2 Vain are our fancies, airy flights,
If faith be cold and dead;
None but a living power unites
To Christ the living head.
3 'Tis faith that changes all the heart;
'Tis faith that works by love;
That bids all sinful joys depart,
And lifts the thoughts above.
4 'Tis faith that conquers earth and hell
By a celestial power;
This is the grace that shall prevail
In the decisive hour.
Self-denial. Mark, viii. 34.
1 AND must I part with all I have,
My dearest Lord, for thee?
It is but right! since thou hast done
Much more than this for me.
2 Yes, let it go !-One look from thee
Will more than make amends
For all the losses I sustain
Of credit, riches, friends.
3 Ten thousand worlds, ten thousand lives,
How worthless they appear,
Compared with thee, supremely good!
Divinely bright and fair.
4 Thy favor, Lord, is endless life,—
Let me that life obtain,
Then I renounce all earthly joys,
And glory in my gain.
1 BROAD is the road that leads to death,
And thousands walk together there;
But wisdom shows a narrow path,
With here and there a traveler.
2 Deny thyself, and take thy cross,
Is the Redeemer's great command!
Nature must count her gold but dross,
If she would gain this heavenly land.
3 The fearful soul that tires and faints,
And walks the ways of God no more,
Is but esteemed almost a saint,
And makes his own destruction sure.
4 Lord, let not all my hopes be vain ;
Create my heart entirely new:
Which hypocrites could ne'er attain,
Which false apostates never knew.
Watchfulness and prayer.
1 ALAS, what hourly dangers rise!
What snares beset my way!
To heaven O let me lift mine eyes,
And hourly watch and pray.
2 How oft my mournful thoughts complain,
And melt in flowing tears!
My weak resistance!-ah, how vain!
How strong my foes and fears!
3 O gracious God! in whom I live,
My feeble efforts aid;
Help me to watch, and pray, and strive,
Though trembling and afraid.
4 Increase my faith-increase my hope,
When foes and fears prevail;
And bear my fainting spirit up,
Or soon my strength will fail.
5 O keep me in thy heavenly way,
And bid the tempter flee;
And let me never, never stray
From happiness and thee.
Love to the creatures dangerous.
1 HOW vain are all things here below!
How false, and yet how fair!
Each pleasure hath its poison too,
And every sweet a snare.
2 The brightest things below the sky
Give but a flattering light;
We should suspect some danger nigh,
Where we possess delight.
3 Our dearest joys, and nearest friends,-
The partners of our blood,-
How they divide our wavering minds,
And leave but half for God!
4 The fondness of a creature's love,
How strong it strikes the sense!
Thither the warm affections move,
Nor can we call them thence.
5 Dear Saviour! let thy beauties be
My soul's eternal food;
And grace command my heart away
From all created good.
1 AWAKE, my soul! lift up thine eyes;
See where thy foes against thee rise,
In long array, a numerous host;
Awake, my soul! or thou art lost.
2 See where rebellious passions rage,
And fierce desires and lusts engage;
The meanest foe of all the train
Has thousands and ten thousands slain.
3 Thou treadest on enchanted ground;
Perils and snares beset thee round;
Beware of all, guard every part,-
But most the traitor in thy heart.
4 Put on the armor, from above,
Of heavenly truth, and heavenly love,
The terror and the charm repel,
And powers of earth and powers of hell.
1 STAND up, my soul, shake off thy fears,
And gird the gospel armor on;
March to the gates of endless joy,
Where Jesus, thy great Captain's gone.
2 Hell and thy sins resist thy course;
But hell and sin are vanquished foes;
Thy Saviour nailed them to the cross,
And sung the triumph when he rose.
3 Then let my soul march boldly on,-
Press forward to the heavenly gate;
There peace and joy eternal reign,
And glittering robes for conquerors wait.
4 There shall I wear a starry crown,
And triumph in almighty grace,
While all the armies of the skies
Join in my glorious leader's praise.
Watchfulness and prayer inculcated.
1 MY soul, be on thy guard;
Ten thousand foes arise;
The hosts of sin are pressing hard
To draw thee from the skies.
2 O watch, and fight, and pray;
The battle ne'er give o'er;
Renew it boldly every day,
And help divine implore.
3 Ne'er think the victory won,
Nor lay thine armor down:
Thy arduous work will not be done,
Till thou obtain thy crown.
4 Fight on, my soul, till death
Shall bring thee to thy God;
He'll take thee, at thy parting breath,
To his divine abode.
Christian courage and endurance.
1 AM I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own his cause,
Or blush to speak his name?
2 Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
3 Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord:
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.
4 Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer, though they die ;
They see the triumph from afar,
And seize it with their eye.
5 When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all thy armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be thine.
1 A CHARGE to keep I have;
A God to glorify;
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky ;-
2 To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master's will.
3 Arm me with jealous care,
As in thy sight to live;
And O thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give.
4 Help me to watch and pray,
And on thyself rely;
Assured if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.
The watchful servant. Luke, xii. 35-38.
1 YE servants of the Lord,
Each in his office wait,
Observant of his heavenly word,
And watchful at his gate.
2 Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame;
Gird up your loins as in his sight,
For awful is his name.
3 Watch, 't is your Lord's command;
And while we speak he's near;
Mark the first signal of his hand,
And ready all appear.
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