3 Salvation! let the echo fly

The spacious earth around; While all the armies of the sky Conspire to raise the sound."

VICISSITUDES AND CONFLICTS.

389

STAND up, my soul, shake off thy fears,
And gird the gospel armour on;

March to the gates of endless joy,
Where Jesus thy great Captain's gone.

2 Hell and thy sins resist thy course,
But hell and sin are vanquished foes;
Thy Jesus nailed them to the cross,
And sung the triumph when he rose.

3 What though the prince of darkness rage,
And waste the fury of his spite;
Eternal chains confine him down,
To fiery deeps and endless night.

4 What though thy inward lusts rebel;
'Tis but a struggling gasp for life:
The weapons of victorious grace
Shall slay thy sins and end the strife.

5 Then let my soul march boldly on,
Press forward to the heavenly gate;
There peace and joy eternal reign,
And glittering robes for conquerors wait.

6 There shall I wear a starry crown,
And triumph in almighty grace;
While all the armies of the skies
Join in my glorious Leader's praise.

390

AM

THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER.

MI 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 Must I be carried to the skies,
On flowery beds of ease;

While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

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

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

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

5 Thy saints in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
With faith's discerning eye.

6 When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all thine armies shine,

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

C. M.

391 STRUGGLING AGAINST DOUBTS AND L. M.

FEARS.

HEN darkness long has veiled my mind,

WH

And smiling day once more appears,

Then, my Redeemer, then I find

The folly of my doubts and fears.

2 Straight I upbraid my wandering heart, And blush that I should ever be

Thus prone to act so base a part,
Or harbour one hard thought of thee.

3 0 let me then at length be taught,
What I am still so slow to learn,
That God is love and changes not,
Nor knows the shadow of a turn.

4 Sweet truth, and easy to repeat;
But when my faith is sharply tried,
I find myself a learner yet,
Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide.

5 But, O my Lord, one look from thee
Subdues the disobedient will;
Drives doubt and discontent away,
And thy rebellious worm is still.

6 Thou art as ready to forgive,
As I am ready to repine:

Thou, therefore, all the praise receive;
Be shame and self-abhorrence mine.

392 PRAYER FOR THE RETURN OF THE SPIRIT. C. M.

O! FOR a closer walk with God,

A calm and heavenly frame;

A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

2 Where is the blessedness I knew
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus and his word?

3 What peaceful hours I once enjoyed,
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.

4 Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest;

I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
And drove thee from my breast.

5 The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.

6 So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

393 STRENGTH EQUAL TO THE DAY.

L. M.

AFFLICTED saint, to Christ draw near,

Thy Saviour's gracious promise hear;

His faithful word declares to thee,
That " as thy day, thy strength shall be."

2 Thy faith is weak, thy foes are strong,
And if the conflict should be long,
Thy Lord will make the tempter flee;
For "
as thy day, thy strength shall be."

3 Should persecution rage and flame,
Still trust in thy Redeemer's name:
In fiery trials thou shalt see,

That as thy day, thy strength shall be."

4 When called by him to bear the cross,
Reproach, affliction, pain, or loss,
Or deep distress, and poverty;

Still "as thy day, thy strength shall be."
5 When death at length appears in view,
Christ's presence shall thy fears subdue;
He comes to set thy spirit free;
And "

as thy day, thy strength shall be.”

394

FEARS DISMISSED.

C. M.

YE E trembling souls, dismiss your fears,
Be mercy all your theme;

Mercy, which like a river flows
In one perpetual stream.

2 Fear not the powers of earth and hell;
God will those powers restrain;
His arm shall all their rage repel,
And make their efforts vain.

3 Fear not the want of outward good;
For his he will provide;

Grant them supplies of daily food,
And give them heaven beside.

4 Fear not that he will e'er forsake,
Or leave his work undone;
He's faithful to his promises,
And faithful to his Son.

5 Fear not the terrors of the grave,
Or death's tremendous sting;
He will from endless wrath preserve,
To endless glory bring.

395

THE MOURNER COMFORTED.

YOUR harps, ye trembling saints,

Down from the willows take;

Loud to the praise of love divine,
Bid every string awake.

2 Though in a foreign land,

We are not far from home,
And nearer to our house above
We every moment come.

3 His grace will, to the end,

Stronger and brighter shine;

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

S. M.