SPIRIT of holiness, descend;

Thy people wait for Thee;

C.M.

Thine ear in kind compassion lend;
Let us Thy mercy see.

2 Behold! Thy weary churches wait
With wistful longing eyes;
Let us no more be desolate;

O bid Thy light arise!

3 Thy light, that on our souls hath shone, Leads us in hope to Thee;

Let us not feel its rays alone;
Alone Thy people be.

4 O bring our dearest friends to God; Remember those we love;

Fit them on earth for Thine abode; Fit them for joys above.

5 Spirit of holiness! 'tis Thine

To hear our feeble prayer; Come, for we wait Thy power divine, Let us Thy mercy share!

Lord;

4

light;

Excite within us the warm glow of love; Equip our wearied spirits for the fight; In weakness, give us courage from above.

The joy of confidence to us impart, That peace of God the world can never

know;

O Spirit of our God! within us dwell, Thy temples make us, Thy beloved abode !

247

A. W. SCHLEGEL, trans. J. SALISBURY.

To Thee, O Comforter Divine,

8.8.6.

For all Thy grace and power benign,
Sing we Alleluia!

2 To Thee, whose faithful voice doth win The wandering from the ways of sin, Sing we Alleluia!

3 To Thee, whose faithful power doth heal, Enlighten, sanctify, and seal,

Sing we Alleluia!

In power and wrath He came; Before His feet the clouds were riven, Half darkness and half flame.

2 But when He came the second time,
He came in power and love;
Softer than gale at morning prime
Hovered His Holy Dove.

3 The fires that rushed on Sinai down
In sudden torrents dread,
Now gently light, a glorious crown,
On every sainted head.

4 And as on Israel's awe-struck ear
The voice exceeding loud,

The trump that angels quake to hear, Thrilled from the deep, dark cloud;

5 So, when the Spirit of our God Came down His flock to find,

A voice from heaven was heard abroad, A rushing, mighty wind.

It fills the Church of God; it fills

The sinful world around;

Only in stubborn hearts and wills
No place for it is found.
Come Lord! come Wisdom, Love, and

And mutual love abundantly bestow.

249

C.M.

MATHER of mercies, in Thy word

well,

Guided by Thee pursue the heavenly

road;

For ever be Thy name adored For these celestial lines.

It is the golden casket,

Where gems of truths are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture Of Christ the living Word.

3 It floateth like a banner

Before God's host unfurled;
It shineth like a beacon
Above the darkling world:
It is the chart and compass,
That o'er life's surging sea,
'Mid mists and rocks and quicksands,
Still guide, O Christ, to Thee.

4 O make Thy church, dear Saviour,
A lamp of burnished gold,
To bear before the nations

Thy true light as of old;
O teach Thy wandering pilgrims
By this their path to trace,
Till clouds and darkness ended,
They see Thee face to face!
W. W. HOW.

THE heavens declare Thy glory, Lord;

In every star Thy wisdom shines; But when our eyes behold Thy word, We read Thy name in fairer lines. 2 The rolling sun, the changing light, And nights and days Thy power confess; But the blest volume Thou hast writ, Reveals Thy justice and Thy grace.

3 Sun, moon, and stars convey Thy praise Round the whole earth, and never stand:

So when Thy truth began its race, It touched and glanced on every land. 4 Nor shall Thy spreading gospel rest, Till through the world Thy truth has

run:

3

For all the nations, tongues, and climes, And all the ages given?

That universe, how much unknown! That ocean unexplored!

The Lord hath yet more light and truth To break forth from His word. Darkling our great forefathers went The first steps of the way;

'Twas but the dawning, yet to grow Into the perfect day.

And grow it shall; our glorious Sun More fervid rays afford,

The Lord hath yet more light and truth
To break forth from His word.

4 The valley's passed; ascending still,
Our souls would higher climb,
And look down from supernal heights
On all the bygone time.
Upward we press-the air is clear,
And the sphere-music heard:
The Lord hath yet more light and truth
To break forth from His word.

5 O Father, Son, and Spirit, send
Us increase from above;
Enlarge, expand all Christian souls
To comprehend Thy love:
And make us to go on to know,
With nobler powers conferred;-
The Lord hath yet more light and truth
To break forth from His word.
G. RAWSON.

4 If I find Him, if I follow,
What His guerdon here?
'Many a sorrow, many a labour,
Many a tear.'

5 If I still hold closely to Him,
What hath He at last?

'Sorrow vanquished, labour ended, Jordan passed!'

6 If I ask Him to receive me, Will He say me nay?

'Not till earth, and not till heaven

Pass away!'

7 Finding, following, keeping, struggling, Is He sure to bless?

Angels, saints, apostles, martyrs,
Answer, 'Yes!'

GREEK HYMN (A.D. 790), trans. J. M. NEALE.

259 BEHO

L.M.

EHOLD a Stranger at the door,
He gently knocks-has knocked
before;

Has waited long; is waiting still:
You treat no other friend so ill.

2 O lovely attitude! He stands

With melting heart and laden hands; O matchless kindness! and He shows This matchless kindness to His foes! 3 Admit Him, for the human breast Ne'er entertained so kind a guest! No mortal tongue their joys can tell With whom He condescends to dwell. 4 Admit Him, ere His anger burn, Lest He depart, and ne'er return; Admit Him, or the hour's at hand, When at His door denied you'll stand. 5 Sovereign of Souls! Thou Prince of Peace!

O may Thy gentle reign increase! Throw wide the door, each willing mind, And be His empire, all mankind.

260

J. GRIGG.

6.6.6.6.8.8.

BLOW ye the trumpet, blow-
The gladly solemn sound:

Let all the nations know,

To earth's remotest bound: The year of Jubilee is come Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. 2 Jesus, our great High Priest,

Hath full atonement made; Ye weary spirits, rest!

Ye mournful souls, be glad! The year of Jubilee is come!

Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

3 Extol the Lamb of God,

The all-atoning Lamb; Redemption in His blood

Throughout the world proclaim: The year of Jubilee is come!

Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

4 Ye who have sold for nought

Your heritage above, Receive it back, unbought, The gift of Jesus' love: The year of Jubilee is come! Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

All things in Christ are ready now. 3 Come, all ye souls by sin opprest, Ye restless wanderers after rest: Ye poor and maimed, and halt and blind,

In Christ a hearty welcome find. 4 See Him set forth before your eyes, That precious, bleeding sacrifice! Pardon and life let all embrace, And freely now be saved by grace. 5 This is the time; no more delay! This is the glorious gospel day; Come in, this moment, at His call, And live to Him who died for all. WESLEY.*

262

7.6. double.

COME unto Me, ye weary,
And I will give you rest.'
O blessèd voice of Jesus,
Which comes to hearts opprest!
It tells of benediction,

Of pardon, grace, and peace,
Of joy that hath no ending,
Of love which cannot cease.

2 'Come unto Me, ye wanderers,
And I will give you light.'

O loving voice of Jesus, Which comes to cheer the night! Our hearts were filled with sadness, And we had lost our way; But He has brought us gladness And songs at break of day. 3 'Come unto Me, ye fainting, And I will give you life.'

4

O cheering voice of Jesus,
Which comes to aid our strife!
The foe is stern and eager,
The fight is fierce and long;
But He has made us mighty,
And stronger than the strong,
'And whosoever cometh,

I will not cast him out.'

O welcome voice of Jesus,
Which drives away our doubt!
Which calls us very sinners,

Unworthy though we be,

Of love so free and boundless,
To come, dear Lord, to Thee.
W. C. DIX.

263

8.7.4.

COME, ye sinners, poor and wretched,

Weak and wounded, sick and sore: Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity joined with power. He is able;

He is willing; doubt no more,

2 Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him;
This He gives you;

'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.
3 Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and broken by the Fall;
If you tarry till you're better,
You will never come at all;
Not the righteous,

Sinners, Jesus came to call. 4 Agonizing in the garden,

Lo! your Saviour prostrate lies;
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Hear Him cry before He dies,
'It is finished!'

Finished, the great sacrifice.
5 Lo! the Incarnate God, ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood;
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude;
None but Jesus

Can do helpless sinners good.

264

J. HART.

FROM the cross uplifted high,

78.

Where the Saviour deigns to die,
What melodious sounds I hear,
Bursting on my ravished ear!
Love's redeeming work is done;
Come and welcome, sinner, come!

2 Sprinkled now with blood the throne,
Why beneath thy burdens groan?
On my pierced body laid,
Justice owns the ransom paid.
Bow the knee, and kiss the Son;
Come and welcome, sinner, come!
3 Spread for thee the festal board,
See with richest dainties stored;
To thy Father's bosom pressed,
Yet again a child confessed,
Never from His house to roam,
Come and welcome, sinner, come!
4 Soon the days of life shall end;
Lo, I come, your Saviour, Friend,
Safe your spirit to convey
To the realms of endless day.
Up to my eternal home,
Come and welcome, sinner, come!
T. HAWEIS.

JESUS, sinners will receive:'
Say this word of grace to all
Who the heavenly pathway leave,
All who linger, all who fall;
This can bring them back again,
'Christ receiveth sinful men,'

2 Sick and sorrowful and blind,
I, with all my sins, draw nigh;
O my Saviour, Thou canst find
Help for sinners such as I;
Speak that word of love again,
Christ receiveth sinful men.'

3 Yea, my soul is comforted;
For Thy blood hath washed away
All my sins, though crimson-red,
And I stand in white array,
Purged from every spot and stain:
'Christ receiveth sinful men.'

78.

LI IFT up your heads, ye mighty gates! Behold, the King of glory waits; The King of kings is drawing near, The Saviour of the world is here; Life and salvation doth He bring, Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing! 2 The Lord is just, a helper tried; Mercy is ever at His side; His kingly crown is holiness; His sceptre, pity in distress: The end of all our woe He brings, Wherefore the earth is glad and sings.

3 Fling wide the portals of your heart, Make it a temple set apart

From earthly use, for heaven's employ,
Adorned with prayer, and love, and joy
So shall your Sovereign enter in,
And new and nobler life begin.

4 Redeemer, come! I open wide

My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!
Let me Thine inner presence feel,
Thy grace and love in me reveal;
Thy Holy Spirit guide me on,
Until the glorious crown be won!
C. WEISZEL, trans. C. WINKWORTH.