Part 2

When to mark the publication Of the Law, Mount Sinai blazed, And, amazed, the Jewish nation Gazed, and shuddered as they gazed, Under Sinai stunned with thunder Rose an altar solemnly Shadowing another Wonder Greater still on Calvary.

HYMN XXVI.

“_Look not upon me because I am swarthy_.” SOLOMON’S SONG, i. 6.

“Nac edryched neb i gloffi,”

Daughters fair of David’s city, Stare not with disdain upon Me because my face is swarthy, For, if sunburnt, it is comely As the curtains of the costly Corridors of Solomon.

HYMN XXVII.

“_A golden bell and a pomegranate_,” EXOD. xxviii. 34.

“Mae swn y clychau ’n chwareu”

THE blossoms of the pomegranates Emit enchanting smells, As, pealing through the pearly gates The melody of bells Proclaims to every sinner That pardon has been won And favour with the Father By His eternal Son.

Oh! may my meditation Perpetually be The marvellous salvation Which He has wrought for me: And may my whole demeanour Be in conformity With all that My Redeemer Would have my life to be.

HYMN XXVIII.

“_What is Thy Beloved more than another beloved_?” THE SONG OF SONGS, v. 9.

“Rhyfedda byth, briodas ferch,”

WHAT is Thy Beloved more Than another, O thou fairest Of thy sisters, that thou carest Thus His Features to adore? Of ten thousand, verily, Marked out by a banner, He Is The Chiefest unto me.

HYMN XXIX.

“_Who His own self bare our sins in His Body upon the tree_” 1 S. Peter ii. 24.

“Mi gerdda ’n araf ddyddiau f’ oes,”

BENEATH the shadow of the tree Where Jesus bled and died for me I seek and see security. O may my spirit never be Far from the tree of Calvary Whereon My Daysman died for me!

HYMN XXX.

“_The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you_.” ROM. xvi. 20.

“Ma myrdd o ryfeddodau”

WHEN suffering reverses, My soul has learnt to know The multitude of mercies That from My Saviour flow. Sing, then, my soul, the fulness Of that redeeming grace Which offers perfect soundness To all of Adam’s race.

HYMN XXXI.

“_The word of the Cross_” 1 COR. i, 18.

“Efengyl Crist sy’n galw”

WHILE to the disobedient The day is drawing near When they shall pray to Christ too late, And He refuse to hear, Unmerited forgiveness Is offered unto all That with unfeigned repentance Obey the Gospel Call.

HYMN XXXII.

“_Knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly_.” 2 S. PETER i. 14.

“Rwy’n cael arwyddion amlwg”

HOW many intimations Have I that I must go Away from my relations And neighbours here below! Promoted from the army On earth, I trust to rise To where no foe can harm me,— The rest of Paradise.

Though temporal affliction Has laid my body low, Contrition and conviction Of sin have made me know That My Redeemer liveth, And that He soon shall stand To bless, when He receiveth His own at His Right Hand.

I thus with resignation Anticipate the grave, Confiding my salvation To Him Who died to save. I hope to rise with gladness At the dread trumpet’s sound, And see Him Whom in sadness I have always found.

More wondrous revelations Shall at that sound be made Than when the first foundations Of heaven and earth were laid— Before the malediction Is uttered from the throne Shall come the benediction When Christ shall own His own.

Yet, midst the jubilation That shall abound among The saved of every nation In one resounding song, By far the most amazing Surprise to me will be Myself in rapture gazing On Him Who died for me.

HYMN XXXIII.

“_Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel_, _and afterward receive me to glory_.” PS. lxxiii, 24.

“Yma’r wyf mewn anial maith,”

THROUGH my pilgrimage below Guide Thou me, Jesu, free me from every foe, Graciously! All my care I cast on Thee Till life’s end, Well aware that Thou shalt be Still My Friend.

HYMN XXXIV.

“_Be still_, _and know that I am God_.” PS. xlvi, 10.

“Dyfais fawr tragwyddol gariad,”

FULL and undeserved salvation Founded on Eternal Love Has been won for every nation,— Peace on earth and bliss above. On God’s covenant depending, Howsoever storms may rage, I am safe, for He attending Will protect my pilgrimage.

What if health be frail and fleeting,— Heart and flesh together quail,— And the pulse of life cease beating? God’s compassions never fail. Oh! how fraught with consolation Is this thought to every one Who commits his soul’s salvation To the merits of His Son!

The commandments I have pondered Over; Christ in agony have seen by faith and wondered At the tree of Calvary; And if my peregrination Through this earth be frequently But a path of perturbation It betokens victory.

Things that seem to teem with sadness, Darkness, bitterness and fear, Shall be swallowed up in gladness When the glory shall appear. Looking upwards at the haven Where my soul aspires to be I behold prepared in heaven An inheritance for me.

Indistinct, and distant glimpses Only come within my sight: But these glimpses thrill my senses With ineffable delight: While the promise of Salvation Purchased by Immanuel’s Blood Gives my spirit Consolation, Courage, and The Peace of God.

Fondly feeling that, surviving Every tempest’s angry swell, I was happily arriving At the goal where I would dwell, My glad soul exclaimed, O Father, Have I come to be with Thee, Safe eternally from further Anguish and anxiety?

“Hush, my child, be calm and quiet; Recollect that I am God: Nothing can withstand the fiat Of My All-commanding Nod: Though thy ghostly foe be railing, Know that I am on thy side, And, although thy strength be failing, I, Thy Guide, will still provide.”

This contents my soul: The Giver Of all good, My Loving Lord, Is Almighty to deliver, And, depending on His Word, Underneath the safe protection Of the shadow of His Wings, I have less and less affection For earth’s evanescent things.

Suffering with resignation All the trials of to-day, In composed anticipation, Come, or go, whatever may, I await the promised vision Of God’s Face in Righteousness And the perfected fruition Of His Grace and Holiness.

Nature, at the contemplation Of The Godhead, faints with fear, And, distraught with consternation, Dreads the thought that God is near. O for grace to bear the vision Of Jehovah’s Majesty, And to share in the fruition Of an endless Jubilee!

HYMN XXXV.

“_Far be it for me to glory save in the Cross_” GAL. vi., 14.

“Nid oes gwrthrych ar y ddaear”

EARTH’S emoluments and pleasure Fail to fascinate my mind When I contemplate the treasure Gained by Christ for all mankind. He, though greater than a creature Such as I can comprehend, Can compose my craving nature With the Comfort of a Friend.

O for Grace to live depending On His Merits and to meet, After death, in life unending, Him before the judgment seat!— Grace to bear whatever crosses Come, because He bore His Own, And to learn that earthly losses Lead to where no care is known!