Like Him, with pardon on His In midst of mortal pain, [tongue, He prayed for them that did the

wrong

Who follows in His train?

3 A glorious band, the chosen few

On 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; [to feelThey bowed their necks the death 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. [heaven, They climbed the steep ascent of Through peril, toil, and pain: O God, to us may grace be given To follow in their train!

1176

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7.6.

R. HEBER. 1827.

These follow the Lamb whithersoever
He goeth.-REV. xiv. 4.
JESUS, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou for ever near me,
My Master and my Friend.
I shall not fear the battle

If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.

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:

4

5

Oh! speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.
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!
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!
J. E. BODE. 1869.

1177

2

5.5.8.8.5.5.

He led them forth by the right way.
PSA. cvii. 7.

JESUS, still lead on

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.

When we seek relief

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. J. ZINZENDORF. 1721. TR. BY MISS BORTHWICK. 1853.

C.M.

GEN. xxvii. 38.

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. 4 My care, my hope, my first request, Are all comprised in this, To follow where Thy saints have led, And then partake their bliss.

And yet I hear a voice that bids me

deathly wild, [Father's child, And made me heir of heaven, the And day by day, whereby my soul [will give. Gave me His grace of pardon and

may live,

wear

6 O great Absolver, grant my soul may [prayer, The lowliest garb of penitence and That in the Father's courts my glorious dress [eousness. May be the garment of Thy right

7 Yes, Thou wilt answer for me, righteous Lord!

[reward! Thine all the merit, mine the great Thine the sharp thorns, and mine the golden crown,

Mine the life won, and Thine the life laid down.

S Nought can I bring, dear Lord, for all I owe,

Yet let my full heart, what it can

11.10.

draw me near;

peace-PSA. xxix. 11. for the peace which floweth as a river, [and smile! Making life's desert places bloom Oh! for the faith to grasp heaven's [while." Amid the shadows of earth's "little

light for ever,

atone, And set me faultless there before the

[Throne.

illusion, [to spell; To strive by faith love's mysteries

L.M.

solution, And hail light's verdict," He doth

4"A little while " the earthen pitcher taking [fountains fed;

To wayside brooks, from far-off | Then the parched lip, its thirst for ever slaking, [tain-head. Beside the fulness of the Foun

5"A little while " to keep the oil from failing,

"A little while " faith's flickering lamp to trim,

And then the Bridegroom's cordial welcome hailing,

And bow before Him with the bridal hymn.

JANE CREWDSON. 1863.

1

2

3

TIS

2 COR. v. 7.

IS by the faith of joys to come We walk through deserts dark as night;

Till we arrive at heaven our home, Faith is our guide, and Faith our light.

The want of sight she well supplies, She makes the pearly gates appear; Far into distant worlds she pries, And brings eternal glories near. Cheerful we tread the desert through, While faith inspires a heavenly ray, Though lions roar, and tempests blow,

And rocks and dangers fill the way. 4 So Abraham by divine command Left his own house to walk with God;

His faith beheld the promised land,
And fired his zeal along the road.

HEB. iv. 11.

6s.

1185 Now is our salvation nearer than

when we believed. -ROM. xiii. 11.

NE sweetly solemn thought

1 OUR

not here,

[trials are near?

Then why should we murmur when Be hushed our complainings, the worst that can come But shortens our journey, and hastens us home.

2 It is not for us to be secking our bliss, [like this; And building our hopes, in a region We look for a city which hands have

not piled,

[defiled.

We pant for a country by sin un3 The thorn and the thistle around us may grow,

[below; We would not lie down upon roses We ask not our portion, we seek not our rest, [of the blest. Till we find them at last in the land

4 Let doubts, then, and dangers our progress oppose,

They only make heaven more sweet at its close: [not be long, The road may be rough, but it canAnd we'll smooth it with hope, and cheer it with song.

H. F. LYTE. 1834.

I'm nearer home to-day
Than e'er I was before:

2 Nearer my Father's house
Where many mansions be,
Nearer the great white throne,
Nearer the crystal sea;

3

4

5

6

Nearer the bound of time,
Where burdens are laid down;
Where pilgrims leave the cross
And victors gain the crown.

E'en now, perchance my feet
Are slipping on the brink,

I may be near my home,
Nearer than now I think.

Jesus, to Thee I cling:
Strengthen my arm of faith:

That I may calmly cross

The unknown stream of death.

I may not now be far
From the dark river's brink;
I may be near my home,
Nearer than now I think.

PHOEBE CAREY. 1854.

1186

1

HA

7s.

1 heard a voice from heaven scying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.-REV. xiv. 13. ARK! a voice divides the sky, Happy are the faithful dead! In the Lord who sweetly die, They from all their toils are freed; Them the Spirit hath declared Blest, unutterably blest; Jesus is their great reward, Jesus is their endless rest.

2 Followed by their works, they go Where their Head hath gone before; Reconciled by grace below,

Grace hath opened mercy's door;

Justified through faith alone Here they knew their sins forgiven, Here they laid their burden down, Hallowed, and made meet for heaven. 3 Who can now lament the lot Of a saint in Christ deceased? Let the world, who know us not, Call us hopeless and unblest; When from flesh the spirit freed Hastens homeward to return, Mortals cry, "A man is dead!" Angels sing, "A child is born!"

4 Jesus smiles, and says, "Well done, Good and faithful servant thou;

1187

1

2

3

4

S.M.

As is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.-1 COR. xv. 48.

T is not death to die,

leave this weary road,

And midst the brotherhood on high, To be at home with God.

It is not death to close

The eye long dimmed by tears,
And wake in glorious repose
To spend eternal years.

It is not death to bear

The wrench that sets us free, [air From dungeon-chains to breathe the Of boundless liberty.

It is not death to fling

Aside this sinful dust,

And rise on strong, exulting wing,

To live among the just.

5 Jesus, Thou Prince of life,

Thy chosen cannot die;

5

6

No more the foe can harm,
No more of leaguered camp,
And cry of night-alarm,
And need of ready lamp.

And yet how nearly he had failed;
How nearly had the foe prevailed!

The lamb is in the fold,
In perfect safety penned;
The lion once had hold,

And thought to make an end.
But One came by with wounded side,
And for the sheep the Shepherd died.

The exile is at home;

O nights and days of tears!

O longings not to roam!

O sins and doubts and fears! What matters now, O joyful day, The King has wiped all tears away!

O happy, happy bride!
Thy widowed hours are past;
The Bridegroom at thy side,
Thou all His own at last;
The sorrows of thy former cup,
In full fruition swallowed up.

JOSEPH OF THE STUDIUM. 850.
TR. BY J. M. NEALE. 1962.

Foremost of the sons of light,
Nearest the eternal throne?

These are they that bore the Cross,
Nobly for their Master stood;
Sufferers in His righteous cause,
Followers of the dying God.

2 Out of great distress they came,
Washed their robes by faith below
In the blood of yonder Lamb,
Blood that washes white as snow:
Therefore are they next the throne,
Serve their Maker day and night;
God resides among His own,
God doth in His saints delight.