The Otterbein Hymnal Part 79

The vow is pledged, the toil begun; Seal thou, O G.o.d! the oath above, And ratify the pledge of love.

2 The shepherd of thy people bless; Gird him with thine own holiness; In duty may his pleasure be His glory in his zeal for thee.

3 Here let the ardent prayer arise, Faith fix its grasp beyond the skies.

The tear of penitence be shed, And myriads to the Savior led.

4 Come, Spirit! here consent to dwell; The mists of earth and sin dispel; Blest Savior! thine own rights maintain: Supreme in every bosom reign.

Samuel F. Smith, 1843.

466 Happy Day. L.M.

_Rejoicing in Entire Consecration._ (937)

Oh, happy day, that fixed my choice, On thee, my Savior and my G.o.d!

Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad.

Cho.--Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away; He taught me how to watch and pray, And live rejoicing ev'ry day!

2 Oh, happy bond, that seals my vows To him who merits all my love!

Let cheerful anthems fill the house, While to his altar now I move.

3 'Tis done--the great transaction's done; I am my Lord's, and he is mine; He drew me, and I followed on, Rejoiced to own the call divine.

4 Now rest--my long-divided heart-- Fixed on this blissful center, rest; Here have I found a n.o.bler part, Here heavenly pleasures fill my breast.

5 High Heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renewed shall daily hear, Till, in life's latest hour, I bow, And bless in death a bond so dear.

Philip Doddridge, 1740.

467 Happy Day. L.M.

_Converts Welcomed._ (940)

Come in, thou blessed of the Lord!

Enter in Jesus' precious name; We welcome thee, with one accord, And trust the Savior does the same.

2 Those joys, which earth cannot afford, We'll seek in fellows.h.i.+p to prove, Joined in one spirit to our Lord, Together bound by mutual love.

3 And, while we pa.s.s this vale of tears, We'll make our joys and sorrows known; We'll share each other's hopes and fears, And count a brother's case our own.

4 Once more, our welcome we repeat; Receive a.s.surance of our love; Oh! may we all together meet, Around the throne of G.o.d above.

Thomas Kelly, 1812.

468 Evan. C.M.

_Brotherly Love._ (983)

How sweet, how heavenly is the sight, When those who love the Lord, In one another's peace delight, And so fulfill his word!--

2 When each can feel his brother's sigh, And with him bear a part; When sorrow flows from eye to eye, And joy from heart to heart;

3 When, free from envy, scorn, and pride, Our wishes all above, Each can his brother's failings hide, And show a brother's love:

4 When love, in one delightful stream, Through every bosom flows; When union sweet, and dear esteem, In every action glows.

5 Love is the golden chain, that binds The happy souls above; And he's an heir of heaven, that finds His bosom glow with love.

Joseph Swain. 1791

469 Evan. C.M.

_Gen. 24:31._ (931)

Come in, beloved of the Lord, Stranger nor foe art thou; We welcome thee with warm accord, Our friend, our brother, now.

2 The hand of fellows.h.i.+p, the heart Of love, we offer thee: Leaving the world, thou dost but part From lies and vanity.

3 Come with us,--we will do thee good, As G.o.d to us hath done; Stand but in him, as those have stood Whose faith the victory won.

4 And when, by turns, we pa.s.s away, And star by star grows dim, May each, translated into day, Be lost and found in him.

James Montgomery.

470 Evan. C.M.

_Covenant Vows._ (933)

Witness, ye men and angels! now, Before the Lord we speak; To him we make our solemn vow, A vow we dare not break;--

2 That, long as life itself shall last, Ourselves to Christ we yield; Nor from his cause will we depart, Or even quit the field.

3 We trust not in our native strength, But on his grace rely; That, with returning wants, the Lord Will all our need supply.

4 Oh! guide our doubtful feet aright, And keep us in thy ways; And, while we turn our vows to prayers, Turn thou our prayers to praise.

Benjamin Beddome, 1790.

471 Dennis. S.M.

_Love to the Brethren._ (992)