known as "Lyra Fidelium." These facts of its credal foundation and origin as an outburst of joy and confidence over the defence of the Church make it a true hymn of the Church, one which is especially appropriate for us on Church festivals. We give herewith those stanzas which are most familiar and most widely used.

A FESTIVAL HYMN ON THE CHURCH

The Church's one foundation

Is Jesus Christ her Lord;

She is His new creation

By water and the Word;

From heaven He came, and sought her

To be His holy Bride,

With His own blood He bought her,

And for her life He died.

Elect from every nation,

Yet one o'er all the earth,

Her charter of salvation

One Lord, one Faith, one Birth;

One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy Food,
And to one Hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

Though with a scornful wonder

Men see her sore opprest,

By schisms rent asunder,

By heresies distrest;

Yet saints their watch are keeping,

Their cry goes up, "How long?"

And soon the night of weeping

Shall be the morn of song.

Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace for evermore;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious

Shall be the Church at rest.

A hymn which has found a place among the hymns which will live and which is known especially as the author's hymn by the title which is often given to it, "Dr. Dwight's Hymn," is that hymn from the pen of Yale's distinguished President which breathes in rhythmic poetry the spirit of David's beautiful "Song of Degrees." The hymn is usually sung to the tune St. Thomas, to which tune it was set by Aaron Williams, who does not claim authorship for the music, which while not credited to Handel, is generally believed to be a production of that master musician.

DR. DWIGHT'S HYMN

I love Thy Zion, Lord,

The house of Thine abode;

The Church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious Blood.

I love Thy Church, O God!
Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
And graven on Thy hand.

For her my tears shall fall;
For her my prayers ascend:
To her my cares and toils be given
Till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy

I prize her heavenly ways,

Her sweet communion, solemn vows,

Her hymns of love and praise.

Jesus, Thou Friend divine.

Our Saviour and our King,

Thy hand from every snare and foe
Shall great deliverance bring.

Sure as Thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be given

The brightest glories earth can yield,
And brighter bliss of heaven.

Among the seven hundred and sixty-five hymns written by Thomas Kelly is one on the safety of the Church which is worthy of a place in any good hymn book. The author, who was a son of an eminent Irish judge, was educated with a view to the law; but through spiritual conviction gave himself to the work of the ministry. With Rowland Hill, because of his earnest evangelical preaching, he was inhibited by the Archbishop of Dublin and compelled to preach in unconsecrated buildings. He eventually seceded from the Established Church and erected a number of places of worship in which he conducted worship and preached. This insight into the life of the author will materially increase our appreciation of his hymn in which he sings of the safety of the Church.

HYMN ON THE SAFETY OF THE CHURCH

Zion stands with hills surrounded;

Zion kept by power divine;

All her foes shall be confounded,

Though the world in arms combine.

Happy Zion,

What a favored lot is thine!

Every human tie may perish;

Friend to friend unfaithful prove;

Mothers cease their own to cherish;
Heaven and earth at last remove;

But no changes

Can attend Jehovah's love.

In the furnace God may prove thee,

Thence to bring thee forth more bright,
But can never cease to love thee;

Thou art precious in His sight:
God is with thee,

God, thine everlasting Light.

A hymn which emphasizes the security of the Church and which is growing in favor in all portions of it is Bishop A. Cleveland Cox's, "O Where are Kings and Empires Now." This hymn, which was first published in "The Churchman" in 1839, is a part of Bishop Cox's ballad, "Chelsea." Amid the rise and fall of nations we in the light of history see the full significance of this meaningful hymn.

HYMN ON THE SECURITY OF THE CHURCH

O where are kings and empires now,

Of old that went and came?

But, Lord, Thy Church is praying yet,
A thousand years the same.

We mark her goodly battlements,
And her foundations strong;
We hear within the solemn voice
Of her unending song,

For not like kingdoms of the world
Thy holy Church, O Lord!

Though earthquake shocks are threatening her,
And tempests are abroad;

Unshaken as th' eternal hills,

Immovable she stands,

A mountain that shall fill the earth,

A house not made with hands.

Ο

CHRISTIAN WAR HYMNS

UT of the heroic struggles of the Thirty Years' War,

which saved for the world the fruit of the sixteenth Me century Reformation, there stands forth one gigantic son of the Vikings, the noble Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden. His name is inseparably linked with one of the really great hymns of the Church— a hymn which was born in the midst of the conflict and is especially expressive of the faith and heroism which characterizes all true believers in the midst of trials and dangers.

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS' BATTLE SONG

Fear not, O little flock, the foe
Who madly seeks your overthrow;

Dread not his rage and power:

What though your courage sometimes faints,
His seeming triumph o'er God's saints
Lasts but a little hour.

Be of good cheer; your cause belongs
To Him who can avenge your wrongs;
Leave it to Him, our Lord.
Though hidden yet from mortal eyes,
Salvation shall for you arise:

He girdeth on His sword!

As true as God's own word is true,
Not earth nor hell with all their crew

Against us shall prevail.

A jest and byword are they grown:
God is with us; we are His own;

Our victory cannot fail.