Mums and It was spoken for the Master

It was spoken for the Master
Oh, how lovingly it fell!
It was uttered in a whisper,
Who had breathed it none could tell.
It was spoken for the Master,
Only just a little word,
But the chords that long had slumbered,
In a grief worn-heart were stirred.

Oh, we know not when we scatter,
Where the precious seed will fall,
But we work and trust in Jesus,
For he watcheth over all.
We may sow beside the waters,
Of affliction, it may be,
But the fruits of earnest labor
At the reaping we shall see.

When our busy toil is over,
From the vineyard when we go,
We shall find a store of blessings
That on earth we could not know.
We shall wonder at the brightness
Of the crowns we then shall wear,
But the Lord himself will tell us
Why he placed the jewels there.

Refrain:
Gentle words of patient kindness,
Tho’ unheeded oft they seem,
To the fold of grace may gather
Souls of which we little dream.

Lizzie Edwards

Winter Death and There’s naught on earth to rest on

There’s naught on earth to rest on,
All things are changing here;
The smiles of joy we gaze on;
The friends we hold so dear.
One Friend alone is changeless,
The One too oft forgot,
Whose love hath stood for ages,
For Jesus changeth not.

The sweetest flow’r that blooms here,
And sheds its fragrance round,
Ere ev’ning comes has withered,
And lies upon the ground.
The dark and dreary desert,
That hath not one green spot
Abounds in living pastures;
With him who changeth not.

Clouds oft o’ercast our sunshine,
So beautiful, so bright,
And while we still admire it,
It darkens into night.
One sky alone is cloudless,
Where darkness cometh not;
‘Tis found alone with Jesus,
For Jesus changeth not.

And friendship’s smile avails not
To cheer us here below,
For smiles are oft deceitful,
And lure to overthrow.
One smile alone can gladden,
Whate’er the pilgrim’s lot;
It is the smile of Jesus,
For Jesus changeth not.

And while stern time moves onward,
And nears eternity,
The hand of death brings changes
In ev’ry thing we see.
But faith has found a Savior
Whose promise faileth not;
Our life is hid with Jesus,
And Jesus changeth not.

Frederick Whitfield

Hollyhocks, Zinnias and Praise him for his glory, praise him for his grace

Praise him for his glory, praise him for his grace,
For his help adapted to each time and place,
For his promised presence all the pilgrim way,
For the flaming pillar, and the cloud by day.

Praise for free forgiveness, power which makes us whole,
For his touch of healing, strengthening the soul,
For his gifts of kindness and his loving care,
For the best assurance that he answers prayer.

Praise him for the trials sent as chords of love,
Binding us more closely to the things above,
For the faith that conquers, hope that naught can dim,
For the land where loved ones gather home to him.

Chorus:
Praise him, shining angels, on your harps of gold,
All his hosts adore him who his face behold,
Thro’ his great dominion, while the ages roll,
All his works shall praise him, all his works shall praise him,
All his works shall praise him; bless the Lord, my soul.

E. E. Hewitt

Aged Wood and I will praise the Lord today

I will praise the Lord today,
For the Lord is good to me:
And his love appears as the sweetest gift,
‘Mid the blessings that I see.

I will praise the Lord today,
For his name is more than sweet:
And I gather strength for the toils of life
As I worship at his feet.

I will praise the Lord today,
For his word is life and love:
And the hope he gives is a blessed hope,
For it lifts my soul above.

I will praise the Lord today,
For the Lord has ransomed me;
He has set his seal on this soul of mine,
That his glory I may see.

Chorus:
Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth,
Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth,
Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth,
And with my song will I praise him.

E. A. Barnes

Sheep and Like a shepherd, tender, true

Like a shepherd, tender, true,
Jesus leads, Jesus leads,
Daily finds us pastures new,
Jesus leads, Jesus leads;
If thick mists are o’er the way,
Or the flock ‘mid danger feeds,
He will watch them lest they stray,
Jesus leads, Jesus leads.

All along life’s rugged road,
Jesus leads, Jesus leads,
Till we reach yon blest abode,
Jesus leads, Jesus leads;
All the way, before, He’s trod,
And He now the flock precedes,
Safe into the fold of God
Jesus leads, Jesus leads.

Thro’ the sunlit ways of life
Jesus leads, Jesus leads,
Thro’ the warrings and the strife
Jesus leads, Jesus leads;
When we reach the Jordan’s tide,
Where life’s bound’ry-line recedes,
He will spread the waves aside,
Jesus leads, Jesus leads.

John R. Clements

Boots and Sweet are the promises, Kind is the word

Sweet are the promises, Kind is the word;
Dearer far than any message man ever heard
Pure was the mind of Christ, Sinless I see;
He the great example is, and pattern for me.

Sweet is the tender love Jesus hath shown;
Sweeter far than any love that mortals have known,
Kind to the erring one, Faithful is He;
He the great example is, and pattern for me.

List to His loving words, “Come unto Me;”
Weary, heavy laden, there is sweet rest for thee,
Trust in His promises, Faithful and sure;
Lean upon the Savior, and thy soul is secure.

Chorus:
Where He leads I’ll follow,
Follow all the way.
Where He leads I’ll follow,
Follow Jesus ev’ry day.

W. A. Ogden

Father's Bible and Precious Bible! what a treasure

Precious Bible! what a treasure
Does the word of God afford!-
All I want for life or pleasure,
Food and medicine, shield and sword.
Let the world account me poor;
Having this, I need no more.

Food to which the world’s a stranger
Here my hungry soul enjoys;
Of excess there is no danger;
Though it fills, it never cloys;
On a dying Christ I feed;
He is meat and drink indeed.

When my faith is faint and sickly,
Or when Satan wounds my mind,
Cordials to revive me quickly,
Healing medicines, here I find;
To the promises I flee;
Each affords a remedy.

Newton

Peonies and When the port of heaven opens to a world redeemed from sin

When the port of heaven opens to a world redeemed from sin,
When the great arch foe is vanquished, and the victors enter in,
There will be a burst of triumph, like the sounding of the sea -
Like the voice of many waters shall that glorious anthem be.

There the harps shall thrill as harps were never known to thrill before,
And no voices shall be silent on that safe and happy shore,
But with glorious commingling shall the mighty anthem swell,
To the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who hath done all things well.

And when ceaseless ages shall have passed, with ages yet to come,
When from all of earthly sorrow free we rest within that home,
Still the chorus shall be pealing forth, unchanging, grand and free:
“Unto Him who hath redeemed us let eternal glory be!”

Refrain:
Glory, glory to His name,
Now and evermore the same;
Let the ceaseless chorus be-
Christ, whose love has set me free.

Emma M. Johnston

Iris, Glass and I know of a stream that floweth

I know of a stream that floweth
From the pierced and wounded side;
It matters not how full of sin,
There is cleansing in the tide.

Chorus:
I know, and I am trusting
In the promise, full and free,
There is life in the stream that’s flowing
From precious Calvary.

I know of a Friend all pow’rful,
That can touch and make me whole;
It matters not how weak I am,
He will cleanse and save my soul.

Chorus:
I know, and I am trusting
In the promise, full and free,
Of a Friend that is true and loving,
Who died on Calvary.

I know of a day that cometh,
When I’ll rest from toil and care;
Tho’ dark and drear the clouds may hang,
‘Twill be sunshine over there.

Chorus:
I know, and I am trusting
In the promise, full and free,
Of a day that is surely coming,
When I Thy face shall see.

Mrs. E. W. Chapman

Peonies and “Let me to Thy bosom fly,”

“Let me to Thy bosom fly,”
Weak and wounded, like the bird,
Hear, oh, hear my earnest cry;
Let Thy pity be conferred.

“Let me to Thy bosom fly,”
Stormy waves around me roll;
Surges beating mountain high,
Threaten to engulf my soul.

“Let me to Thy bosom fly,”
Hallelujah! then I’ll sing;
Thro’ the blue arch of the sky,
Anthems loud and clear shall ring.

Chorus:
“Let me to Thy bosom fly;”
Let my lips repeat the cry;
“While the tempest still is high,
Let me to Thy bosom fly.”

Mrs. E. W. Chapman

Iris and The law commands and makes us know

The law commands and makes us know
What duties to our God we owe;
But ‘tis the gospel must reveal
Where lies our strength to do His will.

The law discovers guilt and sin,
And shows how vile our hearts have been;
Only the gospel can express
Forgiving love and cleansing grace.

What curses does the law denounce
Against the man that fails but once!
But in the gospel Christ appears,
Pardoning the guilt of numerous years.

My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the law:
Fly to the hope the gospel gives:
The man that trust the promise lives.

Rev. Isaac Watts

Winter Berries and Tell me the old, old story

Tell me the old, old story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love.
Tell me the story simply,
As to a little child,
For I am weak and weary,
And helpless and defiled.

Tell me the story slowly,
That I may take it in-
That wonderful Redemption
God’s remedy for sin!
Tell me the story often,
For I forget so soon!
The “early dew” of morning
Has passed away at noon!

Tell me the story softly,
With earnest tones, and grave;
Remember! I’m the sinner
Whom Jesus came to save.
Tell me that story always,
If you would really be,
In any time of trouble,
A comforter to me.

Tell me the same old story,
When you have cause to fear
That this world’s empty glory
Is costing me too dear.
Yes, and when that world’s glory
Is drawing on my soul,
Tell me the old, old story:
“Christ Jesus makes thee whole.”

Chorus:
Tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story,
Of Jesus and His love.

Katherine Hankey

Sheep and Souls of men, why will ye scatter

Souls of men, why will ye scatter
Like a crowd of frightened sheep?
Foolish hearts, why will ye wander
From a love so true and deep?
Was there ever kindest shepherd
Half so gentle, half so sweet,
As the Saviour who would have us
Come and gather round His feet?

It is God: His love looks mighty,
But is mightier than it seems.
‘Tis our Father, and His fondness
Goes far out beyond our dreams.
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth’s sorrows
Are more felt than up in heaven;
There is no place where earth’s failings
Have such kindly judgment given.
There is welcome for the sinner,
And more graces for the good,
There is mercy with the Saviour;
There is healing in His blood.

For the love of God is broader
Than the measures of man’s mind,
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
But we make His love too narrow
By false limits of our own,
And we magnify His strictness
With a zeal He will not own.

There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the Head.
If our love were but more simple,
We should take Him at His word;
And our lives would be all sunshine
In the sweetness of our Lord.

Rev. Frederick W. Faber

Stormy Field and O Jesus, Saviour of the lost

O Jesus, Saviour of the lost,
My rock and hiding place,
By storms of sin and sorrow tossed,
I seek Thy sheltering grace.

Guilty, forgive me, Lord, I cry,
Pursued by foes I come;
A sinner, save me, or I die,
An outcast, take me home.

Once safe in Thine almighty arms,
Let storms come on amain:
There danger never, never harms,
There death itself is gain.

And when I stand before Thy Throne,
And all Thy glories see,
Still be my righteousness alone
To hide myself in Thee.

Bishop Edward H. Bickersteth

Steps and Not to the terrors of the Lord

Not to the terrors of the Lord,
The tempest, fire, and smoke;
Not to the thunder of that word
Which God on Sinai spoke.

But we are come to Zion’s hill,
The city of our God,
Where milder words declare His will,
And spread His love abroad.

Behold the innumerable host
Of angels clothed in light;
Behold the spirits of the just,
Whose faith is turned to sight.

Behold the blest assembly there,
Whose names are writ in heaven;
And God, the Judge of all, declares
Their vilest sins forgiven.

The saints on earth, and all the dead,
But one communion make;
All join in Christ their living Head,
And of His grace partake.

In such society as this
My weary soul would rest;
The man that dwells where Jesus is,
Must be forever blest.

Rev. Isaac Watts

Burgandy Violets and Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
‘Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.

Lord, I believe Thy precious blood,-
Which, at the mercy-seat of God,
Forever doth for sinners plead,-
For me, ev’n for my soul, was shed.

Bold shall I stand in Thy great day,
For who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am,
From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.

When from the dust of death I rise
To claim my mansion in the skies-
Ev’n then, this shall be all my plea:
Jesus hath lived and died for me.

This spotless robe the same appears,
When ruined nature sinks in years;
No age can change its glorious hue,
The robe of Christ is ever new.

O let the dead now hear Thy voice:
Now bid Thy banished ones rejoice;
Their beauty this, their glorious dress,
Jesus, the Lord our Righteousness.

Nicolaus L. von Zinzendorf; Tr. Rev. John Wesley

November Flowers, Watermelon and O Thou, to whose all searching sight

O Thou, to whose all searching sight
The darkness shineth as the light;
Search, prove my heart, it pants for Thee;
O burst these bonds, and set it free.

If in this darksome wild I stray,
Be Thou my Light, be Thou my Way;
No foes, nor violence I fear,
Nor fraud, while Thou, my God, art near.

When rising floods my soul o’erflow,
When sinks my heart in waves of woe;
Jesus, Thy timely aid impart,
And raise my head, and cheer my heart.

Saviour, where’er Thy steps I see,
Dauntless, untired, I follow Thee;
O let Thy hand support me still,
And lead me to Thy holy hill.

If rough and thorny be the way,
My strength proportion to my day;
Till toil, and grief, and pain shall cease,
Where all is calm, and joy, and peace.

Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf
Tr. Rev. John Wesley

Mixed Flowers and Thank and praise Jehovah’s name

Thank and praise Jehovah’s name;
For His mercies, firm and sure,
From eternity the same,
To eternity endure.

Let the ransomed thus rejoice,
Gathered out of ev’ry land,
As the people of His choice,
Pluck’d from the destroyer’s hand.

In the wilderness astray,
Hither, thither, while they roam,
Hungry, fainting by the way,
Far from refuge, shelter, home,-

Then unto the Lord they cry;
He inclines a gracious ear,
Sends deliverance from on high,
Rescues them from all their fear.

To a pleasant land He brings,
Where the vine and olive grow,
Where from flowery hills the springs
Through luxuriant valleys flow.

O that men would praise the Lord
For His goodness to their race;
For the wonders of His word,
And the riches of His grace.

James Montgomery

Looking Back to Spring and Jesus, who knows full well

Jesus, who knows full well
The heart of ev’ry saint;
Invites us all our griefs to tell,
To pray and never faint.

He bows His gracious ear,
We never plead in vain;
Yet we must wait till He appear,
And pray, and pray again.

Though unbelief suggest,
Why should we longer wait?
He bids us never give Him rest,
But be importunate.

Jesus, the Lord, will hear
His chosen when they cry,
Yes, though He may a while forbear,
He’ll help them from on high.

Rev. John Newton

Peonies and Lord, dost Thou say, “Ask what thou wilt

Lord, dost Thou say, “Ask what thou wilt?”
Then would I seize the golden hour:
I pray to be released from guilt,
And freed from sin and Satan’s power.

More of Thy presence, Lord, impart;
More of Thine image let me bear:
Erect Thy throne within my heart,
And reign without a rival there.

Give me to read my pardon sealed,
And from Thy joy to draw my strength:
O be Thy boundless love revealed
In all its height, and breadth, and length.

Grant these requests-I ask no more,
But to Thy care the rest resign:
Sick, or in health, or rich, or poor,
All shalt be well, if Thou art mine.

Rev. John Newton

Color Shapes and Jesus, these eyes have never seen

Jesus, these eyes have never seen
That radiant form of Thine;
The veil of sense hangs dark between
Thy blessed face and mine.

I see Thee not, I hear Thee not,
Yet art Thou oft with me;
And earth hath ne’er so dear a spot,
As where I meet with Thee.

Like some bright dream that comes unsought,
When slumbers o’er me roll,
Thine image ever fills my thought,
And charms my ravished soul.

Yet though I have not seen, and still
Must rest in faith alone;
I love Thee, dearest Lord, and will,
Unseen, but not unknown,

When death these mortal eyes shall seal,
And still this throbbing heart,
The rending veil shall Thee reveal,
All glorious as Thou art.

Rev. Ray Palmer

Peonies and Dear Saviour, we are Thine

Dear Saviour, we are Thine,
By everlasting bands;
Our names, our hearts, we would resign,
And souls, into Thy hands.

To Thee we still would cleave,
With ever growing zeal;
If millions tempt us Christ to leave,
O let then ne’er prevail.

Thy Spirit shall unite
Our souls to Thee our Head;
Shall form us to Thy image bright,
That we Thy paths may tread.

Death may our souls divide
From these abodes of clay;
But love shall keep us near Thy side,
Through all the gloomy way.

Since Christ and we are one,
Why should we doubt or fear?
Since He in heaven has fixed His throne,
He’ll fix His members there.

Rev. Philip Doddridge

White Summer Flowers and Let me but hear my Saviour say

Let me but hear my Saviour say,
“Strength shall be equal to thy day!”
Then I rejoice in deep distress,
Leaning on all-sufficient grace.

I glory in infirmity,
That Christ’s own power may rest on me;
When I am weak, then am I strong;
Grace is my shield, and Christ my song.

I can do all things-or can bear
All sufferings, if my Lord be there;
Sweet pleasures mingle with the pains,
While His own hand my head sustains.

Rev. Isaac Watts

Bibles, Yellow Roses and Upward where the stars are burning

Upward where the stars are burning,
Silent, silent in their turning,
Round the never-changing pole;
Upward where the sky is brightest,
Upward where the blue is lightest,
Lift I now my longing soul.

Far above that arch of gladness,
Far beyond these clouds of sadness,
Are the many mansions fair.
Far from pain and sin and folly,
In that palace of the holy
I would find my mansion there.

Where the Lamb on high is seated,
By ten thousand voices greeted:
Lord of lords, and King of kings.
Son of man, they crown, they crown him;
Son of God, they own, they own him;
With his name the palace rings.

Blessing, honor, without measure,
Heavenly riches, earthly treasure,
Lay we at his blessed feet.
Poor the praise that now we render,
Loud shall be our voices yonder,
When before his throne we meet.

Horatius Bonar

Daylilies, Pot and Lo! the storms of life are breaking

Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve thee is my share,
And this my thy grace must give.

If life be long, I will be glad
That I may long obey;
If short, yet why should I be sad
To soar to endless day?

Christ leads me through no darker rooms
Than he went through before;
No one into his kingdom comes
But through his opened door.

Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet
Thy blessed face to see;
For if thy work on earth be sweet,
What will thy glory be?

My knowledge of that life is small,
The eye of faith is dim;
But ‘tis enough that Christ knows all,
And I shall be with him.

Richard Baxter

Grace! ‘tis a charming sound,
Harmonious to the ear;
Heaven with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.

Grace first contrived the way
To save rebellious man;
And all the steps that grace display
Which drew the wondrous plan.

Grace led my roving feet
To tread the heavenly road;
And new supplies each hour I meet,
While pressing on to God.

Grace all the work shall crown,
Through everlasting days;
It lays in heaven the topmost stone,
And well deserves the praise.

Philip Doddridge

Oh, what, if we are Christ’s,
Is earthly shame or loss?
Bright shall the crown of glory be,
When we have borne the cross.

Keen was the trial once,
Bitter the cup of woe,
When martyred saints, baptized in blood,
Christ’s sufferings shared below.

Bright is their glory now,
Boundless their joy above,
Where, on the bosom of their God,
They rest in perfect love.

Lord, may that grace be ours,
Like them in faith to bear
All that of sorrow, grief, or pain
May be our portion here.

Enough, if thou at last
The word of blessing give,
And let us rest beneath thy feet,
Where saints and angels live.

Sir H. W. Baker


God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
With blessing on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

William Cowper


God of my life, to thee I call;
Afflicted, at thy feet I fall:
When the great waterfloods prevail,
Leave not my trembling heart to fail

Friend of the friendless and the faint,
Where should I lodge my deep complaint?
Where but with thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor?

Did ever mourner plead with thee,
And thou refuse that mourner’s plea?
Does not the word still fixed remain,
That none shall seek thy face in vain?

That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst thou not hear and answer prayer;
But a prayer-hearing, answering God
Supports me under every load.

Poor though I am, despised, forgot,
Yet God, my God, forgets me not;
And he is safe, and must succeed,
For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.

William Cowper

 

Lo! the storms of life are breaking,
Faithless fears our hearts are shaking;
For our succour undertaking,
     Lord and Saviour, help us.

Lo! the world from thee rebelling,
Round thy church, in pride is swelling;
With thy word their madness quelling,
     Lord and Saviour, help us.

On thine own command relying,
We our onward task are plying,
Unto thee for safety sighing,
     Lord and Saviour, help us.

By thy birth, thy cross, thy passion,
By thy tears of deep compassion,
By thy mighty intercession,
     Lord and Saviour, help us.

Henry Alford