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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 yawn'd,—and rudely blow'd The wind that toss'd my foundering bark 4 Deep horror then my vitals froze,

Death-struck, I ceas'd 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'sthrall,
It led me to the port of

peace.

6 Now safely moor'd-my perils o'er, I'll sing, first in night's diadem, For ever and for ever more,

The star!-the star of Bethlehem!

162.

MORNING STAR.

L. M.

The Morning Star.

10 THOU, whose beams serenely bright, Can chase the darkness of my soul, And pour a flood of purest light,

Where now the shades of midnight roll: Ah! why so long should horror shroud

This mourning breast with deep despair? Break through the dark and envious cloud, Arise, arise, O Morning star.

2 Through a long night of griefs and fears, With gloom and sorrow compass'd round I drop my uncomplaining tears,

Nor yet the radiant dawn have found; Still towards the chambers of the day, With eyes intent, expecting there,

With patient hope, thy promis'd ray,
I long for thee, sweet Morning star.
3 Increasing clouds announce thee nigh,
Slumber my weary eyes invades;
Death spreads his horrors o'er the sky,
And thickens all the gather'd shades.
I yield, I bow my drooping head,

Resign, at length, my anxious care
I sink awhile among the dead,

To wake and hail my Morning star.

L. M.

163. Bright and morning Star. Rev. xxii. 16
1 YE worlds of light, that roll so near
The Saviour's throne of shining bliss
O tell, how mean your glories are,
How faint and few, compar'd with his!
2 We sing the bright and morning Star,
Jesus, the spring of light and love:
See, how its rays, diffus'd from far,
Conduct us to the realms above!

3 Its cheering beams spread wide abroad,
Point out the puzzled Christian's way:
Still, as he goes, he finds the road
Enlighten'd with a constant day.

[Thus when the Eastern magi brought
Their royal gifts, a star appears;
Directs them to the babe they sought,
And guides their steps, and calms their fears.
5 When shall we reach the heavenly place
Where this bright Star shall brightest shine?
Leave far behind these scenes of night,
And view a lustre so divine?

ROCK OF AGES.

P. M.

164.Rock smitten; or the Rock of Ages, Isaiah.

1

xxvi. 4.

ROCK of Ages, shelter me!
Let me hide myself in thee!

Let the water and the blood,

From thy wounded side which flow'd, Be of sin the double cure;

Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

2 Not the labour of my hands
Can fulfil thy law's demands:
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,

All for sin could not atone:
Thou must save, and thou alone.

> Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross 1 cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress;
Helpless, look to thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Saviour, or I die!

4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eye-strings break in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See thee on thy judgment throne,-
Rock of Ages, shelter me!
Let me hide myself in thee!

FRIEND.

165.

1

ONE

P. M.

Prov. xviii. 24.

there is, above all others,
Well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love, beyond a brother's,
Costly, free, and knows no end.

2 Which of all our friends to save us, Could or would have shed his blood? But this Saviour died to have us

Reconcil'd in him to God.

3 When he liv'd on earth abased,

Friend of sinners was his name;

Now, above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same.

1

4 Oh, for grace our hearts to soften! Teach us, Lord, at length to love; We alas! forget too often,

What a Friend we have above.

166

1

P

L. M.

OOR, weak, and worthless, though I am,
I have a rich almighty friend;
Jesus, the Saviour, is his name,
He freely loves, and without end.

2 He ransom'd me from hell with blood;
And, by his power, my foes controll❜d:
He found me wandering far from God,
And brought me to his chosen fold.

3 But, ah! my iumost spirit mourns;
And well my eyes with tears may swim,
To think of my perverse returns:-
I've been a faithless friend to him.

4 Often my gracious friend I grieve,
Neglect, distrust, and disobey;
And often Satan's lies believe
Sooner than all my friend can say.

5 Sure, were I not most vile and basc,
I could not thus my friend requite!
And were not he the God of grace,
He'd frown and spurn me from his sight.

167.

JESUS, lover of

REFUGE.

P. M.

my soul,

Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the billows near me ro!l,
While the tempest still is high;
Hide ine, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide,
Oh, receive my soul at last!

2 Other refuge have I none,

Lo! I, helpless, hang on thee:
Leave, Uh, leave me not alone,
Lest I basely shrink and flee.
Thou art all my trust and aid,
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head

With the shadow of thy wing!
8 Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
Boundless love in thee I find:
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name;

I am all unrighteousness,
Vile and full of sin I am;

Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with thee is found,
Grace to pardon all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound,
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
Freely let me take of thee.
Reign, O Lord, within my heart,
Reign to all eternity.

168.

PHYSICIAN.

L. M.

Physician of Souls, Jer. viii. 22.

DEEP are the wounds which sin has made;

Where shall the sinner find a cure?

In vain, alas! in nature's afd;

The work exceeds all nature's power.
2 Sin, like a raging fever, reigns
With fatal strength in every part;
The dire contagion fills the veins,
And spreads its poison to the heart.
3 And can no sovereign balm be found?
And is no kind Physician nigh,

To ease the pain, and heal the wound,
Ere life and hope for ever fly?

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