Pardon and peace to dying men,
And endless life are given,
And the rich blood that Jesus shed,
To raise the soul to heaven.
Millions of souls in glory now,
Were fed and feasted here;
And millions more, still on the way,
Around the board appear.
Yet is his house and heart so large,
That millions more may come;
Nor could the wide o'erspreading world
O'erfill the spacious room.
All things are ready; come away,
Nor weak excuses frame;
Crowd to your places at the feast,
And bless the Founder's name.
RENEWAL OF SELF-DEDICATION.
O HAPPY day, that fix'd my choice
On Thee, my Saviour, and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
O happy bond, that seals my vows
To Him who merits all my love!
Let cheerful anthems fill his house,
While to that sacred shrine I move.
"Tis done; the great transaction's done;
I am my Lord's, and he is mine:
He drew me, and I follow'd on,
Charm'd to confess the voice divine.
Now rest, my long-divided heart,
Fix'd on this blissful centre rest;
With ashes who would grudge to part,
When call'd on angels' bread to feast!
High heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renew'd shall daily hear;
Till in life's latest hour I bow
And bless in death a bond so dear.
THE PROSPECT OF A NEW YEAR.
How many kindred souls are fled
To the vast regions of the dead,
Since from this day the changing sun
Through his last yearly course hath run!
We yet survive ;-but who can say,
Or through this year, or month, or day,
I will retain this vital breath,
Thus far at least in league with death?'
That breath is thine, Eternal God! 'Tis thine to fix the soul's abode; It holds its life from Thee alone,
On earth, or in the worlds unknown.
To Thee our spirits we resign;
Make them, and own them still as thine:
So shall they rest secure from fear,
Though death should blight the rising year.
REFLECTIONS AT THE END OF A YEAR.
AND now, my soul, another year
Of thy short life is past;
I cannot long continue here,
And this may be my last.
Much of my dubious life is gone,
Nor will return again;
And swift my passing moments run,
The few that yet remain.
Awake, my soul; with utmost care
Thy true condition learn:
What are thy hopes, how sure, how fair,
And what thy great concern?
Now a new scene of time begins,
Set out afresh for heaven;
Seek pardon for thy former sins,
In Christ so freely given.
Devoutly yield thyself to God,
And on his grace depend;
With zeal pursue the heavenly road,
Nor doubt a happy end.
CHRISTIANS, awake, salute the happy morn,
Whereon the Saviour of mankind was born;
Rise to adore the mystery of love,
Which hosts of angels chanted from above:
With them the joyful tidings first begun,
Of God Incarnate, and the Virgin's Son.
Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard the' angelic herald's voice, Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth,
To you and all the nations upon earth;
This day hath God fulfill'd his promised word,
This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord.'
He spake; and straightway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire,
The praises of redeeming love they sang,
And heaven's whole orb with hallelujahs rang;
God's highest glory was their anthem still-
Peace upon earth, and unto men good-will.'
To Bethlehem straight the' enlighten'd shepherds ran,
To see the wonders God had wrought for man;
Then to their flocks, still praising God, return,
And their glad hearts within their bosoms burn;
To all the joyful tidings they proclaim,
The first Apostles of the Saviour's fame.
O! may we keep and ponder in our mind,
God's wondrous love in saving lost mankind;
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From his poor manger to his bitter cross;
Tread in his steps, assisted by his grace,
Till man's first heavenly state again takes place.
Then may we hope, the' angelic hosts among
To find, redeem'd, a glad, triumphant throng:
He that was born upon this joyful day,
Around us all his glory shall display:
Saved by his love incessant, we shall sing
Eternal praise to heaven's Almighty King,
EPIPHANY.
[BISHOP HEBER.]
BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid:
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid
Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining,
Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,-
Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all.
Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,
Odours of Edom, and offerings divine,
Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gold would his favour secure ;
Richer by far is the heart's adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid; Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid.
THE Lord is risen indeed:"
And are the tidings true?
Yes, we beheld the Saviour bleed,
And saw Him living too.
The Lord is risen indeed :'
Then Justice asks no more;
Mercy and Truth are now agreed,
Who stood opposed before.
The Lord is risen indeed :'
Then is his work perform'd;
The captive surety now is freed,
And death, our foe, disarm'd.
The Lord is risen indeed:"
Then hell has lost his prey:
With him is risen the ransom'd seed,
To reign in endless day.
The Lord is risen indeed :'
Attending angels hear;
Up to the courts of heaven, with speed,
The joyful tidings bear.
Then take your golden lyres,
And strike each cheerful chord; Join all the bright celestial choirs, To sing our risen Lord.
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