L. M.

Medway. Danvers. 376 A Welcome to Christian Fellowship. COME in, thou blessed of the Lord, Oh come in Jesus' precious name; We welcome thee, with one accord, And trust the Saviour does the same. 2 Those joys which earth cannot afford, We'll seek in fellowship to prove ; Joined in one spirit to our Lord,

Together bound by mutual love.

3 And while we pass this vale of tears,
We'll make our joys and sorrows known;
We'll share each other's hopes and fears,
And count a brother's cares our own.
4 Once more our welcome we repeat;
Receive assurance of our love:

Oh may we all together meet,

377

Around the throne of God above!

All one in Christ.

LET party names no more

The Christian world o'erspread:
Gentile and Jew, and bond and free,
Are one in Christ their head.

2 Among the saints on earth
Let mutual love be found;
Heirs of the same inheritance,
With mutual blessings crowned.
3 Thus will the church below
Resemble that above;

Where streams of endless pleasure flow,
And every heart is love.

378

L. M.

The heavenly Race.

Mendon. Rothwell.

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,

Who feeds the strength of every saint ;--

3 The mighty God, whose matchless power
Is ever new, and ever young;
And firm endures, while endless years
Their everlasting circles run.

4 From thee, the overflowing spring,
Our souls shall drink a full supply;
While those who trust their native strength
Shall melt away-and droop-and die.
5 Swift as an eagle cuts the air,

We'll mount aloft to thine abode;
On wings of love our souls shall fly,
Nor tire amid the heavenly road.

379

C. M.

Christmas. Stephens.

AWAKE, my soul-stretch every nerve,
And press with vigor on:

A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
A bright, immortal crown.

2 'Tis God's all-animating voice
That calls thee from on high;
'Tis his own hand presents the prize
To thine aspiring eye.

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

4 Blest Saviour-introduced by thee,
Have we our race begun ;

And, crowned with victory, at thy feet
We'll lay our laurels down.

L. M.

Monson. Mendon.

380 Christian Warfare and Victory.

f" STAND up, my soul-shake off thy fears,
And gird the gospel armor on;
March to the gates of endless joy,
Where Jesus, thy great Captain's gone.
2 Hell and thy sins resist thy course;
But hell and sin are vanquished foes;
Thy Jesus nailed them to the cross,
And sung the triumph when he rose.
3 Then let my soul march boldly on,
Press forward to the heavenly gate;
p" There peace and joy eternal reign,

And glittering robes for conquerors walt.

f 4 There shall I wear a starry crown,
And triumph in almighty grace;
While all the armies of the skies
Join in my glorious Leader's praise.

381

S. M.

St. Thomas. Pentonville.

Watchfulness and Prayer inculcated.

་་ MY soul, be on thy guard,
Ten thousand foes arise;
The hosts of sin are pressing hard
To draw thee from the skies.
2 Oh watch, and fight, and pray;
The battle ne'er give o'er;
Renew it boldly every day,
And help divine implore.
3 Ne'er think the victory won,
Nor lay thine armor down:
Thy arduous work will not be done
Till thou obtain thy crown.

4 Fight on, my soul, till death
Shall bring thee to thy God;

He'll take thee, at thy parting breath,
Up to his blest abode.

382

C. M.

Stamford. Stephens.

Christian Courage and Self-denial.

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 Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

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.

383

C. M.

Grafton. Bether.

Succor implored in spiritual Conflicts.

Aff ALAS, what hourly dangers rise!
What snares beset my way!

To heaven, oh let me lift mine eyes,
And hourly watch and pray.

2 How oft my mournful thoughts complain,
And melt in flowing tears!

My weak resistance !-ah, how vain!
How strong my foes and fears!

3 O gracious God! in whom I live,
My feeble efforts aid;

Help me to watch, and pray, and strive,
Though trembling and afraid.

4 Increase my faith-increase my hope,
When foes and fears prevail;
Oh bear my fainting spirit up,
Or soon my strength will fail.

5 Whene'er temptations fright my heart,
Or lure my feet aside,

My God, thy powerful aid impart,
My guardian and my guide.

6 Oh keep me in thy heavenly way,
And bid the tempter flee;

And let me never, never stray

384

From happiness and thee.

C. M.

The heavenly Mansion.

Patmos. Judea.

THERE is a house not made with hands,

Eternal, and on high;

And here my spirit waiting stands

Till God shall bid it fly.

2 Shortly this prison of my clay
Must be dissolved, and fall;
Then, O my soul, with joy obey
Thy heavenly Father's call.
3 'Tis he, by his almighty grace,
That forms thee fit for heaven;
And, as an earnest of the place,
Has his own Spirit given.

4 We walk by faith of joys to come;
Faith lives upon his word;
But while the body is our home,
We're absent from the Lord.

5 'Tis pleasant to believe thy grace,
But we had rather see:

We would be absent from the flesh,
And present, Lord, with thee.

385

C. M.

Arlington. Judea.

Hope of Heaven by Christ.

BLEST be the everlasting God,
The Father of our Lord;

Be his abounding mercy praised,
His majesty adored.

2 When from the dead he raised his Son,
And called him to the sky,

He gave our souls a joyful hope,
That they should never die.

3 What though his uncontrolled decree
Command our flesh to dust?
Yet, as the Lord, our Saviour, rose,
So all his followers must.
4 To an inheritance divine,
He taught our hearts to rise:
"Tis uncorrupted, undefiled,
Unfading, in the skies.

5 Saints by the power of God are kept
Till his salvation come:

We walk by faith, as strangers here,
Till Christ shall call us home.

386

f

L. M. 61.

Dresden. Eaton.

AND art thou, gracious Master, gone
A mansion to prepare for me?
Shall I behold thee on thy throne,

And there forever sit with thee?
Then, let the world approve or blame,
I'll triumph in thy glorious name.

2 What transport, Lord, shall fill my heart,
When thou my worthless name wilt own!
When I shall see thee as thou art,

And know as I myself am known! From sin, and fear, and sorrow free, > My soul shall find its rest in thee.