To frail earthen vessels,
And things of no worth,
Entrusting Thy riches
Which aye shall endure;

Those vessels soon fail,
Though full of Thy light,
And at Thy decree

Are broken and gone ;
Thence brightly appeareth
Thy truth in its might,
As through the clouds riven
The lightnings have shone.

Their sound goeth forth,
"Christ Jesus the Lord:"
Then Satan doth fear,
His citadels fall:

As when the dread trumpets
Went forth at Thy word,
And one long blast shattered
The Canaanite's wall.

O loud be Thy trump,
And stirring the sound
To rouse us, O Lord,
From slumber of sin;
The lights thou hast kindled
In darkness around,

O may they illumine
Our spirits within.

All honour and praise,
Dominion and might,
To God, Three in One,
Eternally be,

Who round us hath shed
His own marvellous light,

And called us from darkness

His glory to see.

316.

Amen.

8-7, 8-7, 7-7.

WHO are these like stars appearing,

These, before God's throne who stand? Each a golden crown is wearing, Who are all this glorious band? Alleluia! hark they sing,

Praising loud their heavenly King.

Who are these in dazzling brightness,
Clothed in God's own righteousness;
These, whose robes of purest whiteness
Shall their lustre still possess,

Still untouched by time's rude hand,
Whence come all this glorious band?

These are they who have contended
For their Saviour's honour long,
Wrestling on till life was ended,
Following not the sinful throng;
These, who well the fight sustained,
Triumph by the Lamb have gained.

These are they whose hearts were riven,
Sore with woe and anguish tried,
Who in prayer full oft have striven
With the God they glorified;

Now, their painful conflict o'er,
God has bid them weep no more.

Honour, glory, virtue, merit,
To the blessed Three in One,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
While the endless ages run;
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,

Evermore be Thou adored. Amen.

How bright these glorious spirits shine,
Whence all their white array?

How came they to the blissful seats
Of everlasting day?

Lo! these are they from sufferings great, Who came to realms of light,

And in the blood of Christ have washed Those robes which shine so bright.

Now with triumphal palms they stand
Before the Throne on high,

And serve the God they love amidst
The glories of the sky.

His presence fills each heart with joy,
Tunes every mouth to sing;
By day, by night, the sacred courts
With glad hosannas ring.

Hunger and thirst are felt no more,
Nor suns with scorching ray :

God is their Sun, whose cheering beams
Diffuse eternal day.

The Lamb which dwells amidst the Throne
Shall o'er them still preside;

Feed them with nourishment divine,
And all their footsteps guide.

'Mong pastures green He'll lead His flock, Where living streams appear;

And God, the Lord, from every eye

Shall wipe off every tear.

318.

Amen.

S. M.

FOR all Thy saints, O Lord,

Who strove in Thee to live,

Who followed Thee, obeyed, adored,

Our grateful hymn receive.

For all Thy saints, O Lord,
Accept our thankful cry,

Who counted Thee their great reward,

And strove in Thee to die.

They all, in life and death

With Thee their Lord in view, Learned from Thy Holy Spirit's breath To suffer and to do.

For this Thy Name we bless,
And humbly pray that we
May follow them in holiness,
And live and die in Thee.

Thine earthly members fit
To join Thy saints above,
In one communion ever knit,
One fellowship of love.

All might, all praise be Thine,
Father, co-equal Son,

And Spirit, bond of Love Divine,

While endless ages run.

319.

Amen.

L. M.

AROUND the throne of God a band
Of bright and glorious angels stand;
Sweet harps within their hands they hold,
And on their heads are crowns of gold.

Some wait around Him, ready still
To sing His praise and do His will,
And some, when He commands them, go
To guard His servants here below.