Notone child of mortal birth
Can lay claim to earthly treasure;
All that live on this poor earth
Are but guests at God's good pleasure:
Shall he not dispense at will
Goods which his own house do fill?
Therefore think not in thy heart
Earth shall ever be thy own;
Let thy thoughts from earth depart-
Seek thy wealth in heaven alone:
Heavenly riches cannot rust,
Heavenly joy sinks not to dust.
He is foolish, he is dead,
Who doth clasp earth in his hand,
When God offers him instead,
The treasures of th' enduring land.
So that my soul may live forever,
Drive on, earth-clouds, I fear ye never!
There behold, laid up in store,
All that hearts can satisfy;
When thou reachest the grave-door,
Earthly goods behind thee lie:
Mortal joys and mortal care
Enter not with mortals there.
But the wealth of a true soul,
Love to God and his sweet peace,
These will stand while ages roll;
Ages will their worth increase:
All beside, death may destroy,
But the soul shall keep its joy.
Let it sink into thy heart,
And thy murmuring will subdue;
God doth every hour impart
Benefits for ever new.
Yes, the sands may numbered be,
So cannot his gifts to thee!
And he is the full content
Of each faithful Christian soul;
When thy prayers to him are sent,
Leave the end to his control:
Let him grant what he sees best,
And say no to all the rest.
Now lift up thy troubled face!
Call thy faith, and bid it shine;
Faith can light the darkest place,
Still those weary sighs of thine!
When the world was wrapped in night,
Israel had their dwellings light.
Set a boundary for thy will,
As a child of heaven should;
Tune thy harp with praises still,
To thy God, for ever good!
For his mercy puts to shame
All that thy deserts could claim.
Struggling through thy busy life,
Set the Lord before thee ever;
Every hour of peace or strife
Is from him-then murmur never.
Are things adverse? let them be!
God and heaven remain to thee!
The Church Militant
LEARNING THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT'S SONG,
SING we the song of those who stand
Around the eternal throne,
Of every kindred, clime, and land,
A multitude unknown.
Life's poor distinctions vanish here;
To-day, the young, the old,
Our Saviour and his flock appear
One Shepherd and one fold.
Toil, trial, suffering, still await
On earth the pilgrim throng;
Yet learn we, in our low estate,
The Church triumphant's song.
"Worthy the Lamb for sinners slain,"
Cry the redeemed above,
"Blessing and honour to obtain,
And everlasting love."
"Worthy the Lamb !" on earth we sing,
"Who died our souls to save;
Henceforth, O Death! where is thy sting?
Thy victory, O Grave?"
Then, hallelujah! power and praise
To God in Christ be given;
May all who now this anthem raise,
Renew the strain in heaven!
Now begin the heavenly theme,
Sing aloud in Jesus' name;
Ye who his salvation prove,
Triumph in redeeming love.
Ye who see the Father's grace
Beaming in the Saviour's face,
As to Canaan on ye rove,
Praise and bless redeeming love.
Mourning souls, dry up your tears,
Banish all your guilty fears;
See your guilt and curse remove,
Cancelled by redeeming love.
Ye, alas! who long have been
Willing slaves of death and sin,
Now from bliss no longer rove,
Stop, and taste redeeming love.
Welcome all by sin opprest,
Welcome to his sacred rest;
Nothing brought him from above,
Nothing but redeeming love.
When his Spirit leads us home,
When we to his glory come,
We shall all the fulness prove
Of our Lord's redeeming love.
He subdued th' infernal powers,
Those tremendous foes of ours;
From their cursed empire drove,
Mighty in redeeming love.
Hither, then, your music bring;
Strike aloud each joyful string:
Mortals, join the host above,
Join to praise redeeming love.
Perfection.
How the thought of God attracts
And draws the heart from earth,
And sickens it of passing shows,
And dissipating mirth!
'Tis not enough to save our souls,
To shun the eternal fires;
The thought of God will rouse the heart To more sublime desires.
God only is the creature's home,
Though long and rough the road; Yet nothing less can satisfy
The love that longs for God.
O utter but the name of God,
Down in your heart of hearts,
And see how from the world at once.
All tempting light departs.
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