In the first stanza the second strain is often altered to

"Teach me some melodious measure,

Sung by ransomed hosts above;
O the vast, the boundless treasure

Of my Lord's unchanging love."

cross;

Pardon our offences,

Loose our captive chains, Break down every idol

Which our soul detains.

Give us holy freedom,
Fill our hearts with love,
Draw us, holy Jesus,

To the realms above.

Lead us on our journey,

Be Thyself the Way
Through terrestrial darkness
To celestial day.

Jesus, meek and gentle,
Son of God most high,
Pitying, loving Saviour,

Hear Thy children's cry.

G. R. PRYNNE.

251. The Power of Divine

Love.

Ι I JOHN iv. 12. HIS translation from Gerhard Tersteegen," writes Dr. Osborn, "was made by Wesley while he was at Savannah in 1736, and printed in Psalms and Hymns, 1738. The original, beginning 'Verborgne Gottes Liebe du,' may be found in the Hernhuth Collection, 1737, p. 483. That translation agrees with this, except in verse 4, where we read:

'Ah! tear it thence, that Thou alone

Might reign unrivalled Monarch there;
From earthly loves I must be free
Ere I can find repose in Thee.'

But after the ever-memorable 24th of May, 1738, Wesley knew the way of God more perfectly,' and wrote as in the text. In a final revision for the Larger Hymn-book, 1780, he changed 'be' in verse 2, line 4, into 'seems,' and made the closing couplet of the Hymn precatory, in accordance with the two preceding, by changing 'is' into 'be." "

I see from far Thy beauteous light,
Inly I sigh for Thy repose:
My heart is pained, nor can it be
At rest, till it finds rest in Thee.'

Thy secret voice invites me still

The sweetness of Thy yoke to prove : And fain I would but though my will

Be fixed, yet wide my passions rove; Yet hindrances strew all the way; I aim at Thee, yet from Thee stray.

'Tis mercy all, that Thou hast brought My mind to seek her peace in Thee: Yet while I seek, but find Thee not,

No peace my wandering soul shall

see:

Oh! when shall all my wanderings end, And all my steps to Thee-ward tend?

Is there a thing beneath the sun

That strives with Thee my heart to share?

Ah! tear it thence, and reign alone,

The Lord of every motion there: Then shall my heart from earth be free, When it hath found repose in Thee.

O hide this self from me, that I
No more, but Christ in me, may live,
My vile affections crucify,

Nor let one darling lust survive!
In all things nothing may I see,
Nothing desire or seek but Thee!

O Love, Thy sovereign aid impart,

To save me from low-thoughted care; Chase this self-will through all my heart,

Through all its latent mazes there; Make me Thy duteous child, that I Ceaseless may " Abba, Father," cry.

Ah, no! ne'er will I backward turn :
Thine wholly, Thine alone I am!
Thrice happy he, who views with scorn
Earth's toys, for Thee, his constant
flame;

O help, that I may never move
From the blest footsteps of Thy love.

Each moment draw from earth away My heart, that lowly waits Thy call ; Speak to my inmost soul, and say,

"I am thy Love, thy God, thy All.” To feel Thy power, to hear Thy voice, To taste Thy love, is all my choice!

G. TERSTEEGEN.

Translated by John Wesley.

252.-Love and Consecration.

T

JUDE 21.

HE original of this Hymn, like that of the preceding, is in the Herrnhuth Collection; it begins "Ich will dich lieben, meine Sterke." The original title is Gratitude for our Conversion." In the Wesleyan Hymn-book, which other collections have followed, the fourth line of the first verse reads, "In all Thy works." The original conveys a meaning more in accordance with the spirit of the Hymn. "In my works I will love Thee," i.e., "All that I do, as well as what I feel and say, shall be the expression of my love."

The last couplet of the sixth verse is a quotation from Bishop Ken's Evening Hymn.

I thank Thee, who hast overthrown
My foes, and healed my wounded mind;
I thank Thee, whose enlivening voice
Bids my freed heart in Thee rejoice.

Uphold me in the doubtful race,
Nor suffer me again to stray;
Strengthen my feet, with steady pace

Still to press forward in Thy way;
My soul and flesh, O Lord of might,
Fill, satiate, with Thy heavenly light.

Give to mine eyes refreshing tears,

Give to my heart chaste, hallowed fires, Give to my soul, with filial fears,

The love that all heaven's host inspires ;

"That all my powers, with all their might, In Thy sole glory may unite."

Thee will I love, my joy, my crown,

Thee will I love, my Lord, my God; Thee will I love, beneath Thy frown,

Or smile, Thy sceptre, or Thy rod; What though my flesh and heart decay? Thee shall I love in endless day!

7. SCHEFFLer.

Tranlated by John Wesley.

253.-Jesus Only.

MARK ix. 8.

HIS Hymn of two verses contains a thought, sweet and perfect in expression. Its very brevity is its charm, and it must not be overlooked amid the numerous expansions of the same idea which other Hymns contain.

888.6.

SAVIOUR, I have nought to plead In earth beneath or heaven above, But just my own exceeding need And Thine exceeding love.

The need will soon be past and gone, Exceeding great but quickly o'er, Thy love, unbought, is all Thine own, And lasts for evermore !

MRS. JANE CREWDSON.

254. "To Thee."

JOHN vi. 68.

HE first Hymn in the author's collection of poems entitled Under the Surface, 1874. In the expression of simple and entire surrender in Christ, leading to joyful service, Miss Havergal is pre-eminent among our hymn-writers, and the present Hymn is among her best.

I

6666.88.

BRING sins to Thee,
my

The sins I cannot count,
That all may cleansed be

In Thy once opened Fount.

I bring them, Saviour, all to Thee,
The burden is too great for me.

My heart to Thee I bring,
The heart I cannot read;
A faithless, wandering thing,
An evil heart indeed.

I bring it, Saviour, now to Thee,
That fixed and faithful it may be.

To Thee I bring my care,
The care I cannot flee,
Thou wilt not only share,
But bear it all for me.

O loving Saviour, now to Thee
I bring the load that wearies me.

I bring my grief to Thee,
The grief I cannot tell ;
No words shall needed be,
Thou knowest all so well.

I bring the sorrow laid on me,
O suffering Saviour, now to Thee.

My joys to Thee I bring,

The joys Thy love hath given,
That each may be a wing

To lift me nearer heaven.

I bring them, Saviour, all to Thee, For Thou hast purchased all for me.

My life I bring to Thee,

I would not be mine own;

O Saviour, let me be

Thine ever, Thine alone.

My heart, my life, my all I bring
To Thee, my Saviour, and my King!

MISS F. R. HAVERGAL.

O

EVERLASTING Light!

Shine graciously within;

Brightest of all on earth that's bright, Come, shine away my sin!

O everlasting Truth!

Truest of all that's true;
Sure Guide of erring age or youth,
Lead me and teach me too!

O everlasting Strength!
Uphold me in the way;

Bring me, in spite of foes, at length
To joy, and light, and day!

O everlasting Love!

Well-spring of grace and peace, Pour down Thy fulness from above; Bid doubt and trouble cease!

By whom new things to birth are brought,
In whom no change is known!
Whate'er Thou dost, whate'er Thou art,
Thy people still in Thee have part!
Still, still Thou art our own.

Ancient of Days! we dwell in Thee ;
Out of Thine own eternity

Our peace and joy are wrought;
We rest in our eternal God,
And make secure and sweet abode

With Thee, who changest not.

Each steadfast promise we possess ;
Thine everlasting truth we bless,

Thine everlasting love;

The unfailing Helper close we clasp,
The everlasting Arms we grasp,
Nor from the Refuge move.

Spirit, who makest all things new,
Thou leadest onward; we pursue
The heavenly march sublime.
'Neath Thy renewing fire we glow,
And still from strength to strength we go,

From height to height we climb,

Darkness and dread we leave behind, New light, new glory, still we find, New realms divine possess ;

258. The Soul's Longings.

PSALM 1xxxvi. II.

HIS Hymn in the original version is entitled "A Poor Sinner," and contains seven double verses, the last stanza as given here being the second. The transposition, which adds much to the effect of the Hymn, and brings it to a fine climax, is in the Wesleyan Hymn-book. The final stanza (omitted here and in the Wesleyan Hymnbook) ends characteristically:

"I want I know not what,
I want my wants to see,