The Christian Life.

"Be strong and of a good courage. for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee."-Deut. xxxi. 6.

Elan, 491.]

6.5. 12 lines.

[8. B. GOULD,

328 ONWARD, Christian soldiers,

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before,
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
Still His banners go.

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before.

2 At the sign of triumph
Satan's host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!

Hell's foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise.

3 Like a mighty army

Onward, &c.

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.

Onward, &c,

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.

Onward, &c.

5 Onward, then, ye people,
Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices,
In the triumph-song;
Glory, praise, and honour,
Unto Christ, the King,
His through countless ages
Men and angels sing.

Onward, &c.

"Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward."

Coppet, 456.]

Ex. xiv. 15.

6.5. 12 lines.

[ALFORD,

329 FORWARD! be our watchword,

Steps and voices joined ;
Seek the things before us,

Not a look behind:

Burns the fiery pillar

At our army's head;

се

Who shall dream of shrinking,
By our Captain led?
Forward through the desert,
Through the toil and fight:
Canaan lies before us,

Sion beams with light.

2 Forward, when in childhood
Buds the infant mind;
All through youth and manhood,
Not a thought behind:
Speed through realms of nature,
Climb the steps of grace;

Faint not, till in glory

Gleams our Father's face :
Forward, all the lifetime,

Climb from height to height;
Till the head be hoary,
Till the eye be light.

3 Forward, flock of Jesus,
Salt of all the earth;
Till each yearning purpose
Spring to glorious birth;
Sick, they ask for healing,
Blind, they grope for day;
Pour upon the nations
Wisdom's loving ray:
Forward, out of error,

Leave behind the night;

Forward through the darkness,
Forward into light.

4 Glories upon glories

Hath our God prepared,
By the souls that love Him,
One day to be shared :
Eye hath not beheld them;
Ear hath never heard;
Nor of these hath uttered
Thought or speech a word:
Forward, ever forward,
Clad in armour bright;
Till the veil be lifted,
Till our faith be sight.

5 Far o'er yon horizon
Rise the city towers,
Where our God abideth;

That fair home is ours:
Flash the streets with jasper,
Shine the gates with gold;
Flows the gladdening river,
Shedding joys untold:
Thither, onward thither,
In the Spirit's might:
Pilgrims, to your country,
Forward into Light.

"Set your affection on things above."—Col. iii. 2.

Carrow, 496.]

330

MY

Y God, I thank Thee, who hast made
The earth so bright;

So full of splendour and of joy,

Beauty and light;

So many glorious things are here,
Noble and right.

2 I thank Thee too, that Thou hast made
Joy to abound;

So many gentle thoughts and deeds
Circling us round;

That in the darkest spot of earth
Some love is found.

3 I thank Thee more that all our joy
Is touched with pain;

That shadows fall on brightest hours,
That thorns remain ;

So that earth's bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

4 I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept
The best in store;

We have enough, yet not too much,
To long for more;

A yearning for a deeper peace
Not known before.

5 I thank Thee, Lord, that here our souls,
Though amply blest,

Can never find, although they seek,
A perfect rest;

Nor ever shall, until they lean
On Jesus' breast.

"He led them on safely, so that they feared not."

Compton, 403.

Ps. lxxviii. 53.

Hemingford, 404.} 10.4.10.4.

331 I

[A. A. PROCTER.

Do not ask, O Lord, that life may be
A pleasant road;

I do not ask that Thou wouldst take from me

Aught of its load.