Favourite Welsh Hymns Part 6

To all the tribes of earth, Send, Lord, thy gospel forth, From sea to sea: Soon may the heathen come Unto thy sacred home; Nor ever, ever roam From thine, and Thee.

XLVII.

DAWN.

It shall not long remain, This dark tempestuous night; Not long doth Christ ordain, To bear the cross, and fight: Behold the herald Dawn appear, Auspicious morn is drawing near.

DEATH.

XLVIII.

DEATH UNAVOIDABLE.

To thy regions, World-eternal, Onward, onward, is my face; Resting spot in vain I wish for, Till in thee I find my place: Death's dark portal, Though so dark I must pa.s.s through.

When death's cold and turbid waters, To their bosom me receive, Who will dissipate the darkness, Who my terror will relieve?

If my Saviour Smile, then fear will flee away.

XLIX.

THE LAMP.

I.

(THE MEASURE OF THE SECOND PART HAS BEEN CHANGED.)

A weary pilgrim sat, Above a gloomy stream, A lamp he firmly held Shed round a cheerful gleam: It showed that river's farther banks, Crowded with wistful spirit ranks.

He cometh to the stream, Adown a rough ravine, The lamp still in his hand By friends above is seen; And friends beyond can see him come, His lamp reveals him through the gloom.

Now mid the rus.h.i.+ng tide, The Faithful One he sees With arms spread open wide, To bear him into Peace: And in the world where he is gone, They need no lamp nor light of sun.

II.

Down to that gloomy stream, Creeps one in wild dismay; The light of earthly joy Fades gently, fades away: There echo through the dismal shade, Strange sounds by hideous monsters made.

The lamp he holds goes out-- O who can speak his pain!

For never shall he see Its needed light again: Victorious Death there boastful bides, Twin Darkness his loud horror hides.

He lists with bated breath Some friendly foot to hear, With whispered word of hope, Or lighted lamp draw near: But foot of succour none doth sound, While taunting demons sport around.

At length with piteous groan He stumbles to the flood,-- A mortal made to know The frowning love of G.o.d: He sinks, he swims; now, all is o'er: Hope must forsake him ever more.

JUDGEMENT.

L.

THE TESTING.

A day for solemn trial Of men is drawing near, Who has the hidden substance, Who dross, will then appear.

O G.o.d, let me experience Upon my heart thy grace; That is the stamp and _image_ Alone that day can pa.s.s.

LI.

THE JUDGEMENT COME.

Hark, hark! methinks I hear a voice, Swift piercing through the troubled sky: "He comes, He comes; ye saints rejoice; The end, the end of time, is nigh!

Ye saints from dust awake, awake, To joys immortal wing your flight: Of crowns, and harps, and thrones partake, They are your endless, blood-bought right."

LII.

"COME, YE BLESSED!"

Lo! He comes on clouds of glory, Circled by an angel-throng Who proclaim His lofty t.i.tles With their trumpets, loud and long.

Halleluiah, Welcome, welcome, Son of Man!

Thousand thousands, myriad myriads Bright attendants on the Lord, See I rising from corruption, At the mighty signal-word: Farewell, sadness, Full redemption now is come.

Now behold th' exalted Shepherd Calleth one by one his sheep; Lo! they rise with joy to meet Him, None in earth or ocean sleep.

Love unbounded, Thou shalt henceforth ever reign.

There for sin is no upbraiding, Nought but pardon full and free: Nought but his deep love, and merit Shall now unforgotten be; Fear hath vanished, Joy and rapture overflow.

"Come, ye faithful servants, enter, Blessed children of your G.o.d: Come, receive eternal mansions, Purchased for you with my blood!

Come and welcome, Now my love is satisfied."

HEAVEN.

LIII.

HEAVENWARD.