CHRISTMAS. O holy, happy morning,
That saw the Saviour’s birth!
The star, thy brow adorning,
Beams mercy on the earth.
For shepherds, and for sages,
Thy cheer, impartial, free,—
The travail of the ages
Finds recompense in thee.
My soul, be thou believing,—
No more thy past deplore;
In Christ all loss retrieving,
Rejoice for evermore.
By love unknown attended,
Thy weary watch and ward,—
Behold! the vision splendid!
The angel of the Lord!
And hark! the herald angel!
The radiant, rapturous throng!
The ravishing evangel
Floods all the hills with song:
“To God in heaven, glory,
Good will to men below;”
Speed, speed the blessed story,
That all the world may know.
Repeat it softly, slowly,
For still, in hut and hall,
Are lonely hearts, and lowly,
That hunger for it all.
Again—again the story!
Till sin and sorrow cease—
“To God, the Father, glory,
And to his children, peace.”
GOLD, AND FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH. Faithful, followed they the star
Faintly glimmering afar,
Till it rested o’er the way,
Where the Lord of glory lay.
Gold, and frankincense, and myrrh,
Gave each regal worshiper,
Seeing, in the Babe divine,
Answer of the heavenly sign.
Lo! again the star appears,
Shining through our griefs and fears,—
Dayspring of the desolate—
Heaven stoops down to our estate!
By the path the wise men trod,
Seek we, too, th’ incarnate God;
Blessed goal, where ends all strife:
Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life.
Kneeling where the Magi knelt,
Feeling what the Magi felt,—
Of all nations the Desire,
Lord, to thee our souls aspire.
Hasten, heart of mine, to bring
From thy store fit offering;
Be a royal worshiper:
Gold, and frankincense, and myrrh!
GOOD FRIDAY. O outcast Christ, rejected King!
O Man of sorrows, slain for me,
Accept a sinner’s offering—
A thankful heart that clings to thee.
The purple robe, the taunt, the sneer,
The crown of thorns, the scourge, the cross!
Remembering these, O Saviour dear,
I gladly reckon all things loss.
Could grief of mine make meet redress
For those dark hours of deepest woe,
O Lamb of God! O Prince of Peace!
My tears for evermore should flow.
On thee, the sinless One, was laid
The guilt of all mankind, and mine;
Thy grace the ransom doubly paid
In human agony divine.
O Son of Mary! Son of God!
Thou King of saints, enthroned above,
Thy glorious name the world shall laud,
And crown thy cross with wreaths of love.
THE RESURRECTION. Relentless as the council is the cross;
The Nazarene is bruised and torn;—
Mourn! ye despised disciples, mourn!
Priest, scribe, and elder triumph in your loss.
The watch is set,—the sepulcher is sure;
Death and the grave and Rome unite—
Triumvirate of matchless might—
To make Sin’s vaunted victory secure.
Secure? With sudden awe the aged earth
Feels him alive within the tomb;
And lo! emerging from the gloom,
The brightest morning since creation’s birth!
The nations see the Dayspring from on high,
And greet the mighty miracle
With songs that shake the gates of hell,
And animate the anthems of the sky.
EASTER-TIDE. Easter bells are ringing,
Easter anthems rise,
Age and Childhood singing
Strains that seek the skies:
Seek their source, ascending
Where, in rapture sweet,
Song and service blending,
Saint and seraph meet.
“Christ, the Lord, is risen!”
Wondering angels cry;
“Broken, Death’s dread prison!”
Sons of men reply.
Blessed song and story!
Doubt and fear depart,—
Resurrection glory
Floods the faithful heart.
Purest, purest pleasure
In each bosom wells;
Happy, happy measure—
How the choral swells!
By that song supplanted,
Wrath and wrong shall cease;
From this hour undaunted
Reigns the Prince of Peace.
Easter lilies, blowing,
Breathe his praise abroad,—
All their grace bestowing
On the Son of God.
Lo! his brow adorning,
Kings their homage pay;
Hark! the stars of morning
Hail his boundless sway.
THE SURE FOUNDATION. A strong and sure foundation
Is Jesus Christ, the Lord,—
Before the world’s creation
The everlasting Word!
His power, supreme, unbounded,
He pledges to his own;
On him their hope is grounded
Securely as God’s throne.
What though the tempest rages?
No harm his cause sustains;
Built on the Rock of Ages,
Unmoved the Church remains.
His word shall stand forever,—
Nor shall one letter fail:
“The gates of hell shall never
Against my Church prevail.”
From God all grace receiving,
The saints, below, above,
In Christ their King believing,
Shall triumph through his love.
O happy, happy Zion!
The Lamb, for sinners slain,
Is Judah’s mighty Lion,
Who shall forever reign!
The Rock of our salvation,—
To thee, O Christ, we raise,
In grateful adoration,
The voice of prayer and praise;
Our common faith confessing,
Thy cross the world shall crown
With glory, honor, blessing,
And infinite renown.
LIGHT OF LIGHT. Of transient symbol the eternal Truth,
In thee, O Christ, the soul’s sure light we find;
Vision and dream of Age and eager Youth,
Thou pourest heaven on every humble mind.
ALL IN ALL. O Lily, Rose, and Fountain!
O Dayspring from above!
O Sun, and Sea, and Mountain—
Immeasurable Love!
Sweet Jesus, Shepherd, Saviour,
May we thy glory see,
And share thy joy forever,
Incarnate Deity!
A MISSIONARY LYRIC. Lamb of the riven side,—
Lord of lords glorified!
Victim and Victor, thee we adore;
Shepherd of Israel,
Saviour from death and hell,
Mighty Immanuel! reign evermore.
Lion of Judah,
From Brahm and from Buddha
Seize for thy glory the sea and the land;
Where age-long error thralls,
Where blackest night appalls,
There, with her radiant walls, let Zion stand.
The gates of the morning,
Thy temple adorning,
Shall beacon the uttermost isles of the sea;
And nations, now unknown,
Shall bow before thy throne,
And thee their Sovereign own, with saintly jubilee.
Orient and Occident,
Hail Him the Father sent!
Greet him with shoutings and joyfully sing;
On love’s blest mission bent,
Through Death’s wide realm he went
Conq’ror omnipotent; crown him your King!
Martyr with gory brow,
Monarch in glory, now,
Victim and Victor, thee we adore;
Shepherd of Israel,
Saviour from death and hell,
Mighty Immanuel! reign evermore.
IN THE MORNING, JESUS. In the morning, Jesus,
Let me see thy face,
Altogether lovely,
Full of truth and grace.
In the morning, Jesus,
Let me hear thy voice;
Speak, and let thy servant
All the day rejoice.
In the morning, Jesus,
Manifest thy love,—
Peace, and power, and blessing,
Bringing from above.
In the morning, Jesus,
Show thy cross to me;
Then, dear Lord, I’ll suffer
Cheerfully for thee.
Every morning, Jesus,
Every evening, bless;
Shelter me forever
With thy righteousness.
. . . . . . . . . .
In the morning, Jesus,
When thy saints shall rise,
Bring me, with the blessed,
Into Paradise.
PENITENTIAL. At thy cross; O Christ, to thee
Low I bow the suppliant knee;
Cast, O, cast me not away,—
Help a fainting soul to pray.
Sinful, sorrowful, I wait
For a look compassionate;
Surely thou wilt pity one
So forsaken and undone.
Tell me, Jesus, if it be
That thy blood was shed for me;
In thy wounds, O, let me see
Pardon, peace, and purity!
From the uttermost degree
Of a sinner’s misery,
Mighty Victor, rescue me;
Set my captive spirit free.
O that I might have a place
In the kingdom of thy grace!
There the penitent are blest,—
There the weary are at rest.
Saviour, may I call thee mine?
Yes,—for thou dost own me thine;
Lo, ’tis written in my heart—
Mine, forever mine, thou art.
Unto thee be glory given
Evermore in earth and heaven;
Be thy name by all adored,
Holy, holy, holy Lord!
“FAINT, YET PURSUING.” Breathe on us thy benediction,
Lord of glory, Prince of Peace!
Comfort us in our affliction,
Bid our fears and doubtings cease.
Shepherd of our souls and Saviour,
Who, alone, the wine press trod,
Well thou knowest the world’s behavior,
Man of sorrows, Lamb of God!
Therefore, in their tribulation,
Turn thy weary saints to thee,
Seeking, in thy sure salvation,
Peace and power and victory.
Strangers here, and pilgrims lowly,
Eagerly we follow thee,
Longing to be with the holy
Who in heaven thy glory see.
Often faint, yet still pursuing,
All thy footsteps would we trace,
Day by day our hope renewing,
Till we see thee face to face.
There, thy glorious throne surrounding,—
Every pain and peril past,—
We will sing thy grace abounding,
More than conquerors at last.
SALUS PER CHRISTUM. Come, thou Desire of nations, come,
And make thy promised kingdom sure;
Establish in our hearts the throne
Which shall eternally endure.
In poverty and pain we wait
Thy glorious coming from above;
Make haste, O Christ, compassionate,
Make haste, make haste, Immortal Love!
Come, in thy plenitude of grace,
And satisfy thy people’s need;
Come, in the greatness of thy strength,
And make us, Jesus, free indeed.
Grant us thy peace, dear Son of God;—
To us the Holy Ghost be given;
In thee the Father’s fullness dwells,—
All, all is thine, in earth and heaven.
Infinite power belongs to thee,—
Thou hast the keys of death and hell;
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
Our Lord, our God,—Immanuel!
SUPPLICATION. Jesus, King of kings, most holy,
Pity us in station lowly,—
Lonely pilgrims, wending slowly
Toward the city where thou dwellest.
Thou dost see us, weak and weary,
In the wilderness so dreary,
Mourning that we are not near thee,
In thy home so fair and blissful.
Yet thy promises do cheer us;
And thy Spirit, ever near us,
Bids us pray, for thou wilt, hear us,
And afford us help and comfort.
Hear thou, now, our supplication,
And relieve our sore privation
With the strength of thy salvation,
King eternal and almighty!
Mercifully guard and guide us,
Lest the curse of sin betide us,
And an entrance be denied us
To thy glorious palace golden.
Once for sinners bruised and wounded,
Now by heavenly hosts surrounded—
All thine enemies confounded—
Be thou evermore our Saviour.
IN THY LIKENESS. On my heart engrave thy cross,
Blessed Saviour, Love divine!
Evermore, in gain or loss,
Let me bear that sacred sign.
In my heart thy love enthrone;
More and more thy rule increase;
Thine the kingdom, thine alone,
Lord of glory, Prince of Peace!
To my heart—no longer mine—
Grant the fullness of thy grace;
Living, dying, own me thine,
Till I see thee face to face.
With thy likeness crowned at last,
O, what rapture it will be,
When the night of death is past,
Evermore to dwell with thee.
THE LIGHT OF LIFE. O Jesus, sole, sufficient source
Of hope that heals the sad heart’s strife,
Direct us on our darkened course,
Thyself the Way, the Truth, the Life.
Thou knowest the way we take, O Lord!
Didst thou not prove its painful length?
Help of the helpless, still afford
Thy pitying love, thy tender strength.
In every trial, every care,
Thy patient footsteps may we see;
The sorrows of thy cross to share
Shall then our joy and glory be.
Secure in thy unchanging love,
No toil, no suffering will we flee,
Assured that death itself shall prove
The path that leads to heaven and thee.
CHRISTUS CONSOLATOR. In the day of tribulation,
In the hour of sore temptation,
With the strength of thy salvation,
Jesus, Saviour, comfort me.
When no more the heart may borrow
Hope and courage from the morrow,—
In the darkest depths of sorrow,
Jesus, Saviour, comfort me.
When all aid is unavailing,
Flesh and heart together failing,
Sin and death the soul assailing,—
Jesus, Saviour, comfort me.
On thy word alone relying,—
Never thy dear name denying,—
O, forsake me not when dying!
Jesus, Saviour, comfort me.
Crowned, at last, in light supernal,
Victor over foes infernal,—
With thy love, supreme, eternal,
Jesus, Saviour, comfort me.
HOLY SPIRIT, HEAVENLY GUEST! Holy Spirit, heavenly Guest,
Make thy home within my breast;
Yearns for thee my weary heart,—
Come, and nevermore depart.
Where thou dwellest peace abides,—
Grace surpassing all besides,—
Priceless treasure, pure and blest,
Earnest of eternal rest.
God’s dear will be done in me
Even as it pleaseth thee;
Only let me fully prove
The sweet comfort of thy love.
Cheerfully, for Jesus’ sake,
May I every burden take,—
Glad to trace the pathway trod
By the suffering Son of God.
Blessed Comforter and Guide,
Keep me near the Saviour’s side,
Till I in his likeness rise,
Crowned with bliss beyond the skies.
HOLY SPIRIT, LIGHT DIVINE! Holy Spirit, Light divine!
On our souls in mercy shine;
Gates of heaven again unfold;—
Haste, for Time is waxing old.
On the Church of Jesus shower
All thy plenitude of power;
Heal earth’s bitterness and strife
With the Saviour’s love and life.
Over all created things
Brooded, once, thy blessÈd wings;
Groans the world with grief and pain
Dove divine! descend again.
“THE DAY OF CHRIST.” The Son of man will come,—
His promise cannot fail;
The royal Conqueror
Shall over all prevail;
And Earth shall hear his summons dread,
And Death and Hell give up their dead.
Ten thousand thousand saints
His coming shall attend,—
And underneath his feet
The firmament shall rend;
And, prostrate at his judgment throne,
The world his sovereignty shall own.
O Son of Mary! hear
A helpless sinner’s prayer,
And, on that awful day,
Make me thy gracious care;
O, be my heart’s sure hope and stay
When the wide heavens shall flee away.
Keep faithful watch, my soul,
And pray “Thy kingdom come;”
But leave it all to Him,
How he shall bring thee home;
The resurrection of the just
Shall recompense thy patient trust.
THE CONSUMMATION. O Saviour, whose surpassing grace
Exceeds the guilt thy griefs atoned,
The praises of a ransomed race
Be thine, in highest heaven enthroned.
The Father’s everlasting love
Thy blessed life and death declare;
And still, though crowned with bliss above,
Our deepest sorrows thou dost share.
O Jesus, merciful and kind,
The sad and sinful seek thy breast;
Our souls in thee their solace find,—
Our refuge thou, our only rest.
The goal is sure, O Guide divine!
Agai
n the stars of morning sing;
All wills, all worlds, at last are thine,
O Christ, Creator, Saviour, King!
ALL SAINTS. Ten thousand times ten thousand,—
Their shining ranks I see!
With robes of light resplendent,
And palms of victory!
The crowns they wear are golden,
And gemmed with jewels rare,—
Fair guerdon of the glory
They with their Saviour share.
Their home—the holy city,
Within whose ageless walls
No shade of sin, or sickness,
Or sorrow, ever falls;
For He is ever with them,
The Lamb, their life, their light,—
The joy of all the ransomed,
The saints’ supreme delight.
Dear vision of the blessÈd—
How homelike heaven seems!
Sweet foretaste of the rapture
Exceeding all our dreams.
O Jesus, Shepherd, Saviour,
My guide and guardian be,
And bring me, through thy favor,
To dwell with them and thee.
OUR LIFE IS LENT. Our life is Lent:
Our years are spent
In penance for the past;
Our songs are sighs,
Our brightest skies
With clouds are overcast.
Our life is Lent:
The old lament—
“All, all is vanity;”
And Youth, in tears,
Awaits with fears
The morrow’s mystery.
Our life is Lent:
Lord, we repent
Each folly, fault, and fall;
Our best resolve
Do thou absolve,—
Forgive, forget it all.
Our life is Lent:
Our hearts are rent,
As we thy gifts recount,
And mark again,
With bitter pain,
“The pattern in the mount.”
Our life is Lent:
Our strength is spent;
O holy Judge, and just,
Receive our prayer,—
Poor sinners spare;
Remember we are dust!
Our life is Lent:
But Jesus went
This way; in him confide;
’Twill soon be past;
Then, for thy fast,
Eternal Easter-tide!
IT DOTH NOT YET APPEAR.
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