Page images
PDF
EPUB

7 Then murmur not, but be resign'd
To His most holy will;

Peace, rest, and comfort thou wilt find,
My soul, in being still.

111 ISA. XXI. 11.-" Watchman! what of the night?"

1 WATCHMAN! tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are?
Traveller! o'er yon mountain's height,
See that glory-beaming star!
Watchman! does its beauteous ray
Aught of hope or joy foretell?
Traveller! yes: it brings the day,--
Promised day of Israel!

2 Watchman! tell us of the night;
Higher yet that star ascends;
Traveller! blessedness and light,
Peace and truth, its course portends.
Watchman! will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveller! ages are its own,

And it bursts o'er all the earth.

3 Watchman' tell us of the night,
For the morning seems to dawn:
Traveller! darkness takes its flight,
Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman! let thy wanderings cease:
Hie thee to thy quiet home:
Traveller! lo! the Prince of Peace,
Lo the Son of God is come!

112 ISA. XXVI. 1.-" In that day shall this song

be sung in the land of Judah, We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks."

1 GLORIOUS things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!

He, whose word cannot be broken,
Form'd thee for His own abode:
On the Rock of Ages founded,

What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.

2 See the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst t'assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the Giver,
Never fails from age to age.

3 Round each habitation hov'ring,
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a covering,

Showing that the Lord is near:
Thus deriving from their banner
Light by night, and shade by day;
Safe they feed upon the manna

Which He gives them when they pray.

4 Blest inhabitants of Zion,

Wash'd in the Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to God:

'Tis His love His people raises
Over self to reign as kings,
And, as priests, His solemn praises
Each for a thank-offering brings.

5 Saviour, if of Zion's city

I, through grace, a member am;
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy name:
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure

None but Zion's children know.

113 ISA. XXXIII. 17.-" Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty: they shall behold

the land that is very far off"

1 0, WHAT a lonely path were ours,
Could we, O Father, see,
No home of rest beyond it all,
No guide or help in Thee.

2 But thou art near, and with us still,
To keep us on the way

That leads along this vale of tears
To the bright world of day.

3 There shall thy glory, O our God!
Break fully on our view:
And we, thy saints, rejoice to find
That all thy word was true.

4 There Jesus, on His heav'nly throne
Our wond'ring eyes shall see:
While we, the blest associates there
Of all His joy shall be.

5 Sweet hope! we leave without a sigh
A blighted world like this;

To bear the cross, despise the shame,
For all that weight of bliss.

6 Yet little do thy saints, at best,
Endure, O Lord, for Thee,

Whose suffering soul bore all our sins
And sorrows on the tree:

7 Who faced our fierce and ruthless foe,
Unaided and alone:

To win us for thy crown of joy,

To raise us to Thy throne.

114 ISA. XL. 11.--" He shall feed His flock like a shepherd."

1 SHEPHERD of Thy little flock,
Lead me to the shadowing rock;
Where the richest pasture grows,
Where the living water flows.

2 By that pure and silent stream,
Shelter'd from the scorching beam;
Shepherd, Saviour, Guardian, Guide,
Keep me ever near Thy side.

115 ISA. XL. 11.-" He shall gather the lambs with His arm."

1 JESUS, tender shepherd, hear me !
Bless thy little lamb to-night!

Through the darkness be Thou near me,
Watch my sleep till morning light!

2 All this day Thy hand has led me,-
And I thank Thee for thy care;

Thou hast clothed me, warmed and fed me,
Listen to my evening prayer!

3 Let my sins be all forgiven!

Bless the friends I love so well!
Take me, when I die, to Heaven,
Happy there with thee to dwell!

116 IS. XLII. 16.-" I will lead them in paths they have not known."

1 LEAD, Saviour, lead, amid the encircling gloom Lead thou me on:

The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead thou me on.

Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see
The distant scene-one step enough for me.

2 I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that thou
Should'st lead me on;

I lov'd to choose and see my path, but now
Lead thou me on.

I lov'd the glare of day, and, spite of fears,
Pride rul'd my will; remember not past years.

3 So long Thy power hath bless'd me-sure it still Will lead me on,

O'er vale and hill, thro' stream and torrent, till The night is gone,

And. with the morn, those angel-faces smile. Which I have lov'd long since, and lost awhile.

G

« PreviousContinue »