Part 20
6. If on earth He bids me linger, He will guide me with His finger Through the years that now look dim. All that earth has fleets and changes, As a river onward ranges, But I rest in peace on Him.
Anon., 1673; C. Winkworth, tr., a., 1858.
364
C. M.
O God of Jacob, by whose hand Thy people still are fed; Who through this weary pilgrimage Hast all our fathers led;
2. To Thee our humble vows we raise, To Thee address our prayer And in Thy kind and faithful breast Deposit all our care.
3. Through each perplexing path of life Our wandering footsteps guide; Give us each day our daily bread And raiment fit provide.
4. O spread Thy covering wings around Till all our wanderings cease And at our Father’s loved abode Our souls arrive in peace.
5. To Thee, as to our covenant God, We’ll our whole selves resign And thankful own that all we are, And all we have, is Thine.
Philip Doddridge, 1737, a.
365
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 4, 6, 8
Lord, hear the voice of my complaint, To Thee I now commend me, Let not my heart and hope grow faint, But deign Thy grace to send me. True faith from Thee, my God, I seek, The faith that loves Thee solely, Keeps me lowly And prompt to aid the weak, And mark each word that Thou dost speak.
2. Yet more from Thee I dare to claim, Whose goodness is unbounded; O let me ne’er be put to shame, My hope be ne’er confounded, But e’en in death still find Thee true, And in that hour, else lonely, Trust Thee only, Not aught that I can do; For such false trust I sore should rue.
3. O grant that from my very heart My foes be all forgiven; Forgive my sins and heal their smart And grant new life from heaven. Thy Word, that blessed food, bestow, Which best the soul can nourish; Make it flourish Through all the storms of woe That else my faith might overthrow.
4. Then be the world my foe or friend, Keep me to her a stranger, Thy steadfast follower to the end, Through pleasure and through danger; From Thee alone comes such high grace, No works of ours obtain it Or can gain it; Our pride hath here no place— This Thy free promise we embrace.
5. Help me, for I am weak; I fight, Yet scarce can battle longer; I cling but to Thy grace and might, ’Tis Thou canst make me stronger; When sore temptations are my lot And tempests round me lower, Break the power: So, through deliverance wrought, I know that Thou forsak’st me not.
J. Agricola, 1531; C. Winkworth, 1863, a.
366
8, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8, 4, 8, 8
O Lord, I love Thee from my heart; I pray Thee, ne’er from me depart, With tender mercy cheer me; I scorn the richest earthly lot, E’en heaven and earth attract me not, If only Thou be near me. Yea, though my heart be like to break, Thou shalt my Trust that naught can shake, My Portion and my Comfort be, Who by Thy blood hast purchased me, Lord Jesus Christ! My God and Lord, my God and Lord! Forsake me not who trust Thy Word.
2. Yea, Lord, ’twas Thy free bounty gave My body, soul, and what I have In this poor life of labor; O grant that I may through Thy grace Use all my powers to show Thy praise And serve and help my neighbor. From all false doctrine keep me, Lord, From Satan’s lies and malice ward, In every cross uphold Thou me That I may bear it patiently. Lord Jesus Christ! My God and Lord, my God and Lord! In death Thy comfort still afford.
3. Ah! Lord, let Thy dear angels come At my last end to bear me home, That I may die unfearing; And in its narrow chamber keep My body safe in painless sleep Until Thy reappearing; And then from death awaken me That these mine eyes with joy may see, O Son of God, Thy glorious face, My Savior and my Fount of grace. Lord Jesus Christ! My prayer attend, my prayer attend, And I will praise Thee without end.
M. Schalling, c. 1567.
367
C. M.
The 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 path of righteousness, E’en for His own name’s sake.
3. Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, Yet will I fear no ill; For Thou art with me, and Thy rod And staff me comfort still.
4. My table Thou hast furnishèd 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 forevermore My dwelling-place shall be.
F. Rous, 1643.
368
C. M.
When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, I bid farewell to every fear And wipe my weeping eyes.
2. Should earth against my soul engage And hellish darts be hurled, Then I can smile at Satan’s rage And face a frowning world.
3. Let cares like a wild deluge come And storms of sorrow fall, May I but safely reach my home, My God, my heaven, my all!
4. There shall I bathe my weary soul In seas of heavenly rest And not a wave of trouble roll Across my peaceful breast.
Isaac Watts, 1707.
369
S. M.
My spirit on Thy care, Blest Savior, I recline; Thou wilt not leave me to despair, For Thou art Love divine.
2. In Thee I place my trust, On Thee I calmly rest; I know Thee good, I know Thee just, And count Thy choice the best.
3. Whate’er events betide, Thy will they all perform; Safe in Thy breast my head I hide Nor fear the coming storm.
4. Let good or ill befall, It must be good for me; Secure of having Thee in all, Of having all in Thee.
H. F. Lyte, 1834.
370
8, 5, 8, 3
I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, Trusting only Thee; Trusting Thee for full salvation, Great and free.
2. I am trusting Thee for pardon, At Thy feet I bow; For Thy grace and tender mercy, Trusting now.
3. I am trusting Thee for cleansing In the crimson flood; Trusting Thee to make me holy By Thy blood.
4. I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead, Every day and hour supplying All my need.
5. I am trusting Thee for power, Thine can never fail; Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me Must prevail.
6. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, Never let me fall; I am trusting Thee forever And for all.
F. R. Havergal, 1874.
371
7, 6, 8 l
To Thee, O dear, dear Savior, My spirit turns for rest, My peace is in Thy favor, My pillow on Thy breast; Though all the world deceive me, I know that I am Thine, And Thou wilt never leave me, O blessed Savior mine.
2. In Thee my trust abideth, On Thee my hope relies, O Thou whose love provideth For all beneath the skies; O Thou whose mercy found me, From bondage set me free, And then forever bound me With threefold cords to Thee.
3. My grief is in the dulness With which this sluggish heart Doth open to the fulness Of all Thou wouldst impart; My joy is in Thy beauty Of holiness divine, My comfort in the duty That binds my life in Thine.
4. Alas, that I should ever Have failed in love to Thee, The only One who never Forgot or slighted me! Oh, for a heart to love Thee More truly as I ought And nothing place above Thee In deed or word or thought!
5. Oh, for that choicest blessing Of living in Thy love And thus on earth possessing The peace of heaven above! Oh, for the bliss that by it The soul securely knows The holy calm and quiet Of faith’s serene repose!
J. S. B. Monsell, 1863.
372
8, 8, 6, 8, 8, 6 (C. P. M.)
Where’er I go, whate’er my task, The counsel of my God I ask, Who ruleth all things right; Unless He give both thought and deed, The utmost pains can ne’er succeed, And vain must be man’s might.
2. For what can all my toil avail? My care, my watching,—all must fail Unless my God is there. Then let Him order all for me As in His will He shall decree; On Him I cast my care.
3. For naught can come, as naught has been, But what my Father has foreseen And what shall work my good. Whate’er He gives me I will take, Whate’er He chooses I will make My choice with thankful mood.
4. I lean upon His mighty arm, Which shieldeth me from every harm And all calamity. If in His precepts I shall live, Whate’er is useful He will give; And naught can injure me.
5. But only may He of His grace The record of my guilt efface And wipe out all my debt; Though I have sinned, He will not straight Pronounce His judgment, He will wait, Have patience with me yet.
6. I travel to a distant land To serve the post wherein I stand, Which He hath bid me fill; And He will bless me with His light That I may serve His world aright And make me know His will.
7. And though through desert wilds I fare, Yet Jesus Christ is with me there, The Lord Himself is near; In all my dangers He will come, And He who kept me safe at home Can keep me safely here.
8. Yes, He will speed me on my way And point me where to go and stay And help me still and lead; Let me in health and safety live And time and wind and weather give And whatsoe’er I need.
9. His holy angel being near, My enemies I need not fear, For He protects me well; I owe it to my faithful Guide, Who never yet hath left my side, That I in peace may dwell.
10. When late at night my sleep I take, When early in the morn I wake, At rest, or on my way, In hours of weakness or in bonds, When, vexed with fears, my heart desponds, God’s Word is e’er my stay.
11. Since, then, my course is traced by Him, I will not fear that future dim, But go, whate’er befall, Well knowing naught awaits me there Too hard for me through Him to bear; With Him I’ll conquer all.
12. To Him myself I wholly give, At His command I die or live, I trust His love and power; And if to-morrow or to-day His summons come, I will obey, He knows the proper hour.
13. But if it please that Love most kind, And if this voice within my mind Be whispering not in vain, I yet shall praise my God ere long In many a sweet and joyful song When in my home again.
14. To those I love will He be near, With His consoling light appear, Who is my Shield and theirs; And He will grant beyond our thought What they and I alike have sought With tears and fervent prayers.
Paul Fleming, 1642; C. Winkworth, tr., 1858, a.
373
S. M.
Jesus, my Truth, my Way, My sure unerring Light, On Thee my feeble soul I stay, Which Thou wilt lead aright.
2. My Wisdom and my Guide, My Counselor Thou art; O let me never leave Thy side Nor from Thy paths depart!
3. Thou seest my feebleness; Jesus, be Thou my Power, My Help and Refuge in distress, My Fortress and my Tower.
4. Give me to trust in Thee; Be Thou my sure Abode; My Horn and Rock and Buckler be, My Savior and my God.
5. Myself I cannot save, Myself I cannot keep; But strength in Thee I surely have, Whose eyelids never sleep.
6. My soul to Thee alone Now, therefore, I commend. Thou, Jesus, having loved Thine own, Wilt love me to the end!
Charles Wesley, 1749.
374
S. M.
The Lord my Shepherd is, I shall be well supplied: Since He is mine and I am His, What can I want beside?
2. He leads me to the place Where heavenly pasture grows, Where living waters gently pass And full salvation flows.
3. If e’er I go astray, He doth my soul reclaim And guides me in His own right way For His most holy name.
4. While He affords His aid, I cannot yield to fear; Though I should walk through death’s dark shade, My Shepherd’s with me there.
5. The bounties of Thy love Shall crown my following days; Nor from Thy house will I remove Nor cease to speak Thy praise.
Isaac Watts, 1719.
375
11s 4 l
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2. In every condition,—in sickness, in health, In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth, At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,— As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
3. Fear not, I am with Thee, oh, be not dismayed; For I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
4. When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
6. E’en down to old age all My people shall prove My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love; And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn, Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I will not, I will not, desert to His foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never, forsake!
Keen, 1787.
WARFARE.
376
L. M.
Fight the good fight with all thy might; Christ is thy Strength and Christ thy Right. Lay hold on life, and it shall be Thy joy and crown eternally.
2. Run the straight race through God’s good grace, Lift up thine eyes and seek His face; Life with its way before us lies, Christ is the Path and Christ the Prize.
3. Cast care aside; upon thy Guide Lean, and His mercy will provide; Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove Christ is its Life and Christ its Love.
4. Faint not, nor fear, His arms are near; He changeth not, and thou art dear; Only believe, and thou shalt see That Christ is all in all to thee.
J. S. B. Monsell, 1863.
377
7, 6, 8 l
Stand up!—stand up for Jesus! Ye soldiers of the Cross; Lift high His royal banner, It must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory His army shall He lead, Till every foe is vanquished And Christ is Lord indeed.
2. Stand up!—stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obey; Forth to the mighty conflict In this His glorious day. Ye that are men, now serve Him Against unnumbered foes; Let courage rise with danger And strength to strength oppose.
3. Stand up!—stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone; The arm of flesh will fail you, Ye dare not trust your own. Put on the Gospel armor, Each piece put on with prayer; Where duty calls or danger, Be never wanting there.
4. Stand up!—stand up for Jesus! The strife will not be long; This day the noise of battle, The next, the victor’s song. To him that overcometh, A crown of life shall be; He with the King of Glory Shall reign eternally.
G. Duffield, 1858.
378
C. M.
Am I a soldier of the Cross, A follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own His cause Or blush to speak His name?
2. Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease While others fought to win the prize And sailed through bloody seas?
3. Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God?
4. Sure I must fight if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord! I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy Word.
5. Thy saints, in all this glorious war, Shall conquer, though they die; They see the triumph from afar With faith’s discerning eye.
6. When that illustrious day shall rise And all Thine armies shine In robes of victory through the skies, The glory shall be Thine.
Isaac Watts, 1709, a.
379
S. M.
My soul, be on thy guard; Ten thousand foes arise, And hosts of sin are pressing hard To draw thee from the skies.
2. O watch and fight and pray, The battle ne’er give o’er; Renew it boldly every day And help divine implore.
3. Ne’er think the victory won, Nor lay thine armor down; Thine arduous work will not be done Till thou receive thy crown.
4. Fight on, my soul, till death Shall bring thee to thy God; He’ll take thee at thy parting breath To His divine abode.
George Heath, 1781.
380
S. M.
Soldiers of Christ, arise And put your armor on; Strong in the strength which God supplies Through His eternal Son.
2. Strong in the Lord of hosts And in His mighty power. Who in the strength of Jesus trusts Is more than conqueror.
3. Stand, then, in His great might, With all His strength endued; But take, to arm you for the fight, The panoply of God:
4. That, having all things done And all your conflicts past, Ye may o’ercome through Christ alone And stand entire at last.
5. From strength to strength go on, Wrestle and fight and pray; Tread all the powers of darkness down And win the well-fought day.
6. Still let the Spirit cry In all His soldiers, “Come,” Till Christ the Lord descends from high And takes the conquerors home.
Charles Wesley, 1749.
381
7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6
Rise, my soul, to watch and pray, From thy sleep awake thee, Lest at last the evil day Suddenly o’ertake thee; For the Foe, Well we know, Oft his harvest reapeth While the Christian sleepeth.
2. But first rouse thee and awake From secure indiff’rence; Else will follow in its wake Woe without deliv’rance. O beware! Soul, take care! Death in sins might find thee Ere thou look behind thee.
3. Wake and watch, or else thy night Christ can ne’er enlighten; Far off still will seem the light That thy path should brighten; God demands Eyes and hands Open for the offers He so richly proffers.
4. Watch against the devil’s snares Lest asleep he find thee; For, indeed, no pains he spares To deceive and blind thee; Satan’s prey Oft are they Who are soundly sleeping And no good watch keeping.
5. Watch against the world that frowns Darkly to dismay thee; Watch when she thy wishes crowns, Smiling to betray thee; Watch and see Thou art free From false friends that charm thee While they seek to harm thee.
6. Watch against thyself, my soul; See thou do not stifle Grace that should thy thoughts control Nor with mercy trifle. Pride and sin Lurk within All thy hopes to scatter; List not when they flatter.
7. But while watching, also see That thou pray unceasing; For the Lord must make thee free, Strength and faith increasing, So to do Service true. Let not sloth enslave thee; Pray, and He will save thee.
8. Yea, indeed, He bids us pray, Promising to hear us, E’er to be our Staff and Stay, Ever to be near us. Ere we plead Will He heed, Strengthen, keep, defend us, And deliv’rance send us.
9. Courage, then, for all things must Work for good and bless us, If we but in prayerful trust To His Son address us; For He will Richly fill And His Spirit send us, Who to Him commend us.
10. Therefore let us watch and pray Ever without ceasing, For we know with every day Dangers are increasing, And the end Doth impend; When the trumpet calleth, Earth in ruins falleth.
J. B. Freystein, 1704.
382
S. M.
Ye servants of the Lord, Each in his office wait, Observant of His heavenly Word And watchful at His gate.
2. Let all your lamps be bright And trim the golden flame; Gird up your loins, as in His sight, For awful is His name.
3. Watch! ’tis your Lord’s command; And while we speak, He’s near. Mark the first signal of His hand And ready all appear.
4. O happy servant he In such a posture found! He shall his Lord with rapture see And be with honor crowned.
Philip Doddridge, 1755.
RESIGNATION.
383
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7
Lord, as Thou wilt, deal Thou with me, No other wish I cherish; In life and death I cling to Thee, O Lord, let me not perish! Let but Thy grace ne’er from me part, Else as Thou wilt; grant patient heart: Thy will the best is ever.
2. Grant honor, truth, prosperity, And love Thy Word to ponder; False doctrines, Lord, keep far from me And grant both here and yonder What serves my everlasting bliss; Preserve me from unrighteousness In all my life and doings.
3. When at Thy summons I must leave This world of sin and sadness, Grant me Thy grace, Lord, not to grieve, But to depart with gladness. My spirit I commend to Thee; O Lord, a blessed end give me Through Jesus Christ;—yea. Amen.
C. Melissander, 1574.
384
6s 8 l
Thy way, not mine, O Lord, However dark it be! Lead me by Thine own hand, Choose out my path for me. I dare not choose my lot; I would not if I might. Choose Thou for me, my God, So shall I walk aright.
2. The kingdom that I seek Is Thine; so let the way That leads to it be Thine, Else I must surely stray. Take Thou my cup and it With joy or sorrow fill, As best to Thee may seem; Choose Thou my good and ill.
3. Choose Thou for me my friends, My sickness or my health; Choose Thou my cares for me, My poverty or wealth. Not mine, not mine, the choice, In things or great or small; Be Thou my Guide, my Strength, My Wisdom and my All.
H. Bonar, 1857.
385
6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6
What is the world to me And all its vaunted pleasure When Thou, and Thou alone, Lord Jesus, art my Treasure! Thou only, dearest Lord, My soul’s Delight shalt be; Thou art my Peace, my Rest,— What is the world to me!