1 BEHOLD the Rose of Sharon here,
The lily which the valleys bear ;
Behold the tree of life that gives
Refreshing fruit and healing leaves.
2 Amongst the thorns so lilies shine,
Amongst wild gourds the noble vine;
So in mine eyes my Saviour proves,
Amidst a thousand meaner loves.
3 Beneath his cooling shade I sat,
To shield me from the burning heat;
Of heavenly fruit he spreads a feast,
To feed my eyes and please my taste.
4 Kindly he brought me to the place
Where stands the banquet of his grace;
He saw me faint, and o'er my head
The banner of his love he spread.
5 With living bread and genʼrous wine
He cheers this sinking heart of mine;
And opening his own heart to me,
He shews his thoughts how kind they be.
6 O never let my Lord depart,
But rest and dwell within my heart;
I charge my sins not once to move,
Lest they deprive me of his love.
1 WHO is this fair one in distress,
That travels from the wilderness ;
And prest with sorrows and with sins
On her beloved Lord she leans.
2 This is the spouse of Christ our God,
Bought with the treasure of his blood;
And her request and her complaint
Is but the voice of every saint.
3 O let my name engraven stand
Both on thy heart and on thy hand;
My forehead seal, and let me bear
That pledge of love for ever there
4 Stronger than death thy love is known,
Which floods of wrath could never drown
And earth and hell in vain combine
To quench a fire so much divine.
5 But I am jealous of my heart,
Lest it should once from thee depart;
Then let thy name be well impress'd
As a fair signet on my breast.
6 Till thou hast brought me to thy home,
Where fears and doubts can never come;
Thy countenance let me often see,
And when thou hearest, answer me.
7 Come, my beloved, haste away,
Cut short the hours of thy delay;
Fly, like a youthful hart or roe,
Over the hills where spices grow.
1 TO Christ the Lord, let every tongue
Its noblest tribute bring;
When he's the subject of the song,
Who can refuse to sing?
2 Survey the beauties of his face,
And on his glories dwell;
Think of the wonders of his grace,
And all his triumphs tell.
3 Majestic sweetness sits enthroned
Upon his awful brow;
His head with radiant glories crown'd,
His lips with grace o'erflow.
4 He saw us plunged in deep distress,
He sped to our relief;
For us he bore the shameful cross,
And carried all our grief.
5 His hand a thousand blessings pours
Upon our guilty heads;
His presence gilds our darkest hours,
And guards our sleeping beds.
6 To him we owe our life and breath,
And all the joys we have;
He gives us victory over death,
And saves us from the grave.
435. For preparation of heart to worship God aright.
1 LORD! teach thy servants how to pray
With reverence and with fear,
Though dust and ashes, yet we may,
We must to thee draw near.
2 We come, thou God of grace, to thee,
Give broken contrite hearts,
Give what thine eye delights to see,
Truth in the inward parts.
3 Give deep humility—the sense
Of godly sorrow give,
A strong desiring confidence
To see thy face and live.
4 Give faith in that one Sacrifice,
Which can for sin atone,
To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes
On Christ-on Christ alone.
5 Give patience still to wait and weep,
Though mercy long delay,
Courage our fainting souls to keep,
And trust thee, though thou slay.
6 Give these, and then thy will be done,
Thus strengthen'd with all might,
We, through thy Spirit and thy Son,
Shall pray, and pray aright.
436. Meditation on entering Church.
1 NOT here, as to the Prophet's eye,
The Lord upon his throne appears,
Nor seraph tongues responsive cry
Holy! thrice holy! in our ears.
2 Yet God is present in this place,
Veiled in serener majesty,
So full of glory, truth, and grace,
That faith alone such light can see.
3 Nor as he in the temple taught,
Is Christ within these walls reveal'd;
When blind, and deaf, and dumb were brought,
Lepers, and lame, and all were heal'd.
4 Yet here when two or three shall meet,
Or thronging multitudes are found,
All may sit down at Jesu's feet,
And hear from him the joyful sound.
1 WHERE is it mothers learn their love?
In every Church a fountain springs,
O'er which th' eternal Dove
Hovers on softest wings.
2 What sparkles in that lucid flood
Is water by gross mortals eyed;
But seen by faith 'tis blood
Out of a dear friend's side!
3 A few calm words of faith and prayer,
A few bright drops of holy dew
Shall work a wonder there
Earth's charmers never knew.
4 O happy arms, where cradled lies,
And ready for the Lord's embrace,
That precious sacrifice-
The darling of his grace.
5 Blest eyes that see the smiling gleam Upon the slumb'ring features glow, When the life-giving stream
Touches the tender brow!
6 Or when the holy cross is sign'd, And the young soldier duly sworn, With true and fearless mind
To serve the virgin-born.
7 But happiest ye who seal'd and blest, Back to your arms your treasure take, With Jesu's mark impress'd,
To nurse for Jesu's sake.
8 O tender gem, and full of heaven!
Not in the twilight stars on high,
Not in moist flowers at even,
See we our God so nigh.
9 Sweet one, make haste and know him too, Thine own adopting Father love,
That like thine earliest dew
Thy dying sweets may prove.
1 OH say not, dream not, heavenly notes To childish ears are vain ;
That the young mind at random floats,
And cannot reach the strain.
2 Dim or unheard the words may fall,
And yet the heaven taught mind
May learn the sacred air, and all
The harmony unwind.
3 Was not our Lord a little child,
Taught by degrees to pray;
By father dear, and mother mild,
Instructed day by day.
And loved he not of heaven to talk,
With children in his sight;
To meet them in his daily walk,
And to his arms invite.
5 What though around his throne of fire The everlasting chant
Be wafted from the seraph choir,
In glory jubilant.
6 Yet stoops he ever pleased to mark
Our rude essays of love;
Faint as the pipe of wakening lark,
Heard by some twilight grove.
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