8 Abide with us-we feel the charm, That binds us to our unknown friend; Here pass the night secure from harm, Here, Stranger, let thy wand'rings end. 9 Abide with us to their request
The stranger bows, with smiles divine;
Then round the board the unknown guest
And weary travellers recline.
10 Abide with us-amaz'd they cry,
As suddenly, whilst breaking bread,
Their own lost Jesus meets their eye,
With radiant glory on his head!
11 Abide with us-thou heavenly Friend,
Leave not thy foll'wers thus alone:
The sweet communion here must end,-
The heav'nly visitant is gone!
HYMN 566. Eights Metre.
OW short and how fleeting the year,
Unheeded, unthought of, 'tis past;
The sound but just glanc'd on my ear
The day that is number'd its last!
2 The circle returns on its course,
The days are revolving again,
And thus is renew'd the still source,
Whence issue both pleasure and pain.
3 What changes with time do ensue,
How varied cach aspect I see;
Each object presents to my view,
A suitable lesson to me!
4 For time must be brought to its close,
And ages will cease to be more,
All nature will bask in repose,
And varying seasons be o'er.
5 But yet over all shall survive,
In beauty, which ruin unfurls-
Religion for ever shall live,
And be the survivor of worlds;
6 And, proof 'midst the general scene,
'Gainst such devastation and wo,
Midst misery, calm and serene,
Unspeakable joy she shall know.
7 Oh, then, this is wisdom indeed,
To be cloth'd with such virtue as this,
And now while the offer is made,
To take the first proffer of peace.
8 Then years will not waste me away,
But bear me with joy on their wing,
And I shall behold the glad day,
Whence life, never ending, shall spring.
HYMN 567. Eights Metre.
On Mark iv. ver. 37 to 41 inclusive.
oft on the ocean of life,
Do billows on billows arise;
And the winds, with harassing strife, Blow clouds of dismay o'er the skies! 2 The sails of Prosperity torn,
Leave us with the tempest to cope;"
And scarcely, our state's so forlorn,
Find room for the anchor of Hope.
3 Yet still with the compass of Faith,
The chart of the Gospel on board;
We smile on the whirlpool beneath,
Assur'd that our pilot's the Lord.
4 And why should we ever mistrust
While Christ in the steerage is laid?
He seems to be sleeping at first,
But wakes when we call for his aid.
5 "Ah, why did ye fear?" he will cry,`
Then speaking His word of control,
All danger and terror shall fly,
And leave a sweet calm on the soul.
LMIGHTY Author of my frame,
To thee my vital pow'rs belong;
Thy praise, (delightful, glorious theme!)
Demands my heart, my life, my tongue.
2 My heart, my life, my tongue are thine:
O be thy praise their best employ!
But may my song with angels join,
Nor sacred awe forbid the joy!
3 Thy glories, the seraphic lyre
On all its strings attempts in vain;
Then how shall mortals dare aspire
In thought, to try th' unequal strain ?
4 Yet the great Sov'reign of the skies
To mortals bends a gracious ear;
Nor the mean tribute will despise,
If offer'd with a heart sincere.
5 Great God, accept the humble praise,
And guide my heart, and guide my tongue,
While to thy name I trembling raise
The grateful, though unworthy song.
HYMN 569. L. M.
God the Soul's only Portion. Lam. iii. 4.
N vain the world's alluring smile
I beguile:
Deluding world! its brightest day,
Dream of a moment, fleets away!
2 Earth's highest pleasures, could they last,
Would pall and languish on the taste;
Such airy chaff was ne'er design'd
To feed the immortal, craving mind.
3 To nobler bliss my soul aspires;
Come, Lord, and fill these vast desires;
Be thou my portion, here I rest,
Since of my utmost wish possest.
4 O let thy sacred word impart
Its sealing influence to my heart:
With pow'r, and light, and love divine,
Assure my soul that thou art mine.
5 The blissful word, with joy replete,
Shall bid my gloomy fears retreat,
And heav'n-born hope, serenely bright,
Shine cheerful through this mortal night.
6 Then shall my joyful spirit rise
On wings of faith above the skies;
And when these transient scenes are o'er,
And this vain world shall tempt no more;
I reach the blissful plains,
Where thy unclouded glory reigns,
And dwell forever near thy throne
In joys to mortal thoughts unknown.
Intreating the Presence of Christ in his Churches. Hag. xi. 7
OME, thou desire of all thy saints,
Our humble strains attend,
While with our praises and complaints
Low at thy feet we bend.
2 When we thy wond'rous glories hear,
And all thy suff'rings trace,
What sweetly awful scenes appear!
What rich unbounded grace!
3 How should our songs, like those above,
With warm devotion rise!
How should our souls on wings of love,
Mount upward to the skies!
4 But ah! the song, how cold it flows!
How languid our desire!
How faint the sacred passion glows,
Till thou the heart inspire!
5 Come, Lord, thy love alone can raise
In us the heav'niy flame;
Then shall our lips resound thy praise,
Our hearts adore thy name.
6 Dear Saviour, let thy glory shine,
And fill thy dwellings here,
Till life, and love, and joy divine
A heaven on earth appear.
7 Then shall our hearts enraptur'd say,
Come, great Redeemer, come,
And bring the bright, the glorious day,
That calls thy children home.
HOW pity, Lord! O Lord, forgive! ·
Let a repenting sinner live;
Art not thy mercies large and free?
May not the contrite trust in thee?
2 With shame my num'rous sins I trace,
Against thy law, against thy grace;
And though my prayer thou should'st not hear, My doom is just, and thou art clear.
3 Yet save a penitent, O Lord!
Whose hope, still hov'ring round thy word,
Seeks for some precious promise there,
Some sure support against despair.
4 My sins are great, but don't surpass
The riches of eternal grace;
Great God, thy nature hath no bound,
So let thy pard'ning love be found.
5 O wash my soul from ev'ry stain,
Nor let the guilt I mourn remain ;
Give me to hear thy pard'ning voice,
And bid my bleeding heart rejoice.
6 Then shall thy love inspire my tongue;
Salvation shall be all my song;
And every power shall join to bless.
The Lord, my strength and righteousness. WATTS.
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