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O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!

There is room in my heart for thee.

3 The foxes found rest, and the birds had their nest

In the shade of the forest tree;

But thy couch was the sod, O thou Son of God,

In the desert of Galilee.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!

There is room in my heart for thee.

4 Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word, That should set thy people free;

But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,

They bore thee to Calvary.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
Thy cross is my only plea.

5 When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing

At thy coming to victory,

Let thy voice call me home, saying, "Yet there is room,

There is room at my side for thee." And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, When thou comest and callest for me.

84

CAL

Amen.

Emily E. S. Elliott, 1864

C.M.

ALM on the listening ear of night
Come heaven's melodious strains,

Where wild Judea stretches far
Her silver-mantled plains.

2 Celestial choirs from courts above
Shed sacred glories there;

And angels, with their sparkling lyres,
Make music on the air.

3 The answering hills of Palestine
Send back the glad reply;

And greet, from all their holy heights,
The Day-spring from on high.

4 O'er the blue depths of Galilee
There comes a holier calm,
And Sharon waves, in solemn praise,
Her silent groves of palm.

5 "Glory to God!" the sounding skies
Loud with their anthems ring,
'Peace to the earth, good will to men,
From heaven's eternal King!"

6 Light on thy hills, Jerusalem! The Saviour now is born:

More bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains Breaks the first Christmas morn.

Edmund H. Sears, 1834

Also the following

349 Once in royal David's city
545 All my heart this night rejoices
546 Silent night, holy night

547 When Christ was born of Mary free
548 Like silver lamps

549 Good Christian men, rejoice

550 Dost thou in a manger lie

551 The first Nowell the angel did say 552 Joy fills our inmost hearts to-day

85

THE

St. Stephen

C.M.

HE Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain;

His blood-red banner streams afar:
Who follows in his train?

2 Who best can drink his cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain;

Who patient bears his cross below,
He follows in his train.

3 The martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on him to save.

4 Like him, with pardon on his tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,

He prayed for them that did the wrong: Who follows in his train?

5 A glorious band, the chosen few, On whom the Spirit came:

Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew, And mocked the cross and flame.

6 They met the tyrant's brandished steel, The lion's gory mane;

They bowed their necks the death to feel: Who follows in their train?

7 A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Saviour's throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.

8 They climbed the steep ascent of heaven Through peril, toil, and pain:

O God, to us may grace be given
To follow in their train. Amen.

Reginald Heber, 1812

Suitable for any martyr's festival.

86

St. John the Evangelist

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On thee the living Rock to rest,
To look on thine unveiled face,
And lean on thy protecting breast;

2 Grant us, O King of mercy, still

To feel thy presence from above, And in thy word and in thy will

L.M.

To hear thy voice and know thy love;

3 And when the toils of life are done,
And nature waits thy just decree,
To find our rest beneath thy throne,
And look in certain hope to thee.

4 To thee, O Jesus, Light of Light,
Whom as their King the saints adore,
Thou strength and refuge in the fight,
Be laud and glory evermore.

Amen.

Reginald Heber, 18271

Also the following

277 Blest are the pure in heart

288 Come, pure hearts, in sweetest measures

1 Published after his death.

87

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Holy Innocents

LORD, the Holy Innocents

L.M.

Laid down for thee their infant life, And martyrs brave and patient saints Have stood for thee in fire and strife.

2 We wear the cross they wore of old,
Our lips have learned like vows to make;
We need not die; we cannot fight;
What may we do for Jesus' sake?

30 day by day each Christian child
Has much to do, without, within;
A death to die for Jesus' sake,
A weary war to wage with sin.

4 When deep within our swelling hearts
The thoughts of pride and anger rise,
When bitter words are on our tongues,
And tears of passion in our eyes;

5 Then we may stay the angry blow,
Then we may check the hasty word,
Give gentle answers back again,
And fight a battle for our Lord.

6 With smiles of peace and looks of love,
Light in our dwellings we may make,
Bid kind good-humour brighten there,
And do all still for Jesus' sake.

7 There's not a child so weak and small
But has his little cross to take,
His little work of love and praise,
That he may do for Jesus' sake

Cecil Frances Alexander, 1850

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