Liturgy and Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren

Believing husbands are to prove,
By holy and unfeigned love

Towards their wives, that they in-
deed

Resemble Christ our Head.

1039. T. 205. JESUS, lead each married pair In the paths of righteousness; For thy service us prepare,

May we walk in truth and grace:

2 The Church submits to Christ, her By the virtue of thy blood
Lord;

Thy will be done, we pray:
This teaches wives, who love God's
With meekness to obey:
Adorned with humility,

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They aid their husbands willingly;
Are clothed with the beauteous dress
Of Jesus' righteousness.

Consecrate us priests to God,
That our marriage-covenant
Thee and thy church represent.

2 Be the carnal mind subdued,
All into subjection brought:
Purified, in heart renew'd,

By thy Holy Spirit taught,
May we more and more improve
In the lessons of thy love,
And unto our family
Edifying patterns be.

FOUNTAIN of life and light,
Sole well-spring of delight,
Jesus, let thy blessings flow
Upon every married pair;
May we in thy knowledge grow,
Fruit unto thy honour bear.
2 O may our marriage-state,
In duties small and great,
In relations far and near,
In its trials numberless,
In all cases whatsoe'er,

Serve Christ's holy name to bless.

3 May we, by Jesus' love
Constrain'd, clearly prove,
That we are his flock indeed,
Living branches in the Vine,
Heavenly plants, a holy seed,
Lights, who in Christ's image

shine.

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3 'Tis by you they should be led In the narrow way to bliss; Grace is not inherited,

As a worldly fortune is; 'Tis free mercy, we must own, And the gift of God alone.

4 In this vain and wretched world Children are exposed and tried; Many are to ruin hurl'd,

Few in Jesus Christ abide; And no human prudence can Save the soul of fallen man. 5 Here's a task, may parents think, Far beyond the reach of art; But let not your courage sink,

Grace and wisdom he 'll impart, Your sincere endeavours bless, Hear your prayers, and grant suc

cess.

6 Hear, O Lord, a parent's prayer,

Let my tears prevail 'fore thee: How should I in heaven appear, If my child were not with me?

Thy blessing on them all descend:
Kind Shepherd, take each little lamb
Into thy faithful arms of love;
Cause them to know thy saving
name,

And thy redeeming grace to prove.
2 On us, their parents, grace bestow,
That we, with care and faithfulness,
May lead them, thee our Lord to
know,

To obey thy word, and seek thy face:
Teach us the duties of our state,
To love each other heartily,
Our children so to educate,

IN God, the mighty Lord of hosts,
A lonely widower gladly boasts;
No trials need oppress the mind,
For we in Christ may comfort find.

2 Whene'er by faith our Lord we see
Clothed with frail humanity,
Bearing our griefs and sicknesses,
This doth alleviate all distress.
3 He is our Saviour and High-priest,
Who, when we suffer in the least,
And in each hard and trying case.
Sustains us by his power and grace,

He is our comfort, help, and stay;
4 Yea, he supports us every day,
We'll trust his boundless love and
power,

Until our happy dying hour.

1049.*

T. 22.

JESUS, accept the thanks and praise
We widowers offer, for the grace
Unto us, as the church's Head.
Which thou so richly hast display'd

2 Grant that we all, with heart and
voice,

That they may love and follow thee. In thee our Saviour may rejoice;

Let us in our retired state
The joys of heaven anticipate.

3 Fill us with peace and joy and love,
And our support in trials prove;
When weaknesses of age appear,
Keep thou our mind and senses clear.
4 This be our aim on earth, thy will
To seek in all things to fulfil;
And when thou call'st prepar'd to be
To leave this world and go to thee.
5 Then at the end of all distress,
We shall depart to thee in peace:
Meanwhile thy coming we await,
Like Simeon, ready thee to meet.

2 A foretaste of eternal joys,

O Lord, to us dispense,

5 He graciously regards our prayers, And counteth all our sighs and tears;

And 'midst our weakness bear us up Afflictions, whether small or great, Till we are called hence.

His comforts can alleviate.

6 May we like Anna persevere
By day and night in constant prayer,
And thus for his appearing wait,
In joyful hope the Lord to meet.

His mother he did recommend, When on the cross, to John his friend.

3 Widows are objects of his care Since scripture plainly doth declare That to the church this charge he gave,

Widows to honour and relieve.

4 To Christ O may we closely cleave And in communion with him live; To love the Lord be our first care, The next, to serve his people here;

5 Till we who here must often weep In heaven eternal joys shall reap; Till he shall say to us, Ye blest, Enter into my joy and rest.

THOU art our comfort, blessed Jesus, To thee by faith O may we cleave; For all thy mercies give thee praises, In happy union with thee live: Whene'er we call, thou Lord, wilt hear us,

And blessings on us all bestow; Yea, for that awful time prepare us, When we in peace to thee shall go. 2 The needy share thy consolation; The poor are objects of thy love; Thou on the weakly hast compassion,

Thy sure support the aged prove: Thou helpest us in our distresses, Supplying kindly all our wants; We'll cast each burden that op presses

On thee, who hearest our complaints.

'MIDST the trials we experience,
Let us not give way to fears;
But possess our souls in patience,
While here in this vale of tears:
Wean'd thereby from things terres-
trial,

Let us look for joys celestial,
Waiting for that time, when we
From all sorrow shall be free.
2 Meanwhile God the Holy Spirit
Is our pledge of joys to come,
Of the bliss we shall inherit

When above with Christ at home:
Oh, this blessed meditation
Yields us solid consolation,

That we shall, when time is o'er,
With the Lord be evermore.

XXXVIII. HYMNS FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS.

A. FOR THE NEW YEAR.

2 As in tempestuous weather,
A kind and tender mother
Her babe from harm protecteth,
And safely home conducteth:-
3 So shelters Christ our Saviour,
His children by his favour,
And proves in each temptation
Their refuge and salvation.

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