Sep. 26, 2020

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

Anonymous 1787

Sep. 17, 2020

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav’n to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in Heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Charles Wesley 1747

Sep. 2, 2020

saw one weary, sad, and torn,
    With eager steps press on the way,
Who long the hallowed cross had borne,
    Still looking for the promised day;
While many lines of grief and care,
    Upon his brow, were furrowed there;
I asked what buoyed his spirits up,
    “O this!” said he, “The blessed hope!”

2. And one I saw, with sword and shield,
    Who boldly braved the world’s cold frown,
And fought, unyielding, on the field,
    To win an everlasting crown.
Though worn with toil, oppressed by foes,
    No murmur from his heart arose;
I asked what buoyed his spirits up,
    “O this!” said he, “The blessed hope!”

3. And there was one who left behind
    The cherished friends of early years,
And honor, pleasure, wealth resigned,
    To tread the path bedewed with tears.
Through trials deep and conflicts sore,
    Yet still a smile of joy he wore;
I asked what buoyed his spirits up,
    “O this!” said he, “The blessed hope!”

4. While pilgrims here we journey on
    In this dark vale of sin and gloom,
Through tribulation, hate, and scorn,
    Or through the portals of the tomb,
Till our returning King shall come
    To take His exile captives home,
O! what can buoy the spirits up?
    ‘Tis this alone, the blessed hope!

Annie Smith, 1852