While on earth I am abiding;
My full trust He shall receive;
What I have, without dividing,
All to Him I freely give,—
My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.
3. Though my eyesight pass away,
Hearing, taste, and feeling fail me;
Though the earth’s last light of day
Shall o’ertake and sore assail me;
When my dying sigh I heave,—
My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.
4. Nor will I my Jesus leave
When at length I shall come thither
Where His saints He will receive,
Where in bliss they live together;
Endless joy to me He’ll give,—
My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.
5. Not for earth’s vain joys I crave,
Not for heaven’s glorious pleasure;
Jesus, who my soul did save,
Shall be my Desire and Treasure;
He redemption did achieve,—
My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.
6. Jesus I shall never leave,
To His side still firmly clinging.
Christ leads all who Him receive
To life’s waters ever springing.
Blessed they who to Him cleave!—
My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.
Chr. Keymann, c. 1656.
89
7, 4, 7, 4, 7, 4, 6
Jesus, Thou my heart’s Delight,
Sweetest Jesus!
Thrill’st my soul with rapture quite,
Sweetest Jesus!
All cares vanish at Thy sight,
Sweetest Jesus!
Jesus, sweetest Jesus!
2. Evermore I think of Thee,
My Redeemer!
And I long for none but Thee,
My Redeemer!
Yearns my soul with Thee to be,
My Redeemer!
Jesus, my Redeemer!
3. Feed Thou me and fill my soul,
Heavenly Manna!
Quench my thirst, my heart make whole,
Help, Hosanna!
Be the Rest unto my soul,
Rest of weary,
Jesus, Rest of weary!
4. Naught is lovelier than Thou,
Fairest Lover!
Naught is friendlier than Thou,
Gentle Lover!
And naught sweeter is than Thou,
Sweetest Lover,
Jesus, sweetest Lover!
5. I am weak; come, strengthen me,
Strength in weakness!
Faint am I, refresh Thou me,
Sweetest Jesus!
When I die, console Thou me,
Thou Consoler,
Jesus, my Consoler!
J. Flittner, 1661; J. A. Rimbach, tr., 1903, a.
90
C. M.
O Jesus, King most wonderful,
Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou Sweetness most ineffable,
In whom all joys are found!
2. When once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart,
Then kindles love divine.
3. O Jesus, Light of all below,
Thou Fount of life and fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
All that we can desire,—
4. May every heart confess Thy name,
And ever Thee adore,
And, seeking Thee, itself inflame
To seek Thee more and more.
5. Thee may our tongues forever bless,
Thee may we love alone,
And ever in our lives express
The image of Thine own.
Bernard of Clairvaux, † 1153; E. Caswall, tr., 1848.
91
L. M.
Jesus, and shall it ever be,
A mortal man ashamed of Thee?
Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days?
2. Ashamed of Jesus! Sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star;
He sheds the beams of light divine
O’er this benighted soul of mine.
3. Ashamed of Jesus! Just as soon
Let midnight be ashamed of noon.
’Tis midnight with my soul till He,
Bright Morning-Star, bids darkness flee.
4. Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend
On whom my hopes of heaven depend!
No; when I blush, be this my shame,
That I no more revere His name.
5. Ashamed of Jesus! Yes, I may,
When I’ve no guilt to wash away,
No tear to wipe, no good to crave,
No fears to quell, no soul to save.
6. Till then—nor is my boasting vain—
Till then I boast a Savior slain;
And oh, may this my glory be,
That Christ is not ashamed of me!
J. Grigg, 1765; B. Francis, 1787.
92
L. M.
Awake, my soul, to joyful lays
And sing Thy great Redeemer’s praise;
He justly claims a song from me,—
His loving-kindness, O how free!
2. He saw me ruined in the Fall,
Yet loved me notwithstanding all;
He saved me from my lost estate,—
His loving-kindness, O how great!
3. When I was Satan’s easy prey
And deep in debt and bondage lay,
He paid His life for my discharge,—
His loving-kindness, O how large!
4. Though numerous hosts of mighty foes,
Though earth and hell my way oppose,
He safely leads my soul along,—
His loving-kindness, O how strong!
5. When trouble, like a gloomy cloud,
Has gathered thick and thundered loud,
He near my soul has always stood,—
His loving-kindness, O how good!
6. When earthly friends forsake me quite
And I have neither skill nor might,
He’s sure my Helper to appear,—
His loving-kindness, O how near!
7. Often I feel my sinful heart
Prone from my Jesus to depart;
But though I have Him oft forgot,
His loving-kindness changes not.
8. When I shall pass death’s gloomy vale
And all my mortal power must fail,
O may my last, expiring breath
His loving-kindness sing in death!
9. Then shall I mount and soar away
To the bright world of endless day
And sing with rapture and surprise
His loving-kindness in the skies.
S. Medley, 1782.
93
C. M.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all!
2. Crown Him, ye martyrs of our God,
Who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s rod
And crown Him Lord of all!
3. Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
Ye ransomed from the Fall,
Hail Him, who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!
4. Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line,
Whom David Lord did call,
The God incarnate, Man divine,
And crown Him Lord of all!
5. Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
The wormwood and the gall,
Go, spread your trophies at His feet,
And crown Him Lord of all!
6. Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all!
7. O that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!
E. Perronet, 1780.
94
C. M.
Thou art the _Way_; to Thee alone
From sin and death we flee;
And he who would the Father seek,
Must seek Him, Lord, by Thee.
2. Thou art the _Truth_; Thy Word alone
True wisdom can impart;
Thou only canst inform the mind
And purify the heart.
3. Thou art the _Life_; the rending tomb
Proclaims Thy conquering arm;
And those who put their trust in Thee
Nor death nor hell shall harm.
4. Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life;
Grant us that Way to know,
That Truth to keep, that Life to win,
Whose joys eternal flow.
G. W. Doane, 1824.
95
8, 7, 8, 7
In the Cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
2. When the woes of life o’ertake me,
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the Cross forsake me;
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.
3. When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the Cross the radiance streaming
Adds new luster to the day.
4. Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the Cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.
John Bowring, 1825.
96
C. M.
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
2. It makes the wounded spirit whole
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul
And to the weary, rest.
3. Dear name! the Rock on which I build
My Shield and Hiding-place;
My never-failing Treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace.
4. By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled:
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.
5. Jesus! my Shepherd, Guardian, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.
6. Weak is the effort of my heart
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.
7. Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death.
John Newton, 1779.
97
8, 7, 8, 7
Jesus, Thou art mine forever,
Dearer far than earth to me;
Neither life nor death shall sever
Those sweet ties which bind to Thee.
2. All were drear to me and lonely,
If Thy presence gladdened not;
While I sing to Thee, Thee only,
Mine’s an ever blissful lot.
3. Thou alone art all my Treasure,
Who hast died that I may live;
Thou conferrest noblest pleasure,
Who dost all my sins forgive.
4. Brightest gems and fairest flowers
Lose their beauty in Thy frown;
Joy and peace, like balmy showers,
In Thy smile come gently down.
5. Jesus, Thou art mine forever,
Suffer not myself to stray;
Let me in my weakness never
Cast my priceless pearl away.
6. Lamb of God, I do implore Thee,
Guard, support me, lest I fall;
Let me evermore adore Thee,
Be my everlasting All!
M. Loy, 1863.
98
C. M.
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
2. Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Thy blest name,
O Savior of mankind!
3. O Hope of every contrite heart,
O Joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art,
How good to those who seek!
4. But what to those who find?—Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
5. Jesus, our only Joy be Thou!
As Thou our Prize wilt be;
Jesus, be Thou our Glory now
And through eternity!
Bernard of Clairvaux, † 1153; E. Caswall, tr., 1849, a.
99
7s
Chief of sinners though I be,
Jesus shed His blood for me;
Died that I might live on high,
Lived that I might never die;
As the branch is to the vine,
I am His, and He is mine.
2. O the height of Jesus’ love!
Higher than the heavens above,
Deeper than the depths of sea,
Lasting as eternity;
Love that found me,—wondrous thought!—
Found me when I sought Him not.
3. Jesus only can impart
Balm to heal the smitten heart;
Peace that flows from sin forgiv’n,
Joy that lifts the soul to heav’n;
Faith and hope to walk with God,
In the way that Enoch trod.
4. Chief of sinners though I be,
Christ is all in all to me;
All my wants to Him are known,
All my sorrows are His own;
Safe with Him from earthly strife,
He sustains the hidden life.
5. O my Savior, help afford
By Thy Spirit and Thy Word!
When my wayward heart would stray,
Keep me in the narrow way;
Grace in time of need supply
While I live and when I die.
Wm. McComb, 1848.
100
7s 6 l
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only Light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night.
Day-spring from on high, be near;
Day-star, in my heart appear.
2. Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day’s return
Till Thy mercy’s beams I see;
Till they inward light impart,
Cheer my eyes, and warm my heart.
3. Visit, then, this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy Divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
Charles Wesley, 1740.
101
C. M.
To our Redeemer’s glorious name
Awake the sacred song!
O may His love, immortal flame,
Tune every heart and tongue!
2. His love, what mortal thought can reach!
What mortal tongue display!
Imagination’s utmost stretch
In wonder dies away.
3. He left His radiant throne on high,
Left the bright realms of bliss,
And came to earth to bleed and die,—
Was ever love like this?
4. Dear Lord, while we adoring pay
Our humble thanks to Thee,
May every heart with rapture say,
“The Savior died for me!”
5. O may the sweet, the blissful theme
Fill every heart and tongue
Till strangers love the charming name
And join the sacred song!
Anne Steele, 1760.
102
C. M.
Come, let us join our cheerful songs
With angels round the throne.
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
But all their joys are one.
2. “Worthy the Lamb that died,” they cry,
“To be exalted thus.”
“Worthy the Lamb,” our lips reply,
For He was slain for us.
3. Jesus is worthy to receive
Honor and power divine;
And blessings more than we can give,
Be, Lord, forever Thine.
4. Let all that dwell above the sky,
And air, and earth, and seas
Conspire to lift Thy glories high
And speak Thine endless praise!
5. The whole creation join in one
To bless the sacred name
Of Him that sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb.
Isaac Watts, 1707.
103
8, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 4, 8, 4, 8
O Morning Star, how fair and bright
Thou beamest forth in truth and light!
O Sovereign meek and lowly!
Sweet Root of Jesse, David’s Son,
My King and Bridegroom, Thou hast won
My heart to love Thee solely!
Lovely art Thou,
Fair and glorious, All victorious,
Rich in blessing,
Rule and might o’er all possessing.
2. O King high-born, Pearl dearly won,
True Son of God and Mary’s Son,
Crown of exceeding glory!
My heart calls Thee a Lily, Lord,
Pure milk and honey is Thy Word,
Thy sweetest Gospel-story.
Rose of Sharon,
Hail! hosanna! Heavenly Manna,
Feed us ever;
Lord, I can forget Thee never!
3. Clear Jasper, Ruby fervent red,
Deep, deep into my heart now shed
Thy love’s pure fire forever;
Fill me with joy, grant me to be
Thy member, closely joined to Thee,
Whom naught from Thee may sever;
Toward Thee longing
Doth possess me: Come and bless me,
For Thy gladness
Eye and heart here pine in sadness.
4. But if Thou look on me in love,
There straightway falls from God above
A ray of purest pleasure;
Thy Word and Spirit, flesh and blood,
Refresh my soul with heavenly food,
Thou art my hidden Treasure.
Let Thy grace, Lord,
Warm and cheer me, O draw near me;
Thou hast taught us
Thee to seek since Thou hast sought us.
5. Lord God, my Father, mighty Shield,
Thou in Thy Son art all revealed
As Thou hast loved and known me;
Thy Son hath me with Him betrothed,
In His own whitest raiment clothed,
He for His bride will own me.
Hallelujah!
Life in heaven Hath He given,
With Him dwelling,
Still shall I His praise be telling.
6. Then touch the chords of harp and lute,
Let no sweet music now be mute,
But, joyously resounding,
Tell of the marriage-feast, the bride,
The heavenly Bridegroom at her side,
Mid love and joy abounding.
Shout for triumph,
Loudly sing ye, Praises bring ye,
Fall before Him,
King of kings, let all adore Him!
7. Here rests my heart and holds it fast;
The Lord I love is First and Last,
The End and the Beginning.
I welcome death, for I shall rise
Through Him to His own Paradise,
Above all tears and sinning.
Amen! Amen!
Come, Lord Jesus. Soon release us!
With deep yearning,
Lord, we look for Thy returning!
P. Nicolai, 1597; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
104
S. M. 8 l
Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own;
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.
2. Crown Him the Virgin’s Son,
The God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won
Which now His brow adorn;
Fruit of the mystic rose,
As of that rose the stem;
The root whence mercy ever flows,
The Babe of Bethlehem.
3. Crown Him the Lord of love
Behold His hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his wond’ring eye
At mysteries so bright.
4. Crown Him the Lord of peace,
Whose power a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease
And all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end,
And round His piercèd feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.
5. Crown Him the Lord of years,
The Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres,
Ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For Thou hast died for me;
Thy praise shall never, never fail
Throughout eternity.
M. Bridges, 1851.
105
S. M. 8 l
I was a wandering sheep,
I did not love the fold;
I did not love my Shepherd’s voice,
I would not be controlled;
I was a wayward child,
I did not love my home;
I did not love my Father’s voice,
I loved afar to roam.
2. The Shepherd sought His sheep,
The Father sought His child;
They followed me o’er vale and hill,
O’er deserts waste and wild;
They found me nigh to death,
Famished and faint and lone;
They bound me with the bands of love,
They saved the wandering one.
3. Jesus my Shepherd is,
’Twas He that loved my soul,
’Twas He that washed me in His blood,
’Twas He that made me whole;
’Twas He that sought the lost,
That found the wandering sheep;
’Twas He that brought me to the fold,
’Tis He that still doth keep.
4. I was a wandering sheep,
I would not be controlled.
But now I love my Shepherd’s voice,
I love, I love, the fold.
I was a wayward child,
I once preferred to roam,
But now I love my Father’s voice,
I love, I love, His home.
H. Bonar, 1844.
106
7s
Jesus, Savior, come to me!
Let me ever be with Thee;
Come and nevermore depart,
Thou who reignest in my heart.
2. Lord, for Thee I ever sigh,
Nothing else can satisfy;
’Tis my constant cry to Thee:
Jesus, Jesus, come to me!
3. Earthly joys can give no peace,
Cannot bid my longing cease;
But to have my Jesus near,
This is perfect pleasure here.
4. All that makes the angels glad,
In their garb of glory clad,
Only fills me with distress
If Thy presence do not bless.
5. Take Thou all away from me,
I shall still thus minded be;
Thou who madest me Thine own
Shalt be e’er my Joy alone.
6. Lord, to none on earth beside
Thee my heart I open wide;
Enter Thou, possess it all,
Thee alone mine own I call.
7. Thou alone, my God and Lord,
Art my Glory and Reward;
Thou hast bled for me and died,
I will be no other’s bride.
8. Come, then, Lamb for sinners slain,
Come and ease me of my pain;
Evermore I cry to Thee:
Jesus, Jesus, come to me!
9. Patiently I wait Thy Day;
For this gift yet, Lord, I pray,
That, when death shall come to me,
My sweet Jesus Thou wilt be.
J. Scheffler, c. 1657.
107
7s 8 l
Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the waters nearer roll,
While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last!
2. Other refuge have I none;
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah, leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.
3. Wilt Thou not regard my call?
Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall;
Lo! on Thee I cast my care.
Reach me out Thy gracious hand!
While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand,
Dying, and, behold, I live!
4. Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in Thee I find.
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy name;
I am all unrighteousness:
False and full of sin I am,
Thou art full of truth and grace.
5. Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the Fountain art,
Freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.
Charles Wesley, 1740.
108
C. M.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!
2. My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.
3. Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life and health and peace.
4. He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood avails for me.
5. Look unto Him, ye nations; own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.
6. See all your sins on Jesus laid;
The Lamb of God was slain;
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.
7. Glory to God and praise and love
Be ever, ever giv’n
By saints below and saints above,
The Church in earth and heav’n.
Charles Wesley, 1739.
109
8s 10 l
O friend of souls, how blest am I
Whene’er Thy love my spirit calms!
From sorrow’s dungeon forth I fly
And hide me in Thy shelt’ring arms.
The night of weeping flies away
Before the heart-reviving ray
Of love that beams from out Thy breast;
Here is my heaven on earth begun.
Who is not joyful that has won
In Thee, O Lord, his joy and rest?
2. The world may call herself my foe,
So be it; for I trust her not,
E’en though a friendly face she show
And heap with her good things my lot.
In Thee alone will I rejoice,
Thou art the Friend, Lord, of my choice,
For Thou art true when friendships fail;
Mid storms of woe Thy truth is still
My anchor; hate me as she will,
The world shall o’er me ne’er prevail.
3. The Law may threaten endless death
From awful Sinai’s burning hill,
Straightway from its consuming breath
My soul through faith mounts higher still;
She throws herself at Jesus’ feet
And finds with Him a safe retreat,
Where curse and death can never come.
Though all foes threaten condemnation,
Yet, Jesus, Thou art my Salvation,
For in Thy love I find my home.
4. Through deserts of the cross Thou leadest;
I follow, leaning on Thy hand;
From out the clouds Thy child Thou feedest
And giv’st him water from the sand.
I know Thy wondrous ways will end
In love and blessing, Thou true Friend;
Enough, if Thou art ever near.
I know whom Thou wilt glorify
And raise o’er sun and stars on high,
Thou lead’st through depths and darkness here.
5. To others death seems dark and grim,
But not, Thou Life of life, to me.
I know Thou ne’er forsakest him
Whose heart and spirit rest in Thee.
Oh, who would fear his journey’s close
If from dark woods and lurking foes
He then find safety and release?
Nay, rather, with a joyful heart
From this dark region I depart
To Thy eternal light and peace.
6. O Friend of souls, then blest indeed
Am I when on Thy love I lean!
The world nor pain nor death I heed,
Since Thou, my God, my Joy hast been.
O let this peace that Thou hast giv’n
Be but a foretaste of Thy heav’n,
For goodness infinite is Thine.
Hence, world, with all thy flattering toys!
In God alone lie all my joys;
O rich delight, my Friend is mine!
W. C. Dessler, 1692; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
GOD’S WORD.
110
L. M.
Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide,
For round us falls the eventide;
Let not Thy Word, that heavenly light,
For us be ever veiled in night.
2. In these last days of sore distress
Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness,
That pure we keep, till life is spent,
Thy holy Word and Sacrament.
3. Lord Jesus, help, Thy Church uphold,
For we are sluggish, thoughtless, cold;
Indue Thy Word with power and grace
And spread its truth in every place.
4. O keep us in Thy Word, we pray;
The guile and rage of Satan stay;
Unto Thy Church grant, Lord, Thy grace,
Peace, concord, patience, fearlessness.
5. O God! how sin’s dread works abound!
Throughout the earth no rest is found,
And wide has falsehood’s spirit spread,
And error boldly rears its head.
6. Those haughty spirits, Lord, restrain
Who o’er Thy Church with might would reign
And always offer something new,
Devised to change Thy doctrine true.
7. And since the cause and glory, Lord,
Are Thine, not ours, do Thou afford
Us help and strength and constancy;
With all our heart we trust in Thee.
8. A trusty weapon is Thy Word,
Thy Church’s buckler, shield, and sword;
Lord, let us in this Word abide,
That we may seek no other guide.
9. O grant that in Thy holy Word
We here may live and die, dear Lord;
And when our journey endeth here,
Receive us into glory there.
N. Selnecker, 1611 (3-9 anon.).
111
C. M.
How precious is the Book Divine,
By inspiration given!
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine
To guide our souls to heaven.
2. Its light, descending from above,
Illumes this world so drear,
Displays a Savior’s boundless love,
And brings His glories near.
3. It shows to man his wandering ways
And where his feet have trod,
And brings to view the matchless grace
Of a forgiving God.
4. O’er all the straight and narrow way
Its radiant beams are cast;
A light whose never weary ray
Grows brightest at the last.
5. It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light, and joy it still imparts
And quells our rising fears.
6. This lamp, through all the tedious night
Of life shall guide our way
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.
J. Fawcett, 1782, abr.
112
C. M.
How shall the young secure their hearts
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy Word the choicest rules imparts
To keep the conscience clean.
2. ’Tis like the sun, a heavenly light,
That guides us all the day,
And through the dangers of the night
A lamp to lead our way.
3. The starry heavens Thy rule obey,
The earth maintains her place;
And these Thy servants, night and day,
Thy skill and power express.
4. But still Thy Law and Gospel, Lord,
Have lessons more divine;
Not earth stands firmer than Thy Word,
Nor stars so nobly shine.
5. Thy Word is everlasting truth;
How pure is every page!
That holy Book shall guide our youth
And well support our age.
Isaac Watts, 1719.
113
7s, 6s 8 l
O Word of God Incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky,—
We praise Thee for the radiance
That from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps,
Shines on from age to age.