7 We in the words of Truth reply,
An Angel brought them from the sky,
"Our crown, our treasure, is not here,
"T is stored above the highest sphere:
8 We watch not now the lifeless stone;
Our only Lord is risen and gone.'
And the whole world, now Christ hath died,
Ennobled is and glorified.
9 T is now a cell, where Angels use
To come and go with heavenly news,
And in the ears of mourners say,
Come, see the place where Jesus lay."
10 'T is now a fane, where Love can find Christ everywhere embalmed and shrined; Aye gathering up memorials sweet, Where'er she sets her duteous feet.
11 So be it still to holy tears,
In lonely hours, Christ risen appears:
In social hours, who Christ would see,
Must turn all tasks to Charity.
1 See the leaves around us falling,
Dry and withered, to the ground;
Now to thoughtless mortals calling
With a sweet and solemn sound:
2 Yearly in our course returning,
Messengers of shortest stay,
We proclaim the solemn warning,
'Heaven and earth shall pass away.'
3 On the tree of life eternal,
O let all our hopes be laid:
This alone, for ever vernal,
Bears a leaf that shall not fade.
1 All, great Creator! all are Thine! All feel Thy providential care;
And, through each changing scene of life,
Thy never-changing goodness share ; —
2 Children, whose tender minds unformed,
Ne'er raised a conscious thought to heaven,
And men, whom reason lifts to God,
Though oft by passion downward driven;—
3 Those, too, who bend with age and care
And faint and tremble near the tomb,
Who, sickening at the present scenes,
Sigh for that better world to come.
4 And whether grief oppress the heart;
Or whether joy elate the breast;
Or life still keep its onward course;
Or death invite us to our rest:
5 All are Thy messengers! and all
Thy sacred pleasure, Lord! obey;
And all are training man to dwell
Nearer to bliss, and nearer Thee.
1 We have pledged a solemn vow,
We are Christ's own liegemen now;
Come or peril, woe, or loss,
We have taken up the Cross.
2 Never may we lay it down.
Till Death bring the Victor's crown;
And, from taint of falsehood clear,
"Bravely done!" with joy we hear.
1 Ever faithful may we be,
Father, to the Truth and Thee;
Like our Master, seeking still
Nothing but Thy perfect will.
2 Not for gain, and not for loss,
May we shrink to bear his cross;
Not for pleasure, not for woe,
Trace of fear or falsehood show.
3 Men may hate, or men may scorn,
But the Resurrection-Morn
Every mist away will clear,
If we are but faithful here.
1 Light of Life, seraphic fire,
Love Divine, thyself impart;
Every fainting soul inspire;
Shine in every drooping heart!
Every mournful sinner cheer;
Scatter all our guilty gloom;
Son of God, appear, appear!
To thy human temples come!
2 Come in this accepted hour;
Bring thy heavenly kingdom in!
Fill us with thy glorious power,
Rooting out the seeds of sin:
Nothing more can we require;
We will covet nothing less;
Be thou all our hearts' desire,
All our joy, and all our peace!
1 This stone to Thee in faith we lay,
We build the temple, Lord, to Thee;
Thine eye be open night and day,
To guard this house and sanctuary.
2 Here, when Thy people seek Thy face,
And dying sinners pray to live,
Hear, Thou, in heaven Thy dwelling-place, And when Thou hearest, Lord, forgive!
3 Here, when Thy messengers proclaim
The blessed gospel of Thy Son,
Still, by the power of his great name,
Be mighty signs and wonders done.
4 Hosanna! to their heavenly King,
When children's voices raise that song;
Hosanna! let their Angels sing,
And heaven with earth the strain prolong.
5 But will indeed Jehovah deign
Here to abide-no transient guest?
Here will the world's Redeemer reign,
And here the holy Spirit rest?
6 That glory never hence depart!
Yet, choose not, Lord, this house alone:
Thy kingdom come to every heart,
In every bosom fix Thy throne!
1 O Thou! whose own vast temple stands Built over earth and sea!
Accept the walls that human hands
Have raised to worship Thee!
2 Lord! from Thine inmost glory send,
Within these courts to bide,
The peace that dwelleth without end
Serenely by Thy side.
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