A Prayer Book for Soldiers and Sailors
Part 5
3 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!
4 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; O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul! Amen.
18. (43)
1 All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him Lord of all!
2 Crown him, ye martyrs of our God, Who from his altar call: Extol the Stem-of-Jesse’s rod, And crown him Lord of all!
3 Hail him, the Heir of David’s line, Whom David, Lord did call; The God incarnate! Man divine! And crown him Lord of all!
4 Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, Ye ransomed of the fall, Hail him who saves you by his grace, And crown him Lord of all!
5 Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget The wormwood and the gall, Go, spread your trophies at his feet, And crown him Lord of all!
6 Let every kindred, every tribe, Before him prostrate fall! To him all majesty ascribe, And crown him Lord of all! Amen.
19. (45)
1 Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee; Let the water and the blood From thy side, a healing flood, Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath, and make me pure.
2 Should my tears for ever flow, Should my zeal no languor know, All for sin could not atone, Thou must save, and thou alone; In my hand no price I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling.
3 While I draw this fleeting breath, When mine eyelids close in death, When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold thee on thy throne, Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee. Amen.
20. (47)
1 Jesus, Lover of my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high: Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, Till the storm of life be past; Safe into the haven guide, O receive my soul at last!
2 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 defenceless head With the shadow of thy wing.
3 Plenteous grace with thee is found, Grace to cleanse from every 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. Amen.
21. (48)
1 O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.
2 O Light that followest 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. Amen.
22. (51)
1 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. There is welcome for the sinner, And more graces for the good; There is mercy with the Saviour; There is healing in his blood.
2 There is no place where earth’s sorrows Are more felt than up in heaven; There is no place where earth’s failings Have such kindly judgment given. There is plentiful redemption In the blood that has been shed; There is joy for all the members In the sorrows of the Head.
3 For the love of God is broader Than the measure of man’s mind; And the heart of the Eternal Is most infinitely kind. 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 the Lord.
23. (55)
1 I love thy kingdom, Lord, The house of thine abode, The Church our blest Redeemer saved With his own precious blood.
2 For her my tears shall fall; For her my prayers ascend; To her my toils and cares be given, Till toils and cares shall end.
3 Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.
4 Jesus, thou friend divine, Our Saviour and our King, Thy hand from every snare and foe Shall great deliverance bring.
5 Sure as thy truth shall last, To Sion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven. Amen.
24. (62)
1 Eternal Father! strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to thee For those in peril on the sea!
2 O Christ! whose voice the waters heard And hushed their raging at thy word, Who walkedst on the foaming deep, And calm amidst its rage didst sleep; O hear us when we cry to thee For those in peril on the sea!
3 Most Holy Spirit! who didst brood Upon the chaos dark and rude, And bid its angry tumult cease, And give, for wild confusion, peace; O hear us when we cry to thee For those in peril on the sea!
4 O Trinity of love and power! Our brethren shield in danger’s hour; From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them wheresoe’er they go; Thus evermore shall rise to thee Glad hymns of praise from land and sea. Amen.
25. (63)
1 Now thank we all our God, With heart, and hands, and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom his world rejoices; Who from our mother’s arms Hath blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours to-day.
2 O may this bounteous God Through all our life be near us! With ever-joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us; And keep us in his grace, And guide us when perplext, And free us from all ills In this world and the next. Amen.
26. (65)
1 O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain. For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.
2 O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self control, Thy liberty in law.
3 O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine.
4 O beautiful for patriot dream That sees, beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea. Amen.
27. (71)
1 Once to every man and nation Comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth with falsehood, For the good or evil side; Some great cause, God’s new Messiah, Offering each the bloom or blight, And the choice goes by for ever ’Twixt that darkness and that light.
2 Then to side with truth is noble, When we share her wretched crust, Ere her cause bring fame and profit, And ’tis prosperous to be just; Then it is the brave man chooses, While the coward stands aside Till the multitude make virtue Of the faith they had denied.
3 By the light of burning martyrs Jesus’ bleeding feet I track, Toiling up new Calvaries ever With the cross that turns not back; New occasions teach new duties, Time makes ancient good uncouth; They must upward still and onward, Who would keep abreast of truth.
4 Though the cause of evil prosper, Yet ’tis truth alone is strong; Though her portion be the scaffold, And upon the throne be wrong, Yet that scaffold sways the future, And, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow Keeping watch above his own. Amen.
28. (74)
1 The Church’s one foundation Is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is his new creation By water and the word: From heaven he came and sought her To be his holy bride; With his own blood he bought her, And for her life he died.
2 Elect from every nation, Yet one o’er all the earth, Her charter of salvation, One Lord, one faith, one birth; One holy Name she blesses, Partakes one holy food, And to one hope she presses, With every grace endued.
3 Though with a scornful wonder Men see her sore opprest, By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distrest; Yet saints their watch are keeping, Their cry goes up, “How long?” And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song.
4 ’Mid toil and tribulation, And tumult of her war, She waits the consummation Of peace for evermore; Till with the vision glorious Her longing eyes are blest, And the great Church victorious Shall be the Church at rest.
5 Yet she on earth hath union With God the Three in One, And mystic sweet communion With those whose rest is won. O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we Like them, the meek and lowly, On high may dwell with thee. Amen.
29. (75)
1 Glorious things of thee are spoken, Sion, 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.
2 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, when such a river Ever will their thirst 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.
4 Blest inhabitants of Sion, Washed in the Redeemer’s blood! Jesus, whom their souls rely on, Makes them kings and priests to God. ’Tis his love his people raises Over self to reign as kings: And as priests, his solemn praises Each for a thank-offering brings. Amen.
30. (76)
1 Jesus shall reign where’er the sun Doth his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
2 To him shall endless prayer be made, And praises throng to crown his head; His Name like sweet perfume shall rise With every morning sacrifice.
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 find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest.
5 Let every creature rise and bring Peculiar honors to our King; Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the loud Amen.
31. (77)
1 Our Lord is risen from the dead; Our Jesus is gone up on high; The powers of hell are captive led, Dragged to the portals of the sky.
2 There his triumphal chariot waits, And angels chant the solemn lay: Lift up your heads, ye heavenly gates, Ye everlasting doors, give way.
3 Loose all your bars of massy light, And wide unfold the radiant scene; He claims those mansions as his right; Receive the King of glory in.
4 Who is the King of glory, who? The Lord that all his foes o’ercame, The world, sin, death, and hell o’erthrew; And Jesus is the Conqueror’s name.
5 Lo! His triumphal chariot waits, And angels chant the solemn lay: Lift up your heads, ye heavenly gates, Ye everlasting doors, give way. Amen.
32. (80)
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. Amen.
33. (82)
1 Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before! Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe; Forward into battle, See, his banners go. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before!
2 At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee; On, then, Christian soldiers, On to victory! Hell’s foundations quiver At the shout of praise; Brothers, lift your voices, Loud your anthems raise! Onward, etc.
3 Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God; Brothers, we are treading Where the saints have trod; We are not divided, All one body we, One in hope and doctrine, One in charity. Onward, etc.
4 Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, But the Church of Jesus Constant will remain; Gates of hell can never ’Gainst that Church prevail; We have Christ’s own promise, And that cannot fail. Onward, etc.
5 Onward, then, ye people! Join our happy throng! Blend with ours your voices In the triumph song! Glory, laud, and honor, Unto Christ the King; This through countless ages Men and angels sing. Onward, etc. Amen.
34. (83)
1 Stand up, stand up, for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross! Lift high his royal banner! It must not suffer loss: From victory unto victory His army shall he lead; Till every foe is vanquished, And Christ is Lord indeed.
2 Stand up, stand up, for Jesus! The trumpet call obey! Forth to the mighty conflict In this his glorious day! Ye that are men now serve him Against unnumbered foes! Let courage rise with danger, And strength to strength oppose.
3 Stand up, stand up, for Jesus! Stand in his strength alone! The arm of flesh will fail you, Ye dare not trust your own: Put on the Gospel armor, And watching unto prayer, When duty calls, or danger, Be never wanting there!
4 Stand up, stand up, for Jesus! The strife will not be long: This day, the noise of battle; The next, the victor’s song. To him that overcometh, A crown of life shall be; He with the King of glory Shall reign eternally. Amen.
35. (85)
1 Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change he faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2 Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake To guide the future as he has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
3 Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord, When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last. Amen.
36. (89)
1 We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing; He chastens and hastens his will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing, Sing praises to his Name; he forgets not his own.
2 Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning: Thou, Lord, wast at our side, all glory be thine!
3 We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant, And pray that thou still our defender wilt be. Let thy congregation escape tribulation: Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Amen.
37. (91)
1 O 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 O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be thou our guide while life shall last, And our eternal home. Amen.
38. (68)
1 My country, ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims’ pride, From every mountain-side Let freedom ring.
2 My native country, thee, Land of the noble free. Thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills. Thy woods and templed hills; My heart with rapture thrills Like that above.
3 Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom’s song; Let mortal tongues awake, Let all that breathe partake, Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong.
4 Our fathers’ God, to thee, Author of liberty, To thee we sing; Long may our land be bright With freedom’s holy light; Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King. Amen.
Transcriber’s Notes
--Silently corrected a few typos.
--Treated sidenotes like other rubrics.