 | Love's Last Labour Not Lost |  |
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THE BIRTHDAY.
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[Book of Life! Salvation's charter!]
Book of Life! Salvation's charter!
Where, with hallow'd lips of fire,
Spake Apostle, Prophet, Martyr,
As the Spirit did inspire.
Where, with hallow'd lips of fire,
Spake Apostle, Prophet, Martyr,
As the Spirit did inspire.
Guide the holiest, safest, surest,
To lost man, in mercy, given
To lead him in that path the purest,
The Pilgrim's path from earth to heaven.
To lost man, in mercy, given
To lead him in that path the purest,
The Pilgrim's path from earth to heaven.
From thee I learn how rose the sun,
And world on world from chaos rude;
How, when His wondrous work was done,
Jehovah's Self pronounced it “Good.”
And world on world from chaos rude;
How, when His wondrous work was done,
Jehovah's Self pronounced it “Good.”
How beauty, order, grandeur, grace,
All centred in Creation's plan;
With Eden for the dwelling-place
Of that exalted Being—Man!
All centred in Creation's plan;
With Eden for the dwelling-place
Of that exalted Being—Man!
How from his high and happy state,
Alas! he fell; and by his fall
Brought Sin and Death, the woes that wait
On Disobedience, upon all.
Alas! he fell; and by his fall
Brought Sin and Death, the woes that wait
On Disobedience, upon all.
How pity touch'd the Father's heart,
And sent from His celestial throne
His only Son to bear our smart,
For man's transgression to atone.
And sent from His celestial throne
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For man's transgression to atone.
How earth was darken'd, mountains heaved,
And lightning flash'd, and thunder peal'd,
And trembling infidels believed,
As His great bond the Saviour seal'd.
And lightning flash'd, and thunder peal'd,
And trembling infidels believed,
As His great bond the Saviour seal'd.
And how supreme He reigns above,
With Glory's Diadem to crown
The Chosen of His dying love,
For whom He brought Redemption down.
With Glory's Diadem to crown
The Chosen of His dying love,
For whom He brought Redemption down.
Book of Life! I learn from Thee
All that is meet for man to know,
That God is mercy, pardon free
To those who seek it here below.
All that is meet for man to know,
That God is mercy, pardon free
To those who seek it here below.
| Love's Last Labour Not Lost | |