Lord, give me strength to die to sin,
To run the Christian race.
To live to God, and glorify
The riches of his grace.
Pressing Toward the Mark.
THEE will I love, my strength and tower,
Thee will I love, my joy and crown,
Thee will I love with all my power,
In all my works, and thee alone:
Thee will I love, till that pure fire
Fills my whole soul with strong desire.
In darkness willingly I strayed,
I sought thee, yet from thee I roved; For wide my wandering thoughts were spread, Thy creatures more than thee I loved: And now, if more at length I see, 'Tis through thy light, and comes from thee.
I thank thee, uncreated Sun,
That thy bright beams on me have shined; I thank thee, who hast overthrown My foes, and healed my wounded mind; I thank thee, whose enlivening voice Bids my freed heart in thee rejoice.
Uphold me in the doubtful race,
Nor suffer me again to stray;
Strengthen my feet with steady pace
Still to press forward in thy way;
My soul and flesh, O Lord of might,
Fill, satiate, with thy heavenly light.
Give to mine eyes refreshing tears;
Give to my heart chaste, hallowed fires; Give to my soul, with filial fears, The love that all heaven's host inspires, That all my powers, with all their might, In thy sole glory may unite.
Thee will I love, my joy, my crown;
Thee will I love, my Lord my God;
Thee will I love beneath thy frown
Or smile, thy sceptre or thy rod; What though my heart and flesh decay, Thee shall I love in endless day.
Come with Us.
SINNER, what has earth to show
Like the joys believers know?
Is thy path, of fading flowers,
Half so bright, so sweet, as ours?
Doth a skilful, healing friend,
On thy daily path attend,
And, where thorns and stings abound.
Shed a balm on every wound?
When the tempest rolls on high,
Hast thou still a refuge nigh?
Can, O can thy dying breath
Summon one more strong than death?
Canst thou, on that awful day,
Fearless tread the gloomy way,
Plead a glorious ransom given,
Burst from earth and soar to heaven ?
THE deluge, at the Almighty's call,
In what impetuous streams it fell,
Swallowed the mountains in its rage,
And swept a guilty world to hell.
In vain the tallest sons of pride
Fled from the close pursuing wave;
Nor could their mightiest towers defend,
Nor swiftness 'scape, nor courage save.
How dire the wreck! how loud the roar!
How shrill the universal cry
Of millions in the last despair,
Re-echoed from the lowering sky!
Yet Noah, humble, happy saint,
Surrounded with the chosen few,
Sat in his ark, secure from fear,
And sang the grace that steered him through
So may I sing, in Jesus safe,
While storms of vengeance round me fall,
Conscious how high my hopes are fixed,
Beyond what shakes this earthly ball.
Enter thine ark while patience waits,
Nor ever quit that sure retreat;
Then the wide flood which buries earth,
Shall waft thee to a fairer seat.
Nor wreck nor ruin there is seen;
There not a wave of trouble rolls; But the bright rainbow round the throne, Seals endless life to all their souls.
Freely Ve have Received.
WHEN this passing world is done,
When has sunk yon glaring sun,
When we stand with Christ in glory,
Looking o'er life's finished story,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know-
Not till then-how much I owe.
When I hear the wicked call
On the rocks and hills to fall,
When I see them start and shrink
On the fiery deluge-brink,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know-
Not till then-how much I owe.
When I stand before the throne,
Dressed in beauty not my own,
When I see thee as thou art,
Love thee with unsinning heart,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know-
Not till then-how much I owe.
When the praise of heaven I hear,
Loud as thunder to the ear,
Loud as many waters' noise,
Sweet as harp's melodious voice,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know-
Not till then-how much I owe.
Even on earth, as through a glass,
Darkly, let this glory pass;
Make forgiveness feel so sweet,
Make thy Spirit's help so meet;
Even on earth, Lord, make me know
Something of how much I owe.
Chosen, not for good in me;
Wakened up from wrath to flee;
Hidden in the Saviour's side;
By the Spirit sanctified;
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show
By my love, how much I owe.
Oft I walk beneath the cloud,
Dark as midnight's gloomy shroud;
But when fear is at the height,
Jesus comes, and all is light;
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