444

Outward Religion.

L. M.

Religion Expressed in Life.

1 So let our lips and lives express
The holy Gospel we profess;

So let our works and virtues shine,
To prove the doctrine all divine.

2 Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The honors of our Saviour, God,
When the salvation reigns within,
And grace
subdues the power of sin.

3 Our flesh and sense must be denied,

WATTS.

Passion and envy, lust and pride,
While justice, temperance, truth, and love,
Our inward piety approve.

4 Religion bears our spirits up,

While we expect that blessed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on his word.

445

WATTS.

C. M.

Christian Warfare.

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 Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,

Whilst others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through stormy seas?

3 Are there no foes for me to face?
Must not I stem the flood?

Is this low world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

4 Sure I must fight, if I would reign.
Increase my courage, Lord;

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.

5 Thy saints, in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer though they die;
They view the triumph from afar,
And seize it with their eye.

6 When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all thy armies shine

In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be thine.

446

C. M.

The Christian's Life.

GISBORNE.

1 A SOLDIER'S course, from battles won
To new-commencing strife;
A pilgrim's, restless as the sun;
Behold the Christian's life!

2 The hosts of darkness pant for spoil
How can our warfare close?
Lonely we tread a foreign soil
How can we hope repose?

3 0! let us seek our heavenly home,
Revealed in sacred lore;

The land whence pilgrims never roam,
Where soldiers war no more;

4 Where grief shall never wound, nor death, Beneath the Saviour's reign;

Nor sin, with pestilential breath,

His holy realm profane;

5 The land where, suns and moons unknown, And night's alternate sway,

Jehovah's ever-burning throne

Upholds unbroken day;

6 Where they who meet shall never part;
Where grace achieves its plan;

And God, uniting every heart,
Dwells face to face with man.

447

448

C. M.

DODDRIDGE.

The Christian Race.

1 AWAKE, my soul! stretch every nerve,
And press with vigor on:

A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown.

2 A cloud of witnesses around
Hold thee in full survey :
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way.

3 'Tis God's all-animating voice
That calls thee from on high;
'Tis his own hand presents the prize

To thine aspiring eye;

4 That prize with peerless glories bright,
Which shall new lustre boast,

When victors' wreaths and monarchs' gems
Shall blend in common dust.

L. M.

The Christian Race.

WATTS

1 AWAKE, our souls,

away, our fears!

Let every trembling thought be gone!

Awake, and run the heavenly race,

And put a cheerful courage on.

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2 True, 't is a strait and thorny road,
And mortal spirits tire and faint;
But they forget the mighty God,

That feeds the strength of every saint.

3 The mighty God, whose matchless power
Is ever new and ever young,

And firm endures, while endless years
Their everlasting circles run.

4 From thee, the overflowing spring,
Our souls shall drink a fresh supply,
While such as trust their native strength
Shall melt away, and droop, and die.

5 Swift as an eagle cuts the air,

We'll mount aloft to thine abode ;
On wings of love our souls shall fly,
Nor tire amidst the heavenly road.

The Christian Warfare.

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 Here giant Danger threatening stands,
Mustering his pale, terrific bands;
There Pleasure's silken banners spread,
And willing souls are captive led.