Jesus waiteth-waiteth-waiteth, Grieved, away my Saviour goeth; Then 'tis time to stand entreating At the gate of Heaven beating, Nay!-alas, thou guilty creature! Jesus waited long to know thee; Now He knows thee not. Arthur Cleveland Coxe [1818-1896] "THERE IS A GREEN HILL" THERE is a green hill far away, Where the dear Lord was crucified, We may not know, we cannot tell But we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there. He died that we might be forgiven, That we might go at last to heaven, There was no other good enough He only could unlock the gate O dearly, dearly has He loved, And we must love Him too, And trust in His redeeming blood, And try His works to do. Cecil Frances Alexander [1818-1895] But lying darkly between, Winding down through the night, Closer and closer my steps Come to the dread abysm: Closer Death to my lips Presses the awful chrism. Oh, if my mortal feet Have almost gained the brink; If it be I am nearer home Even to-day than I think; Father, perfect my trust; Let my spirit feel in death, Phoebe Cary [1824-1871] "ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS!" ONWARD, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, Going on before. Christ the Royal Master See, His banners go! Onward, Christian soldiers! At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; On, then, Christian soldiers, Hell's foundations quiver At the shout of praise; Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God; Where the Saints have trod; We are not divided All one body we, One in hope and doctrine, One in charity. Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, Constant will remain; Gates of hell can never 'Gainst that Church prevail; We have Christ's own promise, And that cannot fail. "Onward, Christian Soldiers!" 3565 Onward, then, ye people! Onward, Christian soldiers! Going on before. Sabine Baring-Gould [1834 A DEDICATION My new-cut ashlar takes the light If there be good in that I wrought, Thy hand compelled it, Master, Thine; Where I have failed to meet Thy thought I know, through Thee, the blame is mine. One instant's toil to Thee denied Stands all Eternity's offence; Of that I did with Thee to guide To Thee, through Thee, be excellence. Who, lest all thought of Eden fade, Bringest Eden to the craftman's brain, The depth and dream of my desire, Thou knowest Who hast made the Fire, One stone the more swings to her place I saw naught common on Thy earth. Take not that vision from my ken; O, whatso'er may spoil or speed, Help me to need no aid from men, That I may help such men as need! Rudyard Kipling [1865 |