Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 53

3 In honor to his name, Reflect that sacred light, And loud that grace proclaim, Which makes thy darkness bright; Pursue his praise, Till sovereign love In worlds above The glory raise.

320. 8s. & 7s. M. Urwick's Coll.

Desiring Christ's Triumph.

1 O thou Sun of glorious splendor, Shine with healing in thy wing; Chase away these shades of darkness; Holy light and comfort bring.

2 Let the heralds of salvation Round the world with joy proclaim, "Death and h.e.l.l are spoiled and vanquished Through the great Immanuel's name."

3 Take thy power, almighty Saviour; Claim the nations for thine own; Reign, thou Lord of life and glory, Till each heart becomes thy throne.

4 Then the earth, o'erspread with glory, Decked with heavenly splendor bright Shall be made Jehovah's dwelling-- As at first, the Lord's delight.

321. H. M. Brown.

Millennium Hymn.

1 Isles of the south, awake!

The song of triumph sing; Let mount, and hill, and vale, With hallelujahs ring: Shout, for the idol's overthrown, And Israel's G.o.d is G.o.d alone.

2 Wild wastes of Afric, shout!

Your shackled sons are free; No mother wails her child 'Neath the banana-tree: No slave-ship dashes on thy sh.o.r.e; The clank of chains is heard no more.

3 Shout, vales of India, shout!

No funeral fires blaze high; No idol song rings loud, As rolls the death-car by: The banner of the cross now waves Where Christian heralds made their graves.

4 Shout, hills of Palestine!

Have you forgot the groan, The spear, the thorn, the cross, The wine-press trod alone, The dying prayer that rose from thee, Thou garden of Gethsemane?

5 Hail, glad, millennial day!

O, shout, ye heavens above!

To-day ye nations sing The song, redeeming love: Redeeming love the song shall be: Hail, blessed year of jubilee!

322. L. P. M. H. Ballou.

Kingdom of Christ.

1 To Christ, the Son, the Father spake: Lo, ask of me, and I will make The heathen to thy sceptre bend; The utmost parts of all the earth Are thine inheritance by birth, And wide thine empire shall extend.

2 Now Jesus waves his sceptre high, Unfurls his banners in the sky, While loud the gospel trumpets sound: His enemies with sore dismay, Retire in haste and yield the day, While trophies to the Lord abound.

3 Before him kings and tyrants fall, Detest their crowns, and on him call, And he a pardon free doth give: The world in sin was dead before; To life the world he will restore, And in him all the world shall live.

4 O Lord, thy government shall be Extended wide from sea to sea, And long thy sceptre thou shalt hold; As long as sun or moon shall shine, Thou King of earth shalt reign divine, The mysteries of thy grace unfold.

REPENTANCE AND REFORMATION.

323. 7s. M. Milman.

Prayer for Mercy in Spiritual Need.

1 Lord, have mercy when we pray Strength to seek a better way; When our wakening thoughts begin First to loathe their cherished sin; When our weary spirits fail, And our aching brows are pale; When our tears bedew thy word; Then, O then, have mercy, Lord.

2 Lord, have mercy when we lie On the restless bed and sigh,-- Sigh for death, yet fear it still; From the thought of former ill; When the dim, advancing gloom Tells us that our hour is come; When is loosed the silver cord; Then, O then, have mercy, Lord.

3 Lord, have mercy, when we know First how vain this world below: When its darker thoughts oppress, Doubts perplex, and fears distress; When the earliest gleam is given Of the bright but distant heaven; Then thy fostering grace afford; Then, O then, have mercy, Lord.

324. C. M. Village Hymns.

The Prodigal's Return.

1 The long-lost son, with streaming eyes, From folly just awake, Reviews his wanderings with surprise; His heart begins to break.

2 "I starve," he cries, "nor can I bear The famine in this land, While servants of my Father share The bounty of his hand.

3 "With deep repentance I'll return And seek my Father's face; Unworthy to be called a son, I'll ask a servant's place."

4 Far off the Father saw him move, In pensive silence mourn, And quickly ran with arms of love, To welcome his return.

5 O, let thy boundless mercy shine On my benighted soul, Correct my pa.s.sions, mend my heart, And all my fears control.

325. L. M. 6l. Wesley's Coll.