Favourite Welsh Hymns Part 5

(TO A CHRISTIAN FRIEND UNDER BEREAVEMENT.)

What though the dark cloud for a season doth hover, O'er pleasures and prospects so humble as thine; The joy of the past taken from thee for ever-- And thy faint heart tempted by grief to repine: Thy Loved and thy Lost shall on earth no more greet thee, Farewell hath thine eyes with its weeping made dim; But think, though Creation henceforth may seem empty, Thou canst not be severed a moment from HIM.

Oft, oft shall the prayer unto G.o.d be ascending, Though far in the wilderness from thee we dwell, That into thine heart He may daily be sending Joys, comforts, and blessings which tongue cannot tell: That long be thy life, and all-fragrant that life be, And if more affliction thy bliss should bedim.

His voice of compa.s.sion may sweetly remind thee, Thy life, in thy trials, is hidden with HIM.

But short is our sojourn on earth at the longest, The day comes apace mid our pleasure and strife, When, though to the seeming we flourish the fairest, Shall our roots be plucked up from this nursery--life: And O, when the tomb life's scenes from us shall sever, When death's awful shadow this world shall bedim, May we rise to the kingdom of life and for ever Be planted in glory--true branches of HIM.

THE CHURCH.

x.x.xVII.

LOVE.

Let brethren cease of party names to speak-- Of party strife--have vanished "Jew and Greek:"

Sweet Peace appear, and Love thy seat maintain, That holy Love, which chief in heaven doth reign.

x.x.xVIII.

"FORWARD."

Advance, advance, ye hosts of G.o.d, Unfurl the standard stained with blood: Soon shall ye wave the palm on high.

Soon raise the shout of "victory,"

And chaplets wear that never die-- The world is yours!

x.x.xIX.

THE MIGHTY NAME.

Emmanuel's name Shall win wider fame, Through vales and o'er hills it shall sound: Great Jericho's wall, Before it shall fall; The trumpets re-echo around.

XL.

COMING TO ZION.

All tribes and tongues together come, The scattered Jews and Gentiles, home; Throughout the host a chorus runs, Of special praise for Ethiop sons.

Hark, hark! the tide of song, Rolls onward from the throng: Soon Zion shall obtain The purchase of Messiah's pain.

XLI.

"ABIDE WITH US."

Fix a dwelling, Lord, in Goshen-- Shall thine Israel be denied?

From thy s.h.i.+ning exaltation, Deign to bow, and here abide: Dwell among thy pilgrim people, Where the tribes to praise Thee come, Nor depart, Redeemer, from us, Till the final day of doom.

XLII.

THE HOUSE OF G.o.d.

In thine abode Sweet peace and gladness reign; While left below My soul would here remain: Among thy sons Whom sacred wisdom guides, Within whose breast The love of G.o.d presides.

Here milk and wine To cheer the fainting flow, And living streams That whiter make than snow.

Unto all men The wisdom, Lord, be given, To seek thy house, And learn the work of heaven.

XLIII.

COMMENCEMENT OF WORs.h.i.+P.

He who darts the winged lightning,-- Walks upon the foaming wave,-- Send forth arrows of conviction Here,--exert his power to save: Burst the bars of Satan's prison: s.n.a.t.c.h the firebrand from the flame, Fill the doubting with a.s.surance: Teach the dumb to sing His name!

XLIV.

ZION ASLEEP.

O that now mine eyes were fountains, That I night and day might weep, To see Zion in the desert, On her journey gone asleep.

In its sin the wide world lying, Zion halted--sleeping fast: With thy breath to wake the valley, Come, eternal Spirit, haste!

Zion, wake! O hear the groaning Of the earth beneath her wrong; Time it is that thou wert stirring, Why, O why hast slept so long?

Slumbered hast thou many ages, And thy Lord account hath kept: Shall thy foes say, Zion, Zion!

"None, as thou, so long hath slept!"

XLV.

"SAVE, LORD."

Rescue Zion for thy praise, From affliction: Are not these the promised days Of salvation?

Lo, thy servants for her sake, Weep before Thee, And their hearts with longing break:-- Lord, have mercy!

XLVI.

"THY KINGDOM COME."