4-E'en friendship's smile avails not
To cheer us here below,
For smiles are all deceitful,
They quickly ebb and flow :
One smile alone can gladden,
Whate'er the pilgrim's lot,
It is the smile of Jesus,-
For Jesus changeth not.
5-And thus our bark moves onward,
O'er life's tempestuous sea,
While death's unerring hand
Is stamp'd on all we see :
But faith has found a living One,
Where hope deceiveth not,
Our life is hid with Jesus,-
And Jesus changeth not.
6-There's nought on earth to rest upon,
All things are changing here,
The smiles of joy we gaze upon,
The friends we count most dear:
One Friend alone is changeless,-
The One too oft forgot,
Whose love has stood for ages past,
Our Jesus changeth not.
1-Fighting the battle of life!—
With a weary heart and head;
For in the midst of the strife,
The banners of joy are fled ;-
2--Fled and gone out of sight,
When I thought they were so near,
And the music of hope this night
Is dying away on my ear.
3-Fighting the whole day long,
With a very tired hand,-
With only my armour strong—
The shelter in which I stand.
4-There is nothing left of me,—
If all my strength were shewn,
So small the amount would be,
Its presence could scarce be known.
5-Fighting alone to-night,
With not e'en a stander by
To cheer me in the fight,
Or to hear me when I cry.
6-Only the Lord can hear,—
Only the Lord can see
The struggle within how dark and drear,
Though quiet the outside be.
7-Fighting alone to-night!
With what a sinking heart;-
Lord Jesus, in the fight
Oh! stand not Thou apart!
8-Body and mind have tried
To make the field my own;
But when the Lord is on my side,
He doeth the work alone.
9-And when He hideth His face
And the battle-clouds prevail,
It is only through His grace
That I do not utterly fail.
10-The word of old was true,
And its truth shall never cease,—
"The Lord shall fight for you,
And ye shall hold your peace."
11-Lord, I would fain be still
And quiet behind my shield;
But make me to love Thy will,
For fear I should ever yield.
12-Nothing but perfect trust,
And love of thy perfect will,
Can raise me out of the dust,
And bid my fears be still.
13-Lord, fix my eyes upon Thee,
And fill my heart with Thy love;
And keep my soul till the shadows flee,
And the light breaks forth above.
1-"Be not weary," toiling Christian,
Good the Master thou dost serve;
Let no disappointment move thee,
From thy service never swerve ;
Sow in hope, nor cease thy sowing;
Lack not patience, faith, or prayer ;
Seed-time passeth,-harvest hasteneth,-
Precious sheaves thou then shalt bear.
2-" Be not weary," praying Christian,
Open is thy Father's ear
To the fervent supplication,
And the agonizing prayer;
Prayer the Holy Ghost begetteth,
Be it words, or groans, or tears,
Is the prayer that's always answered;
Banish then thy doubts and fears.
3-"Be not weary," suffering Christian, Scourg'd is each adopted child,
grow, in sad profusion,
Nature's fruit, perverse and wild ;
Chastening's needful for the spirit,
Though, tis painful for the flesh,
God designs a blessing for thee;-
Let this thought thy soul refresh.
4-"Be not weary," tempted Christian,
Sin can only lure on earth;
Faith is tried by sore temptation;
'Tis the furnace proves its worth ;
Bounds are set unto the tempter,
Which beyond he cannot go;
Battle on, on God relying,
Faith will overcome the foe.
5-" Be not weary," weeping Christian,
Tears endure but for the night,
Joy, deep joy thy spirit greeting,
Will return with morning's light;
Every tear thou shedd'st is numbered
In the register above,
Heaven is tearless, sweet the prospect,-
Sighless, tearless land of love!
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