ACROSS the sky the shades of night This winter's eve are fleeting: Once more Thy love entreating. And crown us with Thy blessing. And to our lost restore us. 4 We gather up, in this brief hour, The memory of Thy mercies; [skies. Our journey pursue, With vigour arise, Ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.-Matthew xxv. 13. COME, let us anew Our journey pursue, Roll round with the year, And press to our permanent place in the And never stand still till the Master ap Our hearts and our treasure already are 6 We march hand in hand To Immanuel's land; No matter what cheer pear. 2 His adorable will Let us gladly fulfil, By the patience of hope and the labour of love. 3 Our life is a dream; Our time, as a stream And the fugitive moment refuses to stay. 4 The arrow is flown, The moment is gone; Rushes on to our view, and eternity's here. 5 O that each in the day Of His coming may say,, 'I have fought my way through; We meet with on earth; for eternity's I have finished the work Thou didst give near. 7 The rougher our way, The shorter our stay; The tempests that rise me to do.' 6 O that each from his Lord May receive the glad word, 'Well and faithfully done; Shall gloriously hurry our souls to the Enter into My joy, and sit down on My skies. Charles Wesley. 1749. throne.' Charles Wesley. 1750. His name to glorify; And promise, in this sacred hour, 3 The covenant we this moment make, Be ever kept in mind; We will no more our God forsake, 4 We never will throw off His fear, 5 Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 6 To each the covenant blood apply, 0 James v. 11. GOD! how often hath Thine ear To me in willing mercy bowed; While worshipping Thine altar near, Lowly I wept, and strongly vowed; But ah! the feebleness of man, Have I not vowed and wept in vain ? 2 Return, O Lord of hosts! return, Behold Thy servant in distress; My faithlessness again I mourn; Again forgive my faithlessness; And to Thine arms my spirit take, And bless me for the Saviour's sake. 3 In pity for the soul Thou lov'st, Now bid my hateful sin expire; Let me desire what Thou approv'st, Thou dost approve what I desire; And Thou wilt deign to call me Thine, And I will dare to call Thee mine. 4 This day the covenant I sign, The bond of sure and promised peace; Nor can I doubt its power divine, Since sealed with Jesu's blood it is; That blood I trust, that blood alone, And make the covenant peace mine own. 750 Death, Resurrection and Judgment. C.M. 3 Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame, From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same. 4 A thousand ages, in Thy sight, 5 The busy tribes of flesh and blood, 6 Time, like an ever-rolling stream, 7 O God! our help in ages past, Isaac Watts. 1719. A Psalm xc. 9. FEW more years shall roll, A few more seasons come, And we shall be with those that rest O wash me in Thy precious blood, 2 A few more suns shall set O'er these dark hills of time, And we shall be where suns are not, 3 A few more storms shall beat And we shall be where tempests cease, 4 A few more struggles here, A few more partings o'er, A few more toils, a few more tears, 5 A few more Sabbaths here Shall cheer us on our way, And we shall reach the endless rest, 6 'Tis but a little while Who died that we might live, who lives And gay their silken leaves unfold, 2 Nipt by the wind's unkindly blast, The short-lived beauties die away. 3 So blooms the human face divine, When youth its pride of beauty shows; Fairer than spring the colours shine, And sweeter than the virgin rose. 4 Or worn by slowly-rolling years, Or broke by sickness in a day, The fading glory disappears, The short-lived beauties die away. 5 Yet these, new rising from the tomb, With lustre brighter far shall shine; Revive with ever-during bloom, Safe from diseases and decline. 6 Let sickness blast, and death devour, If heaven must recompense our pains: Perish the grass, and fade the flower, If firm the word of God remains. Samuel Wesley, Jun. 1729. |