A crown of thorns his temples tore,
Olook, behold the purple gore
Flow from his wounded side;
He hangs upon the cursed tree,
O yes, he died for you and me
That we might heaven obtain.
How mournful did the sight appear,
To his father and mother dear,
When they beheld their son:
Jesus for us such love displayed,
For his tormentors too he prayed,
Father them forgive.
Oh, let us now example take,
All malice let us now forsake,
Our enemies forgive;
Jesus our Savior thus did show,
Such pity to vile man below,
His life he sacrificed.
Without true holiness we know,
Our souls to glory cannot go;
For Jesus Christ hath said,
Nothing unclean shall enter there,
Or in my glory have a share,
Where endless pleasure reigns.
How vain is all the life of men,
How swift their moments fly!
Then like the flowers they fade away,
And soon they droop and die.
Though they to honor should arrive,
Their brows with laurels deck,
Misfortune still would raise her hand,
And their ambition check.
Vain glory will enslave the mind,
It often ruins man,
But like a bubble on the sea
It sinks beneath the hand.
The rose it doth with beauty bloom,
And firm it seems to stand,
The slightest frost will blight its bud,
It fades like mortal man.
The leaves, altho' they fade away,
Still leave a fragrant smell,
'Tis like the memory of friends
When we their virtues tell.
Altho' we dwell in solitude,
Like some neglected flower,
Our virtues still should be the same
As when we're robed with power.
O why does man here spend his strength,
Vain glory to obtain ?
If he but serve his God below,
True honor he will gain.
His brow will wear a diadem,
Wove by a Saviour's hand;
True glory he will there receive,
If he in heaven doth land.
Like Sharon's rose he there will bloom
And never fade away;
His honor ever shall endure
In that eternal day.
[For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual wickedness in high places. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.-Ephesians 6: 12, 14, 15, 16. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty thro God to the pulling down of strong holds.-2 Cor. 10: 4.
Ye soldiers of the cross arise,
And gird your armor on;
Command for marching now is given,
And we must soon be gone.
Our breastplate and our helmet too,
We gird them on with care;
Sword of the spirit too we'll wield,
For victory we'll prepare.
Like soldiers here we must enlist,
And join the holy war; Our conflict will be severe,
But soon will all be o'er.
Our General is the Prince of Peace,
His order we'll obey;
We will not here desert his ranks,
But boldly by him stay.
Now to the field we'll boldly march,
Our Captain 's at our head;
We soon shall land on Canaan's shore,
No danger we will dread.
With pleasure we our arms will ground,
Near to our Captain's feet;
Victory for us he has obtained,
Our souls with joy he'll greet.
With joy we'll lay our armor by
We ne'er shall need it more,
But near our General's side shall stand,
On that delightful shore.
Nothing will there disturb our peace,
Our hearts with joy will beat;
No wars nor tumults will be there,
But victory all complete.
Then palms of victory we shall bear,
When all our conflicts o'er;
Before our King we there shall bo
His name we will adore.
[If yo love me, keep my commandments. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep ny words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.-John 14: 15, 23.
How prone this wretched heart,
To wander from my God!
I'll take Him for my counsellor,
And meditate his word.
When absent from my God,
My tranquil hours they die;
My soul goes mourning like a dove,.
And tears flow from mine eyes.
My heart grows sick and faint,
My comforts all do flee,
Till I return to thee, my God,
And live alone to thee.
To Jesus Christ I'll go,
With confidence I come;
I'll seek to do his righteous will,
While on my journey home.
O, yes, he's promised to
Reward the faithful soul;
His grace to us he will impart,
And faith will make us bold.
If we do love the Lord,
The truth we must obey,
And all his holy precepts keep
And watch as well as pray.
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