Many of the great hymns are given elsewhere in the series.
A few of the choicest of the centuries are given here.
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NEARER, MY G.o.d, TO THEE
Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
E"en though it be a cross That raiseth me!
Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
Though, like a wanderer, The sun gone down, Darkness be over me, My rest a stone, Yet in my dreams I"d be Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
There let the way appear, Steps unto heaven; All that Thou sendest me, In mercy given; Angels to beckon me Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
{482} Then, with my waking thoughts Bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs Bethel I"ll raise; So by my woes to be Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
--_Sarah Flower Adams_.
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JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL
Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly While the billows near me roll, While the tempest still is high!
Hide me, O my Saviour! hide, Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide; Oh, receive my soul at last!
Other refuge have I none; Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, ah! leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed; All my help from Thee I bring; Cover my defenseless head With the shadow of Thy wing.
Thou, O Christ! art all I want; More than all in Thee I find: Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy name, I am all unrighteousness; Vile and full of sin I am, Thou art full of truth and grace.
{484} Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to pardon all my sin; Let the healing streams abound, Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, Freely let me take of Thee; Spring Thou up within my heart, Rise to all eternity.
--_Charles Wesley_.
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MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, Oh, let me from this day Be wholly Thine!
May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire; As Thou hast died for me, Oh, may my love to Thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!
While life"s dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my guide; Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow"s tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside.
{486} When ends life"s transient dream, When death"s cold, sullen stream Shall o"er me roll, Blest Saviour! then, in love, Fear and distrust remove; Oh, bear me safe above.
A ransomed soul!
--_Ray Palmer_
{487}
FOLLOWING THE MASTER
Art thou weary, art thou languid, Art thou sore distressed?
"Come to Me," saith One, "and coming, Be at rest."
Hath He marks to lead me to Him, If He be my Guide?-- "In His feet and hands are wound-prints, And His side."
Is there diadem, as Monarch, That His brow adorns?-- "Yea, a crown, in very surety; But of thorns."
If I find Him, if I follow, What His guerdon here?-- "Many a sorrow, many a labor, Many a tear."
If I still hold closely to Him, What hath He at last?-- "Sorrow vanquished, labor ended, Jordan pa.s.sed."
{488} If I ask Him to receive me, Will He say me nay?-- "Not till earth, and not till heaven Pa.s.s away."
Finding, following, keeping, struggling, Is He sure to bless?-- "Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs, Answer, Yes."
--_Translated by John Mason Neale from the Greek_.
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ROCK OF AGES
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.
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.
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 the fountain fly; Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath, When my 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.
--_Augustus Montague Toplady_.
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CROSSING THE BAR
Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark;
For tho" from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crost the bar.
--_Alfred, Lord Tennyson_.
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