Chapter 131
WE LONG TO SEE JESUS
We would see Jesus! we have longed to see him Since first the story of his love was told; We would that he might sojourn now among us, As once he sojourned with the Jews of old.
We would see Jesus! see the infant sleeping, As on our mother's knees we, too, have slept; We would see Jesus! see him gently weeping, As we, in infancy, ourselves have wept.
We would behold him, as he wandered lowly-- No room for him, too often, in the inn-- Behold that life, the beautiful, the holy, The only sinless in this world of sin.
We would see Jesus! we would have him with us, A guest beloved and honored at our board; How blessed were our bread if it were broken Before the sacred presence of the Lord!
We would see Jesus! we would have him with us, Friend of our households and our children dear, Who still, should death and sorrow come among us, Would hasten to us, and would touch the bier.
We would see Jesus! not alone in sorrow, But we would have him with us in our mirth; He, at whose right hand are joys forever, Doth not disdain to bless the joys of earth.
We would see Jesus! but the wish is faithless; Thou still art with us, who hast loved us well; Thy blessed promise, "I am with you always,"
Is ever faithful, O Immanuel!
--Anna E. Hamilton.
"TELL JESUS"
When thou wakest in the morning, Ere thou tread the untried way Of the lot that lies before thee, Through the coming busy day, Whether sunbeams promise brightness, Whether dim forebodings fall, Be thy dawning glad or gloomy, Go to Jesus--tell him all!
In the calm of sweet communion Let thy daily work be done; In the peace of soul outpouring, Care be banished, patience won; And if earth, with its enchantments, Seek the spirit to enthrall, Ere thou listen, ere thou answer, Turn to Jesus--tell him all.
Then, as hour by hour glides by thee, Thou wilt blessed guidance know; Thine own burdens being lightened, Thou canst bear another's woe; Thou canst help the weak ones onward, Thou canst raise up those that fall; But remember, while thou servest, Still tell Jesus--tell him all!
And if weariness creep o'er thee As the day wears to its close, Or if sudden fierce temptation Brings thee face to face with foes, In thy weakness, in thy peril, Raise to heaven a trustful call; Strength and calm for every crisis Come--in telling Jesus all.
ANYWHERE WITH JESUS
Anywhere with Jesus, Says the Christian heart;
Always sitting at his feet There's no cause for fears; Anywhere with Jesus, In this vale of tears.
Anywhere with Jesus, Though he leadeth me Where the path is rough and long.
Where the dangers be; Though he taketh from my heart All I love below, Anywhere with Jesus Will I gladly go.
Anywhere with Jesus-- Though he please to bring Into floods or fiercest flames, Into suffering; Though he bid me work or wait, Only bear for him-- Anywhere with Jesus, This shall be my hymn.
Anywhere with Jesus; For it cannot be Dreary, dark, or desolate When he is with me; He will love me to the end, Every need supply; Anywhere with Jesus, Should I live or die.
OUR ROCK
If life's pleasures cheer thee, Give them not thy heart, Lest the gifts ensnare thee From thy G.o.d to part; His praises speak, his favor seek, Fix there thy hope's foundation, Love him, and he shall ever be The Rock of thy salvation.
If sorrow e'er befall thee, Painful though it be, Let not fear appall thee: To thy Saviour flee; He, ever near, thy prayer will hear, And calm thy perturbation; The waves of woe shall ne'er o'erflow The Rock of thy salvation.
Death shall never harm thee, Shrink not from his blow, For thy G.o.d shall arm thee And victory bestow; For death shall bring to thee no sting, The grave no desolation; 'Tis gain to die with Jesus nigh-- The Rock of thy salvation.
--Francis Scott Key.
The dearest thing on earth to me Is Jesus' will; Whate'er I do, where'er I be, To do his will.
Worldly pleasures cannot charm me, Powers of evil cannot harm me, Death itself cannot alarm me, For 'tis his will.
SWEET PROMISES
O Jesus, I have promised, To serve thee to the end; Be thou forever near me, My Master and my Friend.
I shall not fear the battle If thou art by my side, Nor wander from the pathway If thou wilt be my guide.
O 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 s.h.i.+eld my soul from sin.
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.
--John E. Bode.
THE KING OF LOVE
The King of love my Shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am his, And he is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow My ransomed soul he leadeth, And where the verdant pastures grow With food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, But yet in love he sought me, And on his shoulder gently laid, And home rejoicing brought me.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill, With thee, dear Lord, beside me; Thy rod and staff my comfort still, Thy cross before to guide me.
And so, through all the length of day, Thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise Within thy house forever.
--Henry W. Baker.
WE WOULD SEE JESUS
We would see Jesus when our hopes are brightest And all that earth can grant is at its best; When not a drift of shadow, even the lightest, Blurs our clear atmosphere of perfect rest.
We would see Jesus when the joy of living Holds all our senses in a realm of bliss, That we may know he hath the power of giving Enduring rapture more supreme than this.
We would see Jesus when our pathway darkens, Beneath the dread of some impending ill; When the discouraged soul no longer harkens To hope, who beckons in the distance still.
We would see Jesus when the stress of sorrow Strains to their utmost tension heart and brain; That he may teach us how despair may borrow From faith the one sure antidote of pain.
We would see Jesus when our best are taken, And we must meet, unshared, all shocks of woe; Because he bore for us, alone, forsaken, Burdens whose weight no human heart could know.