Thy purpose none can stay, Since Thou to bless Thy children. Through all dost make a way.

5 Give, Lord, this consummation
To all our heart's distress,
Our hands, our feet, O strengthen,
In death our spirits bless.
Thy truth and Thy protection
Forevermore we pray;

With these in heavenly glory
Shall end our certain way.

P. Gerhardt.

A. T. Russell, Tr.

293

COME, ye disconsolate, where'er you languish,

Come to the mercy-seat, fervently kneel; Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;

Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot heal.

2 Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure, Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, "Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot cure."

3 Here see the Bread of life; see waters flowing Forth from the throne of God, pure from

above;

Come to the feast of love, come, ever knowing Earth has no sorrow but heav'n can re

move.

Th. Moore.

294

IF THOU but suffer God to guide thee,
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days:
Who trusts in God's unchanging love
Builds on the rock that naught can move.

2 What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs!
What can it help, if thou bewail thee
O'er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

3 All are alike before the Highest;
'Tis easy for our God, we know,
To raise thee up though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low;
True wonders still by Him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to naught.

4 Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving, So do thine own part faithfully,

And trust His word;-though undeserving,
Thou shalt yet find it true for thee;
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.

G. Neumark. C. Winkworth, Tr.

295

ROCK of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy side, a healing flood, Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

2 Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
3 Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly:
Wash me, Savior, or I die!

4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!

296

NEARER, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee,

E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me;

A. M. Toplady.

Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

2 Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be
I: Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

3 There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou sendest me
In mercy given;

Angels to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to Thee, : ||
Nearer to Thee!

4 There with my waking thoughts Bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise;

So by my woes to be

Nearer, my God, to Thee,: || Nearer to Thee!

5 Or if on joyful wing,

Cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly,

Still all my song shall be,
|| Nearer, my God, to Thee,: ||
Nearer to Thee!

S. Adams.

297

LEAD, kindly Light, amid th' encircling

gloom,

Lead Thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet! I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

2 I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on;

I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on!

I loved the garish day; and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

3 So long Thy power has blest me, sure it still Will lead me on

O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone;

And with the morn those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

J. H. Newman.