94.

8 & 7s M.

Cow R

Future Peace and Glory of the Church.

1 HEAR what God, the Lord, hath spoken:
O my people, faint and few,
Comfortless, afflicted, broken,

Fair abodes I build for you:
Scenes of heartfelt tribulation

Shall no more perplex your ways;
You shall name your walls salvation,
And your gates shall all be praise.

2 There, like streams that feed the garden,
Pleasures without end shall flow;
For the Lord, your faith rewarding,
All his bounty shall bestow :
Still in undisturbed possession
Peace and righteousness shall reign;
Never shall you feel oppression,
Hear the voice of war again.

3 Ye, no more your suns descending,
Waning moons no more shall see;
But, your griefs forever ending,
Find eternal noon in me:

God shall rise, and, shining o'er you,

Change to day the gloom of night;

He, the Lord, shall be your glory,
God your everlasting light.

95

J. NEWTON

96

8 & 7s M.

The City of God.

1 GLORIOUS things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!

He whose word cannot be broken
Formed thee for his own abode.

2 On the Rock of ages founded,

What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

3 See! the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove.

4 Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which, like the Lord the giver,
Never fails from age to age.

7 & 6s M.

Joy and Peace in Believing.

1 SOMETIMES a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing on his wings:

COWPER.

97

When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again.
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.

2 In holy contemplation,

We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new;

Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E'en let the unknown to-morrow
Bring with it what it may !

3 It can bring with it nothing
But he will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing
Will clothe his people too;
Beneath the spreading heavens,
No creature but is fed;
And he who feeds the ravens

Will give his children bread.

C. M.

God Everywhere.

1 THE heaven of heavens cannot contain

The universal Lord!

Yet he in humble hearts will deign

To dwell and be adored.

DRENNAN.

2 Where'er ascends the sacrifice
Of fervent praise and prayer,
Or on the earth or in the skies,
The God of heaven is there.

3 His presence is diffused abroad

Through realms, through worlds unknown. Who seek the mercies of our God

Are ever near his throne.

98

7s M.

ANCIENT HYMNS.

Commendatory of Social Worship.

1 EVER sounds with holy hymns

The abode of saints on high,
Echoing to the seraphim's

Holy, holy, holy cry:

Joining that great psalm of praise,
We our humbler voices raise.

2 O'er our temple, Lord of all,
Thy benignant light extend;
Here be present at our call;

Here thy people's vows attend;
And our fainting souls imbue,
Father, with thy heavenly dew.

3 Here may still the meek request
Of the faithful heart obtain
Foretaste of those mansions blest,
Visions bright of glory gain,

1 TRY us, O God, and search the ground
Of every sinful heart:
Whate'er of sin in us is found,

O bid it all depart!

2 When to the right or left we stray,
Leave us not comfortless;

But guide our feet into the way
Of everlasting peace.

3 Help us to help each other, Lord,
Each other's cross to bear;

Let each his friendly aid afford,
And feel his brother's care.

4 Help us to build each other up,
Our little stock improve;

Increase our faith, confirm our hope,
And perfect us in love.