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ROCK OF AGES.

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ROCK OF AGES.

OCK of Ages, cleft for me "—

Thoughtlessly the maiden sung,

Fell the words unconsciously,
From her girlish, gleeful tongue;
Sang as little children sing;

Sang as sing the birds in June;
Fell the words like light leaves down
On the current of the tune-
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee."

Let me hide myself in Thee,"
Felt her soul no need to hide :
Sweet the song as song could be—
And she had no thought beside;
All the words unheedingly

Fell from lips untouched by care,
Dreaming not they each might be
On some other lips a prayer-
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee."

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me"

'Twas a woman sung them now,
Pleadingly and prayerfully;

Every word her heart did know,
Rose the song as storm-tossed bird
Beats with weary wing the air,

ROCK OF AGES.

Every note with sorrow stirred

Every syl able a prayer"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee."

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me

Lips grown aged sung the hymn Trustingly and tenderly

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Voice grown weak and eyes grown dim. "Let me hide myself in Thee”—

Trembling though the voice and low, Ran the sweet strain peacefully,

Like a river in its flow.

Sung as only they can sing,

Who behold the promised rest

"Rock of Ages cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee."

All life's joys and sorrows hid. Never more, O storm-tossed soul, Never more from wind or tide, Never more from billow's roll,

Wilt thou need thyself to hide. Could the sightless, sunken eyes. Closed beneath the soft gray hair,

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"UNTIL HE COME."

Could the mute and stiffened lips
Move again in pleading prayer,
Still, aye, still, the words would be,
"Let me hide myself in Thee."

"UNTIL HE COME."

"TILL

❝ILL He come !"-oh, let the words
Linger on the trembling chords

Let the little while between,

In their golden light be seen;

Let us think how heaven and home
Lie beyond that "Till He come."

When the weary ones we love
Enter on their rest above,

Seems the earth so poor and vast,

All our life-joy overcast ?
Hush be every murmur dumb;
It is only "Till He come."

Clouds and conflicts round us press;

Would we have one sorrow less?
All the sharpness of the cross,

All that tells the world is loss,

Death and darkness and the tomb

Only whisper, "Till He come.”

PRAYING.

See, the feast of love is spread !
Drink the wine and break the bread
Sweet memorials -till the Lord
Call us round His heavenly board;
Some from earth, from glory some,
Severed only-till He come.

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PRAYING.

YLOSE, close, beloved mine,

CL

Around my heart entwine,

In Love's strong clasping, as I hold thee, so.

Above the sky that leans

Over these death fu' scenes,

To Him, the Eternal Life and Love, we go.

Back from His awful light,
Back from consuming sight,

Of glory infinite, His cherubim
Stand reverently veiled.

Before His splendor paled,

All majesty, all brightness waneth dim.

Yet see, anear His feet,

White-robed, and chanting sweet

Their song of love, His ransomed myriads bow. For them, on cruel rood,

Did Jesus give His blood:

Nearest of all in Heaven, they worship now.

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PRAYING.

Think! is our yearning love

Caught from His heart above!

Then haste we, blend our voices with that choir
In noblest strains they pour;

We vie with them, and soar
Until our souls are with His love on fire.

Alas! not rapturous strain,
Unsaddened now with pain,

Befits us, until Life's fleet changes cease.
Our sinning we confess,

Our needs we meekly press,

And crave the seal-kiss of His hallowed peace.

O Merciful! we pray,
Absolve our guilt away;

Give victory against temptation still;
With cheerful grace endue

These hearts that, weeping, sue
Too oft for respite from Thy blessed will.

In us Thy will be done.

Touch Thou the spirit toue

That brings our life with Thine in sweet accord In sacred oneness bound,

Circled by love profound,

Thy Love-enfold us to Thy bosom, Lord.