did for men:
O happy if ye hunger
As Jesus hungered then!
3 The cross that Jesus carried
He carried as your due:
The crown that Jesus weareth
He weareth it for you.
4 The faith by which ye see Him,
The hope in which ye yearn,
The love that through all troubles
To Him alone will turn.
5 The trials that beset you,
The sorrows ye endure,
The manifold temptations
That death alone can cure,—
6 What are they but His jewels
Of right celestial worth?
What are they but the ladder
Set up to heaven on earth?
7 O happy band of pilgrims,
Look upward to the skies,
Where such a light affliction
Shall win so great a prize.
JOSEPH OF THE STUDIUM. 870.
TR. BY J. M. NEALE. 1862.
He went forth conquering and to conquer.
HE Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain;
His blood-red banner streams afar :-
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink His
Triumphant over pain,
Who patient bears his cross below,
He follows in His train.
2 The martyr first, whose eagle-eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on Him to save.
Like Him, with pardon on his tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them that did the wrong :-
Who follows in His train ?
3 A glorious band, the chosen few
Ön whom the Spirit came;
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant's brandished steel,
The lion's gory mane;
They bowed their necks the death to feel:— Who follows in their train ?
4 A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Saviour's throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of heaven,
Through peril, toil, and pain:
O God, to us may grace be given
To follow in their train!
2 Oh! let me feel Thee near me,
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle;
The tempting sounds I hear:
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.
3 Oh! let me hear Thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will.
Oh! speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control:
Oh! speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.
4 O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee,
That where Thou art in glory,
There shall Thy servant be;
And, Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow
My Master and my Friend!
5 Oh, let me see Thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone!
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then in heaven receive me,
My Saviour and my Friend!
1177 He led them forth by the right way.
ESUS, still lead on
JESU
Till our rest be won;
And although the way be cheerless,
We will follow, calm and fearless:
Guide us by Thy hand
To our Fatherland.
If the way be drear,
If the foe be near,
Let not faithless fears o'ertake us,
Let not faith and hope forsake us;
For, through many a foe,
To our home we go.
From a long-felt grief,
When oppressed by new temptations,
Lord, increase and perfect patience;
Show us that bright shore
Where we weep no more.
Jesus, still lead on
Till our rest be won:
Heavenly Leader, still direct us,
Still support, console, protect us,
Till we safely stand
In our Fatherland.
N. L. ZINZENDORF. 1721.
TR. BY MISS BORTHWICK. 1853.
1178 Bless me, even me also, O my father.
ORD God, omnipotent to bless,
My supplication hear;
Guardian of Jacob, to my voice
Incline Thy gracious ear.
2 If I have never yet begun
To tread the sacred road,
O teach my wandering feet the way
To Zion's blest abode!
3 Or if I'm travelling in the path,
Assist me with Thy strength,
That I may swift advances make,
And reach Thy courts at length.
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