t? c4 FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY S£E> /c CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND OTHER VERSES. V \^> ^TOFPR/JV^ / AND OTHER VERSES. BY THE REV. H. G. BATTERSON, D.D. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 1877- - TO MY MOTHER. If words of mine one soul may lead From ways of sin and death, to find The place where God that soul shall feed, And to His Throne with love shall bind The weary heart, I ask no more. What better can I leave behind, Than record of that blessed store Of God's great love for human-kind ? CONTENTS. PAGE Christmas Carols : The Christmas-Bells n On the First Bright Christmas-Day . . . . .13 Joyfully, Joyfully, Angels are Singing 15 Hymns : Hymn for Advent 19 Epiphany 21 Lent 22 Hymn for Good-Friday 24 Easter ........... 26 Ascension . 28 Whitsun-tide 29 Hymn to the Trinity 31 Adoration .......... 33 Saint John Baptist . ... . . . " . .35 "Theotokos" 37 Saint Augustine . . . .1 39 Penitence . . . . ... . . .41 The Name of Jesus 43 Light of the World 45 Hymn for a Mission . .47 Forgiveness .49 Hymn of the Holy Child . . . . . . .51 Hymn for Children , 54 7 CONTENTS. Fugitives : To my Mother, on her Seventy-Sixth Birthday St. Luke's Church, Germantown, Pennsylvania A Paraphrase : The Forget-me-not Pennsylvania : The Prayer of her Loyal Sons Pleasant Words The Vesper-Bells To E. P. W., on her Sixty-Seventh Birthday 59 61 64 65 67 69 71 CHRISTMAS CAROLS. A* Stye €l)rt0tmas-JSeU0. Ring on, ye joyous Christmas-Bells ! Ring on ! Ring on ! What tale of love your music tells ! Ring on ! Ring on ! "The Christ" is born For sinful men ; 'Tis Christmas morn, Ring out again ! Ring on, ye merry Christmas-Bells ! Ring on ! Ring on ! What peace from out your clangor wells ! Ring on ! Ring on ! Peace comes to earth, " Good-will to men ;" A priceless birth, Ring out again ! Ring on, ye happy Christmas-Bells ! Ring on ! Ring on ! With holy joy the clamour swells ! Ring on ! Ring on ! ii 12 THE CHRISTMAS-BELLS. Oh, happy day For weary men ; Oh, royal day, Ring out again ! Ring on, ye holy Christmas-Bells ! Ring on ! Ring on ! O'er hill and dale, through wildest dells, Ring on ! Ring on ! In triumph ring, For holy men All gladness bring, Ring out again ! Ring on, ye gladsome Christmas-Bells ! Ring on ! Ring on ! 'Tis "mercy mild" the sound foretells, Ring on ! Ring on ! The "Prince of Peace" Now pleads for men, Nor will he cease, Ring out again ! Ring on, ye peaceful Christmas-Bells ! Ring on ! Ring on ! Tell of the hope that in us dwells, Ring on ! Ring on ! To Jesus now All ranks of men In worship bow, Ring out again ! ©n tljc Jfirst Bright €l)rt5tmas On the first bright Christmas-Day, In a stable, Jesus lay, While the angels o'er the plain Sang the glad and sweet refrain, — " To GOD in the highest, all glory ! Peace to men of good-will upon earth /' ' Hark I hark to the wonderful story, Heard by shepherds the night of His birth ! Sweetly sang the angels bright On the world's first Christmas-night; Brightly shone the beauteous star, Leading sages from afar. " To GOD in the highest" etc. Wise men, kings, in wonder led, To the lowly manger-bed, Bowed in adoration there, Bringing gifts, both rich and rare. " To G OD in the highest, ' ' etc. 2 13 I4 ON THE FIRST BRIGHT CHRISTMAS-DA Y. Lo ! their treasures they unfold ! Myrrh, frankincense, shining gold ! Lay them down before His Face, By whom cometh truth and grace. " To GOD in the highest," etc. Virgin-born ! We worship Thee ! Low before Thee bend the knee. Raise our thoughts and hopes above With our Christmas songs of love ! "To GOD in the highest, all glory ! Peace to men of good-will upon earth /' ' Hark ! hark to the wondaful story, Heard by shepherds the night of His birth / logfttllg, fopfullg, Angels arc Singing. Joyfully, joyfully, angels are singing, O'er Bethlehem's plains of light ! Wonderful, wonderful message now bringing, To welcome the Christmas night ! " Glory to GOD in the highest, all glory ! Peace on the earth, and good-will '.•" Angels are telling the ?narvellous story, Shepherds are listening still. Peacefully, peacefully, light is now beaming, Sages have come from afar; Beautiful, beautiful, brightly now gleaming, Bethlehem's wonderful star ! " Glory to GOD," etc. Wistfully, wistfully, wise men are seeking " The Christ" in the " House of Bread;" Tenderly, tenderly, Mary is keeping Her watch o'er that lowly bed. " Glory to GOD," etc. 15 1 6 JOYFULLY ANGELS ARE SLNGLNG. Lovingly, lovingly, kings now adore Him, And offer their humble prayer ; Faithfully, faithfully worship before Him, While bringing their gifts so rare ! " Glory to GOD" etc. Merrily, merrily, Church-Bells are ringing O'er all the wide world so bright ; Thankfully, thankfully, gifts we are bringing, For this is our Christmas night ! " Glory to GOD," etc. Joyfully, joyfully, o'er every nation The "banner of love" display; Wonderful, wonderful news of salvation, Our Saviour is born to-day ! ' l Glory to GOD in the highest, all glory ! Peace on the earth, and good-will .•" Angels are telling the marvellous story, Shepherds are lis f 'ning still. HYMNS. 2* 17 fjgmn for ^tfromt " He cometh to judge the earth." The last dread trump is sounding ! Heaven's pearly gates unfold : The Judge, with might abounding, Ye nations, now behold ! Heaven is shaking, Earth is quaking, Death's grim record see unrolled. With angel-hosts surrounded ; On glory-clouds His Throne ! Hell's legions now confounded, Must yield the King His own. Sinners moaning, Crimes now owning, Which before were all unknown ! In piteous tones now pleading, In terror and in fear ; All other cries unheeding Save this one, "Saviour, hear !" 19 20 HYMN FOR ADVENT. Man is sighing, Bitter crying ! — See at last the Judge appear. Let faithful souls, victorious, With joy and gladness sing ; While heavenly hosts all glorious, On light and joyous wing, With the story Of His glory Make the starry arches ring ! With shouts of rapt devotion And songs of holy joy, From ocean back to ocean, Ye saints, your tongues employ ; Filled with gladness, Past all sadness, Peace He brings without alloy ! (2£pt;pl)amj. " We have seen His star in the east." THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM Star of morning ! Star of evening ! Star of life's most dismal day : Star of all the stars the brightest, Star that guides our devious way. Heavenly star ! with joyous wonder Sages watched thy path of light ; And the shepherds with the angels, Saw the heavens with thee bedight. Star of Bethl'em, star of wonder ! Star of Jacob, leading now ; Touch our souls with adoration As before "The Christ" we bow. Oh, how bright thy glorious shining ! Oh, how full of peace thy light ! Guide us through life's darkest danger With thy rays of hope so bright. Star of morning ! star of evening ! Star of love, now lead us on, With the shepherds and the Wise men Jesu's Face to gaze upon. 21 Cent. " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." Saviour, now before Thee bending, While our prayers and tears are blending, Hear our cries to heaven ascending : Now adoring, Now imploring, O deliver us, Good Lord ! By Thy Cross we kneel, bemoaning, All our sins before Thee owning, And we plead Thy Blood atoning, In confession For transgression : O deliver us, Good Lord ! See us in our sad condition, Bowed in deep and true contrition ; Hear our pleading, strong petition, One Foundation, One Salvation, O deliver us, Good Lord ! 22 LENT. 23 Satan's toils long years have bound us; But Thy Mercy now has found us, Let Thy Grace, O Lord, surround us, Sin confounding, Love abounding, O deliver us, Good Lord ! Lord, we plead "Thy Cross and Passion," Boundless love, and deep compassion, Godhead, clothed in human fashion, On high reigning, All sustaining, O deliver us, Good Lord ! " Thine the Name that brings salvation ;" Come and rule o'er every nation, Claim by right all adoration ; For our yearning, Love returning, O deliver us, Good Lord ! Ijumn far (Sooft-iTriiiaij- Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom. Jesu Lord ! now crucified, With arms of love extended wide, 1 pray Thee, by Thy wounded side,- O Lord, remember me ! O Jesu Lord ! in hope and fear, To Thy dread cross I now draw near, And plead Thy love to man so dear;— O Lord, remember me ! O Jesu Lord ! with deep amaze As on Thy woeful grief I gaze, My earnest cry to Thee I raise ; — O Lord, remember me ! Jesu Lord ! Thy bitter woe 1 ne'er can feel, nor ever know; Yet from Thy cross one word bestow ;- O Lord, remember me ! 24 H YMN FOR G O OD-FRIDA Y. O Jesu Lord ! to Thee I call, And weeping, at Thy feet I fall : My God, my hope, my all in all; — O Lord, remember me ! O Jesu Lord ! so full of grace, Look on me with Thy loving Face; Me, — in Thy kingdom grant a place ; — O Lord, remember me ! O Jesu Lord ! teach me Thy will, Help me all duty to fulfil ; Teach me to know Thee, and be still : — O Lord, remember me ! O Jesu Lord ! be Thou my peace ; Give of Thy love the full increase, And from my sins grant Thou release ; — O Lord, remember me ! O Jesu Lord ! in my last hour, When clouds and darkness round me lour, Come with Thy mercy, love, and power ! — O Lord, remember me ! O Jesu Lord ! great King of kings ! Beneath the shadow of Thy wings My weary heart its burden brings ; — - O Lord, remember me ! 2 5 ' The morning when I turned my back on thee To face the world, that seemed to me so bright ; My purpose true ; my heart so full of glee ; I reck'd not, went before so dark a night. How turned mine eyes for one last look of home, As o'er the hill I sped me, fast away ; How little thought, with heart so like a stone, That thou wast turning back, for me to pray. How bright the glory of that shining morn ! What dreams of future conquest I had made ! Ah, well for me I knew not of the storm That soon would crush the vision there displayed. 59 60 TO MY MOTHER. In happy days, how thickly trooped the friends To greet me with their smiles and words of cheer ! How each did watchful, and with care attend To share my joys, and quench all thought of fear ! But trouble with its chilling blast came on, To sweep before it fortune, home, and fame ; And like the morning dew, my friends were gone, Forgetting (yes ! it may be !) e'en my name. How true it is, — " this life is but a dream !" At best, I found it but "an empty show;" While struggling vainly onward 'gainst the stream, I strove to hide with smiles my heartfelt woe. Oh, friendship ! false and fickle, — yet how fair ! But love there is no sorrow can assail : — Though life may be a long and fretting care, A Mother's love will never, never fail. Ah, Mother dear, what love more true than thine? It knows no waning, falt'ring, nor decay; In darkest hours it ever has been mine, Beams on me now, a bright and endless day ! God bless thee, Mother mine, for thy strong love ; God bring thee safely to His rest at last ; God give to thee the looked-for home above, When earthly duties, sorrows, all are passed ! St Cuke's €l)itvri), ©ermantoum, Pennsylvania. LINES SUGGESTED BY THE SERMON PREACHED BY THE RT. REV. WM. BACON STEVENS, D.D., LL.D., ON THE DAY OF CONSECRATION, June 8th, 1876. "This is none other but the House of God, and this is the Gate of Heaven." — GENESIS xxviii. 17. The very House of God ! It was one stone Rough and unhewn ; but House of God it was, And there God blessed the builder. And as tenth Of all his increase came from year to year, He laid it down in mem'ry of the vow There made. So God did bless him more and more, And made for him a name which standeth yet Memorial of the deed at Bethel done, Wherein he consecrated self to God, And tithe perpetual vowed, of all that He Should give in years to come, to him and his. 6 61 62 ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, GERMANTOWN, PA. A thousand miles the river Nile flows on, Unfed by any stream from other source Than its own head. Then, spreading out its arms In loving bounty, covers all the land With fatness, while it feeds with gen'rous hand The swarthy dweller on its swelling banks, As moving onward to the briny sea. A thousand years, and Jacob's faithful sons Together banded, waiting for the time In which should come the promised Shiloh. Then, When He, in majesty and agony Was lifted up to draw the nations out From sin, and death, and darkness to Himself, The types and shadows of His glory passed ; And, pouring forth in bright effulgent streams, Rich blessings flowed from out the holy hill And covered all the earth. 'Twas but one stone, And yet, in very truth, it was Beth-El. So this bright Fane, in its proportions fair ; Its carved and goodly stones ; its Nave and Aisle ; Its gleaming Altar in the eastern wall, Is Bethel too. The painted windows tell The wondrous story of His earthly life, Who came to scatter blessings far and wide, So long pent up in Israel's land alone. Here to the generations yet unborn Will stand this bless'd memorial of the faith ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, GERMANTOWN, PA. 63 Of those who, in a faithless age, dared build In thankful homage, and in love to God, A house where He His Name in glory writes ; And where — as once in Jacob's time — He stoops To bless the uplifted, consecrated stone. " Not yours, but God's." 'Tis consecrated now, And from this day let none profane its walls, Or claim by right a privilege beyond That one which all men have : — of kneeling here In penitence and prayer, and so to gain The benediction of God's bounteous love ! O God ! the God of Bethel ! come and bless Each faithful soul, who from his penury, Or from his wealth, has made a gift of love Wherewith to build this goodly house to Thee, And so record his faith, and by these stones To tell in future days his trust in God. From desecration keep these holy walls, And bid Thy guardian angels stand within, — As erst of old, above the Mercy Seat, With "wing-veiled face," they stood at Thy command. Bless each and every soul who here is brought With faith and love, and offered up to Thee. Bless old and young : — the gray-haired and the child ; Bring all within the circle of Thy love, And bow each heart obedient to Thy will. Grant, when their earthly labors all are passed, 64 A PARAPHRASE. These "gathered in" before the Great White Throne, "Well done," may hear, and entering then The " House not made with hands," — a Bethel still, — May see Thee — God of Glory — face to face ! 3i paraphrase. THE FORGET-ME-NOT. The Father gave all flowers a name, And each one had its own ; But soon a wee one backward came, And, standing by His Throne, With timid grace and trembling frame, The modest blue eyes fell ; And then it said, almost with shame, " How it can be I cannot tell, But Father dear, my name ! my name ! Alas ! I have forgot !" The Father kindly said, — " no blame, My child, — Forget-me-not /" THE PRAYER OF HER LOYAL SONS. Sung at the opening exercises, PENNSYLVANIA DAY, at the CENTEN- NIAL Exposition, September 28, 1876. Great God ! our Father, hear ; Lend now Thy gracious ear ; To Thee we pray : — Give of Thy bounteous grace ; Bless of mankind, each race ; Let all Thy goodness trace, In life's dark way. Great God ! our Father, hear; Teach us Thy Name to fear, In holy dread : Make wars and strife to cease ; Oh give perpetual peace ; So earth shall yield increase Of "daily bread." Great God ! our Father, hear ; Guide all, both far and near, In our dear land : 6* 65 66 PENNSYLVANIA. In union, strength to find ; One, both in heart and mind ; O God ! Thy people bind In love's strong band. Great God ! our Father, hear ;■ While for our country dear We wait and pray : Guard from invading foe ; Keep from intestine woe ; Some good, for " token" show; Thy love display. Great God ! our Father, hear ; As suppliants we appear Before Thy Throne : Let not the foot of pride Come near us to abide ; Be Thou our earthly guide, And lead us home. Great God ! our Father, hear; Make Thou our pathway clear With heavenly light: Bless Thou our beauteous land, While we as brothers stand, In union firm and grand, To guard the right ! pleasant ilJorite, " Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." — PROVERBS xvi. 24. Pleasant Words are full of sweetness To the heart oppressed with care ; Peace they bring, and bounteous gladness, Light and love the garb they wear. Treasured more by far than rubies, Yet, alas ! how sadly rare ! Pleasant Words come to the weary Like a sweet and dreamless sleep ; Strength, and life, and health bestowing, As from fountains broad and deep, Welling up in sandy deserts Sparkling waters onward sweep. Pleasant Words are words of comfort, Messengers of trust and love, Laden well with richest blessings From the treasure-house above ; 67 68 PLEASANT WORDS. Borne on wings of hope and mercy, Gentle as the Holy Dove. Pleasant Words of quiet meekness Scatter doubts and banish fears ; Angry tongues may gather round us, Crushing hopes and causing tears ; Words of kindness heal the anguish, Darkness flies, and light appears. Pleasant Words of large compassion Spring from tender hearts and true ; Strong with gladness, hope and courage, Ever old and ever new, Leading souls with sorrow burdened Earth's dark journey safely through. Pleasant Words are like the noonday, Cheering with a glad delight ; Falsehood's breath may scorch and hurt us, Turning all our day to night : Friendship's words of trustful pleading Cover all our paths with light ! Sllje beeper-Bells. The rosy clouds fade in the west, And pass away from sight, While o'er the mountain's rugged crest (Sweet harbingers of night !) The vesper-bells ring out the praise Of Him who crowns with love the days, We in His Name delight. The storm-clouds gather, dark and gray, As evening shades draw near ; The pealing thunder far away Falls trembling on the ear ; Yet still the evening bells awake The vesper call, our prayers to make In love and holy fear. The drifting snow goes flying fast O'er cottage and o'er hall ; The storm-tossed ships ride in the blast, Nor fear what may befall ; While evening bells once more we hear, As bidding men no storm to fear, For God is all in all. 69 7 o THE VESPER-BELLS. In cloud or sunshine, joy or woe, God's love is still the same ; His arm protects from every foe, If, trusting in His Name, At sound of evening bells we haste And bend the knee that love to taste In consecrated fane. 'Tis not alone the music sweet Of those dear bells we hear ; But to those hearts attuned to meet Our God, by faith so near, They tell of glory all our own, When we before the Great White Throne, Freed from our bonds, appear. eio & p. to. ON HER SIXTY-SEVENTH BIRTHDAY. My dear, kind friend ! you pass to-day Another mile-stone, grim and gray, That points you o'er the world's highway To God. Another year of joys and cares, In which "our Father's" love prepares Your soul for Him, — and still He spares His rod. The busy world is rushing on, Nor thinks nor cares for days once gone, If only wealth it heaps, upon A clod. It heeds not age, it heeds not youth, Nor knows of love, nor cares for truth ; It only makes of gold — forsooth ! A God. 7i 72 TO E. P. W. A work-day world ! its anxious face Knows naught of mercy, nor of grace ; But onward, in a feverish race To plod. You know it well ! its smiles, its tears, Have followed you these weary years. And its reward ? What now appears ? A sod. Look onward to that shining band, Beyond earth's false and shifting sand, Where rest is found, in Holy Land, With God ! THE END.