Nor leave us till, at close of life,

Safe from all perils, toil, and strife,
Heaven shall unfold and hide us!

J. Hamilton.

Special Hymns for Young Men and Women.

833.

The Soldiers of the Cross.

1. THOU Lord of hosts, whose guiding hand
Hath brought us here before Thy face!

Our spirits wait for Thy command;
Our silent hearts implore Thy peace.

2. Those spirits lay their noblest powers
As offerings on Thy holy shrine:

Thine was the strength that nourished ours;
The soldiers of the Cross arè Thine.

3. And now,

with hymn and prayer, we stand

To give our strength to Thee, great God!
We would redeem Thy holy land,

That land which sin so long has trod. 4. Send us where'er Thou wilt, O Lord;

Through rugged toil and wearying fight,
Thy conquering love shall be our sword,
And faith in Thee our truest might.
5. Send down Thy constant aid, we pray ;
Be Thy pure angels with us still;
Thy truth, be that our firmest stay;
Our only rest, to do Thy will.

L.M.

O. B. Frothingham.

834.

I.

A New Life.

LORD of life, and love, and power,
How joyful life might be,

C.M.D.

If in Thy service every hour

We lived and moved with Thee!
If youth in all its bloom and might
By Thee were sanctified,

And manhood found its chief delight
In working at Thy side.

2. 'Tis ne'er too late, while life shall last,
A new life to begin ;

'Tis ne'er too late to leave the past,
And break with self and sin.

And we this day, both old and young,
Would earnestly aspire

For hearts to nobler purpose strung,
And purified desire.

3. Nor for ourselves alone we plead,
But for all faithful souls

Who serve Thy cause by word or deed,
Whose names Thy book enrols.

O speed Thy work, victorious King!
And give Thy workers might,

That through the world Thy truth may ring,
And all men see Thy light!

835.

E. S. Armitage.

I.

Celestial Wisdom.

HAPPY is the man who hears

Instruction's warning voice;
And who celestial wisdom makes

His early, only choice.

2. Wisdom has treasures greater far
Than east or west unfold;

C.M.

And her rewards more precious are
Than all their stores of gold.

3. She guides the young with innocence,
In pleasure's path to tread;
A crown of glory she bestows
Upon the hoary head.

4. According as her labours rise,
So her rewards increase;
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.

Michael Bruce.

836.

I.

Noblesse Oblige.

O forth to life, O child of earth!

Go

Still mindful of thy heavenly birth:
Thou art not here for ease or sin,
But manhood's noble crown to win.

2. Though passion's fires are in thy soul,
Thy spirit can their flames control;
Though tempters strong beset thy way,
Thy spirit is more strong than they.

3. Go on, from innocence of youth,
To manly pureness, manly truth;
God's angels still are near to save,
And God Himself doth help the brave.

4. Then, forth to life, O child of earth!
Be worthy of thy heavenly birth !
For noble service thou art here;
Thy neighbour help, thy God revere.

L.M.

S. Longfellow.

837.

838.

I.

Who is on the Lord's Side?

GOD'S trumpet wakes the slumbering

world:

Now each man to his post;
The red-cross banner is unfurled;

Who joins the glorious host?

2. He who, in fealty to the truth,
And counting all the cost,
Doth consecrate his generous youth,-
He joins the noble host.

3. He who, no anger on his tongue,
Nor any idle boast,

Bears steadfast witness against wrong,

He joins the sacred host.

4. He who, with calm, undaunted will,
Ne'er counts the battle lost,
But, though defeated, battles still,--
He joins the faithful host.

5. He who is ready for the Cross,

The cause despised loves most,

And shuns not pain or shame or loss,——
He joins the martyr host.

The Army of the Cross. 1. REJOICE, ye pure in heart;

C.M.

S. Longfellow.

Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your festal banner wave on high,

The Cross of Christ, your King.

2. Bright youth and snow-crowned age,
Strong men and maidens meek,
Raise high your free exulting song,
God's wondrous praises speak.

S.M.

839.

3. With all the angel-choirs,

With all the good on earth,

Pour out the strains of joy and bliss,
True rapture, noblest mirth.

4. With voice as full and strong
As ocean's surging praise,

Send forth the hymns our fathers loved,
The psalms of ancient days.

5. Yes, on, through life's long path,
Still chanting as ye go,

From youth to age, by night and day,
In gladness and in woe.

6. Still lift your standard high,
Still march in firm array;

As warriors through the darkness toil
Till dawns the golden day.

7. At last, the march shall end;
The wearied ones shall rest;
The pilgrims find their Father's house,
Jerusalem the blest.

8. Then on, ye pure in heart;

Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your festal banner wave on high,
The Cross of Christ, your King.

E. H. Plumptre.

75.

The Better Part.

1. TAKE, O Lord, my faithless heart,

Make its choice the better part,

Break its chains and set it free,

Take and seal it, Lord, to Thee.