120

ND is there, Lord, a cross for me,

A As through this wilderness I stray,

Which, if I would, I must not flee,
But thy divine command obey?

I would not, Lord, pass by that cross,
For thou hast placed it in my way;
To turn aside would be my loss,
I therefore lift
heart and pray :-

my

take

Shew me the cross that I must bear;
Bend my proud heart, that I may
In holy faith and humble prayer,
The cross of shame, for thy dear sake:
For thou didst take a cross for me,
And on it all my sins didst bear;
Its agony thou didst not flee,
That in thy glory I might share.

Then I will take my cross with joy,
And bear it onward to the end;
My shame and pride, O Lord, destroy,
My faith and hope on thee depend.

Thou soon wilt take the cross away,
And place the crown upon my brow,
In that bright world of endless day,
Where I no more a cross shall know.

121

JESUS, I my cross have taken,

All to leave and follow thee.

Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou, from hence, my all shalt be.

Perish every fond ambition,

All I've sought, and hoped, and known : Yet how rich is my condition!

God and heaven are still mine own. Let the world despise and leave me : They have left my Saviour too. Human hearts and looks deceive me: Thou art not, like them, untrue. And whilst thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might, Foes may hate, and friends disown me; Shew thy face, and all is bright. Man may trouble and distress me, 'Twill but drive me to thy breast; Life with trials hard may press me, Heaven will bring me sweeter rest; O'tis not in grief to harm me, While thy love is left to me; O'twere not in joy to charm me, Were that joy unmix'd with thee. Soul! then, know thy full salvation; Rise o'er sin and fear and care; Joy to find, in every station, Something still to do or bear. Think what Spirit dwells within thee: What a Father's smiles are thine : What a Saviour died to win thee: Child of heaven, canst thou repine? Haste thee on from grace to glory, Arm'd by faith and wing'd by prayer: Heaven's eternal days before thee:

God's own hand shall guide thee there.

Soon shall close thine earthly mission:
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days:
Hope shall change to full fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

122

NEA

EARER, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee;

E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me;

Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

Though like a wanderer,

The sun gone down,

Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone,

Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

There let my way appear
Steps unto heaven,

All that thou sendest me

In mercy given;

Angels to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

Then with my waking thoughts

Bright with thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs

Bethel I'll raise;

So by my woes to be

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!

123

And when on joyful wing,
Cleaving the sky;

Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly;

Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

WED by a mortal's frown, shall I

most high?

How then should I before Him stand;
How meet the terrors of his hand?

Shall I, to please the thoughtless throng,
Soften thy truths, and smooth my tongue;
Or, lured with idle pleasures, flee
The cross, O Lord, endured by thee?

And what is man, his pride and power?
The passing vapour of an hour:
Lord, to thyself my spirit raise,
Above the world, its scorn or praise.

My life, my heart, my soul are thine;
Bright in thine image may I shine:
In me fulfil thy pleasure, Lord;
Thy will be done, thy name adored!

124

ESUS, and shall it ever be,

JES

A mortal man ashamed of thee? Scorn'd be the thought by rich and poor! O may I scorn it more and more!

Ashamed of Jesus? Of that Friend
On whom for heaven my hopes depend?
It must not be: be this
my shame,
That I no more revere his Name!.

Ashamed of Jesus? Yes, I may,
When I've no crimes to wash away;
No tears to wipe, no joy to crave,
No fears to quell, no soul to save.

Till then (nor is the boasting vain),
Till then, I'll boast a Saviour slain :
And, O may this my portion be,
That Saviour not ashamed of me!

125

MOUN

[OUNT, my soul, to things above,
Speed thy flight from earthly love,
Through this thorny desert flow
Streams of bitterness and woe;
Here thy portion's to complain,
Grieve for sin, and grieve again;
Here thy faith, like silver tried,
Must the fiery test abide.

Yet exult in Christ, my soul!
He can all thy griefs control,
He a sovereign balm can find,
Healing to the wounded mind;
Only trust the Prince of Peace,
Soon shall all thy sorrows cease
Look to heaven thy purchased home,
Wait till Jesus quickly come.