Ere through the world our way we take;
And lead us by Thy hand of love
Until we reach our home above.
J. Keble, 1820.
43
8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7
Through the day Thy love hath spared us,
Now we lay us down to rest;
Through the silent watches guard us,
Let no foe our peace molest:
Jesus, Thou our Guardian be;
Sweet it is to trust in Thee.
2. Pilgrims here on earth and strangers,
Dwelling in the midst of foes,
Us and ours preserve from dangers;
In Thine arms may we repose
And, when life’s sad day is past,
Rest with Thee in heaven at last.
3. Triune God, let all adore Thee,
Saints on earth and saints in heav’n;
Every creature bow before Thee,
Who hast all their being giv’n,
Who dost seek and save the lost:
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Thomas Kelly, 1806.
44
8, 4, 8, 4, 8, 8, 8, 4
God, who madest earth and heaven,
Darkness and light,
Who the day for toil hast given,
For rest the night,
May Thine angel guards defend us,
Slumber sweet Thy mercy send us,
Holy dreams and hopes attend us,
This livelong night!
2. Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
And when we die,
Let us in Thy mighty keeping
All peaceful lie.
When the trumpet’s call shall wake us,
Do not Thou, blest Lord, forsake us,
But to reign in glory take us
With Thee on high.
Reginald Heber, 1827; 2d stanza, R. Whately, 1860.
45
6, 5
Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
2. Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep,
Birds and beasts and flowers
Soon will be asleep.
3. Jesus, give the weary
Calm and sweet repose;
With Thy tenderest blessing
May my eyelids close.
4. Through the long night-watches
May Thine angels spread
Their white wings above me,
Watching round my bed.
5. When the morning wakens,
Then may I arise
Pure and fresh and sinless
In Thy holy eyes!
6. Glory to the Father,
Glory to the Son,
And to Thee, blest Spirit,
While all ages run.
Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865, abr.
INVITATION.
46
C. M. 8 l
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast!”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place,
And He has made me glad.
2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink and live!”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.
3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise
And all thy day be bright!”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of Life I’ll walk
Till traveling days are done.
H. Bonar, 1846.
47
C. M.
The Savior calls; let every ear
Attend the heavenly sound,
Ye doubting souls, dismiss your fear;
Hope smiles reviving round.
2. For every thirsty, longing heart
Here streams of bounty flow
And life and health and bliss impart
To banish mortal woe.
3. Here springs of sacred pleasures rise
To ease your every pain;
Immortal fountain! full supplies!
Nor shall you thirst in vain.
4. Ye sinners, come, ’tis Mercy’s voice;
The gracious call obey;
Mercy invites to heavenly joys,
And can you yet delay?
5. Dear Savior, draw reluctant hearts;
To Thee let sinners fly
And take the bliss Thy love imparts
And drink and never die.
Anne Steele, 1760.
48
7s
Sinners, turn; why will ye die?
God, your Maker, asks you—Why?
God, who did your being give,
Made you with Himself to live.
2. He the fatal cause demands,
Asks the work of His own hands,
Why, ye thankless creatures, why
Will ye cross His love and die?
3. Sinners, turn; why will ye die?
God, your Savior, asks you—Why?
He, who did your souls retrieve,
Died Himself that you might live.
4. Will ye let Him die in vain,
Crucify your Lord again?
Why, ye ransomed sinners, why
Will ye slight His grace and die?
5. Sinners, turn; why will ye die?
God the Spirit asks you—Why?
He, who all your lifetime strove,
Wooed you to embrace His love.
6. Will ye not His grace receive?
Will ye still refuse to live?
O ye long-sought sinners, why
Will ye grieve your God and die?
Charles Wesley, 1741.
49
7, 6, 8 l
“Come unto Me, ye weary,
And I will give you rest.”
O blessed 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, dear children,
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 weary,
And I will give you life,”
O cheering voice of Jesus,
Which comes to aid our strife!
The Foe is stern and eager,
The fight is fierce and long;
But Thou hast made us mighty
And stronger than the strong.
4. “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, 1867.
50
7, 6, 8 l
To-day Thy mercy calls us
To wash away our sin.
However great our trespass,
Whatever we have been;
However long from mercy
Our hearts have turned away,
Thy precious blood can cleanse us
And make us white to-day.
2. To-day Thy gate is open,
And all who enter in
Shall find a Father’s welcome
And pardon for their sin.
The past shall be forgotten,
A present joy be giv’n,
A future grace be promised,
A glorious crown in heav’n.
3. To-day our Father calls us,
His Holy Spirit waits;
His blessed angels gather
Around the heavenly gates.
No question will be asked us
How often we have come;
Although we oft have wandered,
It is our Father’s home.
4. O all-embracing Mercy,
O ever-open Door,
What should we do without Thee
When heart and eye run o’er?
When all things seem against us,
To drive us to despair,
We know one gate is open,
One ear will hear our prayer.
O. Allen, 1862.
51
L. M.
Behold 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. But will He prove a friend indeed?
He will; the very Friend you need;
The Friend of sinners—yes, ’tis He,
With garments dyed on Calvary.
3. O lovely attitude! He stands
With melting heart and laden hands;
O matchless kindness! and He shows
This matchless kindness to His foes.
4. Admit Him lest His anger burn
And He, departing, ne’er return;
Admit Him, or the hour’s at hand
When at His door denied you’ll stand.
J. Grigg, 1756, a.
52
S. M.
The Spirit in our hearts
Is whispering, “Sinner, come!”
The Bride, the Church of Christ, proclaims
To all His children, “Come!”
2. Let him that heareth say
To all about him, “Come!”
Let him that thirsts for righteousness
To Christ, the Fountain, come.
3. Yes, whosoever will,
O let him freely come
And freely drink the stream of life;
’Tis Jesus bids him come.
4. Lo, Jesus, who invites,
Declares, “I quickly come.”
Lord, even so; I wait Thine hour;
Jesus, my Savior, come!
H. U. Onderdonk, 1826.
53
S. M.
Let every ear attend
And every heart rejoice;
The trumpet of the Gospel sounds
With an inviting voice.
2. Ho! all ye starving souls,
That feed upon the wind
And vainly strive with earthly toys
To fill an empty mind.
3. Here Wisdom has prepared
A soul-reviving feast
And bids your longing appetites
The rich provision taste.
4. Ho! ye that pant for streams
And pine away and die,
Here you may quench your raging thirst
With springs that never dry.
5. Rivers of mercy here
In a rich ocean join;
Salvation in abundance flows
Like floods of milk and wine.
6. The gates of Gospel grace
Stand open night and day.
Lord, we are come to seek supplies
And drive our wants away.
Isaac Watts, 1707.
54
L. M.
Return, O wanderer, return
And seek an injured Father’s face;
Those warm desires that in thee burn
Were kindled by reclaiming grace.
2. Return, O wanderer, return
And seek a Father’s melting heart;
His pitying eyes thy grief discern,
His hand shall heal thine inward smart.
3. Return, O wanderer, return,
Thy Savior bids thy spirit live;
Go to His bleeding feet and learn
How freely Jesus can forgive.
4. Return, O wanderer, return
And wipe away the falling tear;
’Tis God who says, “No longer mourn,”
’Tis Mercy’s voice invites thee near.
W. B. Collyer, 1812.
55
L. M.
Hasten, O sinner, to be wise
And stay not for the morrow’s sun,
The longer wisdom you despise,
The harder is she to be won.
2. O hasten, mercy to implore
And stay not for the morrow’s sun,
For fear thy season should be o’er
Before this evening’s course be run.
3. Hasten, O sinner, to return
And stay not for the morrow’s sun,
For fear thy lamp should fail to burn
Before the needful work is done.
4. Hasten, O sinner, to be blest
And stay not for the morrow’s sun,
For fear the curse should thee arrest
Before the morrow is begun.
Thomas Scott, 1773.
56
7s
Come, my soul, thy suit prepare,
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He Himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.
2. Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much.
3. With my burden I begin:
Lord, remove this load of sin;
Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.
4. Lord, I come to Thee for rest,
Take possession of my breast;
There Thy blood-bought right maintain
And without a rival reign.
5. While I am a pilgrim here,
Let Thy love my spirit cheer;
As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
Lead me to my journey’s end.
6. Show me what I have to do,
Every hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die Thy people’s death.
John Newton, 1779.
57
11s
Delay not, delay not, O sinner, draw near,
The waters of life are now flowing for thee;
No price is demanded; the Savior is here;
Redemption is purchased, salvation is free.
2. Delay not, delay not, why longer abuse
The love and compassion of Jesus, thy God?
A fountain is opened; how canst thou refuse
To wash and be cleansed in His pardoning blood?
3. Delay not, delay not, O sinner, to come,
For mercy still lingers and calls thee to-day;
Her voice is not heard in the vale of the tomb;
Her message, unheeded, will soon pass away.
4. Delay not, delay not, the Spirit of Grace,
Long grieved and resisted, may take its sad flight
And leave thee in darkness to finish thy race,
To sink in the gloom of eternity’s night.
5. Delay not, delay not, the hour is at hand;
The earth shall dissolve, and the heavens shall fade;
The dead, small and great, in the Judgment shall stand;
What power then, O sinner, shall lend thee its aid?
T. Hastings, 1831.
58
7s
Come, ye weary sinners, come,
All who feel your heavy load;
Jesus calls His wanderers home;
Hasten to your pardoning God.
2. Come, ye guilty souls opprest,
Answer to the Savior’s call:
“Come, and I will give you rest;
Come, and I will save you all.”
3. Jesus, full of truth and love,
We Thy gracious call obey;
Faithful let Thy mercies prove,
Take our load of guilt away.
4. Fain we would on Thee rely,
Cast on Thee our sin and care,
To Thine arms of mercy fly,
Find our lasting quiet there.
5. Lo, we come to Thee for ease:
True and gracious as Thou art,
How our weary souls release,
Write forgiveness on our heart.
Charles Wesley, 1746, a.
PRAISE.
59
7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6
My soul, now bless thy Maker!
Let all within me bless His name,
Who maketh thee partaker
Of mercies more than thou dar’st claim!
Forget Him not, whose meekness
Forgiveth all thy sin;
Who healeth all thy weakness,
Renews thy life within;
Whose grace and care are endless
And saved thee through the past;
Who leaves no sufferer friendless,
But rights the wronged at last.
2. He shows to man His treasure
Of judgment, truth, and righteousness,
His love beyond all measure,
His yearning pity o’er distress;
Nor treats us as we merit,
But lays His anger by,
The humble, contrite spirit
Finds His compassion nigh;
Far as the heavens above us,
As break from close of day,
So far, since He doth love us,
He casts our sins away.
3. For as a tender father
Hath pity on his children here,
He in His arms will gather
All who are His in childlike fear.
He knows how frail our powers,
Who but from dust are made;
We flourish as the flowers,
And even so we fade;
The wind but o’er them passes,
And all their bloom is o’er,—
We wither like the grasses,
Our place knows us no more.
4. His grace alone endureth,
And children’s children yet shall prove
How God with strength assureth
The hearts of all that seek His love.
In heaven is fixed His dwelling,
His rule is over all;
Angels in might excelling,
Bright hosts, before Him fall!
Praise Him who ever reigneth,
All ye who hear His Word,
Nor our poor hymns disdaineth;—
My soul, O bless the Lord!
G. Graumann, 1525; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
60
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7
To God, the Father of all love,
The God of earth and heaven,
The mighty God, who reigns above,
Be praise and glory given!
With healing balm my soul He fills
And every pain and sorrow stills,—
To God all praise and glory!
2. The angel host, O King of kings,
Thy praise forever telling,
In earth and sky all living things
Beneath Thy shadow dwelling,
Adore and praise their Maker’s might,
Whose wisdom orders all things right,—
To God all praise and glory!
3. What God’s almighty power hath made
His gracious mercy keepeth;
By morning glow or evening shade
His watchful eye ne’er sleepeth;
Within the kingdom of His might,
Lo! all is just and all is right,—
To God all praise and glory!
4. I cried to God in my distress,
His mercy heard me calling;
My Savior saw my helplessness
And kept my feet from falling.
For this, Lord, praise and thanks to Thee!
Praise God most high, praise God with me,—
To God all praise and glory!
5. The Lord forsaketh not His flock,
His chosen generation;
He is their Refuge and their Rock,
Their Peace and their Salvation,
And with a mother’s watchful love
He guides them wheresoe’er they rove,—
To God all praise and glory!
6. When earth can comfort us no more
Nor human help availeth,
The Maker comes Himself, whose store
Of blessing never faileth,
And bends on them a Father’s eyes,
Whom earth all rest and hope denies,—
To God all praise and glory!
7. Thus all my pilgrim way along
I’ll sing aloud Thy praises
That men may hear the grateful song
My voice unwearied raises.
Be joyful in the Lord, my heart;
Both soul and body, bear your part,—
To God all praise and glory!
8. Ye who confess Christ’s holy name,
To God give praise and glory!
Ye who the Father’s power proclaim,
To God give praise and glory!
All idols under foot be trod,
The Lord is God! The Lord is God!
To God all praise and glory!
9. Then come before His presence now
And banish fear and sadness;
To your Redeemer pay your vow
And sing with joy and gladness:
Though great distress my soul befall,
The Lord, my God, rules over all,—
To God all praise and glory!
J. J. Schuetz, 1673.
61
C. M.
Songs of immortal praise belong
To my almighty God:
He hath my heart and He my tongue
To spread His name abroad.
2. How great the works His hand hath wrought!
How glorious in our sight!
And men in every age have sought
His wonders with delight.
3. How most exact is nature’s frame!
How wise th’ eternal Mind!
His counsels never change the scheme
That His first thoughts designed.
4. When He redeemed the sons of men,
He fixed His covenant sure;
The orders that His lips pronounce
To endless years endure.
5. Nature and time and earth and skies
Thy heavenly skill proclaim.
What shall we do to make us wise
But learn to read Thy name!
6. To fear Thy power, to trust Thy grace,
Is our divinest skill;
And he’s the wisest of our race
Who best obeys Thy will.
Isaac Watts, 1719.
62
9, 8, 9, 8, 8, 8
O that I had a thousand voices,
A mouth to speak with thousand tongues!
My heart, which in the Lord rejoices,
Then would proclaim in grateful songs
To all, wherever I might be,
What great things God hath done for me.
2. O that my voice might high be sounding,
Far as the widely distant poles;
My blood run quick, with rapture bounding,
Long as its vital current rolls,
And every pulse thanksgiving raise,
And every breath a hymn of praise!
3. O all ye powers that God implanted,
Arise, keep silence thus no more,
Put forth the strength that He hath granted!
Your noblest work is to adore.
My soul and body, make ye meet
With heartfelt praise your Lord to greet!
4. Ye forest leaves, so green and tender,
That dance for joy in summer air;
Ye meadow grasses, bright and slender;
Ye flowers, so wondrous sweet and fair;
Ye live to show His praise alone,
Help me to make His glory known!
5. O all things that have breath and motion,
That throng with life, earth, sea, and sky,
Now join me in my heart’s devotion,
Help me to raise His praises high;
My utmost powers can ne’er aright
Declare the wonders of His might.
6. Dear Father, endless praise I render
For soul and body, strangely joined;
I praise Thee, Guardian kind and tender,
For all the noble joys I find
So richly spread on every side
And freely for my use supplied.
7. What equal praises can I offer,
Dear Jesus, for Thy mercy shown?
What pangs, my Savior, didst Thou suffer,
And thus for all my sins atone!
Thy death alone my soul could free
From Satan, to be blest with Thee.
8. Glory and praise, still onward reaching,
Thine be it, Spirit of all grace,
Whose holy power and faithful teaching
Give me among Thy saints a place!
Whate’er of good in me may shine
Comes only from Thy light divine.
9. Who grants abundant gifts to bless me?
Who but Thyself, O God of love?
Who guards my ways lest fears oppress me?
’Tis Thou, Lord God of hosts, above!
And when my sins Thy wrath provoke,
Thy patience, Lord, forbears the stroke.
10. I kiss the rod, too, unrepining,
When God His chastening makes me feel,
My graces call for His refining,
The trial works no lasting ill;
It purifies and makes it known
That He regards me as His own.
11. In life I often have discovered,
With gratitude and glad surprise,
When clouds of sorrows o’er me hovered,
God sent from them my best supplies.
In troubles He is ever near
And shows me all a Father’s care.
12. Why not, then, with a faith unbounded,
Forever in His love confide?
Why not, with earthly griefs surrounded,
Rejoicing still in hope abide,
Until I reach that blissful home
Where doubt and sorrow never come?
13. No more low vanities regarding,
To Thee, in whom I find my rest,
I cry, my inmost soul according,
“My God, Thou art the Highest, Best;
Strength, honor, praise, and thanks, and power
Be Thine both now and evermore!”
14. Lord, I will tell, while I am living,
Thy goodness forth with every breath
And greet each morning with thanksgiving
Until my heart is still in death;
Yea, when at last my lips grow cold,
Thy praise shall in my sighs be told.
15. O Father, deign Thou, I beseech Thee,
To listen to my earthly lays;
A nobler strain in heav’n shall reach Thee,
When I with angels hymn Thy praise
And learn amid their choirs to sing
Loud hallelujahs to my King.
J. Mentzer, 1704.
63
14, 14, 4, 7, 8
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy Health and Salvation!
Join the full throng;
Wake, harp and psalter and song;
Sound forth in glad adoration!
2. Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Who, as on wings of an eagle, uplifteth, sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires all have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
3. Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee!
What need or grief
Ever hath failed of relief?—
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.
4. Praise to the Lord, who doth visibly bless and defend thee;
Who from the heavens the streams of His mercy doth send thee!
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend thee.
5. Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
He is thy Light;
Soul, keep it always in sight,
Gladly forever adore Him!
J. Neander, 1680.
64
6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6
Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom His world rejoices;
Who from our mother’s arms
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours to-day.
2. Oh, may this bounteous God
Through all this life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace,
And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
3. All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son, and Him who reigns
With them in highest heaven:
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore!
Martin Rinckart, 1630; C. Winkworth, tr.
65
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7
I will sing my Maker’s praises
And in Him most joyful be,
For in all things I see traces
Of His tender love to me.
Nothing but His love could move Him
With such sweet and tender care
Evermore to raise and bear
All who try to serve and love Him.
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
2. As an eagle spreadeth over
Her young brood her sheltering wings,
So the arm of God did cover
Me against affliction’s stings.
He who life and being gave me,
Even in my mother’s womb,
From the cradle to the tomb,
He shall ever guard and save me.
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
3. Yea, so dear did He esteem me
That His Son He loved so well
He hath given to redeem me
From the quenchless flames of hell.
O Thou Spring of boundless blessing,
How could e’er my feeble mind
Of Thy depth the bottom find,
Though my efforts were unceasing?
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
4. God His Spirit to instruct me
In His holy Word hath giv’n
That He safely may conduct me
Through this weary world to heav’n.
He my heart’s dark chamber filleth
With the clear, pure light of faith,
Which destroys the power of death;
Yea, e’en hell itself it stilleth.
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
5. All that for my soul is needful
He doth carefully provide,
Nor of that is He unheedful
Which my body needs beside.
When my strength cannot avail me,
When my powers can do no more,
Doth my God His strength outpour,
In my need He doth not fail me.
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
6. All the hosts of earth and heaven
Wheresoe’er I turn mine eye,
For my benefit are given
That they may my need supply.
All that’s living, all that’s growing,
On the heights or in the woods,
In the vales or in the floods,
God is for my good bestowing.
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
7. When I sleep, He still is near me,
O’er me rests His guardian eye;
And new gifts and blessings cheer me
When the morning streaks the sky.
Were it not for God’s protection,
Had His countenance not been
Here my guide, I had not seen
Any end of my affliction.
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
8. Ah, how often doth the devil
Cause some great calamity!
But my life from all such evil
Till this moment has been free.
For the angel whom God sendeth,
Wardeth off each threatening hurt,
Every evil doth avert
That mine enemy intendeth.
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
9. As a father never turneth
Wholly from a wayward child,
For the prodigal still yearneth,
Longing to be reconciled:
So my many sins and errors
Find a tender, pardoning God,
Chast’ning frailty with His rod,
Not, in vengeance, with His terrors.
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
10. All His strokes and scourges truly
For the moment grievous prove
And yet, when I weigh them duly,
Are but tokens of His love,
Proofs that He is watching o’er me
And by crosses to His fold,
From the world that fain would hold
Soul and body, would restore me.
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
11. On this thought I dwell with pleasure;
For it granteth joy and peace.
Christ’s cross hath its time and measure
And at last will wholly cease.
When the winter disappeareth,
Lovely summer comes again;
Joy is giv’n for woe and pain
Who his cross in patience beareth.
All things have their little day,
God’s great love abides for aye.
12. Since, then, neither change nor coldness
In my Father’s love can be,
Lo, I lift my hands with boldness,
As Thy child I come to Thee.
Grant me grace, O God, I pray Thee,
That I may with all my might,
All my lifetime, day and night,
Love and trust Thee and obey Thee;
And when this brief life is o’er,
Praise and love Thee evermore.
Paul Gerhardt, 1659.
66
L. M.