THE VISITATION Till to the home of gladness
With Christ's own bride they rise, And cast their crowns before Thee In perfect sacrifice. Amen.
523 REST in the Lord- from harps
above
The music seems to thrillRest in His everlasting love, Rest and be still.
Rest thou, who claimest for thine own Thy chosen bride to- day,
Affianced in His faith alone
Thy bride for aye.
And thou, whose trustful hand is Avouching here thy spouse,
[ given
Rest, for a Father seals in heaven His children's vows.
Rest ye, who cluster round them both To mingle praise and prayers; Your God affirms the plighted troth, Your God and theirs.
Rest in the Lord- thrice Holy Dove, In us Thy word fulfilRest in His everlasting love, Rest and be still. Amen.
5240 PERFECT Love, all human thought
Rest, for the Heavenly Bridegroom 526 THOU knowest, Lord, the
[ here
Is standing by your side, And in this uníon draws more near His mystic bride.
weariness and sorrow Of the sad heart that comes to Thee [ morrow, for rest; Cares of to- day, and burdens of to Blessings implored, and sins to be confess'd; [ word,
We come before Thee at Thy gracious And lay them at Thy feet: Thou knowest, Lord.
Thou knowest all the past; how long and blindly[ wanderer stray'd; On the dark mountains the lost How the good Shepherd follow'd, and how kindly [ laid;
He bore it home, upon His shoulders And heal'd the bleeding wounds, and
Lowly we kneel in prayer before Thy throne,[ knows no ending, That theirs may be the love which Whom Thou for evermore dost join in one.
O perfect Life, be Thou their full as
surance
[ faith,
Of tender charity and steadfast Of patient hope, and quiet brave endurance, [ pain nor death. With childlike trust that fears nor Grant them the joy which brightens
earthly sorrow,[ all earthly strife; Grant them the peace which calms And to life's day the glorious unknown
morrow
OF THE SICK.
To prove His care, how tender, His providence, how wise; Our Guardian and Defender, Whose goodness never dies. O Saviour meek and lowly, Our never- failing Friend, Teach us to trust Thee wholly, And on Thy grace depend: In mercy watching o'er us, Whene'er our feet may stray, With gentle love restore us, And lead us in Thy way.
That dawns upon eternal love and life. Amen.
The Visitation of the Sick.
525
ОH comfort to the weary, Oh balm to the distress'd, To lean, when life is dreary, Upon the Saviour's breast: Amidst its cares and sorrows,
To feel Him always nigh While earth a radiance borrows, From hopes beyond the sky. Oh sweetness beyond measure, To taste the Saviour's love, And know our choicest treasure Is safe with Him above: 126
When sorrows, Lord, o'ertake us, Thy promises are sure; Thou never wilt forsake us,
Thy mercies still endure: Soon may we stand before Thee, And see Thee face to face, Where saints with joy adore Thee, And ever sing Thy praise. Amen.
soothed the pain,[ strength again. And brought back life, and hope, and
Thou knowest all the present; each [ fear; temptation,
Each toilsome duty, each foreboding All to each one assign'd of tribulation,
Or to beloved ones, than self more [ on, All pensive memories, as we journey Longings for vanish'd smiles and
voices gone.
Thou knowest all the future; gleams [ cast; of gladness
By stormy clouds too quickly overHours of sweet fellowship and parting ( last. sadness,
And the dark river to be cross'd at Oh, what could hope and confidence afford [ knowest, Lord. To tread that path; but this, Thou Thou knowest, not alone as God, allknowing; Thast proved: As Man, our mortal weakness Thou On earth, with purest sympathies o'erflowing.[ Thou hast loved: O Saviour, Thou hast wept, and