170.

1

Christ our Refuge.

JESUS, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the waters o'er me roll,
While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Saviour hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide,

O receive my soul at last.
2 Other refuge have I none,

Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stay'd,
All my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head

With the shadow of Thy wing.
3 Thou, O Christ! art all I want,
More than all in Thee I find.
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy name:

I am all unrighteousness.
False and full of sin I am :

Thou art full of truth and grace.

4 Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin;

Let the healing streams abound,
Make and keep me pure within.

7s.D.

171.

Thou of life the fountain art,
Freely let me take of Thee:
Spring Thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity!

The Birth of Christ.

1 AWAY, dark thoughts, awake my joy : Awake my glory; sing:

Sing songs to celebrate the birth

Of Jacob's God and King,

O happy night, that brought forth light,
Which makes the blind to see!

The dayspring from on high came down
To cheer and visit thee.

2 The wakeful shepherds, near their flocks,
Were watchful for the morn;

C.M.D.

But better news from heaven was brought,
"Your Saviour Christ is born."
In Bethle'm-town the Infant lies,
Within a place obscure.

O little Bethle'm, poor in walls,
But rich in furniture!

3 Since Heaven is now come down to earth
Hither the angels fly!

Hark, how the heavenly choir doth sing
Glory to God on high!

The news is spread, the church is glad,
Simeon o'ercome with joy,

Sings with the Infant in his arms,
"Now let Thy servant die."

4 Wise men from far beheld the star
Which was their faithful guide,
Until it pointed forth the Babe,
And Him they magnified.

Do heaven and earth rejoice and sing,
Shall we our Christ deny?

He's born for us, and we for Him:
Glory to God on high.

172.

Confidence in Jesus.

P.M.

1

IF

I Him but have,

If He be but mine,

If my heart hence to the grave
Ne'er forgets His love divine;
Know I nought of sadness,

Feel I nought but worship, love, and
gladness.

2 If I Him but have,

Glad with all I part;

Follow on my pilgrim staff

My Lord only with true heart;
Leave them, nothing saying,

On broad, bright, and crowded highways
straying.

3 If I Him but have,

Glad I fall asleep;

Aye the flood that His heart gave
Strength within my heart shall keep,
And with soft compelling

All shall soften like a spring upwelling.

173.

0

4 Where I have but Him,
Is my Fatherland;

Every gift to me doth come
As a portion' in my hand;
Brothers long deplored,

I in His disciples find restored.

"Blessed are the Meek."

C.M.

SON of man-Thy name by choice-
Our hope, our joy, our life,

Make us like Thee, whose gentle voice
Was never heard in strife.

2 Holy and harmless, undefiled,
On earth thou wert alone;

Come from the depths of heaven, a child,
To make the lost Thine own.

3 To be a glory in our night,
And bring us from above,

The way heaven's children live, all bright
With self-forgetting love.

4 In all things like Thy brethren made,
O teach us how to be

With meekness, gentleness, arrayed,
In all things like to Thee.

174.

1 IT

"Blessed are the Merciful."

was an awful hour that gave
Thee, Saviour, strength to win
Unholy men up from the grave
Of darkness and of sin.

C.M.

2 And this is all Thou dost require
For Thy forgiveness free,
That we to loftier bliss aspire,
By doing like to Thee.

3 When pride and self arise within,
And darken all our view,

Piercing the gloomy fogs of sin
May thoughts of Thee break through.
4 The heavy cloud shall then depart,
Dissolving from above;

And fall upon our brother's heart
In a soft rain of love.

175.

"Blessed are the Pure in Heart." C.M.

FATHER, these souls of ours have been
For long the dwelling place

Of things unholy, evil, mean,
That could not see Thy face.
2 But let the form of Christ appear,
Come in our souls to dwell,

And evil things dare not come near
That form unspeakable.

3 That radiant form its light shall spread,
Till all transfigured be,

And these dark souls of ours are made
A temple fit for Thee.

4 Changed to His image, we begin

To understand Thy grace,

Till, being full of eyes within,
We gaze upon Thy face.