The great cloud of witnesses.
Matt. v, 11, 12. Heb. xi, 33-38; xii, 1.
1 GIVE me the wings of faith, to rise Within the veil, and see
The saints above, how great their joys,
How bright their glories be.
2 Once they were mourning here below;
Their couch was wet with tears;
They wrestled once, as we do now,
With sins, and doubts, and fears.
3 I ask them whence their vict'ry came;
They, with united breath,
Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
Their triumphs to his death.
4 They mark'd the footsteps that He trod;
His love inspired their breast;
And, following their incarnate God,
They enter'd into rest.
5 Our glorious Leader let us bless,
For his own pattern giv'n,
And for the cloud of witnesses,
Which show the way to heav'n.
The palm-bearing multitude.
Rev. vii, 9-17; xix, 6-8.
WHAT are these in bright array,
This innumerable throng,
Round the altar, night and day,
Hymning one triumphant song?
Worthy is the Lamb, once slain,
Blessing, honour, glory, power,
Wisdom, riches to obtain,
New dominion ev'ry hour!"
2 These through fiery trials trod,
These from great affliction came;
Now before the throne of God,
Seal'd with his almighty Name,
Clad in raiment pure and white,
Victor-palms in ev'ry hand,
Through their dear Redeemer's might
More than conquerors they stand.
3 Hunger, thirst, disease unknown,
On immortal fruits they feed;
Them the Lamb amidst the throne
Shall to living fountains lead;
Joy and gladness banish sighs,
Perfect love dispels all fears,
And for ever from their eyes
God shall wipe away the tears.
Morning converse with God and the soul.
1 AWAKE, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and early rise
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
2[Redeem thy misspent moments past,
And live this day as if the last;
Thy talents to improve take care;
For the great day thyself prepare.]
3 Let all thy converse be sincere,
Thy conscience as the noonday clear;
For God's all-seeing eye surveys
Thy secret thoughts, thy works and ways.
4 Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part;
Who all night long unwearied sing
High glory to th' eternal King!
5[Lord! I my vows to Thee renew;
Scatter my sins as morning dew;
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.]
6 Direct, control, suggest, this day
All I design, or do, or say;
That all my powers, with all their might,
In thy sole glory may unite.
God's mercies new each morning.
1 Chron. xxiii, 30. Ps. lvii, 8. Lam. iii, 22, 23.
1 NEW every morning is the love
Our wakening and uprising prove,
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life and power and thought.
2 New mercies each returning day
Hover around us while we pray,
New perils past, new sins forgiv'n,
New thoughts of God, new hopes of heav'n.
3 If, on our daily course, our mind
Be set to hallow all we find,
New treasures still, of countless price,
God will provide for sacrifice.
4 The trivial round, the common task,
Will furnish all we ought to ask;
Room to deny ourselves-a road
To bring us daily nearer God.
5 Only, O Lord! in thy dear love
Fit us for perfect rest above;
And help us this and every day
To live more nearly as we pray.
1 GLORY to Thee, my God! this night,
For all the blessings of the light!
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings!
Under thine own Almighty wings.
2 Forgive me, Lord! for thy dear Son,
The ills that I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3 Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed:
Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glorious at the Judgment-day.
4 O may my soul on Thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close;
Sleep that may me more vig'rous make
To serve my God, when I awake.
5 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
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