(See also "MELCOMBE," No. 162.)
"The Gospel must jirst be published among all nations.”—St. Mark xiii. 10.
I THE heavens declare Thy glory, Lord,
In every star Thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold Thy word,
We read Thy Name in fairer lines.
2 The rolling sun, the changing light,
The nights and days Thy power confess;
But the best volume Thou didst write
Reveals Thy justice and Thy grace.
3 Sun, moon, and stars convey Thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand;
So, when Thy truth began its race,
It touched and glanced on every land.
4 Thy Gospel-heralds dare not rest,
Till through the world Thy truth has run;
Till Christ has all the nations blest
That see the light or feel the sun.
5 Great Sun of Righteousness, arise!
Bless the dark world with heavenly light,
The Gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, 'Thy judgments right.
6 Thy noblest wonders here we view,
In souls renewed and sins forgiven;
Lord, cleanse our sins, our souls renew,
And make Thy word our guide to heaven.
Amen.
Also the following:
THOU whose Almighty word (528).
"And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was
born in her."-Ps. lxxxvii. 5.
I OH, that the Lord's salvation
Were out of Zion come,
To heal His ancient nation,
To lead His outcasts home!
Let fall Thy rod of terror;
Thy saving grace impart :
Roll back the veil of error;
Release the fettered heart.
4 Let Israel, home returning,
Her lost Messiah see;
Give oil of joy for mourning,
And bind Thy Church to Thee.
Amen.
"I will strengthen that which was sick."-Ezek. xxxiv. 16.
I O THOU through suffering perfect made,
On whom the bitter Cross was laid;
In hours of sickness, grief, and pain,
No sufferer turns to Thee in vain.
2 The halt, the maimed, the sick, the blind,
Sought not in vain Thy tendance kind;
Now in Thy poor Thyself we see,
And minister through them to Thee.
O loving Saviour, Thou canst cure
The pains and woes Thou didst endure:
For all who need, Physician great,
Thy healing balm we supplicate.
4 But, oh! far more, let each keen pain
And hour of woe be heavenly gain,
Each stroke of Thy chastising rod
Bring back the wanderer nearer God.
5 Oh! heal the bruised heart within :
Oh! save our souls all sick with sin :
f Give life and health in bounteous store,
ƒ That we may praise Thee evermore.
298 "They brought unto Him all that were diseased, and besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment; and as many as touched
were made perfectly whole."-St. Matt. xiv. 35, 36.
I THINE arm, O Lord, in days of old
Was strong to heal and save;
It triumphed o'er disease and death,
O'er darkness and the grave.
To Thee they went, the blind, the dumb.
The palsied and the lame,
The leper with his tainted life,
The sick with fevered frame.
2 And lo! Thy touch brought life and health,
Gave speech and strength and sight;
And youth renewed and frenzy calmed
Owned Thee, the Lord of Light.
And now, O Lord, be near to bless,
Almighty as of yore,
In crowded street, by restless couch,
As by Gennesareth's shore.
299 "And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with
compassion toward them."-St. Mark vi. 34.
I Come to a desert place apart
And rest a little while;"
So spake the Lord, when limbs and heart
Were faint and sick through toil.
2 High communings with God He sought;
But where He sought them found
The restless crowd together brought,
And labour's weary round.
3 Then not a thought to self was given,
Nor breathed He word of blame;
He fed their souls with bread from heaven,
And stayed their sinking frame.
4 Nor turned He, when His task was done,
To sleep fatigue away;
When on the desert sank the sun,
The Saviour watched to pray.
5 O perfect Pattern from above!
So strengthen us that ne'er
Prayer keep us back from works of love,
Nor works of love from prayer! Amen.
300 "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall
also My servant be."-St. John xii. 26.
I How blessèd from the bonds of sin
And earthly fetters free,
In singleness of heart and aim,
Thy servant, Lord, to be!
The hardest toil to undertake
With joy at Thy command,
The meanest office to receive
With meekness at Thy hand :
2 With willing heart and longing eyes
To watch before Thy gate,
Ready to run the weary race,
To bear the heavy weight:
No voice of thunder to expect,
But follow calm and still,
For love can easily divine
The One Beloved's will.
3 Thus may we serve Thee, Gracious
Thus ever Thine alone, [Lord! Our souls and bodies given to Thee, The purchase Thou hast won. Through evil or through good report Still keeping by Thy side, By life or death, in this poor flesh Let Christ be magnified!
4 How happily the working days
In this dear service fly!
How rapidly the closing hour,
The time of rest, draws nigh!
When all the faithful gather home,
A joyful company!
And ever where the Master is
Shall His blest servants be! Amen.
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