Behold the Father's chief delight
Expire in agony !
2 For whom, for whom, my heart,
Were all these sorrows borne ?
Why did he feel that piercing smart,
And meet that various scorn ?
3 For love of us he bled,
And all in torture died;
'T was love that bowed his fainting head,
And oped his gushing side.
4 In sympathy of love
Let all the earth combine;
And, drawn by cords so gentle, prove
The energy divine.
5 In him our hearts unite,
Nor share his grief alone,
But from his cross pursue their flight,
To his triumphant throne.
Christ's Submission to his Father's Will.
1 "FATHER divine," the Saviour cried,
While horrors pressed on every side,
And prostrate on the ground he lay,
"Remove this bitter cup away.
2" But if these pangs must still be borne
Or helpless man be left forlorn,
I bow my soul before thy throne,
And say, Thy will, not mine, be done."
3 Thus our submissive souls would bow,
And, taught by Jesus, lie as low;
Our hearts, and not our lips alone,
Would say, Thy will, not ours, be done.
4 Then, though like him in dust we lie,
We'll view the blissful moment nigh,
Which, from our portion in his pains,
Calls to the joy in which he reigns.
Christ the Light of the World.
1 BEHOLD! the Prince of Peace,
The chosen of the Lord,
God's well belovéd Son, fulfils
The sure prophetic word.
2 No royal pomp adorns
This King of Righteousness;
Meekness and patience, truth and love,
Compose his princely dress.
3 The spirit of the Lord,
In rich abundance shed,
On this great Prophet gently lights,
And rests upon his head.
4 Jesus, the light of men !
His doctrine life imparts;
O, may we feel its quickening power
To warm and glad our hearts.
5 Cheered by its beams, our souls
Shall run the heavenly way;
The path which Christ has marked and trod
Will lead to endless day.
Christ the Sun of Righteousness.
1 TO thee, O God! we homage pay,
Source of the light that rules the day!
Who, while he gilds all nature's frame,
Reflects thy rays and speaks thy name.
2 In louder strains we sing that grace
Which gives the Sun of Righteousness,
Whose nobler light salvation brings,
And scatters healing from his wings.
3 Still on our hearts may Jesus shine,
With beams of light and love divine;
Quickened by him our souls shall live,
And cheered by him shall grow and thrive.
4 O, may his glories stand confessed,
From north to south, from east to west;
Successful may his gospel run,
Wide as the circuit of the sun.
5 When shall that radiant scene arise,
When, fixed on high, in purer skies,
Christ all his lustre shall display
On all his saints through endless day!
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Christ our Example in Suffering.
1 GO to dark Gethsemane,.
Ye that feel temptation's power;
Your Redeemer's conflict see;
Watch with him one bitter hour:
Turn not from his griefs away;
Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.
2 Follow to the judgment-hall;
View the Lord of life arraigned;
O, the wormwood and the gall!
O, the pangs his soul sustained!
Shun not suffering, shame, or loss;
Learn of him to bear the cross.
3 Calv'ry's mournful mountain climb;
There, admiring at his feet,
Mark that miracle of time,
God's own sacrifice complete : "It is finished," hear him cry;
Learn of Jesus Christ to die.
4 Early hasten to the tomb
Where they laid his breathless clay;
All is solitude and gloom :
Who has taken him away?
Christ is risen; he meets our eyes :
Saviour, teach us so to rise.
1 BEHOLD, where, in a mortal form,
Appears each grace divine;
The virtues, all in Jesus met,
With mildest radiance shine.
2 To spread the rays of heavenly light,
To give the mourner joy,
To preach glad tidings to the poor,
Was his divine employ.
3 'Midst keen reproach, and cruel scorn,
Patient and meek he stood;
His foes, ungrateful, sought his life;
He labored for their good.
4 In the last hour of deep distress,
Before his Father's throne,
With soul resigned, he bowed, and said,
"Thy will, not mine, be done!"
5 Be Christ our pattern and our guide;
His image may we bear;
O, may we tread his holy steps,
His joy and glory share!
1 FEEBLE, helpless, how shall I
Learn to live and learn to die?
Who, O God, my guide shall be?
Who shall lead thy child to thee?
2 Blesséd Father, gracious One,
Thou hast sent thy holy Son;
He will give the light I need,
He my trembling steps will lead.
3 Through this world, uncertain, dim,
Let me ever lean on him;
From his precepts wisdom draw,
Make his life my solemn law.
4 Thus, in deed, and thought, and word,
Led by Jesus Christ the Lord,
In my weakness, thus shall I
Learn to live and learn to die.
5 Learn to live in peace and love,
Like the perfect ones above;
Learn to die without a fear, .
Feeling thee, my Father, near.
THE GOSPEL AND ITS INVITATIONS.
1 HOW sweetly flowed the gospel sound
From lips of gentleness and grace,
When listening thousands gathered round,
And joy and gladness filled the place!
2 From heaven he came, of heaven he spoke,
To heaven he led his followers' way;
Dark clouds of gloomy night he broke,
Unveiling an immortal day.
3 "Come, wanderers, to my Father's home;
Come, all ye weary ones, and rest":
Yes, sacred Teacher, we will come,
Obey thee, love thee, and be blest.
4 Decay, then, tenements of dust!
Pillars of earthly pride, decay!
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