Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 37

3 "Peace from the bosom of his G.o.d, My peace to him I give; And when he kneels before his throne, His trembling soul shall live.

4 "To him protection shall be shown; And mercy from above Descend on those who thus fulfil The perfect law of love."

226. C. H. M. Hemans.

The Agony in Gethsemane.

1 He knelt; the Saviour knelt and prayed, When but his Father's eye Looked, through the lonely garden's shade, On that dread agony: The Lord of high and heavenly birth Was bowed with sorrow unto death.

2 He knew them all,--the doubt, the strife, The faint perplexing dread; The mists that hang o'er parting life All darkened round his head; And the Deliverer knelt to pray; Yet pa.s.sed it not, that cup, away.

3 It pa.s.sed not, though the stormy wave Had sunk beneath his tread; It pa.s.sed not, though to him the grave Had yielded up its dead; But there was sent him, from on high, A gift of strength, for man to die.

4 And was his mortal hour beset With anguish and dismay?

How may we meet our conflict yet In the dark, narrow way?

How, but through him that path who trod?

"Save, or we perish, Son of G.o.d."

227. L. M. Montgomery.

Christ's Pa.s.sion.

1 The morning dawns upon the place, Where Jesus spent the night in prayer; Through brightening glooms behold his face, No form or comeliness is there.

2 Last eve by those he called his own, Betrayed, forsaken or denied, He met his enemies alone, In all their malice, rage, and pride.

3 But hark! he prays;--'tis for his foes; He speaks;--'tis comfort to his friends; Answers;--and Paradise bestows; "'Tis finished!"--here the conflict ends.

4 "Truly, this was the Son of G.o.d!"

--Though in a servant's mean disguise, And bruised beneath the Father's rod, Not for himself,--for man he dies.

228. L. M. W. B. Tappan.

Christ in Gethsemane.

1 'T is midnight; and on Olive's brow The star is dimmed that lately shone; 'T is midnight; in the garden, now, The suffering Saviour prays alone.

2 'T is midnight; and from all removed, The Saviour wrestles lone, with fears; E'en that disciple whom he loved Heeds not his Master's grief and tears.

3 'T is midnight; and for others' guilt The man of sorrows weeps in blood; Yet he that hath in anguish knelt Is not forsaken by his G.o.d.

4 'T is midnight; from celestial plains Is borne the song that angels know; Unheard by mortals are the strains That sweetly soothe the Saviour's woe.

229. C. M. Haweis.

Agony in the Garden.

1 Dark was the night and cold the ground On which the Lord was laid; His sweat like drops of blood ran down; In agony he prayed,--

2 "Father, remove this bitter cup, If such thy sacred will; If not, content to drink it up, Thy pleasure I fulfil."

3 Go to the garden, sinner; see Those precious drops that flow; The heavy load he bore for thee; For thee he lies so low.

4 Then learn of him the cross to bear; Thy Father's will obey; And, when temptations press thee near, Awake to watch and pray.

230. 7s. M. 6l. Montgomery.

Christ our Example in Sufferings.

1 Go to dark Gethsemane, Ye that feel temptation's power, Your Redeemer's conflict see, Watch with him one bitter hour.

Turn not from his griefs away, Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

2 Follow to the judgment-hall, View the Lord of life arraigned: O the wormwood and the gall!

O the pangs his soul sustained!

Shun not suffering, shame or loss; Learn of him to bear the cross.

3 Calvary's mournful mountain climb; There, admiring at his feet, Mark that miracle of time, G.o.d's own sacrifice complete: "It is finished," hear him cry; Learn of Jesus Christ to die.

4 Early hasten to the tomb Where they laid his breathless clay; All is solitude and gloom; --Who has taken him away?

Christ is risen; he meets our eyes-- Saviour, teach us so to rise.

231. C. M. Christian Psalmist.

The Crucifixion of Christ.