I love Thy church, O God!

Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
And graven on Thy hand.

If e'er to bless Thy sons
My voice or hands deny,
These hands let useful skill forsake,
This voice in silence die.

For her my tears shall fall,
For her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be given
Till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy

I prize her heavenly ways,

Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
Her hymns of love and praise.

Jesus, Thou Friend divine,

Our Saviour and our King,
Thy hand from every snare and foe
Shall great deliverance bring.

Sure as thy Truth shall last,

To Zion shall be given

The brightest glories earth can yield,

And brighter bliss of heaven.

From the Latin of St. Ambrose by Timothy Dwight [1752-1817]

GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY TO ALL PEOPLE

ANGELS from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story

Now proclaim Messiah's birth;

Come and worship,

Worship Christ, the new-born King.

Christ Our Example in Suffering 3549

Shepherds, in the fields abiding,

Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant-light;
Come and worship;

Worship Christ, the new-born King.

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of Nations;
Ye have seen His natal-star;
Come and worship;

Worship Christ, the new-born King.

Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear
Suddenly, the Lord descending,
In His temple shall appear;
Come and worship;

Worship Christ, the new-born King.

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed, for guilt, to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you-break your chains;
Come and worship;

Worship Christ, the new-born King.

James Montgomery [1771-1854]

CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE IN SUFFERING

Go to dark Gethsemane,

Ye that feel the tempter's power;

Your Redeemer's conflict see,

Watch with Him one bitter hour;

Turn not from His griefs away,
Learn of Jesus Christ to pray!

Follow to the judgment hall,
View the Lord of Life arraigned;
O the wormwood and the gall!
O the pangs His soul sustained!

Shun not suffering, shame, or loss,-
Learn of Him to bear the cross!

Calvary's mournful mountain climb;
There, adoring at His feet,
Mark that miracle of time,

God's own sacrifice complete!
"It is finished!" hear the cry;
Learn of Jesus Christ to die!

Early hasten to the tomb

Where they laid His breathless clay;

All is solitude and gloom;

Who hath taken Him away?

Christ is risen! He meets our eyes!

Saviour, teach us so to rise!

James Montgomery [1771-1854]

"JUST AS I AM”

Just as I am, without one plea

But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, though tossed about,
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come!

"Blest Be the Tie That Binds

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am-Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, of that free love,

The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,

Here for a season, then above,

O Lamb of God, I come!

Charlotte Elliott [1789-1871]

'BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS"

BLEST be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Jesus' love;

The fellowship of Christian minds.

Is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne

We pour united prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one,
Our comforts, and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When we at death must part,

Not like the world's our pain;
But one in Christ, and one in heart,
We part to meet again.

From sorrow, toil, and pain,

And sin, we shall be free;

And perfect love and friendship reign

Throughout eternity.

John Fawcett [1740-1817]

"IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST I GLORY"

IN the Cross of Christ I glory,

Towering o'er the wrecks of time,
All the light of sacred story

Gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o'ertake me,
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the Cross forsake me-
Lo! it grows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the Cross the radiance streaming
Adds more luster to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the Cross are sanctified;

Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys, that through all time abide.

In the Cross of Christ I glory,

Towering o'er the wrecks of time,

All the light of sacred story

Gathers round its head sublime.

John Bowring [1792-1872]

"ABIDE WITH ME"

ABIDE with me! Fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away:
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!