CONTENTS
PAGE [I. Voyagers] 9 [II. The Burning Bush] 12 [III. Children in the Market-Place] 14 [IV. Jesus Return] 16 [V. One in Christ] 19 [VI. Foundations] 21 [VII. Victoria] 23 Three Earlier Hymns [Hymn of Labor] 27 [Hymn of Joy] 29 [Peace Hymn of the Republic] 31
I
VOYAGERS
“The sea is his, and he made it.”—Ps. XCV:5.
O Maker of the Mighty Deep
Whereon our vessels fare,
Above our life’s adventure keep
Thy faithful watch and care.
In Thee we trust, whate’er befall;
Thy sea is great, our boats are small.
We know not where the secret tides
Will help us or delay,
Nor where the lurking tempest hides,
Nor where the fogs are gray.
We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;
Thy sea is great, our boats are small.
When outward bound we boldly sail
And leave the friendly shore,
Let not our heart of courage fail
Until the voyage is o’er.
We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;
Thy sea is great, our boats are small.
When homeward bound we gladly turn,
O bring us safely there,
Where harbor-lights of friendship burn
And peace is in the air.
We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;
Thy sea is great, our boats are small.
Beyond the circle of the sea,
When voyaging is past,
We seek our final port in Thee;
O bring us home at last.
In Thee we trust, whate’er befall;
Thy sea is great, our boats are small.
8.6.8.6.4.4.4.4
II
THE BURNING BUSH
“I will now turn aside and see this great sight.”—Exod. III:3.
Thy wisdom and Thy might appear,
Eternal God, through every year;
From day to day, from hour to hour,
Thy works reveal self-ordered power.
We worship Thee whose will hath laid
Thy sovereign rule on all things made;
The faithful stars, the fruitful earth,
Obey Thy laws that gave them birth.
Yet Thou canst make a marvel shine
Amid these mighty laws of Thine.
As when Thy servant Moses came
And saw the bush with Thee aflame.
We turn aside and tread the ways
That lead through wonder up to praise;
Wherever Thou by man art found
The homely earth is holy ground.
If Thou hast formed us out of dust
Through ages long,—in Thee we trust;
O grant us in our souls to see
The living flame that comes from Thee.
L. M.
III
CHILDREN IN THE MARKET-PLACE
“They are like children in the market-place.”—Luke VII:32.
Like children in the market-place
Who weary of their play,
We turn from folly’s idle race
And come to Thee today.
O Jesus, teller of the tale
That never will grow old,
Thy words of living truth prevail
Our listening hearts to hold.
Tell us of Father-love that speaks
Peace to the wandering child;
Of valiant Shepherd-love that seeks
The lost sheep in the wild;
Of deep Redeemer-love that knows
What sins we need forgiven,
And on the Magdalen bestows
The purest joy of Heaven.
Tell us of faith that’s like a sword,
And hope that’s like a star;
How great the patient soul’s reward,
How blest the loyal are.
Tell us of courage like a wall
No storm can batter down;
Tell us of men who venture all
For Thee, and win a crown.
Tell us that life is not a game,
But real and brave and true;
A journey with a glorious aim,
A quest to carry through.
Tell us that though our wills are weak
And though we children be,
The everlasting good we seek
We can attain through Thee.
C. M. D.
IV
JESUS RETURN
”I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”—St. John XIV:18.
Return, dear Lord, to those who look
With eager eyes that yearn
For Thee among the garden flowers;
After the dark and lonely hours,
As morning light return.
Return to those who wander far,
With lamps that dimly burn,
Along the troubled road of thought,
Where doubt and conflict come unsought,—
With inward joy return.
Return to those on whom the yoke
Of life is hard and stern;
Renew the hope within their breast,
Draw them to Thee and give them rest;
O Friend of Man, return.
Return to this war-weary world,
And help us all to learn
Thy secret of victorious life,
The love that triumphs over strife,—
O prince of Peace, return.
Jesus, we ask not now that day
When all men shall discern
Thy coming with the angelic host;
Today, to all who need Thee most,
In silent ways, return!
8.6.8.8.6
V
ONE IN CHRIST
“Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold.”—St. John X:16.
No form of human framing,
No bond of outward might,
Can bind Thy Church together, Lord,
And all her flocks unite;
But, Jesus, Thou hast told us
How unity must be:
Thou art with God the Father one,
And we are one in Thee.
The mind that is in Jesus
Will guide us into truth,
The humble, open, joyful mind
Of ever-learning youth;
The heart that is in Jesus
Will lead us out of strife,
The giving and forgiving heart
That follows love in life.
Wherever men adore Thee,
Our souls with them would kneel;
Wherever men implore Thy help,
Their trouble we would feel;
And where men do Thy service,
Though knowing not Thy sign,
Our hand is with them in good work,
For they are also Thine.
Forgive us, Lord, the folly
That quarrels with Thy friends,
And draw us nearer to Thy heart
Where every discord ends;
Thou art the crown of manhood,
And Thou of God the Son;
O Master of our many lives,
In Thee our life is one.
7.6.8.6.D.
VI
FOUNDATIONS
”Those things which cannot be shaken”—Heb. XII:28.
Now again the world is shaken,
Tempests break on sea and shore;
Earth with ruin overtaken,
Trembles while the storm-winds roar.
He abideth who confideth,
God is God forevermore.
Thrones are falling, heathen raging,
Peoples dreaming as of yore
Vain imaginations, waging
Man with man, unmeaning war.
He abideth who confideth,
Christ is King forevermore.
Human wisdom in confusion,
Casts away the forms it wore;
Ancient error, new illusion,
Lose the phantom fruit they bore,
He abideth who confideth,
Truth is truth forevermore.
Right eternal, Love immortal,
Built the House where we adore;
Mercy is its golden portal,
Virtue its unshaken floor.
He abideth who confideth,
God is God forevermore.
8.7.8.7.4.4.7.
VII
VICTORIA
“Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”—St. John XVI:33.
Thy victory is in the heart,
Thy kingdom is within;
When outward pride and pomp depart,
Thy glory doth begin.
Thine army, ever in the field,
Is led by love and light;
Thy followers fall but never yield,
Triumphant in the right.
O King most meek and wonderful,
Grant us among Thy host,
To follow Thee, to fight for Thee,
Knights of the Holy Ghost.
C. M.