Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 64

2 When Christ among the sons of men In humble form was found, With cruel slanders, false and vain, They compa.s.sed him around.

3 Their miseries his compa.s.sion moved, Their peace he still pursued; They rendered hatred for his love, And evil for his good.

4 Their malice raged without a cause; Yet, with his dying breath, He prayed for murderers on his cross, And blest his foes in death.

5 O, may his conduct, all divine, To us a model prove: Like his, O G.o.d, our hearts incline Our enemies to love.

387. C. M. Christian Psalmist.

Faith, Hope and Charity.

1 Faith, hope, and love, now dwell on earth, And earth by them is blest; But faith and hope must yield to love, Of all the graces best.

2 Hope shall to full fruition rise, And faith be sight above; These are the means, but this the end, For saints forever love.

388. L. M. Montgomery.

The Christian Graces.

1 Faith, hope, and charity, these three, Yet is the greatest charity; Father of lights, these gifts impart To mine and every human heart.

2 Faith, that in prayer can never fail, Hope, that o'er doubting must prevail, And charity, whose name above Is G.o.d's own name, for G.o.d is love.

3 The morning star is lost in light, Faith vanishes at perfect sight, The rainbow pa.s.ses with the storm And hope with sorrow's fading form.

4 But charity, serene, sublime, Beyond the reach of death and time, Like the blue sky's all-bounding s.p.a.ce, Holds heaven and earth in its embrace.

389. C. M. Watts.

A Living and a Dead Faith.

1 Mistaken souls! that dream of heaven, And make their empty boast Of inward joys, and sins forgiven, While they are slaves to l.u.s.t.

2 Vain are our fancies, airy flights, If faith be cold and dead; None but a living power unites To Christ the living head.

3 'T is faith that purifies the heart; 'T is faith that works by love; That bids all sinful joys depart, And lifts the thoughts above.

4 This faith shall every fear control By its celestial power, With holy triumph fill the soul In death's approaching hour.

390. L. M. Scott.

"Two men went up into the temple to pray."

1 The uplifted eye, and bended knee, Are but vain homage, Lord, to thee; In vain our lips thy praise prolong, The heart a stranger to the song.

2 The pure, the humble, contrite mind, Sincere, and to thy will resigned, To thee a n.o.bler offering yields, Than Sheba's groves, or Sharon's fields.

3 Love G.o.d and man--this great command, Doth on eternal pillars stand; This did thine ancient prophets teach, And this thy Well-Beloved preach.

391. H. M. Montgomery.

Brotherly Love. Ps. 133.

1 How beautiful the sight Of brethren who agree In friends.h.i.+p to unite, And bonds of charity!

'T is like the precious ointment shed O'er all his robes from Aaron's head.

2 'Tis like the dews that fill The cups of Hermon's flowers; Or Zion's fruitful hill, Bright with the drops of showers; When mingling odors breathe around, And glory rests on all the ground.

3 For there the Lord commands Blessings, a boundless store, From his unsparing hands, Yea, life for evermore.

Thrice happy they who meet above To spend eternity in love!

392. 7s. M. C. Wesley.

The Harmony of Love.

1 Lord! subdue our selfish will; Each to each our tempers suit, By thy modulating skill, Heart to heart, as lute to lute.

2 Sweetly on our spirits move; Gently touch the trembling strings: Make the harmony of love, Music for the King of kings!

393. S. M. Watts.

The Bond of Peace.