Thou of life the Fountain art, Rise to all eternity! Charles Wesley [1707-1788] "A CHARGE TO KEEP I HAVE" A CHARGE to keep I have, A God to glorify, A never-dying soul to save, From youth to hoary age, My calling to fulfil, Oh, may it all my powers engage Arm me with jealous care As in Thy sight to live; And oh, Thy servant, Lord, prepare A strict account to give! Help me to watch and pray, Assured, if I my trust betray, I shall forever die. Charles Wesley [1707-1788] CORONATION ALL hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, To crown Him Lord of all! Let high-born seraphs tune the lyre, Before His face who tunes their choir, And crown Him Lord of all! "Holy, Holy, Holy" Crown Him, ye morning stars of light, Now hail the Strength of Israel's might, And crown Him Lord of all! Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, And crown Him Lord of all! Ye seed of Israel's chosen race, Hail Him who saves you by His grace, Hail Him, ye heirs of David's line, Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget Let every tribe and every tongue The Crowned Lord of all! 3543 Edward Perronet [1721-1792] "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY" HOLY, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our songs shall rise to Thee; Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty! God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity! Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea, Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be! Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee, Perfect in power, in love, and purity! Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea; Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty! God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity! Reginald Heber [1783-1826] "THE SON OF GOD GOES FORTH TO WAR" THE Son of God goes forth to war, A kingly crown to gain; His blood-red banner streams afar! Who best can drink his cup of woe, Who patient bears his cross below, Thy martyr first, whose eagle eye 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? A glorious band, the chosen few, On whom the Spirit came; Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew, And mocked the cross and flame! They met the tyrant's brandished steel The lion's gory mane: They bowed their necks, the death to feel! A noble army-men and boys, The matron and the maid,— They climbed the steep ascent of Heaven, O God! to us may grace be given To follow in their train! Reginald Heber [1783-1826] "FROM GREENLAND'S ICY MOUNTAINS" FROM Greenland's icy mountains, From India's coral strand; Where Afric's sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand: Their land from error's chain. What though the spicy breezes In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strown; Can we, whose souls are lighted The joyful sound proclaim; Till each remotest nation Has learnt Messiah's Name. Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, It spreads from pole to pole; In bliss returns to reign. Reginald Heber [1783-1826] LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS GOD moves in a mysterious way, He plants His footsteps in the sea, Deep in unfathomable mines He treasures up His bright designs, Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, His purposes will ripen fast, The bud may have a bitter taste, Blind unbelief is sure to err, And He will make it plain. William Cowper [1731-1800] |