And holds the promises,

And pardons in his hands:

Commissioned from his Father's throne, To make his grace to mortals known. 4 Great Prophet of my God,

My tongue would bless thy name:
By thee the joyful news

Of our salvation came;

The joyful news of sins forgiven, Of hell subdued, and peace with heaven. 5 Be thou my Counsellor,

My Pattern and my Guide;
And through this desert land,
Still keep me near thy side;
O! let my feet ne'er run astray,
Nor rove, nor seek the crooked way.
6 I love my Shepherd's voice;

His watchful eyes shall keep

My wandering soul among

The thousands of his sheep:

He feeds his flock, He calls their names,
His bosom bears the tender lambs.

214

THE

C. M.

Christ our Shepherd.

HE Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want,
He makes me down to lie

In pastures green: He leadeth me

The quiet waters by.

2 My soul He doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
Even for his own name's sake.

3 Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale, Yet will I fear none ill;

For thou art with me, and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

4 My table thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;

My head thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

5 Goodness and

mercy all

my life,

Shall surely follow me:

And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.

215

JES

L. M.

Christ the Living Bread.

ESUS, thou art the living Bread, By which our needy souls are fed: In thee alone, thy children find Enough to fill the empty mind.

2 Without this bread I starve and die; No other can my need supply; But this will suit my wretched case, Abroad, at home, in every place. 3 "Tis this relieves the hungry poor, Who ask for bread at mercy's door; This living food descends from heaven, As manna to the Jews was given. 4 This precious food my heart revives, What strength, what nourishment it gives! O! let me evermore be fed

With this divine celestial Bread!

Christ the Life of the Soul.

HOW full of anguish is the thought,

How it distracts and tears my heart, If God, at last, my sovereign Judge, Should frown, and bid my soul "Depart!"

2 Lord, when I quit this earthly stage,
Where shall I fly but to thy breast?
For I have sought no other home,
For I have learned no other rest.
3 I cannot live contented here,

Without some glimpses of thy face;
And heaven, without thy presence there,
Would be a dark and tiresome place.
4 When earthly cares engross the day,
And hold my thoughts aside from thee,
The shining hours of cheerful light
Are long and tedious years to me.
5 And if no evening visit's paid
Between my Saviour and my soul,
How dull the night! how sad the shade!
How mournfully the minutes roll!
6 This flesh of mine might learn as soon
To live, yet part with all my blood;
To breathe, when vital air is gone,
Or thrive and grow without my food.
S. M.

217

Christ our Advocate.

THE great Redeemer's gone,
To appear before our God,
To sprinkle o'er the flaming throne,
With his atoning blood.

2 No fiery vengeance now,

No burning wrath comes down: If justice calls for sinners' blood, The Saviour shows his own.

3 Before his Father's eye

Our humble suit He moves:
The Father lays his thunder by,
And looks, and smiles, and loves.

4 Now may our joyful tongues
Our Maker's honour sing;

Jesus, the Priest, receives our songs,
And bears them to the King.

5 On earth thy mercy reigns,
And triumphs all above:

But, Lord, how weak are mortal strains,
To speak immortal love!

6 How jarring and how low

Are all the notes we sing!

Blest Saviour, tune our songs anew,
And they shall please the King.

218

WE

C. M.

Offices of Christ.

E bless the Prophet of the Lord,
Who comes with truth and grace;

Jesus, thy Spirit and thy word

Shall lead us in thy ways.

2 We reverence our High Priest above,
Who offered up his blood,
And lives to carry on his love,
By pleading with our God.

3 We honour our exalted King;
How sweet are his commands!
He guards our souls from hell and sin,
By his almighty hands.

4 Hosanna to his glorious name,
Who saves by different ways;
His mercies lay a sovereign claim
To our immortal praise.

Christ our Pattern.

My dear Redeemer,

Y dear Redeemer, and my Lord,
I read my duty in thy word;

But in thy life the law appears,
Drawn out in living characters.

2 Such was thy truth, and such thy zeal,
Such deference to thy Father's will,
Such love, and meekness so divine,

I would transcribe, and make them mine 3 Cold mountains and the midnight air Witnessed the fervour of thy prayer; The desert thy temptations knew, Thy conflict and thy victory too. 4 Be thou my pattern; make me bear More of thy gracious image here; Then God the Judge shall own my name, Among the followers of the Lamb.

220

8s 7s & 4s.

Christ our Guide.

GUIDE me, O thou great Jehovah,

Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven,

Feed me, till I want no more.

2 Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing streams do flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar

Lead me all my journey through;
Strong Deliverer,

Be thou still my strength and shield.
3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside:
Death of death, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side;
Songs of praises

I will ever give to thee.