And soon, too soon, the wintry hour Will shake the soul with sorrow's power, O thou, whose infant feet were found Whose years, with changeless virtue crowned, Dependent on thy bounteous breath, In childhood, manhood, age, and death. WORK, FOR THE NIGHT IS COMING. Work, for the night is coming, Work through the morning hours; Work, for the night is coming, Something to keep in store: When man works no more. Work, for the night is coming, Work, till the last beam fadeth, BLEST BE THE TIE. Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love: The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above. Before our Father's throne We pour united prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear. When we asunder part, It gives us inward pain; From sorrow, toil and pain, And sin, we shall be free; NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT. Now thank we all our God, With heart and hands and voices! Who wondrous things hath done, With countless gifts of love; Oh, may this bounteous God Through all our 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. THE SPACIOUS FIRMAMENT. The spacious firmament on high, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim. The unwearied sun, from day to day, Does his Creator's power display, And publishes to every land The work of an Almighty hand. Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the listening earth Repeats the story of her birth; Whilst all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole. What though in solemn silence all MISSIONARY HYMN. From Greenland's icy mountains, from India's coral strand; What though the spicy breezes blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle, Shall we, Waft, waft, ye winds, his story, and you, ye waters, roll, JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL. Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly, While the billows near me roll, while the tempest still is high. Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, till the storm of life be past; Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last. Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on thee; Plenteous grace with thee is found, grace to pardon all my sin; I WOULD NOT LIVE ALWAY. I would not live alway: I ask not to stay I would not live alway thus fettered by sin, I would not live alway; no-welcome the tomb, Who, who would live alway, away from his God, Where the rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains, Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet, COME, YE DISCONSOLATE. Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish ; Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure, Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot cure." Here see the bread of life; see waters flowing Forth from the throne of God, pure from above; THE NINETY AND NINE. There were ninety and nine that safely lay But one was out on the hills away, Away on the mountains wild and bare, 'Lord, thou hast here thy ninety and nine; But the Shepherd made answer : "Tis of mine has wandered away from me But none of the ransomed ever knew How deep were the waters crossed; Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed thro, Ere he found his sheep that was lost. Out in the desert he heard its cry Sick and helpless, and ready to die. But all through the mountains, thunder-riven, There arose a cry to the gate of heaven, PRAYER. Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The upward glancing of an eye, Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try; Prayer the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high. Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice While angels in their songs rejoice, Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, His watchword at the gate of death: FLEE AS A BIRD. Flee as a bird to your mountain, Where you may wash and be clean; Fly, for tho' avenger is near thee, Oh, thou who art weary of sin. He will protect thee forever, Wipe every falling tear; |