Gems of the mountain and pearls from the ocean, Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine Brightest and best, &c. 4 Vainly we offer each ample oblation; Vainly with gold we his favour secure ; Richer by far is the heart's adoration, Dearer to God are the prayers Brightest and best, &c. of the poor. HYMN 161. 8 1. L. M. [#] Star of Bethlehem. 1 When marshalled on the nightly plain, The glittering host bestud the sky, One star alone, of all the train, Can fix the sinner's wandering eye. Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks, From every host, from every gem; But one alone the Saviour speaks, It is the Star of Bethlehem. The storm was loud, the night was dark, The wind that tossed my foundering bark: Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem, It was the Star of Bethlehem. It made my dark forebodings cease; of peace. Now, safely moored, my perils o'er, I'll sing beneath night's diadem, For ever and for evermore, It is the Star of Bethlehem. HYMN 162. L. M. [#] Sun of Love. Thy rays through boundless nature shine; Wisdom and love, and light and heat. 2 Wide may thy glory be displayed, In one bright day without a shade; The nameless, endless joys of love. But truth dispensed from shore to shore, Thy glory, Lord, and honour thee. The shades withdraw, the morning clea: HYMN 163. C. M. [#] Christ the Light of the Heart. When, with a single eye, The day-spring from on high ! 2 Through all the storms that veil the skies, And frown on earthly things, With healing on his wings. 3 The glorious orb, whose golden beams The fruitful year control, He shone from pole to pole, His orient rays impart; the heart. HYMN 164. L. M. [#] Sun of Righteousness. 1 What heavenly light is that which shines In soft refulgence from the east, child of sorrow blest? 2 It is the Sun of Righteousness, The brightness of the great I AM! mercy, love, and grace to man. And, through the mighty Saviour's grace, Will give the light of life divine To every child of Adam's race. 4 Immortal Source of light and life, In brighter flames of brilliance move, Till all are turned from sin and strife, To sing the deathless song of love. HYMN 165. S. M. [#] Christ the Light of the World. 1 BEHOLD, the Prince of peace, The Chosen of the Lord, The sure prophetic word. 2 The spirit of the Lord, In rich abundance shed, And rests upon his head. 3 Jesus, thou Light of men, Thy doctrine life imparts : To warm and glad our hearts ! 4. Cheered by its beams, our souls Shall run the heavenly way ; Will lead to endless day. HYMN 166. L. M. [#] Christ our Example. 1 With warm delight and grateful joy Let all our best affections move, When we on Christ our thoughts employ,— On him, whom, though unseen, we love. 2 How bright a pattern, and how pure, Hath he in all things kindly given, To make our path of duty sure, And guide our wandering steps to heaven. 3 In all, with gratitude, we view The steady purpose of his soul,Our worldly passions to subdue, And all the powers of sin control. 4 Father of all, his God and ours, Accept the humble, joyful praise, Which, with our souls' united powers, For thy rich grace, through him, we raise. HYMN 167. L. M. [#] Image of God. Fair light at first from darkness shone, And trace the Father in the Son. 2 As the bright sun's meridian blaze O’erwhelms and pains our feeble sight, But cheers us with his softer rays, When shining with reflected light,3 So, in thy Son, thy power divine, Thy wisdom, justice, truth, and love, With mild and pleasing lustre shine, Reflected from thy throne above. 4 Whilst we thine image, there displayed, With love and admiration view, Form us in likeness to our Head, That we may bear thine image too. |