And "Peace on earth" is now the shout,
Of all the heavenly throng.

5 With joy the chorus we repeat-
Glory to God on high!

66

Good-will to man is now complete,

For Jesus comes to die!"

6 Hail, Prince of Life, for ever hail, Redeemer, Brother, Friend;

Though life, and earth, and time must fail,
Thy praise shall never end.

258

1

HABAKKUK iii. 17, 18.

7.6.

N holy contemplation

IN

We sweetly may pursue,
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new:

2 Set free from sin and sorrow,
We cheerfully may say,

E'en let the unknown morrow
Bring with it what it may.

3 It can bring with it nothing,
But he will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,
Will clothe his people too.

4 Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed,

And he who feeds the ravens,
Will give his children bread.

5 Though vine nor fig tree neither
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the fields should wither
Nor flocks nor herds be there,

6 Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune each voice,
For, while in him confiding,
We cannot but rejoice.

259

1

IN

PUBLIC WORSHIP.

N thy name, O Lord, assembling, We thy people now draw near; Teach us to rejoice with trembling, Speak and let thy servants hear; Hear with meekness,

And obey with godly fear.

8. 7. 4.

2 While our days on earth are lengthened, May we give them Lord to thee; Cheered by hope, and daily strengthened, May we run, nor weary be,

Till thy glory

Without cloud in heaven we see.

3 There in worship purer, sweeter,
All thy people shall adore;
Tasting of enjoyment, greater
Than they could conceive before;
Full enjoyment,

Full, unmixed, for evermore.

260 MATTHEW vii. 16-20. JAMES ii. 14–20.

1

N vain men talk of living faith,

IN

When all their works exhibit death;
When they indulge some sinful view,
In all they say, and all they do.
2 All true believers fear the Lord,
Obey his precepts, keep his word;
Commit their way to God alone,
And seek his will before their own.
3 When on the boughs rich fruit we see,
We know the good and fruitful tree;
Bnt now the axe is at the root
Of every tree that bears not fruit.
4 Never did men by faith divine
To selfishness or sloth incline;

The Christian works with all his power,
And grieves that he can work no more,

261

1

IN

REVELATION vii. 15-17.

N vain our fancy strives to paint
The moment after death,
The glories that surround the saint,
When he resigns his breath.

2 Faith strives, but all its efforts fail,
To trace his heavenward flight;
No eye can pierce within the veil,
Which hides that world of light.

3 Thus much (and this is all) we know,
They are supremely blest;

L. M.

C. M

Have done with sin, and care, and woe,

And with their Saviour rest.

4 His name, with constant love, they praise, His glory always view;

And if we here their footsteps trace,
There we shall praise him too.

262

MATTHEW vii. 24-27. 2 PETER iii. 18.

N vain religion we profess,

L. M.

While we reject the Lord's command; Strangers to God and happiness,

We build our house upon the sand.

2 The humblest have the clearest light,
Who make the Lord their only stay,
Our knowledge then is sound and right,
When we repent, believe, obey.
3 A saving knowledge will increase,
And holy fruits our progress show,
Humility, and love, and peace,
Will with the ripening judgment grow.
4 Yet still we see but darkly here,
And imperfections shade our way;
But Christ our sun will soon appear,
And usher in eternal day.

263

1 IS

EPHESIANS iii. 19.

S there a thing can conquer vice,
Or break a heart of stone,

Or melt a heart as cold as ice?

'Tis Jesus' love alone.

C. M.

2 What sing those bright and joyful choirs,
Who round the Saviour throng?
His boundless love their lay inspires,
And forms their endless song.

3 Angels, who once his sufferings viewed,
Princes of heaven, fall down;
And saints, with endless gratitude,
Cast at his feet each crown.

4 As they in heaven thus praise, so we
Will joyfully proclaim,

That all shall saved and pardoned be,
Who trust the atoning Lamb.

5 And Jesus, do thou make each day,
Thy love to us more sweet;

Till we in heaven adore as they,
And worship at thy feet.

264

1

2

3

ROMANS XIV. 10.

S. M.

S there, O Lord, indeed,

IS

A judgment yet to come,

Where all mankind shall summoned be,
To hear their final doom?

Yes, each before that throne
In person must appear,

To answer for whate'er is done
In life's short sojourn here.

There is a heaven above,
To which believers go;