Chapter 18

1 The thing my God doth hate That I no more may do, Thy creature, Lord, again create, And all my soul renew; Abhor the thing unclean, And, sanctified by love divine, Forever cease from sin.

2 That blessed law of thine, Father, to me impart; The Spirit's law of life divine, O write it in my heart! Implant it deep within, Whence it may ne'er remove, The law of liberty from sin, The perfect law of love.

3 Thy nature be my law, Thy spotless sanctity, And sweetly every moment draw My happy soul to thee. Soul of my soul remain! Who didst for all fulfil, In me, O Lord, fulfil again My heavenly Father's will.

491. C. M. Wesley's Coll.

"Thy Kingdom Come."

1 Father of me and all mankind, And all the hosts above, Let every understanding mind Unite to praise thy love.

2 Thy kingdom come, with power and grace To every heart of man; Thy peace, and joy, and righteousness, In all our bosoms reign.

3 The righteousness that never ends, But makes an end of sin; The joy that human thought transcends, Into our souls bring in.

4 The kingdom of established peace, Which can no more remove; The perfect powers of godliness, Th' omnipotence of love.

492. S. M. Watts.

Seeking God.

1 My God, permit my tongue This joy, to call thee mine; And let my early cries prevail To taste thy love divine.

2 My thirsty, fainting soul Thy mercy does implore; Not travellers in desert lands Can pant for water more.

3 For life, without thy love, No relish can afford; No joy can be compared to this, To serve and please the Lord.

4 Since thou hast been my help, To thee my spirit flies, And on thy watchful providence My cheerful hope relies.

493. L. M. Montgomery.

"O God, my soul thirsteth for thee."

1 O God! thou art my God alone; Early to thee my soul shall cry, A pilgrim in a land unknown, A thirsty land, whose springs are dry.

2 Yet through this rough and thorny maze, I follow hard on thee, my God; Thine hand unseen upholds my ways; I lean upon thy staff and rod.

3 Thee, in the watches of the night, When I remember on my bed, Thy presence makes the darkness light; Thy guardian wings are round my head.

4 Better than life itself thy love, Dearer than all beside to me; For whom have I in heaven above, Or what on earth, compared with thee?

494. C. M. Doddridge.

The Knowledge of God.

1 Shine forth, Eternal Source of light! And make thy glories known; Fill our enlarged, adoring sight With lustre all thine own.

2 Vain are the charms, and faint the rays The brightest creatures boast; And all their grandeur and their praise Is in thy presence lost.

3 To know the Author of our frame Is our sublimest skill; True science is to read thy name, True life to obey thy will.

4 For this I long, for this I pray, And following on pursue, Till visions of eternal day Fix and complete the view.

495. L. M. 6l. Addison.

God our Shepherd.

1 The Lord my pasture shall prepare, And feed me with a shepherd's care; His presence shall my wants supply, And guard me with a watchful eye; My noonday walks he shall attend, And all my midnight hours defend.

2 When in the sultry glebe I faint, Or on the thirsty mountains pant, To fertile vales and dewy meads My weary, wandering steps he leads, Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow, Amid the verdant landscape flow.

3 Though in the paths of death I tread, With gloomy horrors overspread, My steadfast heart shall fear no ill, For thou, O Lord, art with me still. Thy friendly staff shall give me aid, And guide me through the dreadful shade.

4 Though, in a bare and rugged way, Through devious, lonely wilds I stray, Thy bounty shall my pains beguile,-- The barren wilderness shall smile, With sudden greens and herbage crowned And streams shall murmur all around.

496. S. M. Patrick

The Fatherly Love of God.

1 God, who is just and kind, Will those who err instruct, And to the paths of righteousness Their wandering steps conduct.

2 The humble soul he guides, Teaches the meek his way, Kindness and truth he shows to all Who his just laws obey.

3 Give me the tender heart That mixes fear with love, And lead me through whatever path Thy wisdom shall approve.

4 Oh! ever keep my soul From error, shame and guilt; Nor suffer the fair hope to fail, Which on thy truth is built.

497. L. M. J. F. Oberlin.

Clinging to God.

1 O Lord, thy heavenly grace impart, And fix my frail, inconstant heart: Henceforth my chief desire shall be To dedicate myself to thee.

2 Whate'er pursuits my time employ, One thought shall fill my soul with joy: That silent, secret thought shall be, That all my hopes are fixed on thee.

3 Thy glorious eye pervadeth space; Thy presence, Lord, fills every place; And wheresoe'er my lot may be, Still shall my spirit cleave to thee.

4 Renouncing every earthly thing, And safe beneath thy spreading wing, My sweetest thought henceforth shall be, That all I want I find in thee.

498. C. M. Watts.

God our Refuge and Hope.

1 God, my supporter and my hope, My help forever near; Thine arm of mercy held me up, When sinking in despair.

2 Thy counsels, Lord, shall guide my feet Through this dark wilderness; Thine hand conduct me near thy seat, To dwell before thy face.

3 What if the springs of life were broke, And flesh and heart should faint? God is my soul's eternal rock, The strength of every saint.

4 Behold the sinners, that remove Far from thy presence, die; Not all the idol gods they love Can save them when they cry.

5 But to draw near to thee, my God, Shall be my sweet employ; My tongue shall sound thy works abroad, And tell the world my joy.

499. C. M. Montgomery.

For Grateful Submission.

1 One prayer I have,--all prayers in one,-- When I am wholly thine; "Thy will, my God, thy will be done, And let that will be mine."

2 All-wise, almighty, and all-good, In thee I firmly trust; Thy ways, unknown or understood, Are merciful and just.

3 May I remember that to thee Whate'er I have I owe; And back in gratitude from me May all thy bounties flow.

4 Thy gifts are only then enjoyed, When used as talents lent; Those talents only well employed, When in thy service spent.

5 And though thy wisdom takes away, Shall I arraign thy will? No, let me bless thy name, and say, "The Lord is gracious still."

500. L. M. Montgomery.

The Soul Returning to God.

1 Return, my soul, unto thy rest, From vain pursuits and maddening cares, From lonely woes that wring thy breast, The world's allurements, toils and snares.

2 Return unto thy rest, my soul, From all the wanderings of thy thought; From sickness unto death made whole; Safe through a thousand perils brought.

3 Then to thy rest, my soul return, From passions every hour at strife; Sin's works, and ways, and wages spurn, Lay hold upon eternal life.

4 God is thy rest;--with heart inclined To keep his word, that word believe; Christ is thy rest;--with lowly mind, His light and easy yoke receive.

501. C. M. Watts.

Invocation of the Divine Spirit.

1 Come, holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all thy quickening powers, Kindle a flame of sacred love In these cold hearts of ours.

2 In vain we tune our formal songs, In vain we strive to rise; Hosannas languish on our tongues, And our devotion dies.

3 Dear Lord! and shall we ever live At this poor dying rate? Our love so faint, so cold to thee, And thine to us so great?

4 Come, holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all thy quickening powers, Come, shed abroad a Saviour's love, And that shall kindle ours.

502. C. M. Beddome.

For Inward Truth.

1 Am I an Israelite indeed. Without a false disguise? Have I renounced my sins, and left My refuges of lies?

2 Say, does my heart unchanged remain, Or is it formed anew? What is the rule by which I walk, The object I pursue?

3 Cause me, O God of truth and grace, My real state to know; If I am wrong, O set me right! If right, preserve me so!

503. C. M. Methodist Coll.

Seeking God.

1 Talk with us, Lord, thyself reveal, While here o'er earth we rove; Speak to our hearts, and let us feel The kindling of thy love.

2 With thee conversing, we forget All time, and toil, and care; Labor is rest, and pain is sweet, If thou, my God, art here.

3 Here, then, my God, vouchsafe to stay, And bid my heart rejoice; My bounding heart shall own thy sway, And echo to thy voice.

504. L. M. Grigg.

Not Ashamed of Christ.

1 Jesus! and shall it ever be! A mortal man ashamed of thee; Ashamed of thee, whom angels praise, Whose glories shine through endless days!

2 Ashamed of Jesus! just as soon Let midnight be ashamed of noon; 'Tis midnight with my soul, till he, Bright morning star, bid darkness flee.

3 Ashamed of Jesus! yes I may, When I've no guilt to wash away, No tear to wipe--no good to crave, No fears to quell--no soul to save.

4 Till then--nor is my boasting vain-- Till then, I boast a Saviour slain; And oh! may this my glory be, That Christ is not ashamed of me.

505. 7s. M. C. Wesley.

The Simplicity of Christ.

1 Lord! that I may learn of thee, Give me true simplicity; Wean my soul, and keep it low, Willing thee alone to know.

2 Of my boasted wisdom spoiled, Docile, helpless as a child; Only seeing in thy light, Only walking in thy might.

3 Then infuse the living grace, Truthful soul of righteousness; Knowledge, love divine, impart,-- Life eternal to my heart.

506. 7s. M. Newton.

Docility and Trust.

1 Quiet, Lord, my froward heart, Make me teachable and mild; Upright, simple, free from art, Make me as a weanéd child; From distrust and envy free, Pleased with all that pleaseth thee.

2 What thou shalt to-day provide, Let me as a child receive; What to-morrow may betide, Calmly to thy wisdom leave: 'Tis enough that thou wilt care; Why should I the burden bear?

3 As a little child relies On a care beyond his own; Knows he's neither strong nor wise Fears to stir a step alone; Let me thus with thee abide, As my Father, Guard, and Guide.

507. L. M. Beard's Coll.

God's Care our Comfort.

1 Oh! sweet it is to know, to feel, In all our gloom, our wanderings here, No night of sorrow can conceal Man from thy notice, from thy care.

2 When disciplined by long distress, And led through paths of fear and woe, Say, dost thou love thy children less? No! ever-gracious Father, no!

3 No distance can outreach thine eye, No night obscure thy endless day: Be this my comfort when I sigh, Be this my safeguard when I stray.

508. S. M. Mme. Guion.

The Water of Life.

1 The fountain in its source No drought of summer fears; The farther it pursues its course, The nobler it appears.

2 But shallow cisterns yield A scanty, short supply; The morning sees them amply filled, At evening they are dry.

3 The cisterns I forsake, O fount of bliss, for thee! My thirst with living waters slake, And drink eternity.

509. C. M. Rippon's Coll.

Peace with God.

1 Father! whate'er of earthly bliss Thy sovereign will denies, Accepted at thy throne of grace, Let this petition rise:--

2 "Give me a calm, a thankful heart, From every murmur free; The blessings of thy grace impart, And make me live to thee.

3 "Let the sweet hope that thou art mine My life and death attend; Thy presence through my journey shine, And crown my journey's end."

510. S. M. Christian Psalmist.

The Way of God with the Spirit.

1 'Tis God the spirit leads In paths before unknown: The work to be performed is ours; The strength is all his own.

2 Assisted by his grace, We still pursue our way; And hope at last to reach the prize, Secure in endless day.

3 'Tis he that works to will; 'Tis he that works to do; His is the power by which we act, His be the glory too.

511. L. M. 6l. Christian Psalmist.

Foretaste of Heaven.

1 What must it be to dwell above, At God's right hand, where Jesus reigns, Since the sweet earnest of his love O'erwhelms us on these earthly plains! No heart can think, no tongue explain, What bliss it is with Christ to reign.

2 When sin no more obstructs our sight, When sorrow pains our hearts no more, How shall we view the Prince of Light And all his works of grace explore! What heights and depths of love divine Will there through endless ages shine!

3 This is the heaven I long to know; For this, with patience, I would wait, Till, weaned from earth, and all below, I mount to my celestial seat, And wave my palm, and wear my crown, And, with the elders, cast them down.

512. C. M. Doddridge.

Jesus precious to them that believe.

1 Jesus, I love thy charming name; 'Tis music to my ear; Fain would I sound it out so loud That earth and heaven might hear.

2 Whate'er my noblest powers can wish In thee doth richly meet; No light unto my eyes so dear, No friendship half so sweet.

3 Thy grace shall dwell upon my heart, And shed its fragrance there,-- The noblest balm of all its wounds, The cordial of its care.

4 I'll speak the honors of thy name With my expiring breath, And, dying, clasp thee in my arms, The antidote of death.

513. C. M. Watts.

The Hope of Heaven.

1 When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, I bid farewell to every fear, And wipe my weeping eyes.

2 Let cares like a wild deluge come, And storms of sorrow fall, May I but safely reach my home, My God, my heaven, my all!

3 There shall I bathe my weary soul In seas of heavenly rest, And not a wave of trouble roll Across my peaceful breast.

LIFE, DEATH AND FUTURITY.

514. C. M. Watts.

"From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."

1 Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home;

2 Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame, From everlasting thou art God, To endless years the same.

3 A thousand ages, in thy sight, Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night, Before the rising sun.

4 Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day.

515. L. M. Cowper.

The Providence of Life.

1 Almighty King! whose wondrous hand Supports the weight of sea and land, Whose grace is such a boundless store, No heart shall break that sighs for more!

2 Thy providence supplies my food, And 'tis thy blessing makes it good: My soul is nourished by thy word; Let soul and body praise the Lord.

3 My streams of outward comfort came From him who built this earthly frame; Whate'er I want his bounty gives, By whom my soul forever lives.

4 Either his hand preserves from pain, Or, if I feel it, heals again; From strife and sorrow shields my breast, Or overrules them for the best.

516. 7s. M. 6l. Bowring.

The Pilgrimage of Life.

1 Lead us with thy gentle sway, As a willing child is led; Speed us on our forward way, As a pilgrim, Lord, is sped, Who with prayers and helps divine Seeks a consecrated shrine.

2 We are pilgrims, and our goal Is that distant land whose bourn Is the haven of the soul; Where the mourners cease to mourn, Where the Saviour's hand will dry Every tear from every eye.

3 Lead us thither! thou dost know All the way; but wanderers we Often miss our path below, And stretch out our hands to thee; Guide us,--save us,--and prepare Our appointed mansion there!

517. C. M. Montgomery.

"Looking for another country, that is an heavenly."

1 While through this changing world we roam, From infancy to age, Heaven is the Christian pilgrim's home, His rest at every stage.

2 Thither his raptured thought ascends, Eternal joys to share; There his adoring spirit bends, While here he kneels in prayer.

3 Oh! there may we our treasure place, There let our hearts be found; That still, where sin abounded, grace May more and more abound.

4 Henceforth our conversation be With Christ before the throne; Ere long, we eye to eye shall see, And know as we are known.

518. L. M. Doddridge.

Redeeming the Time.

1 God of eternity! from thee Did infant time its being draw; Moments and days, and months, and years, Revolve by thine unvaried law.

2 Silent and swift they glide away; Steady and strong the current flows, Lost in eternity's wide sea, The boundless gulf from whence it rose.

3 With it the thoughtless sons of men Before the rapid stream are borne On to their everlasting home, Whence not one soul can e'er return.

4 Great Source of wisdom! teach our hearts To know the price of every hour, That time may bear us on to joys Beyond its measure and its power.

519. C. H. M. J. Taylor.

What is your Life?

1 O, what is life?--'tis like a flower That blossoms and is gone; It flourishes its little hour, With all its beauty on: Death comes, and, like a wintry day, It cuts the lovely flower away.

2 O, what is life?--'tis like the bow That glistens in the sky: We love to see its colors glow; But, while we look, they die: Life fails as soon:--to-day 'tis here; To-morrow it may disappear.

3 Lord, what is life?--if spent with thee In humble praise and prayer, How long or short our life may be, We feel no anxious care: Though life depart, our joys shall last When life and all its joys are past.

520. L. M. Bowring.

Our Times are in thy Hand.

1 Our times are in thy hand, and thou Wilt guide our footsteps at thy will: Lord, to thy purposes we bow, Do thou thy purposes fulfil!

2 Life's mighty waters roll along, Thy spirit guides them as they roll; And waves on waves impetuous throng At thy command, at thy control.

3 Lord, we, thy children, look to thee, And with an humble, prostrate will, Find in thine all-sufficiency A claim to love and serve thee still.

521. S. M. Edmeston.

"Why sayest thou--my way is hid from the Lord?"

1 Along my earthly way, How many clouds are spread! Darkness, with scarce one cheerful ray, Seems gathering o'er my head.

2 Yet, Father, thou art love: O hide not from my view! But when I look, in prayer, above, Appear in mercy through!

3 My pathway is not hid; Thou knowest all my need; And I would do as Israel did,-- Follow where thou wilt lead.

4 Lead me, and then my feet Shall never, never stray; But safely I shall reach the seat Of happiness and day.

5 And O from that bright throne, I shall look back, and see,-- The path I went, and that alone, Was the right path for me.

522. C. M. Needham.

The Dead speaking to the Living.

1 Rise, O my soul! pursue the path By ancient worthies trod; Aspiring, view those holy men Who lived and walked with God.

2 Though dead, they speak in reason's ear, And in example live; Their faith, and hope, and mighty deeds, Still fresh instruction give.

3 Confiding in his heavenly strength, They conquered every foe; To his almighty power and grace Their crowns of life they owe.

4 Lord, may I ever keep in view The patterns thou hast given; And never wander from the road That led them safe to heaven.

523. C. M. Barbauld.

The Pilgrimage of Life.

1 Our country is Immanuel's ground; We seek that promised soil; The songs of Zion cheer our hearts, While strangers here we toil.

2 Oft do our eyes with joy o'erflow, And oft are bathed in tears; Yet naught but heaven our hopes can raise, And naught but sin our fears.

3 We tread the path our Master trod: We bear the cross he bore; And every thorn that wounds our feet, His temples pierced before.

4 Our powers are oft dissolved away In ecstasies of love; And while our bodies wander here, Our souls are fixed above.

5 We purge our mortal dross away, Refining as we run; But while we die to earth and sense, Our heaven is here begun.

524. C. M. Watts.

"We are fearfully and wonderfully made."

1 Let others boast how strong they be, Nor death nor danger fear; But we'll confess, O Lord, to thee, What feeble things we are.

2 Fresh as the grass our bodies stand, And flourish bright and gay; A blasting wind sweeps o'er the land, And fades the grass away.

3 Our life contains a thousand springs, And fails if one be gone; Strange! that a harp of thousand strings Should keep in tune so long.

4 But 'tis our God supports our frame, The God who built us first; Salvation to the Almighty Name That reared us from the dust!

525. C. M. Doddridge.

"Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."

1 These mortal joys, how soon they fade! How swift they pass away! The dying flower reclines its head, The beauty of a day.

2 Soon are those earthly treasures lost, We fondly call our own; Scarce the possession can we boast, When straight we find them gone.

3 But there are joys which cannot die, With God laid up in store; Treasures beyond the changing sky, More bright than golden ore.