Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 134

Prospect of Universal Peace.

1 O'er mountain tops, the mount of G.o.d, In latter days, shall rise Above the summits of the hills, And draw the wondering eyes.

2 The beams that s.h.i.+ne from Zion's hill Shall lighten every land; The King who reigns in Salem's towers Shall the whole world command.

3 Nor war shall rage, nor hostile strife Disturb those happy years; To ploughshares men shall beat their swords, To pruning-hooks their spears.

4 No longer host, encountering host, Shall crowds of slain deplore; They'll lay the martial trumpet by, And study war no more.

812. 7s. M. Lewins Mead Coll.

The Blessings of Peace.

1 Peace! the welcome sound proclaim, Dwell with rapture on the theme; Loud, still louder, swell the strain: Peace on earth, good will to men.

2 Breezes! whispering soft and low, Gently murmur as ye blow, Breathe the sweet celestial strain, Peace on earth, good will to men.

3 Ocean's billows! far and wide Rolling in majestic pride: Loud still louder, swell the strain, Peace on earth, good will to men.

4 Christians! who these blessings feel, And in adoration kneel; Loud, still louder, swell the strain, Praise to G.o.d, good will to men.

813. 8s. 7s. & 6s. M. Miss Fletcher.

Compa.s.sion for the Sinning.

1 Think gently of the erring!

Lord, let us not forget, However darkly stained by sin, He is our brother yet.

Heir of the same inheritance!

Child of the self-same G.o.d!

He hath but stumbled in the path, We have in weakness trod.

2 Speak gently to him, brother; Thou yet mayst lead him back, With holy words, and tones of love, From misery's th.o.r.n.y track.

Forget not thou hast often sinned, And sinful yet must be: Deal gently with the erring one, As G.o.d hath dealt with thee.

814. 10s. M. Anonymous.

The Same.

1 Breathe thoughts of pity o'er a brother's fall, But dwell not with stern anger on his fault; The grace of G.o.d alone holds thee, holds all; Were that withdrawn, thou, too, wouldst swerve and halt.

2 Send back the wand'rer to the Saviour's fold; That were an action worthy of a saint; But not in malice let the crime be told, Nor publish to the world the evil taint.

3 The Saviour suffers when his children slide; Then is his holy name by men blasphemed And he afresh is mocked and crucified, Even by those his bitter death redeemed.

4 Rebuke the sin, and yet in love rebuke; Feel as one member in another's pain; Win back the soul that his fair path forsook, And mighty and rejoicing is thy gain!

815. L. M. Mrs. Livermore.

Reclaiming Power of Love.

1 Jesus, what precept is like thine, "Forgive, as ye would be forgiven!"

If heeded, O what power divine Would then transform our earth to heaven.

2 Not by the harsh or scornful word, Should we our brother seek to gain, Not by the prison or the sword, The shackle, or the clanking chain.

3 But from our spirits there must flow A love that will his wrong outweigh; Our lips must only blessings know, And wrath and sin shall die away.

4 'Twas heaven that formed the holy plan To bring the wanderer back by love; Thus let us win our brother, man, And imitate thee, G.o.d above!

816. L. M. Miss Fletcher.

For the Prisoner.

1 Father! we pray for those who dwell Within the prison's gloomy cell!

For those whose souls are bending low Beneath the weight of guilt and woe.

2 Thy love hath kept our th.o.r.n.y way And saved us from sin's iron sway; Our brethren in a weaker hour Have yielded to temptation's power.

3 Teach us with humble hearts to feel, How darkly on our brows the seal Of guilt might now perchance be set, Had we the same temptation met.

4 Then while the error we would shun, We still would aid the erring one To turn from sin's unpitying sway, To virtue's fair and pleasant way.

817. L. M. Miss Edgarton.