477 L. M. Christian fellowship.
Kindred in Christ, for his dear sake A hearty welcome here receive; May we together now partake The joys which only he can give.
2 May he, by whose kind care we meet, Send his good spirit from above; Make our communications sweet, And cause our hearts to burn with love.
3 Forgotten be each worldly theme, When Christians meet together thus; We only wish to speak of him Who lived, and died, and reigns for us.
4 We’ll talk of all he did, and said, And suffered for us here below; The path he marked for us to tread, And what he’s doing for us now.
5 Thus—as the moments pass away— We’ll love, and wonder, and adore; And hasten on the glorious day When we shall meet to part no more.
478 L. M. Come in, thou blessed of the Lord. Gen. 24:31.
Come in, thou blesséd of our God, In Jesus’ name we bid thee come; No more thy feet shall roam abroad, Henceforth a brother—welcome home.
2 Those joys which earth can not afford, We’ll seek in fellowship to prove, Joined in one spirit to our Lord, Together bound by mutual love.
3 And while we pass this vale of tears We’ll make our joys and sorrows known; We’ll share each other’s hopes and fears, And count a brother’s cares our own.
4 Once more our welcome we repeat, Receive assurance of our love; O may we all together meet Around the throne of God above.
479 L. M. Christian affection.
How blest the sacred tie that binds, In sweet communion, kindred minds! How swift the heavenly course they run, Whose hearts, whose faith, whose hopes are one!
2 To each the soul of each how dear! What tender love, what holy fear! How doth the generous flame within Refine from earth, and cleanse from sin!
3 Their streaming eyes together flow For human guilt and mortal woe; Their ardent prayers together rise Like mingling flames in sacrifice.
4 Nor shall the glowing flame expire, When dimly burns frail nature’s fire; Then shall they meet in realms above, A heaven of joy, a heaven of love.
480 L. M. The more excellent way. 1 Cor. 12:31.
Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews, And nobler speech than angels use, If love be absent, I am found, Like tinkling brass, an empty sound.
2 Were I inspired to preach and tell All that is done in heaven and hell— Or could my faith the world remove— Still I am nothing without love.
3 Should I distribute all my store To feed the hungry, clothe the poor— Or give my body to the flame, To gain a martyr’s glorious name—
4 If love to God and love to men Be absent, all my hopes are vain; Nor tongues, nor gifts, nor fiery zeal, The work of love can e’er fulfill.
481 L. M. The pilgrim band.
Come, you that love the Lord indeed, Who are from sin and bondage freed, Submit to all the ways of God, And walk the narrow, happy road. CHORUS. We’re all united heart and hand, Joined in one band completely; We’re marching through Immanuel’s land, Where waters flow most sweetly.
2 Great tribulation you shall meet, But soon shall walk the golden street; Though hell may rage and vent its spite, Yet Christ will save his heart’s delight.
3 That happy day will soon appear When Michael’s trumpet you shall hear Sound through the earth—yea, down to hell, And call the nations, great and small.
4 Behold the righteous marching home, And all the angels bid them come, While Christ the Judge these words proclaims, “Here come my saints—I own their names!”
5 “You everlasting gates, fly wide, Make ready to receive my bride; You harps of heaven, now sound aloud, Here come the ransomed by my blood!”
6 In grandeur see the royal line, In glittering robes the sun outshine! See saints and angels join in one, And march in splendor to the throne.
7 They stand, and wonder, and look on: They join in one eternal song, Their great Redeemer to admire, While rapture sets their souls on fire.
482 L. M. Thy little flock in safety keep.
Jesus, thou Shepherd of the sheep, Thy little flock in safety keep; These lambs within thine arms now take, Nor let them e’er thy fold forsake.
2 Secure them from the scorching beam, And lead them to the living stream; In verdant pastures let them lie, And watch them with a shepherd’s eye!
3 O, teach them to discern thy voice, And in its sacred sound rejoice! From strangers may they ever flee, And know no other guide but thee.
4 Lord, bring thy sheep that wander yet, And let their number be complete; Then let the flock from earth remove, And reach the heavenly fold above.
483 L. M. Organization of a church.