ABIDE WITH ME

ABIDE with me! Fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away: Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free,
Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me!

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings;
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings:
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea:-
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with

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me!

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Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee.
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me!

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I need Thy presence every passing hour:
What but Thy grace can foil the Tempter's

power?

Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me! 24

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless :
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is Death's sting? where, Grave, thy
victory?

-I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies:

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain

shadows flee:

In life and death, O Lord, abide with me!

1850.

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Henry Francis Lyte.

THE WILL OF GOD

I WORSHIP Thee, sweet Will of God!
And all Thy ways adore,

And every day I live, I seem

To love Thee more and more.

Thou wert the end, the blessed rule
Of our Saviour's toils and tears;
Thou wert the passion of His Heart
Those Three-and-thirty years.

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And He hath breathed into my soul

A special love of Thee,

A love to lose my will in His,

And by that loss be free.

He always wins who sides with God,

To him no chance is lost;

God's Will is sweetest to him, when

It triumphs at his cost.

When obstacles and trials seem

Like prison-walls to be,

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THY way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be!

Lead me by Thine own hand,
Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough,
It will be still the best;
Winding or straight, it leads
Right onward to Thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot;
I would not, if I might;
Choose Thou for me, my God;
So shall I walk aright.

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. 1857.

The kingdom that I seek

Is Thine; so let the way
That leads to it be Thine;

Else I must surely stray.

Take Thou my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill,
As best to Thee may seem;

Choose Thou my good and ill;

Choose Thou for me my friends,
My sickness or my health;
Choose Thou my cares for me,
My poverty or wealth.

Not mine, not mine the choice,
In things or great or small;
Be Thou my guide, my strength,
My wisdom, and my all!

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Horatius Bonar.

SENSITIVENESS

TIME was, I shrank from what was right
From fear of what was wrong;

I would not brave the sacred fight,
Because the foe was strong.

But now I cast that finer sense
And sorer shame aside;

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Such dread of sin was indolence,
Such aim at Heaven was pride.

So, when my Saviour calls, I rise
And calmly do my best;
Leaving to Him, with silent eyes

Of hope and fear, the rest.

I step, I mount where He has led;
Men count my haltings o'er;—
I know them; yet, though self I dread,
I love His precept more.

1833. 1836.

John Henry Newman

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FLOWERS WITHOUT FRUIT

PRUNE thou thy words, the thoughts control
That o'er thee swell and throng;

They will condense within thy soul,
And change to purpose strong.

But he who lets his feelings run

In soft luxurious flow,

Shrinks when hard service must be done,

And faints at every woe.

Faith's meanest deed more favour bears. Where hearts and wills are weigh'd. Than brightest transports, choicest prayers, Which bloom their hour and fade.

John Henry Newman.

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1833.