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SCRIPTURE HYMN.
O Zion's children, wake to duty!
Yet must your King all earth possess!
Your banner lift, to shine in beauty
Caught from the Sun of Righteousness.
March forth to darkness in the highways,
And as a lamp the Bible hold:—
Go, bring the lambs to Jesus' fold,
From howling wilds, and pits, and by-ways:
Go forth, and sow the Word
By river and by rill;
Where plants may blossom to the Lord,
That death can never kill!
Yet must your King all earth possess!
Your banner lift, to shine in beauty
Caught from the Sun of Righteousness.
March forth to darkness in the highways,
And as a lamp the Bible hold:—
Go, bring the lambs to Jesus' fold,
From howling wilds, and pits, and by-ways:
Go forth, and sow the Word
By river and by rill;
Where plants may blossom to the Lord,
That death can never kill!
Go, and the little clildren gather,—
Each for your crown a precious gem!
Teach them to know their Heavenly Father,
And what a Saviour did for them.
Destruction's ever-open portals
The fairest flowers and fruits surround:
O, snatch from off the tempter's ground
The tender, helpless, young immortals!
Ere yet the serpent's lure
Hath bound them in his charms,
Go, bear them to that refuge sure,
A Saviour's waiting arms.
Each for your crown a precious gem!
Teach them to know their Heavenly Father,
And what a Saviour did for them.
Destruction's ever-open portals
The fairest flowers and fruits surround:
O, snatch from off the tempter's ground
The tender, helpless, young immortals!
Ere yet the serpent's lure
Hath bound them in his charms,
Go, bear them to that refuge sure,
A Saviour's waiting arms.
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Bethink ye, Zion's sons and daughters,
How many souls must yet be fed,—
How many, for the living waters,
Must die, or to the fount be led!
The faint and famished lift, and cherish:
There 's bread enough, and still to spare;—
Salvation's cup, and vital air
For those parched lips, before they perish!
Go forth as one, and all,
To labor while ye may;
For soon the night of death must fall!—
Go, work while yet 't is day.
How many souls must yet be fed,—
How many, for the living waters,
Must die, or to the fount be led!
The faint and famished lift, and cherish:
There 's bread enough, and still to spare;—
Salvation's cup, and vital air
For those parched lips, before they perish!
Go forth as one, and all,
To labor while ye may;
For soon the night of death must fall!—
Go, work while yet 't is day.
What though in pain and tears your sowing,
Whilst none the wages here receives?
Your Master keeps the harvest growing,
To fill your arms with golden sheaves.
What though the foe, his ranks suborning,
Steal forth to mar your fields by night?
His works shall be consumed by light,
His powers dispersed like shades at morning.
With patience, and in faith,
Still labor for your Lord:
Impart the Scripture; and, it saith,
In Heaven is your reward!
Whilst none the wages here receives?
Your Master keeps the harvest growing,
To fill your arms with golden sheaves.
What though the foe, his ranks suborning,
Steal forth to mar your fields by night?
His works shall be consumed by light,
His powers dispersed like shades at morning.
With patience, and in faith,
Still labor for your Lord:
Impart the Scripture; and, it saith,
In Heaven is your reward!
And, while the Word of God unfolding,
Dare naught to add, or take away.
The heart may there, itself beholding,
As in a glass, its state survey.
If Sinai makes the sinner tremble,
And on the rocks for covert call,
A peaceful voice, addressed to all,
On Calvary bids the world assemble!
For there the sword of flame,
Whose terrors none can bide,
To all in Christ's life-giving name
Was quenched when Jesus died.
Dare naught to add, or take away.
The heart may there, itself beholding,
As in a glass, its state survey.
If Sinai makes the sinner tremble,
And on the rocks for covert call,
A peaceful voice, addressed to all,
On Calvary bids the world assemble!
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Whose terrors none can bide,
To all in Christ's life-giving name
Was quenched when Jesus died.
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