We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear. When we asunder part, It gives us inward pain; From sorrow, toil and pain, And sin, we shall be free; NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT. Now thank we all our God, With heart and hands and voices! Who wondrous things hath done, Hath blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love; Oh, may this bounteous God Through all our life be near us! With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us; And keep us in his grace, And guide us when perplexed, And free us from all ills In this world and the next. THE SPACIOUS FIRMAMENT. The spacious firmament on high, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim. The unwearied sun, from day to day, Does his Creator's power display, And publishes to every land The work of an Almighty hand. Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the listening earth Repeats the story of her birth; Whilst all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole. What though in solemn silence all MISSIONARY HYMN. From Greenland's icy mountains, from India's coral strand; What though the spicy breezes blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle, Waft, waft, ye winds, his story, and you, ye waters, roll, JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL. Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly, While the billows near me roll, while the tempest still is high. Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, till the storm of life be past; Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last. Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on thee; Plenteous grace with thee is found, grace to pardon all my sin; I WOULD NOT LIVE ALWAY. I would not live alway: I ask not to stay I would not live alway thus fettered by sin, I would not live alway; no-welcome the tomb, Who, who would live alway, away from his God, Where the rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains, Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet, COME, YE DISCONSOLATE. Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish ; Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure, Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot cure." Here see the bread of life; see waters flowing Forth from the throne of God, pure from above; Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing Earth has no sorrow but heaven can remove. THE NINETY AND NINE. There were ninety and nine that safely lay But one was out on the hills away, Away on the mountains wild and bare, "Lord, thou hast here thy ninety and nine; But the Shepherd made answer: "Tis of mine has wandered away from me " But none of the ransomed ever knew How deep were the waters crossed; Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed thro, But all through the mountains, thunder-riven, There arose a cry to the gate of heaven, Rejoice! I have found my sheep!" And the angels echoed around the throne, PRAYER. Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The upward glancing of an eye, Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try; Prayer the sublimest strains that reach Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice While angels in their songs rejoice, Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, His watchword at the gate of death: FLEE AS A BIRD. Flee as a bird to your mountain, Where you may wash and be clean; Fly, for tho' avenger is near thee, Oh, thou who art weary of sin. He will protect thee forever, He will forsake thee, oh! never, Sheltered so tenderly there! The Saviour will wipe every tear. SOFTLY NOW THE LIGHT OF DAY. Softly now the light of day Open fault, and secret sin. Soon, for me, the light of day Then, from sin and sorrow free, Thou who, sinless, yet hast known Then, from thine eternal throne, COME, HOLY SPIRIT. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove, In vain we tune our lifeless songs, Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove, STILL, STILL WITH THEE. Still, still with thee-when purple morning breaketh, When wake the birds, and all the shadows flee; Fairer than morning, lovelier than the daylight, Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with thee! |