Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 59

356. S. M. L. H. Sigourney.

Active Piety.

1 Servants of Christ, arise, And gird you for the toil; The dew of promise from the skies Already cheers the soil.

2 Go where the sick recline, Where mourning hearts deplore; And where the sons of sorrow pine, Dispense your hallowed lore.

3 Urge, with a tender zeal, The erring child along, Where peaceful congregations kneel, And pious teachers throng.

4 Be faith, which looks above, With prayer, your constant guest, And wrap the Saviour's changeless love A mantle round your breast.

5 So shall you share the wealth, That earth may ne'er despoil, And the blest gospel's saving health Repay your arduous toil.

357. L. M. Steele.

Example of the Saviour.

1 And is the gospel peace and love?

So let our conversation be; The serpent blended with the dove, Wisdom and meek simplicity.

2 Whene'er the angry pa.s.sions rise, And tempt our thoughts or tongues to strife, On Jesus let us fix our eyes, Bright pattern of the Christian life!

3 O, how benevolent and kind!

How mild! how ready to forgive!

Be this the temper of our mind, And his the rules by which we live.

4 Dispensing good where'er he came, The labors of his life were love; If, then, we love our Saviour's name Thus let us our relation prove.

358. S. M. Doddridge.

"Again, I say--Watch!"

1 Ye servants of the Lord, Each in his office wait, Observant of his heavenly word, And watchful at his gate.

2 Let all your lamps be bright, And trim the golden flame; Gird up your loins, as in his sight, For awful is his name.

3 Watch,--'tis your Lord's command; And while we speak, he's near; Mark the first signal of his hand, And ready all appear.

4 O, happy servant he, In such a posture found!

He shall his Lord with rapture see And be with honor crowned.

359. S. M. Bulfinch.

The Use of Present Opportunities.

1 Children of light, awake, At Jesus' call arise, Forth with your leader to partake His toils, his victories.

2 Ye must not idly stand, His sacred voice who hear; Arm for the strife the feeble hand, The holy standard rear.

3 Nought doth the world afford, But toil must be the price; Wilt thou not, servant of the Lord, Then toil for paradise?

4 Awake, ye sons of light, Strive till the prize be won; Far spent already is the night; The day comes brightening on.

360. C. M. H. K. White.

The Christian's Contest, Rest, and Hope.

1 Through sorrow's night and danger's way Amid the deepening gloom, The soldiers of an injured King Are marching to the tomb.

2 Their service done, securely laid In this their last retreat, Unheeded o'er their silent dust The storms of life shall beat.

3 Yet not thus lifeless in the grave The vital spark shall lie; O'er nature's ruins it shall rise, To reach its kindred sky.

4 Then heaven's soft dew o'er every eye Shall shed its mildest rays; And the long silent dust shall wake In strains of endless praise.

361. C. M. Anonymous.

The whole Armor.

1 O, speed thee, Christian, on thy way, And to thy armor cling; With girded loins the call obey That grace and mercy bring.

2 There is a battle to be fought, An upward race to run, A crown of glory to be sought, A victory to be won.

3 O, faint not, Christian, for thy sighs Are heard before His throne; The race must come before the prize, The cross before the crown.