Fountain of love o'erflowing!
Light of the world's dark night!
Working all good, Thou reignest,
To do, and guard the right.
That life, O Christ! is noblest
Which praises God the best,-
A life celestial, nourished
At Wisdom's holy breast.
By her good nurture let us,
Thy little ones, be fed ;
And by her guidance gentle,
Our wandering steps be led.
O fill us with Thy Spirit,
Like morning dew shed down!
And with our praises loyal
King Jesus we shall crown.
O be our lives our tribute,
The meed of praise we bring ;
When thus we join to honour
Our Teacher and our King.
Chorus of teachers and pupils united.
Come, then, all-childlike, joining
Our hymns, our hearts, in one,
Sing peacefully and gladly
To God's Almighty Son.
Come! all ye Christ-begotten,
The God of peace adore;
All lowly-wise, one chorus!
And laud Him evermore.
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, second century.
GE Anima! et pennis
Surge sursum O perennis,
Empta Christi margarita
Ad effigiem polita.
I ad thronum radiatum,
Et coronam decoratum,
Quum profectus sis ex Deo,
Redux Illi es tropæo.
Jubet Altus te salvere,
Neque subvolans timere ;
Tibi merita dat sua,
Ejus est justitia tua.
Chorus laetus angelorum
Signum quaerunt super torum,
Ut ferant te comitantes,
Supra sidera volantes.
Domus tua commovetur,
Ut te hospitem moretur?
Exi domo ruiturâ ;
Vola, coeli creatura!
Vincla rumpe, linque lutum,
Tradens spiritum solutum ;
Cane, palmam receptura,
Praepes, amans, abitura.
The dying Christian to his soul.
DEATHLESS principle, arise!
Soar, thou native of the skies;
Pearl of price, by Jesus bought,
To His glorious likeness wrought!
Go, to shine before His throne;
Deck His mediatorial crown;
Go, His triumphs to adorn ;
Made for God, to God return!
Lo, He beckons from on high!
Fearless to His presence fly!
Thine the merit of His Blood;
Thine the Righteousness of God.
Angels, joyful to attend,
Hovering round thy pillow, bend,
Wait to catch the signal given,
And escort thee quick to Heaven.
Is thy earthly house distrest,
Willing to retain her guest?
'Tis not thou, but she, must die;
Fly, celestial tenant, fly!
Burst thy shackles, drop thy clay,
Sweetly breathe thyself away;
Singing, to thy crown remove,
Swift of wing and fired with love.
91 Amnem tentans ne horrescas ;
Fidens Illi neu stupescas;
Vox Illius morientis
Vim coërcuit torrentis.
Lenis aestus tibi rivi,
Instar vesperis aestivi;
Nemo, qui est Illi curae,
Metum sentiat jacturae.
In aperto portum vide!
Solve navem, Illi fide,
Cujus amor, ineundae
Tibi, aurae est secundae.
Gloriosos vide stantes,
Venienti gratulantes,
Crebros ad ripam amantes,
Te per umbras salutantes.
Introi in laetum chorum ;
Auge gaudium eorum,
Cælum ocius ascendens,
Sic lætitiam incendens.
Patent haec ad visum mentis
Christiani morientis ;
Cernit haec per umbras mortis.
Shudder not to pass the stream;
Venture all thy care on Him;
Him, whose dying love and power
Still'd its tossing, hush'd its roar.
Safe is the expanded wave,
Gentle as a summer's eve;
Not one object of His care,
Ever suffered shipwreck there.
See the haven full in view;
Love Divine shall bear thee through;
Trust to that propitious gale;
Weigh thy anchor, spread thy sail.
Saints, in glory perfect made,
Wait thy passage through the shade:
Ardent for thy coming o'er,
See, they throng the blissful shore!
Mount, their transports to improve;
Join the longing choir above;
Swiftly to their wish be given;
Kindle higher joy in Heaven!
Such the prospects that arise,
To the dying Christian's eyes;
Such the glorious vista faith
Opens through the shades of death.
TOPLADY, A.D. 1740-1778.
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