BLENDEN C. M. D.

Charles E. Kettle, 1876

4

24

go;

1

TWIXT

Our feelings come and go;

Our best estate is tossed about

In ceaseless ebb and flow;

No mood of feeling, form of thought,

Is constant for a day;

But Thou, O Lord, Thou changest not: The same Thou art alway.

2 I grasp Thy strength, make it mine own, My heart with peace is blest;

I lose my hold, and then comes down
Darkness, and cold unrest.

Let me no more my comfort draw

From my frail hold of Thee,

In this alone rejoice with awe,

Thy mighty grasp of me.

That comes but to depart,

To that pure heaven my spirit lift

Where Thou unchanging art;
Lay hold of me with Thy strong grasp,
Let Thy almighty arm

In its embrace my weakness clasp,
And I shall fear no harm.

4 Thy purpose of eternal good

Let me but surely know;

On this I'll lean- let changing mood

And feeling come or go

Glad when Thy sunshine fills my soul,

Not lorn when clouds o'ercast,

Since Thou within Thy sure control

Of love dost hold me fast.

John C. Shairp, 1871

Worlds are charging, heaven beholding;
Thou hast but an hour to fight;
Now, the blazoned cross unfolding,
On, right onward for the right!

3 Sealed to blush, to waver never,
Consecrated, born again,
Sworn to be Christ's soldiers ever,

O for Christ at least be men!
O let all the soul within you

For the truth's sake go abroad!
Strike! let every nerve and sinew
Tell on ages, tell for God.

Arthur Cleveland Coxe, 1840, arr.,
v. 2, line 2 and v. 3, line 2 alt.

The earth so bright,

So full of splendor and of joy,

Beauty and light;

So many glorious things are here, Noble and right.

2 I thank Thee, too, that Thou hast made Joy to abound,

So many gentle thoughts and deeds

Circling us round,

That in the darkest spot of earth Some love is found.

3 I thank Thee more that all our joy Is touched with pain,

That shadows fall on brightest hours, That thorns remain;

So that earth's bliss may be our guide, And not our chain.

Our weak heart clings,

Hast given us joys, tender and true,

Yet all with wings,

So that we see, gleaming on high,
Diviner things.

5 I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept The best in store;

We have enough, yet not too much
To long for more:

A yearning for a deeper peace

Not known before.

6 I thank Thee, Lord, that here our souls, Though amply blest,

Can never find, although they seek,

A perfect rest,

Nor ever shall, until they lean

On Jesus' breast.

Adelaide A. Procter, 1858, v. 1, line 1 alt.