1 BEHOLD the Rose of Sharon here, The lily which the valleys bear ; Behold the tree of life that gives Refreshing fruit and healing leaves. 2 Amongst the thorns so lilies shine, Amongst wild gourds the noble vine; So in mine eyes my Saviour proves, Amidst a thousand meaner loves. 3 Beneath his cooling shade I sat, To shield me from the burning heat; Of heavenly fruit he spreads a feast, To feed my eyes and please my taste. 4 Kindly he brought me to the place Where stands the banquet of his grace; He saw me faint, and o'er my head The banner of his love he spread.
5 With living bread and genʼrous wine He cheers this sinking heart of mine; And opening his own heart to me, He shews his thoughts how kind they be.
6 O never let my Lord depart,
But rest and dwell within my heart; I charge my sins not once to move, Lest they deprive me of his love.
1 WHO is this fair one in distress, That travels from the wilderness ; And prest with sorrows and with sins On her beloved Lord she leans.
2 This is the spouse of Christ our God, Bought with the treasure of his blood; And her request and her complaint Is but the voice of every saint.
3 O let my name engraven stand Both on thy heart and on thy hand; My forehead seal, and let me bear That pledge of love for ever there
4 Stronger than death thy love is known, Which floods of wrath could never drown And earth and hell in vain combine To quench a fire so much divine. 5 But I am jealous of my heart, Lest it should once from thee depart; Then let thy name be well impress'd As a fair signet on my breast.
6 Till thou hast brought me to thy home, Where fears and doubts can never come; Thy countenance let me often see, And when thou hearest, answer me. 7 Come, my beloved, haste away, Cut short the hours of thy delay; Fly, like a youthful hart or roe, Over the hills where spices grow.
1 TO Christ the Lord, let every tongue Its noblest tribute bring;
When he's the subject of the song, Who can refuse to sing?
2 Survey the beauties of his face, And on his glories dwell;
Think of the wonders of his grace, And all his triumphs tell.
3 Majestic sweetness sits enthroned Upon his awful brow;
His head with radiant glories crown'd, His lips with grace o'erflow.
4 He saw us plunged in deep distress, He sped to our relief;
For us he bore the shameful cross, And carried all our grief.
5 His hand a thousand blessings pours Upon our guilty heads;
His presence gilds our darkest hours, And guards our sleeping beds.
6 To him we owe our life and breath, And all the joys we have;
He gives us victory over death, And saves us from the grave.
435. For preparation of heart to worship God aright. 1 LORD! teach thy servants how to pray With reverence and with fear, Though dust and ashes, yet we may, We must to thee draw near.
2 We come, thou God of grace, to thee, Give broken contrite hearts, Give what thine eye delights to see, Truth in the inward parts.
3 Give deep humility—the sense Of godly sorrow give,
A strong desiring confidence To see thy face and live.
4 Give faith in that one Sacrifice, Which can for sin atone,
To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes On Christ-on Christ alone.
5 Give patience still to wait and weep, Though mercy long delay,
Courage our fainting souls to keep, And trust thee, though thou slay.
6 Give these, and then thy will be done, Thus strengthen'd with all might, We, through thy Spirit and thy Son, Shall pray, and pray aright.
436. Meditation on entering Church. 1 NOT here, as to the Prophet's eye, The Lord upon his throne appears, Nor seraph tongues responsive cry Holy! thrice holy! in our ears.
2 Yet God is present in this place, Veiled in serener majesty,
So full of glory, truth, and grace, That faith alone such light can see.
3 Nor as he in the temple taught,
Is Christ within these walls reveal'd; When blind, and deaf, and dumb were brought, Lepers, and lame, and all were heal'd.
4 Yet here when two or three shall meet, Or thronging multitudes are found, All may sit down at Jesu's feet, And hear from him the joyful sound.
1 WHERE is it mothers learn their love? In every Church a fountain springs, O'er which th' eternal Dove Hovers on softest wings.
2 What sparkles in that lucid flood Is water by gross mortals eyed; But seen by faith 'tis blood
Out of a dear friend's side!
3 A few calm words of faith and prayer, A few bright drops of holy dew Shall work a wonder there Earth's charmers never knew.
4 O happy arms, where cradled lies, And ready for the Lord's embrace, That precious sacrifice-
The darling of his grace.
5 Blest eyes that see the smiling gleam Upon the slumb'ring features glow, When the life-giving stream
Touches the tender brow!
6 Or when the holy cross is sign'd, And the young soldier duly sworn, With true and fearless mind
To serve the virgin-born.
7 But happiest ye who seal'd and blest, Back to your arms your treasure take, With Jesu's mark impress'd,
To nurse for Jesu's sake.
8 O tender gem, and full of heaven! Not in the twilight stars on high, Not in moist flowers at even, See we our God so nigh.
9 Sweet one, make haste and know him too, Thine own adopting Father love,
That like thine earliest dew Thy dying sweets may prove.
1 OH say not, dream not, heavenly notes To childish ears are vain ;
That the young mind at random floats, And cannot reach the strain.
2 Dim or unheard the words may fall, And yet the heaven taught mind May learn the sacred air, and all The harmony unwind.
3 Was not our Lord a little child, Taught by degrees to pray; By father dear, and mother mild, Instructed day by day.
And loved he not of heaven to talk, With children in his sight;
To meet them in his daily walk,
And to his arms invite.
5 What though around his throne of fire The everlasting chant
Be wafted from the seraph choir, In glory jubilant.
6 Yet stoops he ever pleased to mark Our rude essays of love;
Faint as the pipe of wakening lark, Heard by some twilight grove.
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