3 Chains yet more strong and cruel bind The victims of that deadly thirst

Which drowns the soul, and from the mind Blots the bright image stamped at first. 4 O God of love and mercy, deign

To look on those with pitying eye,
Who struggle with that fatal chain,
And send them succor from on high!
5 Send down, in its resistless might,
Thy gracious Spirit, we implore,
And lead the captive forth to light,
A rescued soul, a slave no more!

Elijah's mantle o'er Elisha cast;

Each age its solemn task may claim but

once:

Make each one nobler, stronger than the last!

2 Anoint them prophets! Make their ears attent

To Thy divinest speech; their hearts

awake

To human need; their lips make eloquent To assure the right, and every evil break. 3 Anoint them priests! strong intercessors they

For pardon, and for charity and peace!

Ah, if with them the world might pass,

astray,

Into the dear Christ's life of sacrifice! 4 Anoint them kings! Aye kingly kings, O Lord!

Anoint them with the spirit of Thy Son; Theirs, not a jewelled crown, a bloodstained sword;

Theirs, by sweet love, for Christ a kingdom won.

5 Make them apostles! Heralds of Thy cross, Forth may they go to tell all realms Thy grace;

Inspired of Thee, may they count all but loss,

And stand at last with joy before Thy

face.

6 O mighty age of prophet-kings, return!
O truth, O faith enrich our urgent time!
Lord Jesus Christ, again with us sojourn :
A weary world awaits Thy reign sublime!

IV. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

281

AMP of our feet, whereby we trace

Our path when wont to stray;

C. M.

Stream from the fount of heavenly grace, Brook by the traveller's way;

2 Bread of our souls, whereon we feed,
True manna from on high;

Our guide and chart, wherein we read
Of realms beyond the sky;

3 Pillar of fire, through watches dark,
And radiant cloud by day;

When waves would 'whelm our tossing bark,

Our anchor and our stay:

4 Word of the everlasting God,
Will of His glorious Son;
Without thee how could earth be trod,
Or heaven itself be won?

5 Lord, grant us all aright to learn
The wisdom it imparts;

And to its heavenly teaching turn,
With simple, childlike hearts.

282

Land our footsteps guideth ;

ORD, Thy Word abideth,

Who its truth believeth
Light and joy receiveth.

2 When our foes are near us,
Then Thy Word doth cheer us,
Word of consolation,

Message of salvation.

3 When the storms are o'er us,
And dark clouds before us,
Then its light directeth,
And our way protecteth.

6s.

283

4 Who can tell the pleasure,
Who recount the treasure,
By Thy Word imparted
To the simple-hearted?
5 Word of mercy, giving
Succor to the living;
Word of life, supplying
Comfort to the dying!
6 Oh, that we discerning
Its most holy learning,

Lord, may love and fear Thee!
Evermore be near Thee!

FA

C. M.

ATHER of mercies! in Thy Word
What endless glory shines!

Forever be Thy Name adored

For these celestial lines.

2 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice Spreads heavenly peace around; And life and everlasting joys

Attend the blissful sound.

3 Oh, may these heavenly pages be
My ever dear delight;

And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.

4 Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be Thou forever near;

Teach me to love Thy sacred Word,
And view my Saviour there.

O Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky;
We praise Thee for the radiance
That from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps,
Shines on from age to age.

2 The Church from her dear Master
Received the gift divine,
And still that light she lifteth
O'er all the earth to shine.
It is the golden casket

Where gems of truth are stored,
It is the heaven-drawn picture
Of Christ, the living Word.
3 It floateth like a banner

Before God's host unfurled;
It shineth like a beacon

Above the darkling world;
It is the chart and compass
That o'er life's surging sea,
'Mid mists, and rocks, and quicksands,
Still guides, O Christ, to Thee.

4 Oh, make Thy Church, dear Saviour,
A lamp of purest gold,

To bear before the nations
Thy true light as of old;

Oh, teach Thy wandering pilgrims
By this, their path to trace,
Till, clouds and darkness ended,
They see Thee face to face.

Also the following:

72 Not by Thy mighty hand.

497 Come, pure hearts, in sweetest measures.