3 The cross! it takes our guilt away,
It holds the fainting spirit up:
It cheers with hope the gloomy day,
And sweetens every bitter cup.
4 It makes the coward spirit brave,
And nerves the feeble arm for fight;
It takes its terror from the grave,
And gilds the bed of death with light.
5 The balm of life, the cure of woe,
The measure and the pledge of love,
The sinner's refuge here below,
The angels' theme in heaven above.
OCK of Ages! cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!
Let the water and the blood
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.
2 Not the labours of my hands
Can fulfil Thy law's demands:
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
3 Nothing in my hand I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace ;
Vile, I to the Fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour! or I die.
4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne ;-
Rock of Ages ! cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!
10 CHRIST! what burdens bowed Thy head!
Our load was laid on Thee;
Thou stoodest in the sinner's stead;
Didst bear all ill for me.
A victim led, Thy blood was shed;
Now there's no load for me.
2 Death and the curse were in our cup :
O Christ! 'twas full for Thee !
But Thou hast drained the last dark drop,
'Tis empty now for me:
That bitter cup, love drank it up,
Now blessing's draught for me.
3 The Father lifted up His rod :
O Christ! it fell on Thee !
Thou wast sore stricken of Thy God;
There's not one stroke for me.
Thy tears, Thy blood, beneath it flowed;
Thy bruising healeth me.
4 Jehovah bade His sword awake-
O Christ, it woke 'gainst Thee !
Thy blood the flaming blade must slake,
Thy heart its sheath must be :
All for my sake, my peace to make,
Now sleeps that sword for me.
5 The Holy One did hide His face-
O Christ, 'twas hid from Thee;
Great darkness wrapt Thy soul a space-
The darkness due to me.
But now that face of radiant grace
Shines forth in light on me.
6 For me, Lord Jesus! Thou hast died,
And I have died in Thee :
Thou'rt ris'n-my bands are all untied;
And now Thou liv'st in me :
When purified, made white, and tried,
Thy glory then for me!
WEET the moments, rich in blessing,
Which before the cross I spend ;
Life, and health, and peace possessing,
From the sinner's dying Friend.
2 Here I rest, in wonder viewing
Mercy's streams in streams of blood;
Precious drops, my soul bedewing,
Plead and claim my peace with God.
3 Love and grief my heart dividing,
With my tears His feet I'll bathe ;
Constant still in faith abiding,
Life deriving from His death.
4 May I, all my weakness feeling,
Still to my Redeemer go,
Prove His death each day more healing,
And Himself more fully know.
5 Lord in ceaseless contemplation,
Fix my thankful heart on Thee;
Till I taste Thy full salvation,
And Thy unveiled glory see.
1 THERE is a green hill far away
THERE
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.
2 We may not know, we cannot tell
What pains He had to bear,
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.
3 He died that we might be forgiven,
He died to make us good,
That we might go at last to heaven,
Saved by His precious blood.
4 There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heaven, and let us in.
5 O dearly, dearly, has He loved,
And we must love Him too,
And trust in His redeeming blood,
And try His works to do. C. F. Alexander.
EASTER EVE.
There laid they Jesus."-JOHN
OLY Slumberer, rest in peace!
Now Thy toils and conflicts cease;
Now the glorious victory won,
Death and Satan overthrown;
Soon will burst the exulting strain,
"Worthy is the Lamb once slain !"
2 We are watching round Thy tomb;
Angel wings flit through the gloom,
And the blissful morn draws nigh
When, through earth, and air, and sky,
Shall the wondrous news be spread-
"Christ is risen from the dead!"
3 Happy those who saw Thee then,
"Fairer than the sons of men; ""
Happy those to whom 'twas given
To behold Thee rise to Heaven!
We a blessing too receive,
"Who, not having seen, believe."
4 Saviour of once ruined man!
Sealed is the stupendous plan:
On its bright triumphant close
Firmly all our hopes repose.
Oh! to feel each day, each hour,
More Thy resurrection's power.
The penalty is borne, the ransom paid, For all thy sins full satisfaction made.
Strive not to do thyself what Christ hath done : The gift is His to thee, the joy thine own; No more by pangs of guilt and fear distrest, Rest, weary heart!
From all thy silent griefs and secret pain, Thy profitless regrets and longings vain; Wisdom and love have ordered all the past, All shall be blessedness and light at last; Cast off the cares that have so long opprest; Rest, sweetly rest!
Thy body may be placed within a tombLight from above has broken through its gloom
Here is the place where once thy Saviour lay;
And till the glorious resurrection day,
Thou shalt upon thy loving Saviour's breast,
Rest, sweetly rest!
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