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240 "Jesus was called, and His disciples,

I O CHRIST, the King of human life,

In royal bounty pour

On these Thy servants, man and wife,
Thy blessing evermore.

2 On ties of home, in life, in death,
Thy seal divine was set :
Those thirty years at Nazareth

Thou, Lord, rememberest yet!
3 And by those holy years, we pray,
To these Thine own be nigh:
Their common life from day to day
Direct and sanctify.

4 At Cana's marriage first didst Thou
Thy glory manifest ;

ST. ALPHEGE.

to the marriage.”—St. John ii. 2.

Oh, come to be among us now
A wonder-working Guest !

5 Poor weakly elements are ours,
But wealth and might are Thine :
Rule earthly life by heavenly powers,
The water change to wine!

6 And in Thy faith, and in Thy fear,
May these united be,

True type of those Espousals dear
Between Thy Church and Thee.
So let them both at last attain
That better country's coast,

f Where with the Father Thou dost reign,
And with the Holy Ghost. Amen.

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241

"And God blessed them.”—Gen. i. 28.

I THE voice that breathed o'er Eden,
That earliest wedding day,
The primal marriage blessing,
It hath not past away.
2 Still in the pure espousal

Of Christian man and maid,
The Holy Three are with us,
The threefold grace is said,
3 For dower of blessed children,
For love and faith's sweet sake,
For high mysterious union,
Which nought on earth may break.

4 Be present, awful Father,

To give away this bride,
As Eve Thou gav'st to Adam
Out of his own pierced side.

5 Be present, Son of Mary,
To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal bands.

6 Be present, Holiest Spirit,

To bless them as they kneel,

As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom,
The heavenly spouse dost seal.

7 Oh! spread Thy pure wing o'er them,
Let no ill power find place,
When onward to Thine altar
The hallowed path they trace,

8 To cast their crowns before Thee,
In perfect sacrifice,

cres. Till to the home of gladness

f

With Christ's own Bride theyrise! Amen.

ROCKINGHAM.

L.M.

DR. EDWARD MILLER, [1790].

Amen.

242

(ON THE WAY TO CHURCH.)

"Strangers and pilgrims on the earth."-Heb. xi. 13.

PI COME, tread once more the path with
song,

The way is short, the Rest is long;
The Lord hath given, He calls away;
This home was for a passing day.
2 Here in an inn a stranger dwelt,
Here joy and grief by turns he felt ;
Poor dwelling, now we close thy door,
The sojourner returns no more!

3 Now of a lasting home possessed,
He goes to seek a deeper rest;

CASSEL.

cres. Then open to us, gates of peace, mf. And let the pilgrim's journey cease! 4 Now let the solemn bell begin;

It rings his Sabbath morning in; The labourer's week-day work is done, cres. The Rest, which Christ hath gained, begun.

5 O Thou who reignest Lord alone,

Thou wilt return and claim Thine own! cres. Come quickly, Lord, and let us see mf Thy people perfected in Thee! Amen.

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243

"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea,
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours;
and their works do follow them."-Rev. xiv. 13.

I BLESSING, honour, thanks, and praise, 3 Happy are the faithful dead,

Pay we, gracious God, to Thee:
Thou in Thine abundant grace
Givest us the victory.
True and faithful to Thy word,
Thou hast glorified Thy Son :
Jesus Christ our dying Lord
Has for us the victory won.

2 Lo! the prisoner is released;
Lightened of his fleshly load,
Where the weary are at rest
And are gathered unto God.
Lo! the pain of life is past,
All his warfare now is o'er,
Death and hell behind are cast,
Grief and sufferings are no more.

ST. THOMAS.

Blessed who in Jesus die;

They from all their toils are freed,
In God's keeping safely lie:
These the Spirit hath declared
Blest, unutterably blest,
Jesus is their great reward,
Jesus is their endless rest.

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2 Released from earthly toil and strife, 4 Thy word is true, Thy will is just ; With Thee is hidden still their life;

Thine are their thoughts, their works,

their powers,

To Thee we leave them, Lord, in

trust;

And bless Thee for the love which gave
Thy Son to fill a human grave,
That none might fear that world to see,
cres. Where all are living unto Thee.

All Thine, and yet most truly ours; For well we know, where'er they be, cres. Our dead are living unto Thee.

5 O Breather into man of breath,
O Holder of the keys of death,
O Giver of the life within,
Save us from death, the death of sin;
cres. That body, soul, and spirit be
f For ever living unto Thee! Amen.

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