Sure if our eyes were purg'd to trace The four strong winds of Heaven fast bound, So in thine awful armoury, Lord, Till willing hearts wear quite away The Cross by angel hands impress'd, The seal of glory won and pledge of promis'd rest. Little they dream, those haughty souls So Famine waits, and War with greedy eyes, Till some repenting heart be ready for the skies. Think ye the spires that glow so bright In front of yonder setting sun, Stand by their own unshaken might? No-where th' upholding grace is won, We dare not ask, nor Heaven would tell, But sure from many a hidden dell, From many a rural nook unthought of there, Rises for that proud world the saints' prevailing prayer. On champions blest, in Jesus' name, Ye soar those elder saints to meet, No world of passions to destroy, Your prayers and struggles o'er, your task all praise and joy. HOLY COMMUNION. O GOD of Mercy, God of Might, For now Thy people are allow'd To scale the mount and pierce the cloud, Fresh from th' atoning sacrifice O agony of wavering thought When sinners first so near are brought! "It is my Maker-dare I stay? Thus while the storm is high within My mother Church? and hear thee tell And doubt we yet? thou call'st again ; A voice from Mercy's inmost shrine, Whispering it says to each apart, h" So God loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son." See the Sentences in the Communion Service, after the Con fession. i Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Hear them, kind Saviour-hear thy spouse Thine own dear promise she would plead She pleads by all thy mercies, told Thy chosen witnesses of old, Love's heralds sent to man forgiven, One from the Cross, and one from Heaven k. This, of true Penitents the chief, To the lost spirit brings relief, Lifting on high th' adored Name :— "Sinners to save, Christ Jesus came1." That, dearest of thy bosom Friends, k St. Paul and St. John. This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. m If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. |