CLXXXVII

JUST AS I AM

UST as I am, without one plea

Ju

But that Thy Blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee, whose Blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind.
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve!
Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, (Thy Love unknown
Has broken every barrier down,)
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, of that free love

The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove, Here for a season, then above,

O Lamb of God, I come!

C. Elliott

A

CLXXXVIII

ABIDE WITH ME

BIDE with me! fast falls the even-tide;

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But, as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free,
Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings;
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea;
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me!

I need Thy Presence every passing hour,
What but Thy grace can foil the Tempter's power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies!
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows

flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

CLXXXIX

H. F. Lyte

REST

Fall of God that,
F all the thoughts of God that are

Along the Psalmist's music deep,—
Now tell me if that any is,
For gift or grace, surpassing this,-

"He giveth His beloved sleep?"

What would we give to our beloved?
The hero's heart to be unmoved,-

The poet's star-tuned harp to sweep,—
The senate's shout for patriot vows,-
The monarch's crown to light the brows?
"He giveth His beloved sleep."

What do we give to our beloved?
A little faith not all unproved,

A little dust to overweep,-
And bitter memories to make

The whole earth blasted for our sake?
"He giveth His beloved sleep."

Sleep, soft beloved! we sometimes say,
But have no power to chase away

Sad dreams that through the eyelids creep;

But never doleful dream again

Shall break the happy slumber, when
He giveth His beloved sleep."

O earth, so full of dreary noises !
O men, with wailing in your voices !
O delved gold, the wailer's heap!
O strife, O curse that o'er it fall!
God makes a silence through you all,
And "giveth His beloved sleep."

His dews drop mutely on the hill;
His cloud above it saileth still,

Though on its slope men toil and reap!
More softly than the dew is shed,

Or cloud is floated overhead,

"He giveth His beloved sleep."

Yea! men may wonder, while they scan
A living, thinking, feeling man,
Sufficient such a rest to keep;

But angels say,—and through the word
The motion of their smile is heard,—
"He giveth His beloved sleep."

For me, my heart that erst did go
Most like a tired child at a show,

Seeing through tears the juggler leap,—
Would fain its weary vision close,
And childlike on His love repose,
Who "giveth His beloved sleep."

When round my bier ye come to weep; Let one most loving of you all

Say, "Not a tear for her must fall,

'He giveth His beloved sleep.'

#

CXC

E. B. Browning

"SOON-AND FOREVER"

OON and forever!

Such promise our trust,

Though ashes to ashes

And dust unto dust;

Soon and forever

Our union shall be

Made perfect, our glorious
Redeemer, in Thee.

When the sins and the sorrows
Of time shall be o'er ;
Its pangs and its partings
Remembered no more;
When life cannot fail,

And when death cannot sever,
Christians with Christ shall be

Soon and forever.

Soon- and forever

The breaking of day

Shall drive all the dark clouds

Of sorrow away. Soon-and forever

We'll see as we're seen,

And learn the deep meaning
Of things that have been.