He comes, the broken heart to bind, Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace, PHILIP DODDRIDGE. EPIPHANY. BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine aid! Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid! Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining; Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore Him in slumber reclining— Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all. Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, Odors of Edom, and offerings divineGems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean? Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine? Vainly we offer each ample oblation, Vainly with gifts would His favor se cure; Richer by far is the heart's adoration, Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine aid! Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid! REGINALD HEBER. GETHSEMANE. Go to dark Gethsemane, Ye that feel the tempter's power; Your Redeemer's conflict see, Watch with Him one bitter hour; Turn not from His griefs away, Learn of Jesus Christ to pray! Follow to the judgment-hall View the Lord of life arraign'd; Oh, the wormwood and the gall, Oh, the pangs his soul sustain'd! Shun not suffering, shame, or lossLearn of Him to bear the cross! Calvary's mournful mountain climb; God's own sacrifice complete! "It is finish'd!"-hear the cry; Learn of Jesus Christ to die. Early hasten to the tomb Where they laid his breathless clay; All is solitude and gloom; Who hath taken Him away? Christ is risen! He meets our eyes! Saviour, teach us so to rise! JAMES MONTGOMERY. CHRIST CRUCIFIED. "And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; RIDE on, ride on in majesty! Ride on ride on in majesty! Ride on! ride on in majesty! Ride on! ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die! Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain; Then take, O God, Thy power, and reign! HENRY HART MILMAN. BOUND UPON TH' ACCURSÈD TREE. BOUND upon th' accursed tree, Bound upon th' accursèd tree, Bound upon th' accursed tree, Bound upon th' accursed tree, HENRY HART MILMAN. WE SING THE PRAISE OF HIM WHO DIED. WE sing the praise of Him who died, Of Him who died upon the cross; The sinner's hope let men deride, For this 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. The Cross! it takes our guilt away; It holds the fainting spirit up; It cheers with hope the gloomy day, And sweetens every bitter cup; It makes the coward spirit brave, And nerves the feeble arm for fight; It takes its terror from the grave, And gilds the bed of death with light; The balm of life, the cure of woe, The measure and the pledge of love, The sinner's refuge here below, The angels' theme in heaven above. THOMAS KELLY. GLORYING IN THE CROSS. WHEN I survey the wondrous cross And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my God; All the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to His blood. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of Nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. ISAAC WATTS. THE LORD IS RISEN. CHRIST the Lord is risen to-day, Son of men and angels say: Raise your joys and triumphs high, Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply. CHRIST RISEN. "And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures." AGAIN the Lord of Life and Light Oh what a night was that which wrapt This day be grateful homage paid, Ten thousand differing lips shall join The powers of darkness leagued in vain And now His conquering chariot-wheels While broke beneath His powerful cross Exalted high at God's right hand, Through Him is pardoning love dispensed, And still for erring, guilty man And still His bleeding heart is touch'd To Thee, my Saviour and my King, ANNA LETITIA BARBAuld. CORONATION. "ALL hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, To crown Him Lord of all! "Let high-born seraphs tune the lyre, And, as they tune it, fall Before His face who tunes their choir, And crown Him Lord of all! "Crown Him, ye morning stars of light "Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, Who from His altar call; Extol the stem of Jesse's rod, And crown Him Lord of all! "Ye seed of Israel's chosen race, Ye ransom'd of the fall, Hail Him who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of all! "Hail Him, ye heirs of David's line, "Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget "Let every tribe and every tongue Now shout, in universal song, PSALM LXXII. HAIL to the Lord's Anointed, His reign on earth begun! He comes with succor speedy To those who suffer wrong; To help the poor and needy, And bid the weak be strong: To give them songs for sighing, Their darkness turn to light, Whose souls, condemn'd and dying, Were precious in His sight. He shall come down like showers Arabia's desert-ranger To Him shall bow the knee; The Ethiopian stranger His glory come to see: With offerings of devotion Ships from the isles shall meet, To pour the wealth of ocean In tribute at His feet. Kings shall fall down before Him, His praise all people sing; Or dove's light wing, can soar. For Him shall prayer unceasing, A kingdom without end: A seed, in weakness sown, Whose fruit shall spread and flourish, And shake like Lebanon. O'er every foe victorious He on His throne shall rest From age to age more glorious, All blessing and all-blest: The tide of time shall never His covenant remove; His Name shall stand for ever, That Name to us is Love. JAMES MONTGOMERY. PSALM LXXII. JESUS shall reign where'er the sun For Him shall endless prayer be made, People and realms of every tongue Where He displays His healing power, Let every creature rise, and bring ISAAC WATTS. HAIL, THOU ONCE-DESPISÈD JESUS! HAIL, Thou once-despisèd Jesus! Hail, thou Galilean King! Thou didst free salvation bring: Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, All our sins were on Thee laid; By Almighty Love anointed, Thou hast full atonement made: All Thy people are forgiven Through the virtue of Thy Blood; Open'd is the gate of heaven; Peace is made 'twixt man and God. Jesus, hail! enthroned in glory, All the heavenly hosts adore Thee, Ever for us interceding Till in glory we appear. Worship, honor, power, and blessing, Thou art worthy to receive; Bring your sweetest, noblest lays; Help to sing our Saviour's merits, Help to chant Immanuel's praise! Soon we shall, with those in glory, His transcendent grace relate; Gladly sing the amazing story Of His dying love so great: In that blessed contemplation We for evermore shall dwell, Crown'd with bliss and consolation, Such as none below can tell. JOHN BAKEWELL. MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE. My faith looks up to Thee, Saviour divine! Now hear me while I pray : Be wholly Thine! May Thy rich grace impart My zeal inspire! As Thou hast died for me, While life's dark maze I tread, When ends life's transient dream, Shall o'er me roll, Blest Saviour! then in love A ransom'd soul! RAY PALMER. |