117. Praise for an appointed Ministry. (John xx. 21-23.)
HOW blest the feet which bring the news
Of life and joy to me!
What happy messengers of peace,
Appointed, Lord, by thee!
These are my God's ambassadors,
By whom his mind I know;
God's angels in his lower heaven;
His ministers below.
Lord, thou art in them of a truth;
And, that I may not stray,
Thy clouds and pillars march before,
And shew me Canaan's way.
I bless my God, who is my guide;
I walk in Sion's ways;
When shall I sing on Sion's hill
Thine everlasting praise!
118. Willing Service in our appointed Stations. (Numb. xvi. 1-11.)
CHRIST, from whom all blessings flow:
Life and light of saints below!
Ransom'd with thy precious blood,
Reconcil'd by thee to God,
Thee, O Saviour, we would bless,
Thee, our risen Lord, confess.
Plac'd according to thy will,
May we all our work fulfil;
Helpers to each other prove;
Never from our office move;
Use the grace on each bestow'd;
Learn, and do, the will of God.
Ever, Lord, thy blessing give,
That our souls to thee may live;
Fill us with the Father's love;
Never from our souls remove;
Dwell in
us, that we may be
Thine to all eternity.
119. Holy Dedication to God. (Collect.)
GERMAN HYMN. P. M.
PARDON'D through redeeming grace
In thy blessed Son reveal'd,
Worshipping before thy face,
Lord, to thee ourselves we yield.
Thou the sacrifice receive,
Humbly offer'd through thy Son;
Quicken us in him to live;
Lord, in us thy will be done.
By the hallow'd outward sign,
By the cleansing grace within.
Seal, and make us wholly thine,
Wash, and keep us pure from sin.
Call'd to bear the christian name,
May our vows and life accord;
And our ev'ry deed proclaim
"Holiness unto the Lord!"
120. Believers victorious through Faith in Christ. (1 John v. 4-12.) ·
O SAVIOUR, who didst come
By water, and by blood;
Confess'd in earth, ador'd in heaven,
Eternal Son of God:
Jesus, our life and hope,
To endless years the same,
We plead thy gracious promises,
And rest upon thy name.
By faith in thee we live;
By faith in thee we stand;
Vanquish the world, and sin, and death,
And gain the heav'nly land.
O Lord, increase our faith;
Our fearful spirits calm;
Sustain us through this mortal strife,
Then give the vietor's palm.
121. The Safety and Blessedness of God's People. (Numb. xxiv. 5-9.)
COME, let us stand as Balaam stood,
And mark the people blest of God
In Israel's tents below:
How goodly is their dwelling place,
How happy is the favor'd race,
Whom he vouchsafes to know!
The sons of Israel stand alone!
Jehovah claims them for his own;
His cause and theirs the same:
He sav'd them from the tyrant's hand;
He leads them to a pleasant land,
And calls them by his name.
His arm protects, his presence guides,
His love for all their need provides;
With peace and hope they're blest:
Preserv'd by their almighty friend,
Till all their toils and trials end
In everlasting rest.
122. God the Deliverer of his People. (Numb. xxiii. 22, 23.)
WHAT hath God wrought! might Israel say,
When Jordan roll'd her tide away,
And gave a passage to their bands,
Safely to march across its sands.
What hath God wrought! might well be said,
When Jesus, rising from the dead,
Scatter'd the shades of pagan night,
And blest the nations with his light.
What hath God wrought! let Britain see,
Freed from the papal tyranny;
Its tenfold night, its iron chains,
Its galling yoke, its cruel pains.
What hath God wrought! O blissful theme;
Praise him, almighty to redeem;
Let earth the grateful notes prolong,
And heaven resound the glorious song!
123. God the Shepherd of his People. (John x. 11-16.)
THE Lord my pasture shall prepare, And feed me with a shepherd's care; His presence shall my wants supply, And guard me with a watchful eye; My noon-day walks he shall attend, And all my midnight hours defend. When in the sultry glebe I faint, Or on the thirsty mountain pant, To fertile vales, and dewy meads, My weary, wand'ring steps he leads; Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow, Amid the verdant landscape flow. Though in the paths of death I tread, With gloomy horrors overspread, My stedfast heart shall fear no ill, For thou, O Lord, art with me still; Thy rod and staff shall give me aid, And guide me through the dreadful shade. 124. Following Christ in Meekness and Patience. (1 Pet. ii. 19-25.)
SHEPHERD of souls, and God of grace,
Who know'st our feet are prone to stray;
Help us, O Lord, thy path to trace,
And follow thee in all thy way.
With grateful, meek, and humble mind,
May we thy blest example see;
In love be ev'ry wish resign'd;
And hallow'd ev'ry thought to thee.
When trials vex, and griefs prevail,
With lamb-like patience fill our breast
When Satan, and the world, assail,
Near thee in safety may we rest.
So when at last, at thy right hand,
The ransom'd flock their homage bring;
With them on Sion may we stand,
And ever bless our Lord and King,
125. Devoted to God's Service. (Deut. v. 29.)
OH that our hearts, by grace renew'd,
May be the Saviour's throne;
And ev'ry stubborn will subdued
His government to own!
May deep repentance, faith, and love,
Be join'd with godly fear;
And all our conversation prove
Our hearts to be sincere.
Thus, Lord, may we fulfil thy praise;
Thus may our virtues shine;
And sin no more pollute our ways,
But ev'ry power be thine.
Bought with his blood, who died to save,
No longer call'd our own;
All that we are, and all we have,
O God, is thine alone!
126. Joy in Christ's Presence only. (John xvi. 22.)
HOTHAM. P. M.
OBJECT of my first desire,
Jesus! crucified for me,
All to happiness aspire;
I would seek it, Lord, in thee.
Thee to praise and thee to know,
Make the joy of saints below:
Thee to see, and thee to love,
Make the bliss of saints above.
Lord, it is not life to live,
If thy presence thou deny;
Lord, if thou thy presence give,
'Tis no longer death to die.
Source and giver of repose,
Only from thy love it flows;
Peace and happiness are thine;
Mine they are, if thou art mine,
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