452. CHOICE. A WISE man likes that best, that is itself; Not that which only seems, though it look fairer. Middleton. So much to win, so much to lose, No marvel that I fear to choose.-Miss Landon. ; Think not too meanly of thy low estate; 453. CHRIST. Alone with To make my earthly bliss complete, Than oft my Lord unseen to meet ; For sight I wait till tread my feet Yon glistering shore. Alone with Thee! alone with Thee ! There not alone, But with all saints, the mighty throng, My soul unfetter'd, pure, and strong, Her high communings shall prolong Before Thy throne.-Ray Palmer. 454. CHRIST. Clinging to O HOLY Saviour, Friend unseen, Blest with this fellowship Divine, My soul would cling to Thee. While she can cling to Thee. Without a murmur I dismiss Each hour to cling to Thee. What though the world unfaithful prove, And earthly friends and joys remove; With sure and certain hope of love, Still would I cling to Thee. To tell the Saviour all my wants, How pleasing is the task! Nor less to praise Him when He grants My labouring spirit vainly seeks To tell but half the joy ; With how much tenderness He speaks, Nor were it wise, nor should I choose, Such secrets to declare : Like precious wines, their tastes they lose, But this with boldness I proclaim, And can you frown, my former friends, And blame the song that thus commends Trust me, I draw the likeness true, And not as fancy paints; Such honour may He give to you! For such have all His saints.-Cowper. 456. CHRIST: for whom He suffered. WHEREFORE Weep we over Jesus, O'er His death and bitter smart? Weep we rather that He sees us Unconvinced and hard of heart; For His soul was never tainted With the smallest spot or stain : 'Twas for us He was acquainted With such depths of grief and pain. Oh! what profits it with groaning Underneath His cross to stand? His pale brow and bleeding hand? Rail'd at, pierced, and crucified, Whilst we think not of inquiring, Wherefore, and for whom He died? If no sin could be discover'd In the pure and spotless Lord, Is sin's just and meet reward: And for whom hath He contended If we then make full confession : 457. CHRIST: for whom He suffered. O HEAD, so full of bruises! O great humility! O back, by scourges ploughed ! Upon the accursed tree! Eye, that in darkness sinketh? Hands, bound to misery! 'Twas suffer'd all for me! And now He speaks: oh hearken, His head is bent, and droopeth, To such a death He stoopeth! 'Twas suffer'd all för me!-Stammers. 458. CHRIST: His death. O'ERWHELM'D in depths of woe, See how the nails those hands And feet so tender rend! See! down His face, and neck, and breast, His sacred blood descend. Hark! with what awful cry That cry, -it pierced His Mother's heart, Earth hears, and to its base Rocks wildly to and fro; Tombs burst; seas, rivers, mountains quake: The veil is rent in two. The sun withdraws his light; The midday heavens grow pale; The moon, the stars, the universe, Their Maker's death bewail. Shall man alone be mute? Come, youth and hoary hairs! Come, rich and poor! come, all mankind! And bathe those feet in tears. Come fall before His Cross, Who shed for us His blood; Who died the victim of pure love, To make us sons of God. Jesu, all praise to Thee, Our joy and endless rest! Be Thou our guide while pilgrims here, Tr. from the Latin by E. Caswall. 459. CHRIST: His death. O WORLD! behold upon the tree Thy Saviour yields His dying breath; Thou hast not sinn'd, dear Lord, like us. I and my sins, that number more And those sad hearts that watch by Thee. Yet Thou dost even for my sake On Thee, in love, the burdens take, That weigh'd my spirit to the ground. Yes: Thou art made a curse for me, That I might yet be blest through Thee : My healing in Thy wounds is found. From henceforth there is nought of mine But I would seek to make it Thine, Since all myself to Thee I owe. Whate'er my utmost powers can do, To Thee to render service true, Here at Thy feet I lay it low. Gerhardt, tr. by Miss Winkworth. 460. CHRIST: His faithfulness. Deceitfully goes forth the morn; They can be treacherous too. The umbrageous oak, in pomp outspread, Full oft, when storms the welkin rend, But Thou art true, incarnate Lord, Who didst vouchsafe for man to die : Thy smile is sure, Thy plighted word No change can falsify. I bent before Thy gracious throne, And ask'd for peace with suppliant knee; And peace was given, nor peace alone, But faith, and hope, and ecstasy !— Wordsworth. 461. CHRIST: His incarnation. ALL praise to Thee, eternal Lord! A little child, Thou art our guest, Thou comest in the darksome night To make us, in the realms divine, Like Thine own angels round Thee shine. All this for us Thy love hath done; By this to Thee our love is won: For this we tune our cheerful lays, Schaff. 462. CHRIST: His knowledge of our necessities. THOU knowest, Lord, the weariness and sorrow Of the sad heart that comes to Thee for rest; Cares of to-day, and burdens for to-morrow, Blessings implored, and sins to be confess'd; I come before Thee at Thy gracious word, And lay them at Thy feet; Thou knowest, Lord. Thou knowest all the past; how long and blindly On the dark mountains the lost sheep had stray'd; How the Good Shepherd follow'd, and how kindly He bore it home upon His shoulders laid, And heal'd the bleeding wounds, and soothed the pain, And brought back life, and hope, and strength again. Thou knowest all the present; each temptation, All to myself assign'd of tribulation, Or to beloved ones, than self more dear; Thou knowest all the future gleams of gladness, As man, our mortal weakness Thou hast proved; On earth with purest sympathies o'erflowing, O Saviour, Thou hast wept, and Thou hast loved! And love and sorrow still to Thee may come, And find a hiding place, a rest, a home. Therefore I come, Thy gentle call obeying, 463. CHRIST: His knowledge of the heart. 464. CHRIST: His love for children. THERE is no sweeter story told Than how the Lord within His arms We love Him for the tender touch And for the wondrous words that heal'd But closer to His loving self Our human hearts are brought, When for the little children's sake Love's sweetest spell is wrought. For their young eyes His sorrowing face A smile that for His little ones The voice that silenced priest and scribe, 'Forbid them not!' O blessed Christ! We bring them unto Thee, And pray that on their heads may rest 'Mong the people who hung on His teaching, Or waited His touch and His word, Through the row of proud Pharisees hastening, She press'd to the feet of the Lord. 'Now, why shouldst thou hinder the Master,' And He took in His arms little Esther, And Rachel He set on His knee.-Julia Gill. 466. CHRIST: His love our solace. SWEET is the solace of Thy love, My heavenly Friend, to me, While through the hidden way of faith I journey home with Thee, Learning by quiet thankfulness As a dear child to be. Though from the shadow of Thy peace And will not turn away; Oft in a dark and lonely place, Oh, there is nothing in the world To weigh against Thy will; E'en the dark times I dread the most Thy covenant fulfil; And when the glorious morning dawns I find Thee with me still. No other comforter I need, If Thou, dear Lord, be mine ;Thy rod will bring my spirit low, Thy fire my heart refine, And cause me pain that none can heal By other love than Thine. Then in the secret of my soul, Though hosts my peace invade, Though through a waste and weary land My lonely way be made, Thou, even Thou, wilt comfort me— I need not be afraid. Still in the solitary place I would awhile abide, My heart is satisfied, Stay calmly at Thy side.-A. L. Waring. 467. CHRIST: His plea with the sinner. I BORE with thee long weary days and nights, Who else had dared for thee what I have dared? Give thou me love for love. For thee I thirsted in the daily drouth, I bore thee on my shoulders, and rejoiced : Thee did nails grave upon my hands; thy name A thief upon my right hand and my left; At length, in death, one smote my heart, and cleft Nail'd to the racking cross, than bed of down Christina Rossetti. 468. CHRIST: His presence longed for. My Saviour, whom absent I love, Whom, not having seen, I adore, Whose name is exalted above All glory, dominion, and power,Dissolve Thou those bands that detain My soul from her portion in Thee; Ah! strike off this adamant chain, And make me eternally free When that happy era begins, When array'd in Thy glories I shine, |