Blest thought, for every faithful heart
That pure would still remain,
Yet do its firm but gentle part
Amid the bad and vain.
Good Lord! through this world's troubled way
Thy children's path secure;
And lead them onward, day by day,
Kindly, like Thee, and pure. ́
Be theirs to do Thy work of love,
All erring souls to win;
Amid a sinful world to move,
Yet give no smile to sin.
To Jesus, God the Son, Who came
Lost sinners to restore,
The Father and the Holy Ghost,
Be glory evermore.
HARK! through the courts of Heaven
Voices of Angels sound;
He that was dead now lives again,
He that was lost is found.
God of unfailing grace,
Send down Thy Spirit now;
Raise the dejected soul to hope,
And make the lofty bow.
In countries far from home
On earthly husks we feed;
Back to our Father's house, O Lord,
Our wandering footsteps lead.
Then at each soul's return
The heavenly harp shall sound;
He that was dead now lives again,
He that was lost is found!
To God the Son Who came
Lost sinners to restore,
The Father and the Holy Ghost,
Be glory evermore.
The Fourth Sunday after Trinity.
The hymn, Here hast Thou, Lord, used for the Twentysecond Sunday after Trinity, will serve for the first hymn for this day.
How bright these glorious spirits shine!
Whence all their bright array?
How came they to the blissful seats
Of everlasting day?
Lo! these are they from sufferings great
Who came to realms of light,
And in the blood of Christ have washed
Those robes which shine so bright.
Now with triumphal palms they stand
Before the throne on high,
And serve the God they love amidst
The glories of the sky.
His Presence fills each heart with joy,
Tunes every voice to sing;
And day and night, the sacred courts
With glad Hosannas ring.
Hunger and thirst are felt no more,
Nor suns with scorching ray;
God is their sun, Whose cheering beams
Diffuse eternal day.
The Lamb Who dwells amidst the throne
Shall o'er them still preside,
Feed them with nourishment Divine,
And all their footsteps guide.
Midst pastures green He'll lead His flock,
Where living streams appear,
And God the Lord from every eye
Shall wipe off every tear.
To Thee, Whom all Thy Saints adore,
All earth's and heaven's host,
Be blessing, honour, glory, power,
Son, Sire, and Holy Ghost.
The Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
CREATOR of the rolling flood!
On whom Thy people hope alone;
Who cam'st by water and by blood,
For man's offences to atone ;
Who from the labours of the deep
Didst set Thy servant Peter free,
To feed on earth Thy chosen sheep,
And build an endless Church to Thee.
Grant us, devoid of worldly care,
And leaning on Thy bounteous hand,
To seek Thy help in humble prayer,
And on Thy sacred rock to stand:
And when our livelong toil to crown,
Thy call shall set the spirit free,
To cast with joy our burthen down,
And rise, O Lord, and follow Thee!
To Thee, Whom all Thy Saints adore,
Thy Church on earth, Thy heavenly host,
Be blessing, honour, glory, power,
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
PROMITTIS ET SERVAS.
THY promise, Lord, is our sure stay,
Thy faith immoveable,
To Thee we turn at dawning day,
To Thee our wants we tell.
Man's promise, in the hour of need,
Frail as himself is found,
Which fails, and like the broken reed,
The leaning hand doth wound.
Blessed is he, who in Thy breast,
Himself doth wholly hide;
No whirlwind's power shall break their rest
Who in that Rock abide.
Let our hearts fail, Thy hand shall hold
With sacramental ties ;
Hope, on the mighty pledge made bold,
To endless good doth rise;
Springs to Thy throne on Mercy's beam,
And casts aside her care,
And drinks of the celestial stream
That flows for ever there.
The hymn, Where is Thy victory, used for Easter Even, will serve for the first hymn.
LORD, dare we pray Thee dwell within
Our hearts, defiled with taint of sin?
Signed with the Cross in childhood's morn,
Adopted sons and soldiers sworn,
Then fostered by Thy Church's care,
By praise, by teaching, and by prayer.
Too soon by youth and passion flushed
Baptismal seeds of grace we crushed,
Bade Thee, O Holy Ghost! depart,
And gave to earth our earthly heart;
Yet who save Thee can youth renew,
And quench its fires in quickening dew?
And who, in manhood's noonday beam,
Can lead, save Thee, to comfort's stream?
O if Thou seest us erring still,
O bend to Thine our stubborn will,
And bring us to Thy fold again,
(If need) by chastisements and pain.
Bring us by sickness and by health,
By tribulation, and by wealth;
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