2

Though in a foreign land, We are not far from home, And nearer to our house above,

We every móment come.

3 His grace will to the end, Stronger and brighter shine,

4

5

Nor present things, nor things to come,
Shall quench the spark divine.

When we in darkness walk,
Nor feel the heavenly flame,
Then is the time to trust our God,

Soon shall our doubts and fears
Subside at his control;

His loving-kindness shall break through
The midnight of the soul.

6

Blest is the man, O God,

That stays himself on thee!

Who waits for thy salvation, Lord,

Shall thy salvation see,

243.

C.M.-Trust in God amidst the frailties of our nature. Ps. ciii. 14.
1 LORD, we adore thy wondrous name,
And make that name our trust,
Which rais'd at first this curious frame,
From mean and lifeless dust.

2 Awhile these frail machines endure,
The fabric of a day;

Then know their vital powers no more,
But moulder back to clay.

3 Yet, Lord, whate'er is felt or fear'd,
This thought is our repose,

That he, by whom this frame was rear'd,
Its various weakness knows.

4 Thou view'st us with a pitying eye,
While struggling with our load;
In pains and dangers thou art nigh,
Our Father and our God.

5 Gently supported by thy love,
We tend to realms of peace;
Where every pain shall far remove,
And every frailty cease.

244.

C.M.-Christian Heroism.

1 THE Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain:

His blood-red banner streams afar!
Who follows in his train?

2 Who best can drink his cup of
Triumphant over pain,

WO,

Who patient bears his cross below,
He follows in his train!

3 The martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And call'd on him to save.

4 Like him, with pardon on his tongue
In midst of mortal pain,

He pray'd for them that did the wrong!
Who follows in his train?

5 A glorious band, the chosen few
Ön whom the Spirit came;

Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew, And mark'd the cross and flame.

6 They met the tyrant's brandish'd steel,
The lion's gory mane:

They bow'd their necks the death to feel!
Who follows in their train?

I

7 A noble army-men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Saviour's throne rejoice,
In robes of light array'd.

8 They climb'd the steep ascent of heaven,
Through peril, toil, and pain!
Oh God! to us may grace be given
To follow in their train!

245.

P.M.-Christian Courage, Fortitude, and Hope.

1 COME on, my partners in distress,
My comrades through the wilderness,
Who still your bodies feel;

Awhile forget your griefs and fears,
And look beyond this vale of tears
To that celestial hill.

2 Beyond the bounds of time and space
Look forward to that happy place,
The saints' secure abode:

On faith's strong eagle pinions rise,
And force your passage to the skies,
And scale the mount of God.

3 See, where the Lamb in glory stands,
Encircled with his radiant bands,
And join the angelic powers;

For all that height of glorious bliss
Our everlasting portion is,

And all that heaven is ours.

4 Who suffer for our master here,
We shall before his face appear,
And by his side sit down:
To patient faith the prize is sure,
And all that to the end endure

The cross, shall wear the crown.

5 Thrice blessed bliss-inspiring hope!
It lifts the fainting spirits up;
It brings to life the dead:

Our conflicts here shall soon be past,
And you and I ascend at last
Triumphant with our Head.

246.

C.M.-Christian Fortitude.

1 AM I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb!
And shall I fear to own his cause,
Or blush to speak his name?

2 Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

3 Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord!
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.

4 Thy saints, in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer though they're slain:
They see the triumph from afar,
And shall with Jesus reign.

5 When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all thy armies shine

In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be thine.

247.

C.M.-The God of Peace bruising Satan. Rom. xvi. 20.

1 YE armies of the living God,

In his all-conquering name,

Lift up your banners, and aloud
Your Leader's grace proclaim.

2 What, though the prince of hell invade With showers of fiery darts,

And join to the fierce lion's roar,
The serpent's wily arts;

3 Jesus, who leads his hosts to war,
Shall tread the monster down,
And every faithful soldier share
The triumph and the crown!
248.

C.M.-Persecution to be expected by every true Christian.
2 Tim. iii. 12.

1 GREAT Leader of thine Israel's host,
We shout thy conquering name;
Legions of foes beset thee round,
And legions fled with shame.

2 A victory glorious and complete
Thou by thy death didst gain;
So in thy cause may we contend,
And death itself sustain.

3 By our illustrious general fir'd,
We no extremes would fear;
Prepar'd to struggle and to bleed,
If thou our Lord be near.

4 We'll trace the footsteps thou hast drawn
To triumph and renown;
Nor shun thy combat and thy cross,
May we but share thy crown.

249.

C.M.-Pressing on in the Christian Race. Phil. iii. 12-14. 1 AWAKE, my soul, stretch every nerve, And press with vigour on;

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

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