Love to the Church

3547

ROCK OF AGES

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure-
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfil Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone-
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring—
Simply to Thy Cross I cling;
Naked come to Thee for dress-
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the Fountain fly-
Wash me, Saviour, or I die!

While I draw this fleeting breath,

When my eye-strings break in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment-throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee!

Augustus Montague Toplady [1740-1778]

LOVE TO THE CHURCH

I LOVE Thy kingdom, Lord,

The house of Thine abode,

The church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.

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,

3551

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]