51

BLESSED Lord, Who, till the morning

Of Thine Advent shall appear,

Words of hope hast left, a warning,

Souls to strengthen, guide, and cheer;
Left them written for our learning,
Pointing out the narrow way,

Lest our hearts, with all their yearning
After home, should go astray:

Grant us, in those sacred pages,
Grace to find the gifts untold,
Which for ages upon ages

Did Thy people's hearts uphold :
Grant us in the sacred story

Of the deeds which Thou hast done
Grace to catch those gleams of glory
That on saint and martyr shone.

Grant us faithful hearts to linger
O'er the steps which Thou hast trod,
While Thy Cross with silent finger
Points the upward way to God;
With our lamps well trimmed and burning,
Patient through Thy holy word,

Watching for Thy bright returning,
Waiting for our absent Lord.

52

RETURN, and come to God,

Cast all your sins away:

Seek ye the Saviour's cleansing blood;
Repent, believe, obey!

Say not ye cannot come;

For Jesus bled, and died,

That none who ask in humble faith

Should ever be denied.

Say not ye will not come;
'Tis God vouchsafes to call;

And fearful will their end be found
On whom His wrath shall fall.

Come, then, whoever will,

Come, while 'tis called to-day :
Seek ye the Saviour's cleansing blood;
Repent, believe, obey!

53

N Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry

Awake, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings of the King of kings.

Then cleansed be every breast from sin;
Make straight the way for God within;
Prepare we in our hearts a home,
Where such a mighty Guest may come.

For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward;
Without Thy grace we waste away,
Like flowers that wither and decay.

To heal the sick stretch out Thine hand,
And bid the fallen sinner stand;
Shine forth, and let Thy light restore
Earth's own true loveliness once more.

All praise, Eternal Son, to Thee
Whose Advent doth Thy people free,
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Ghost for evermore!

54

A

VOICE by Jordan's shore!
A summons stern and clear;
Reform, be just, and sin no more,
God's judgement draweth near.

55

A voice by Galilee,

A holier voice I hear;

Love God, thy neighbour love, for see,
God's mercy draweth near.

O voice of duty, still

Speak forth; I hear with awe ;
In thee I own the sovereign will,
Obey the sovereign law.

Thou higher voice of love,
Yet speak thy word in me;

Through duty let me upward move
To thy pure liberty.

Co

OME, Thou Saviour long expected,
Born to set Thy people free;

From our guilt and fear protected,
We shall find our rest in Thee.
Israel's Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the saints Thou art;
Blest Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born the chains of sin to sever,
Born a Child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring;
By Thine own Eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

56

WHILE shepherds watched their flocks by

night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

'Fear not,' said he; for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind;
'Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.

'To you in David's town this day
Is born of David's line

A Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign:

6

The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,

All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid.'

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song:

All glory be to God on high,
And on the earth be peace;

Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease!'