F ^ \s^ FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY \ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/spiritualOOdarb SPIRITUAL SONGS. <0$i OF PR/% FEB 17 1933 r SPIRITUAL SONGS. J. N. DARBY. •" Lord ! let me wait for Thee alone : My life be only this — To serve Thee here on earth unknown Then share Thy heavenly bliss. " Pas-t 6. SECOND EDITION, REVISED. LONDON: JAMES CARTER, 13, PATERNOSTER ROW. ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL. 1893. CONTENTS PREFACE INDEX TO TITLES OF HYMNS INDEX OF FIRST LINES . SPIRITUAL SONGS . NOTES PACE vii 8 9 PREFACE. n^HE early Hymns in this Collection, with the exception of the first one, are ahead)" well known. The later Hymns, from pp. 45 to 76, were bequeathed by Mr. Darby, and would have been brought out by themselves, but that the wish was expressed, that those already made public, with any others that might be obtained, should be printed with them. Hence the Hymns in their present form. No absolute or undeviating rule has been fol- lowed in determining the text, which varies con- siderably, both in the manuscripts, and in the different printed issues. It may be stated generally, that, unless some after-departure has special claims, preference has been given to the form as originally completed. The original manuscripts have only- slight indications of punctuation. That which seems to give the best reading has therefore been adopted. Some of the titles have appeared else- where : a few only are found in the original manu- vi ii PREFACE. scripts. These are noted as "Author's Titles." The remaining titles are added for completeness. The first Hymn, and the last four (two of which were finished, the other two being fragments), were found among Mr. Darby's papers, after his depar- ture. One of these fragments is most interesting, as an example of his sympathy with children, which was such a sweet trait in his character. The first Hymn was quite unknown till thus found. Now, however, that the Lord's faithful servant is no longer with us, there is no further reason for its being withheld. This Collection w r ill afford rich enjoyment and blessing to every spiritual mind ; but the Hymns being the free utterance of what the heart learned with God, are without that careful finish that would have been given to mere composition. This, however, increases their reality, and, hence, their attractiveness, for all who will appreciate their intrinsic excellence. On giving the MS. book of his later Hymns to the Editor, the Author said, " There is one thing in all those : they are real. They are not composed ; perhaps one." Hymns such as these will only be profitably read when, in communion of spirit, careful perusal and meditation are bestowed. PREFACE. IX It was remarked in a letter, "It is sweet, now to think of the beloved servant at rest ! How often, in his Hymns, that word ' Rest ' occurs ! " This is true. But though he earnestly desired this rest,* and could truly write of his " arduous and varied life and labour," f yet he never wearied of the Lord's service. Thus he wrote — " Though thy way be long and dreary, Eagle strength He '11 still renew : Garments fresh zxx&foot unwearyt Tell how God hath brought thee through." Thus, also, he wrote, on Feb. 21, 1882, just before coming to Bournemouth, during his last illness, " I am (through mercy) better : at my age shall never be well, till all sickness is over : but through mercy work half the day." He had then entered his 82nd year. It was not rest only that he longed for, but the " Rest of God ; " and to this his Hymns frequently refer. In this life of labour, it was the whole Church of God which he desired to serve and feed ; nor will its obligation for this service be known until * e.g. p. 6, second and two following stanzas, t " The Collected Writings of J. N. Darby." London : G. Morrish, 20, Paternoster Square. Vol. vi. p. 5. % See Note, p. 14. PRE FACE. the Day declares it. Christ, in supremacy in his soul — and thus, Christ's interests in all that which related to him — formed, as we know, his heart, and directed all he did. Hence, as his peaceful call approached, he could say, "Christ has been the only object of my life. It has been Christ to me to live." During his last illness, he often referred to the need of the affections being in exercise. On one occasion, within a few weeks of his departure, which took place on April 29, 1882, he remarked as follows: "It is not the mind, but the conscience, which is the link between us and God. Yes : and when that is in a proper condition, it makes way for the affections. When we own the authority of God, then the affections can come into play." The Lord give us the consciousness of this, that thus His joy may be in us, and our joy be full. May God, to this end, graciously use these beautiful Hymns, to deepen abundantly in us those divine affections towards Christ, the forma- tion and fostering of which in the saints was always the aim of the beloved Author's ministry. Sundridge House, Bournemouth, October, 1883. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. TN issuing a Second Edition, the opportunity has been taken to revise the punctuation. The Preface to the First Edition is reprinted, with some alterations in form, and some slight additions. It will be seen that the Editor has introduced a few extracts from Mr. Darby's writings, explanatory of expressions, or illustrative of the text. He will be grateful for any reference to Mr. Darby's writings of a similar character. Grateful acknowledgments are here made of indebtedness for the assistance of kind friends, in this, as well as in the previous Edition. May, 1893. INDEX TO TITLES OF HYMNS • The Call .... PAGE I The Endless Song 8 God in the Wilderness 12 The Saints' Rest is Unchanging Love 19 A Song for the Wilderness 21 Patience of Hope 23 The Upward Way 27 Home ..... 3° The Man of Sorrows • 33 The Tree of Life • 44 The Hope of Day 48 Sons ..... 5i Echo of Songs in the Night • 54 INDEX TO TITLES OF HYMNS. Xlll PAGE Rest . 57 Fulness of Joy 60 The Father's Love . 64 The Father's Grace . 66 Waiting for the Glory 70 Love Divine . 72 Hope . 74 Unfoldings 76 Love Displayed 79 The Soul's Desire . 81 A Child's Enquiry . 84 The Road 86 Expectation . 88 INDEX OF FIRST LINES. PAGE And is it so ? I shall be like Thy Son ! • 49 And shall we see Thy face ! • 74 Blest Father ! infinite in grace — . 64 Father ! in Thine eternal power — . 66 Father ! Thy Name our souls would ble ss, . 52 Father ! Thy sovereign love has sought • 72 I'm waiting for Thee, Lord; . 81 I'm waiting for the glory: • 70 It is not with uncertain step . 86 Jesus ! canst thou receive . 84 Lord Jesus ! Source of every grace, . 88 ever homeless Stranger, • 33 Oh ! bright and blessed hope ; . 60 Oh ! bright and blessed scenes, • 3° Oh ! the joy of the salvation . 8 Jesus, precious Saviour, • 2 3 INDEX OF FIRST LINES. XV O Lord ! Thy g.ory we behold, O Lord, Thy love 's unbounded ! Rest of the saints above, Rise, my soul ! Thy God directs thee j . Sing ! without ceasing sing Soon we taste the endless sweetness There is rest for the weary soul — This world is a wilderness wide : To live of Thee — blest Source of deepest joy We ; 11 praise Thee, glorious Lord ! What powerful, mighty Voice, so near, . PAGE 76 19 15 12 27 44 53 21 '■ 55 79 1 "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. "—John xv. 16. SPIRITUAL SONGS. THE CALL. [1832.] ^^HAT powerful, mighty Voice, so near, Calls me from earth apart — Reaches with tones so still, so clear, From th' unseen world my heart ? 'T is solemn : yet it draws with power And sweetness yet unknown : It speaks the language of an hour 1 When earth 's for ever gone. THE CALL. It soothes, yet solemnizes all ! What yet of nature is Lies silent, through the heavenly call ; No earthly voice like this. 'T is His. Yes, yes ; no other sound Could move my heart like this : The Voice of Him that, earlier, bound Through grace that heart to His, — In other accents now, 'tis true, Than once my spirit woke To life and peace, through which it grew Under His gracious yoke. Blest Lord,Thou speak'st! 'Twas erst Thy Voice That led my heart to Thee — That drew me to that better choice Where grace has set me free ! Then would'st Thou that I should rejoice, And walk by faith below — Enough, that I had heard Thy Voice, And learnt Thy love's deep woe, THE CALL. Thy glory, Lord. — This living waste Thenceforth no rest could give : My path was on with earnest haste, Lord, in Thy rest to live. Yes ! then 't was faith, — Thy Word : but now Thyself* my soul draw'st nigh — My soul with nearer thoughts to bow Of brighter worlds on high. And oh ! how all that eye can see To others, now, belongs ! The eternal home's so nigh to me — My soul's eternal songs. For Thou art near : Thou call'st me now In love I long have known, While waiting on Thy will below ; — Till Thou my hopes should'st crown. * " It is a person whom we know, and not merely a doctrine." ("Synopsis of the Books of the Bible by J. N. Darby." London : G. Morrish, 20, Paternoster Square, 3rd ed., revised, vol. iii. p. 20.) THE CALL. And Thou would'st have me soon with Thee Thou Lord my portion art : Thou hast revealed Thyself to me — Thy Nature to my heart ! My happiness, O Lord, with Thee Is long laid up in store, For that bless'd day when Thee I'd see, And conflict all be o'er. Yes ! love Divine in Thee I know ; The Father's glories soon Shall burst upon my ravished view — Thyself my eternal crown ! Thou mak'st me brighter hopes to prove, Because Thou nearer art ; With secrets of eternal love Thou fill'st my longing heart. How shall I leave Thee, Lord ? This joy Is from Thyself: it is My brightest hope without alloy, My pure, eternal bliss. THE CALL. With Thee, O Lord, I all things have, — Unclouded joy divine In Thee, who first these " all things " gave For ever to be mine. Yet I will wait, in labour still In Thy blest service here : What Thou hast given me to fulfil — Thy will — to me is dear ! * I well can wait ! Thou waitest yet The word of that dread hour, Which shall Thy foes for ever set As footstool of Thy power. Yet, Lord ! were once Thy will fulfilled, How better far with Thee, With Thee, my joy, my strength, my shield, In cloudless light to be. * " Yes, I rejoice in this light ; I love to obey it. It is my meat to do the will of Him I serve ; and I am glad to know it, because it is His — glad He has deigned to com- municate it to me — glad to have it perfect as He gives it." ("Coll. Writings," vol. vi., p. 104.) THE CALL. O endless joy ! how shall my heart Thy riches all unfold : Or tell the grace that gave me part, In bliss no tongue hath told. Lord ! let me wait, for Thee alone : My life be only this — To serve Thee, here on earth unknown ;* Then share Thy heavenly bliss. * * * * * Lord, be it soon ! Thou know'st our heart, In this sad world, no rest Can find nor wish, but where Thou art : That rest itself possessed ! Soon shall we see Thee as Thou art : O hope for ever blessed ! Thou'lt call us, in our heavenly part — The Father's house — to rest. * The Church, . . a lowly heavenly body, . . has no portion on earth at all, as it was at the beginning — suffering as its Head did, unknown and well known — an unearthly witness of heavenly things on earth. ("Coll. Writings," vol. xviii., pp. 238, 239.) THE CALL. O rest ! ineffable, divine, The Rest of God above : Where Thou for ever shalt be mine ; My joy, eternal love ! His counsels, all, fulfilled in Thee ; His work of love, complete : — And heavenly hosts shall rest, to see Earth blest beneath Thy feet ! THE ExNDLESS SONG. •o> /^H ! the joy of the salvation We possess around the throne ! Countless thoughts of admiration, Mingling, leave that joy but one. Hark ! Ten thousand voices, crying " Lamb of God !" with one accord : Thousand thousand saints replying — Bursts, at once, the echoing chord ! Long, with free and glad devotion, Universal praise prevails, Till, blest fruit of deep emotion, Voice by voice in silence fails. THE ENDLESS SONG. Now, in wondrous adoration Dwelling on His matchless love, Swayed with power of that salvation — Silence fills the courts above. Then, their richest thoughts unfolding, Each to each, with joy divine Heavenly converse blissful holding, Tells how bright His glories shine. Some on God's high glories dwelling, Brightly beaming in His face ; Some His first-born greatness telling — Ordering all things in their place : These — of Godhead's counsels deep Him th' Accomplisher proclaim ; These — how Jesus' self could weep, — Of Godhead's love the witness came ! * All, on love surpassing rest, That clothed in flesh the great I AM ; * See note to Stanza i, line 2, p. 59. — Ed. THE ENDLESS SONG. Till, from one heart,* divinely prest, Bursts forth at length the loud exclaim, " Praise the Lamb !" At once awaking The gathered hosts their voices throng ; Loud and wide — each tongue partaking — Rolls renewed the endless song ! Grateful incense this, ascending, Rises to the Father's throne ; Every knee to Christ is bending, All the mind in heaven is one ; All the Father's counsels claiming Equal honours to the Son ; All the Son's effulgence beaming — Glory of His Father's throne. * "One heart." Compare "With one harmonious voice," p. 62, st. 5, 1. 3. Mr. Darby, speaking of the Acts, writes, " We find a work of the same character in the description given in chap, ii., there was but one heart." ("Coll. Writings," vol. xxv., p. 501.) "Worship is the employment of heaven rendered in copimon.' 1 (" Coll. Writings," vol. vii. p. 134.) See "one heart," Acts iv. 32. — Ed. THE ENDLESS SONG. II By the Spirit, all-pervading, Radiant hosts, unnumber'd round, Breathing glory never-fading Echo back the blissful sound ! Joyful now the wide creation Rests in undisturbed repose ; Blest in Jesus' full salvation, Sorrow, now, nor thraldom knows ! Rich the streams of bounty flowing — Common blessings from above, Life and holy joy, bestowing — Tell of God's unwearied love, Hark ! the heavenly notes again ! Loudly swells the air-borne praise : Throughout creation's vault, "Amen !" "Amen !" responsive joy doth raise. 12 GOD IN THE WILDERNESS.* 1837- "D ISE, my soul ! Thy God directs thee ; Stranger hands no more impede : Pass thou on ; His hand protects thee — Strength that has the captive freed. Is the wilderness before thee — Desert lands, where drought abides ? Heavenly springs shall there restore thee Fresh from God's exhaustless tides. Light Divine surrounds thy going ; God Himself shall mark thy way : Secret blessings, richly flowing, Lead to everlasting day. * See note, pp. 93, 94. — Ed. GOD IN THE WILDERNESS. God, thine everlasting portion, Feeds thee with the mighty's meat ; — Price of Egypt's hard extortion, Egypt's food, no more to eat ! Art thou wean'd from Egypt's pleasures ? God in secret thee shall keep : There unfold His hidden treasures, There His love's exhaustless deep. In the desert, God will teach thee What the God that thou hast found ; Patient, gracious, powerful, holy — All His grace shall there abound ! On to Canaan's rest still wending, E'en thy wants and woes shall bring Suited grace from high descending ; — Thou shalt taste of mercy's spring. Though thy way be long and dreary, Eagle strength He'll still renew : 14 GOD IN THE WILDERNESS. Garments fresh and foot unweary * Tell how God hath brought thee through ! When to Canaan's long-loved dwelling Love Divine thy foot shall bring, There, with shouts of triumph swelling, Zion's songs, in rest, to sing, There, no stranger-God shall meet thee ! Stranger thou in courts above : He, who to His rest shall greet thee, Greets thee with a well-known love. * " We should be in the spirit of waiting pilgrims, not weary ones." ("Coll. Writings," vol. xxv. p. 168.) i5 THE SAINTS' REST. 1845. ~D EST of the saints above, Jerusalem of God ! Who, in thy palaces of love, Thy golden streets have trod To me thy joy to tell ? Those courts secure from ill, Where God Himself vouchsafes to dwell, And every bosom fill ! Who shall to me that joy Of saint-thronged courts declare — Tell of that constant, sweet employ, My spirit longs to share ? THE SAINTS' REST. That rest, secure from ill, No cloud of grief e'er stains ; Unfailing praise each heart doth fill, And love eternal reigns. The Lamb is there, my soul ! There God Himself doth rest In love Divine — diffused through all With Him supremely blest. God and the Lamb ! 'T is well I know that source Divine Of joy and love, no tongue can tell — Yet know that all is mine. And see ! The Spirit's power Has oped the heavenly door, Has brought me to that favoured hour When toil shall all be o'er. There on the hidden Bread Of Christ once humbled here, God's treasured store, for ever fed, — His love my soul shall cheer. THE SAINTS' REST. IJ Called by that secret name Of undisclosed delight (Blest answer to reproach and shame) Graved on the stone of white, There in effulgence bright, Saviour and Guide, with Thee I'll walk, and in Thy heavenly light Whiter my robe shall be ! There, in th' unsullied way Which His Own hand hath dressed My feet press on, where brightest day Shines forth on all the rest.* But who that glorious blaze Of living light shall tell- Where all His brightness God displays, And the Lamb's glories dwell ? * That is, on the whole realm of the Saints' rest. — Ed. 3 1 8 THE SAINTS' REST. There, only, to adore My soul its strength may find — Its life, its joy for evermore, By sight nor sense defined. God and the Lamb shall there The light and temple be ; And radiant hosts, for ever, share The unveiled mystery ! 19 UNCHANGING LOVE. 1845. (~\ LORD, Thy love 's unbounded ! So sweet, so full, so free : My soul is all transported, Whene'er I think of Thee. Yet Lord, alas ! what weakness Within myself I find ; No infant's changing pleasure Is like my wandering mind. And yet, Thy love's unchanging, And doth recall my heart To joy, in all its brightness — The peace its beams impart ! 20 UNCHANGING LOVE. Yet sure, if in Thy Presence My soul still constant were, Mine eye would, more familiar, Its brighter glories bear : And thus, Thy deep perfections Much better should I know, And, with adoring fervour, In this Thy nature grow. Still, sweet 't is to discover, If clouds have dimmed my sight, When passed, Eternal Lover, Towards me, as e'er, Thou 'rt bright. Oh guard my soul, then, Jesus, Abiding still with Thee ; And if I wander, teach me Soon back to Thee to flee ; That all Thy gracious favour May to my soul be known, And, versed in this Thy goodness, My hopes Thyself shalt crown ! A SONG FOR THE WILDERNESS.* 1849. r ~PHIS world is a wilderness wide: I have nothing to seek or to choose — I've no thought in the waste to abide — I've nought to regret nor to lose. The Lord is Himself gone before ; He has marked out the path that I tread : It 's as sure as the love I adore ; I have nothing to fear nor to dread. There is but that one, in the waste, Which His footsteps have marked as His And I follow, in diligent haste, [own ; To the seats where He's put on His crown. * Author's Title. See note, pp. 93, 94. — Ed. 22 A SONG FOR THE WILDERNESS. For the path where my Saviour is gone, Has led up to His Father and God — To the place where He 's now on the throne : And His strength shall be mine on the road. And with Him shall my rest be on high, When, in holiness bright, I sit down, In the joy of His love, ever nigh — In the peace that His Presence shall crown. 'T is the treasure I've found in His love That has made me a pilgrim below ; And 't is there, when I reach Him above, As I'm known, all His fulness I'll know. And, Saviour ! 't is Thee, from on high, I await, till the time Thou shalt come To take him Thou hast led by Thine eye To Thyself, in Thy heavenly home. Till then, 't is the path Thou hast trod My delight and my comfort shall be : I'm content with Thy staff and Thy rod, Till, with Thee, all Thy glory I see. 23 PATIENCE OF HOPE. 1856. f\ JESUS, precious Saviour, Oh ! when wilt Thou return ? Our hearts, with woe familiar, To Thee, our Master, turn. Our woe is Thine, Lord Jesus ! Our joy is in Thy love : But woe and joy all lead us To Thee, in heaven above. We ponder the long story Of this world's mournful ways; We think on holy glory, With Thee, through endless days. 24 PATIENCE OF HOPE. We see God's gracious order All spoiled by man below — See all around disorder,* Meek hearts beset with woe. Where'er we ope the pages, In which — Thy wondrous word ! Man's path through varied ages Is given us to record, — Of failure, ruin, sorrow, The story still we find : God's love but brings the morrow Of evil in mankind. * "He sees around him a confusion, a disorder, in the condition of those set as masters over the lower part of this creation, which tells a tale of their moral position before God, which no wit of his can solve ; . . . . which shews some mighty moral relationship in disorder, proving by its very greatness that it must refer to God, and hence that it is only His coming into it which can give the key to all, or set it right in fact." ("Coll. Writings," vol. vi. pp. 46, 47.) PATIENCE OF HOPE. 25 To Thee we look, Lord Jesus, To Thee, whose love we know ; We wait the power that frees us From bondage, sin, and woe. We look for Thine appearing — Thy Presence here to bless ; We greet the day that 's nearing, When all this woe shall cease. But oh, for us, blest Saviour, How brighter far the lot, With Thee to be for ever, Where evil enters not ! To see Thee, who'st so loved us, Then face to face above, Whose grace at first had moved us To taste, and know, Thy love ! With Thee, O Lord, for ever, Our souls shall be content ; Nor act, nor thought, shall ever Full joy with Thee prevent. 26 PATIENCE OF HOPE. Thy Father's perfect favour Our dwelling-place shall be ; And all His glory, ever, Shine forth on us and Thee. Oh, come then soon, Lord Jesus ; In patience still we wait (Await the power that frees us) Our longed-for heavenly seat ! 27 THE UPWARD WAY. 1856. C IXG ! without ceasing sing The Saviour's present grace ; How all things shine In light Divine, For those who've seen His face ! He's gone within the veil, For us that place He 's won ; In Him we stand, A heavenly band, Where He Himself is gone. 28 THE UPWARD WAY. There all's unsullied light ; My heart lets in its rays : And heavenly light Makes all things bright, Seen in that blissful gaze ! Such, here on earth, I am, Though I in weakness roam ; My place on high, God's Self, so nigh ; His Presence is my home. My heart is filled with bliss — Heaven's own eternal joys : My soul at rest — Of peace possessed — That world its strength employs. Thus, in divine delight Of love so richly known, God's works below With beauty glow ; His hand, His grace, I own : THE UPWARD WAY. 29 And stayed by joy divine, As hireling fills his day,* Through scenes of strife, And desert life, I tread in peace my way. That way is upward still — Where life and glory are ; My rest 's above : In perfect love The glory I shall share: — For ever with the Lord, For ever like Him then, — And see His face In that blest place, My Father's house in heaven ! * " All is a vain show around us ; but that which is inside abides. When the heart gets hold of this fact, it becomes like one taken into the house to work for the day ; performs the duties well, but passes through, instead of living in the circumstances. . . . The Lord keep us going on in simplicity, fulfilling as a hireling our day, till Christ shall come, and then shall every man have praise of God." Aug. 7, 1863. At the Priory tea meeting, before leaving for America. (Fryer, 7, Byron Place, Bristol.) 30 HOME.* 1867. (^)H ! bright and blessed scenes, Where sin shall never come : Whose sight my longing spirit weans From earth, where yet I roam. And can I call my home, My Father's house on high ? The Rest of God, my rest to come, My place of liberty ? Yes ! In that light unstained, My stainless soul shall live ; My heart's deep longings more than gained, When God His rest shall give ! * Author's Title.— Ed. HOME. 31 His Presence there — my soul Its rest, its joy untold, Shall find : — when endless ages roll, And time shall ne'er grow old. My God the centre is : His Presence fills that land ; And countless myriads — own'd as His- Round Him adoring stand. My God, whom I have known — Well known in Jesus' love, Rests in the blessing of His own Before Himself above. Glory supreme is there — Glory that shines through all ; More precious still that love to share As those that love did call ! Like Jesus, in that place Of light and love supreme, — Once Man of sorrows, full of grace ; Heaven's blest and endless theme I 32 HOME. Like Him ! O grace supreme ! Like Him before Thy face ! Like Him — to know that glory beam Unhindered, face to face ! O love, supreme and bright, Good to the feeblest heart, — That gives me now, as heavenly light, What soon shall be my part ! Be not to me, my God, As one that turned aside To tarry for the night, and trod His onward path. Abide With me, as light Divine That brings into my breast Those gladdening scenes e'en now, as mine, Soon my eternal rest. 33 THE MAN OF SORROWS. o 1867. EVER homeless Stranger, Thus, dearest Friend to me ; An outcast in a manger, That Thou might'st with us be ! How rightly rose the praises Of heaven that wondrous night — When shepherds hid their faces In brightest angel-light ! More just those acclamations, Than when the glorious band Chanted earth's deep foundations, — Just laid by God's right hand. 34 THE MAN OF SORROWS. Come now, and view that manger — The Lord of Glory see, A houseless, homeless Stranger, In this poor world, for thee — " To God, in the highest, glory, And peace on earth" to find ; And learn that wondrous story, " Good pleasure in mankind." *How blessed those heavenly spirits, Who joy increasing find, That spite of our demerits God's pleasure 's in mankind ; *And chant the highest glory Of Him they praise above, In telling out the story, Of God come down in love ! * The insertion of these two verses was left doubtful in the original manuscript. — Ed. THE MAN OF SORROWS. 35 Oh, strange, yet fit beginning Of all that life of woe, In which Thy grace was winning Poor man his God to know ! Bless'd Babe ! who lowly liest In manger-cradle there ; Descended from the highest, Our sorrows all to share : Oh, suited now in nature For Love's Divinest ways, To make the fallen creature The vessel of Thy praise ! O Love ! all thought surpassing ! That Thou should'st with us be : Nor yet, in triumph passing ; But human infancy ! We cling to Thee in weakness — The manger and the cross ; We gaze upon Thy meekness, Through suffering, pain, and loss ; 36 THE MAN OF SORROWS. There see the Godhead glory Shine through that human veil And, willing, hear the story Of Love that 's come to heal ! My soul in secret follows The footsteps of His love ; I trace the Man of sorrows, His boundless grace to prove. A child in growth and stature, Yet full of wisdom rare : Sonship, in conscious nature, His words and ways declare. Yet still, in meek submission, His patient path He trod, To wait His heavenly mission, Unknown to all but God. But who, Thy path of service, Thy steps removed from ill, Thy patient love to serve us, With human tongue can tell ? THE MAN OF SORROWS. 37 Midst sin, and all corruption, Where hatred did abound, Thy path of true perfection Was Light on all around. In scorn, neglect, reviling, Thy patient grace stood fast ; Man's malice unavailing To move Thy heart to haste. O'er all, Thy perfect goodness Rose blessedly Divine ; Poor hearts oppressed with sadness, Found ever rest in Thine ! The strong man in his armour Thou mettest in Thy grace ; Did'st spoil the mighty charmer Of our unhappy race. The chains of man, his victim, Were loosened by Thy hand, No evils that afflict him Before Thy power could stand. 33 THE MAN OF SORROWS. Disease, and death, and demon, All fled before Thy word — As darkness, the dominion Of day's returning lord ! The love, that bore our burden On the accursed tree, Would give the heart its pardon, And set the sinner free ! Love, that made Thee a mourner In this sad world of woe, Made wretched man a scorner Of grace — that brought Thee low ; Still, in Thee, love's sweet savour Shone forth in every deed; And showed God's loving favour To every soul in need. * * * * * I pause: — for, in Thy vision, The day is hastening now, THE MAN OF SORROWS. 39 When, for our lost condition, Thy holy head shall bow ; When, deep to deep still calling, The waters reach Thy soul, And — death and wrath appalling — Their waves shall o'er Thee roll. O day of mightiest sorrow, Day of unfathomed grief; When Thou should'st taste the horror Of wrath, without relief:* O day of man's dishonour ! When, for Thy love supreme, * " For Him, death was death. Man's utter weakness, Satan's extreme power, and God's just vengeance, — and alone, without one sympathy, forsaken of those whom He had cherished, — the rest, his enemies, — Messiah delivered to Gentiles and cast down, the judge washing his hands of condemning innocence, the priests interceding against the guiltless instead of for the guilty — all dark, without one ray of light even from God. ("Coll. Writings," vol. vii. p. 258.) 40 THE MAN OF SORROWS. He sought to mar Thine honour, Thy glory turn to shame : * O day of our confusion ! When Satan's darkness lay, In hatred and delusion, On ruined nature's way. Thou soughtest for compassion — Some heart Thy grief to know, To -watch Thine hour of passion — For comforters § in woe : No eye was found to pity — No heart to bear Thy woe ; But shame, and scorn, and spitting, None cared Thy Name to know. The pride of careless greatness Could wash its hands of Thee : * " For His faith the cup is already given Him. . . . Jesus having bowed to this, men availed themselves of it to trample on Him." ("Collected Writings," vol. vii. p. 353.) § ("Ditto," ditto, pp. 290, 291 : the whole passage.) THE MAN OF SORROWS. 4 1 Priests, that should plead for weakness, Must Thine accusers be ! Man's boasting love disowns Thee ; Thine own Thy danger flee ; A Judas only owns Thee — That Thou may'st captive be. O man ! How hast thou proved What in thy heart is found ; By grace Divine unmoved — By self in fetters bound. Yet, with all grief acquainted, The Man of sorrows view, Unmoved — by ill untainted — The path of grace pursue. In death, obedience yielding To God His Father's will, Love still its power is wielding To meet all human ill. 42 THE MAN OF SORROWS. On him who had disowned Thee Thine eye could look in love, — 'Midst threats and taunts around Thee- To tears of grace to move. What words of love and mercy Flow from those lips of grace, For followers that desert Thee ; For sinners in disgrace ! The robber learned beside Thee, Upon the cross of shame, — While taunts and jeers deride Thee — The savour of Thy Name. Then, finished all, in meekness Thou to Thy Father's hand (Perfect Thy strength in weakness,) Thy spirit dost commend. Lord ! Thy wondrous story My inmost soul doth move ; 1 ponder o'er Thy glory, — Thy lonely path of love ! THE MAX OF SORROWS. 43 But, O Divine Sojourner 'Midst man's unfathomed ill, Love, that made Thee a mourner, It is not man's to tell ! We worship, when we see Thee In all Thy sorrowing path ; We long soon to be with Thee, Who bore for us the wrath ! Come then, expected Saviour ; Thou Man of Sorrows come ! Almighty, blest Deliverer ! And take us to Thee — home. 44 THE TREE OF LIFE, 1870. COON we taste the endless sweetness Of the Tree of life above ; Taste its own eternal meetness For the heavenly land we love ! In eternal counsels founded — Perfect now in fruit Divine ; When the last blest trump has sounded, Fruit of God for ever mine ! Fresh, and ever new, are hanging Fruits of life on that blest Tree ; There is stilled each earnest longing — Satisfied my soul shall be : * Author's Title.— Ed. THE TREE OF LIFE. 45 Safety — where no foe approaches ; Rest — where toil shall be no more ; Joy* — whereon no grief encroaches ; Peace — where strife shall all be o'er ! Various fruits, of richest flavour, Offers still the Tree Divine : One itself, the same for ever, All its various fruits are mine ! Where deceiver ne'er can enter, Sin-soiled feet have never trod, Free, our peaceful feet may venture In the paradise of God ; Drink of life's perennial river, Feed on life's perennial food — Christ the fruit of life, and giver — Safe through His redeeming blood ! * " In spirit, we are in heaven. We are in Christ, who fills it with His Glory and His perfections . . . Holiness and love and joy characterize the land. They are the fruits which grow there spontaneously, as are the thanksgivings that arise in the hearts of those who are there through redeeming power." ("Coll. Writings," vol. vii. p. 185.) 46 THE TREE OF LIFE. Object of eternal pleasure ; Perfect in Thy work Divine ; Lord of glory ! Without measure, Worship, joy, and praise are Thine ! But, my soul ! hast thou not tasted Of that Tree of life on high ? As through desert lands thou 'st hasted, Eshcol's grapes been never nigh ? Ah ! that Tree of life was planted, Rooted deep in love Divine, Ere the sons of God had chanted Worlds where creature glories shine ! Love Divine without a measure Godhead glory must reveal ; In the Object of its pleasure,* All its ways of grace must seal. * " God Himself must have an object worthy of Himself to be the subject of His purposes, and in order to unfold all His affections. This object is the glory of His Son — His Son Himself." ("Synopsis," 2nd ed. Revised, vol. v. p. 69.) THE TREE OF LIFE. 47 As a tender sucker, rising From a dry and stony land, Object of man's proud despising, Grew the Plant of God's right hand ! Grace and truth, in love unceasing, Rivers on the thirsty ground — Every step to God well pleasing — Spread their heavenly savour round. He the Father's Self revealing, — Heavenly words none else could tell, Words of grace, each sorrow healing, On the ear of sorrow fell. Yes ! that Tree of life is planted ; Sweetest fruit e'en here has borne ! To its own rich soil transplanted, Waits alone the eternal morn : Fruits that our own souls have tasted By the Spirit from above, While through desert lands we Ve hasted Fruits of perfect, endless love ! 4 8 THE HOPE OF DAY.* 1872. A ND is it so ? I shall be like Thy Son ! Is this the grace which He for me has won ? Father of glory ! Thought beyond all thought ; In glory, to His Own blest likeness brought. O Jesus, Lord : who loved me like to Thee ? Fruit of Thy work ! With Thee too, there to see Thy glory, Lord, while endless ages roll, — Myself the prize and travail of Thy soul. * Author's Title.— Ed. THE HOPE OF DAY. 49 Yet it must be ! Thy love had not its rest, Were Thy redeemed not with Thee fully blest ; That love that gives not as the world, but shares, All it possesses, with its loved co-heirs ! Nor I alone ; Thy loved ones all, complete In glory around Thee, with joy shall meet ! All like Thee : for Thy glory like Thee, Lord! Object supreme of all, by all adored ! And yet it must be so ! A perfect state, To meet Christ's perfect love — what we await ; The Spirit's hopes, desires, in us inwrought, Our present joy — with living blessings fraught. The heart is satisfied ; can ask no more ; All thought of self is now for ever o'er : Christ, its unmingled Object, fills the heart In blest adoring love — its endless part. 50 THE HOPE OF DAY. Father of mercies, in Thy Presence bright, All this shall be unfolded in the light ; Thy children, all, with joy Thy counsels know Fulfilled ; patient in hope, while here below. 5i SONS. 1879. LEATHER! Thy Name our souls would bless, As children taught by grace ; Lift up our hearts in righteousness, And joy before Thy face ! Sweet is the confidence Thou giv'st, Though high above our praise ; Our hearts resort to where Thou liv'st In heaven's unclouded rays. There, in the purpose of Thy love, Our place is now prepared, As sons, with Him who is above — Who all our sorrows shared. 52 SONS. Eternal ages shall declare The riches of Thy grace To those who, with Thy Son, shall share A son's eternal place. Absent as yet, we rest in hope, Treading the desert path, — Waiting for Him who takes us up Beyond the power of death. Unchanging glory fills the place Where Jesus dwells on high ; But brighter joy our spirits trace With Him, for ever nigh ! We joy in Thee ; Thy holy love Our endless portion is ; Like Thine Own Son, with Him above, In brightest heavenly bliss : His Father Thou, — and ours thro' grace,- We taste the same delight — Blest, in the brightness of Thy face, In heaven's unclouded light. sons. 53 Father ! Thy love my portion is, As son — like Christ — with Thee Oh, who can tell of love like this, So sov'reign, full, and free ! O Holy Father, keep us here In that blest name of Love ; Walking before Thee without fear, Till all be joy above. 54 ECHO OF SONGS IN THE NIGHT.* 1879. T^O live of Thee — blest Source of deepest joy! To hear e'en now, by faith, Thy voice of love — Thou living spring of bliss without alloy, Bright inlet to the light of heaven above ! Come, fill my soul ! Thy light is ever pure, And brings from heaven what Thou alone canst give, Yea, brings Thyself, the revelation sure Of heaven's eternal bliss : in Thee we live. * Author's Title.— Ed. ECHO OF SONGS IN THE NIGHT. 55 I hail Thee, Lord ! Of Thee my song shall speak, — Poor and unworthy strains, yet still of Thee : Yes, fill my soul ! 't is this my heart doth seek — To dwell in love, and God my dwelling be. Thou 'st made the Father known: Him have we seen In Thy blest Person : infinite delight. Yes, it suffices : though we here but glean Some foretaste of His love — till all be light. O ! dwell with me ; let no distracting thought Intrude to hide from me that heavenly light : Be Thou my strength ! Let not what Thou hast brought Be chased by idle nature's poor delight. Father, Thou lov'st me. Favour, all divine, Rests on my soul : a cloudless favour ! There Thy face shines on me, as it still doth shine On Thy blest Son ! His image I shall bear ! 56 ECHO OF SONGS IN THE NIGHT. But now, e'en now, Thy love can fill my soul — That love that soars beyond all creature thought — In spirit bring where endless praises roll ; And fill my longing heart till there I'm brought. Thee will I hail, O Lord ! in whose blest face God's glory shines unveiled ! Thee will I praise, Whose love has brought me nigh, in righteous grace ; And soon wilt come, eternal songs to raise ! * * * * * And oh ! how deep the peace, when, nature gone, Thy Spirit fills the soul strengthened with might — With love divine; and God, as Love, is known! Lord ! keep my soul, and guide my steps aright. * * # * * Praise be for ever His who giveth songs by night ! 57 REST 1879. *T*HERE is rest for the weary soul — There is rest in the Saviour's love ; There is rest in the grace that has made me whole — That seeks out those that rove. There is rest, in the tender love That has trodden our path below ; That has given us a place in the realms above, But can all our sorrows know ! There is rest, in the calming grace That flows from those realms above ; What rest in the thought! we shall see His face, Who has given us to know His love ! 58 REST. There is rest in the midst of grief — For grief's been the proof of love ; * 'T is sweet in that love to find relief, When the sorrows of earth we prove. There is rest in the Saviour's heart Who never turned sorrow away, But has found, in what sin had made our part, The place of His love's display. There is rest in the blessed yoke, That knows no will but His ; That learns from His path, and the words He spoke, What that loving patience is ! * The " Christian . . sees in the sorrow, such as none ever had (for who could have such?), of God come down to carry man's " [sorrow], " and redeem and bring him out of it, the proof of that love which makes God known, alike in its great- ness, and its nearness, — in its height above sin, and its con- descension to those sunk in it." (" Coll. Writings," vol. vi. P- 49-) " In this world of sin and misery Christ necessarily suffered — suffered also because of righteousness, and because of His love. Morally, this feeling of sorrow is the necessary con- REST. 59 Where He too has gone before, Is the path which we have to tread ; And it leads to the rest where sorrow's o'er — To the place where His steps have led. sequence of possessing a moral nature totally opposed to everything that is in the world. Love, holiness, veneration for God, love for man, — everything is essential suffering here below." ("Synopsis," new ed. Revised, vol. iv. p. 176.) See Luke xix. 41-44 ; John xi. 35, 36. — Ed. 6o FULNESS OF JOY. 1879. (^H ! bright and blessed hope When shall it be, That we His face, long loved, Revealed shall see ? Oh ! when — without a cloud — His features trace, Whose faithful love so long We 've known, in grace ; — That love itself enjoy — Which, ever true, Did, in our feeble path, Its work pursue ? FULNESS OF JOY. O Jesus, not unknown — Thy love shall fill The heart in which Thou dwell'st, And shalt dwell still ! Still, Lord ! to see Thy face, — Thy voice to hear, — To know Thy present love For ever near — To gaze upon Thyself (So faithful known) Long proved in secret help With Thee alone — To see that love content On me flow forth ; For ever Thy delight, Clothed with Thy worth ! O Lord ! 't was sweet the thought That Thou wast mine : But brighter still the joy That I am Thine ! 62 FULNESS OF JOY. Thine own, O Lord ! the fruit, The cherished fruit, Of Thine all perfect love ! — No passing root Of evil, e'er, will dim Thy cloudless rays ; But a full heart pour forth Thine endless praise ! Nor, what is next Thy heart, Can we forget : — Thy saints, O Lord, with Thee In glory met (Perfect in comeliness Before Thy face — Th' eternal witness all Of Thine Own grace), Together, then, their songs Of endless praise, With one harmonious voice, In joy shall raise ! FULNESS OF JOY. 6$ O joy, supreme, and full ! Where sunless day Sheds forth, with light Divine, Its cloudless ray ! 6 4 THE FATHER'S LOVE. 1879. TD LEST FATHER ! infinite in grace ! Source of eternal joy ! Thou lead'st our hearts to that blest place, Where rest 's without alloy. There will Thy love find perfect rest, Where all around is bliss ; Where, all in Thee supremely blest, Thy praise their service is ! Eternal love their portion is, Where love has found its rest ; And, filled with Thee, the constant mind Eternally is blest ! THE FATHER'S LOVE. 6$ There Christ, the centre of the throng, Shall in His glory shine ; But not an eye, those hosts among, But sees that glory Thine ! Thy counsels too, in all Thine own, Fulfilled, by power Divine, Spread wide the glory of Thy Throne- Where all in glory shine. Yet deeper, if a calmer, joy The Father's love shall raise ; And every heart find sweet employ In His eternal praise ! Nor is its sweetness now unknown — Well proved in what it 's done : Our Father's love, with joy, we own Revealed in Christ the Son ! 66 THE FATHER'S GRACE. 1879. T7ATHER ! in Thine eternal power — Thy grace — and majesty Divine — No soul, in this weak mortal hour, Can grasp the glory that is Thine ! E'en in its thoughts of sovereign grace It leaves us all far, far behind ; The love, that gives with Christ a place, Surpasses our poor feeble mind ! And yet, that love is not unknown, To those who have the Saviour seen ; Nor strange, to those He calls His own- Pilgrims, in scenes where He has been. THE FATHER'S GRACE. 6j In Him, Thy perfect love, revealed, Has led our hearts that love to trace Where nothing of that love 's concealed, — But meets us, in our lowly place ! But grace, the source of all our hope, From Thine eternal Nature flows : Could to our lost condition stoop, And now, through Christ, no hindrance knows; Has flowed, in fullest streams, below ; And opened to our hearts the place, Where, in its ripened fruits, we'll know The eternal blessings of that grace ! And here we walk, as sons through grace, A Father's love our present joy : Sons, in the brightness of Thy face, Find rest, no sorrows can destroy ! Nor is the comfort of Thy love, In which we " Abba, Father," cry, The only blessing that we prove ; Because that love is ever ni^h — 68 THE father's grace. A holy Father's constant care Keeps watch, with an unwearying eye, — To see what fruits His children bear, Fruits that may suit their calling high ; Takes ever knowledge of our state — What dims communion with His love — Might check our growth — or separate Our hearts from what 's revealed above. Oh, wondrous Love ! that ne'er forgets The objects of its tender care : May chasten still, while sin besets, To warn and guard them where the)' are- But ne'er forgets ; but feeds them still With tokens of His tender love ; Will keep, till, freed from every ill, They find their rest with Him above ! Oh ! wondrous, infinite, Divine ! Keep near, my soul, to that blest place, Where all those heavenly glories shine Which suit the brightness of His face ! THE FATHER'S GRACE. 69 O lowliness, how feebly known, That meets the grace that gave the Son ! That waits, to serve Him as His own ; Till grace what grace began shall crown ! 70 WAITING FOR THE GLORY. (Sonnet.*) 1879. r'M waiting for the glory : Are your thoughts with me too ? It is the old, old story, But all most sweetly true. I'm waiting for the glory : Jesus Himself is there ; He's gone on high before me — Calls me with Him to share. Jesus, the Lord, did love us — Will love us to the end ; And lifts our hearts above us, To love that will not end ! * Author's Title. — Ed. WAITING FOR THE GLORY. J I For the day is nearing, nearing, When we shall see His face ; Each step the way endearing, Which leads to that blest place. For Jesus comes with power — To change these bodies vile, Or raise them (in that hour) From where they rest awhile. Then shall His soul's deep travail Find its love-fraught reward ; Nor joy, nor promise shall fail, With Him, like Him, their Lord ! But who 's this all-glorious Lord, To whom each knee doth bow ? The Sorrower, once abhorred ! The Lord in His glory now ! Art waiting for the glory ? Thy thoughts go with me too ! Yes ! 't is the old, old story : But all most sweetly true ! 72 LOVE DIVINE, 1880. T7ATHER ! Thy sovereign love has sought Captives to sin, gone far from Thee : The work that Thine Own Son hath wrought Has brought us back — in peace, and free ! And now, as sons before Thy face, With joyful steps the path we tread, Which leads us on to that blest place Prepared for us by Christ, our Head. Thou gav'st us, in eternal love, To Him, to bring us home to Thee — Suited to Thine Own thoughts above ; As sons, like Him, with Him to be LOVE DIVINE. 71 In Thine own house! There Love Divine Fills the bright courts with cloudless joy : But 't is the love that made us Thine, Fills all that house without alloy ! Oh, boundless grace ! What fills with joy Unmingled all that enter there — God's Nature, Love without alloy — Our hearts are given e'en now to share ! God's righteousness, with glory bright, Which with its radiance fills that sphere, E'en Christ — of God the power and light — Our title is that light to share. O Mind Divine ! so must it be, That glory, all, belongs to God ! O Love Divine ! that did decree We should be part, through Jesus' blood ! Oh, keep us, Love Divine, near Thee, — That we our nothingness may know ; And ever to Thy glory be — Walking in faith while here below. 74 HOPE, 1881. AND shall we see Thy face ! And hear Thy heavenly voice, Well known to us in present grace ! Well may our hearts rejoice. With Thee, in garments white, O Jesus ! we shall walk ; And, spotless, in that heavenly light, Of all Thy sufferings talk. Close to Thy trusted side, In fellowship divine, No cloud, no distance, e'er shall hide Glories, that there shall shine ! hope. 75 Fruit of Thy boundless love, That gave Thyself for us — For ever we shall, with Thee, prove That Thou still lov'st us thus ! And we love Thee, blest Lord ! E'en now, though feeble here, Thy sorrows, and Thy cross, record What makes us know Thee near. We wait to see Thee, Lord ; Yet now, within our hearts, Thou dwell'st in love, that doth afford The joy that* love imparts. Yet still we wait for Thee, To see Thee as Thou art ! Be with Thee, like Thee, Lord ! and free To love with all our heart ! * Author's italics. — Ed. 7<> UNFOLDINGS. i. r\ LORD ! Thy glory we behold, Though not with mortal eyes : That glory, on the Father's throne, No human sight descries ! But though the world can see no more Him it cast out with scorn, The eye of fresh-born faith can soar Above — where He is gone. 'T is not for human eye to see, Nor human ear to hear, Nor heart conceive what it may be, Or bring the prospect near ; UNFOLDINGS. JJ But God, in love, has freely given His Spirit, who reveals All He's prepared for those, in heaven, Whom here on earth He seals. 'T is thence, now Christ is gone on high, Redemption's work complete, The Spirit brings His glory nigh To those who for Him wait. Blest gift ! As sons, we look above And see the Saviour there ; And, fruit of God's now well-known love ; We shall His glory share. God has been glorified in Man ; Man sits at God's right hand : Obedient in the race He ran, Can now all power command ! In lowliness on earth, as Son, The Father He made known ; And now in heaven, His work all done, He sits upon His throne. 7$ UNFOLDINGS. And we our great Fore-runner see, In His Own glory there ; Yet not ashamed — with such as we, As First-born, all to share. For we, as sons through grace, are owned, And " Abba, Father," cry ; Heirs too, so rich did grace abound, Joint-heirs with Him on high ! The Father's love, the source of all, Sweeter than all it gives, Shines on us now without recall, And lasts while Jesus lives. The new creation's stainless joy Gleams through the present gloom ; That world of bliss without alloy — The saint's eternal home ! 79 LOVE DISPLAYED. 1881. W/E 'LL praise Thee, glorious Lord ! Who died to set us free : No earthly songs can joy afford Like heavenly melody ! Love, that no suffering stayed, We '11 praise — true love Divine ; Love, that for us atonement made ; Love, that has made us Thine. Love, in Thy lonely life Of sorrow, here below ; Thy words of grace, with mercy rife, Make grateful praises flow ! 80 LOVE DISPLAYED. Love, that on death's dark vale Its sweetest odours spread, Where sin o'er all seemed to prevail Redemption glory shed. And now we see Thee risen Who once for us hast died, Seated above the highest heaven, The Father's glorified.* Soon wilt Thou take Thy throne ; Thy foes Thy footstool made : And take us with Thee for Thine own — In glory love displayed ! Jesus, we wait for Thee ! With Thee to have our part : What can full joy and blessing be, But being where Thou art ! * That is, Christ, the One whom the Father has glorified, according to John xvii. 5, and xiii. 31, 32. — Ed. 8i THE SOUL'S DESIRE. 1851. T 'M waiting for Thee, Lord ; Thyself then to see, Lord ! I'm waiting for Thee, At Thy coming again : Thy glory '11 be great, Lord, In heavenly state, Lord, Thy glory '11 be great At Thy coming again ! Caught up in the air, Lord, That glory we'll share, Lord ! Each saint will be there, At Thy coming again : 82 THE SOUL'S DESIRE. How glorious the grace, Lord, That gave such a place, Lord ; It 's nearing apace, At Thy coming again. We'll sit on Thy throne, Lord, Confessed as Thine own, Lord ; Of all to be known At Thy coming again ! But glory on high, Lord, Is not like being nigh, Lord, — When all is gone by At Thy coming again ! The traits of that face, Lord, Once marred, through Thy grace, Lord, Our joy '11 be to trace At Thy coming again : With Thee evermore, Lord, Our hearts will adore, Lord ; Our sorrow '11 be o'er, At Thy coming again. THE SOUL'S DESIRE. 83 But, better than all, Lord, To rise, at Thy call, Lord ! Adoring to fall, At Thy coming again : With Thee, clothed in white, Lord, To walk in the light, Lord, Where all will be bright, At Thy coming again. For ever with Thee, Lord, And like Thee to be, Lord ! For ever with Thee, At Thy coming again : I'll live in Thy grace, Lord, I'll gaze on Thy face, Lord ! When finished my race, At Thy coming again. I'll talk of Thy love, Lord, With Thee there above, Lord ! Thy goodness still prove, At Thy coming again. 84 A CHILD'S ENQUIRY. {Part of a Hymn. *) T ESUS ! canst Thou receive ^ A feeble child like me ? My little heart can scarce believe That I may come to Thee ! With children I can go, And all I think can say ; With those I 've often seen, and know. I do not fear to stay. But Lord of heaven art Thou, And dwell'st far off on high ! Though at Thy Name I 'm taught to bow, Can I to Thee draw nigh ? * Author's Title.— Ed. A CHILD'S ENQUIRY. 85 That Name is far above My thoughts, howe'er I try : How can I know Thou dost me love ? Nor fear, before Thine eye ? 86 THE ROAD. [To Geergk L.*) T T is not with uncertain step That we tread our homeless way ; A well-known Voice has called us up To everlasting day ! The Voice of Him who, whilom, § trod Alone the trackless way (And marked the road that leads to God), Where we once, as lost, did stray : Nor leaves us now alone, to trace Our path across the waste ; But leads us still, with living grace, To the home to which we haste. * Author's Title.— Ed. § "Whilom," i.e. " formerly— of old."— Ed. THE ROAD. 8? See ! open stands the heavenly door, Whence the glory shines below, — To light the path where He's gone before, And the bliss, that awaits us, show ! In patience, then, we may tread the path, Marked out by His footsteps here, Who has freed us from the coming wrath, Who has freed our hearts from fear ; May abide His will, for the longer road Where patience and faith are tried ; And count on a love which bears each load, And our hearts from trial may hide, He will still be there, be it long or brief, Our strength in every need : Himself our joy, our sure relief, Till from care, in His Presence, we're freed! 88 EXPECTATION. ORD JESUS ! Source of every grace, Glorious in light Divine, Soon shall we see Thee face to face, And in that glory shine ; Be ever with Thee ; hear Thy voice ; Unhindered then shall taste The love which doth our hearts rejoice, — Though absent in this waste. In peaceful wonder, we adore The thoughts of Love Divine, Which, in that world, for evermore Our lot with Thine entwine ! FINIS. NOTES 9i NOTES. The following notes, amongst other details and incidents of in- terest, give the grounds upon which the dates have been assigned. The earlier dates are only approximately given. The later Hymns, with the exception of "The Hope of Day," were all written during Mr. Darby's residence in Pau, in the years 1879 to 1881, when the thought of Hymns addressed to "The Father" was much present to his mind. Hymns from pp. 44 to 83, inclusive, are given in the order in which they were written in Mr. Darby's manuscript book. PAGE. I. " What powerful, mighty Voice, so near," The date of this Hymn is, it is thought, somewhere about the year 1832 ; but being uncertain, is placed in brackets. 8. " Oh ! the joy of the salvation " This Hymn was dictated by Mr. Darby, to a friend, while confined to his bed in a dark room, during the intervals of a severe and prolonged attack of gout in the eye, about the year 1835. A selection from it was published, in the following year, in " The Christian Hymn Book, 2nd Edition (J. B. Rowe, Plymouth), 1836," but with considerable variations, intro- duced by Mr. Wigram (as in other of Mr. Darby's Hymns), to make the Hymn more suitable for singing purposes. These variations are shown by the italics, in the following 92 NOTES. text, which is taken from "The Christian Hymn Book" ; the printing and punctuation being given as there found : — ****** " Hark ! ten thousand voices crying ' Lamb of God V with one accord, Thousand thousand saints replying, Wake at once the echoing chord. * * * * * ' Praise the Lamb,' the chorus waking. All in heav'n together throng, Loud and far each tongue partaking, Rolls around the endless song. Grateful incense this, ascending Ever to the Father's throne, Ev'ry knee to Jesus bending, All the mind in heav'n is one. All the Father's counsels claiming Equal honour to the Son, All the Son's effulgence beaming, Makes the Father's glory known. By the spirit all pervading, Hosts unnumbered round the Lamb, Crown 'd with light and joy z/wfading, Hail Him as the great ' / am.' Joyful now the fullf creation Rests in undisturb'd repose, t "Full" in "The Christian Hymn Book," is changed to "new" in "Hymns for the Poor of the Flock (i, Warwick Square, London). 1838," — to avoid the recurrence of the word "full" in the 3rd line; this is followed in other Hymn Books. NOTES. 93 Blest in Jesu's full salvation, Sorrow now, nor thraldom knows. * * * * * " Hark ! the heavenly notes again ! Loudly swells the so?ig of praise, Throughout creation's vault, Amen ! Amen, responsive joy doth raise." The complete Hymn, as given in this Collection, was not published in its original form, till it appeared in " The Present Testimony, vol. ix. (Groombridge, 5, Paternoster Row, London), 1857." 12. " Rise my soul ! Thy God directs thee;" This Hymn was written in Switzerland, when a large number of Christians left the Swiss Free Church ("L'Eglise Libre"), after some lectures given by Mr. Darby on the Book of Exodus. It was first published in " The Christian Hymn Book, 3rd Edition, 1837." 15. "Rest of the saints above," This was first published, on Mr. Darby's return from Switzerland in 1845, m the form of a leaflet (T. B. Bateman, 1, Ivy Lane, London) ; and afterwards, in "The Prospect, vol. i. (S. Barber, Smith Street, Guernsey), 1848." 19. " O Lord, Thy love 's unbounded ! " Written on the top of a coach, while trying to recall a Hymn by Mr. Deck, beginning with the same words, well known to many. It appeared on the same leaflet with the above; and in "The Prospect, vol. i. 1848." 21. "This world is a wilderness wide : " The manuscript of this was given by Mr. Darby, to a friend, at M ontpellier, in 1 849. It was first published in '•The Prospect, vol. i. 1849 :" 94 NOTES. and is called "A Song for the Wilderness," in " The Present Testimony, vol. i. 1849." In the previous Edition, the Title "A Song for the Wilderness", was, in error, attached to the Hymn which commences, "Rise, my soul ! Thy God directs thee" (p. 12). It belongs, however, to this Hymn, "This world is a wilder- ness wide." 23. "O Jesus, precious Saviour," First appeared in "The Present Testimony, vol. xiv. (Groombridge, 5, Paternoster Row, London), 1862." 2J. " Sing ! without ceasing sing" First came out in " The Present Testimony, vol. xiv. (Groombridge), 1862." 30. " Oh ! bright and blessed scenes," In " Present Testimony, a new series, vol. i. (Groom- bridge), 1867 ;" and called there, "Home." 33. " O ever homeless Stranger," This was written during a severe illness, in Canada, in which it was thought he was dying, and when medical aid had been in vain pressed upon him. He got up, although weak; wrote the Hymn; and was then obliged to go to bed again, for the remainder of his illness. First printed in "Words of Truth, vol. i. (R. L. Allan, 75, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow), 1867;" where it is called "The Man of Sorrows." It was thence copied into the "Present Testimony, a new series, vol. i. 1867," with acknowledgment. 44. Soon we taste the endless sweetness" First published in "A Voice to the Faithful, vol. iv. (24, Warwick Lane, London), 1870." It is called "The Tree of Life," in " The Streams, (Tract Depot, Warwick Lane)." NOTES. 95 PAGE. 49. ' : And is it so ? I shall be like Thy Son !" In " A Voice to the Faithful, vol. vi. (24, Warwick Lane, London), 1872." Entitled, in Mr. Darby's manuscript, "The Hope of Day." *52. " Father! Thy Name our souls would bless," Written at Pau, in the South of France, 1879. Mr. Darby first concluded this hymn thus ; — " In holiness Thou keep'st us here, With all a Father's love ; As Jesus loved — we have no fear, Taught, led, by Thee above." *55 " To live of Thee, — blest Source of deepest joy!" Entitled, in Mr. Darby's manuscript book, " Echo of Song-s in the Night." *$8. "There is rest for the weary soul" — *6o. " Oh ! bright and blessed hope ;" *64. "Blest Father ! infinite in grace — " (1.) Other manuscript readings of verse 2, given under one view, are as follows ; — " Thy love will find its perfect rest, 5 Where all around is joy ; I ,, „ bliss ; WTiere, all in Thee supremely blest, r Thou 'lit all K , • . \ their powers employ. < Thou shalt ) r F ' ' Thy love their portion is." * The Hymns thus indicated, were all written at Pau, in the same year, 1879. g6 NOTES. (2.) Another form of this verse runs thus : — " Adoring love its fulness finds In Thee who that love art, And, perfect there, our heavenly minds Live in what fills the heart." (3.) v. 4. 11. 1, 2, in Mr. Darby's MS. book, read ;— " There Christ, the centre of the throng, Himself shall in it shine." (4.) In place of the two last verses given in the text, the following verse, with a variation, occurs in the manuscripts; — " Yet more than all — a Father's love { Doth deeper joy recall ; ( Runs as one thrill through all ; And is, where all is bliss above, The chiefest song of all !" *66. " Father ! in Thine Eternal power — " This Hymn was written for an invalid who was in great suffering. *yo. " I'm waiting for the glory : " Entitled, in Mr. Darby's manuscript book, " Sonnet." 72. " Father ! Thy sovereign love has sought" Written at Pau, 1880. 74. "And shall we see Thy face !" The manuscript is on the back of a letter sent to Mr. Darby in February, 1881. j6. " O Lord ! Thy glory we behold," * The Hymns thus indicated, were all written at Pau, in the same year, 1879. NOTES. 97 PACE. 79. " We'll praise Thee, glorious Lord !" This Hymn was given by Mr. Darby to a sick friend, in March, 1881. In stanza 4, line 2, later MS., for " Its," reads " The". 81. " I'm waiting for Thee, Lord ;" This was sent by Mr. Darby to a friend, in November, 1 88 1. In the letter accompanying it, he says ; — " I send a hymn, suggested by one you like : but that brought you down to being ' often weary.' This goes up to where there is no weariness. I don't quite like it, — as there is a certain levity about the metre. But it is Christ !" The manuscript is roughly written, on a very small piece of paper, in single triplets. Now that it has been arranged to correspond with the Hymn of which it is a paraphrase, an unfinished appearance is, thus, accidentally given to it. The Hymn, however, is complete. 84. "Jesus ! canst Thou receive" Entitled, in Mr. Darby's manuscript, " Part of a Hymn." 86. " It is not with uncertain step " Entitled, in Mr. Darby's manuscript, "To Georgie L." TO THE READER. Can anyone furnish the Editor with a finished copy of some lines, by Mr. Darby, commencing " Would'st thou know what richest blessing," entitled by him, "To a young lady, for her Album "? The rough copy exists in pencil, but, in its incipient form, is scarcely suitable for publication with these Hymns, as thus found. H. A. H. Sundridge, Bournemouth, NOTICE. Cloth Boards, price 2s. 3d. Morocco, or Calf, to order only. Stiff boards, gilt edges, lettered side . . . 6s. 6d. net. Limp ,, ,, plain sides . . .5^. 6d. ,, Round corners, 6d. extra, net. James Carter, 13, Paternoster Row, London, E.C. PLYMOUTH : PRINTED BV WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON. ■^Y*YmY*YmfmY*Y*Y±*4^^^ WAWAf/ffilSfl^