xbh Cruffj in •ymn£ (EljarU* (SLntljbtxl 3fall FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY /5T, £&J 0i OF PR/% WENTY-FOUR LES30jN'SJ*H ffcll)§3 3 TRATE CHRISTIANVfeL JEF AN CHRISTIAN EXPERIENC^KL^iklf OF CHRISTIAN HYMNS <£ ^ COMPILED BY Rev. Charles Cuthbert Hall, D. D. President of Union Theological Seminary, New York 1W York : The International Committee of Young t|f s Christian Associations, 3 West Twenty-Ninth St. Copyright, 1899 by The Internationa] Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations. INTRODUCTORY NOTE. The compiler of these lessons has had a spiritual, rather than a literary, end in view. He has not dealt with questions of authorship in connection with the hymns here used. He has chosen and grouped hymns which suggestively present leading ideas of Christian belief and Christian experience. In connection with the theme of each lesson he has offered a few words of suggestion to those who may undertake these studies. He has also named, under each lesson title, a few passages of Scrip- ture which are but suggestions to lead the Bible student on into the vast treasures of the Word of God. The compiler believes that the spiritual study of hymns may be made a very helpful exercise, and his prayer is that this simple and modest attempt in this direction may encourage others to pursue the work far into the fruitful fields of English hym- nology. Westport Point, Massachusetts, September, 1899. We acknowledge the courtesy extended by the pub Ushers of the following books in permitting the use o copyright hymns: Evangelical Hymnal.— A. S. Barnes & Co., New York. Hymns of the Faith.— Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston. The Plymouth Hymnal.— The Outlook Company, New York. Epworth Hymnal, No. 2.— Eaton & Mains, New York. Church Hymns and Gospel Songs.— The Biglow & Main Company, New York. Sursum Corda. — American Baptist Publication So- ciety, Philadelphia. Hymnal for Schools.— Fords, Howard & Hurlbert. New York. Songs for the Sanctuary.— The Century Company, New York. SCHEME OF TWENTY-FOUR LESSONS TO ILLUSTRATE CHRISTIAN BELIEF AND CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE BY MEANS OF CHRISTIAN HYMNS. Part I: Christian Belief. Lesson I. The Eternal God. II. The Perfection of God's Character. III. The Father Almighty. IV. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Pre-existent Word. V. The Lord Jesus Christ as God Manifest in the Flesh. VI. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Ministering Friend. VII. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Atoning Saviour. VIII. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Risen and Ascended Conqueror. IX. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Exalted, Interceding and Com- ing King. X. The Holy Spirit Counselling and Guiding the Church of Christ. XL The Holy Spirit Abiding in the Consecrated Life. XII. The Holy Scriptures as the Very Word of God. 5 Part II : Christian Experience. Lesson XIII. The Renunciation of Sin. XIV. Entire Consecration. XV. Kept by the Power of God. XVI. Prayer. XVII. The Realization of the Presence of Christ. XVIII. Progress in the Life of Grace. XIX. The Victory of Faith. XX. "That your joy might be full." XXI. " Ye are My Witnesses." XXII. World-wide Missions. XXIII. " Them also which sleep in Jesus." XXIV. " That Blessed Hope." PART I. CHRISTIAN BELIEF. LESSON I. The Eternal God. Suggestion: A deep, vital belief in God's Existence lies at the foundation of personal religion. This belief is not a negative taking for granted that there is a God; it is the adoring contemplation of God with the eyes of faith, the positive and fer- vent worship of God as the Ever Living One. It is the object of this lesson to intensify our pres- ent consciousness that God is; and that God is Three in One. Let us not lose ourselves in metaphysical attempts to solve the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Let us simply receive the Scrip- ture teaching of the Three in One. Scriptural Basis. Exod.3:14. Heb. 11:6. John 4:23, 24. Rev. 15:4. Psalm 148. John 14:24-26. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Holy, Hoi}-, Holy, Lord God Almighty ! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee : Holy, Holy, Holy ! Merciful and Mighty ! God in Three Persons, blessed Trinitv ! 2. Holy, Holy, Holy ! all the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea, Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be. 3. Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee, Perfect in power, in love and purity. 4. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea, Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty, God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity! Plymouth Hymnal— 4. —Reginald Heber. 1. O God, we praise Thee, and confess That Thou the only Lord And Everlasting Father art, By all the earth adored. 2. To Thee all angels cry aloud ; To Thee the powers on high, Both cherubim and seraphim, Continually do cry: 3. O Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, Whom heavenly hosts obej', The world is with the glory filled Of Thy majestic sway ! 4. The apostles' glorious company, And prophets crowned with light, With all the martyrs' noble host, Thy constant praise recite. 5. The Holy Church throughout the world, O Lord, confesses Thee, That Thou Eternal Father art, Of boundless majesty. Plymouth Hymnal— 87. —Tate and Brady. 8 1. Come, Thou almighty King, Help us Thy name to sing, Help us to praise. Father all glorious, O'er all victorious, Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days 2. Jesus, our Lord, arise, Scatter our enemies, And make them fall. Let Thine almighty aid Our sure defence be made, Our souls on Thee be stayed : Lord, hear our call. 3. Come, Thou Incarnate Word, Gird on Thy mighty sword, Our prayer attend ; Come and Thy people bless, And give Thy word success : Spirit of holiness, On us descend. 4. Come, Holy Comforter, Thy sacred witness bear, In this glad hour. Thou, who almighty art, Xow rule in every heart, And ne'er from us depart, Spirit of power. 5. To the great One in Three The highest praises be, Hence evermore. His sovereign majesty May we in glory see, And to eternity Love and adore ! Plymouth Hymnal— 102. —Charles Wesley. 1. All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice, Him serve with fear. His praise forth tell, Come ye before Him and rejoice. 2. The Lord, ye know, is God indeed, Without our aid He did us make ; We are His flock, He doth us feed, And for His sheep He doth us take. 3. Oh, enter, then, His gates with praise, Approach with joy His courts unto ; Praise, laud, and bless His name always, For it is seemly so to do. 4. For why? the Lord our God is good, His mercy is forever sure ; His truth at all times firmly stood, And shall from age to age endure. Hymns of the Faith— 38. — William Kelhe {?) 1. Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home ! 2. Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure ; Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defence is sure. 3. Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame ; From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same. 4. A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone : Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun. 5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away ; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day. 6. Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come. Be Thou our guard while troubles last. And our eternal home. Evangelical Hymnal— 101. —Isaac Watts 10 lesson n. The Perfection of God's Character. Suggestion: If we believe that "this is life eternal," to know God, then, in so far as God has revealed to us His Moral Attributes, we should fix our minds upon them. We know our dearest friends only as we know their individual traits. Our study of the Character of God, as disclosed in the Bible, should be eager, constant, discrimi- nating. We are to know Him Whom we have believed. And if we know God aright, we shall surely love God with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength. Scriptural Basis. Exod. 34:5-7. II Chron. 30:9. Ps. 103:8. Joel 2:13. I.John 1:5. I.John 4:8. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Eternal Light ! eternal Light ! How pure the soul must be, When placed within Thy searching sight, It shrinks not, but, with calm delight, Can live and look on Thee. 2. The spirits that surround Thy throne May bear the burning bliss ; But that is surely theirs alone, Since they have never, never known A fallen world like this. 3. O ! how shall I, whose native sphere Is dark, whose mind is dim, Before the Ineffable appear, And on my naked spirit bear The uncreated beam ? 4. There is a way for man to rise To that sublime abode,— An Offering and a Sacrifice, A Holy Spirit's energies, An Advocate with God. 5. These, these prepare us for the sight Of holiness above : The sons of ignorance and night, May dwell in the eternal Light, Through the Eternal Love. Plymouth Hymnal— 77. —Thomas Binney. 1. Souls of men ! why will ye scatter Like a crowd of frightened sheep ? Foolish hearts, why will ye wander From a love so true and deep? Was there ever kindest shepherd Half so gentle, half so sweet As the Saviour who would have us Come and gather round His feet? 2. It is God : His love looks mighty, Rut is mightier than it seems ; 'Tis our Father and His fondness Goes far out beyond our dreams. There's a wideness in God's mercy, Like the wideness of the sea ; There's a kindness in His justice, Which is more than liberty. 3. For the love of God is broader Than the measures of man's mind, And the heart of the Eternal Is most wonderfully kind. But we make His love too narrow By false limits of our own ; And we magnify His strictness With a zeal He will not own. 12 4. There is plentiful redemption In the blood that has been shed ; There is joy for all the members In the sorrow of the Head. If our love were but more simple, We should take Him at His word ; And our lives would be all sunshine In the sweetness of our Lord. Plymouth Hymnal— 221. —Frederick W. Faber. 1. O worship the King, all glorious above ; O gratefully sing His power and His love ; Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise. % O tell of His might, O sing of His grace, Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space ; His chariots of wrath the deep thunder-clouds form. And dark is His path on the wings of the storm. 3. The earth with its store of wonders untold. Almighty. Thy power hath founded of old, Hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree. And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea. 4. Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite ? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light ; It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain. And sweetly distils in the dew and the rain. 5. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail. Thy mercies how tender ! how firm to the end ! Our Maker, Defender. Redeemer, and Friend. Plymouth Hymnal— 9. —Robert Grant. My God ! how wonderful Thou art. Thy majesty how bright ! How beautiful Thy mercy seat, In depths of burning light ! 13 2. How dread are Thine eternal years, O everlasting Lord ! By prostrate spirits, day and night, Incessantly adored ! 3. O, how I fear Thee, living God ! With deepest, tenderest fears, And worship Thee with trembling hope, And penitential tears. 4. Yet I may love Thee too, O Lord, Almighty as Thou art ; For Thou hast stooped to ask of me The love of my poor heart. 5. No earthly father loves like Thee, No mother half so mild Bears and forbears as Thou hast done With me, Thy sinful child. 6. Father of Jesus, love's Reward ! What rapture will it be, Prostrate before Thy throne to lie, And gaze and gaze on Thee ! Plymouth Hymnal— 80. —Frederick W. Fader. Round the Lord in glory seated, Cherubim and seraphim Filled His temple and repeated, Each to each th' alternate hymn : " Lord, Thy glory fills the heaven, Earth is with Thy fullness stored ; Unto Thee be glory given, Holy, holy, holy Lord! " Heaven is still with glory ringing, Earth takes up the angels' cry, " Holy, holy, holy ! " singing, " Lord of hosts, the Lord most High ! ' " Lord, Thy glory fills the heaven, Earth is with Thy fullness stored ; Unto Thee be glory given, Holy, holy, holy Lord ! " 14 3. With His seraph train before Him, With His holy Church below. Thus conspire we to adore Him, Bid we thus our anthem flow : " Lord, Thy glory fills the heaven, Earth is with Thy fullness stored, Unto Thee be glory given. Holy, holy, holy Lord ! " lymns of the Faith-3. —Richard Mant. 1. Lord of all being, throned afar, Thy glory flames from sun and star ; Center and soul of every sphere Yet to each loving heart how near. 2. Sun of our life, Thy quickening ray Sheds on our path the glow of day ; Star of our hope, Thy softened light Cheers the long watches of the night. 3. Our midnight is Thy smile withdrawn ; Our noontide is Thy gracious dawn ; Our rainbow arch Thy mercy's sign ; All. save the clouds of sin. are Thine. 4. Lord of all Life, below, above, Whose light is truth, whose warmth is love. Before Thy ever-blazing throne We ask no luster of our own. 5. Grant us Thy truth to make us free. And kindling hearts that burn for Thee, Till all Thy living altars claim One holy light, one heavenly flame. Hymns of the Faith— 31. — O. W. Holmes. LESSON III. The Father Almighty. Suggestion : It is essential to think of God as our Father; clearly to perceive and affectionately to treasure His constant manifestation of paternal care and love in this His world. The wealth of Holy Scripture on this theme is inexhaustible. It was the never ending theme of the Psalmists. It should be our aim to catch the Scriptural con- ception of God as a Mighty, Loving Father. Scriptural Basis. Psalm 103. Psalm 14 7. John 14:7-11. Acts 17:22-31. Job 12:10 Num. 16:22. Isaiah 42:5. Illustrative Hymns. 1. O Lord of Heaven, and earth, and sea, To Thee all praise and glory be : How shall we show our love to Thee, Who givest all ? 2. The golden sunshine, vernal air, Sweet flowers and fruit, Thy love declare When harvests ripen, Thou art there, Who givest all ! 3. For peaceful homes, and healthful days, For all the blessings earth displays, We owe Thee thankfulness and praise. Who givest all ! 16 Thou didst not spare Thine only Son, But gav'st Him for a world undone, And freely with that Blessed One Thou givest all. 5. Thou giv'st the Spirit's holy dower, Spirit of life, and love, and power, . And dost His seven-fold graces shower Upon us all. For souls redeemed, for sins forgiven, For means of grace and hopes of Heaven, Father, what can to Thee be given. Who givest all ? We lose what on ourselves we spend. We have as treasure without end Whatever, Lord, to Thee we lend. Who givest all ! Whatever, Lord, we lend to Thee, Repaid a thousand-fold will be ; Then gladly will we give to Thee Who givest all ! To Thee from Whom we all derive Our life, our gifts, our power to give ; O may we ever with Thee live. Who givest all ! Evangelical Hymnal— 95. — C- Wordsworth 1. Behold what wondrous grace The Father hath bestowed On sinners of a mortal race, To call them sons of God. •2. Xor doth it yet appear How great we must be made ; But when we see our Saviour here. We shall be like our Head. 3. A hope so much divine May trials well endure, May purge our souls from sense and sin As Christ the Lord is pure. 17 4. If in my Father's love I share a filial part, Send down Thy spirit like a dove, To rest upon my heart. 5. We would no longer lie Like slaves beneath the Throne ; My faith shall Abba, Father, cry, And thou the kindred own. Evangelical Hymnal— 104. —Isaac Watts. 1. God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform ; He plants His foot-steps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. 2. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will. 3. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take ; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head. 4. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace ; Behind a frowning Providence He hides a smiling Face. 5. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour ; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. G. Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain ; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain. Evangelical Hymnal— 91. — William Cowper. 1. When all Thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view, I*m lost In wonder, love and praise. 2. Unnumbered comforts to my soul Thy tender care bestowed, Before my infant heart conceived From Whom these comforts flowed. 3. When worn with sickness oft hast Thou With health renewed my face ; And when in sins and sorrows sunk, Revived my soul with grace. 4. Ten thousand thousand precious gifts My daily thanks employ ; Xor is the least a cheerful heart That tastes those gifts with joy. 5. Through every period of my life Thy goodness I'll pursue ; And after death, in distant worlds, The glorious theme renew. 6. Through all eternity to Thee A joyful song I'll raise ; For O, eternity's too short To utter all Thy praise. Svangelical Hymnal— 112. —Joseph Addison. We plough the fields and scatter The good seed on the land, But it is fed and watered By God's Almighty Hand ; He sends the snow in winter. The warmth to swell the grain, The breezes and the sunshine, And soft refreshing rain. All good gifts around us Are sent from Heaven above, Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, For all His love. 19 2. He only is the Maker, Of all things near and far ; He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star ; The winds and waves obey Him, By Him the birds are fed ; Much more to us His children, He gives our daily bread. All good gifts around us Are sent from Heaven above, Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, For all His love. 3. We thank Thee, then, O Father, For all things bright and good, The seed-time and the harvest, Our life, our health, our food ; Accept the gifts we offer, For all Thy love imparts, And what Thou most desirest, Our humble, thankful hearts. All good gifts around us Are sent from Heaven above, Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, For all His love. Evangelical Hymnal— 533. —Matthias Claudius. A) LESSON IV. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Pre-Existent Word. Suggestion: It is all important that we begin to build our doctrine of the Person of Christ upon His Pre-existent Glory as the Eternal Son. Let not our inability to fathom the depths of this thought make us hesitate to receive it as a glo- rious revelation. Receiving this, Christ can no longer be to us a mere man, even the loveliest of the sons of men; first of all He is Very God, the Eternal Word. Scriptural Basis. John 1:1-10. Heb. 1:1-3. Rev. 1:8. John 8:56-58. Col 1:15-17. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Of the Father's love begotten, ere the worlds began to be, He the Alpha and Omega. He the Source — the the Ending He Of the things that are. that have been, and that future years shall see, Evermore and evermore ! 2. At His word the worlds were framed ; He com- manded ; it was done ; Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one ; All that grows beneath the shining of the moon and burning sun Evermore and evermore ! 21 3. He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow- here to know, That the race of Adam's children, doomed by Law to endless woe, May not henceforth die and perish in the dreadful gulf below Evermore and evermore ! 4. This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord ; Whom the voices of the Prophets promised in their faithful word ; Now He shines, the Long Expected ; let Creation praise its Lord Evermore and evermore ! 5. O ye heights of Heaven adore Him ! Angel hosts his praises sing ! All dominions bow before Him, and extol our God and King ; Let no tongue on earth be silent, every voice in concert ring Evermore and evermore ! 6. Christ, to Thee— with God the Father, and O Holy' Ghost, to Thee, Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be, Honor, glory, might, dominion and eternal victory, Evermore and evermore ! —Aurelius Clemens Prudentius. Evangelical Hymnal— 603. 1. Praise to the Holiest in the height, And in the depth be praise ; In all His words most wonderful, Most sure in all His ways. 2. O loving wisdom of our God ! When all was sin and shame, A second Adam to the fight And to the rescue came. 22 3. O wisest love ! that flesh and blood, Which did in Adam fail. Should strive afresh against the foe, Should strive and should prevail ; 4. And that a higher gift than grace Should flesh and blood refine, God's Presence and His very Self, And Essence all-divine. 5. O generous love ! that He who smote In Man for man the foe, The double agony in Man For man should undergo ; 6. And in the garden secretly, And on the cross on high, Should teach His brethren, and inspire To suffer and to die. 7. Praise to the Holiest in the height. And in the depth be praise : In all His words most wonderful. Most sure in all His ways. Hymns Ancient and Modern— 172. — /. H. Newman 1. O Love, how deep ! how broad ! how high It fills the heart with ecstasy. That God, the Son of God, should take Our mortal form for mortals' sake. 2. He sent no Angel to our race Of higher or of lower place, But wore the robe of human frame Himself, and to this lost world came. 3. For us He was baptized and bore His holy fast and hunger'd sore ; For us temptation sharp He knew ; For us the tempter overthrew. 4. For us He prayed, for us He taught. For us His daily works He wrought, By words, and signs, and actions, thus Still seeking not Himself but us 23 5. For us to wicked men betray'd, Scourged, mock'd, in purple robe array'd He bore the shameful Cross and death ; For us at length gave up His breath. 6. For us He rose from death again, For us He went on high to reign, For us He sent His Spirit here To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer. 7. To Him Whose boundless love has won Salvation for us through His Son, To God the Father, glory be Both now and through eternity. Hymns Ancient and Modern — 173. —J. M. Neale. 1. O Thou, before the world began, Ordained a sacrifice for man ; And by th' Eternal Spirit made An Offering in the sinner's stead ; Our Everlasting Priest art Thou, Pleading Thy death for sinners now. 2. Thy Offering still continues new ; Thy Vesture keeps its blood-stained hue ; Thyself the Lamb for sinners slain. Thy Priesthood doth unchanged remain ; Thy years, O God, can never fail, Nor Thy blest work within the Veil. 3. O that our faith may never move, But stand unshakenms Thy love ! Sure evidence of things unseen, Now let it pass the years between, And view Thee bleeding on the Tree, Our Victim and our Priest to be. Evangelical Hymnal— 162. —Charles Wesley. 24 LESSON V. The Lord Jesus Christ as God Manifest in The Flesh. Suggestion : Having firmly founded our doctrine of Christ upon His Eternal Pre-existence, His in- carnate Manifestation upon earth for a limited period will also be regarded in a true light. Christ's coming in the flesh is not the mere birth of a member of our race; it is the manifestation in the fullness of time and for definite reasons of Him Who was before the world began, and Who is the same yesterday and to-day and forever. Scriptural Basis. Matt. 1:1-15. Luke 3:1-19. John 1:14. Gal. 4:4. Illustrative Hymns. 1. O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light ; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee to-night. 2. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy Birth ! And praises sing to God, the King, And peace to men on earth. For Christ is born of Mary; And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love. 3. How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given ! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His Heaven. No ear may hear His coming ; But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, The dear Christ enters in. 4. Where children pure and happy Pray to the blessed Child ; Where misery crys out to Thee, Son of the Mother mild ; Where Charity stands watching, And Faith holds wide the door, — The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, And Christmas comes once more. 5. O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray ! Cast out our sin, and enter in ; Be born in us to-day. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell ; O, come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel ! Plymouth Hymnal— 175 —Phillips Brooks 1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. " Fear not," said he, for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind, " Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind. 2. " To you, in David's town this day, Is born of David's line, A Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord ; And this shall be the sign : The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, And in a manger laid." 26 ft. Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith Appeared a shining throng Of angels praising God, who thus Addressed their joyful song : " All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace ; Good will henceforth, from Heaven to men. Begin and never cease." Plymouth Hymnal— 165. —Nahum Tate. 1. It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold ; " Peace on the earth, good will to men, From Heaven's all gracious King;" The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing. 2. Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world : Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on heavenly wing, And ever o'er its Babel-sounds The blessed angels sing. 3. Vet with the woes of sin and strife The world has suffered long : Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong ; And men, at war with men. hear not The love-song which they bring : O hush the noise, ye men of strife. And hear the angels sing ! 4. And ye, beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow,— Look now! for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing : O rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing ! 5. For lo, the days are hastening on, By prophet-bards foretold, When with the ever-circling years Comes round the age of gold,— When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendors fling. And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing. Plymouth Hymnal -166. —Edmund H. Sears. 1. Christians, awake! salute the happy morn Whereon the Saviour of mankind was born ; Rise to adore the mystery of love Which hosts of angels chanted from above : With them the joyful tidings first begun Of God Incarnate, of the Virgin's Son. 2. Then to the watchful shepherds it was told, Who heard the angelic herald's voice : " Behold ! I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth To you, and all the nations upon earth : This day has God fulfilled His promis'd word ; This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord." 3. He spake ; and straightway the celestial choir In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire ; The praises of redeeming love they sang, And Heaven's whole orb with alleluias rang : God's highest glory was their anthem still, Peace upon earth, and mutual good will. 4. To Bethlehem straight the enlightened shepherds ran, To see the wonder God had wrought for man ; Then to their flocks, still praising God, return, And their glad hearts within their bosoms burn: To all, the joyful tidings they proclaim, These first apostles of His infant name. 5. Let us, like these good shepherds, then, employ Our grateful voices to proclaim the joy : Trace we the Babe, Who has retrieved our loss, From His poor manger to His bitter cross, Treading His steps, assisted by His grace, Till man's first heavenly state again takes place. Plymouth Hymnal— 164. —John Byrom. 28 1. Hark ! the herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King ! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled ! Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th' angelic host proclaim. Christ is born in Bethlehem. 2. Christ by highest heaven adored ; Christ, the everlasting Lord ; Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see ; Hail the Incarnate Deity. Pleased as Man with man to dwell ; Jesus, our Immanuel ! 3. Mild, He lays His glory by. Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth. Born to give them second birth. Risen with healing in His wings. Light and life to all He brings. Hail, the Son of Righteousness ! Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace ! Plymouth Hymnal— 167. —Charles Wesley. 1. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning ! Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid ! Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid '. 2. Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining ; Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall : Angels adore Him in slumber reclining. Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all. 3. Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion. Odors of Edom and offerings divine. Gems of the mountains, and pearls of the ocean. Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine ? 29 4. Vainly we offer each ample oblation ; Vainly with gifts would His favor secure : Richer by far is the heart's adoration ; Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. 5. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning ! Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid ! Star of the East, the horizon adorning, (riiide where our infant Redeemer is laid ! Plymouth Hymnal- 171. —Reginald Heber. 30 LESSON VI. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Ministering Friend. Suggestion : Here we may give expression to our intense appreciation of the beauties of our Lord's human personality, the winsome and tender qualities of His Heart and Mind; the infinite compassion and patience of His thought toward His brother men; the vast importance and in- spiration of His personal example. Scriptural Basis. Mark 1:21-34. John 6:1-21. John 11:1-44. Heb. 2:14-18. Heb. 4:14-16. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Thine Arm, O Lord, in days of old Was strong to heal and save ; It triumphed o'er disease and death. O'er darkness and the grave ; To Thee they went, the blind, the dumb. The palsied and the lame, The leper with his tainted life, The sick with fevered frame. 2. And lo, Thy Touch brought life and health, Gave speech, and strength, and sight ; And youth renewed and frenzy calmed Owned Thee, the Lord of Light : And now, O Lord, be near to bless, Almighty as of yore, In crowded street, by restless couch, As by Gennesareth's shore. 31 3. Though Love and Might no longer heal By touch or word or look ; Though they that do Thy work must read Thy laws in nature's book ; Yet come to heal the sick man's soul, Come cleanse the lep'rous taint ; Give joy and peace where all is strife, And strength where all is faint. 4. Be Thou our great Deliverer still, Thou Lord of life and death ; Restore and quicken, soothe and bless With Thine Almighty Breath. To hands that work and eyes that see Give wisdom's heavenly lore, That whole and sick, and weak and strong, May praise Thee evermore. Evangelical Hymnal— 225. —Edward Hayes Plumtre. A pilgrim through this lonely world, The blessed Saviour passed ; A Mourner all His life was He, A dying Lamb at last. That tender Heart that felt for all, For all its life-blood gave ; It found on earth no resting-place, Save only in the grave. Such was our Lord ; and shall we fear The cross with all its scorn ? Or love a faithless, evil world, That wreathed His Brow with thorn ? No, facing all its frowns or smiles, Like Him, obedient still, We homeward press, thro' storm or calm, To Zion's blessed hill. In tents we dwell amid the waste, Nor turn aside to roam In folly's paths ; nor seek our rest, Where Jesus had no home. 33 6. Dead to the world, with Him Who died To win our hearts, our love, We, risen with our Risen Head, In spirit dwell above. 7. By faith, His boundless glories there Our wondering eyes behold ; Those glories which eternal years Shall never all unfold. Evangelical Hymnal— 221. —Edward Denny. 1. Immortal Love, forever full, Forever flowing free, Forever shared, forever whole, A never-ebbing sea ! 2. Blow, winds of God, awake and blow The mists of earth away ! Shine out, O Light Divine, and show How wide and far we stray ! 3. We may not climb the heavenly steeps To bring the Lord Christ down : In vain we search the lowest deeps. For Him no depths can drown. 4. But warm, sweet, tender, even yet A present help is He ; And faith has still its Olivet. And love its Galilee. 5. The healing of His seamless dress Is by our beds of pain ; We touch Him in life's throng and press. And we are whole again. 6. Thro' Him the first fond prayers are said Our lips of childhood frame, The last low whispers of our dead Are burdened with His name. 7. O Lord and Master of us all ! Whate'er our name or sign, We own Thy sway, we hear Thy call, We test our lives by Thine. rlymns of the Faith— 75. —John G. Whittier. 33 1. My dear Redeemer and my Lord, I read my duty in Thy word ; But in Thy life the law appears, Drawn out in living characters. 2. Such was Thy truth, and such Thy zeal, Such deference to Thy Father's will, Such love and meekness so divine, I would transcribe and make them mine. 3. Cold mountains and the midnight air Witnessed the fervor of Thy prayer ; The desert Thy temptation knew, Thy conflict and Thy victory too. 4. Be Thou my pattern ; make me bear More of Thy gracious image here ; Then God the Judge shall own my name Among the followers of the Lamb. Hymns of the Faith— 78. —Isaac Watts. 1. O Master, let me walk with Thee In lowly paths of service free ; Tell me Thy secret ; help me bear The strain of toil, the fret of care ; 2. Help me the slow of heart to move By some clear winning word of love ; Teach me the wayward feet to stay, And guide them in the homeward way. 3. Teach me Thy patience ; still with Thee In closer, dearer company, In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, In trust that triumphs over wrong ; 4. In hope that sends a shining ray Far down the future's broadening way, In peace that only Thou canst give, With Thee, O Master, let me live ! Hymns of the Faith— 72. —Washington Gladden. At even, ere the sun was set, The sick, O Lord, around Thee lay O in what divers pains they met ! O with what joy they went away ; 34 Once more 'tis eventide, and we, Oppressed with various ills draw near ; What if Thy form we cannot see ? We know and feel that Thou art here. O Saviour Christ, our woes dispel ; For some are sick, and some are sad ; And some have never loved Thee well ; And some have lost the love they had. And some have found the world is vain ; Yet from the world they break not free ; And some have friends who give them pain, Yet have not sought a Friend in Thee. And none, O Lord, have perfect rest, For none are wholly free from sin : And they who fain would serve Thee best, Are conscious most of wrong within. O Saviour Christ, Thou too art Man : Thou hast been troubled, tempted, tried ; Thy kind but searching glance Can scan The very wounds that shame would hide. Thy touch has still its ancient power ; Xo word from Thee can fruitless fall ; Hear in this solemn evening hour, And in Thy mercy heal us all. Evangelical Hymnal— 22. —Henry Twells. 1. How beauteous were the marks divine. That in Thy meekness used to shine ; That lit Thy lonely pathway, trod In wondrous love, O Son of God ! 2. Oh, who like Thee, so calm, so bright. So pure, so made to live in light? Oh, who like Thee did ever go So patient through a world of woe ? 3. Oh, who like Thee so humbly bore The scorn, the scoffs of men, before ? So meek, forgiving, godlike, high, So glorious in humility ? 4. E'en death, which sets the prisoner free, Was pain, and scoff, and scorn to Thee, Yet love thro' all Thy torture glowed, And mercy with Thy life-blood flowed. 5. Oh, in Thy light be mine to go, Illuming all my way of woe ! And give me ever on the road To trace Thy foot-steps, Son of God ! Hymns of the Faith— 65. —Arthur Cleveland Coxe. lesson vn. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Atoning Saviour. Suggestion: To "glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" is the privilege of every believer. There are mysteries in the Divine Sacrifice that we cannot penetrate, but the Fact of the Atone- ment is clearly set forth in the Holy Scriptures. It should be the object of those who would serve the truth, to strengthen belief in the Fact of Our Lord's Sacrifice, and to exalt the Fact of the Cross above confusing metaphysical theories that tend to hide the Cross and the Crucified. Scriptural Basis. Matt. 27. Mark 15 Luke 23. John 19. I. Pet. 1:18. 19. I. Pet. 2:24. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Ride on, ride on in majesty ! Hark, all the tribes Hosanna cry ; O Saviour meek, pursue Thy road With palms and scatter'd garments strow'd. 2. Ride on, ride on in majesty ! In lowly pomp, ride on to die ! O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin O'er captive death and conquered sin. 3. Ride on, ride on in majesty ! The winged squadrons of the sky Look down with sad and wondering eyes To see th' approaching Sacrifice. 37 4. Ride on, ride on in majesty ! Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh : The Father on His Sapphire Throne Expects His Own Anointed Son. 5. Ride on, ride on in majesty ! In lowly pomp ride on to die : Bow Thy meek Head to mortal pain, Then take, O God, Thy power and reign. Evangelical Hymnal— 218. —Henry Hart Mibnan. 1. When I survey the wondrous Cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss. And pour contempt on all my pride. 2. Forbid it, Lord, that 1 should boast Save in the Death of Christ, my God ; All the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to His Blood. 3. See from His Head, His Hands, His Feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down ! Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown ? 4. His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o'er His Body on the tree ; Then am I dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me. 5. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small ; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. Evangelical Hymnal— 231. —Isaac Watts. And didst Thou love the race that loved not Thee ? And didst Thou take to Heaven a human brow ? Dost plead with man's voice by the marvelous sea i Art Thou his Kinsman now ? O God ! O Kinsman loved, but not enough ! O Man ! with eyes majestic after death. Whose feet have toiled along our pathways rough, Whose lips drawn human breath,— 3. By that one likeness which is ours and Thine, By that one nature which doth hold us kin. By that high Heaven, where sinless Thou dost shine, To draw us sinners in ; 4. By Thy last silence in the judgment-hall. By long fore-knowledge of the deadly tree. By darkness, by the wormwood and the gall,— I pray Thee visit me. 5. Come, lest this heart should, cold and cast away, Die ere the Guest adored she entertain,— Lest eyes which never saw Thine earthly day Should miss Thy Heavenly reign. Hymnal for Schools— 13s. —Jean higelow. 1. Lord Jesus, when we stand afar And gaze upon Thy Holy Cross, In love of Thee and scorn of self, O may we count the world as loss. ■2. When we behold Thy bleeding Wounds, And the rough way that Thou hast trod, Make us to hate the load of sin That lay so heavy on our God. 3. O Holy Lord ! uplifted high With outstretched Arms, in mortal woe. Embracing in Thy wondrous love The sinful world that lies below, 4. Give us an ever-living faith To gaze beyond the things we see ; And in the mystery of Thy death Draw us and all men unto Thee ! Kvanarelical Hvmnal— 232. —William W. How Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee ! Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven Side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power. 39 2. Not the labors of my hands Can fulfill the law's demands ; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone, Thou must save, and Thou alone ! 3. Nothing in my hand I bring ; Simply to Thy Cross I cling : Naked, come to Thee for dress ; Helpless, look to Thee for grace ; Foul, I to Thy fountain fly ; Wash me, Saviour, or I die ! 4. While I draw this fleeting breath, When mine eyelids close in death, When I soar to worlds unknown, See Thee on Thy judgment-throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. Plymouth Hymnal— 270. —Augustus M. Toplady From the Cross the Blood is falling, And to us a Voice is calling, Like a trumpet, silver-clear. 'Tis the Voice announcing pardon, " It is finished," is its burden, Pardon to the far and near. Peace that precious Blood is sealing, All our wounds forever healing, And removing every load ! Words of peace that Voice has spoken, Peace that shall no more be broken, Peace between the soul and God. Love its fullness there unfolding, Stand we here in joy beholding, To the exiled sons of men ; Love, the gladness past all naming, Of an open Heaven proclaiming, Love that bids us enter in. 4 < iod is love :— we read the writing Traced so deeply in the smiting Of the glorious Surety there i rod is Light :— we see it beaming. Like a heavenly dayspring gleaming, . inely sweet and fair. 5. Cross of shame yet tree of glory. Round thee winds the one great story Of this ever-changing earth ; Centre of the true and holy. Grave of human sin and folly. Womb of Nature's second birth. Evangelical Hymnal— 238. —Horatius Bonar. 1. There is a green hill far away. Without a city wall. Where the dear Lord was crucified. Who died to save us all. 2. We may not know, we cannot tell What pains He had to bear ; But we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there. 3. He died that we might be forgiven. He died to make us good, That we might go at last to Heaven Saved by His precious Blood. 4. There was no other good enough To pay the price of sin ; He only could unlock the gate Of Heaven and let us in. 5. O. dearly, dearly has he loved, And we must love Him too. And trust in His Redeeming Blood, And try His works to do. Evangelical Hymnal— 227. —Mrs. C. F. Alexander. 41 1. O perfect life of love ! All, all is finish'd now ; All that He left His Throne above To do for us below. 2. No work is left undone Of all the Father will'd ; His toil, His sorrows, one by one, The Scripture have fulfill'd. 3. No pain that we can share But He has felt its smart ; All forms of human grief and care Have pierced that tender Heart. 4. And on His thorn-crown'd Head, And on His sinless Soul, Our sins in all their guilt were laid, That He might make us whole. 5. In perfect love He dies : For me He dies, for me : O all-atoning Sacrifice, I cling by faith to Thee. 6. In every time of need, Before the Judgment-throne, Thy work, O Lamb of God, I'll plead, Thy merits, not my own. 7. Yet work, O Lord, in me As Thou for me hast wrought ; And let my love the answer be To grace Thy love has brought. —Henry William Baker. Hvmns Ancient and Modern— 120. 12 LESSON vin. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Risen and Ascended Conqueror. Suggestion : The Revelation of the Risen Lord is the companion truth to the Gospel of the Cross. We must apprehend Christ as the Living One Who was dead and is alive forever more. The Incarnation of the Pre-existent Word is consum- mated, not in the Humiliation of Calvary, but in the triumphant Resurrection and the Ascent into Glory. Thus Christ finishes the Work given Him to do. "When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers." Scriptural Basis. Luke 24 . John 20. Acts 1:1-9. Eph 4:8-10. Eph. 1:18-23. Phil. 2:5-1 1. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Jesus lives ! thy terrors now Can. O Death, no more appal us ; Jesus lives ! by this we know Thou, O Grave, canst not enthral Alleluia ! 2. Jesus lives ! henceforth is death But the gate of life immortal ! This shall calm our trembling breath, When we pass its gloomy portal. Alleluia ! 43 3. Jesus lives ! for us He' died ; Then alone to Jesus living-, Pure in heart may we abide, Glory to our Saviour giving. Alleluia ! 4. Jesus lives ! our hearts know well Nought from us His love shall sever; Life, nor death, nor powers of hell Tear us from His keeping ever. Alleluia! 5. Jesus lives! to Him the Throne Over all the world is given ; May we go where He is gone, Rest and reign with Him in Heaven. Alleluia! Evangelical Hymnal— 250. —Frances- Elizabeth Cox " Welcome, happy morning ! " age to age shall say Hell to-day is vanquished, Heaven is won to-day Lo ! the Dead is living, God forever more ! Him, their true Creator, all His works adore ! Earth with joy confesses, clothing her for spring, All good gifts returned with her returning King : Bloom in every meadow, leaves on every bough, Speak His sorrows ended, hail His triumph now. Months in due succession, days of lengthening light. Hours and passing moments praise Thee in their flight; Brightness of the morning, sky and fields and sea, Vanquisher of darkness, bring their praise to Thee ! Maker and Redeemer, Life and Health of all, Thou, from Heaven beholding human nature's fall Of the Father's Godhead true and only Son, Manhood to deliver, manhood didst put on Thou, of Life the Author, death didst undergo, Tread the path of darkness, saving strength to show. Come then, True and Faithful, now fulfill Thy word : 'Tis Thine own third morning, rise, O buried Lord! 44 the souls long prisoned, bound with Satan's chains ; All that now is fallen, raise to life again ; Show Thy face in brightness, bid the nation- - Bring again our daylight : day returns with Thee ! Plymouth Hymnal— 208. — John Ellerton. 1. At the Lamb's high feast we sing Praise to our victorious King, Who hath wash'd us in the tide Flowing from His pierced Side ; Praise we Him, Whose love Divine Gives His Sacred Blood for wine, ( rives His Body for the feast, Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest. 2. Where the Paschal blood is pour'd Death's dark angel sheathes his sword : Israel's hosts triumphant go Through the wave that drowns the foe. Praise we Christ, Whose Blood was shed. Paschal Victim, Paschal Bread ; With sincerity and love Eat we Manna from above. 3. Mighty Victim from the sky. Hell's fierce powers beneath Thee lie ; Thou hast conquered in the light. Thou hast brought us life and light ; Now no more can death appal. Now no more the grave enthral ; Thou hast opened Paradise, And in Thee Thy Saints shall rise. 4. Easter triumph, Easter joy. Sin alone can this destroy ; From sin's power do Thou set free Souls new-born, O Lord, in Thee. Hymns of glory and of praise. Risen Lord, to Thee we raise ; Hoi} - Father, praise to Thee, With the Spirit, ever be. Hymns Ancient and Modern— 127. —Robert Campbell. 45 He is gone ; a cloud of light ' Has received Him from our sight, High in Heaven where eye of men Follows not, nor angels ken ; Through the veils of time and space, Passed into the Holiest Place ; All the toil, the sorrow done, All the battle fought and won. He is gone ; and we return, And our hearts within us burn ; Olivet no more shall greet, With welcome shout. His coming Feet. Never shall we track Him more On Gennesareth's glistening shore ; Never in that Look and Voice Shall Sion's hill again rejoice. He is gone ! and we remain In this world of sin and pain : In the void which He has left, On this earth of Him bereft, We have still His work to do, We can still His path pursue ; Seek Him both in friend and foe, In ourselves His image show. He is gone ! we heard Him say, " Good that I should go away ; " Gone is that dear Form and Face, But not gone His present grace ; Though Himself no more we see, Comfortless we cannot be ; No, His Spirit still is ours, Quickening, freshening all our powers. He is gone ! towards their goal World and Church must onward roll ; Far behind we leave the past ; Forwards are our glances cast ; Still His words before us range Through the ages, as they change ; Wheresoe'er the truth shall lead, He will give whate'er we need. 46 & He is gone ! but we once more Shall behold Him as before. In the Heaven of Heavens the same As on earth He went and came : In the many mansions there. Place for us He will prepare . In that world unseen, unknown. He and we may yet be one. ',. He is gone but not in vain ; Wait until He comes again ; He is risen, He is not here ; Far above this earthly sphere. Evermore in heart and mind. There our peace in Him we find ; To our own Eternal Friend Thitherward let us ascend. Evangelical Hymnal— 258. —Arthur Penrhyn Stanley. 1. The golden gates are lifted up, The doors are opened wide ; The King of Glory is gone up Unto His Father's side. 2. Thou art gone up before us, Lord, To make for us a place, That we may be where now Thou art, And look upon God's Face. 3. And ever on our earthly path A gleam of glory lies ; A light still breaks behind the cloud That veils Thee from our eyes. 4. Lift up our hearts, lift up our minds. Let Thy dear grace be given. That while we wander here below, Our treasure be in Heaven. 5. That where Thou art at God's right Hand, Our hope, our love may be : Dwell Thou in us, that we may dwell Forever more in Thee. Evangelical Hymnal— 260. —Mrs. C. F. Alexander. 47 1. See the Conqueror mounts in triumph, See the King in royal state. Riding on the clouds His chariot To His Heavenly Palace-gate : Hark ! the choirs of angel voices Joyful Alleluias sing, And the portals high are lifted, To receive their Heavenly King. 2. Who is This That comes in glory, With the trump of jubilee? Lord of battles, God of armies, He has gained the victory ; He Who on the Cross did suffer, He Who from the grave arose, He has vanquished sin and Satan, He by death has spoiled His foes. 3. While He raised His Hands in blessing, He was parted from His friends ; While their eager eyes behold Him, He upon the clouds ascends ; He Who walked with God and pleased Him, Preaching truth and doom to come, Christ, our Enoch, is translated To His Everlasting Home. 4 Now our Heavenly Aaron enters, With His Blood, within the veil ; Joshua now is come to Canaan, And the kings before Him quail : Now He plants the tribes of Israel In their promised resting-place; Now our great Elijah offers Double portion of His grace. 5. Thou hast raised our human nature On the clouds to God's Right Hand, There we sit in Heavenly places, There with Thee in glory stand : Jesus reigns, adored by angels, Man with God is on the Throne ; Mighty Lord in Thine Ascension We by faith behold our own. Evangelical Hymnal— 257. —Christopher Wordsworth. 48 1. ( ) Saviour, Who for man hast trod The winepress of the wrath of God, Ascend and claim again on High The glory left for us to die. 2. A radiant cloud is now Thy seat, And earth lies stretched beneath Thy Feet. Ten thousand thousands round Thee sing, And share the triumph of their King. 3 The angel-host enraptured waits ; •• Lift up your heads, eternal gates ! " O God-and-Man ! the Father's Throne Is now forever more Thine own. 4. Our great High Priest and Shepherd, Thou Within the vail art entered now. To offer there Thy precious Blood Once poured on earth a cleansing Flood. 5. And thence the Church. Thy chosen Bride, With countless gifts of grace supplied, Thro' all her members draws from Thee Her hidden life of sanctity. 6. O Christ our Lord, of Thy dear care Thy lowly members heavenward bear : Be ours with Thee to suffer pain, With Thee forever more to reign. 7. All praise from every heart and tongue. To Thee, ascended Lord, be sung ; All praise to God the Father be, And Holy Ghost eternally. Evangelical Hymnal— 259. —Charles Coffin. LESSON IX. The Lord Jesus Christ as the Exalted, Interceding and Coming King. Suggestion : The present work of our Lord in Glory and His Second Advent as Head of the Church are truths which should be co-ordinated with our belief in His First Coming and His Mediatorial Sacrifice. Our doctrine of Him "Which was and Which is and Which is to come" should be as broad and as full as the rev- elation of the Word concerning Him. Scriptural Basis. John 14:1-4. Acts 1:10, 11. Tit. 2:1 1-13. Heb. 7:14-28. Rev. 1:7-20. Rev. 19:1 1-16. Rev. 21:1-7. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon His throne ; Hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns All music but its own ! Awake, my soul, and sing, Of Him Who died for thee, And hail Him as thy matchless King Through all eternity. 50 2 Crown Him the Lord of Love ; Behold His hands and side, Rich wounds yet visible above In beauty glorified : No angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight. But downward bends his burning eye At mysteries so bright. 3. Crown Him the Lord of Peace, Whose power a sceptre sways From pole to pole, that wars may cease, And all be prayer and praise : His reign shall know no end, And round His pierced feet Fair flowers of Paradise extend Their fragrance ever sweet. 4. Crown Him the Lord of years. The Potentate of time, Creator of the rolling spheres, Ineffably sublime ! All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou hast died for me ; Thy praise shall never, never fail Throughout eternity. Plymouth Hymnal— 2. -Matthew Bridges. 1. Holy Ghost, Illuminator, Shed Thy beams upon our eyes ; Help us to look up with Stephen, And to see beyond the skies. Where the Son of Man in glory Stands on high at God's Right Hand, Beckoning on His Martyr-army. Succoring His faithful band ;— 2. See Him, Who is gone before us, Heavenly mansions to prepare ; See Him, Who is ever pleading For us with prevailing prayer ; See Him Who with sound of trumpet And with His angelic train, Summoning the World to Judgment, On the clouds will come again. 51 3. Raise us up from earth to Heaven ; Give us wings of faith and love, Gales of holy aspirations Wafting us to realms above ; That with hearts and minds uplifted We with Christ our Lord may dwell, Where He sits enthroned in glory, In His Heavenly Citadel. 4. So at last when He appeareth, We from out our graves may spring, With our youth renewed like eagles, Flocking round our Heavenly King, Caught up on the clouds of Heaven, And may meet Him in the air, Rise to realms where He is reigning, And may reign forever there. 5. Glory be to God the Father, Glory be to God the Son, Dying, ris'n, ascending for us, Who the Heavenly Realm has won ; Glory to the Holy Spirit. To One God in Persons Three, Glory both in earth and Heaven, Glory, endless glory, be ! Evangelical Hymnal— 257. —Christopher Wordsworth. 1. Where high the heavenly Temple stands, The House of God not made with hands, A great High Priest our nature wears, The Patron of mankind appears. 2. He Who for men their Surety stood, And poured on earth His precious Blood, Pursues in Heaven His plan of grace, The Guardian God of human race. 3. Though now ascended up on high, He bends on earth a Brother's eye ; Partaker of the human name, He knows the frailty of our frame. 52 4. Our Fellow-sufferer yet retains A fellow-feeling of our pains ; And still remembers in the skies His tears. His agonies, and cries. r>. In every pang that rends the heart The Man of Sorrows had a part ; He sympathizes with our grief. And to the sufferer sends relief. With boldness, therefore, at the Throne, Let us make all our sorrows known ; And ask the aids of Heavenly Power To help us in the evil hour. Evangelical Hymnal— 222. - Michael Bruce. 1. Rejoice, all ye believers. And let your lights appear ; The evening is advancing. And darker night is near. The Bridegroom is arising. And soon He draweth nigh ; Up. pray, and watch, and wrestle, At midnight comes the cry ! 2. See that your lamps are burning, Replenish them with oil ; And wait for your salvation, The end of earthly toil. The watchers on the mountain Proclaim the Bridegroom near, Go meet Him as He cometh. With alleluias clear. 3. Ye saints, who here in patience Your cross and sufferings bore, Shall live and reign forever When sorrow is no more. Around the Throne of glory. The Lamb ye shall behold. In triumph cast before Him Your diadems of gold ! 53 4. Our Hope and Expectation, O Jesus, now appear ; Arise, Thou Sun, so longed for, O'er this benighted sphere. With hearts and hands uplifted, We plead, O Lord, to see The day of earth's redemption, That brings us unto Thee ! Evangelical Hymnal— 177. —Jane Borthwick. 1. Come, Lord, and tarry not, Bring the long-looked-for day ; O, why these years of waiting here, These ages of delay ? 2. Come ! for the good are few, They lift the voice in vain ; Faith waxes fainter on the earth, And love is on the wane. 3. Come, for love waxes cold, Its steps are faint and slow ; Faith now is lost in unbelief ; Hope's lamp burns dim and low. 4. Come, for creation groans, Impatient of Thy stay, Worn out with these long years of ill. These ages of delay. 5. Come, and make all things new, Build up this ruined earth, Restore our faded Paradise, Creation's second birth ! 6. Come, and begin Thy reign Of everlasting peace ; Come, take the kingdom to Thyself, • Great King of Righteousness ! —Horatius Bonai Church Hymns and Gospel Songs— 101. 54 1. '• Till He come : " Oh, let the words Linger on the trembling chords ; Let the little while between In their golden light be seen ; Let us think how heaven and home Lie beyond that — " Till He come." •■2. When the weary ones we love Enter on their rest above. Seems the earth so poor and vast. All our life joy overcast ? Hush, be every murmur dumb ; It is only—" Till He conn." 3. Clouds and conflicts round us press; Would we have our sorrows less? All the sharpness of the cross. All that tells the world is loss, Death and darkness, and the tomb. Only whisper — " Till He come." 4. See, the feast of love is spread. Drink the wine and break the bread ; Sweet memorials, — till the Lord Call us round His heavenly board ; Some from earth, from glory some. Severed only— "Till He come." Hymns of the Faith— -239. —Edward H. Bickersteth. 55 LESSON X. The Holy Spirit Counselling and Guiding the Church of Christ. Suggestion : A broad, rich faith in God the Holy- Spirit must be founded in knowledge of the Scriptural teaching concerning the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. Therein He is seen as the Indwelling Life of the Christian Society; the Witness of the unseen Lord; the Counsellor and Guide of the Body of Christ on earth. His presence and power give to the Church its only guarantee of spiritual life. Without Him the Church is but a perishable human organization. With Him and through Him the Church is a Divine Fact in human history against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. Scriptural Basis. A cts 1:6-8. Acts 2. Eph. 1:12-14. I. Cor. 12. John 15:26. John 16:7-14.. Illustrative Hymns. 1. When God of old came down from heaven, In power and wrath He came ; Before His feet the clouds were riven, Half darkness and half flame. •2. But when He came the second time, He came in power and love ; Softer than gale at morning prime, Hovered His holy Dove. 56 :i The fires, that rushed on Sinai down In sudden torrents dread, Now gently Light, a glorious crown, On every sainted head. i And. as on Israel's awe-struck ear The voice exceeding- loud, The trump that angels quake to hear, Thrilled from the deep dark cloud ; 5. So, when the Spirit of our God Came down His flock to find, A voice from heaven was heard abroad, A rushing mighty wind. ii. It fills the Church of God, it fills The sinful world around ; Only in stubborn hearts and wills Xo place for it is found. 7. Come, Lord, come Wisdom, Love, and Power, Open our ears to hear ; Let us not miss the accepted hour ; Save, Lord, by love or fear. Hymns of the Faith— 192. — John Keble. Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God ! He, Whose word cannot be broken, Formed thee for His own abode : On the Rock of Ages founded— What can shake thy sure repose ? With salvation's walls surrounded, Thou may'st smile at all thy foes. See, the streams of living waters Springing from eternal love. Well supply thy sons and daughters. And all fear of want remove ; Who can faint while such a river Ever flows their thirst t' assuage ? Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver, Never fails from age to age. 3. Round each habitation hovering, See the cloud and fire appear ! For a glory and a covering, Showing that the Lord is near : Thus deriving from their banner Light by night, and shade by day, Safe they feed upon the manna Which He gives them when they pray. Evangelical Hymnal— 527. —JoJm Newton. 1. Hear us, Thou That broodest O'er the watery deep, Waking all creation From its primal sleep ; Holy Spirit, breathing Breath of life divine. Breathe into our spirits. Blending them with Thine. 2. When the sun ariseth In a cloudless sky. May we feel Thy presence, Holy Spirit, nigh ; Shed Thy radiance o'er us, Keep it cloudless still, Through the day before us, Perfecting Thy will. 3. When the fight is fiercest In the noontide heat. Bear us, Holy Spirit, To our Saviour's feet ; There to find a refuge Till our work is done. There to fight the battle Till the battle's won. 4. If the day be falling Sadly as it goes, Slowly in its sadness Sinking to its close, May Thy love in mercy, Kindling, ere it die. Cast a ray of glory O'er our evening sky. 58 5. Morning, noon, and evening, Whenso'er it be, (irant us, gracious Spirit. Quickening life in Thee ; Life that gives us, living, Life of heavenly love ; Life that brings us, dying, Life from heaven above. Sursum Corda— 289. — Godfrey Thring. 1. Come, gracious Spirit, heavenly Dove. With light and comfort from above ; Be Thou our Guardian, Thou our Guide, O'er every thought and step preside. 2. The light of truth to us display. And make us know and choose Thy way ; Plant holy fear in every heart, That we from God may ne'er depart. 3. Lead us to holiness, the road That we must take to dwell with God; Lead us to Christ, the living Way, Xor let us from His precepts stray. 4. Lead us to God, our final Rest, To be with Him forever blest ; Lead us to Heaven, that we may share Fullness of joy forever there. Plvmouth Hvmnal— 144. —Simon Browne. 1. O Fire of God, the Comforter, O Life of all that live, Holy art Thou to quicken us, and holy, strength to give ; To heal the broken-hearted ones, their sorest wounds to bind, O Spirit of all holiness. O Lover of mankind ! 59 2. O sweetest taste within the breast, O grace upon us poured, That saintly hearts may give again their perfume to the Lord ; O purest fountain ! we can see, clear mirrored in Thy streams, That God brings home the wanderers, that God the lost redeems. 3. O breastplate strong to guard our life, O bond of unity, O girdle of all righteousness, save all who trust in Thee; Defend those who in dungeons dark are prisoned by the foe, And let the suffering captives all Thy saving com- fort know. 4. O surest way, that through the height, and through the lowest deep, And through the earth dost pass, and all in firmest union keep, — From Thee the clouds of ether move, from Thee the moisture flows, From Thee the waters draw their rills, and earth with verdure glows. 5. And Thou dost ever teach the wise, and freely on them pour The inspiration of Thy gifts, the treasures of Thy lore; All praise to Thee, O joy of life, O hope and strength, we raise, Who givest us the prize of light, who art Thyself all praise. Plymouth Hymnal— 145. —5/. Hildegarde. 1. O Holy Ghost, Thy people bless, Who long to feel Thy might ; And fain would grow in holiness, As children of the light. 60 2. To Thee we bring;. Who art the Lord, Ourselves to be Thy throne; Let every thought, and deed, and word Thy pure dominion own. 3. Life-giving Spirit, o'er us move. As on the formless deep ; Give life and order, light and love. Where now is death or sleep. 4. Great gift of our ascended King, His saving truth reveal ; Our tongues inspire His praise to sing. Our hearts His love to feel. Evangelical Hymnal— 272. —Henry Williams Baker. LESSON XI. The Holy Spirit Abiding in the Consecrated Life. Suggestion: The personal relation of the Holy Spirit to the individual believer is the basis of Christian experience. It was expedient for us that Our Lord should "go away" from His vis- ible tarrying on earth in order that "the Com- forter" might come to us and abide with us. No more important duty belongs to the teaching of Christian truth than the clear exposition of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit dwelling in the soul of the Christian. Scriptural Basis. John 1 4:25-27. II. Cor. 3:17, 18. Gal. 5:16-26. Eph. 3:14-21. Eph. 5:8-20. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Our blest Redeemer, ere He breathed His tender, last farewell, A Guide, a Comforter bequeathed, With us to dwell. 2. He came sweet influence to impart, A gracious, willing Guest, While He can find one humble heart Wherein to rest. 3. And His that gentle voice we hear, Soft as the breath of even, That checks each thought, that calms each fear, And speaks of Heaven. 4. And every virtue we possess, And every victory won. And every thought of holiness A iv His alone. 5. Spirit of purity and grace. Our weakness, pitying, see ; (). make our hearts Thy dwelling-place, And worthier Thee. Plymouth Hymnal— 146. —Harriet Auber. 1. Come, Thou Holy Spirit, come ; And from Thy celestial home Shed a ray of light divine ; Come, Thou Father of the poor, Come, Thou source of all our store, Come, within our bosoms shine. 2. Thou of Comforters the best, Thou the soul's most welcome guest, Sweet refreshment here below ; In our labour rest most sweet. Grateful coolness in the heat. Solace in the midst of woe. 3. O most blessed Light Divine, Shine within these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill ; Where Thou art not, man hath nought, Nothing good in deed or thought, Nothing free from taint of ill. 4. Heal our wounds ; our strength renew ; On our dryness pour Thy dew ; Wash the stains of guilt away : Bend the stubborn heart and will ; Melt the frozen, warm the chill ; Guide the steps that go astray . 5. On the faithful, who adore And confess Thee, evermore In Thy sevenfold gifts descend : Give them virtue's sure reward, Give them Thy salvation, Lord, Give them joys that never end. Hymns Ancient and Modern— 156. — Edward Caswell. 63 1. Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost, Taught by Thee, we covet most Of Thy gifts at Pentecost, Holy, heavenly love. 2. Love is kind, and suffers long, Love is meek and thinks no wrong, Love than death itself more strong, Therefore give us love. 3. Prophecy will fade away, Melting in the light of day ; Love will ever with us stay ; Therefore give us love. 4. Faith will vanish into sight, Hope be emptied in delight, Love in Heav'n will shine more bright ; Therefore give us love. 5. Faith and hope and love we see Joining hand in hand agree, But the greatest of the three, And the best, is love. 6. From the overshadowing Of Thy gold and silver wing Shed on us, who to Thee sing, Holy, heavenly love. —Christopher Wordsworth. Hymns Ancient and Modern— XJ10. Spirit Divine, attend our prayers, And make this house Thy home ; Descend with all Thy gracious powers, O come, Great Spirit, come ! Come as the light ; to us reveal Our emptiness and woe ; And lead us in those paths of life Where all the righteous go. Come as the fire, and purge our hearts, Like sacrificial flame : Let our whole soul an offering be To our Redeemer's name. 64 4. Come as the dove, and spread Thy wings The wings of perfect love : And let Thy church on earth become Bless'd as Thy church above. 5. Come as the wind, with rushing sound. With Pentecostal grace ; And make the great salvation known. Wide as the human race. Hymns of the Faith-179. -Andrew Reed. LESSON XII. The Holy Scripture as the Very Word of God. Suggestion: The end in view is twofold: to exalt the Scripture as a vehicle of revelation: to honor it as an authoritative rule of conduct. If the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is first thoroughly established in the mind, the authority of Holy Scripture as a revelation of truth and as a rule of life cannot be shaken. Scriptural Basis. Heb.4:12. II. Tim. 3:14 ; 4:5. II. Pet 1:20. Luke 24:27-45. Rom. 1:1-6. I. Cor. 15:3, 4. John 10:35. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Lord, Thy Word abideth, And our footsteps guideth ; Who its truth believeth Light and joy receiveth. •2. When our foes are near us, Then Thy Word doth cheer us, Word of consolation. Message of salvation. 3. When the storms are o'er us, And dark clouds before us, Then its light directeth And our way protecteth. GG 4. Who can tell the pleasure, Who recount the treasure, By Thy Word imparted To the simple-hearted ? 5. Word of mercy, giving Succor to the living; Word of life, supplying Comfort to the dying ! 6. O, that we. discerning Its most holy learning. Lord, may love and fear Thee, Evermore be near Thee ! Evangelical Hymnal— 67. —Henry Williams Baker. 1. Holy Bible. Book divine. Precious treasure, thou art mine ; Mine to tell me whence I came ; Mine to teach me what I am. 2. Mine to chide me when I rove ; Mine to show a Saviour's love ; Mine thou art to guide and guard ; Mine to punish or reward ; 3. Mine to comfort in distress. Suffering in this wilderness ; Mine to show, by living faith, Man can triumph over death ; 4. Mine to tell of joys to come, And the rebel sinner's doom : O thou holy Book divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine. Epworth Hymnal, No. 2—94. —John Burton. 1. Father of mercies, in Thy Word What endless glory shines ; Forever be Thy Name ador'd For these celestial lines. 2. Here, may the wretched sons of want Exhaustless riches find : Riches, above what earth can grant, And lasting as the mind. 3. Here, the Redeemer's welcome Voice, Spreads heavenly peace around ; And life, and everlasting joys Attend the blissful sound. 4. O may these heavenly pages be My ever dear delight. And still new beauties may I see. And still increasing light. 5. Divine Instructor, gracious Lord, Be Thou forever near ; Teach me to love Thy sacred Word, And view my Saviour there. Evangelical Hymnal— 64. —Anne Steele. 1. Church of the Living God, Pillar and ground of truth, Keep the old paths the fathers trod In thy illumined youth. 2. Lo, in thy bosom lies The touchtone for the age ; Seducing error shrinks and dies At light from yonder page. 3. Woe to the hands that dare, By lust of power enticed,' To mingle with the doctrines there The frauds of Antichrist. 4. Once to the saints was given All blessed gospel lore ; There, written down in words from Heav'n Thou hast it evermore. 5. Fear not, though doubts abound, And scoffing tongues deride ; Love of God's Word finds surer ground When to the utmost tried. 6. Toil at thy sacred text ; More fruitful grows the held ; Each generation for the next Prepares a richer yield. ',. i lull's Spirit in the Church Still lives unspent, untired. Inspiring- hearts that fain would search The truths Himself inspired. Move, Holy Ghost, with might Amongst us as of old ; Dispel the falsehood, and unite In true faith the true fold. Hymns Ancient and Modern— .535. —A.J. Mason. 1. How precious is the Book Divine. By inspiration given ; Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine. To guide our souls to Heaven. 2. Its light, descending from above. Our gloomy world to cheer. Displays a Saviour's boundless love. And brings His glories near. •'i It shows to man his wandering ways. And where his feet have trod ; And brings to view the matchless grace Of a forgiving God. 4. It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts. In this dark vale of tears ; Life, light, and joy it still impart:. And quells our rising fears. 5. This lamp, through all the tedious night Of life, shall guide our way. Till we behold the clearer light Of an eternal day. Evangelical Hymnal— 68. -John Favocett. 69 1. The Spirit breathes upon the Word, And brings the truth to sight, Precepts and promises afford A sanctifying light. 2. A glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun ; It gives a light to every age, It gives, but borrows none. 3. The Hand that gave it, still supplies The gracious light and heat ; His truths upon the nations rise. They rise, but never set. 4. Let everlasting thanks be Thine, For such a bright display As makes a world of darkness shine With beams of heavenly day. 5. My soul rejoices to pursue The steps of Him I love. Till glory breaks upon my view, In brighter worlds above. Hymns of the Faith— 1115. —William Cowper. 1. Lord, I have made Thy Word my choice. My lasting heritage : There shall my noblest powers rejoice, My warmest thoughts engage. 2. I'll read the histories of Thy love, And keep Thy laws in sight ; While through the promises I rove With ever fresh delight. 3. 'Tis a broad land of wealth unknown, Where springs of life arise, Seeds of immortal bliss are sown, And hidden glory lies. 4. The best relief that mourners have ; It makes our sorrows blest ; Our fairest hope beyond the grave. And our eternal rest. Evangelical Hymnal— 69. — Isaac Watts. 70 PART II. CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. LESSON XIII. The Renunciation of Sin. Suggestion: The sure evidence of the new life is found in the disposition of the soul to renounce sin; to "crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts;" to "cast away the works of darkness." Fitful impulses towards good may occur where the new life has not truly begun, but when he that was dead in trespasses and sin has truly become alive unto God, the reality of that life manifests itself in the solemn and decisive renun- ciation of sin. Sin has now become hateful, and the regenerate soul, full of desire towards God and Holiness, beats down Satan under its feet. Scriptural Basis. Luke 1 5:1 1- 32. Romans 6. I.John 1:1—2:2. IUustr ative Hymns. 1. Weary of earth and laden with my sin, I look at Heaven and long to enter in. But there no evil thing- may find a home : And yet I hear a Voice that bids me " Come." 71 2. So vile I am, how dare I hope to stand In the pure glory of that Holy .Land ? Before the whiteness of that Throne appear ? Yet there are Hands stretched out to draw me near. 3. The while I fain would tread the heavenly way, Evil is ever with me day by day ; Yet on mine ears the gracious tidings fall ; 11 Repent, confess, thou shalt be loosed from all." 4. It is the Voice of Jesus that I hear, His are the Hands stretched out to draw me near, And His the Blood that can for all atone, And set me faultless there before the Throne. 5. 'Twas He Who found me on the deathly wild, And made me heir of Heaven, the Father's child. And day by day, whereby my soul may live. Gives me His grace of pardon, and will give. 6. O great Absolver, grant my soul may wear The lowliest garb of penitence and prayer ; That in the Father's courts my glorious dress May be the garment of Thy Righteousness. 7. Yea, Thou wilt answer for me, Righteous Lord, Thine all the Merits, mine the great Reward ; Thine the sharp thorns, and mine the golden crown, Mine the life won, and Thine the Life laid down. 8. Naught can I bring, dear Lord, for all I owe, Yet let my full heart what it can bestow ; Like Mary's gift let my devotion prove, Forgiven greatly, how I greatly love. Evangelical Hymnal— 288. —Samuel John Stone. 1. Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy Blood was shed for me, And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come ! 2. Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot, To Thee, Whose Blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come ! % Just as I am, though toss'd about With many a conflict, many a doubt. Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God. I come ! 4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind ; Sight, richo. healing of the mind. Yea, all I need in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come ! 5. Just as I am. Thou wilt receive. Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve ! Because Thy promise I believe. O Lamb of God, I come ! 6. Just as I am. (Thy Love unknown Has broken every barrier down.) Now, to be Thine, yea. Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come ! 7. Just as I am. of that free love The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove Here for a season, then above. O Lamb of God. I come ! Evangelical Hymnal— 170. —Charlotte Elliott. I was a wandering sheep, I did not love the fold ; I did not love my Shepherd's voice, I would not be controlled. I was a wayward child, I did not love my home ; I did not love my Father's voice : I loved afar to roam. The Shepherd sought His sheep. The Father sought His child ; They followed me o'er vale and hill. O'er deserts waste and wild. They found me nigh to death, Famished and faint and lone ; They bound me with the bands of love. They saved the wandering one. 73 •3. They spoke in tender love, They raised my drooping head ; They gently closed my bleeding wounds. My fainting soul They fed. They washed my filth away, They made me clean and fair : They brought me to my home in peace. The long-sought wanderer. 4. Jesus my Shepherd is : 'Twas He that loved my soul, 'Twas He that washed me in His blood, 'Twas He that made me whole ; 'Twas He that sought the lost, That found the wandering sheep, 'Twas He that brought me to the fold, 'Tis He that still doth keep. 5. I was a wandering sheep, I would not be controlled ; But now I love my Shepherd's voice, I love, I love the fold. I was a wayward child, I once preferred to roam ; But now I love my Father's voice, I love, I love His home. Plvmouth Hvmnal— 620. —Horatius Sonar. "Lord, when Thy Kingdom comes, remember me : " Thus spake the dying lips to dying Ears ; O faith, which in that darkest hour could see The promised glory of the far-off years ! No kingly sign declares that glory now, No ray of hope lights up that awful hour ; A thorny crown surrounds the bleeding Brow, The Hands are stretched in weakness, not in power. Yet hear the Word the dying Saviour saith, u Thou too shalt rest in Paradise to-day ; " O Words of love to answer words of faith ! O Words of hope for those who live to pray ! 74 4. Lord, when with dying lips my prayer is said. Grant that in faith Thy kingdom I may see ; And, thinking on Thy Cross and bleeding Head, .May breathe my parting words. "Remember me." 5. Remember me, but not my shame or sin ; Thy cleansing Blood hath wash'd them all away ; Thy precious Death for me did pardon win ; Thy Blood redeem'd me in that awful day. fi. Remember me; yet how canst Thou forget What pain and anguish I have caused to Thee, The Cross, the Agony, the Bloody Sweat, And all the sorrow Thou didst bear for me ! 7. Remember me ; and ere I pass away. Speak Thou th' assuring Word that sets us free. And make Thy promise to my heart " To-day Thou too shalt rest in Paradise with Me."' — William D. Maclagan. Hvmns Ancient and Modern— 116. 1. Oh, the bitter shame and sorrow. That a time could ever be When I let the Saviour's pity Plead in vain and proudly answer'd, " All of self, and none of Thee.'' i. Yet He found me : I beheld Him Bleeding on the accursed tree, Heard Him pray, " Forgive them, Father : And my wistful heart said faintly, " Some of self, and some of Thee." 3. Day by day His tender mercy. Healing, helping, full and free, Sweet and strong, and ah ! so patient. Brought me lower, while I whisper'd, " Less of self, and more of Thee." 4. Higher than the highest heavens, Deeper than the deepest sea, Lord, Thy love at last hath conquer'd ; Grant me now my soul's desire, " None of self, and all of Thee." Hymns Ancient and Modern— 631. —Monod. 1. When wounded sore the stricken soul Lies bleeding and unbound, One only Hand, a pierced Hand, Can heal the sinner's wound. 2. When sorrow swells the laden breast, And tears of anguish flow. One only Heart, a broken Heart, Can feel the sinner's woe. 3. When penitence has wept in vain Over some foul dark spot, One only Stream, a Stream of Blood, Can wash away the blot. 4. 'Tis Jesus' Blood that washes white, His Hand that brings relief, His Heart that's touch'd with all our joys, And feeleth for our grief. 5. Lift up Thy bleeding Hand, O Lord ; Unseal that cleansing tide ; We have no shelter from our sin, But in Thy wounded Side ! Evangelical Hymnal — 285. — Mrs. C. F. Alexander I once was a stranger to grace and to God ; I knew not my danger, and felt not my load ; Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on th( tree, Jehovah, my Saviour, seemed nothing to me. 76 I When free grace awoke me by light from on high, Then legal fears shook me ; I trembled to die : No refuge, no safety, in self could I see : Jehovah, Thou only my Saviour must be ! I My terrors all vanished before His sweet Name; My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came To drink at the fountain so copious and free : Jehovah, my Saviour, is all things to me. 4. Jehovah, the Lord, is my treasure and boast ; Jehovah, my Saviour. I ne'er can be lost: In Thee I shall conquer by flood and by field, Jehovah my Anchor, Jehovah my Shield ! 5. Ev'n treading the valley, the shadow of death. This watchword shall rally my faltering breath ; For, while from life's fever my God sets me free. Jehovah, my Saviour, my death-song shall be ! Songs for the Sanctuary— 924. —Robert M. McCheyne. LESSON XIV. Entire Consecration. Suggestion : Consecration to God is the companion experience to renunciation of sin. Renunciation without consecration can avail little. The holy life is a positive life; not only held back from evil, but given forth in all power and enthusiasm to do the will of the Lord. The life which one now lives is intense, affectionate, urgent in the service of the Lord Christ. The negative state of resisting evil grows into the positive life of doing good. The soul is not occupied only with keep- ing its own enemies at bay. Far more is it eager to win other souls for Christ and to press forward in His Name. Scriptural Basis. Luke 1 1 : 24-26. Gal. 2:19, 20. Phil. 3:7-21. I. Cor. 6:19, 20. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee ; Take my hands, and let them move At the impulse of Thy love ; Take my feet, and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee ; Take my voice, and let me sing Always, only, for my King. 78 •J. Take my I I :hem be Filled with messages from Thee ; lake my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold ; Take my moments and my Let them flow in ceaseless praise ; Take my intellect and use Every p.-w^r as Thou shalt eh< ■1. Take my will, and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine ; Take my heart, it is Thine own ! It ^hall be Thy royal throne : Take my love ; my Lord. I pour At Thy feet its treasure-store ; Take myself, and I will be. Ever, only. all. for Thee ! »um Corda— 543. —Frances Ridley Haver gal. 1. O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul on Thee ; I give Thee back the life I owe That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. •J. O Light that folio west all my way, I yield my flickering torch to Thee ; My heart restores its borrowed ray. That in Thy sunshine's blaze its day May brighter, fairer be. 3. O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee ; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain That morn shall tearless be. 4. O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from Thee ; I lay in dust life's glory dead. And from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be. -sum Corda — 450. —George Matheson. 1. O Love, Who formedst me to wear The Image of Thy Godhead here ; Who soughtest me with tender care Thro' all my wanderings wild and drear ; O Love, I give myself to Thee, Thine ever, only Thine to be. 2. O Love, Who ere life's earliest dawn On me Thy choice hast gently laid ; O Love, Who here as Man wast born, And wholly like to us wast made ; O Love, I give myself to Thee, Thine ever, only Thine to be. 3. O Love, Who once in time was slain. Pierced thro' and thro' with bitter woe ; O Love, Who wrestling thus didst gain That we eternal joy might know ; O Love, I give myself to Thee, Thine ever, only Thine to be. 4. O Love, Who lovest me for aye, Who for my soul dost ever plead ; O Love, Who didst my ransom pay, Whose power sufnceth in my stead ; O Love, I give myself to Thee, Thine ever, only Thine to be. 5. O Love, Who once shalt bid me rise From out this dying life of ours ; O Love, Who once o'er yonder skies Shalt set me in the fadeless bowers ; O Love, I give myself to Thee, Thine ever, only Thine to be. Evangelical Hymnal— 307. —Catherine Winkworth. Jesus, I have promised To serve Thee to the end ; Be Thou forever near me, My Master and my Friend ! 1 shall not fear the battle, If Thou art by my side, Nor wander from the pathway, If Thou wilt be my Guide. 80 2. () let me feel Thee near me— The world is ever near ; I see the sights that dazzle, The tempting sounds I hear. My foes are ever near me. Around me and within ; But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer, And shield my soul from sin. a O Jesus. Thou hast promised To all who follow Thee. That where Thou art in glory There shall Thy servant be ; And, Jesus, I have promised To serve Thee to the end ; O give me grace to follow My Master and my Friend ! 4. O let me see Thy Foot-marks, And in them plant mine own. My hope to follow duly Is in Thy strength alone. O guide me, call me, draw me. Uphold me to the end : And then in Heaven receive me. My Saviour and my Friend. Evangelical Hymnal— 309. — John Ernest Bode. 1 . My God, accept my heart this day. And make it always Thine ; That I from Thee no more may stray. No more from Thee decline. •2. Before the Cross of Him Who died. Behold, I prostrate fall ; Let every sin be crucified, And Christ be All in all. 3. Let every thought, and work, and word To Thee be ever given ; Then life shall be Thy service. Lord, And death the gate of Heaven. Evangelical Hymnal— 313. —Mattheiv Bridges. 1. Thou hidden love of God, whose height, Whose depth unfathom'd, no man knows ; I see from far Thy beauteous light, Inly I sigh for Thy repose ; My heart is pain'd, nor can it be At rest, till it finds rest in Thee. 2. 'Tis mercy all, that Thou hast brought My mind to seek her peace in Thee. Yet, while I seek but find Thee not, No peace my wandering soul shall see ; O when shall all my wanderings end, And all my steps to Thee- ward tend ? 3. Is there a thing beneath the sun That strives with Thee my heart to share? Ah, tear it thence, and reign alone, The Lord of every motion there ! Then shall my heart from earth be free, When it hath found repose in Thee. 4. O hide this self from me, that I No more, but Christ in me, may live ; My vile affection crucify, Nor let one hidden lust survive ! In all things nothing may I see, Nothing desire, apart from Thee. 5. Each moment draw from earth away My heart, that lowly waits Thy call ; Speak to my inmost soul and say, " I am thy Love, thy God, thy All ! " To feel Thy power, to hear Thy voice, To taste Thy love, be all my choice. Hymns Ancient and Modern — 600. — Charles Wesley. When I survey the wondrous Cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my God ; All the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to His Blood. .'i See from His Head, His Hands, His Feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down ! Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown ? 4. His dying crimson, like a robe. Spreads o'er His Body on the tree ; Then am I dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me. 5. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small ; Love so amazing, so divine. Demands my soul, my life, my all. Evangelical Hymnal— 231. — Isaac Watts. LESSON XV. " Kept by the Power of God." Suggestion: Consecration is perpetually renewed. Surrender to the grace of God is a daily, hourly act. We do not keep ourselves steadfast in this new life. We are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation. We live by the daily renewal of our spiritual relations. Day by day we are actively receiving afresh the grace wherein we stand. Day by day we are upheld by the instant grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from Him we can do nothing. Every step of the walk of life must be taken "in the Spirit. Scriptural Basis. Jude 24, 25. I.John 5:18-20. Heb. 13.20,21. Eph. 6:10-17. Illustrative Hymns. I could not do without Thee, O Saviour of the lost, Whose precious Blood redeemed me At such tremendous cost ; Thy righteousness, Thy pardon, Thy precious Blood must be My only hope and comfort, My glory and my plea. 84 J J could not do without Thee, I cannot stand alone. I have no strength or goodness, No wisdom of my own ; But Thou, beloved Saviour, Art all in all to me. And weakness will be power If leaning hard on Thee. 3. I could not do without Thee, For, oh, the way is long, And I am often weary. And sigh replaces song. How could I do without Thee? I do not know the way ; Thou knowest, and Thou leadest, And wilt not let me stray. 4. I could not do without Thee, Jesus, Saviour dear ; E'en when my eyes are holden, 1 know that Thou art near ; How dreary and how lonely This changeful life would be Without the sweet communion, The secret rest with Thee. 5. I could not do without Thee ; Xo other friend can read The spirit's strange deep longings, Interpreting its need ; Xo human heart could enter Each dim recess of mine. And soothe, and hush, and calm it, O Blessed Lord, but Thine. 0. I could not do without Thee, For years are fleeting fast, And soon in solemn loneness The river must be pass'd ; But Thou wilt never leave me. And though the waves roll high, I know Thou wilt be near me. And whisper, "It is I." —Frances Ridley Haver gal. Hymns Ancient and Modern— 186. 85 1. Sweetly the holy hymn Breaks on the morning air : Before the world with smoke is dim We meet to offer prayer. 2. While flowers are wet with dews, Dew of our souls, descend : Ere yet the sun the day renews, O Lord, Thy Spirit send. 3. Upon the battle-field, Before the fight begins, We seek, O Lord, Thy sheltering shield, To guard us from our sins. 4. Ere yet our vessel sails Upon the stream of day, We plead, O Lord, for heavenly gales To speed us on our way. 5. On the lone mountain side, Before the morning's light, The Man of Sorrows wept and cried. And rose refreshed with might. 6. Oh, hear us, then, for we Are very weak and frail, We make the Saviour's Name our plea, And surely must prevail. —Charles H. Spurgeon. Church Hymns and Gospel Songs— 9. Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine : Living with Jesus, a new life divine ; Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine, Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine. Never a trial that He is not there, Never a burden that He doth not bear, Never a sorrow that He doth not share, Moment by moment I'm under His care. Never a heart-ache, and never a groan, Never a tear-drop and never a moan. Never a danger but there on the throne. Moment by moment He thinks of His own. S6 4. Never a weakness that He doth not feel, Never a sickness that He cannot heal; Moment by moment, in woe or in weal, Jesus, my Saviour, abides with me still. 5. Moment by moment I'm kept in His love; Moment by moment I've life from above; Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine ; Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine. —D. W. Whittle. 'hurch Hymns and Gospel Songs— 270. 1. Still, still with Thee, my God, I would desire to be : By day, by night, at home, abroad, I would be still with Thee. •-2. With Thee, when dawn comes in. And calls me back to care. Each day returning to begin With Thee, my God. in prayer. 3. With Thee amid the crowd That throngs the busy mart. To hear Thy Voice, 'mid clamor loud, Speak softly to my heart. 4. With Thee, when day is done. And evening calms the mind ; The setting, as the rising, sun With Thee my heart would find. 5. With Thee, when darkness brings The signal of repose. Calm in the shadow of Thy wings, Mine eyelids would I close. 6. With Thee, in Thee, by faith Abiding I would be ; By day, by night, in life, in death, I would be still with Thee. Hymns of the Faith^488. —James D. Burns. 87 1. Awake, my soul, and with the sun Thy daily stage of duty run ; Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise To pay thy morning sacrifice. 2. In conversation be sincere ; Keep conscience as the noontide clear ; Think how all-seeing God thy ways And all thy secret thoughts surveys. 3. By influence of the Light divine Let thy own light to others shine ; Reflect all Heaven's propitious rays, In ardent love and cheerful praise. 4. Wake and lift up thyself, my heart, And with the angels bear thy part, Who, all night long, unwearied sing High praise to the eternal King. 5. All praise to Thee, Who safe hast kept, And hast refreshed me whilst I slept ! Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, I may of endless light partake ! 6. Lord, I my vows to Thee renew ; Disperse my sins as morning dew ; Guard my first springs of thought and will, And with Thyself my spirit fill. 7. Direct, control, suggest, this day, All I design, or do, or say, That all my powers, with all their might, In Thy sole glory may unite. Plymouth Hymnal— 26. —Thomas Ken. Abide with me ! fast falls the eventide ; The darkness deepens ; Lord, with me abide .' When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me ! Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day ; Earth's joys grow dim ; its glories pass away ; Change and decay in all around I see ; O Thou, Who changest not, abide with me ! 3. Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word ; Hut. as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free. Come, not to sojourn, but abide with me ! 4. Come not in terrors, as the King of kings . But kind and good with healing in Thy W : Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea ; Come, Friend of sinners, and thus 'bide with me 5. Thou on my head in early youth didst smile, And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee. On to the close. O Lord, abide with me ! 6. I need Thy presence every passing hour ; What but Thy grace can foil the Tempter's power ; Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be ? Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me ! 7. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless ; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; Where is Death's sting? where. Grave, thy victory ? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me ! 8. Hold Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes ! Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies ! Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee ; In life, in death. O Lord, abide with me ! Evangelical Hymnal— 24. —Henry F. Lyte. 1. •* Christian ! seek not yet repose. Hear thy guardian Angel say. " Thou art in the midst of foes, •• Watch and pray." 2. Principalities and powers, Mustering their unseen array, Wait for thy unguarded hours ; •• Watch and pray." 3. Gird thy heavenly armour on. Wear it ever night and day ; Near thee lurks the Evil One ; " Watch and pray." 4. Hear the victors who o'ercame ; Still they watch each warrior's way All with one deep voice exclaim, " Watch and pray." 5. Hear, above all these, thy Lord, Him thou lovest to obey ; Hide within thy heart His Word, " Watch and pray." 6. Watch, as if on that alone Hung the issue of the day ; Pray, that help may be sent down ; " Watch and pray." Evangelical Hymnal— 345. — William W. How. Calm me, my God, and keep me calm. Soft resting on Thy Breast ; Soothe me with holy hymn and psalm And bid my spirit rest. Calm me, my God, and keep me calm ; Let Thine outstretched Wing Be like the shade of Elim's palm, Beside her desert spring. Yes, keep me calm, though loud and rude The sounds my ear that greet,— Calm in the closet's solitude, Calm in the bustling street, — Calm in the hour of buoyant health. Calm in the hour of pain, Calm in my poverty or wealth, Calm in my loss or gain,— 90 5. Calm in the sufferance of wrong, Like Him Who bore my shame, Calm 'mid the threatening, taunting throng Who hate Thy Holy Name. 6. Calm as the ray of sun and star Which storms assail in vain. Moving unruffled through earth's war Th' Eternal Calm to gain. Evangelical Hymnal— 363. —Horatius Bonar. LESSON XVI. Prayer . Suggestion: To debate the metaphysics of prayer is unprofitable. We pray, even as we breathe, because without prayer the spiritual life per- ishes. The joy and the comfort of prayer are cumulative experiences. In a rich and full spiritual life prayer ceases to be a formal func- tion and becomes a precious companionship with God. The friendship of God in Christ Jesus becomes more real than earthly love. To com- mune with God lightens the heaviest burden, relieves the most grievous tension of circum- stances. So long as such companionship with God endures, the soul cannot find life too hard for it. We can do all things and bear all things in Him which strengtheneth us. Scriptural Basis* Matt. 6:5-13. Phil. 4:6. 7. I. Thess. 5:16-25. Eph. 3:14-21. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed ; The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast. 2. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear, The upward glancing of an eye, When none but God is near. 92 3. Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try ; Prayer the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on High. 4. Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice. Returning from his ways ; While angels in their songs rejoice. And cry— 1 ' Behold he pray> ! " ."). Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, The Christian's native air ; His watchword at the gates of death- He enters Heaven with prayer. 0. O Thou, by Whom we come to God — The Life, the Truth, the Way ; The path of prayer Thyself hast trod ; Lord ! teach us how to pray. Evangelical Hymnal — 335. —James Montgomery. 1. My God, is any hour so sweet. From blush of morn to evening star. As that which calls me to Thy Feet, The hour of prayer ? 2. Blest is that tranquil hour of morn. And blest that solemn hour of eve. When on the wings of prayer upborne. The world I leave. 3. Then is my strength by Thee renewed ; Then are my sins by Thee forgiven ; Then dost Thou cheer my solitude With hopes of Heaven. 4. No words can tell what sweet relief Here for my every want I find ; What strength for warfare, balm for grief, What peace of mind. 5. Hushed is each doubt, gone every fear ; My spirit seems in Heaven to stay ; And e'en the penitential tear Is wiped away. 93 6. Lord, till I reach that blissful Shore, No privilege so dear shall be As thus my inmost soul to pour In prayer to Thee. Evangelical Hymnal— 57. —Charlotte Elliott. 1. From every stormy wind that blows, From every swelling tide of woes, There is a calm, a sure retreat : 'Tis found beneath the mercy-seat. 2. There is a place where Jesus sheds The oil of gladness on our heads ; A place than all besides more sweet : It is the blood-stained mercy-seat. 3. There is a scene where spirits blend, Where friend holds fellowship with friend : Though sundered far, by faith they meet Around one common mercy-seat. 4. Ah ! whither could we flee for aid, When tempted, desolate, dismayed ; Or how the hosts of hell defeat, Had suffering saints no mercy-seat ? 5. There, there on eagle wings we soar, And time and sense seem all no more ; And heaven comes down our souls to greet, And glory crowns the mercy-seat. Hymns of the Faith— 302. —Hugh Stowell. Come, my soul, thou must be waking; Now is breaking O'er the earth another day : Come to Him Who made this splendor See thou render All thy feeble strength can pay. Gladly hail the sun returning ; Ready burning Be the incense of thy powers ; For the night is safely ended ; God hath tended With His care thy helpless hours. Pray that He may prosper ever Each endeavor. When the aim is good and true ; Hut that He may ever thwart thee. And convert thee, When thou evil wouldst pursue. Think that He thy ways beholdeth ; He unfoldeth Every fault that lurks within : He the hidden shame glossed over Can discover, And discern each deed of sin. . May est thou on life's last morrow. Free from sorrow, Pass away in slumber sweet ; And, released from death's dark sadness, Rise in gladness, That far brighter Sun to greet. Only God's free gifts abuse not, Light refuse not, But His Spirit's Voice obey ; Thou with Him shalt dwell, beholding Light enfolding All things in unclouded Day. Plvmouth Hvmnal— 29. —Baron von Canitz. Lord, teach us how to pray aright With reverence and with fear ; Though dust and ashes in Thy sight, We may, we must draw near. We perish if we cease from prayer ; O grant us power to pray : And, when to meet Thee we prepare, Lord, meet us by the way. 95 3. God of all grace, we bring to Thee A broken contrite heart ; Give, what Thine eye delights to see, Truth in the inward part ; 4. Faith in the only Sacrifice That can for sin atone, To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes, On Christ, on Christ alone ; r>. Patience to watch, and wait, and weep, Though mercy long delay ; Courage our fainting souls to keep, And trust Thee though Thou slay ; f). Give these, and then Thy Will be done ; Thus, strengthen'd with all might, We, through Thy Spirit and Thy Son, Shall pray, and pray aright. —James Montgomery. Hymns Ancient and Modern— 247. O Light, Whose beams illumine all From twilight dawn to perfect day, Shine Thou before the shadows fall That lead our wandering feet astray ; At morn and eve Thy radiance pour, That youth may love, and age adore. O Way, thro' Whom our souls draw near To yon eternal Home of peace. Where perfect love shall cast out fear And earth's vain toil and wandering cease In strength or weakness may we see Our heavenward path, O Lord, thro' Thee. O Truth, before Whose shrine we bow, Thou priceless pearl for all who seek, To Thee our earliest strength we vow, Thy love will bless the pure and meek. When dreams or mists beguile our sight, Turn Thou our darkness into light. 4. I ) Life, the Well That ever flows To slake the thirst of those that faint. Thy power to bless what seraph know-. ? Thy joy supreme what words can paint ? In earth's last hour of fleeting breath Be Thou our Conqueror over death, vangelical Hymnal — 433. —Edward H. Plumptre. lesson xvn. The Realization of the Presence of Christ. Suggestion: The fruit of this prayer-life is the increasing realization of our Lord's Presence with us "all the days." He becomes a part of our everyday experience. He is in all our plans, joys and sorrows. We decide difficult questions by going apart with Him as into some quiet council-chamber of the soul. The grief of sin- ning grows more intense, the conscience more sensitive, because His eyes are so evidently upon us, and our failures sadden Him. The scope of our life-plans broadens, the measure of our think- ing expands through this realization of His Pres- ence. Dullness and monotony are dispelled; the springs of purpose are refilled, and He That sitteth on the throne of our hearts makes all things new. Scriptural Basis. John 1 5. John 1 7. Eph. 3. Col. 3. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Jesus, these eyes have never seen That radiant Form of Thine ; The veil of sense hangs dark between Thy blessed Face and mine. 2. I see Thee not, I hear Thee not, Yet art Thou oft with me ; And earth hath ne'er so dear a spot, As where I meet with Thee. 98 Like some bright dream that comes unsought When slumbers o'er me roll, Thine Image ever tills my thought. And charms my ravished soul. Yet though I have not seen, and still Must rest in faith alone, I love Thee, dearest Lord,— and will. Unseen, but not Unknown. When death these mortal eyes shall seal. And still this throbbing heart. The rending veil shall Thee reveal. All glorious as Thou art. Evangelical Hymnal — 123. -Ray Palmer. Here, O my Lord, I see Thee Face to face ; Here would I touch and handle things unseen ; Here grasp with firmer hand th' eternal grace. And all my weariness upon Thee lean. Here would I feed upon the Bread of God ; Here drink with Thee the royal Wine of Heaven; Here would I lay aside each earthly load. Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven. Too soon we rise ; the symbols disappear ; The Feast, though not the love, is passed and gone; The Bread and Wine remove, but Thou art here — Nearer than ever— still my Shield and Sun. I have no help but Thine ; nor do I need Another arm save Thine to lean upon. It is enough, my Lord, enough, indeed ; My strength is in Th}- might — Thy might alone. Mine is the sin, but Thine the Righteousness; Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing Blood ; Here is my Robe, my Refuge and my Peace,— Thy Blood, Thy Righteousness, O Lord my God. 6. Feast after feast thus comes and passes by ; Yet, passing, points to the glad Feast above, — Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy, The Lamb's great Bridal Feast of bliss and love. Evangelical Hymnal— 441. —Horatins Bona} 1. When gathering clouds around I view, And days are dark and friends are few, On Him I lean, Who not in vain Experienced every human pain ; He sees my want, allays my fears. And counts and treasures up my tears. 2. If aught should tempt my soul to stray From heavenly wisdom's narrow way ; To fly the good I would pursue, Or do the sin I would not do ; Still He, Who felt temptation's power, Shall guard me in that dangerous hour. 3. If wounded love my bosom swell. Deceived by those I prized too well ; He shall His pitying aid bestow, Who felt on earth severer woe ; At once betrayed, denied, or fled, By those who shared His daily bread. 4. If vexing thoughts within me rise, And, sore dismayed, my spirit dies ; Still He, Who once vouchsafed to bear The sickening anguish of despair, Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry, The throbbing heart, the streaming eye. 5. When sorrowing o'er some stone I bend, Which covers what was once a friend, And from his voice, his hand, his smile, Divides me for a little while ; Thou, Saviour, mark'st the tears I shed, For Thou didst weep o'er Lazarus dead. 100 \nd O! when I have safely past Through every conflict but the last; Still, still unchanging, watch beside My painful bed, for Thou hast died ! Then point to realms of cloudless day. And wipe the latest tear away ! ^elical Hymnal— 111. —Robert Grant. 1. My t for the hope of winning heaven. Xor of escaping hell ; 5. Xot with the hope of gaining aught Xor seeking a reward ; But as Thyself hast loved me, O ever-loving Lord. C). So would I love Thee, dearest Lord. And in Thy praise will sing; Solely because Thou art my God, And my eternal King. Hymns of the Faith-^88. —Francis Xavier. How sweet the Xame of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear ! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds. And drives away his fear. 101 2. It makes the wounded spirit whole. And calms the troubled breast ! 'Tis Manna to the hungry soul. And to the weary Rest. 3. Dear Name ! the Rock on Which I build. My Shield and Hiding-place, My never-failing Treasury, filled With boundless stores of grace. 4. By Thee, my prayers acceptance gain. Although with sin defiled ;. Satan accuses me in vain, And I am owned a child. 5. Jesus ! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend, My Prophet, Priest, and King, My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, Accept the praise I bring. 6. Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought ; But when I see Thee as Thou art, I'll praise Thee as I ought. 7. Till then I would Thy love proclaim With every fleeting breath ; And may the music of Thy Name Refresh my soul in death. Evangelical Hymnal — 133. —John Newton. Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all, Hear me, blest Saviour, when I call ; Hear me and from Thy Dwelling-place Pour down the riches of Thy grace ; Jesus, my Lord, I Thee adore, O make me love Thee more and more". Jesus, too late I Thee have sought, How can I love Thee as I ought ; 'And how extol Thy matchless fame, The glorious beauty of Thy Name ? Jesus, my Lord, I Thee adore, O make me love Thee more and more. 102 3. Jesus, what didst Thou find in me. That Thou hast dealt so lovingly ? How great the joy that Thou hast brought, Si ■ Ear exceeding hope or thought ! Jesus, my Lord, I Thee adore, < ) make me love Thee more and more ! 4. Jesus, of Thee shall be my song, To Thee my heart and soul bel<>- All that I have or am is Thine. And Thou, blest Saviour. Thou art mine : Jesus, my Lord. I Thee adore. O make me love Thee more and more. Evangelical Hymnal— 1»>5. —Henry Collins. "Come unto Me. ye weary. And I will give you : O blessed Voice of Jesus. Which comes to hearts oppressed ! It tells of benediction. Of pardon, grace, and peace. Of joy that hath no ending. Of love that cannot cease. "Come unto Me. ye fainting. And I will give you light." O loving Voice of Jesus. Which comes to cheer the night ! Our hearts were filled with sadness, And we had lost our way ; But He has brought us gladness, And songs at break of day. " Come unto Me. ye fainting. And I will give you life." O cheering Voice of Jesus, Which comes to aid our strife ! The foe is stern and eager, The fight is fierce and long ; But He has made us mighty. And stronger than the strong. 103 4. " And whosoever cometh, I will not east him out.'' O welcome Voice of Jesus, Which drives away our doubt, Which call us very sinners, Unworthy though we be Of love so free and boundless, To come, dear Lord, to Thee ! Evangelical Hymnal— 277. —William C. Dix. 1. I heard the Voice of Jesus say, " Come unto Me and rest ; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My Breast." I came to Jesus as I was, Weary, and worn, and sad ; I found in Him a Resting-place, And He has made me glad. 2. I heard the Voice of Jesus say, ,v Behold, I freely give The living water ; thirsty one, Stoop down, and drink, and live." I came to Jesus, and I drank Of that life-giving Stream ; My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him. 3. I heard the Voice of Jesus say, " I am this dark world's Light ; Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, And all thy day be bright." I looked to Jesus, and I found In Him my Star, my Sun ; And in That Light of life I'll walk Till traveling days are done. Evangelical Hymnal— 276. —Horatius Bonar 104 LESSON xvm. Progress in the Life of Grace. Suggestion : Under such spiritual conditions the progressive nature of Christian experience is realized. We go from strength to strength. There is vigor in the soul and upwardness in the life. Christ is to us as the Moving Pillar of Light to Israel. He is the Way, opening out before us. We follow Him and leave many things behind. "He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life." Days, weeks, months and years are like landmarks which we pass, as we go on to broader and grander experi- ences, on to larger views of truth, on to finer forms of service, "on to the city of God." Scriptural Basis. //. Tim. 2. 1. Tim. 6:10-20. Phil. 3. Eph 4 1-16. Illustrative Hymns* 1. Forward! be our watchword, Steps and voices joined ; Seek the things before us. Not a look behind ; Burns the fiery pillar At our army's head ; Who shall dream of shrinking, By our Captain led ? Forward thro' the desert. Thro' the toil and fight : Jordan flows before us, Sion beams with light ! 105 Forward, when in childhood Buds the infant mind'; All through youth and manhood, Not a thought behind : Speed through realms of nature, Climb the steps of grace ; Faint not, till in glory Gleams our Father's Face. Forward, all the life-time. Climb from height to height ; Till the head be hoary, Till the eve be light. Forward, flock of Jesus, Salt of all the earth ; Till each yearning purpose Spring to glorious birth : Sick, they ask for healing, Blind, they grope for day ; Pour upon the nations Wisdom's loving ray. Forward, out of error. Leave behind the night ; Forward, through the darkness, Forward, into Light ! Glories upon glories Hath our God prepared. By the souls that love Him One day to be shared : Eye hath not beheld them, Ear hath never heard ; Nor of these have uttered Thought or speech a word : Forward, marching eastward Where the heaven is bright, Till the veil is lifted. Till our faith be bright ! Far o'er yon horizon Rise the city towers, Where our God abideth ; That fair home is ours : Flash the streets with jasper, Shine the gates with gold ; 106 Flows the gladdening river Shedding joys untold ; Thither, onward thither. In the Spirit's might : Pilgrims to your country. Forward into Light ! 6. Into God's high Temple Onward as we press. Beauty spreads around us. Born of holiness ; Arch, and vault, and carving, Lights of varied tone ; Softened words and holy. Prayer and praise alone : Every thought upraising T< i our City bright. Where the tribes assemble Round the Throne of Light. 7. Nought that City needeth Of these aisles of stone . Where the Godhead dwelleth, Temple there is none : All the saints that ever In these courts have stood, Are but babes, and feeding On the children's food. On through sign and token. Stars amidst the night ; Forward through the darkness. Forward into Light ! 8. To the Eternal Father Loudest anthems raise To the Son and Spirit Echo songs of praise : To the Lord of Glory, Blessed Three in One, Be by men and angels Endless honor done. Weak are earthly praises, Dull the songs of night : Forward into triumph. Forward into Light ! Evangelical Hymnal— 595. —Henry Alford. 107 1. O Thou, to Whose all-searching sight, The darkness shineth as the light, Search, prove my heart ; it pants for Thee ; O burst these bonds, and set it free ! 2. Wash out its stains, refine its dross ; Nail my affections to the Cross ; Hallow each thought ; let all within Be clean, as Thou, my Lord, art clean. 3. If in this darksome wild I stray, Be Thou my Light, be Thou my Way ; No foes, no violence I fear. If Thou, my Lord, my God, art near. 4. When rising floods my soul o'erflow, When sinks my heart in wave of woe, Jesus, Thy timely aid impart, And raise my head, and cheer my heart. 5. Saviour ! where'er Thy steps I see, Dauntless, untired, I follow Thee ; O let Thy Hand support me still, And lead me to Thy Holy Hill ! 6. If rough and thorny be the way, My strength proportion to my day ; Till toil, and grief, and pain shall cease Where all is calm, and joy, and peace. Evangelical Hymnal— 312. —John Wesley. Love Divine, how sweet Thou art ! When shall I find my willing heart All taken up by Thee ? 1 thirst, and faint, and die to prove The greatness of Redeeming Love, The Love of Christ to me. .Stronger His love than death or hell ; Its riches are unsearchable ; The first-born sons of light In vain desire its depths to see ; They cannot reach the Mystery, The length, and breadth, and height. 3. God only knows the love of I I that it now were shed abroad In this poor, stony heart '. For love I sigh, for love I pine : This only portion. Lord, be mine. Be mine this better part. 4. that I could forever sit With Mary at the Master's feet ! lie this my happy choice. My only care, delight, and bliss. My joy. my Heaven on earth, be this. To hear the Bridegroom'^ Voice. 5. that I could, with favored John, Recline my wearied head upon The dear Redeemer's Breast ! From care and sin and sorrow free. Give me. O Lord, to find in Thee My Everlasting Rest. Evangelical Hymnal — 391. —diaries Wesley. 1. The King of love my Shepherd is. Whose goodness faileth never : I nothing lack if I am His And He is mine forever. •J. Where streams of living water flow My ransomed soul He leadeth. And, where the verdant pastures grow With food celestial feedeth. 3. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed. But yet in love He sought me. And on His shoulder gently laid. And home, rejoicing, brought me. 4. In death's dark vale I fear no ill With Thee, dear Lord, beside me ; Thy rod and staff my comforts still. Thy Cross before to guide me. 109 5. Thou spread' st a Table in my sight, Thy unction grace bestoweth, And oh ! what transport of delight From Thy pure Chalice fioweth. 6. And so through all the length of days Thy goodness faileth never ; Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise Within Thy house for ever. Evangelical Hymnal— 439. —Henry Williams Baker. 1. Rejoice, ye pure in heart, Rejoice, give thanks, and sing ; Your festal banner wave on high, The cross of Christ your King: 2. With all the angel-choirs, With all the saints on earth. Pour out the strains of joy and bliss, True rapture, noblest mirth. 3. With voice as full and strong As ocean's surging praise, Send forth the hymns our fathers loved, The psalms of ancient days. 4. Yes, on, through life's long path, vStill chanting as we go, From youth to age, by night and day, In gladness and in woe. 5. Still lift your standard high, Still march in firm array, As warriors through the darkness toil, Till dawns the golden day. t5. At last the march shall end, The wearied ones shall rest. The pilgrims find their Father's house, Jerusalem the blest. 110 7. Then on, ye pure in heart. Rejoice, give thanks, and sing, Your festal banner wave on high, The cross of Christ your King. Plymouth Hymnal— 184. —Edward II. Plumptre. 1. Jesus calls us ; o'er the tumult Of our life's wild restless sea Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, Saying, "Christian, follow Me." 2. Jesus calls us from the worship Of the vain world's golden store. From each idol that would keep us. Saying, "Christian, love Me more." 3. In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease. Still He calls, in cares and pleasures, "Christian, love Me more than these." 4. Jesus calls us; by Thy mercies, Saviour, make us hear Thy call, Give our hearts to Thine obedience, Serve and love Thee best of all. Plvmouth Hymnal— 582. —Mrs. C. F. Alexander. LESSON XIX. The Victory of Faith. Suggestion: It comes to us to know that there are consummations in store for such as are born of God. The present conditions of life are not per- petual. They shall give place to others. The tempter shall not vex us and pursue us forever. The powers limited by the infirmity of the flesh shall not always be our sole equipment. The hard road of earthly toil shall have an ending. The changes, separations, disappointments, sick- nesses of the present life shall pass away. There is a crown for the victor; a larger work for him that hath been "faithful in a very little"; the "power of an endless life" for him that hath bravely borne the burden and heat of the day. Scriptural Basis. Rev. 7:9-17. Rev. 2. Rev. 3. I. John 5: 1-5. II. Cor. 4:6-18. Thro' the night of doubt and sorrow, Onward goes the pilgrim band. Singing songs of expectation, Marching to the Promised Land. And before us through the darkness Gleaming clear the guiding Light ; Brother clasps the hand of brother, And steps fearless thro' the night. 112 L One the Light >>t" God's dear Presence, Never in its work to fail. Which illumes the wild rough places I )t this gloomy, haunted vale. < toe the object of our journey. One the faith which never tires, < toe the earnest looking forward, One the hope our God inspires. L One the strain which mouths of thousands Lift as from the heart of one ; One the conflict, one the peril, One the march in God begun. One the gladness of rejoicing, On the Resurrection shore, With One Father o'er us shining In His love forever more. Go we onward, pilgrim brothers. Visit first the Cross and Grave, Where the Cross its shadow flingeth, Where the boughs of cypress wave ; Then, a shaking as of earthquakes. Then, a rending of the tomb. Then, a scattering of all shadows. And an end of toil and gloom. —Sabine Baring-Gould. Evangelical Hvmnal — 397. Lo ! summer comes again ; And after spring-tide rain, The quickening sunbeams flood the world with light : See, high in night's clear skies, The joy of longing eyes, The moon of harvest shines serenely bright. O Lord of Heaven and earth. Who givest joy and mirth. Open our lips to shew Thy wondrous praise ; Our hearts are dull and cold, We leave Thy love untold ; O give us strength our anthems glad to raise. 113 3. Each month we sow or reap, Each hour we toil or sleep, Thou givest life and joy, and Thou alone : O grant to each and all When death's dark shadows fall, To stand true workers round our Master's Throne. 4. So, life's long task-work o'er, Set free for evermore We shall sit down at Thy great Harvest-feast ; Reaper and sower met, The burning heat forget, And taste God's love, the greatest as the least. 5. Yea, Lord, Thou too dost claim, The Sower's mystic name ; Thou sendest forth Thy reapers to their field ; O be it theirs to bear The full corn in the ear, When Thy true seed its hundred-fold shall yield. 6. Root out the evil tares. Earth's vexing griefs and cares, Bind the hot blasts that wither and destroy : And when the hour is come To bring the full sheaves Home, Bid men and angels share Thy harvest joy. Evangelical Hymnal— 529. —Edward H. Plumptre. Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers, rise, And press the battle ere the night Shall veil the glowing skies ; Against the foe in vales below Let all our strength be hurled ; Faith is the victory, we know, That overcomes the world. His banner over us is love, Our sword the Word of God ; We tread the road the saints above With shouts of triumph trod ; 114 By faith, they like a whirlwind's breath, Swept on o'er every field ; The faith by which they conquer'd Death Is still our shining shield. 3. On every hand the foe we find Drawn up in dread array ; Let tents of ease be left behind. And onward to the fray ; Salvation's helmet on each head. With truth all girt about. The earth shall tremble 'neath our tread. And echo with our shout. 4. To him that overcomes the foe. White raiment shall be given : Before the angels he shall know His name confessed in heaven ; Then onward from the hills of light, Our hearts with love aflame : We'll vanquish all the hosts of night. In Jesus' conquering name. Chorus :— Faith is the victory ! Faith is the victory ! Oh, glorious victory, That overcomes the world. Church Hymns and Gospel Songs — 296. —J. H. Yates. Servant of God, well done, Rest from thy loved employ ; The battle fought, the victory won, Enter thy Master's joy. The Voice at midnight came. He started up to hear ; A mortal arrow pierced his frame, He fell, but felt no fear. At midnight came the Cry, " To meet thy God prepare ! " He woke, and caught his Captain's Eye : Then strong in faith and prayer, 115 His spirit with a bound Left its encumbering clay; His tent, at sunrise, on the ground, A darkened ruin lay. 3. The pains of death are past, Labor and sorrow cease, And life's long warfare closed at last, His soul is found in peace. Soldier of Christ, well done, Praise be thy new employ ; And, while eternal ages run, Rest in thy Saviour's joy. Evangelical Hymnal— 448. —James Montgomery. 1. There is a blessed Home Beyond this land of woe, Where trials never come, Nor tears of sorrow flow ; Where faith is lost in sight, And patient hope is crowned, And everlasting light Its glory throws around. 2. There is a Land of Peace, Good angels know it well ; Glad songs that never cease Within its portals swell ; Around its glorious Throne Ten thousand saints adore Christ, with the Father One And Spirit, evermore. 3. O joy all joys beyond, To see the Lamb Who died, And count each sacred Wound In Hands, and Feet, and Side ; To give to Him the praise Of every triumph won, And sing through endless days The great things He hath done. Evangelical Hymnal— 511. —Henry Williams Bake 116 1. Now the laborer's task is o'er; Now the battle day is past ; N'iiw upon the farther shore Lands the voyager at last. Father ! in Thy gracious keeping Leave we now Thy servant sleeping. •,'. There the tears of earth are dried : There its hidden things are clear ; There the work of life is tried By a juster Judge than here. Father! in Thy gracious keeping Leave we now Thy servant sleeping. :i There the sinful souls that turn To the Cross their dying eyes. All the love of Christ shall learn At His feet in Paradise. Father ! in Thy gracious keeping Leave we now Thy servant sleeping. 4. There no more the powers of hell Can prevail to mar their peace ; Christ the Lord shall guard them well, — He Who died for their release. Father ! in Thy gracious keeping Leave we now Thy servant sleeping. 5. " Earth to earth, and dust to dust ; " Calmly now the words we say ; Leaving him to sleep in trust, Till the Resurrection-day. Father ! in Thy gracious keeping Leave we now Thy servant sleeping. Plymouth Hymnal— 455. —John Ellerton. 117 LESSON XX. "That Your Joy Might be Full." Suggestion: All of this and much beside has Christ revealed to us that in Him we might come to a more abundant life. We owe to Christ this exalting conception of our present duty and our future destiny. He has transformed even the life that now is. New motives, new hopes, new horizons of possibility, have come to us through Him. He Himself, the Man of Sorrows, is also the Man of Joys, joys that the world can neither give, understand, nor take away. Scriptural Basis. John 1 5:9- 1 6. I. Thess. 5:16. Col. 1:9-14. Phil. 4:1-7. Phil. 2:1-18. John 14:25-27. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Joy to the world ! the Lord is come : Let earth receive her King ; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing. 2. Joy to the earth ! the Saviour reigns : Let men their songs employ ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy. 3. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground : He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found. 118 4 He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love. Plymouth Hymnal— 156. —Isaac Watts. I. Jesus, Thou Joy of loving hearts ! Thou Fount of Life ! Thou Light of men ! From the best bliss that earth imparts. We turn unfilled to Thee again. 'I. Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood ; Thou savest those that on Thee call ; To them that seek Thee. Thou art good, To them that find Thee. All in all ! 3. We taste Thee, O Thou Living Bread, And long to feast upon Thee still ! We drink of Thee, the Fountain Head, And thirst our souls from Thee to fill ! 4. Our restless spirits yearn for Thee, Where'er our changeful lot is cast ; Glad, when Thy gracious smile we see. Blest, when our faith can hold Thee fast. 5. O Jesus, ever with us stay ! Make all our moments calm and bright ! Chase the dark night of sin away. Shed o'er the world Thy holy Light ! Evangelical Hymnal— 152. —Ray Palmer. The Head That once was crown'd with thorn: Is crown'd with glory now ; A royal diadem adorns The mighty Victor's Brow. The highest place that Heaven affords Is His. is His by right. The King of kings, and Lord of lords. And Heaven's eternal Light. 119 3. The Joy of all who dwell above, The Joy of all below, To whom He manifests His love, And grants His Name to know. 4. To them the Cross, with all its shame, With all its grace, is given ; Their name an everlasting name, Their joy the joy of Heaven. 5. They suffer with their Lord below They reign with Him above, Their profit and their joy to know The mystery of His love. 6. The Cross He bore is life and health. Though shame and death to Him ; His people's hope, His people's wealth, Their everlasting theme. Evangelical Hymnal— 129. —Thomas Kelly. 1. Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing thy great Redeemer's praise He justly claims a song from me : His loving-kindness, O ! how free ! 2. He saw me ruined in the fall, Yet loved me, notwithstanding all ; He saved me from my' lost estate : His loving-kindness, O ! how great ! 3. Through mighty hosts of cruel foes, Where earth and hell my way oppose, He safely leads my soul along : His loving-kindness, O ! how strong ! 4. Often I feel my sinful heart Prone from my Jesus to depart ; And though I have Him oft forgot, His loving-kindness changes not. 120 So when I pass death's gloomy vale. And life and mortal powers sha'. ( > may my last expiring breath His loving-kindness sing in death. & Then shall I mount, and soar away T<> the bright world of endless day ; There shall I sing, with sweet surprise, His loving-kindness in the skies. Hymns of the Faith— 386. —Samuel Medley. 1. Walk in the light ! so shalt thou know That fellowship of love His Spirit only can bestow. Who reigns in light above. 2. Walk in the light ! and thou shalt own Thy darkness passed away. Because that light on thee hath shone In which is perfect day. 3. Walk in the light ! and ev'n the tomb No tearful shade shall wear : Glory shall chase away its gloom. For Christ hath conquered there ! 4. Walk in the light ! and thine shall be A path, though thorny, bright ; For God, by grace, shall dwell in thee. And God Himself is light ! Hymns of the Faith— 482. —Bernard Barton. Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin ? The Blood of Jesus whispers peace within. Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed To do the will of Jesus, — this is rest. Peace, perfect peace, with sorrow surging round ? On Jesus' bosom nought but calm is found. 121 4. Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away ? In Jesus' keeping we are safe, and the}'. 5. Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown ? Jesus we know, and He is on the throne. 6. Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers. 7. It is enough : earth's struggles soon shall cease. And Jesus call us to Heaven's perfect peace. Hymns of the Faith^424. —Edward H. Bicker steth. 123 LESSON XXI. "Ye are My Witnesses." Suggestion : Christ would not have us keep the joy- to ourselves. If we know it we must share it. He would have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. How shall they know except they be told? The Lord has founded His Church for witness-bearing; has put light into our lives that we may let it shine, so that others may glorify our Father Which is in Heaven. What an inspiration to Christian man- hood to take part in this mission of testimony; to bear witness to that Light which has come into the world for every man, that all might see it and rejoice ! Scriptural Basis. John 1 5:26, 27. Acts 1:6-8. Acts 1:21,22. Acts 22:15. Acts 26:16. John 1:7. II. Tim. 4:1-8. Luke 24:44-48. Illustrative Hymns* 1. Am I a soldier of the Cross, A follower of the Lamb, And shall I fear to own His cause. Or blush to speak His name ? ■•2. Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease. While others fought to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas ? 123 3. Are there no foes for me to face ? Must I not stem the flood ? Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God ? 4. Sure I must fight, if I would reign ; Increase my courage, Lord ! I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy Word. 5. Thy saints, in all this glorious war, Shall conquer though they die ; They view the triumph from afar, And seize it with their eye. (j. When that illustrious day shall rise, And all Thine armies shine In robes of victory through the skies, The glory shall be Thine. Hymns of the Faith—410. —Isaac Watts. 1. Art thou weary, art thou languid ? Art thou sore distressed ? " Come to Me," saith One, l> and coming, Be at rest." 2. Hath He marks to lead me to Him, If He be my Guide ? " In His Feet and Hands are Wound-prints And His Side." 3. Is there Diadem, as Monarch, That His Brow adorns? " Yea, a Crown in very surety, But of Thorns ! " 4. If I find Him, if I follow. What His guerdon here ? " Many a sorrow, many a labor, Many a tear." 124 5. It I still hold closely to Him, What hath He at last? Sorrow vanquish'd, labor ended, Jordan past." 6. It" I ask Him to receive me. Will He say me nay? " Not till earth and not till Heaven Pass away." 7. Finding, following, keeping, struggling, Is He sure to bless ? "Angels, Martyrs, Prophets. Virgins, Answer, Yes!" Evangelical Hymnal— 36f5. —Jolin Mason Xealc. 1. Christian, dost thou see them On the holy ground. How the troops of Midian Prowl and prowl around ? Christian, up and smite them. Counting gain but loss ; Smite them by the merit Of the holy Cross. 2. Christian, dost thou hear them, How they speak thee fair? " Always fast and vigil? Always watch and pra3'er?" Christian, say but boldly, " While I breathe I pray." Peace shall follow battle, Night shall end in day. 3. " Well I know thy trouble, My servant true ; Thou art very weary, 1 was weary too ; But that toil shall make thee Some day all Mine Own, And the end of sorrow- Shall be near My Throne." Evangelical Hymnal— 316. —John Mason Neale. 125 1. Thy Life was given for me, Thy Blood, O Lord, was shed, That I might ransom'd be, And quicken'd from the dead ; Thy Life was given for me ; What have I given for Thee ? 2. Long years were spent for me In weariness and woe, That through eternity Thy glory I might know ; Long years were spent for me ; Have I spent one for Thee ? 3. Thy Father's Home of light, Thy rainbow-circled Throne, Were left for earthly night, For wanderings sad and lone ; Yea, all was left for me ; Have I left aught for Thee ? 4. Thou, Lord, hast borne for me More than my tongue can tell Of bitterest agony, To rescue me from hell ; Thou sufferest all for me ; What have I borne for Thee ? 5. And Thou hast brought to me Down from Thy Home above Salvation full and free, Thy pardon and Thy love ; Great gifts Thou broughtest me ; What have I brought to Thee ? 6. O let my life be given, My years for Thee be spent ; World-fetters all be riven, And joy with suffering blent ; Thou gav'st Thyself for me, I give myself to Thee. —Frances Ridley Haver gal. Hymns Ancient and Modern — 259. 126 1. Take up thy cross! the Saviour said, If thou wouldst My disciple be: Take up thy cross with willing heart, And humbly follow after Me. ■„'. Take up thy cross ! let not its weight Fill thy weak soul with vain alarm ; His Strength shall bear thy spirit up. And brace thy heart and nerve thine arm. •3. Take up thy cross ! nor heed the shame, And let thy foolish pride be still; Thy Lord refused not e'en to die Upon a Cross, on Calvary's hill. 4. Take up thy cross, then, in His Strength, And calmly Sin's wild deluge brave ; 'Twill guide thee to a better Home, It points to glory o'er the grave. .">. Take up thy cross, and follow on, Xor think till death to lay it down ; For only he who bears the er 5S, May hope to wear the glorious crown ! Evangelical Hymnal — 305. —Charles William Everest. Soldiers of Christ, arise. And put your armor on. Strong in the strength which God supplies, Through His Eternal Son. Strong in the Lord of Hosts, And in His mighty power. Who in the strength of Jesus trusts, Is more than conqueror. Stand, then, in His great might, With all His strength endued. And take, to arm you for the fight, The panoply of God ; That, having all things done. And all your conflicts past, Ye may o'ercome, through Christ alone, And stand entire at last. 127 5. Leave no unguarded place, No weakness of the soul, Take every virtue, every grace, And fortify the whole. 6. To keep your armor bright, Attend your constant care, Still walking in your Captain's sight, And watching unto prayer. Evangelical Hymnal — 319. — Charles Wesley. 1. We give Thee but Thine own, Whate'er the gift may be : All that we have is Thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee. 2. May we Thy bounties thus As stewards true receive, And gladly, as Thou blessest us, To Thee our first-fruits give. 3. O hearts are bruised and dead, And homes are bare and cold, And lambs, for whom the Shepherd bled, Are straying from the fold. 4. To. comfort and to bless, To find a balm for woe, To tend the lone and fatherless, Is angels' work below. 5. The captive to release, To God the lost to bring, To teach the way of life and peace, It is a Christ-like thing. (i And we believe Thy Word, Though dim our faith may be ; Whate'er for Thine we do, () Lord, We do it unto Thee. Evangelical Hymnal— 481. —William W. How. 128 1. O Son of God, our Captain of Salvation, Thyself by suffering schooled to human grief. We bless Thee for Thy " sons of consolation," Who follow in the steps of Thee, their Chief. 2. Those whom Thy Spirit's dread vocation severs To lead the vanguard of Thy conquering Host ; Whose toilsome years are spent in brave endeav- ors To bear Thy saving Name from coast to coast. 3. Those whose bright faith makes feeble hearts grow stronger, And sends fresh warriors to the great campaign ; Bids the lone convert feel estranged no longer And wins the sundered to be one again. 4. And all true helpers, patient, kind and skillful, Who shed Thy Light across our darkened earth, Counsel the doubting and restrain the willful. Soothe the sick bed. and share the children's mirth. 5. Thus. Lord, Thy Comforters in memory keeping, Still be Thy Church's watchword, "Comfort ye ! " Till in our Father's House shall end all weeping. And all our wants be satisfied in Thee. Evangelical Hymnal — 124. —John Ellerton. 129 LESSON XXII. World-Wide Missions. Suggestion : As the new century draws near, the Spirit of Testimony is reviving in the Church. Not since the Apostolic Age has there been such longing among believers to declare among the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ. At home, as well as abroad, this work is to be done. World-wide missions include our own companions and brethren as well as the most distant races. It is peculiarly an opportunity for consecrated youth. Every one that has received the Spirit of Christ will long to have some part in this glorious matter. The study of modern missions is the best preparation for a life of witness- bearing. Scriptural Basis. John 3: 1 4-1 7. John 12:23-33. Mark 16:14-20. Matt. 28:16-20. Rom. 10. 1. Cor. 12. Rev. 11:15. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeys run ; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more. 2. For Him shall endless prayer be made, And praises throng to crown His Head ; His Name, like sweet perfume, shall rise With every morning sacrifice. 130 3. People and realms of every tongue Dwell on His love with sweetest song. And infant voices shall proclaim Their early blessings on his Name. 4. Blessings abound where'er He reigns ; The prisoner leaps to lose his chains; The weary rind eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest. 5. Where He displays His healing power, I )eatta and the curse are known no more ; In Him the tribes of Adam boast Mure blessings than their father lost. 0. Let every creature rise, and bring Peculiar honors to our King ; Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the loud Amen ! Evangelical Hymnal — 469. —Isaac Watts. 1. From Greenland's icy mountains. From India's coral strand. Where Afric's sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand ; From many an ancient river. From many a palmy plain. They call us to deliver Their land from error's chain. 0. What though the spicy breezes Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle ; Though every prospect pleases, And only man is vile ; In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strown ; The heathen in his blindness Bows down to wood and stone. 3. Can we, whose souls are lighted With wisdom from on high, Can we to men benighted The Lamp of Life deny ? 131 Salvation ! O salvation ! The joyful sound proclaim, Till each remotest nation Has learned Messiah's Name. 4. Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, And you, ye waters, roll, Till like a sea of glory It spreads from pole to pole ; Till o'er our ransomed nature The Lamb for sinners slain, Redeemer, King, Creator, In bliss returns to reign ! Evangelical Hymnal^l72. —Reginald Heber. 1. Father of all, from land and sea The nations sing, "Thine, Lord, are we, Countless in number, but in Thee May we be one." 2. O Son of God, Whose love so free For men did make Thee Man to be, United to our God in Thee May we be one. •3. Thou, Lord, didst once for all atone ; Thee may both Jew and Gentile own Of their two walls the Corner Stone, Making them one. 4. In Thee we are God's Israel, Thou art the world's Emmanuel, In Thee the Saints for ever dwell, Millions, but one. 5. Thou art the Fountain of all good, Cleansing with Thy most precious Blood, And feeding us with Angel's Food, Making us one. 6. Join high and low, join young and old In love that never waxes cold ; Under one Shepherd, in one Fold, Make us all one. 132 7. O Spirit Blest, Who from above Cam'st gently gliding like a dove. Calm all our strife, give faith and love ; O make us one. a O Trinity in Unity, < )ne only God. in persons Three, Dwell ever in our hearts ; like Thee May we be one. 9. So, when the world shall pass away, May we awake with joy and say. " Xow in the bliss of endless day We all are one." — Christopher Wordsn orth. - Ancient and Modern — -275. 1. Saviour, sprinkle many nations, Fruitful let Thy sorrows be ; By Thy pains and consolations, Draw the Gentiles unto Thee ; Of Thy Cross the wondrous story, Be it to the nations told ; Let them see Thee in Thy glory, And Thy mercy manifold. % Far and wide, though all unknowing. Pants for Thee each mortal breast ; Human tears for Thee are flowing. Human hearts in Thee would rest, Thirsting as for dews of even, As the new-mown grass for rain ; Thee they seek, as God of heaven, Thee as Man for sinners slain. 3. Saviour, lo, the isles are waiting, Stretch'd the hand, and strained the sight, For Thy Spirit, new creating Love's pure flame and wisdom's light. Give the word, and of the preacher Speed the foot, and touch the tongue. Till on earth by every creature Glory to the Lamb be sung. Evangelical Hymnal — 162. —Arthur Cleveland Coxe. 133 1. Through midnight gloom from Macedon, The cry of myriads as of one. The voiceful silence of despair Is eloquent in awful prayer, The soul's exceeding bitter cry, " Come o'er and help us, or we die ! " 2. By other sounds the world is won Than that which wails from Macedon ; The roar of gain is round it rolled, Or men unto themselves are sold ; And cannot list the alien cry, " O hear and help us, lest we die ! " 3. Yet with that cry from Macedon ; The very car of Christ rolls on ; " I come ; — who would abide My day In yonder wilds prepare My way ; My Voice is crying in their cry ; Help ye the dying, lest ye die." 4. Jesus, for men of Man the Son, Yea, Thine the cry from Macedon ; O by the kingdom and the power And glory to Thine Advent hour, Wake heart and will to hear their cry, Help us to help them, lest we die. Evangelical Hymnal — 482. — Samuel John Stone. O Spirit of the Living God ! In all Thy plenitude of grace, Where'er the foot of man hath trod, Descend on our apostate race ! Give tongues of fire and hearts of love To preach the reconciling Word ; Give power and unction from above, Whene'er the joyful sound is heard. Be darkness, at Thy coming, Light ; Confusion, Order in Thy path ; Souls without strength inspire with might, Bid mercy triumph over wrath. 134 4. O Spirit of the Lord ! prepare All the round earth her God to meet ; Breathe Thou abroad like mornir.. Till hearts of stone begin to beat. 5. Baptize the nations; far and nigh The triumphs of the Cross record ; The Name of Jesus glorify, Till every kindred call Him Lord. Evangelical Hymnal-: —James Montgomery. 1. The Son of God goes forth to war. A kingly crown to gain ; His blood-red banner streams afar : Who follows in His train ? 2. Who best can drink His cup of woe. Triumphant over pain. Who patient bears His cross below. He follows in His train. 3 The martyr, first, whose eagle eye Could pierce beyond the grave ; Who saw His Master in the sky. And call'd on Him to save. 4. Like Him. with pardon on his tongue. In midst of mortal pain. He prayed for them that did the wrong : Who follows in his train ? 5. A glorious band, the chosen few. On whom the Spirit came ; Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew, And mock'd the cross and flame. B. They met the tyrant's brandish'd steel. The lion's gory mane : They bow'd their necks the death to feel : Who follows in their train ? 135 7. A noble army, men and boys, The matron and the maid, Around the Saviour's Throne rejoice, In robes of light arrayed. 8. They climb'd the steep ascent of heaven, Through peril, toil, and pain ; O God ! to us may grace be given To follow in their train ! Evangelical Hymnal— 198. —Reginald Heber. 136 LESSON XXIII. Them Also Which Sleep in Jesus. Suggestion : Let us attempt to realize every day that our dear ones who are with Christ are living a noble, happy life of service. Let us think of that Unseen Life as an extension of this life; let us believe in the continuity of life and service for the true Child of God; then Death shall be for us "but an incident in life; " and we shall be strengthened continually by the sense of un- broken fellowship with those that have passed on before us into the Presence of the Lord. Scriptural Basis. /. Thess. 4:13-18. I. Cor. 15:1-58. II. Cor. 4:16—5:10. John 14:1-6. Rev. 21:1-7. Rev. 22:1-5. Illustrative Hymns. 1. It is not death to die, — To leave this weary road, And, "mid the brotherhood on high, To be at home with God. ■■2 It is not death to close The eye long dimmed by tears, And wake, in glorious repose To spend eternal years. 3. It is not death to bear The wreath that sets us free From dungeon chain,— to breathe the air Of boundless liberty. 137 4. It is not death to fling Aside this sinful dust, And rise, on strong, exulting wing, To live among the just. 5. Jesus, Thou Prince of Life, Thy chosen cannot die ; Like Thee, they conquer in the strife, To reign with Thee on high. Plymouth Hymnal— 454. — H. A. Cesar Malan. 1. God of the living, in Whose eyes, Unveiled Thy whole creation lies, All souls are Thine ; we must not say That those are dead that pass away ; From this our world of flesh set free, We know them living unto Thee. 2. Released from earthly toil and strife, With Thee is hidden still their life ; Thine are their thoughts, their works, their powers, All Thine, and yet most truly ours ; For well we know, where'er they be, Our dead are living unto Thee. 3. Not spilt like water on the ground, Not wrapped in dreamless sleep profound, Not wandering in unknown despair Beyond Thy Voice, Thine Arm, Thy care ; Not left to die like fallen tree ; Not dead, but living unto Thee. 4. Thy word is true, Thy will is just ; To Thee we leave them, Lord, in trust, And bless Thee for the love which gave, Thy Son to fill a human grave That none might fear that world to see, Where all are living unto Thee. 5. O Breather into man of breath ! O Holder of the keys of death ! O Giver of the life within ! Save us from death, the death of sin ; That body, soul, and spirit be Forever living unto Thee. Plymouth Hymnal-^456. —John Ellerton. 138 1. Sleep on, beloved, sleep, and take thy rest ; Lay down thy head upon thy Saviour's Brc We love thee well, but Jesus loves thee best — Good-night ! 2. Calm is thy slumber as an infant's sleep ; But thou shalt wake no more to toil and weep ; Thine is a perfect rest, secure and deep— Good- night ! ■j. Until the shadows from this earth are cast. Until He gathers in His sheaves at last, Until the twilight gloom be overpast— Good- night : 4. Until the Easter glory lights the skies, Until the dead in Jesus shall arise. And He shall come, but not in lowly guise — Good- night ! •"j. Until, made beautiful by Love Divine. Thou, in the likeness of thy Lord shalt shine. And He shall bring that golden crown of thine— Good-night ! (j. Only " Good-night," beloved— not " farewell ! " A little while, and all His saints shall dwell In hallowed union indivisible— Good-night ! 7. Until we meet again before His throne. Clothed in the spotless robe He gives His own. Until we know even as we are known— Good- night ! — Sarah Doudney. Church Hymns and Gospel Songs— 251. O what the joy and the glory must be. Those endless Sabbaths the blessed ones see ; Crown for the valiant, to weary ones rest ; God shall be all and in all ever blest. What are the Monarch. His court, and His throne; What are the peace, and the joy that they own? O. that the blest ones, who in it have share. All that they feel could as fully declare. 139 3. Truly Jerusalem name we that shore, Vision of Peace, that brings joy' evermore ; Wish and fulfillment can severed be ne'er, Nor the thing prayed for come short of the prayer. 4. There, where no troubles distraction can bring, We the sweet anthems of Sion shall sing. While for Thy grace, Lord, their voices of praise Thy blessed people eternally raise. 5. There dawns no Sabbath, no Sabbath is o'er, Those .Sabbath-keepers have one evermore ; One and unending is that triumph-song Which to the angels and us shall belong. (J. Now in the meanwhile with hearts raised on high. We for that country must yearn and must sigh ; Seeking Jerusalem, dear native land, Through our long exile on Babylon's strand. 7. Low before Him with our praises we fall, Of Whom, and in Whom, and through Whom are all; Of W T hom, the Father ; and in Whom the Son ; Through Whom, the Spirit, with Them ever One. Evangelical Hymnal— 509. —John Mason Neale. 1. Forever 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 foreseeing eye. Thy golden gates appear ! 140 4. Forever with the Lord ! Father, if 'tis Thy will, The promise of that faithful word Even here to me fulfill. 5. Be Thou at my right hand. Then can I never fail ; Uphold Thou me. and I shall stand ; Fight, and I must prevail. 6. So when my latest breath Shall rend the veil in twain. By death I shall escape from death And life eternal gain. 7. Knowing as I am known, How shall I love that word. And oft repeat before the Throne , " Forever with the Lord I " Evangelical Hymnal — 151. —James Montgomery. Ten thousand times ten thousand In sparkling raiment bright. The armies of the ransomed saints Throng up the steeps of light : 'Tis finished, all is finished, • Their fight with death and sin : Fling open wide the golden gates, And let the victors in. What rush of alleluias Fills all the earth and sky ; What ringing of a thousand harps Bespeaks the triumph nigh. O day, for which Creation And all its tribes were made ; O joy, for all its former woes A thousand-fold repaid. O then what raptured greetings On Canaan's happy shore ; What knitting severed friendships up, Where partings are no more. 141 Then eyes with joy shall sparkle, That brimmed with tears, of late : Orphans no longer fatherless, Nor widows desolate. 4. Bring near Thy great salvation, Thou Lamb for sinners slain ! Fill vtp the roll of Thine elect, Then take Thy power and reign ! Appear, Desire of Nations, Thine exiles long for home ! Show in the heaven Thy promised sign ; Thou Prince and Saviour, come ! Evangelical Hymnal— 519. —Henry Alford. 1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia ! 2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might ; Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought right ; Thou, in the darkness drear, their One True Light. Alleluia ! 3. For the Apostles' glorious company Who, bearing forth the Cross o'er land and sea. Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee. Alleluia ! 4. For the Evangelists — by whose pure word Like fourfold stream, the garden of the Lord Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored. Alleluia ! 5. For Martyrs, who with rapture-kindled eye Saw the bright crown descending from the sky, And dying, grasped it— Thee we glorify. Alleluia ! 6. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold, Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, And win with them the victors' crown of gold. Alleluia ! 142 7. O blest Communion ! Fellowship Divine ! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine ! Alleluia ! & And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are - Alleluia ! 9. The golden evening brightens in the west : Q, soon, to faithful warriors comes the r Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest. Alleluia ! 10. But lo, there breaks a yet more glorious Day ; The saints triumphant rise in bright array ; The King of Glory passes on His way. Alleluia ! 11. From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast. Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host. Singing to Father. Son. and Holy Ghost. Alleluia. Evangelical Hymnal— 4%. William W. How. Upward where the stars are burning, Silent, silent in their turning. Round the never changing pole ; Upward where the sky is brightest. Upward where the blue is lightest. Lift I now my longing soul. Far beyond that arch of gladness, Far beyond these clouds of sadness. Are the many mansions fair. Far from pain and sin and folly, In that palace of the holy— I would find my mansion there. Where the glory brightly dwelleth. Where the new song sweetly swelleth, And the discord never comes ; Where life's stream is ever laving. And the palm is ever waving ; — That must be the Home of homes. 143 4. Where the Lamb on high is seated, By ten thousand voices greeted : Lord of lords, and King of kings. Son of man, they crown, they crown Him, Son of God, they own, they own Him, With His Name the palace rings. 5. Blessing, honor, without measure, Heav'nly riches, earthy treasure, Lay we at His blessed Feet. Poor the praise that now we render, Loud shall be our voices yonder, When before His Throne we meet. Evangelical Hymnal— 514. —Horatius Bonar 144 LESSON XXIV. "That Blessed Hope." Suggestion: The inspiration and joy of this Blessed Hope that our Lord shall surely come again may be shared by all believers who will accept the simple New Testament expressions on the sub- ject. One can hold this great belief without becoming involved in controversies which have disturbed and divided many who have held it. Let us begin by remembering that our Lord Jesus shall surely come again; and by living so that if He came to-day we should not be ashamed before Him at His coming. Scriptural Basis. John 14:18,19. John 16:16-22. Acts 1:10. 11. I. Cor. 1 1 : 23-26. Titus 2:1 1-14. I.John 2:27. 28. Rev. 22:20. Illustrative Hymns. 1. Thou art coming, O my Saviour, Thou art coming, O my King, In Thy beauty all-resplendent. In Thy glory all-transcendent : Well may we rejoice and sing; Coming ! In the opening east Herald brightness slowly swells; Coming ! O my glorious Priest, Hear we not Thy golden bells? 145 2. Thou art coming, Thou art coming ; We shall meet Thee on Thy way, We shall see Thee, we shall know Thee, We shall bless Thee, we shall show Thee All our hearts could never say ; What an anthem that will be, Bringing out our love to Thee, Pouring out our rapture sweet At Thine own all-glorious Feet. 3. Thou art coming ; at Thy Table We are witnesses for this ; While remembering hearts Thou meetest In communion clearest, sweetest, Earnest of our coming bliss, Showing not Thy Death alone, And Thy love exceeding great, But Thy coming, and Thy Throne, All for which we long and wait. 4. Thou art coming ; we are waiting With a hope that cannot fail. Asking not the day or hotir, Resting on Thy word of power, Anchored safe within the veil. Time appointed may be long, But the vision must be sure ; Certainty shall make us strong, Joyful patience can endure. 5. O the joy to see Thee reigning, Thee, my own beloved Lord ! Every tongue Thy Name confessing, Worship, honor, glory, blessing, Brotight to Thee with one accord ; Thee, my Master and my Friend, Vindicated and enthroned, Unto earth's remotest end Glorified, adored, and owned. Evangelical Hymnal — 182. —Frances Ridley Havergal The Church has waited long Her absent Lord to see ; And still in loneliness she waits ;— A friendless stranger she. 146 Age" after age has gone, Sun after sun has set, And still in weeds of widowhood She weeps a mourner yet. 2. Saint after saint on earth Has lived, and loved, and died ; And as they left us one by one, We laid them side by side ; We laid them down to sleep, But not in hope forlorn ; We laid them but to ripen there, Till the last glorious morn. 3. We long to hear Thy Voice, To see Thee Face to face. To share Thy crown and glory then. As now we share Thy grace. Should not the loving Bride * The absent Bridegroom mourn ? Should she not wear the weeds of grief Until her Lord return ? 4. The whole creation groans, And waits to hear that Voice, That shall restore her comeliness, And make her wastes rejoice. Come, Lord, and wipe away The curse, the sin, the stain, And make this blighted world of ours Thine Own fair world again. Evangelical Hymnal— 184. —Horatius Bone 1. O quickly come, dread Judge of all ; For, awful though Thine Advent be. All shadows from the truth will fall, And falsehood die, in sight of Thee : O quickly come ; for doubt and fear Like clouds dissolve when Thou art near. 2. O quickly come, great King of all ; Reign all around us, and within ; Let sin no more our souls enthrall, 147 Let pain and sorrow die with sin : O quickly come : for Thou alone Canst make Thy scattered people one. 3. < ) quickly come, true Life of all ; For death is mighty all around ; ( )n every home his shadows fall, On every heart his mark is found : <) quickly come : for grief and pain Can never cloud Thy glorious reign. I. ( ) quickly come, sure Light of all. For gloomy night broods o'er our way ; And weakly souls begin to fall With weary watching for the day ; ( ) quickly come : for round Thy Throne Xo eye is blind, no night is known. Evangelical Hymnal— 48(3. —Lawrence Tuttiett. 1. Behold the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night, And blest is he whose loins are girt, whose lamp is burning bright ; But woe to that dull servant, whom the Master shall surprise With lamp untrimmed, unburning, and with slumber in his eyes. 2. Do thou, my soul, keep watch, beware lest thou in sleep sink down. Lest thou be given o'er to death, and lose the golden crown ; But see that thou be sober, with a watchful eye, and thus Cry " Holy, Holy, Holy God, have mercy upon us." 3. That day, the day of fear, shall come ; my soul slack not thy toil, But light thy lamp, and feed it well, and make it bright with oil ; Thou knowest not how soon may sound the cry at eventide, "Behold, the Bridegroom comes. Arise! Go forth to meet the Bride." 148 Beware, my soul ! take thou good heed, lest thou in slumber lie, And, like the rive, remain without, and knock, and vainly cry ; But watch, and bear thy lamp undimmed, and Christ shall gird thee Oil His Own bright wedding-robe of light— the gl< f the Son. Evangelical Hymnal— 17G. —Gerard Moultrie. At the name of Jesus Every knee shall bow. Every tongue confess Him King of glory now. 'Tisthe Father's pleasure We would call Him Lord, Who from the beginning Was the mighty Word. At His Voice creation Sprang at once to sight, All the angel faces. All the hosts of light, Thrones and dominations. Stars upon their way. All the heavenly orders In their grand array. Humbled for a season, To receive a Name From the lips of sinners Unto whom He came. Faithfully He bore it Spotless to the last, Brought it back victorious. When from death He passed. In your hearts enthrone Him ; There let Him subdue All that is not holy. All that is not true : 149 Crown Him as your Captain In temptation's hour : ■ Let His will enfold you In its light and power. 5. Brothers, this Lord Jesus Shall return again, With His Father's glory, With His angel train ; For all wreaths of empire Meet upon His brow, And our hearts confess Him, King of glory now. Hymns of the Faith— 156. —Caroline M. Noel. 1. Light of the lonely pilgrim's heart, Star of the coming day, Arise, and, with Thy morning beams, Chase all our griefs away. 2. Come, blessed Lord, bid every shore And answering island sing The praises of Thy royal Name, And own Thee as their King. 3. Bid the whole earth responsive now To the bright world above, Break forth in rapturous strains of joy In memory of Thy love. 4. Lord, Lord, Thy fair creation groans, The air, the earth, the sea, In unison with all our hearts, And calls aloud for Thee. 5. Come, then, with all Thy quickening powers, With one awakening smile, And bid the serpent's trail no more Thy beauteous realms defile. 6. Thine was the Cross, with all its fruits Of grace and peace divine : Be Thine the crown of glory now, The palm of victory Thine. Hymns of the Faith— 160. —Edward Denny. 150 At the thirty-third International Convention of Young Men's Christian Associations, held at Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 25-28, 1899, the following resolution was adopted: — Resolved, That we urge upon the associations a larger measure of attention to Bible study, for a more comprehensive grasp of the Scriptures as a whole, for the promotion of spiritual growth, for training in Christian service, and for winning young men to Christ. Not only should every asso- ciation maintain at least one Bible class, but asso- ciations in towns and cities should conduct a num- ber of courses of study, which shall accomplish the above objects, and in which the Holy Scripture shall be studied as coming from " holy men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II. Pet. 1:22), "not in the words which man's wis- dom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth" (II. Cor. 2:13), and to be '"received not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God" (I. Thess. 2:13).