336 L. M. The wise choice.
Though all the world my choice deride, Yet Jesus shall my portion be; For I am pleased with none beside; The fairest of the fair is he.
2 Sweet is the vision of thy face, And kindness o’er thy lips is shed; Lovely art thou, and full of grace, And glory beams around thy head.
3 Thy sufferings I embrace with thee, Thy poverty and shameful cross; The pleasure of the world I flee, And deem its treasures only dross.
4 Be daily dearer to my heart, And ever let me feel thee near; Then willingly with all I’d part, Nor count it worthy of a tear.
337 L. M. The solace of faith.
When human hopes and joys depart, I give thee, Lord, a contrite heart; And on my weary spirit steal The thoughts that pass all earthly weal.
2 I cast above my tearful eyes, And muse upon the starry skies; And think that he who governs there Still keeps me in his guardian care.
3 I gaze upon the opening flower, Just moistened with the evening shower; And bless the love which made it bloom, To chase away my transient gloom.
4 I think, whene’er this mortal frame Returns again to whence it came, My soul shall wing its happy flight To regions of eternal light.
338 L. M. Christ the soul’s portion.
Let thoughtless thousands choose the road That leads the soul away from God; This happiness, blest Lord, be mine, To live and die entirely thine.
2 On Christ, by faith, my soul would live, From him my life, my all receive; To him devote my fleeting hours, Serve him alone with all my powers.
3 Christ is my everlasting all; To him I look, on him I call; He will my every want supply In time and through eternity.
4 Soon will the Lord, my life, appear; Soon shall I end my trials here; Leave sin and sorrow, death and pain; To live is Christ, to die is gain.
339 L. M. God calling yet.
God calling yet! shall I not hear? Earth’s pleasures shall I still hold dear? Shall life’s swift passing years all fly, And still my soul in slumbers lie?
2 God calling yet! shall I not rise? Can I his loving voice despise, And basely his kind care repay? He calls me still: can I delay?
3 God calling yet! and shall he knock, And I my heart the closer lock? He still is waiting to receive, And shall I dare his Spirit grieve?
4 God calling yet! and shall I give No heed, but still in bondage live? I wait, but he does not forsake; He calls me still! my heart, awake!
5 God calling yet! I can not stay; My heart I yield without delay; Vain world, farewell! from thee I part; The voice of God hath reached my heart.
340 L. M. Christ the Redeemer and Judge.
Now to the Lord, who makes us know The wonders of his dying love, Be humble honors paid below, And strains of nobler praise above.
2 ’Twas he who cleansed us from our sins, And washed us in his precious blood; ’Tis he who makes us priests and kings, And brings us, rebels, near to God.
3 To Jesus, our atoning Priest, To Jesus, our eternal King, Be everlasting power confessed; Let every tongue his glory sing.
4 Behold, on flying clouds he comes, And every eye shall see him move; Though with our sins we pierced him once, Now he displays his pardoning love.
5 The unbelieving world shall wail, While we rejoice to see the day: Come, Lord, nor let thy promise fail, Nor let the chariot long delay.
341 L. M. Self-abasement.
Ah! wretched, vile, ungrateful heart! That can from Jesus thus depart; Thus fond of trifles, widely rove, Forgetful of a Saviour’s love.
2 Dear Lord! to thee I would return, And at thy feet, repentant, mourn; There let me view thy pardoning love, And never from thy sight remove.
3 O let thy love, with sweet control, Bind every passion of my soul; Bid every vain desire depart, And dwell for ever in my heart.
342 L. M. Returning.
Awaked from sin’s delusive sleep, My heavy guilt I feel, and weep; Beneath a weight of woes oppressed, I come to thee, my Lord, for rest.
2 Now, from thy throne of grace above, Look down upon my soul in love; That smile shall sweeten all my pain, And make my soul rejoice again.
3 By thy divine, transforming power, My ruined nature now restore; And let my life and temper shine, In blest resemblance, Lord! to thine.
343 L. M. Just as I am.
Just as I am—without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come.
2 Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot— To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come.