Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small ;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
HYMN 24. 6 LINES 7s.
Christ the Rock of Ages.
ROCK of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From thy wounded side which flow'd,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.
Not the labour of my hands
Can fulfil thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone,
Thou must save, and thou alone.
3 Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress;
Helpless, look to thee for grace;
Vile, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See thee on thy judgment-throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee!
EASTER-DAY.
HYMN 25. 7s.
The Resurrection of Christ celebrated:
JESUS Christ is risen to-day,
Who so lately on the cross,
Suffer'd to redeem our loss.
Hymns of praises let us sing
Unto Christ our heavenly King;
Who endur'd the cross and grave,
Sinners to redeem and save.
For the pains which he endur'd
Our salvation have procur'd;
Now he reigns above the sky,
Where the angels ever cry,
HYMN 26. 7s. D.
Christ's triumph over death and the grave.
CHRIST the Lord is risen to-day,
Sons of men and angels say;
Raise your joys and triumphs high;
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply:
Love's redeeming work is done,
Fought the fight, the battle won:
Lo! the sun's eclipse is o'er;
Darkness veils the earth no more
2 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal,
Christ hath burst the gates of hell:
Death in vain forbids his rise;
Christ hath open'd Paradise :
Lives again our glorious King!
Where, O death, is now thy sting?
Once he died our souls to save;
Where's thy victory, boasting grave?
3 Soar we now where Christ has led,
Following our exalted head:
Made like him, like him we rise,
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies:
Hail, the Lord of earth and heaven,
Praise to thee by both be given;
Thee we greet triumphant now;
Hail, the Resurrection Thou!
HYMN 27.C. M.
The resurrection a ground of joy.
AGAIN the Lord of life and light
Awakes the kindling_ray,
Unseals the eyelids of the morn,
And pours celestial day.
O what a night was that, which wrapt
A sinful world in gloom!
O what a sun, which broke this day
Triumphant from the tomb!
This day be grateful homage paid,
And loud hosannas sung;
Let gladness dwell in every heart,
And praise on every tongue.
Ten thousand differing lips shall join,
To hail this happy morn;
Which scatters blessings from its wings,
To nations yet unborn.
Christ a dying and a risen Saviour.
HE dies! the friend of sinners dies!
Lo! Salem's daughters weep around:
A solemn darkness veils the skies,
A sudden trembling shakes the ground.
Come, saints, the contrite tear renew,
For him who groan'd beneath your load
He freely gave his life for you,
Pour'd forth in streams of precious blood.
Here's love and grief beyond degree,
The Lord of glory dies for men!
But lo! with sacred joy we see
Jesus, the dead, revive again!
The rising God forsakes the tomb,
Up to his Father's court he flies:
Angelic legions guard him home,
And shout him welcome to the skies!
Live then for ever, wondrous King!
Born to redeem, and strong to save;
Thine arm hath torn from death its sting,
And snatch'd the victory from the grave.
HYMN 29. c. M.
The Redeemer conquering death.
THE Sun of Righteousness appears,
To set in blood no more:
The Light, which scatters all your fears,
Your rising God adore.
The saints, when he resign'd his breath,
Unclos'd their sleeping eyes;
He breaks again the bands of death,
Again the dead arise.
Alone the dreadful race he ran,
Alone the wine-press trod;
He groans, he dies, behold the man!
He lives, behold the God!
In vain the stone, the watch, the scal,
Forbid the Lord to rise;
He breaks the gates of death and hell,
And opens paradise.
HYMN 30. L. M.
Christ's sufferings and glory.
NOW for a song of lofty praise,
To great Jehovah's equal Son!
Awake, my voice, in heavenly lays,
Declare the wonders he hath done.
Sing how he left the worlds of light,
And the bright robes he wore above;
How swift and joyful was his flight,
On wings of everlasting love!
Deep in the shades of gloomy death,
The Incarnate Saviour captive lay:
The Almighty Conqueror left the earth,
And rose to everlasting day.
Lift up your eyes, ye sons of light,
To his celestial throne of grace;
See what effulgent beams unite
To shed their lustre o'er his face!
Amidst a thousand harps and songs,
Jesus the God exalted reigns;
His sacred name employs their tongues,
And echoes through the heavenly plains.
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