"Hasten, mortals, to adore Him;
Learn His name, and taste His joy;
Till in heaven ye sing before Him,
Glory be to God most high !"
Let us learn the wondrous story
Of our Great Redeemer's birth;
Spread the brightness of His glory,
Till it cover all the earth.
39 "I AM THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE."-EXOD. XV. 26.
HEAL us, Immanuel; here we are,
Waiting to feel Thy touch:
Deep-wounded souls to Thee repair,
And, Saviour, we are such.
Our faith is feeble, we confess,
We faintly trust Thy word;
But wilt Thou pity us the less?
Be that far from Thee, Lord!
Remember him who once applied,
With trembling, for relief;
"Lord, I believe," with tears he cried,
"Oh! help my unbelief."
She too, who touched Thee in the
And healing virtue stole,
Was answered, "Daughter, go in peace,
Thy faith hath made thee whole."
Concealed amid the gathering throng,
She would have shunned Thy view;
And, if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.
Like her, with hopes and fears we come,
To touch Thee if we may;
Oh! send us not despairing home!
Send none unhealed away!
40 THE FUTURE PEACE AND GLORY OF THE CHURCH.-ISA. lx. 15-20.
HEAR What God the Lord hath spoken:
"O my people, faint and few,
Comfortless, afflicted, broken,
Fair abodes I build for you;
Thorns of heart- felt tribulation
Shall no more perplex your ways;
You shall name your walls, Salvation,
And your gates shall all be Praise.
"There, like streams that feed the garden,
Pleasures without end shall flow;
For the Lord your faith rewarding,
All his bounty shall bestow :
Still, in undisturbed possession,
Peace and righteousness shall reign;
Never shall you feel oppression,
Hear the voice of war again.
"Ye no more your suns descending,
Waning moons no more shall see;
But, your griefs for ever ending,
Find eternal noon in Me,
God shall rise, and shining o'er you,
Change to day the gloom of night;
He, the Lord, shall be your glory,
God your everlasting light."
41 THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER PUTTING OFF HIS ARMOUR.-EPH. vi. 13-17.
HELMET of the hope of rest!
Helmet of salvation!
Nobly has thy towering crest
Pointed to this exaltation.
Yet I will not thee resume,
Helmet of the nodding plume;
Where I go no foeman fighteth,
Sword or other weapon smiteth;
All content I lay thee down,
I shall gird my brows with an immortal crown.
Sword at my side! Sword of the Spirit!
Word of God! Thou goodly blade!
Often have I tried thy merit;
Never hast thou me betrayed.
Yet I will no further use thee,
Here for ever I unloose thee;
Branch of peaceful palm shall be
Sword sufficient now for me;
Fought the fight, the victory won,"
Rest thou here, thy work is done.
Shield of faith! my trembling heart
Well thy battered front has guarded;
Many a fierce and fiery dart
From my bosom thou hast warded.
But I shall no longer need thee,
Never more will hold or heed thee.
Fare-thee-well! the foe's defeated,
Of his wished-for victim cheated;
In the realms of peace and light
Faith shall be exchanged for sight.
Girdle of the truth of God!
Breastplate of His righteousness!
By the Lord himself bestowed
On his faithful witnesses,
Never have I dared unclasp thee,
Lest the subtle foe should grasp me;
Now I may at length unbind ye,
Leave you here at rest behind me ;
Nought shall harm my soul equipped
In a robe in Christ's blood dipped.
Sandals of the preparation
Of the news of peace!
There must now be separation,
Here your uses cease.
Gladly shall my naked feet
Go my blessed Lord to meet;
I shall wander at his side
Where the living waters glide;
And these feet shall need no guard
On the unbroken heavenly sward.
Here I stand of all unclothed,
Waiting to be clothed upon
By the Church's great Betrothed,
By the Everlasting One.
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