Serving the Lord.

70.

THE CHRISTIAN RACE.

C. M.

AWAKE, my soul ! stretch every nerve,

And press with vigor on;

A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown.

A cloud of witnesses around
Hold thee in full survey;
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way.

'Tis God's all-animating voice
That calls thee from on high;

'Tis his own hand presents the prize

To thine aspiring eye,

That prize, with peerless glories bright,

Which shall new lustre boast,

When victors' wreaths and monarchs' gems

Shall blend in common dust.

PHILIP Doddridge.

71.

FOR A NEW YEAR.

10. 5. II.

COM

OME, let us anew our journey pursue,
Roll round with the year,

And never stand still till the Master appear.

His adorable will let us gladly fulfil,

And our talents improve,

By the patience of hope and the labor of love.

Our life is a dream; our time, as a stream,

Glides swiftly away,

And the fugitive moment refuses to stay.

The arrow is flown; the moment is gone;

The millennial year

Rushes on to our view, and eternity's here.

Oh, that each, in the day of his coming, may say, "I have fought my way through;

I have finished the work thou didst give me to do."

Oh, that each from his Lord may receive the glad word,

"Well and faithfully done!

Enter into my joy, and sit down on my throne."

CHARLES Wesley.

72.

BEFORE LABOR.

L. M.

FORTH in thy name, O Lord, I go,

My daily labor to pursue ;

Thee, only thee, resolved to know,
In all I think, or speak, or do.

The task thy wisdom hath assigned,
Oh, let me cheerfully fulfil !
In all my works thy presence find,
And prove thy acceptable will.

Thee may I set at my right hand,

Whose eyes my inmost substance see ;
And labor on at thy command,

And offer all my works to thee.

Give me to bear thy easy yoke,

And every moment watch and pray ;
And still to things eternal look,

And hasten to thy glorious day.

For thee delightfully employ

Whate'er thy bounteous grace hath given;
And run my course with even joy,

And closely walk with thee to heaven.

CHARLES WESLEY.

73.

GOD OUR STRENGTH.

L. M.

AWAKE, our souls, away, our fears;

Let every trembling thought be gone;
Awake, and run the heavenly race,
And put a cheerful courage on.

True, 'tis a strait and thorny road,
And mortal spirits tire and faint;
But they forget the mighty God
That feeds the strength of every saint,

The mighty God, whose matchless power
Is ever new and ever young,

And firm endures while endless years
Their everlasting circles run.

From thee, the overflowing spring,
Our souls shall drink a fresh supply,
While such as trust their native strength
Shall melt away, and droop, and die.

Swift as an eagle cuts the air,
We'll mount aloft to thine abode ;
On wings of love our souls shall fly,
Nor tire amidst the heavenly road.

ISAAC WATTS.

74.

SONG OF THE PILGRIM.

COME, brothers, let us go!

Our Father is our guide :

And, if our way be bright or dark,
He's ever at our side.

Our spirits he will cheer
With sunshine of his love;

He guards us, and we need not fear,
With such a friend above.

The strong be quick to raise

The weaker when they fall:

Let love and peace and patience bloom
In ready help for all.

Come, brothers, let us go!

We travel hand in hand:

Each with his brother walks in joy

Through this dear Fatherland.

S. M.

GERHARD TERSTEEGEN.