Chapter 130
O for that choicest blessing Of living in thy love, And thus on earth possessing The peace of heaven above!
O for the bliss that by it The soul securely knows, The holy calm and quiet Of faith's serene repose!
--John Samuel Bewley Monsell.
THE UNFAILING FRIEND
O Jesus! Friend unfailing, How dear art thou to me!
Are cares and fears a.s.sailing?
I find my strength in thee!
Why should my feet grow weary Of this my pilgrim way?
Rough though the path, and dreary, It ends in perfect day.
Naught, naught I count as treasure; Compared, O Christ, with thee!
Thy sorrow without measure Earned peace and joy for me.
I love to own, Lord Jesus, Thy claims o'er me and mine; Bought with thy blood most precious, Whose can I be but thine?
What fills my soul with gladness?
'Tis thine abounding grace!
Where can I look in sadness, But, Jesus, in thy face?
My all is thy providing; Thy love can ne'er grow cold; In thee, my refuge, hiding, No good wilt thou withhold.
Why should I droop in sorrow?
Thou'rt ever by my side: Why, trembling, dread the morrow?
What ill can e'er betide?
If I my cross have taken, 'Tis but to follow thee; If scorned, despised, forsaken, Naught severs me from thee!
Oh, worldly pomp and glory!
Your charms are spread in vain!
I've heard a sweeter story, I've found a truer gain!
Where Christ a place prepareth, There is my loved abode; There shall I gaze on Jesus, There shall I dwell with G.o.d!
For every tribulation, For every sore distress, In Christ I've full salvation, Sure help, and quiet rest.
No fear of foes prevailing!
I triumph, Lord, in thee!
O Jesus! Friend unfailing!
How dear art thou to me!
THE SONG OF A HEATHEN
(Sojourning in Galilee, A. D. 32)
If Jesus Christ is a man-- And only a man--I say That of all mankind I cleave to him, And to him will I cleave alway.
If Jesus Christ is a G.o.d-- And the only G.o.d--I swear I will follow him through heaven and h.e.l.l, The earth, the sea, the air.
--Richard Watson Gilder.
"IT IS TOWARD EVENING"
Abide with me, O Christ; thou must not go For life's brief day
Abide with me; ere I can fall on sleep My throbbing head must on thy breast recline, That I may hear anew thy voice, and feel The thrill of thy pierced hands in touch with mine.
Abide with me; so then shall I have peace The world can never give nor take from me; Nor life nor death can that calm peace disturb, Since life and death alike are gain through thee.
If life, 'tis well; for though in paths of pain, In desert place afar, I'm led aside, Yet here 'tis joy my Master's cup to share; And so I pray, O Christ, with me abide.
'Tis gain if death; for in that far-off land-- No longer far--no veil of flesh will dim For me the wondrous beauty of my King, As he abides with me and I with him.
Abide with me; I have toiled gladly on, A little while, in stir of care and strife; The task is laid aside at thy command, Make thou it perfect with thy perfect life.
THE BLESSED FACE
Jesus, these eyes have never seen That radiant form of thine; The veil of sense hangs dark between Thy blessed face and mine.
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.
Like some bright dream that comes unsought When slumbers o'er me roll, Thine image ever fills 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.
--Ray Palmer.
TO THEE
I bring my sins to thee The sins I cannot count, That all may cleansed be In thy once-opened fount.
I bring them, Saviour, all to thee; The burden is too great for me.
My heart to thee I bring, The heart I cannot read; A faithless, wandering thing, An evil heart indeed.
I bring it, Saviour, now to thee, That fixed and faithful it may be
To thee I bring my care, The care I cannot flee; Thou wilt not only share, But take it all for me.
O loving Saviour, now to thee, I bring the load that wearies me.
I bring my grief to thee, The grief I cannot tell; No words shall needed be, Thou knowest all so well.
I bring the sorrow laid on me, O suffering Saviour! all to thee.
My joys to thee I bring, The joys thy love has given, That each may be a wing To lift me nearer heaven.
I bring them, Saviour, all to thee, Who hast procured them all for me.
My life I bring to thee, I would not be my own; O Saviour! let me be Thine ever, thine alone!
My heart, my life, my all, I bring To thee, my Saviour and my King.