XLIII.

"It is I; be not afraid."

WHEN the dark waves round us roll,
And we look in vain for aid,

Speak, LORD, to the trembling soul,-
"It is I; be not afraid."

When we dimly trace Thy form
In mysterious clouds arrayed,
Be the echo of the storm,-
"It is I; be not afraid."

When our brightest hopes depart,
When our fairest visions fade,
Whisper to the fainting heart,—
"It is I; be not afraid."

When we weep beside the bier
Where some well-loved form is laid,
Oh! may then the mourner hear,-
"It is I; be not afraid."

When with wearing hopeless pain
Sinks the spirit sore dismayed,
Breathe Thou then the comfort-strain,—
"It is I; be not afraid."

When we feel the end is near,
Passing into death's dark shade,
May the voice be strong and clear,—
"It is I; be not afraid." Amen.

XLIV.

"Touched with the feeling of our infirmities."

W. W. W.

WHEN, wounded sore, the stricken heart
Lies bleeding and unbound,
One only hand-a pierced hand-
Can salve the sinner's wound.

When sorrow swells the laden breast,

And tears of anguish flow,

One only heart-a broken heart

Can feel the sinner's woe.

When penitence has wept in vain
Over some foul dark spot,

One only stream-a stream of blood-
Can wash away the blot.

'Tis JESUS' Blood that washeth white;
His Hand that brings relief;

His heart that's touched with all our joy,
And feeleth for our grief.

Lift up Thy bleeding hand, O LORD;
Unseal the cleansing tide;

We have no shelter from our sin,
But in Thy wounded Side. Amen.

C. F. Alexander.

For holy Communion.

I.

105.

"In every place incense shall be offered unto My Name, and a pure offering."

AND now, O FATHER, mindful of the love

That bought us, once for all, on Calvary's Tree, And having with us Him that pleads above, We here present, we here spread forth to Thee That only Offering perfect in Thine eyes, The one true, pure, immortal Sacrifice. Look, FATHER, look on His anointed Face, And only look on us as found in Him; Look not on our misusings of Thy grace, Our prayer so languid, and our faith so dim: For lo between our sins and their reward We set the Passion of Thy SON our LORD. And then for those, our dearest and our best, By this prevailing Presence we appeal; O fold them closer to Thy mercy's breast,

O do Thine utmost for their souls' true weal; From tainting mischief keep them white and clear, And crown Thy gifts with strength to persevere. And so we come; O draw us to Thy feet,

Most patient SAVIOUR, who canst love us still ;
And by this Food, so awful and so sweet,
Deliver us from every touch of ill :

In Thine own service make us glad and free,
And grant us never more to part with Thee. Amen.
W. Bright.

II.

"I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.”

HERE, O my LORD, I see Thee face to face;
Here faith can touch and handle things unseen;
Here would I grasp with firmer hand Thy grace,
And all my weariness upon Thee lean.

Here would I feed upon the bread of GOD;
Here drink with Thee the royal wine of heaven;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load;
Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.

I have no help but Thine; nor do I need
Another arm save Thine to lean upon;
It is enough, my LORD, enough indeed;
My strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone.
Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness;
Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing Blood:
Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace-
Thy Blood, Thy righteousness, O LORD, my GOD!

"The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed."

I AM not worthy, Holy LORD,

That Thou shouldst come to me;

Speak but the word; one gracious word
Can set the sinner free.

I am not worthy; cold and bare

The lodging of my

soul;

How canst Thou deign to enter there?
LORD, speak, and make me whole.

I am not worthy; yet, my GOD,
How can I say Thee nay;

Thee, who didst give Thy Flesh and Blood
My ransom-price to pay?

O come in this sweet morning hour
Feed me with food divine;

And fill with all Thy love and power
This worthless heart of mine. Amen.
Sir Henry W. Baker.

IV.

"To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge."

JESU, to Thy Table led,

Now let every heart be fed
With the true and living Bread.

While in penitence we kneel,
Thy sweet Presence let us feel,
All Thy wondrous Love reveal.

While on Thy dear Cross we gaze,
Mourning o'er our sinful ways,
Turn our sadness into praise.

When we taste the mystic wine,
Of Thine out-poured Blood the sign,
Fill our hearts with love divine.

Draw us to Thy wounded Side,
Whence there flowed the healing tide;
There our sins and sorrows hide.

From the bonds of sin release,
Cold and wavering faith increase,
LAMB OF GOD, grant us Thy Peace.

Lead us by Thy pierced Hand,
Till around Thy throne we stand,
In the bright and better land. Amen.

R. H. Baynes.

V.

"If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.”

WHEN first, O CHRIST, I felt Thy gracious call,
"Come unto Me, and I will give you rest,"

It fell upon my heart as rain-drops fall

On pining flowers by summer drought oppressed.
I came to Thee, and left my sins behind;
I trusted Thee, and knew no longer fear;
I learnt of Thee, and sunshine filled my mind
I took Thy yoke, and found it sweet to bear;
I followed Thee, and all my path was clear.

;

Methought not Love itself could more bestow;
But since I took that holy Bread and Wine,
In simple faith, desiring but to know
Thyself, O JESUS, sealing me for Thine,
I feel that "Come to Me, and I will give,"
As nought to "We will come to him and dwell";
For now I know there doth within me live

Of Life and Love the never-failing well;

And vanished is the dread of Death and Hell.

Amen. L. Tuttiett.

VI.

"The Lord shall give thee rest."

WITH Weary feet and sadden'd heart,
From toil and care we flee,
And come, O dearest LORD, apart
To rest awhile with Thee.

The courts of Heaven were lost to view,

The world had come between;
But here the veil is rent in two;
We see the things unseen.

Our sins, in Thy pure light descried,
Stand out in dread array;

But here in Love's absolving tide

Their guilt is wash'd away.

With strife of tongues distraught and worn

Our troublous way we trod;

But cast ourselves, this holy morn,

Into the peace of GOD.

And oh what depth of joy, as thus
We bend the trembling knee,
To know that Thou art one with us,
And we are one with Thee.

Amen.

W. W. W.