The vow is pledged, the toil begun; Seal thou, O G.o.d! the oath above, And ratify the pledge of love.
2 The shepherd of thy people bless; Gird him with thine own holiness; In duty may his pleasure be His glory in his zeal for thee.
3 Here let the ardent prayer arise, Faith fix its grasp beyond the skies.
The tear of penitence be shed, And myriads to the Savior led.
4 Come, Spirit! here consent to dwell; The mists of earth and sin dispel; Blest Savior! thine own rights maintain: Supreme in every bosom reign.
Samuel F. Smith, 1843.
466 Happy Day. L.M.
_Rejoicing in Entire Consecration._ (937)
Oh, happy day, that fixed my choice, On thee, my Savior and my G.o.d!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad.
Cho.--Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away; He taught me how to watch and pray, And live rejoicing ev"ry day!
2 Oh, happy bond, that seals my vows To him who merits all my love!
Let cheerful anthems fill the house, While to his altar now I move.
3 "Tis done--the great transaction"s done; I am my Lord"s, and he is mine; He drew me, and I followed on, Rejoiced to own the call divine.
4 Now rest--my long-divided heart-- Fixed on this blissful center, rest; Here have I found a n.o.bler part, Here heavenly pleasures fill my breast.
5 High Heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renewed shall daily hear, Till, in life"s latest hour, I bow, And bless in death a bond so dear.
Philip Doddridge, 1740.
467 Happy Day. L.M.
_Converts Welcomed._ (940)
Come in, thou blessed of the Lord!
Enter in Jesus" precious name; We welcome thee, with one accord, And trust the Savior does the same.
2 Those joys, which earth cannot afford, We"ll seek in fellowship to prove, Joined in one spirit to our Lord, Together bound by mutual love.
3 And, while we pa.s.s this vale of tears, We"ll make our joys and sorrows known; We"ll share each other"s hopes and fears, And count a brother"s case our own.
4 Once more, our welcome we repeat; Receive a.s.surance of our love; Oh! may we all together meet, Around the throne of G.o.d above.
Thomas Kelly, 1812.
468 Evan. C.M.
_Brotherly Love._ (983)
How sweet, how heavenly is the sight, When those who love the Lord, In one another"s peace delight, And so fulfill his word!--
2 When each can feel his brother"s sigh, And with him bear a part; When sorrow flows from eye to eye, And joy from heart to heart;
3 When, free from envy, scorn, and pride, Our wishes all above, Each can his brother"s failings hide, And show a brother"s love:
4 When love, in one delightful stream, Through every bosom flows; When union sweet, and dear esteem, In every action glows.
5 Love is the golden chain, that binds The happy souls above; And he"s an heir of heaven, that finds His bosom glow with love.
Joseph Swain. 1791
469 Evan. C.M.
_Gen. 24:31._ (931)
Come in, beloved of the Lord, Stranger nor foe art thou; We welcome thee with warm accord, Our friend, our brother, now.
2 The hand of fellowship, the heart Of love, we offer thee: Leaving the world, thou dost but part From lies and vanity.
3 Come with us,--we will do thee good, As G.o.d to us hath done; Stand but in him, as those have stood Whose faith the victory won.
4 And when, by turns, we pa.s.s away, And star by star grows dim, May each, translated into day, Be lost and found in him.
James Montgomery.
470 Evan. C.M.
_Covenant Vows._ (933)
Witness, ye men and angels! now, Before the Lord we speak; To him we make our solemn vow, A vow we dare not break;--
2 That, long as life itself shall last, Ourselves to Christ we yield; Nor from his cause will we depart, Or even quit the field.
3 We trust not in our native strength, But on his grace rely; That, with returning wants, the Lord Will all our need supply.
4 Oh! guide our doubtful feet aright, And keep us in thy ways; And, while we turn our vows to prayers, Turn thou our prayers to praise.
Benjamin Beddome, 1790.
471 Dennis. S.M.
_Love to the Brethren._ (992)