If thou wouldst reap in love,
First sow in holy fear:
So life a winter's morn may prove
To a bright endless year.
87 Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his [7s. people from their sins.-Matt. i. 21.
1 CONQUERING kings their titles take
From the foes they captive make:
Jesus, by a nobler deed,
From the thousands he hath freed.
2 Yes: none other name is given
Unto mortals under heaven,
Which can make the dead arise
And exalt them to the skies.
3 That which Christ so hardly wrought,
That which he so dearly bought,
That salvation, brethren, say,
Shall we madly cast away?
4 Rather gladly for that name
Bear the cross, endure the shame;
Joyfully for him to die
Is not death but victory.
5 Jesu, who dost condescend
To be call'd the sinner's Friend,
Hear us, as to thee we pray,
Glorying in thy name to-day.i
My times are in thy hand.-Ps. xxxi. 15.
My times are in thy hand,
My God, I wish them there;
My life, my friends, my soul I leave
Entirely to thy care.
My times are in thy hand,
Whatever they may be,
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
As best may seem to thee.
My times are in thy hand,
Why should I doubt or fear?
A Father's hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.
My times are in thy hand,
Jesus the crucified;
The hand my cruel sins had pierced
Is now my guard and guide.
I'll always trust in thee,
And after death at thy right hand
I shall for ever be.
89 Then shall the Lord be my God.-Gen. xxviii. 21. [C.M.
1 O GOD of Bethel, by whose hand
Thy people still are fed;
Who through this weary pilgrimage
Hast all our fathers led:
2 Our vows, our prayers, we now present
Before thy throne of grace:
God of our fathers, be the God
Of their succeeding race.
3 Through each perplexing path of life
Our wandering footsteps guide;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.
4 O spread thy covering wings around,
Till all our wanderings cease,
And at our Father's loved abode
Our souls arrive in peace.
5 Such blessings from thy gracious hand
Our humble prayers implore;
And thou shalt be our chosen God,
And portion evermore.
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy [C.M.
power.-Ps. cx. 3.
1 Now, gracious Lord, thine arm reveal,
And make thy glory known;
Now let us all thy presence feel,
And soften hearts of stone.
2 Help us to venture near thy throne,
And plead a Saviour's name;
For all that we can call our own
Is vanity and shame.
3 From all the guilt of former sin
May mercy set us free;
And let the year, we now begin,
Begin and end with thee.
4 Send down thy Spirit from above,
That saints may love thee more;
And sinners now may learn to love,
Who never loved before.
5 And when before thee we appear
In our eternal home,
May growing numbers worship here,
And praise thee in our room.
"THE GENTILES SHALL COME TO THY LIGHT, AND KINGS TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THY RISING."
The star which they saw in the east went before [C.M. them-Matt. ii. 9.
1 0 THOU who by a star didst guide
The wise men on their way,
Until it came and stood beside
The place where Jesus lay;
2 Although by stars thou dost not lead
Thy servants now below,
Thy Holy Spirit, when they need,
Will show them how to go.
3 As yet we know thee but in part;
But still we trust thy word,
That blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see the Lord.
4 O Saviour, give us then thy grace
To make us pure in heart,
That we may see thee face to face
Hereafter as thou art.
We have seen his star in the east.-Matt. ii. 2.
1 SONS of men, behold from far,
Hail the long-expected star;
Jacob's star that gilds the night,
Guides bewilder'd nature right.
2 Mild it shines on all beneath,
Piercing through the shades of death;
Scattering error's wide-spread night,
Kindling darkness into light.
3 Nations all, remote and near,
Haste to see your God appear:
Haste, for him your hearts prepare,
Meet him manifested there.
4 There behold the day-spring rise,
Pouring light upon your eyes:
See it chase the shades away,
Shining to the perfect day.
5 Sing, ye morning stars, again,
God descends on earth to reign,
Deigns for man his life to employ ;
Shout, ye sons of God, for joy.i
93 I am the bright and morning star.-Rev. xxii. 16. [SIX 7.
1 As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hail'd its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright ;
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to thee.
2 As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger-bed,
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek the mercy-seat.
3 As they offer'd gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to thee, our heavenly King.
4 Holy Jesu, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransom'd souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds thy glory hide.
5 In the heavenly country bright
Need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown,
Thou its sun which goes not down;
There for ever may we sing
Hallelujahs to our King.
94 Until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in
your hearts.-2 Pet. i. 19.
1 BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid:
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
|