RETREAT. L. M.

8

T. HASTINGS.

1. From ev

6 8

cy-seat.

733. L. M.

1. FROM every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat,
'Tis found beneath the mercy-seat.

2. There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads,
A place of all on earth most sweet;
It is the blood-bought mercy-seat.
3. There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend,
Though sundered far, by faith we meet
Around one common mercy-seat.

4. There, there, on eagle wings we soar,
And sense and sin becloud no more;
And heaven comes down our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy-seat.

5. Oh! let my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This throbbing heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy-seat.

734. L. M.

STOWELL.

1. ALL mortal vanities, be gone,
Nor tempt my eyes, nor tire my ears;
Behold, amidst the eternal throne,
A vision of the Lamb appears!

2. Lo, He receives a sealed book

From Him that sits upon the throne! Jesus, my Lord, prevails to look

On dark decrees and things unknown! 3. All the assembling saints around

Fall worshiping before the Lamb,
And in new songs of gospel sound

Address their honors to His name.

1. THE turf shall be my fragrant shrine;
My temple, Lord, that arch of Thine;
My censer's breath the mountain airs,
And silent thoughts my only prayers.
2. My choir shall be the moon-lit waves,
When murmuring homeward to their caves,
Or when the stillness of the sea,
E'en more than music, breathes of Thee.
3. I'll seek, by day, some glade unknown,
All light and silence, like Thy throne;
And the pale stars shall be, at night,
The only eyes that watch my rite.
4. Thy heaven, on which 'tis bliss to look,
Shall be my pure and shining book,
Where I can read, in words of flame,
The glories of Thy wondrous name.
5. There's nothing bright, above, below,
From flowers that bloom, to stars that glow,
But in its light my soul can see
Some feature of Thy Deity.

6. There's nothing dark, below, above,
But in its gloom I trace Thy love,
And meekly wait that moment when
Thy touch shall turn all bright again.

MOORE.

BOWDOIN. L. M.

CH. BEECHER.

thy presence fills the

計

736. L. M.

2. Son of the Father! Lord most high! How glad is he who feels Thee nigh! Come in Thy hidden majesty;

Fill us with love, fill us with Thee. 3. Jesus is from the proud concealed, But evermore to babes revealed, Through Him, unto the Father be Glory and praise eternally.

737. L. M.

1. NOT seldom, clad in radiant vest, Deceitfully goes forth the morn; Not seldom evening in the west

Sinks sweetly, smilingly forsworn.

2. The smoothest seas will sometimes prove, To the confiding bark, untrue; And if she trust the stars above,

They can be false and treacherous too. 3. The umbrageous oak, in pomp outspread, Full oft, when storms the welkin rend, Draws lightnings down upon the head It promised surely to defend.

4. But Thou art true, incarnate Lord,

Who didst vouchsafe for man to die;
Thy smile is sure, Thy plighted word
No change can break or falsify.

5 I bent before Thy gracious throne,

And asked for peace with suppliant
knee;
And peace was given,-nor peace alone,
But faith, and hope, and ecstasy!

WORDSWORTH.

738. L. M.

1. WHEN groves by moonlight silence keep, And winds the vexed waves release, And fields are hushed, and cities sleep,Lord, is not that the hour of peace? 2. When infancy at evening tries,

By turns to climb each parent's knees, And gazing, meets their raptured eyes: Lord, is not that the hour of peace? 3. In golden pomp, when autumn smiles, And hill and dale, its rich increase By man's full barns, exulting piles:

Lord, is not that the hour of peace? 4. When mercy points where Jesus pleads, And faith beholds Thine anger cease, And hope to black despair succeeds: This, Father, this alone is peace!

739. L. M.

GISBORNE.

1. FAR from my thoughts, vain world! be
Let my religious hours alone: [gone,
Fain would mine eyes my Saviour see;
I wait a visit, Lord! from Thee.
2. My heart grows warm with holy fire,
And kindles with a pure desire ;
Come, my dear Jesus! from above,
And feed my soul with heavenly love.
3. Blest Saviour! what delicious fare-
How sweet Thine entertainments are!
Never did angels taste above
Redeeming grace and dying love.
4. Hail, great Immanuel, all-divine!
In Thee Thy Father's glories shine:
Thou brightest, sweetest, fairest One,
That eyes have seen, or angels known!

WATTS.

and with sins, On her be-loved

Lord she leans, On her beloved Lord she leans.

740. L. M.

2. This is the spouse of Christ our God,
Bought with the treasures of His blood;
And her request, and her complaint,
Is but the voice of every saint.

3. "O let my name engraven stand,

Both on Thy heart, and on Thy hand;
Seal me upon Thine arm, and wear
That pledge of love for ever there.

4. "Stronger than death Thy love is known, Which floods of wrath could never drown;

And hell and earth in vain combine
To quench a fire so much divine.

5. "But I am jealous of my heart,

Lest it should once from Thee depart;
Then let Thy name be well impress'd,
As a fair signet, on my breast.

6. "Come, my Beloved, haste away,
Cut short the hours of Thy delay;
Fly, like a youthful hart or roe,
Over the hills where spices grow."

741. L. M.

WATTS.

1. BE still, my heart! these anxious cares
To thee are burdens, thorns, and snares;
They cast dishonor on thy Lord,
And contradict His gracious word.

2. Brought safely by His hand thus far, Why wilt thou now give place to fear?

How canst thou want if He provide, Or lose thy way with such a Guide?

3. When first before His mercy-seat
Thou didst to Him thy all commit,
He gave thee warrant from that hour
To trust His wisdom, love, and power.

4. Did ever trouble yet befall,

And He refuse to hear thy call?
And has He not His promise past,
That thou shalt overcome at last?

5. He who has helped me hitherto,

Will help me all my journey through,
And give me daily cause to raise
New trophies to His endless praise.

6. Though rough and thorny be the road,
It leads thee home, apace, to God;
Then count thy present trials small,
For heaven will make amends for all.
NEWTON.

742. L. M.

1. WITH tearful eyes I look around,
Life seems a dark and stormy sea;
Yet, 'midst the gloom, I hear a sound,
A heavenly whisper, "Come to Me."

2. It tells me of a place of rest-
It tells me where my soul may flee;
O! to the weary, faint, oppress'd,
How sweet the bidding, "Come to Me."

3. When nature shudders, loth to part

From all I love, enjoy, and see; When a faint chill steals o'er my heart, A sweet voice utters, "Come to Me." 4. Come, for all else must fail and die;

Earth is no resting-place for thee;
Heavenward direct thy weeping eye,
I am thy portion, "Come to Me."
5. O, voice of mercy! voice of love!
In conflict, grief, and agony,
Support me, cheer me from above!

And gently whisper, "Come to Me."

No cheerful gleam of light appears,
But nature pours forth all her tears.

2. Yet let the sons of Grace revive;

He bids the soul that seeks Him, live;
And from the gloomiest shade of night
Calls forth a morning of delight.

3. The seeds of ecstasy unknown

Are in these watered furrows sown;
See the green blades, how thick they rise,
And with fresh verdure bless our eyes!

4. In secret foldings they contain

Unnumbered ears of golden grain;
And heaven shall pour its beams around,
Till the ripe harvest load the ground.

5. Then shall the trembling mourner come,
And bind his sheaves, and bear them home;
The voice long broke with sighs shall sing,
Till heaven with hallelujahs ring!

744. L. M.

DODDRIDGE.

1. GOD of my life, to Thee I call; Afflicted, at Thy feet I fall;

When the great water-floods prevail,
Leave not my trembling heart to fail.
2. Friend of the friendless and the faint,
Where should I lodge my deep complaint?
Where-but with Thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor?

3. Did ever mourner plead with Thee,
And Thou refuse that mourner's plea?
Does not the word still fixed, remain,
That none shall seek Thy face in vain?

4. Poor tho' I am-despised, forgot,

Yet God, my God, forgets me not;
And he is safe, and must succeed,
For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.

COWPER.

9

9

1. WHEN power divine, in mortal form,
Hushed with a word the raging storm,
In soothing accents Jesus said-
"Lo! it is I; be not afraid."

2. Blessed be the voice that breathes from heaven,

To every heart in sunder riven,

When love, and joy, and hope are fled"Lo! it is I; be not afraid."

3. And when the last dread hour is come, While shuddering nature waits her doom, This voice shall call the pious dead"Lo! it is I; be not afraid."

J. E. SMITH.