The grief beyond expressing
To me, to me impart;
I only ask this blessing,-
A humble, broken heart.
Thou only bear my burden,
And help my last distress,
And give me back my pardon,
And bid me die in peace.
HYMN 218. L. M.
SPRINKLED with reconciling blood
I dare approach thy throne, O God!
Thy face no frowning aspect wears;
Thy hand no vengeful weapon bears.
Let me my grateful homage pay,
With courage sing, with freedom
And, tho' myself a wretch undone,
Hope for acceptance thro' thy Son ;-
Thy Son, who on th' accursed tree
Expired to set the prisoners free!
On this I build my only claim,
And all I ask is in his name.
HYMN 219. S. M.
OUR Captain leads us on,
He beckons from the skies, He reaches out a starry crown, And bids us take the prize. Be faithful unto death,
Partake my victory,
And thou shalt wear this glorious wreath, And thou shalt reign with me.
"Poor and afflicted,"-'tis their lot;
They know it, and they murmur not:
'Twould ill become them to refuse
The path their Master deign'd to choose.
"Poor and afflicted,"-but ere long
They'll join the bright celestial throng;
Their suff'rings then will reach a close,
And heav'n afford them sweet repose.
And while they walk their thorny way,
They're often heard to sigh and say,
"Come, gracious Lord, O quickly come,
And take thy mourning pilgrims home."
CHILDREN of God have found
Glory begun below:
Celestial fruit on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow.
The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets,
Before we reach God's heavenly fields,
Or walk the golden streets.
There shall we see his face,
And never, never sin;
There, from the rivers of his grace,
Drink endless pleasures in!
Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We're marching thro' Immanuel's ground
To fairer worlds on high.
HYMN 225. L. M.
WE sing the praise of him, who died,
Of him who died upon the cross;
The sinner's hope let men deride,
For Christ we count the world but loss. Inscribed upon the cross we see, In shining letters, "God is love;" He bears our sins upon the tree, He brings us mercy from above. This makes the sinking spirits brave, And nerves the feeble arm for fight; It takes its terror from the grave, And gilds the bed of death with light.
HYMN 226. C. M.
SOON will the toilsome strife be o'er,
Of sorrow and of care,
And life's dull vanities no more
This anxious breast ensnare.
Cheer up, my soul: on God rely,
Deliv'rance soon shall come;
A thousand ways Jehovah has
To bring believers home.
Since first I drew this vital breath,
He kindly led me on ;
Taught me to rest my weary head
On Christ the corner stone.
So comforted, and so sustained,
With dark events I strove,
And found them, as I walked by faith,
All messengers of love.
Thus does the mighty-word
Courage to Christians give ;
Eternal life is our reward,
Believe, obey, and live!"
HYMN 220. L. M.
THROUGHOUT this universe of space
To nothing am I long allied;
For flight of time, and change of place
My strongest, dearest bonds divide.
Parents I had, but where are they?
Friends, whom I knew, I know no more!
Companions once that cheer'd my way,
Are dropt behind, or gone before!
The time will come, when strength will fail,
When, health and hope and comfort flown,
I must go down into the vale,
And walk the shade with God alone!
But, when th' unbodied spirit lands
Where flesh and blood have never trod,
And in th' unveiled presence stands,
Be thou my Saviour and my God!
HYMN 221. L. M.
WALKING on the winged wind,
Fear before him, death behind,
When the Lord came down in wrath,
Clouds and darkness girt his path!
Prayer prevailed amidst despair;
God delights to honour prayer:
Judgment laid its terrors by,
Mercy beam'd on earth and sky.
Now be sorrow turn'd to song:
Let the bruised reed be strong:
Smoking flax, break forth and blaze;
Prayer transform itself to praise.
Let the living now record
All the goodness of the Lord;
Him let those he heal'd adore,
Go in peace, and sin no more.
Love divine, all love excelling,
Joy of heav'n, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every contrite heart.
Thee may we be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above; Pray, and praise thee without ceasing, Triumph in redeeming love.
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heav'n we take our place; Till we cast our crowns before thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
HYMN 223. L. M.
"POOR and afflicted," Lord, are thine; Amidst the world they seldom shine; But he, who bought them with his blood, Makes every sorrow yield them good.
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