* ,)i 'it',;V,.f 1 '. H, -.T^ffTT) Cornell University Library BV 355.G3L97 The spiritual son ill IS of Martin Lutlier 3 1924 021 739 754 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924021739754 THE SPIKITUAL SONGS OF ffiartm ftitjitr: BT JOHN HUNT. ' I therefore go, and join head, heart, and hand- Active and firm, to fight the bloodless fight Of science, freedom, and the truth in Christ." — Coleridge. fniAntt: HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO.; MANCHESTER: BBEMNBB, PICCADILLY; LITBEPOOL: NEWLING, boldstbbbt; pbeston: babton, pibhebgate. 1853. THE REV. THOMAS CLARK, M.A., Minister of Christ Church, Preston, THE SPIRITUAL SONGS OF MARTIN LUTHER, THE GREAT GERMAN EBPOEMBE, WITH EVEEY SENTIMENT OP RESPECT AND ESTEEM, AS A FKIEND AND PASTOK. TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. We would very gladly have been excused from writing a preface to this volume, seeing there are two prefaces already; but as space has been left for us, we must say something : that some- thing must be about Luther, and more particu- larly about his Spiritual Songs. Fortunately for us, the subject has not, by any means, been exhausted by English writers. Few, indeed, there are who have not heard of the Great Eeformer's love of music and poetry, and still smaller is the number of those who are not famihar with the massive grandeur of his tunes, which so often resound through our Churches, bursting upon our ears with sounds, something like what we imagine wiU be those of the arch- angel's trumpet, that shall awaie the dead from the resting places wherein they have slept for ages. There is no name of modern times more fre- quently on our lips than Luther's, and no charac- ter witii which we think ourselves more femiUar. Yet, what is generally known of him is compara- tively little. Like many other great men, he is spoken of merely for that which most distinguished Mm, while his other great qualities, which are often more important for the elucidation of the whole man, are not unfrequently forgotten. In like man- ner as we have a popular notion of JuUus Csesar as a great warrior, one who has had an influence on the history of human affairs — a name that has survived the wreck of time ; while the brilliant orator — ^the splendid scholaj;' — and the elegant writer are cast into the shade. The vulgar idea translatoe's peepace. of Luther is, that he was a brave man; one that fought for truth in an age when it was lost in error, and when tyranny had trampled on human rights. That Luther was a brave man is but a small part of his character, and one which we think ought to be qualified. It does not seem to us that he was naturally the bold and coura^ geous man that he is generally represented to have been ; and we are borne out in this suppo- sition by the fact of his seeking the seclusion of a monastery when his companion was killed by the lightning. And also by what he says in a letter to Melanothon : — " In private trials, you are stronger than I; in pubhc, I am stronger than you. You despise your own life, but are afraid for the cause of God. I have no fear with regard to this, seeing I know for a truth that it is just and good : whereas I am a poor trembling sinner. All the threats and fierceness of the Papists, I value not a rush." It was only when truth was in danger that Luther was brave. It was when he saw the enemy before him that he put on his armour; then it was he had his loins girt, and his lamp burning— that he put on the breastplate of faith, and for an helmet the hope of salvation ; then it was that he realized the truth of that declaration of the wise man, " The righteous are bold as a lion." The boldness of Luther in the hour of danger has been sadly misrepresented by his ene- mies. It has been attributed to arrogance, self- confidence, and as many other evil qualities as would have constituted a thousand demons. But when we withdraw the veil of his private life, and get an acquaintance with his thoughts in soli- tude, we get a different view of him. When we TRANSLATORS PREFACE. VU follow him to his retirement, and hear nothing but that solitary, penitential cry, "My sins, my sins," we do not find much self-reliance. It was not in himself that Luther found confidence : it was in the arm of Omnipotence. He had laid hold of the Word of God ; he had got a footing on eternal truth ; like a wise man, he had built his house upon the Eock of Ages — and what has a man in such circumstances to fear? It is no wonder that popes and devils, kings and cardinals, quailed before him. It is no wonder that hell was moved from beneath, when the old and wicked one saw his kingdom tottering to its base. Easier would it have been to have turned the sun from his course, or to have removed the everlasting hiUs from their fixed habitations, than to have turned such a man from the truth. This seems to us the secret of his courage ; he never forgot where his strength lay. Had he forgot that even for a moment, his faith might have failed him, as Peter's did ; or he might, in an evil hour, have recanted what he most firmly believed, as did Galileo and Cranmer. But this was remark- able in Luther above all other men ; he ever acted as if God were visibly beside him, about his bed and about his path, on his right hand and on his left. We are almost constrained to say, if ever man was inspired and sent on earth to do the work of heaven, this man was. Certain it is, he had the feith which removes mountains. Luther's Spiritual Songs give us an acquaints ance with him which we cannot have by any history. It is by a man's poetry that we get to the innermost recesses of his soul. A poet is " a living epistle, known and read of all men ;" he tells us what he feels and what he viii translatoe's preface. knows ; he weds his own individuality to immor- tal verse. We have an acquaintance with the poets that we can have with no other writers — they tell us their eostacies, their hopes, their fears, their mercies, and even their failings. This is pre-eminently the case with the Psahnist, with Byron, Bums, Cowper, Wordsworth, and others we could name. In hke manner, Luther's poetry gives us an intimate acquaintance with the mam. We find there his great love of truth, his steadfast adherence to the Word of God, his never-failing confidence in the arm of Omnipotence. His pretty httle Christmas songs for children, about the nativity and early years of the Holy Child Jesus, unfold to us his tender and afieotionate love of children : that beautiful and peculiarly interest- ing trait in the character of the gnarled Eeformer. The truth of the sentiment implied in that well-known saying — " Give me the making of a people's songs, and I care not who makes their laws," was never better tested than in the his- tory of his poetry. We have the authority of Coleridge for saying, '^Luther did as much for the Reformation by his hymns, as by his trans- lation of the Bible. In Germany, the hymns are known by heart by every peasant : they advise, they argue fi:om the hymns, and every soul in the Church praises God, like a Christian, with words which are natm-al, and yet sacred, to his mind." There was a time when Luther's poems were the only literature of which Germany could boast, and to this day they have a high place among the splendid effusions with which the pro- lific writers of the present century have adorned the literature of that country. We once asked a learned German what he considered the best TRANSLATOR S PRBFACH. national song the Germans had ; and, be it remembered, they have many lovely songs of their dear Fatherland : his answer was ready — "Luther's 'Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott,' that," said he, "is the song of songs for Germany." Thomas Carlyle has said that " it has something in it hke the sound of Alpine avalanches or the first murmur of earthquakes;" and Heine, the greatest of critics, has styled it " The Mar- KseiUaise of the Eeformation;" observing, that " to the present day it has preserved its potent speU over German hearts, and we may yet hear it thundered forth again under circumstances similar to those which gave it birth." Generally speaking, h'is Spiritual Songs are "songs of deliverance." Had the inspired record reached to our times, and embraced, as it would have done, the history of the people of God, in like manner as we read, " Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord ;" "Then sang Deborah and Barak, the son of Abinoam ;" we would have had — Then sang Luther and Melano- thon this new song, for the Lord had been on their side, and they had triumphed gloriously. There are other poems of Luther's, not directly on religious subjects, but on the various thoughts and feelings that agitate the human heart. We may say of him as of Uhland's minstrel — " He sung of love, and of spring, and the joys of youth ; Of salvation, of virtue, of freedom and truth." But after all, Luther's Ufe was his best poem ; it was the epic for which he nerved himself ; his actions were his episodes ; it was here he toiled with Ufe-and-death energy. Many English writers have represented Luther as inferior in acquirements to his compeers — a TEANSLATOBS PEBFACB. mistake which has arisen from having only a par- tial acquaintance with his writings. It seems to us that some of them have merely examined his Latin, and passed judgment on his acquirements from the quality of it j and true it is, his Latin wants the fine Augustan polish of that of Eras- mus and Calvin ; but it is to Luther's praise he cultivated his own- language more, in which he is universally admitted to have been a great master, possessing an acquaintance with it which can only be compared to that extraordinary know- ledge and command of the English language pos- sessed by MUton and Shakspeare. Luther had got hold of an idea that did not belong to his age. He had read in an old book, that men call the Bible, that the Gospel was " to be preached tp the poor." He considered that rehgion and learning were not to be confined to a few Latin books, to be read only by the inmates .of a mon- astery, or to sleep on the dusty shelves of a cloister library. He conceived that the Church and its privileges were not intended for the good of a favored few, but for the multitude — for every individual man — and for man as a whole. Thus his energies were directed. Hence it was that the " common people " heard him, as they did his Great Master, "gladly." Luther lived not for himself — ^he labored not for himself, but for the good of the whole. We need a better acquaintance with the men who fought the battle of the Eeformation. We live at a time when the enemies of the Protes- tant rehgion are-unscrupulously sparing neither worth nor learning, either in the Hving or the dead; when they are belying all history, and fearlessly asserting anything that wiU favor TRANSLATORS PREFACE. their own cause. We confess we have an out- of-the-way, antiquated son of veneration for old Tetzel, Eokius, and Pope Clement, and still more for the good Adrian, who honestly confessed the abuses of the church of which he was pontiff; but the recklessness, the blundering, the arro- gance, and the mountebankism of the modem champions of Popery we cannot endure — they make the heart sick. We admire learning, worth, genius, manly and independent thought, wherever we find them, be they under the weeds of a Ma- hometan dervish or a Hindoo priest, or clothed with the gaudy and fantastic robes of a Komish cardinal or a pretended bishop ; but we bum with indignation when we see a disregard for truth, or a desire to injure the reputation of the brightest ornaments of the world, and the hoUest saints that have adorned the Church of the living God. We want men like Luther — men of truth — men who wiU stand to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We want men like Knox, who will "never fear the face of man;" men who will say as he did, " I am in a place where I am demanded of conscience to speak the truth, and the truth I wiU speak, impugn it whoso listeth." It is men like these that hasten on the dawn of the millenium, when iniquity, ashamed, shall hide her face from the earth. We hesitate not to say, that Luther has had a mightier influence on the destinies of the human race than any individual man since the time when Godhead appeared in human form. — What shall we say of the acute and vigorous- minded Calvin, who gathered around him the inquirers after knowledge from all parts of the world 1 What shall we say of Knox, who gave TRANSLATORS PEBPACE. character to a nation that shall be like him to the latest posterity ? There were giants in those days ; but God will ever have a seed to serve him, and men to perform his work in the earth. It wUl be necessary to caution our readers not to expect from our translations that excellence which belongs to Luther's poetry. A translation, at best, is but a glass through which we see darkly. They that would see Luther face to face, must read what he has written in German. There is a magic charm about real poetry which defies translation, unless the translator be as great a genius as the author, and even then he does not always succeed. Besides, the rules of translation are undefined j the translator is ever and anon in the dilemma of either sacrificing the author's meaning to the elegance of his verse, or the elegance of his verse to the author's meaning. We need not say that we have generally done the latter, yet not always ; sometimes we have been necessitated to change the sense. A thought esteemed very good in Luther's age and country, may not accord with modern taste in England. We regret now that we have not done it more frequently, as people generally prefer being pleased to being instructed. The consequence of our adhering sometimes too closely to the text is, that Luther's best songs wiU appear in our translations to least advantage. We have said in our title-page, simply, " From the German:" it will be, necessary, however, to give a minuter account of the contents of this volume. Those which have the first line of the German over them are found in the last German edition. In them we have adhered to the text as closely as translators generally do. TEANSLATORS PEEPACE. The others are diversified j some of them are merely imitations, such as No. 2, on the Epiph- any ; others we have found in collections of Ger- man songs, with Luther's name : of this kind, is that on "Music." A few subjects have been introduced on which he has not written songs, but those which we have inserted embody sen- timents to which he has given emphatical utter- ance. No. 2, on the "Christian Course," is imitated from Count Zinzendorf. There may be verses from other German hymns that may have found their way among the free translations, but of these we cannot give an account. We may also, for anything we know, have availed our- selves of the verses of English poets, for we have learned so much poetry by heart, that we often do not know to whom it belongs, if it belongs to any one. We had better at once express our gratitude to all that have ever written hymns in English — ^from Weteley, Watts, Cowper, Newton, and Mrs. Barbauld, down to James Montgomery, Dr. Bowring, Jane Taylor, and Lady Eleanor Fortesque. To the Moravian Hymns and the Scotch version of the Psalms, we owe a debt of unspeakable obligation. We have not even de- spised the assistance of om- old and familiar friends, Sternhold and Hopkins. As we give thanks to all, we hope no one will accuse us of taking what is not our own without acknowledg- ing it. We have been so much accustomed to compare the poets of different countries, that we find many of them could be translated by the others. We could point out whole pages in Mil- ton that would pass for translations of Tasso, and in like manner, much of Tasso that could trans- late portions of Virgil. But this will be endless. xiv TBANSLATORS PEEFACE. We have rambled beyond our bounds, yet the sea of our subject is only opening before us. We have more to say now than when we began, but we must close. The translation of these songs has been to us a delightful recreation from seve- rer studies, and the arduous duties of our daily avocation. We send forth our book with fear and trembling ; and yet, notwithstanding its many imperfections, we feel an inward persuasion that its vein is good, and that the world shall find it "after many days." , Our prayer for our readers is, that they may be filled with the Spirit, speaking to themselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord ; anticipating, whilst yet in the body, the song of the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect ; who, being redeemed out of eveiy kindred, and peo- ple, and tongue, and nation, have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and are now singing — Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing, for ever and ever. Amen ! N.B. — In printing this book, the printer has been instructed not to make those elisions of the vowels which usually disfigure books of poetry, it being our opinion that such a practice pro- ceeds on a misapprehension of the real nature of English verse. There are several other small matters in which we have been self-willed, but these will be better understood than expressed. GERMAN EDITOR'S PREFACE. Since the year 1817, no new edition has appeared of these powerM songs of the Great Eeformer, which he sung for the religious cultivation of the German people ; and certainly it would be a mel- ancholy thing to see songs so important in their tendency disappear altogether from our Uterature. We have principally followed the order of Grelsh's edition ; but we are convinced, by a closer examination, that the hymns in the old dialect of Luther are not altogether suitable for the people of the present day. A melody prevails in the verses, which shows from the beginning how excellently they are adapted to be sung in ChurcheSi Yet here and there we find obso- lete terms, which often injure the beautiful thoughts, and the lovely, popular tone of these songs of the Keformation. This must not, by any means, be attributed to the poet, but to the age ia which he wrote. We should not forget that the language itself originated in the hand of the master ; he had to make it smooth and poetical, as well as to rjeform reKgion. That at that time everything should be written in a finished style, is not to be expected. Our present object is to republish these songs, as far as possible, in their original form; only sometimes an individual obsolete word has been changed for a softer one, to make the poetical impression more sure, and to adapt these excellent songs to susceptible souls for their edification in the faith. But wherever this could not be done, the original term has been preserved, so as not to sacrifice the thought to the word. GEBMAN EDITORS PREFACE. The mighty and intrepid Eeformer — the great and worthy man of God — wrote and sung these songs to the ;graise of the Lord, in evil days. It was his task to clear the Christian religion from those weeds which the cruel darkness of time had permitted to spring up, and to bring it back to the simple form which Christ had given it. With these Songs Luther fought against the eiiemy, and gained the people on his side. He led the masses with him into the Church controversy, and enabled them to understand his doctrines. To the most of his songs he also composed tunes, which have been preserved to the present day ; and these compositions belong to the most excellent which we pos- sess in church music. Whose feelings are not deeply moved by the singing of these hymns — " VOm Himmel hoch da komm ioh her ;" " Gelo- bet seist du Jesu Christ;" "Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir ?" Who is left cold and indiffe- rent after hearing the celebrated song — "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott ?" For centuries have these songs resounded in the holy aisles of our Churches ; for centuries have they stirred to their depths the souls of Christians, and their rich, merciful strength become a heavenly bahn to the faithful. What has been so long preserved through the storms of time must be genuine, and wilLnot be easily put aside, but wiU quicken and strengthen, and build up in the faith, as it has done in days gone by. The Editor. Berlin, August, 1844. FBOM THE PREFACES OP LUTHEE. 1527. It will not, I think, be doubted by any Christian, that to sing spiritual songs is good and well- pleasing in the sight of God ; since we have not only the example of the prophets and kings in the Old Testament, who, with harp and song, with poetry and all manner of stringed instruments, praised the Lord; but a similar custom, especially with psalms, has been com- mon to Christianity from its commencement. Indeed, we find St. Paul instituting it in his first epistle to the Corinthians, and again giving it as a commandment to the Colossians, that they should sing from their hearts psalms and spirit- ual songs to the Lord, so that the Word of God and the Christian doctrines might, in every pos- sible way, be made known and practised. Therefore have I, along with some others, for a good beginning and encouragement to those who are more able, collected a few spiritual songs, in order to extend and to bring into repute the holy Gospel, which, through the mercy of God, has again appeared ; that we might make our boast, as did Moses in the book of Exodus, that " Christ is our praise and our songj" and that we know nothing better of which to speak and to sing, than, as St. Paul did in his first epistle to the Corinthians, that " Jesus is our Saviour." XVIU FEOM THE PREFACES OP LUTHER. These songs are adapted to four voices, for no other reason than that I earnestly desire that youth, who, indeed, ought to be instructed in music and in all right sciences, may have some- thing by which love-songs and carnal singing may be done away with, and something whole- some learned in their place ; and, also, that along with pleasure some good may be learned, as is proper for young people. I am not of opinion, that by the Gospel all sciences are to be abohshed, as some enthusiasts imagine ; but I greatly desire to see them all, especially music, devoted to the service of Him who gave and created them. I, therefore, beseech every pious Christian to be satisfied with these songs, and to grant me his assistance if God has given him more, or even the same talents. But, alas ! all the world is too indolent and careless to instruct poor youth, unless they are driven to it. May God have mercy upon us ! We have also inserted in this Uttle book, for a good example, some sacred songs from the Holy Scripture, which the blessed patriarchs and pro- phets of the olden time composed and sung, that we may not appear as new masters in this work, but can show for our proceeding the exam- ple of all the saints. Therefore, every Christian will see that they, as we have done, ptaised the mercy of God and not the work of man; nor will any one venture to condemn us, lest in so doing he should also condemn them. FROM THE PREFACES OP LUTHER. XIX 1545. The 96th psalm says, "Sing unto the Lord a new song ; sing unto the Lord all the earth." In the Old Testament, under the law of Moses, the service of God was burdensome iLd weari- some ; there they had many saorifioesTo offer of all that they possessed, both in the house and in the field, which the people who were very indolent and covetous did grudgingly, or because of some temporal gain, as the prophet Malachi says, " Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought." Where there is such an indolent, unwilling heart, nothing good can be sung. The heart must be joyfiil where one would sing weU. Therefore, God has not allowed such an indolent, unwilling service to remain, as Malachi again shows — " I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts ; neither will I accept an offering at your hand. For from the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering ; for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts." There is now, in the New Testament, a better service, of which the Psalmist thus speaks : — " Sing unto the Lord a new song ; sing imto the Lord all the earth." For God has made our hearts joyftd through His beloved Son, whom He has given to save us from sin, death, and the devil. They who really believe this cannot be otherwise than joyful ; and they wiU sing of it and speak of it gladly, that others hearing them FROM THE PREFACES OP LUTHER. may become partakers of the same joy. But they who will not sing and speak of it show that they do not behave it, and do not belong to the jpyful New Testament dispensation, but to the old, indo- lent and burdensome economy of Moses. St. Papl writes to the Christians at Thessalo- nica, that' they should not sorrow over their dead as those who have no hope, but should comfort themselves through the Word of God, as they have the certain hope of life and the resurrection of the dead. That they should sorrow who have no hope is not wonderful, nor are they to be blamed, since they are not of the faith of Christ, and must either think the present life the only one, and esteeming it very highly, must be unwilling to lose it ; or, if they look beyond it, can only see the wrath of God in h^, and must be very un- willing to go thither. But we Christians, who are saved from every thing by the precious blood of the Son of God, should exercise ourselves in the faith so as to despise death, and to look upon it as a deep, sound, and sweet sleep ; esteeming the coffin nothing else than the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ, or a paradise; and the grave nothing but a still and peaceful bed of rest. This in- deed it is, in the sight of God, as He saith, John xi. 11 — "Lazarus, our friend, sleepeth;" and St. Matthew ix. 24 — ." The maid is not dead, but sleepeth." St. Paul, also, in the 15th chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians, takes away from our eyes the terrible aspect of death in our mortal bodies, and presents instead of it the pleasing and joyful looks of the living, when he saith, " It FROM THE PREFACES OF LUTHER. is sown in corruption, i1^ is raised in incorrup- tion; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory ; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power ; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." Therefore have we abolished, in our Churches, all the bugbears of Popery, such as vigils, masses for the soul, obsequies, purgatory, and all mum- meries and fooleries for the dead; nor do we allow our Churches to be houses of lamentation, or abodes of sorrow j but, as the ancient fathers called them, " Goemetena," which imphes that they esteemed them houses of sleep, or beds of rest. In like manner, we do not sing by our death- beds or graves any dirge or song of lamentation, but rather hymns of consolation, concerning the forgiveness of sins, the rest, sleep, life, and resur- rection of the departed, so that our faith may be strengthened, and the people stimulated to right devotion. It is, indeed, right and proper that burials should be performed honorably, and in such a way as to exalt that blessed article of our Creed — "The Eesurrection of the body ;" and thus to set at deiiance that terrible enemy — death, who consumes us so horribly, and in every fiightful form and manner. We read that the holy patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and others, buried their dead honorably, and with great care ; and that afterwards the kings of Judah performed great ceremonies over the dead body with costly incense, of all kinds of precious spices; all of which was to do despite to that terrible enemy — death, and to recognize and glorify the resurrec- FROM THJ3 PEKFACES OF LUTHER. tion of the dead, that the weak in faith and the sorrowful might be comforted. In like manner, we have heard of Christians in the old times and even at the present day, carrying their dead in triumph to their resting place, singing as they went along, adorning the graves and raising over them magnificent monu- ments. It was aU to exalt this article of " the Eesurrection of the body," that it might be firmly grounded in us, since it is our final, blessed, and eternal consolation and joy against death, hell, the devil, and all manner of grief That the beautiful ornament of music may, in a right manner, serve the Great Creator and His Christian people; that He may be praised and glorified ; and that we, through His holy Word, carried with sweet song into our hearts, may be improved and strengthened in the faith : — May God the Father, with the Son, and the Holy Ghost, grant to us. Amen. W^n'n tju- f nrir s bnqiTB rais, Sju toirH spapgw a;ipais; in, rtdiK, mark, sni pnter tlna, ^|iat Kni nf sinigs an mritttn nnm ; /nr manq sraigs a« haas anir mh, ini fittti nalii hi Mk. M. f. ADVENT, 25 Itoiiit. Nrni Tcomm, der Hdden Hmla/nd. CHE time draws nigh, swift fly the years- The Great Eedeemer now appears ; A Virgin's Son, He comes to earth, The nations wonder at His birth. The Hero lays His glory by, And leaves the mansions of the sky ; The Father's everlasting Son Hastens His earthly race to run. From God He comes, th€ Virgin-born, To Him again He shall return ; When Satan's power is at an end To heaven again He shall ascend. Come ! conquering Hero, lead the fight ; Come ! onward, onward ! in Thy mighit ; Be Thou our Captain and our Guide — ' Do Thou in om: weaJs flesh abid/e. ' "i r < 26 ADVENT. Thy crib shines beautiful and clear — A new star brings the nations near ; The darkness can no entrance gain To those who firm in faith remain. Then glory to the Highest One, And to His well-beloved Son ; And to the Spirit of His grace, Who comforts all the ransomed race. II. / am the root cmd offsprvng of David, the bright wnd mommg star. rV ING ! sing ! ye ransomed mortals, sing ! ^}^ To you — to all, good news we bring ; See in the East yon radiant star. The star of God — a glorious light ; That star dispels the gloom of night. And brings the nations from afar. He comes ! He comes ! to you undone ; He comes ! the Father's only Son : Awake ! awake ! dismiss your fears ; Awake ! awake ! to songs of praise, To Him your glad Hosannahs raise — The Lord ! the Lord I on earth appears. ADVENT. 27 Long hath the world in darkness been, And nights of guilt and woe hath seen, And saints 'twixt hopes and fears have pined ; But now a new star gilds the sky — A new star meets the gazer's eye ; That star the light of all mankind. From God the beams of glory shine. The brightness of His face divine Now bursts upon our raptiu:ed sight ; Shout ! shout ! the Advent shout again, For now begins the glorious reign. Creation's wonder and delight. He comes ! the promised One of old. By ancient prophet bards foretold ; The days of darkness now shall cease : He comes ! your Brother and your Friend ; AU wars and conflicts soon shall end^ — He comes ! to give the nations peace. Soon shall Jehovah's power be known, And Satan's empire be o'erthrown, For now appears the Father's Son : Proclaim the news to all' mankind, TiU every soul on earth shall find The reign of glory is begun. 28 ADVENT. Sing ! siiig ! ye ransomed mortals, sing ! To Him. your glad Hosannahs bring ; Glory to Godj and peace on earth ! Let aU. the world in songs unite, To praise the Lord — ^the Lord of might, For now is your Redeemer's birth. IlL Throngli the tender mercy of ilWov Have never cause to fear ; For God is ever by their side, To comfort and to cheer. What profit canst thou gain By self-consuming grief? Thy sighs and tears will all be vain — They cannot bring relief Put thou in God thy trust, And patiently be stiU ; The Lord Himself protects the just, But sovereign is His will. We may approach His throne With cares and griefs distressed ; But the time must be His own To answer our request. TRUST IN GODi 115 God heareth every cry In every land and elime ; He never missed a tear or Then let lis wait His time. Oh ! let us all be still, And place in Him our trust ; And when He works His sovereign will, Then shall we own it just. # 11. TJioy, hast eomfarted me. ^ FT there comes a dreary hour. When no earthly thing can cheer ; And we're under sorrow's power. With no peace nor comfort near ; Then in deep distress we fly To the Lord — ^the Lord most high. Tell we Him our tale of grief, And He listens to our prayer ; Then to us He sends relief, For His people are His care : Israel He guides and keeps, Slumbers not and never sleeps. 116 TRUST IN GOD. To the Lord, who loves to bend Down to earth a gracious ear ; All His children to attend, And their weak complaints to hear ; 'Tis on Him we place our trust — Him' who comforteth the just. III. There is none other name imder heaven given among men, whereby we must he saved. ►ORD Jesus ! whither can we go For mercy in our day of woe ? No other name than Thine we know, Through which we can salvation find. Peace with the Father Thou hast made, And for our souls the ransom paid, For Thou hast died for all mankind. Then shall we come to Thee alone, And beg for mercy at Thy throne, Since Thou for all men didst atone. That pardoning grace to us be given. To Thee shall aU our prayers ascend. On Thee shall all owe hopes depend. For peace on earth and rest in heaven. TBUST IN GOD. 117 IV. Oh gra/ee, where is thy victory 1 fICTOK o'er the gloomy grave, Jesus rose, who died to save ; Need I then to fear the gloom That we think surrounds the tomb ? Glad I yield my life and breath, Fear I not the gloom of death ; Soon I'll reach that bhssfiil place, Where I'll see Him face to face. But my flesh in hope shall be From the ills of Ufe set free ; Though it pass the dreary bourne, Yet to life it shall return. This my hope shall aye remain, Come what will — come grief or pain ; He shall wipe my every tear, When in glory I appear. 118 TEUST IN GOD. V. A wite laam, which built hie home v/pan a rock ; cmd the raim descended, cmd the floods came, and the winds blew, a/nd beat upon that house, cmd it fell not : fw it was fmmded upon a rock. f'Y anchor is within the vail ; Whatever may my soul betide, Against me nothing can prevail, For God the Lord is on my side : Though heaven and earth shall pass away, My trust shall still unshaken stay. The Eock of truth I now have found, Here shall I ever stand secure ; I safely anchor in the ground That shall for evermore endure : When aU the things of earth are fled, With joy shall I lift up my head. Nor waves nor storms can bring me harm. While on this Kock I place my trust ; My strength is the Almighty arm — The shield and refuge of the just : Here shall I dwell, and dwell serene. Amid life's every chequered scene. TRUST IN GOD. 119 Though fiends of hell against me rise, Their looks of wrath I will not fear ; While on the Lord my sonl relies, He shall for my defence appear : He is my fortress and high tower, My Helper in the evil hour. My house I build upon this Eook Which shall for ever be my stay ; To fire, nor flood, nor tempest shock, Shall its foundations e'er give way ; But here shall stand for ever feist. Long as eternity shall last. 120 THE WORSHIP OF GOD. % tPDMlrip Ilf §A I was glad when they said vmio me, let us go into the house of the Lord. [0 up to Zion hill, With joy I heard them say, There to learn Jehovah's will, And keep the festal day : Israel's tribes in Salem meet, To worship at the mercy-seat. To view is Zion fair, The tribes go up with joy To praise the God of Jacob there. And harp and song employ : In Salem's courts — in Zion's gates. Praise for the Lord Jehovah waits. There is the judgment-seat Of David's ancient line. Where justice, truth, and mercy meet, And holiness divine ; And thither shall we now repair, To worship God with praise and prayer. THE WORSHIP OP GOD. 121 We pray for Salem's peace, In her may joy be found ; And may her beauty still increase, And holiness abound : Great blessings shall upon him be Who -wisheth her prosperity. I will, for Israel's sake, Wish well to Zion hill ; To God my vows I'll daily make, That He would bless her still ; For Salem shall ascend my prayer. Because the house of God is there. II. One thing hwee I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after ; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my Ufe. fLOVE the house of God- It is my chief dehght ; There would I make my fixed abode By day and night. I love the sound of prayer. And love the songs of praise ; Thither do I with joy repair My voice to raise. K 122 THE WOESHIP OP GOD. I love the blessed Word, It comforteth my soul ; I feel while leaning on the Lord My spirit whole. I love of Christ to hear — To hear the Gospel's sound ; For then salvation seemeth near — And safe my ground. I love to celebrate The Saviour's dying love, And see beyond the present state My home above. I love this day to meet The Saviour's little flock. Who through His grace have placed their feet Upon the Eock. I love the Sabbath-bell, That calls me to adore — To joys with which my soul would dwell For evermore. MISSIONS. 123 3fiissinttS. Oh ! send forth Thy light and Thy truth. fEATHEN nations, Lord, are dying, Thousands now resign their breath ; Loud to Thee Thy saints are crying — Save them from eternal death. Save the tribes in gloom abiding — Send to them the Gospel light ; Let Thy truth in them residing. Chase away the shades of night. Lo ! to idok dumb they're falling, And to gods of wood and stone ; Mercy they in vain are calling; Help, or helper they have none. Lord ! arise. Thy might revealing. Let them trust alone in Thee j From the heathen thousands sealing, Thus Thy chosen ones to be. 124 MISSIONS. II. The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. //FATHER ! let the beams of glory (VJ Shine on our benighted race ; Let all learn the Gospel story Of Thy boundless love and grace : For now we long that all below May yet the truth of Jesus know. Lo ! men have wandered far astray, And in sin and darkness live ; Oh ! lead them in the narrow way, And to all salvation give — Give light to every darkened soul. And every wayward heart control. Oh ! send that long-expected day, All the world Thy truth shall know ; When peace and righteousness shall sway Every heart that dwells below ; When all the earth at peace shall be, And men shall homage give to Thee. Soon may the heathen nations leave Idols dumb of wood and stone, And to the great Jehovali cleave — Serving Thee the Lord alone : MISSIONS. 125 Let now the beams of grace divine On this our world of darkness shine. ,Wliat dismal gloom the world is in, When Jehovah is unknown ; When men in darkness and in sin, Worship gods of wood and stone ; How far they've wandered on the road That leads astray from truth and God ! Lord, we again Thy grace implore, Send Thy light to every mind ; That all the world may Thee adore. And each soul salvation find : Oh ! let the Gospel tidings fly To all that dwell below the sky. 126 THE SABBATH. %ljt lalitatlr. And call the Sahhafh a delight. /ST* HE Sabbath-day returns — ^ilJ That day of rest and peace, Which God in mercy hath bestowed, When earthly labors cease. And to the sacred house His people now repair. To hear the blessed Word of grace. And hft their hearts in prayer. We meet before His throne Upon this hallowed day, With grateful hearts for mercies past, And further blessings pray. While in His presence now. We think upon that rest Which shall be ours, when we arise To mingle with the blest — THE SABBATH. 127 When earthly Sabbaths end, And all their joys are o'er, And we in glory shall appear, Our Sayiour to adore. When we at rest shall be Where sorrows cannot come, In our blest fetherland above — Our own eternal home. May all our Sabbaths here Our hearts and minds prepare, To enter on the blessed joys That wait our spirits there. And hasten. Lord, the time When we shall reach that place — When we shall in Thy courts appear. And see Thee face to face. 128 MOENINE HYMN. 3fiiirnmg ipn. Hw compassions fail not, they are new emery morning. /jfATHEE ! another day I see— qS\ Another rising sun ; May I devote this day to Thee, This day Thy -will be done. My sleep has been a peacefiil rest. Protected by Thy care ; I leaned upon Thy arm and breast. And trusted Thee in prayer. And now in health and strength I rise. My calling to pursue ; Lord ! may I have before my eyes Thy praise in all I do. Let my chief end in life be this — To teach to aU around The way to glory and to bliss, In the Eedeemer found. Thus may each day of life be past, TiU earthly things are o'er ; And I ascend to heaven at last, To glory evermore. EVENING HYMN. 129 iraing iptt. The angel of the Lard twrrieth round about iJiem that few Him, amd ddivereth them. f'OW sinks to rest the golden sun, In yonder radiant sky ; Again his giant race is run, And darkness draweth nigh, The time of sleep is near at hand, A stillness holds the air ; Before Thy throne, oh God ! I stand, To breathe my humble prayer. To render gratefiil thanks for all The blessings of the day ; And meekly at Thy footstool fall. For Thy defence to pray. Forgive the sins that I have done — Kemember them no more ; And grant me mercy through Thy Son, That I Thy name adore. 130 EVENING HYMN. I thank Thee Thy protecting arm Has been around my head, And safely shielded me from harm, And all the ills I dread. The evening shades invite to rest, And darkness reigns around ; Oh, may this night on Jesus' breast My sweet repose be found ! With joy I close my wearied eyes, My soul is in Thy care ; And should I in the morning rise, I wiU renew my prayer. But if it is Thy wise decree That I shall rise no more ; Then, Father, take my soul to Thee, To dwell for evermore. CRADLE SONG. 131 CraJtlj ^nitg. Of such is the kingdom of Qod. /ENTLY rest thy infant head, Angels are around thy bed ; They who serve the Lord alway, Are beside thee night and day. God help thee to live aright, FiU thy mind with heavenly light ; Make thee live a life of peace, And in every grace increase. Cihildren to the Lord are dear. When His name they love and fear ; Jesus loves the meek and mild, He was once a httle child. Early did rich graces shine In His infancy divine ; Be thou, then, my darling child, Like to Jesus, meek and mild. 132 CRADLE SONG. All the blessed things of heaven To His own the Lord hath given ; If thou, then, wouldst see His face, Thou must be a child of grace. Blessings great did He obtain By His life and dying pain ; 'Twas the guilt that stained thy birth Brought the Lord a child to earth. When thy earthly bonds shall cease, Mayst thou reach the port of peace ; When thy chequered life is o'er Live with Jesus evermore. Sleep, dear child ! and take thy rest ; If with riper years thou'rt blest, Grow in wisdom and in grace, Till thou see the Saviour's face. CONSCIENCE. 133 €mmmi. All things are naked wnd opened v/nto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. CHEEE is a voice that speaks within — A monitor that never sleeps, But tells us of our every sin, And constant vigilance it keeps. By day, by night its watchful eye Takes note of every action done ; Our inmost thoughts it loves to pry, And teUs us all we ought to shun. If to its voice men listen not. But will its counsels disregard, Eemorse and shame shall be their lot, And pain shall be their just reward. No place could find the murderer Cain Where consolation could be his ; He searched the world, but searched in vain — He never found the wished for peace. 134 CONSCIENCE. We will in vain our sins disguise, For sure it is, beyond a doubt. Whatever schemes we may devise. Our sins at length shall find us out. There's no retreat where'er we fly — No refuge can by us be found ; But conscience' sting is ever nigh, To inflict on us its dreadful wx)und. It may be silenced for a time — Its warning voice may seem but weak ; But yet where'er it seeth crime, It will at length in thunder speak. Oh mortals ! learn what God decrees. And be for ever on your guard ; For all iniC[uity He sees. And sin shall have its just reward. CONSCIENCE. 135 II. JBe sm-e yow sm shall find ycm out. C HERE'S a voice that speaks in the ocean's roar, And it speaks in the foaming spray ; I would that I heard its sound no more, For it troubles me night and day. I hear it in every passing breeze, And it sigheth in every gale ; j 1' It rustles aloft in the forest trees, "■O And it mutters throughout the vale. " It is not hushed in the evening calm, But I hear its wild accents stiU ; And my spirit in vain is seeking a balm. Though I wander the world at will, To the busy haunts of men I go, And I TmiY with the noisy crowd ; But it follows me stiU,with its wail of woe, And its miirmurings long and loud. Beasts of the field and fowls of the air aT Still re-echo the sound to me, And I feel I am doomed to dark despair, To no place of rest can I flee. 136 THE MAJESTY OP GOD. % 3fiajjBt^ iif #ni Of old hast Thou laid the fov/ndation of the earth ; amd the heweens are the work of Thy hands. They shall perish, iut Thou shalt end/u/re. fET all the world rejoice, The great Jehovah reigns ; The thunders are His awful voice. Our life His wiU ordains ; The glories of His name The Ughtnings, floods, and hail proclaim. He rules by sea and land, O'er boundless realms He sways ; He holds the oceans in His hand, And mighty mountains weighs : Unequalled, and alone. In majesty He fills His throne. This universe He made By His prevailing might ; The earth's foundations He hath laid. And scattered ancient night. When heaven, and earth, and sea Proclaimed His awful majesty. THE MAJESTY OP GOD. 137 When the bright orb of day First gleamed with ruddy light. And yonder moon, with silver ray, Marched up the vault of night ; And stars bedecked the skies, That seemed creation's thousand eyes ; And earth's fair form was seen, With flowers and blossoms dressed ; And trees, and fields, and meadows green Adorned her youthful bi^east, Hung out in boundless space Amid the ocean's cool embrace — Glad was the angel throng To see His might prevail. And loud they sung a joyful song. This universe to hail ; While yet in youth it stood, The Maker, too, pronounced it good. But this feiir world shall die — The creature of a day ; In ashes and in ruins lie. Its glory passed away : As when before her birth Again shall be this mighty earth. 138 THE MAJESTY OP GOD. Soon shall the day be o'er Of yonder brilliant sun, And he shall set to rise no more — His race of glory run ; And soon, alas ! aU soon Shall fade, the stars and yon pale moon. But, ever fixed, the throne Of the Eternal One Shall stand, when all creation's gone, Unequalled and alone. New worlds to make at will, And His own wise designs ftdfil. HEAVEN. 139 Mntm. Eye hath not seen, nor ea/r hea/rd, neither ha/ee entered into the heart of mem, the things which God hath •prepared for them thai, love Sim. CHERE is a land above — Its glories none can tell ; A blessed home of joy and love, Where saints and seraphs dwell ; And they who love the Lord below, To this all-glorious land shall go. It is a world of peace. Where passions rage no more ; Where saints from all their troubles cease. And all their griefe are o'er ; Where they who in the Lord believe Bright crowns of glory shall receive. What wonders shall they see In realms of endless day ! They kings and priests to Him shall be, Whom all the hosts obey ; Bright robes of glory they shall wear. And palms of victory shall bear. 14:0 HEAVEN. The Lamb shall be their Guide By meads and verdant shades — By streams where living waters glide, And beauty never fades ; Where sorrow, sin, nor death's dark gloom Can ever touch the glowing bloom. They'll see Him face to face, And with Him ever dwell ; And praise the wonders of His grace ' Beyond what tongue can tell : Eternal weight of glory theirs, A blest exchange for earthly cares ! Oh, help us. Lord ! while here, To know the ways of peace ; The Saviour's name to love and fear TiU time with us shall cease ; That we may join that glorious spng, And mingle with the ransomed throng. That we may walk in white. From sin and sorrow free ; And with the hosts in praise unite For evermore to Thee ; That when the toils of earth are o'er. Our souls may reach that blissful shore. JOT IN BELIEVING. 141 %^ in -iJliEmitg. 1. Things present, or tki/ngs to come; all are yows, c ye are Chrises. fESUS, how blest are they Who here enjoy Thy love ! And thus anticipate the day Of endless bliss above. The things of heaven are theirs — They taste of joys divine ; Who cast on Thee their griefs and cares, And on Thy breast recline. When sin and woe assail. By faith they fly to Thee ; And through Thy might their souls prevail- Their foes before them flee. Protection in Thy arm They never fail to find, And there are safe from every harm, Against their foes combined. 142 JOY IN BELIEVING. Affliction passeth o'er, When trusting in Thy grace ; And clouds of sorrow fly before The brightness of Thy fece. Their troubles oft they hail, To fit them for the skies ; And know when they o'er sin prevail. Triumphant they shall rise. Jesus, Thou sinners' Friend ! Extend Thy love to me ; That when life's pilgrimage shall end, My rest be found with Thee. This world I can despise, If I am only Thine ; And, through Thy grace, can lift my eyes To blessed joys divine. JOT IN BELIEVING. 143 II. Uvio Bm, thai loved iu, a/itd washed lis from ow sms Sis own Mood. I'Y heart is fiill of joy- When I the cross survey, On which Messiah shed His blood To wash my sins away ; Cahnly I can this world resign, For now celestial joys are mine. His love I will proclaim To all that live around ; The cross of Christ my theme shall be, Where I have mercy found ; I and the cross can never part, For now 'tis wedded to my heart. How can I e'er forget. That one so vile as I Should see the mercy of the Lord, And feel salvation nigh ; Such things for me the Lord hath wrought, I'm lost in wonder at the thought. m JOT IN BELIEVING. How gracious is His love ! How sweet to walk therein ! And see the light of truth dispel The dismal night of sin : Christ is our Sun, whose gladdening rays Shall guide us all our earthly days. He cheers the drooping soul — He comforteth the just ; How blest it is to feel Him near, And put in Him our trust ; He guides us safely through this vale, Whatever dangers may assail. He fills our souls with hope. That we shall yet arise To dwell with Him in realms of bliss — In mansions of the skies ; There through eternity to raise The sacrifice of endless praise. THE CHRISTIAN COURSE. 145 %^ Cllristktt torn. I. Now my days are swifter^ thwn a post: they flee a/may; they see no good. § , UR life is like a flowing stream, That quickly passes on ; A fastly fading morning dream, That in an hour is gone. It hastens with an eagle's flight. That darteth to its prey ; Or as a gleam of evening hght. That fleetly fades away. And yet we pass our Uves below Unmindful of the thought. That our eternal weal or woe In this frail scene is wrought. As falls the tree so must it He, For such is heaven's decree ; So men shall be as when they die, Whate'er that state may be. M 146 THE CHRISTIAN COURSE. Apace then let us hasten on, Our earthly race to run ; That when the fleeting days are gone, Our work below be done : That when we leave our clay abode. We may to glory rise ; And meet our Saviour and our God In mansions of the skies. 11. Thwe remaimeth, tlierefore, a rest to the people of Qod. qw\ ELIEVERS go from place to place, /mi With cares and griefs oppressed ; But when they've run their earthly race. They'll find a glorious rest. When from the things of time they cease, God brings them to the port of peace ; The seed is sown with hopes and fears, But soon the precious fruit appears. How happy when our race is o'er — Our journey at an end ; Our spirits, bound to earth no more. To glory shall ascend ! THE CHRISTIAN COUESE. 147 The soul with God shines brighter far Than yonder brilliant morning star ; Our toils and troubles there shall cease, Our bodies rest in bHssfiil peace. We know our hope is not in vain ; But, great beyond compare. Our pilgrim garments shall remain , Preserved with holy care. How sweet, indeed, shall be our rest On Jesus' arm — on Jesus' breast : 'Tis love that leads us such a road — 'Tis love that brings us up to God. III. / wm, a strwnger in, the ea/rth. cy/ HAVE no resting place on earth, (^ I seek a home on high ; I seek the country of my birth — The mansions of the sky. Now all my treasure there is seen, And all my thoughts are there ; Where I shall walk 'mong pastures green. Beneath the Shepherd's care. 148 THE CHRISTIAN COTJKSB. What tongue can tell the glorious things Around my Father's throne, Where everlasting pleasure springs, And sorrow is unknown ! Oh ! why should earthly thoughts employ My heart with toils and cares. When there such wondrous bliss and joy The Lord for me prepares ? Oh ! hasten. Lord, the time when I Shall leave this scene of woe ; And to the mansions of the sky Be summoned hence to go. IV. The Qod of Jacob it our refuge, C^|^4'HEN hours of sorrow us assail, vHov And our poor strength can not avail ; How sweet to nest, oh King of kings, Beneath the shadow of Thy wings ! Safe are we then from every harm. Protected by the Almighty arm ; Though cares and griefs the night employ. The morning comes again with joy. THE CHRISTIAN COUESE. 149 In sickness and in death Thou art The joy of the believing heart ; Thy hand is nigh to give rehef To us in every hour of grief. Thy people are Thy constant care, Thine ear is open to their prayer ; Thou art where'er our feet can tread — About our path and by our bed. Oh Father ! guide us in this vale, For many foes our souls assail ; And when our wanderings here shall cease. Then bring us to the fold in peace. V. Biit we glory in tribulations tdso. { LADLY will I bear the cross, Pain and sorrow — ^welcome guests ! Earthly things I count but loss, For my soul on Jesus rests. In the end I shall receive Blessedness beyond compare ; We, who in the Lord believe, Shall eternal glory share. 150 THE CHRISTIAN COURSE. Christ did deign for us to die, And to bear reproach and shame ; Then ascended up on high — Thus we conquer in His name ! Ye who hve a life of faith, Eaise to Him your songs of praise ; E'en in martyrdom and death. Loud to Him Hosannas raise. Stripes and bonds we do not fear — God shall pity helpless ones ; Thus while in our journey here, Dangers are to ua as thrones ! DEATH. 151 I. Mitten wir im, Lcben imd, Von dem, Tod umfamgen. (^SA/TIAJY is our life? a fleeting breath, VHAtV In midst whereof we are in death : Oh ! where on earth shall help be found — And where to us doth grace abound ? Oh Father ! whither shall we fly, To whom shall we for mercy cry 1 We have pursued the sinner's path. Till our misdeeds have waked Thy wrath ; A holy, holy God art Thou — Lord, in repentance here we bow. Oh Jesus ! let Thy pitying eye Look now upon our misery ; And when we here resign our breath, Oh ! save us from eternal death. Have mercy on us. Lord. When the dark shades of death are near, j And the dread jaws of hell appear, Where shall we find the mighty power To save us in that awful hour ? 132 DBiATB. Oh Father ! whither shall we fly, To whom shall we for mercy cry 1 With Thee alone shall help be found, When the dark shades of death surround. A holy, holy God art Thou — Lord, in repentance here we bow. Oh Jesus ! let Thy pitying eye Look down upon our misery ; Nor suffer Thou our souls to dwell In the dread burning gulph of hell. Have mercy on us. Lord. When sorrow aims its piercing dart. And pangs of suffering rend the heart ; Where then escape we from the pain, That we in safety may remain ? Oh Jesus ! whither shall we fly, To whom shall we for mercy cry ? For us, for us. Thy blood was spilt — 'Tis it shall cancel all our guUt. A holy, holy God art Thou — Lord, in repentance here we bow. Oh Jesus ! let Thy pitying eye Look down upon our misery : Lord, may we never turn aside, But in the way of faith abide. Have mercy on us, Lord. DEATH. 153 IT. Mit Fried! imd Frevd' ich fahr dahm. ' LADLY from earth and time I cease, So hath my Father willed ; My spirit goes to Him in peace — My calling here fulfilled : Because of death we may not weep, For death is but a pleasing sleep. This is the triumph Jesus made, For this He came to die ; That Christians may not be afraid When death is drawing nigh ; That He to them might be the life. And save them in the final strife. Oh God ! Thou hast of aU foretold— Nor is the promise vain — That all the world shall yet behold The Saviour's earthly reign ; That every land the Lord shall know. And faith in every bosom glow. Arise, oh God ! display Thy might, The Gospel chariot roll ; Dispel the gloom of Pagan night, And cheer the drooping soul. Thou mighty God of Jacob, come, And bring Thy wandering children home. 154 DEATH. III. Tlumgh I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fewr no evil; for Thou aH with me. m (^[C^^yHEN the storms of life are o'er, And its billows rage no more, We shall be said to die ; But the grave shall be a bed Where to rest the wearied head — A pathway to the sky. When the shades of death surround, Fear with us shall not be found. Our life shall then begin ; Leave we then this vale of woe. Bid fiirewell to all below. To sorrow and to sin. With the evil and the just, " Earth to earth and dust to dust " — Say friends, with weeping eyes ; But, though in the dark grave laid. We wiU be immortal made. And shall to glory rise. DEATH. 155 IV. / ha/ee fought a good fight, I have fimidied my cov/rse, I have kept the faith. /jfAREWELL ! fond friends, that weeping stand (Jj Around my dreary dying bed ; I journey to the better land, I long to rest my wearied head ; The work my Father gave is done. My warfare's o'er — my race is run. Why should I longer wish to stay Here in this dreary vale below, Where fiiirest blossoms soon decay. And joy is quickly changed to woe — Where the fond dream of early years In fleeting visions disappears ? Weep not, fond friends, that I depart. Nor be with further cares distressed ; For glory cheers my drooping heart, I see, beyond, the glorious rest : On Pisgah's mountain top I stand. And gaze upon the promised land. 156 DEATH. I see the beams of endless day, All radiant in yon world afar ; I long — I long to fly away, ' And be where saints and seraphs are ; To join the everlasting song, And mingle with yon ransomed throng. I see the glorious spirit-land. Of which enraptured bards have sung ; Where angels robed in glory stand, And praise ascends from every tongue : Beyond the grave my visions rise. And gaze on glories in the skies. Farewell ! and glory be to God, I see the realms of endless light ; Though dark and dismal be the road. Bright visions burst upon my sight ; On angels' wings I fly away, And mingle with the blaze of day ! DEATH. 157 T. All the days of my aippointed time will I wait, till cTio/nge come. //fATHER, it is Thy wiU divine, (^ That I to Thee my life resign ; Gladly I leave my griefs and sins, For now a better life begins. v My time on earth is nearly past, But now I gain my home at last ; My toils and troubles soon shall cease, And I shall reach the port of peace. Though dark this vale I fear no harm, For I am sheltered by Thy arm ; I feel that Thou art ^jresent now, And to Thy will I meekly bow. Jesus, my trust is placed in Thee — Thou Friend of sinners pity me ; Soon shall this feeble body die. And shall in dust and ashes lie. But grant my soul in heaven a place, That I may see Thee fece to face ; And there my heart and voice may raise To Thee in songs of endless praise. TS 158 DEATH. VI. The hewers of the hoime shall trmbk, amd those that l^h