Christ the Royal Master
Leads against the foe,
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go.
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
Looking unto Jesus,
Who is gone before.
2 At the Name of Jesus
Satan's host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
Ón to victory.
Hell's foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise.
Onward, &c.
3 Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
All one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
4 Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane,
But the Church of Jesus
Constant will remain;
Gates of hell can never
'Gainst that Church prevail; We have Christ's own promise, And that cannot fail.
3 Now rest my long-divided heart,
Fix'd on this blissful centre, rest:
O who with earth would grudge to part,
When call'd with angels to be blest ?
4 High Heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renew'd shall daily hear;
Till in life's latest hour I bow,
And bless in death a bond so dear. Amen.
382 "Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest."
1 O JESU, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou for ever near me,
My Master and my Friend!
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway,
If Thou wilt be my Guide.
2 O let me feel Thee near me-
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesu, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.
3 0 let me hear Thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storm of passion,
The murmurs of self-will.
O speak to re-assure me,
To hasten or control:
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul!
4 O Jesu, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee,
That where Thou art in glory,
There shall Thy servant be;
And, Jesu, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow
My Master and my Friend!
5 O let me see Thy foot-marks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
O guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then in heaven receive me,
My Saviour and my Friend! Amen.
Matrimony.
"God blessed them."
1 THE voice that breathed o'er Eden,
That earliest wedding-day,
The primal marriage blessing,
It hath not pass'd 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 blessèd 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, gracious Saviour!
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 O spread Thy pure wing o'er them!
Let no ill power find place,
When onward to Thine altar
The hallow'd path they trace;
8 To cast their crowns before Thee
In perfect sacrifice,
Till to the home of gladness
With Christ's own Bride they rise!
384 "Being heirs together of the grace of life.”
1 FATHER of life, confessing
Thy majesty and power,
We seek Thy gracious blessing
To greet the bridal hour.
The troth in Eden plighted
The wedded here renew;
May they, in Thee united,
Till death be pure and true.
2 Jesu, Redeemer, hear us!
Still be the Wedding Guest;
Thy gentle Presence near us
Makes common things more blest;
E'en care shall be a learning
Of blessedness divine,
If Thou wilt still be turning
The water into wine.
3 Spirit of Love, descending,
Impart Thy joy and peace,
These hopes together blending,
Bless with Thine own increase.
Athwart the roughen'd ocean,
Or on the peaceful tide,
Thy breath through each emotion
Their heavenward course shall guide.
4 The Church, Thy Bride, hath given
Her blessing on the vow;
O ratify from Heaven
Her benison below.
Bless, Father, Son, and Spirit,
The union here begun,
That in the life eternal
It may be ever one. Amen.
Visitation of the Sick.
385 "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities
Who healeth all thy diseases.
1 WHEN languor and disease invade
This trembling house of clay,
'Tis sweet to look beyond the cage,
And long to fly away.
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