Part 24

THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.

460

L. M.

There is within this heart of mine A little church, with sacred shrine, And stained forever with the blood Of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

2. Here dwelleth God the Father, Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One; He is my soul’s beloved Guest And grants my heart true peace and rest.

3. This little church looks poor and odd; But being the abode of God, It has a glorious, peerless grace: It is God’s royal dwelling-place.

4. This little church, Lord, I commend Unto Thy care and pray: Defend And shield it from calamity, Dwell there now and eternally.

From the Latin of B. Walther; B. Derschau, † 1639; A. Crull, tr.

461

8, 7, 8, 7

Lord, in Thy kingdom there shall be No aliens from each other, But even as he loves himself Each saint shall love his brother.

2. When in Thy courts below we meet To mourn our sinful living And with united hearts repeat Confession, creed, thanksgiving:

3. Make us to hear in each sweet word Thy Holy Spirit calling To oneness with Thy Church and Thee, That heavenly bond forestalling.

4. One Baptism and one faith have we, One Spirit sent to win us, One Lord, one Father, and one God, Above and through and in us.

5. Never, by schism or by sin, May we that union sever, Till all, to perfect stature grown, Are one with Thee forever!

J. Anstice, † 1836.

462

S. M.

Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.

2. Before our Father’s throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares.

3. We share our mutual woes; Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.

4. When we asunder part, It gives us inward pain; But we shall still be joined in heart And hope to meet again.

5. This glorious hope revives Our courage by the way, While each in expectation lives And longs to see the day.

6. From sorrow, toil, and pain, And sin we shall be free; And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity.

J. Fawcett, 1772.

463

C. M.

The saints on earth and those above But one communion make; Joined to their Lord, in bonds of love, All of His grace partake.

2. One family, we dwell in Him, One Church above, beneath; Though now divided by the stream, The narrow stream, of death.

3. One army of the living God, To His commands we bow; Part of the host have passed the flood, And part are crossing now.

4. Lo, thousands to their endless home Are swiftly borne away; And we are to the margin come And soon must launch as they.

5. Lord Jesus, be our constant Guide; Then, when the word is given, Bid death’s cold flood its waves divide And land us safe in heaven.

Isaac Watts, 1709, and Charles Wesley, 1759, a.

GLORY OF THE CHURCH.

464

8, 7, 8 l

Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, 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 while such a river Ever flows their thirst t’assuage— Grace, which, like the Lord, the Giver, Never fails from age to age?

3. Savior, since of Zion’s city I, through grace, a member am, Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in Thy name. Fading is the worldling’s pleasure, All his boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasure None but Zion’s children know.

John Newton, 1779.

465

8, 7, 8, 7, 4, 7

Zion stands with hills surrounded, Zion, kept by power divine; All her foes shall be confounded, Though the world in arms combine. Happy Zion, What a happy lot is thine!

2. Every human tie may perish, Friend to friend unfaithful prove, Brothers cease their own to cherish, Heaven and earth at last remove; But no changes Can attend Jehovah’s love.

3. In the furnace God may prove thee, Thence to bring thee forth more bright, But can never cease to love thee; Thou art precious in His sight; God is with thee, God, thine everlasting Light.

Thomas Kelly, 1806.

466

7, 6, 8 l

The Church’s one foundation Is Jesus Christ, her Lord; She is His new creation By water and the Word. From heav’n 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 oppressed, By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed, 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 forevermore, 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.

S. J. Stone, 1866.

467

8, 7, 8, 7

Hark! the Church proclaims her honor, And her strength is only this; God hath laid her choice upon her, And the work she doth is His.

2. He His Church has firmly founded, He will guard what He began; We, by sin and foes surrounded, Build her bulwarks as we can.

3. Frail and fleeting are our powers, Short our days, our foresight dim, And we own the choice not ours, We were chosen first by Him.

4. Onward, then! for naught despairing; Calm we follow at His word, Thus through joy and sorrow bearing Faithful witness to our Lord.

5. Though we here must strive in weakness, Though in tears we often bend, What His might began in meekness Shall achieve a glorious end.

S. Preiswerk, 1844; C. Winkworth, tr., 1858.

468

S. M.

I love Thy Zion, Lord, The house of Thine abode, The Church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood.

2. I love Thy Church, O God! Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And graven on Thy hand.

3. Should I with scoffers join Her altars to abuse? No! better far my tongue were dumb, My hand its skill should lose.

4. For her my tears shall fall, For her my prayers ascend, To her my cares and toils be given Till toils and cares shall end.

5. Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.

6. Jesus, Thou Friend Divine, Our Savior and our King, Thy hand from every snare and foe Shall great deliverance bring.

7. Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield And brighter bliss of heaven.

T. Dwight, 1800, a.

469

6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8 (H. M.)

Lord of the worlds above, How pleasant and how fair The dwellings of Thy love, Thine earthly temples are! To Thine abode My heart aspires, With warm desires To see my God.

2. Oh, happy souls who pray Where God appoints to hear! Oh, happy men who pay Their constant service there! They praise Thee still; And happy they Who love the way To Zion’s hill.

3. They go from strength to strength Through this dark vale of tears, Till each arrives at length, Till each in heaven appears. Oh, glorious seat, When God, our King, Shall thither bring Our willing feet!

Isaac Watts, 1719.

MISSIONS.

470

8, 7, 6 l

Saints of God, the dawn is brightening, Token of our coming Lord; O’er the earth the field is whitening; Louder rings the Master’s word: Pray for reapers In the harvest of the Lord!

2. Now, O Lord, fulfil Thy pleasure, Breathe upon Thy chosen band, And, with Pentecostal measure, Send forth reapers o’er our land, Faithful reapers, Gathering sheaves for Thy right hand.

3. Broad the shadow of our nation, Eager millions hither roam; Lo! they wait for Thy salvation. Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come; By Thy Spirit Bring Thy ransomed people home.

4. Soon shall end the time of weeping, Soon the reaping time will come, Heaven and earth together keeping God’s eternal Harvest-home. Saints and angels Shout the world’s great Harvest-home.

M. Maxwell, 1849.

471

7, 6, 8 l

The morning light is breaking; The darkness disappears; The sons of earth are waking To penitential tears; Each breeze that sweeps the ocean Brings tidings from afar Of nations in commotion, Prepared for Zion’s war.

2. See heathen nations bending Before the God we love, And thousand hearts ascending In gratitude above; While sinners, now confessing, The Gospel call obey And seek the Savior’s blessing, A nation in a day.

3. Blest river of salvation, Pursue thy onward way; Flow thou to every nation, Nor in thy richness stay; Stay not till all the lowly Triumphant reach their home; Stay not till all the holy Proclaim, “The Lord is come!”

S. F. Smith, 1832.

472

7, 6, 8 l

Our country’s voice is pleading, Ye men of God, arise! His providence is leading, The land before you lies; Day-gleams are o’er it brightening, And promise clothes the soil; Wide fields, for harvest whitening, Invite the reaper’s toil.

2. Go where the waves are breaking On California’s shore, Christ’s precious Gospel taking, More rich than golden ore; On Alleghany’s mountains, Through all the Western vale, Beside Missouri’s fountains, Rehearse the wondrous tale.

3. His love of Christ unfolding, Speed on from east to west, Till all, His Cross beholding, In Him are fully blessed. Great Author of salvation, Haste, haste the glorious day, When we, a ransomed nation, Thy scepter shall obey.

Maria F. Anderson, 1848.

473

L. M.

O Spirit of the living God, In all Thy plenitude of grace, Where’er the foot of man hath trod, Descend on our apostate race.

2. Give tongues of fire and hearts of love To preach the reconciling Word; Give power and unction from above Where’er the joyful sound is heard.

3. Be darkness, at Thy coming, light; Confusion—order, in Thy path; Souls without strength inspire with might; Bid mercy triumph over wrath.

4. O Spirit of the Lord, prepare A sinful world their God to meet; Breathe Thou abroad like morning air Till hearts of stone begin to beat.

5. Baptize the nations; far and nigh The triumphs of the Cross record; The name of Jesus glorify Till every kindred call Him Lord.

6. God from eternity hath willed All flesh shall His salvation see; So be the Father’s love fulfilled, The Savior’s sufferings crowned through Thee.

James Montgomery, 1825.

474

7, 6, 8 l

From Greenland’s icy mountains, From India’s coral strand, Where Afric’s sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand; From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver Their land from error’s chain.

2. What though the spicy breezes Blow soft o’er Ceylon’s isle, Though every prospect pleases And only man is vile; In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strown; The heathen in his blindness Bows down to wood and stone.

3. Shall we, whose souls are lighted With wisdom from on high,— Shall we to men benighted The lamp of life deny? Salvation, O salvation! The joyful sound proclaim Till earth’s remotest nation Has learned Messiah’s name.

4. Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, And you, ye waters, roll, Till, like a sea of glory, It spreads from pole to pole; Till o’er our ransomed nature The Lamb for sinners slain, Redeemer, King, Creator, In bliss returns to reign.

Reginald Heber, 1819.

475

L. M.

O Christ, our true and only Light, Enlighten those who sit in night; Let those afar now hear Thy voice And in Thy fold with us rejoice.

2. Fill with the radiance of Thy grace The souls now lost in error’s maze And all whom in their secret minds Some dark delusion haunts and blinds.

3. And all who else have strayed from Thee, O gently seek! Thy healing be To every wounded conscience given And let them also share Thy heaven.

4. O make the deaf to hear Thy Word And teach the dumb to speak, dear Lord, Who dare not yet the faith avow, Though secretly they hold it now.

5. Shine on the darkened and the cold, Recall the wanderers from Thy fold, Unite all those who walk apart, Confirm the weak and doubting heart.

6. So they with us may evermore Such grace with wondering thanks adore, And endless praise to Thee be given By all Thy Church in earth and heaven.

J. Heermann, 1630; C. Winkworth, tr.

476

8, 7, 8 l

Hark! the voice of Jesus crying, “Who will go and work to-day? Fields are white and harvests waiting, Who will bear the sheaves away?” Loud and long the Master calleth, Rich reward He offers thee; Who will answer, gladly saying, “Here am I, send me, send me”?

2. If you cannot cross the ocean And the heathen lands explore, You can find the heathen nearer, You can help them at your door; If you cannot give your thousands, You can give the widow’s mite; And the least you give for Jesus Will be precious in His sight.

3. If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul, You can tell the love of Jesus, You can say He died for all. If you cannot rouse the wicked With the Judgment’s dread alarms, You can lead the little children To the Savior’s waiting arms.

4. Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,” While the souls of men are dying And the Master calls for you. Take the task He gives you gladly, Let His work your pleasure be; Answer quickly when He calleth, “Here am I, send me, send me!”

D. March, 1868.

477

8, 7, 8 l

Savior, sprinkle many nations; Fruitful let Thy sorrows be; By Thy pains and consolations Draw the Gentiles unto Thee! Of Thy Cross the wondrous story, Be it to the nations told; Let them see Thee in Thy glory And Thy mercy manifold.

2. Let to mortals all be given Thee to know and life to gain, Thee the very God of heaven, Thee the Man for sinners slain! Speak Thou, through the Gospel-tiding, Peace to every human breast; Grant to all in Thee confiding Mercy, solace, hope, and rest.

3. Great the need in every nation, Dense the darkness of sin’s night; Let Thy Spirit bring salvation, Love’s pure flame, and wisdom’s light. Give the Word, Thy preachers strengthen With the prophets’ power of old, Help them Zion’s cords to lengthen, All Thy wandering sheep to fold!

A. C. Coxe, 1851; Stanzas 2 and 3 a., W. G. Polack, 1927.

478

10s

Rise, crowned with light, imperial Salem, rise! Exalt thy towering head and lift thine eyes; See heaven its sparkling portals wide display And break upon thee in a flood of day.

2. See a long race thy spacious court adorn; See future sons and daughters, yet unborn, In crowding ranks on every side arise, Demanding life, impatient for the skies.

3. See barbarous nations at thy gates attend, Walk in the light and in thy temple bend; See thy bright altars thronged with prostrate kings, While every land its joyful tribute brings.

4. The seas shall waste, the skies to smoke decay, Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away; But fixed this Word, this saving power, remains; Thy realms shall last, thy own Messiah reigns.

Alexander Pope, 1720.

479

L. M.

Look from Thy sphere of endless day, O God of mercy and of might! In pity look on those who stray Benighted in this land of light.

2. In peopled vale, in lonely glen, In crowded mart, by stream or sea, How many of the sons of men Hear not the message sent from Thee!

3. Send forth Thy heralds, Lord, to call The thoughtless young, the hardened old, A scattered, homeless flock, till all Be gathered to Thy peaceful fold.

4. Send them Thy mighty Word to speak, Till faith shall dawn and doubt depart, To awe the bold, to stay the weak, And bind and heal the broken heart.

5. Then all these wastes, a dreary scene, That makes us sadden as we gaze, Shall grow with living waters green And lift to heaven the voice of praise.

William Cullen Bryant, 1840, a.

480

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7

May God bestow on us His grace, With blessings rich provide us, And may the brightness of His face, To life eternal guide us, That we His gracious work may know And what is His good pleasure, And also to the heathen show Christ’s riches without measure And unto God convert them.

2. Thine over all shall be the praise And thanks of every nation, And all the world with joy shall raise The voice of exultation; For Thou shalt judge the earth, O Lord, Nor suffer sin to flourish; Thy people’s pasture is Thy Word Their souls to feed and nourish, In righteous paths to keep them.

3. O let the people praise Thy worth, In all good works increasing; The land shall plenteous fruit bring forth, Thy Word is rich in blessing. May God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit bless us! Let all the world praise Him alone, Let solemn awe possess us. Now let our hearts say, Amen.

Martin Luther, 1524.

481

L. M. 6 l

Awake, Thou Spirit, who didst fire The watchmen of the Church’s youth, Who faced the foe’s envenomed ire, Who witnessed day and night Thy truth, Whose voices loud are ringing still And bringing hosts to know Thy will.

2. Lord, let our earnest prayer be heard, The prayer Thy Son hath bid us pray; For, lo, Thy children’s hearts are stirred In every land in this our day To cry with fervent soul to Thee, O help us, Lord! So let it be!

3. O haste to help ere we are lost! Send preachers forth, in spirit strong, Armed with Thy Word, a dauntless host, Bold to attack the rule of wrong; Let them the earth for Thee reclaim, Thy heritage, to know Thy name.

4. Would there were help within our walls! O let Thy Spirit come again, Before whom every barrier falls; And now once more shine forth as then. O rend the heavens and make us free! Come, Lord, and bring us back to Thee!

5. And let Thy Word have speedy course, Through every land be glorified, Till all the heathen know its force And fill Thy churches far and wide. Spread Thou the conquest of Thy Word And let Thy kingdom come, O Lord!

6. The Church’s desert paths restore; Let stumbling-blocks that in them lie Hinder Thy Word henceforth no more; Error destroy, and heresy, And let Thy Church, from hirelings free, Bloom as a garden fair to Thee.

C. H. Bogatzky, 1750; C. Winkworth, tr., a., 1855.

482

7s

Soldiers of the Cross, arise, Gird you with your armor bright; Mighty are your enemies, Hard the battle ye must fight.

2. O’er a faithless, fallen world Raise your banner in the sky; Let it float there wide unfurled; Bear it onward, lift it high.

3. Mid the homes of want and woe, Strangers to the living Word, Let the Savior’s heralds go, Let the voice of hope be heard.

4. Where the shadows deepest lie, Carry truth’s unsullied ray; Where are crimes of blackest dye, There the saving sign display.

5. To the weary and the worn Tell of realms where sorrows cease; To the outcast and forlorn Speak of mercy and of peace.

6. Guard the helpless; seek the strayed; Comfort troubles; banish grief; In the might of God arrayed, Scatter sin and unbelief.

7. Be the banner still unfurled, Still unsheathed the Spirit’s Sword, Till the kingdoms of the world Are the kingdom of the Lord.

W. W. How, 1854.

483

L. M.

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun Does 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 endless praises 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 loose his chains, The weary find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest.

5. Where He displays His healing power, Death and the curse are known no more; In Him the tribes of Adam boast More blessings than their father lost.

6. Let every creature rise and bring Peculiar honors to our King; Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the loud Amen.

Isaac Watts, 1719.

484

8, 8, 8, 6

Send Thou, O Lord, to every place Swift messengers before Thy face, The heralds of Thy wondrous grace, Where Thou Thyself wilt come.

2. Send men whose eyes have seen the King, Men in whose ears His sweet words ring; Send such Thy lost ones home to bring; Send them where Thou wilt come,—

3. To bring good news to souls in sin, The bruised and broken hearts to win; In every place to bring them in Where Thou Thyself wilt come.

4. Thou who hast died, Thy victory claim; Assert, O Christ, Thy glory’s name And far to lands of pagan shame Send men where Thou wilt come.

5. Gird each one with the Spirit’s Sword, The sword of Thine own deathless Word, And make them conquerors, conquering Lord, Where Thou Thyself wilt come.

6. Raise up, O Lord the Holy Ghost, From this broad land a mighty host, Their war-cry, “We will seek the lost Where Thou, O Christ, wilt come!”

Mrs. M. E. Gates, 1889.

THE MINISTRY.

485

8, 8, 6, 8, 8, 6 (C. P. M.)

Lord of the Church, we humbly pray For those who guide us in Thy way And speak Thy holy Word; With love divine their hearts inspire And touch their lips with hallowed fire And needful strength afford.