Having yielded to Miss Cary's importunity that this Preface be written in my own name, and contain the statement that much of the labor has fallen upon my hands, I cannot be denied the pleasure of saying that Miss Cary has frequently and carefully reviewed every line of this volume with me, and that to her fine poetic taste the Christian public must feel indebted for much that appears in this book, and perhaps still more for what has been excluded.

"CHURCH OF THE STRANGERS," New York, 1869.

CHARLES F. DEEMS.

HYMNS.

A Charge to Keep.

[By CHARLES WESLEY, born 1708; died 1788.]

A

CHARGE to keep I have,
A God to glorify;

A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,

My calling to fulfill,

may it all my powers engage,
To do my Master's will.

2 Arm me with jealous care,

As in Thy sight to live;

And O, thy servant, Lord, prepare,
A strict account to give.

Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,

Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.

1

S. M.

2

In Memory of Jesus.

[By JAMES MONTGOMERY, England, born 1771; died 1854.

3

A

of Luke xxii. 19.]

S. M.

A paraphrase

CCORDING to Thy gracious word,
In meek humility,

This will I do, my dying Lord, —

I will remember Thee.

2 Thy body, broken for my sake,
My bread from heaven shall be :
Thy testamental cup I take,

And thus remember Thee.

3 Remember Thee and all Thy pains,
And all Thy love to me;

Yea, while a breath, a pulse remains,
Will I remember Thee.

4 And when these failing lips grow dumb,
And mind and mem❜ry flee,

When Thou shalt in Thy kingdom come,
Jesus, remember me.

Surrender at the Cross.

C. M.

[BY ISAAC WATTS, D. D., a Non-conformist English minister, born 1674, died 1726. This hymn was written in 1709.]

ALAS! and did my Saviour bleed?

And did my Sov'reign die?

Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

2 Was it for crimes that I have done,
He groan'd upon the tree?

2

4

Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

3 Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,

When Christ, the mighty Maker, died,
For man's, the creature's, sin.

4 Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.

5 But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
"Tis all that I can do.

[By BISHOP KEN, of England, born 1667, died 1711. Written for the Winchester School. The last stanza has probably been sung more frequently than any other four lines in the language, and is, by some of the best critics, pronounced the finest Doxology in the English tongue.]

ALL praise to Thee, who safe hast kept,

And hast refreshed me whilst I slept; Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, I may of endless light partake.

2 Lord, I my vows to Thee renew: Disperse my sins as morning dew,

Guard my first springs of thought and will, And with Thyself my spirit fill.

3 Direct, control, suggest this day, All I design, or do, or say,

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

4 Praise God from whom all blessings flow:
Praise Him, all creatures here below:
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

5

Evening.

[By BISHOP KEN.]

L.M.

LL praise to Thee, my God, this night, For all the blessings of the light! Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, Under Thine own almighty wings.

2 Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ills that I this day have done
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

3 Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;
Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glorious at the awful day.

4 O may my soul on Thee repose,

And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close·
Sleep, that may me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake.

5 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow:
Praise Him, all creatures here below:
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!