3 Saviour! thy love is still the same As when that healing word was spoke; Still in thine all-redeeming name Dwells power to burst the strongest yoke! O, be that power, that love, displayed, Help those whom thou alone canst aid.
350 L. M. 6 lines. Come unto me, all ye that labor. Matt. 11:28.
Peace, troubled soul, whose plaintive moan Hath taught each scene the notes of woe; Cease thy complaint, suppress thy groan, And let thy tears forget to flow: Behold, the precious balm is found To lull thy pain, to heal thy wound.
2 Come, freely come, by sin oppressed; On Jesus cast thy weighty load; In him thy refuge find, thy rest, Safe in the mercy of thy God: Thy God’s thy Saviour—glorious word! O, hear, believe, and bless the Lord!
351 L. M. The Star of Bethlehem.
When marshaled on the nightly plain, The glittering host bestud the sky, One star alone, of all the train, Can fix the sinner’s wandering eye.
2 Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks, From every host, from every gem; But one alone the Saviour speaks— It is the Star of Bethlehem.
3 Once on the raging seas I rode; The storm was loud, the night was dark, The ocean yawned, and rudely blowed The wind that tossed my foundering bark.
4 Deep horror then my vitals froze; Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem; When suddenly a star arose— It was the Star of Bethlehem.
5 It was my guide, my light, my all; It bade my dark forebodings cease; And through the storm and danger’s thrall, It led me to the port of peace.
6 Now safely moored, my perils o’er, I’ll sing, first in night’s diadem, For ever, and for evermore, The Star—the Star of Bethlehem.
352 C. M. Power of faith.
Faith adds new charms to earthly bliss, And saves us from its snares; It yields support in all our toils, And softens all our cares.
2 The wounded conscience knows its power The healing balm to give; That balm the saddest heart can cheer, And make the dying live.
3 Unvailing wide the heavenly world, Where endless pleasures reign, It bids us seek our portion there, Nor bids us seek in vain.
4 There, still unshaken, would we rest Till this frail body dies; And then, on faith’s triumphant wing, To endless glory rise.
353 C. M. Increase our faith. Luke 17:5.
O for a faith that will not shrink, Though pressed by every foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any earthly woe!
2 That will not murmur nor complain Beneath the chastening rod, But, in the hour of grief or pain, Will lean upon its God;
3 A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without; That, when in danger, knows no fear, In darkness feels no doubt;
4 That bears, unmoved, the world’s dread frown, Nor heeds its scornful smile; That seas of trouble can not drown, Nor Satan’s arts beguile.
5 A faith that keeps the narrow way Till life’s last hour is fled, And with a pure and heavenly ray, Lights up a dying bed.
6 Lord, give us such a faith as this; And then, whate’er may come, We’ll taste, e’en here, the hallowed bliss Of an eternal home.
354 C. M. A living faith.
Mistaken souls, that dream of heaven, And make their empty boast Of inward joys, and sins forgiven, While they are slaves to lust!
2 How vain are fancy’s airy flights, If faith be cold and dead! None but a living power unites To Christ, the living Head.
3 ’Tis faith that purifies the heart; ’Tis faith that works by love; That bids all sinful joys depart, And lifts the thoughts above.
4 Faith must obey our Father’s will, As well as trust his grace; A pardoning God requires us still To walk in all his ways.
5 This faith shall every fear control By its celestial power, With holy triumph fill the soul In death’s approaching hour.
355 C. M. Glorying in the cross.
Didst thou, Lord Jesus, suffer shame, And bear the cross for me? And shall I fear to own thy name, Or thy disciple be?
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should dread To suffer shame or loss; O, let me in thy footsteps tread, And glory in thy cross.
356 C. M. Call to repentance.
Repent! the voice celestial cries, No longer dare delay: The soul that scorns the mandate dies, And meets a fiery day.
2 No more the sovereign eye of God O’erlooks the crimes of men; His heralds now are sent abroad To warn the world of sin.
3 O sinners! in his presence bow, And all your guilt confess; Accept the offered Saviour now Nor trifle with his grace.
4 Soon will the awful trumpet sound, And call you to his bar; His mercy knows the appointed bound, And yields to justice there.