Chapter 14

Prudence.

1 O, 't is a lovely thing to see A man of prudent heart, Whose thoughts and lips and life agree To act a useful part.

2 When envy, strife, and wars begin, In fierce, contentious souls, Mark how the sons of peace come in, And quench the kindling coals.

3 Their minds are humble, mild, and meek, Nor let their anger rise; Nor passion moves their lips to speak, Nor pride exalts their eyes.

4 Their lives are prudence mixed with love; Good works employ their day; They join the serpent with the dove, But cast the sting away.

353. L. M. 6l. Montgomery.

Humility.

1 The bird that soars on highest wing Builds on the ground her lowly nest; And she that doth most sweetly sing Sings in the shade when all things rest:-- In lark and nightingale we see What honor hath humility.

2 When Mary chose the better part, She meekly sat at Jesus' feet; And Lydia's gently opened heart Was made for God's own temple meet:-- Fairest and best adorned is she Whose clothing is humility.

3 The saint that wears heaven's brightest crown In deepest adoration bends; The weight of glory bows him down Then most when most his soul ascends:-- Nearest the throne itself must be The footstool of humility.

354. C. M. Watts.

Humility and Submission.

1 Is there ambition in my heart? Search, gracious God, and see; Or do I act a haughty part? Lord, I appeal to thee.

2 I charge my thoughts, be humble still, And all my carriage mild; Content, my Father, with thy will And quiet as a child.

3 The patient soul, the lowly mind, Shall have a large reward: Let saints in sorrow lie resigned, And trust a faithful Lord.

355. L. M. Watts.

Love to God and our Neighbor.

1 Thus saith the first, the great command, "Let all thy inward powers unite To love thy Maker and thy God With utmost vigor and delight.

2 "Then shall thy neighbor next in place Share thine affections and esteem; And let thy kindness to thyself Measure and rule thy love to him."

3 This is the sense that Moses spoke; This did the prophets preach and prove, For want of this the law is broke, And the whole law's fulfilled by love.

4 But, O, how base our passions are! How cold our charity and zeal! Lord, fill our souls with heavenly fire, Or we shall ne'er perform thy will.

356. S. M. L. H. Sigourney.

Active Piety.

1 Servants of Christ, arise, And gird you for the toil; The dew of promise from the skies Already cheers the soil.

2 Go where the sick recline, Where mourning hearts deplore; And where the sons of sorrow pine, Dispense your hallowed lore.

3 Urge, with a tender zeal, The erring child along, Where peaceful congregations kneel, And pious teachers throng.

4 Be faith, which looks above, With prayer, your constant guest, And wrap the Saviour's changeless love A mantle round your breast.

5 So shall you share the wealth, That earth may ne'er despoil, And the blest gospel's saving health Repay your arduous toil.

357. L. M. Steele.

Example of the Saviour.

1 And is the gospel peace and love? So let our conversation be; The serpent blended with the dove, Wisdom and meek simplicity.

2 Whene'er the angry passions rise, And tempt our thoughts or tongues to strife, On Jesus let us fix our eyes, Bright pattern of the Christian life!

3 O, how benevolent and kind! How mild! how ready to forgive! Be this the temper of our mind, And his the rules by which we live.

4 Dispensing good where'er he came, The labors of his life were love; If, then, we love our Saviour's name Thus let us our relation prove.

358. S. M. Doddridge.

"Again, I say--Watch!"

1 Ye servants of the Lord, Each in his office wait, Observant of his heavenly word, And watchful at his gate.

2 Let all your lamps be bright, And trim the golden flame; Gird up your loins, as in his sight, For awful is his name.

3 Watch,--'tis your Lord's command; And while we speak, he's near; Mark the first signal of his hand, And ready all appear.

4 O, happy servant he, In such a posture found! He shall his Lord with rapture see And be with honor crowned.

359. S. M. Bulfinch.

The Use of Present Opportunities.

1 Children of light, awake, At Jesus' call arise, Forth with your leader to partake His toils, his victories.

2 Ye must not idly stand, His sacred voice who hear; Arm for the strife the feeble hand, The holy standard rear.

3 Nought doth the world afford, But toil must be the price; Wilt thou not, servant of the Lord, Then toil for paradise?

4 Awake, ye sons of light, Strive till the prize be won; Far spent already is the night; The day comes brightening on.

360. C. M. H. K. White.

The Christian's Contest, Rest, and Hope.

1 Through sorrow's night and danger's way Amid the deepening gloom, The soldiers of an injured King Are marching to the tomb.

2 Their service done, securely laid In this their last retreat, Unheeded o'er their silent dust The storms of life shall beat.

3 Yet not thus lifeless in the grave The vital spark shall lie; O'er nature's ruins it shall rise, To reach its kindred sky.

4 Then heaven's soft dew o'er every eye Shall shed its mildest rays; And the long silent dust shall wake In strains of endless praise.

361. C. M. Anonymous.

The whole Armor.

1 O, speed thee, Christian, on thy way, And to thy armor cling; With girded loins the call obey That grace and mercy bring.

2 There is a battle to be fought, An upward race to run, A crown of glory to be sought, A victory to be won.

3 O, faint not, Christian, for thy sighs Are heard before His throne; The race must come before the prize, The cross before the crown.

362. L. M. Montgomery.

The Christian Warrior.

1 The Christian warrior, see him stand In the whole armor of his God; The spirit's sword is in his hand; His feet are with the gospel shod.

2 In panoply of truth complete, Salvation's helmet on his head, With righteousness, a breastplate meet, And faith's broad shield before him spread.

3 With this omnipotence he moves; From this the alien armies flee; Till more than conqueror he proves, Through Christ, who gives him victory.

4 Thus strong in his Redeemer's strength, Sin, death and hell he tramples down,-- Fights the good fight; and takes at length, Through mercy, an immortal crown.

363. L. M. G. Rogers.

Religion.

1 Religion! in its blessed ray All thought of hopeless sorrow flies, Despair and anguish melt away Where'er its healing beams arise. How dark our sinful world would be-- A flowerless desert, dry and drear! Did not this light, O God, from thee Its gloom dispel, its aspect cheer.

2 Oh! by it many a heart is soothed, Which else would be with sorrow crushed, And many a dying pillow smoothed, And sob of parting anguish hushed. Across the troubled sky of time It doth the bow of promise bend, A symbol of that cloudless clime That waits the soul when time shall end.

3 Religion! may its holy light Our footsteps guide to paths of peace! Our solace in deep sorrow's night, Our stay as mortal powers decrease. With this our guide, we care not when Death's signal to depart is given; Its word shall bring our spirits then The calm and holy peace of heaven.

364. L. M. Watts.

The Humble and Pure Accepted.

1 Thus saith the high and lofty One: "I sit upon my holy throne; My name is God, I dwell on high, Dwell in my own eternity.

2 "But I descend to worlds below; On earth I have a mansion too; The humble spirit, and contrite, Is an abode of my delight.

3 "The humble soul my words revive; I bid the mourning sinner live; Heal all the broken hearts I find, And ease the sorrows of the mind.

4 "The soul that seeks me shall obtain Immortal wealth and heavenly gain; Eternal life is his reward, Life, and the favor of the Lord."

365. 7s. M. Methodist Coll.

A Call to Prayer.

1 They who seek the throne of grace Find that throne in every place; If we love a life of prayer, God is present everywhere.

2 In our sickness, in our health; In our want or in our wealth, If we look to God in prayer, God is present everywhere.

3 When our earthly comforts fail, When the woes of life prevail, 'Tis the time for earnest prayer, God is present everywhere.

4 Then, my soul, in every strait, To thy Father, come and wait; He will answer every prayer, God is present everywhere.

366. C. M. Anonymous.

Secret Prayer.

1 Sweet is the prayer whose holy stream In earnest pleading flows! Devotion dwells upon the theme, And warm and warmer glows.

2 Faith grasps the blessing she desires; Hope points the upward gaze; And Love, celestial Love, inspires The eloquence of praise.

3 But sweeter far the still, small voice, Unheard by human ear, When God has made the heart rejoice, And dried the bitter tear.

4 No accents flow, no words ascend; All utterance faileth there; But Christian spirits comprehend, And God accepts the prayer.

367. L. M. Mrs. Barbauld.

The Warfare of the Soul.

1 Awake, my soul! lift up thine eyes! See where thy foes against thee rise, In long array a numerous host; Awake, my soul! or thou art lost.

2 See where rebellious passions rage, And fierce desires and lusts engage; The meanest foe of all the train Has thousands and ten thousands slain.

3 Come then, my soul! now learn to wield The weight of thine immortal shield; Put on the armor from above, Of heavenly truth and heavenly love.

4 The terror and the charm repel, And powers of earth and powers of hell, The man of Calvary triumphed here;-- Why should his faithful followers fear?

368. C. M. Doddridge.

The Christian Race.

1 Awake, my soul! stretch every nerve, And press with vigor on; A heavenly race demands thy zeal, And an immortal crown.

2 A cloud of witnesses around Hold thee in full survey; Forget the steps already trod, And onward urge thy way.

3 'T is God's all-animating voice That calls thee from on high; 'T is his own hand presents the prize To thine aspiring eye;--

4 That prize with peerless glories bright, Which shall new lustre boast, When victors' wreaths and monarchs' gems Shall blend in common dust.

369. C. M. Watts.

Christian Courage and Self-denial.

1 Am I a soldier of the cross, A follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own his cause, Or blush to speak his name?

2 Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease, While others fought to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas?

3 Sure I must fight, if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord! I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by thy word.

4 Thy saints, in all this glorious war, Shall conquer, though they're slain: They see the triumph from afar, And soon with Christ shall reign.

5 When that illustrious day shall rise, And all thy armies shine In robes of victory through the skies, The glory shall be thine.

370. L. M. Watts.

The Christian Race.

1 Awake, our souls, away, our fears; Let every trembling thought be gone; Awake and run the heavenly race, And put a cheerful courage on.

2 True 'tis a strait and thorny road, And mortal spirits tire and faint; But they forget the mighty God, That feeds the strength of every saint.

3 From thee, the overflowing spring, Our souls shall drink a fresh supply, While such as trust their native strength, Shall melt away, and droop, and die.

4 Swift as an eagle cuts the air, We'll mount aloft to thine abode; On wings of love our souls shall fly, Nor tire amidst the heavenly road.

371. C. M. Montgomery.

What is Prayer?

1 Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed, The motion of a hidden fire, That trembles in the breast.

2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear, The upward glancing of an eye, When none but God is near.

3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try, Prayer the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, The Christian's native air, The watchword at the gates of death; He enters heaven with prayer.

5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice, Returning from his ways; While angels in their songs rejoice, And cry "Behold, he prays!"

372. 7s. M. Mrs. Hemans.

"I will that men pray everywhere."

1 Child, amidst the flowers at play, While the red light fades away; Mother, with thine earnest eye Ever following silently; Father, by the breeze of eve Called thy daily work to leave; Pray! ere yet the dark hours be, Lift the heart and bend the knee!

2 Traveller, in the stranger's land, Far from thine own household band; Mourner, haunted by the tone Of a voice from this world gone; Captive, in whose narrow cell Sunshine hath not leave to dwell; Sailor, on the darkening sea-- Lift the heart and bend the knee!

373. 7s. & 6s. M. Edin. Lit. Review.

Pray without ceasing.

1 Go when the morning shineth, Go when the noon is bright, Go when the eve declineth, Go in the hush of night; Go with pure mind and feeling, Cast earthly thought away, And, in thy closet kneeling, Do thou in secret pray.

2 Remember all who love thee, All who are loved by thee; Pray, too, for those who hate thee, If any such there be; Then for thyself, in meekness, A blessing humbly claim, And blend with each petition Thy great Redeemer's name.

3 Or, if 'tis e'er denied thee In solitude to pray, Should holy thoughts come o'er thee When friends are round thy way, E'en then the silent breathing, Thy spirit raised above, Will reach his throne of glory, Where dwells eternal love.

4 O, not a joy or blessing With this can we compare,-- The grace our Father gave us To pour our souls in prayer: Whene'er thou pin'st in sadness, Before his footstool fall; Remember, in thy gladness, His love who gave thee all.

374. L. M. Watts.

"We walk by faith, not by sight."

1 'T is by the faith of joys to come We walk through deserts dark as night; Till we arrive at heaven, our home, Faith is our guide, and faith our light.

2 The want of sight she well supplies; She makes the pearly gates appear; Far into distant worlds she flies, And brings eternal glories near.

3 Cheerful we tread the desert through, While faith inspires a heavenly ray; Though lions roar and tempests blow, And rocks and dangers fill the way.

4 So Abraham, by divine command, Left his own house to walk with God; His faith beheld the promised land, And fired his zeal along the road.

375. C. M. Salisbury Coll.

The Power of Faith.

1 Faith adds new charms to earthly bliss, And saves us from its snares; Its aid in every duty brings, And softens all our cares.

2 The wounded conscience knows its power The healing balm to give; That balm the saddest heart can cheer, And make the dying live.

3 Wide it unveils celestial worlds, Where deathless pleasures reign, And bids us seek our portion there, Nor bids us seek in vain.

4 On that bright prospect may we rest, Till this frail body dies; And then, on faith's triumphant wings, To endless glory rise.

376. S. H. M. Christian Watchman.

Excellence of Faith.

1 Faith is the Christian's prop Whereon his sorrows lean; It is the substance of his hope, His proof of things unseen; It is the anchor of his soul When tempests rage and billows roll.

2 Faith is the polar star That guides the Christian's way, Directs his wanderings from afar To realms of endless day; It points the course where'er he roam, And safely leads the pilgrim home.

3 Faith is the rainbow's form, Hung on the brow of heaven, The glory of the passing storm, The pledge of mercy given; It is the bright, triumphal arch, Through which the saints to glory march.

377. C. M. Bath Coll.

Prayer for Strong Faith.

1 O, for a faith that will not shrink Though pressed by every foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any earthly woe!--

2 That will not murmur nor complain Beneath the chastening rod, But, in the hour of grief or pain, Will lean upon its God;--

3 A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without; That when in danger knows no fear, In darkness feels no doubt;--

4 Lord, give us such a faith as this, And then, whate'er may come, We'll taste, e'en here, the hallowed bliss Of an eternal home.

378. C. M. Sidney.

Hope.

1 Borne o'er the ocean's stormy wave, The beacon's light appears, When yawns the seaman's watery grave, And his lone bosom cheers.

2 Then, should the raging ocean foam, His heart shall dauntless prove, To reach, secure, his cherished home, The haven of his love.

3 So, when the soul is wrapt in gloom, To worldly grief a prey, Thy beams, blest Hope, beyond the tomb, Illume the pilgrim's way.

4 They point to that serene abode Where holy faith shall rest, Protected by the sufferer's God, And be forever blest.

379. 7s. M. Cennick.

The Christian rejoicing in Hope.

1 Children of the Heavenly King, As ye journey, sweetly sing; Sing your Saviour's worthy praise, Glorious in his works and ways.

2 Ye are travelling home to God, In the way the fathers trod; They are happy now, and ye Soon their happiness shall see.

3 Shout, ye little flock, and blest; You on Jesus' throne shall rest; There your seat is now prepared, There your kingdom and reward.

4 Lord, submissive make us go, Ready, leaving all below; Only thou our Leader be, And we still will follow thee.

380. C. M. H. H. Hawley.

The Hope, the Star, the Voice.

1 There is a hope, a blesséd hope, More precious and more bright Than all the joyless mockery The world esteems delight.

2 There is a star, a lovely star, That lights the darkest gloom, And sheds a peaceful radiance o'er The prospects of the tomb.

3 There is a voice, a cheering voice, That lifts the soul above, Dispels the painful, anxious doubt, And whispers, "God is love."

4 That voice, aloud from Calvary's height, Proclaims the soul forgiven; That star is revelation's light; That hope, the hope of heaven.

381. C. M. Drennan.

Law of Love.

1 All nature feels attractive power, A strong, embracing force; The drops that sparkle in the shower, The planets in their course.

2 Thus, in the universe of mind, Is felt the law of love; The charity both strong and kind, For all that live and move.

3 In this fine sympathetic chain All creatures bear a part; Their every pleasure, every pain, Linked to the feeling heart.

4 More perfect bond, the Christian plan Attaches soul to soul; Our neighbor is the suffering man, Though at the farthest pole.

5 To earth below, from heaven above, The faith in Christ professed, More clearly shows that God is love, And whom he loves is blessed.

382. C. M. Doddridge.

The Same.

1 O, may our sympathizing breasts The generous pleasure know, Kindly to share in others' joy, And weep for others' woe!

2 Where'er the helpless sons of grief In low distress are laid, Soft be our hearts their pains to feel, And swift our hands to aid.

3 O, be the law of love fulfilled In every act and thought, Each angry passion far removed, Each selfish view forgot!

4 Be thou, my heart, dilated wide With this kind, social grace, And, in one grasp of fervent love, All earth and heaven embrace.

383. C. M. Watts.

Love to God.

1 Happy the heart where graces reign, Where love inspires the breast: Love is the brightest of the train, And strengthens all the rest.

2 Knowledge--alas! 'tis all in vain, And all in vain our fear; Our stubborn sins will fight and reign, If love be absent there.

3 This is the grace that lives and sings, When faith and hope shall cease; 'Tis this shall strike our joyful strings In realms of endless peace.

4 Before we quite forsake our clay, Or leave this dark abode, The wings of love bear us away To see our gracious God.

384. L. M. Browne.

Love to all Mankind.

1 O God, my Father, and my King, Of all I have, or hope, the spring! Send down thy spirit from above, And fill my heart with heavenly love.

2 May I from every act abstain, That hurts or gives another pain: And bear a sympathizing part, Whene'er I meet a wounded heart.

3 And let my neighbor's prosperous state A mutual joy in me create; His virtuous triumph let me join; His peace and happiness be mine.

4 And though my neighbor's hate I prove, Still let me vanquish hate with love; And every secret wish suppress, That would abridge his happiness.

5 Let love through all my conduct shine, An image fair, though faint, of thine! Thus let me his disciple prove, Who came to manifest thy love.

385. C. M. Roscoe.

The Two Commandments.

1 This is the first and great command-- To love thy God above; And this the second--as thyself Thy neighbor thou shalt love.

2 Who is my neighbor? He who wants The help which thou canst give; And both the law and prophets say, This do, and thou shalt live.

386. C. M. Watts.

Christ's Love to Enemies our Example.