3 Yet, Holy Father, wild despair Chase from my laboring breast; Thy grace it is which prompts the prayer, That grace can do the rest.
4 My life’s brief remnant all be thine; And when thy sure decree Bids me this fleeting breath resign, O, speed my soul to thee.
872 C. M. Let me not wander from thy commandments. Psalm 119:10.
Alas, what hourly dangers rise! What snares beset my way! To heaven, O, let me lift mine eyes, And hourly watch and pray.
2 How oft my mournful thoughts complain, And melt in flowing tears! My weak resistance, ah, how vain! How strong my foes and fears!
3 O gracious God! in whom I live, My feeble efforts aid; Help me to watch, and pray, and strive, Though trembling and afraid.
4 Increase my faith, increase my hope, When foes and fears prevail; And bear my fainting spirit up, Or soon my strength will fail.
5 O, keep me in thy heavenly way, And bid the tempter flee! And let me never, never stray From happiness and thee.
873 S. M. Ever with the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:17.
“For ever with the Lord,” Amen, so let it be; Life from the dead is in that word, ’Tis immortality.
2 Here in the body pent, Absent from him I roam, Yet nightly pitch my moving tent A day’s march nearer home.
3 My Father’s house on high, Home of my soul, how near At times, to faith’s aspiring eye, Thy golden gates appear!
4 Ah, then my spirit faints, To reach the land I love, The bright inheritance of saints, Jerusalem above.
5 Yet doubts still intervene, And all my comfort flies; Like Noah’s dove, I flit between Rough seas and stormy skies.
6 Anon the clouds depart, The winds and waters cease; While sweetly o’er my gladdened heart Expands the bow of peace.
874 C. M. peculiar. The fashion of this world, etc. 1 Cor. 7:31.
This world is poor from shore to shore, And, like a baseless vision, Its lofty domes and brilliant ore, Its gems and crowns are vain and poor; There’s nothing rich but heaven.
2 Empires decay, and nations die, Our hopes to winds, are given; The vernal blooms in ruin lie, Death reigns o’er all beneath the sky; There’s nothing sure but heaven.
3 Creation’s mighty fabric all Shall be to atoms riven— The skies consume, the planets fall, Convulsions rock this earthly ball; There’s nothing firm but heaven.
4 A stranger, lonely here I roam, From place to place am driven; My friends are gone, and I’m in gloom, This earth is all a dismal tomb; I have no home but heaven.
5 The clouds disperse—the light appears, My sins are all forgiven; Triumphant grace has quelled my fears: Roll on, thou sun! fly swift, my years! I’m on my way to heaven.
875 S. M. Watch!
My soul, be on thy guard; Ten thousand foes arise; The 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: Thy arduous work will not be done Till thou obtain 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.
876 S. M. Occupy till I come. Luke 19:13.
A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify, A never-dying soul to save, And fit it for the sky.
2 To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill; O, may it all my powers engage To do my Master’s will.
3 Arm me with jealous care As in thy sight to live; And O, thy servant, Lord, prepare A strict account to give.
4 Help me to watch and pray, And on thyself rely, Assured, if I my trust betray, I shall for ever die.
877 S. M. To him that overcometh. Rev. 2:7.
Arise, ye saints, arise! The Lord our Leader is; The foe before his banner flies, For victory is his.
2 Lead on, almighty Lord, Lead on, to victory! Encouraged by the bright reward: With joy we’ll follow thee.
3 We’ll follow thee, our Guide, Our Saviour and our King; We’ll follow thee, through grace supplied From heaven’s eternal spring.
4 We hope to see the day When all our toils shall cease; When we shall cast our arms away, And dwell in endless peace.
5 This hope supports us here, It makes our burdens light; ’Twill serve our drooping hearts to cheer, Till faith shall end in sight;
6 Till, of the prize possessed, We hear of war no more, And O, sweet thought! for ever rest On yonder peaceful shore!
878 S. M. Go forth to glorious war.
Hark, how the watchmen cry! Attend the trumpet’s sound; Stand to your arms: the foe is nigh— The powers of hell surround.
2 Who bow to Christ’s command, Your arms and hearts prepare; The day of battle is at hand— Go forth to glorious war.