Desert sorrow, hard and bitter,
Turn to music, sweet and soft:
Groan and cry yield joyful singing-
Songs of Christ that mount aloft!

Ill they spake, "Can God provide us
Cheer amidst the wilderness!"
He a feast of joy has furnished-
Feast of sweetness, love and bliss!

In the desert. Bread He giveth
Till we nought can ask beside-
Raineth down delight from heaven
Till the heart is satisfied!

‘Tis Thy love, O Christ, that fills us,
And from out our hearts doth bring
Songs of joy, as sweet, as wondrous,
As in heaven the blessed sing!

Thus our sorrow turns to music,
Thus our cry to sweetest song,
Weeping to eternal gladness,
Night to day, vast ages long

AD 1349

God is love! His mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens;
God is wisdom, God is love.

Time and change are busy ever;
Man decays, and ages move;
But His mercy waneth never;
God is wisdom, God is love.

E’en the hour that darkest seemeth
Will His changeless goodness prove;
From the gloom His brightness streameth
God is wisdom, God is love.

He with earthly cares entwineth
Hope and comfort from above;
Everywhere His glory shineth;
God is wisdom, God is love.

Praise the Lord! whose love, unweary,
Ne’er forsakes us in distress:
Everything around us dreary,
Gladsome shines His glorious face!

Praise the Lord! our Help, He for us
Stood in judgment, purchased peace;
Here in conflict, went before us:
Gladsome shines His glorious face!

Praise the Lord! so full of mercy,
Strength, long-suffering, love and grace!
Though the way we tread be thorny,
Gladsome shines His glorious face!

Praise the Lord! who leaves us never,-
Faithful, guards the path we trace,
Blessings fresh, downpouring ever:
Gladsome shines His glorious face!

Broken heart, the fountain’s open,
Christ hath died upon the tree;
All the pow’rs of hell are shaken;
Grace flows down from God to thee.

God Himself the Source the Fountain,
Christ the Way the waters flow,
By the Spirit, down from heaven
To the thirsty heart below!

Now’s the time the time accepted;
Now to thee God’s Light hath shone;
Christ God’s love hath manifested,
He the finished work hath done.

By one righteousness completed,
Adam’s life receives its doom;
Jesus Christ, in glory seated,
Everlasting life hath won.

Broken heart, the river’s flowing
Haste! delay not! yet there’s room:
Hear the word of God beseeching
“Whosoever thirsts may come!”

Trembling soul, behold thy Saviour
Seated on the Father’s throne;
Object of God’s highest favor,
See Him, God’s beloved Son!

Once on earth in Bethlehem’s manger,
As a helpless babe He lay,
God come down, a heavenly Stranger,
Love to sinners to display.

See the lowly One now bending,
In the lone Gethsemane,
Drops of blood His conflict marking,
Whilst He prays in agony!

Sinner, see the bleeding Saviour,
Pierced and nailed to Calvary’s tree;
Sacrifice of sweetest savor
Object of man’s enmity!

Sinner, hear the wondrous story
Jesus died, and rose for thee;
God in heaven now waits to save thee;
Now, believing, thou art free.

On the Lamb my soul is resting;
What his love no tongue can say;
All my sins, so great, so many,
In His blood are wash’d away.

Sweetest rest and peace have filled me,
Sweeter praise than tongue can tell;
God is satisfied with Jesus,
I am satisfied as well.

Conscience now no more condemns me,
For His own most precious blood
Once for all has washed and cleansed me;
Cleansed me in the eyes of God.

Filled with this sweet peace for ever,
On I go through strife and care,
Till I find that peace around me
In the Lamb’s bright glory there.

As I was, the Father loved me-
Loved me in my sin and shame:
Yet a great way off, He saw me;
Ran and kissed me as I came

Gave me Christ, the Robe of glory,
Spotless as the heavens above,
Not to meet my thoughts of fitness,
But His wondrous thoughts of love!

Not a servant at God’s gateway,
But a son within His home,
To the love, the joy, the singing,

Oh, the peace forever flowing
From God’s thoughts of His own Son!
Oh, the peace of simply knowing
On the cross that all was done!

Peace with God! the blood in heaven
Speaks of pardon now to me:
Peace with God! the Lord is risen!
Righteousness now counts me free.

Peace with God is Christ in glory;
God is just and God is love;
Jesus died to tell the story,
Foes to bring to God above.

Now, free access to the Father,
Through the Christ of God, we have;
By the Spirit here abiding,
Promise of the Father’s love.

Jesus, Saviour, we adore Thee!
Christ of God, Anointed Son!
We confess Thee, Lord of glory,
Fruits of vict’ry Thou hast won!

Lo, from vessels, earthen only,
Shining forth in ceaseless grace,
Reaching weary hearts, and lonely,
Beams the light from Jesus’ face!

Earthen vessels, marred, unsightful,
Bearing Wealth no thought can know:
Heavenly Treasure, gleaming brightly-
Christ revealed in saints below!

Vessels, broken, frail, yet bearing
Through the hungry ages on
Riches given with hand unsparing-
God’s great Gift, His precious Son!

O to be but empty, lowly,
Mean, unnoticed and unknown,
Yet to God a vessel holy,
Filled with Christ, and Christ alone!

Nought of earth to cloud the Glory!
Nought of self the Light to dim!
Telling forth Christ’s wondrous story:
Broken, empty-filled with Him!

Gazing on the Lord in glory,
While our hearts in worship bow,
There we read the wondrous story
Of the cross, its shame and woe:

Every mark of dark dishonor
Heaped upon the thorn-crowned brow,
All the depths of Thy heart’s sorrow,
Told in answering glory now!

On that cross, alone, forsaken,
Where no pitying eye was found;
Now, to God’s right hand exalted,
With Thy praise the heavens resound!

Did Thy God even then forsake Thee,
Hide His face from Thy deep need?
In Thy face, once marred and smitten,
All His glory now we read.

Gazing on it we adore Thee,
Blessed, precious, holy Lord!
Thou, the Lamb, alone art worthy
This be earth’s and heavens accord.

Rise our hearts, and bless the Father
Ceaseless song even here begun;
Endless praise and adoration
To the Father and the Son!

Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me;
Bless thy little lamb tonight;
Through the darkness be Thou near me,
Watch my sleep till morning light.

All this day Thy hand hath led me,
And I thank Thee for Thy care;
Thou hast kept and clothed and fed me:
Listen to my humble prayer.

Let my sins be all forgiven;
Bless the friends I love so well;
Fit me, Lord, as Thine for heaven,
Happy there with Thee to dwell.

Sweet to trace Christ’s toiling footsteps
Here amidst the desert sands;
Bear in memory all his sorrow,
Thorn-clad head and pierced hands;

Learn His love beside the manger,
Learn it on the stormy wave,
By the well, and in the garden
Learn it by the cross and grave!

Still His heart amidst the glory
Beareth all our grief and care,
Every burden, ere we feel it, there!
Weighed and measured by Him

All His love, His joy, His glory,
By His Spirit here made known,
Whilst that Spirit speaks the sorrows
Of His saints before the throne!

Girt with glory’s golden girdle,
Shining as the mighty sun,
Still His pierced hands will finish
All his work of love begun.

Gracious Saviour, gentle Shepherd!
Little ones are dear to Thee:
Gathered in Thine arms, and carried
In Thy bosom, may we be.

Tender Shepherd! never leave us,
From Thy fold to go astray:
By Thy look of love directed,
May we walk the narrow way.

Taught to lisp the holy praises
Which on earth Thy children sing,
May we with Thy saints in glory
Join to praise our Lord the King.

Sweet the moments, rich blessing,
Which before the cross I spend;
Life and health and peace possessing
From the sinner’s dying Friend.

Truly blessed is the station,
Low before Thy cross to lie,
Seeing, Lord, divine compassion
Beaming in Thy gracious eye!

Here we rest, our sins forgiven,
Here upon the Lamb we gaze,
And we find the dawn of heaven,
While our hearts overflow with praise!

For Thy sorrows we adore Thee,
For the pains that wrought our peace!
Gracious Saviour! we implore Thee,
In our souls Thy love increase!

Still, in ceaseless contemplation,
Fix, O Lord, our hearts on Thee,
Till we taste Thy full salvation,
And Thy unvailed glories see!

Jesus calls to little children,
And His words are words of love;
"Come to Me, receive My blessing!
Come to Me, and live above!"

"But," you say, "He lives in heaven;
How can I approach Him there?"
Listen then to what He utters,
Thus His gracious words declare-

"Though in glory I am seated,
Even the softest word I hear;
And the voice of little children
Soundeth sweetly in Mine ear.

"In My love to ruined sinners,
To this wretched world I cam:
Here I died to make atonement;
Justice now no more can claim.

"Sinners now in Me believing
Everlasting life receive;
Come in faith, to Me for pardon-
I have died that thou mayest live."

Christ, above all glory seated,
King eternal, strong to save,
To Thee death by death defeated
Triumph high and glory gave.

Thou art gone where now is given
What no mortal night could gain
On the eternal throne of heaven,
In Thy Father’s power, to reign.

Jesus, hail! enthroned in glory,
There forever to abide:
All the heavenly host adore Thee,
Seated at Thy Father’s side.

Worship, honor, power and blessing
Thou art worthy to receive:
Loudest praises, without ceasing,
Meet it is for us to give.

Sinner, wilt thou be converted?
Christ the Lord of glory see,
By His own denied, deserted,
Bleeding, bound, and scourged for thee!

See the crown of thorns adorning
God’s beloved, holy Son;
Then fall down in bitter mourning,
Weep for that which thou hast done!

See Him ‘neath the cruel smiting,
Nails in hands, and spear in side!
Hearken, till thy heart is broken,
To His cry, as thus He died!

Thank Him that God’s love and pardon
Flow down freely from the tree!
Thank Him that His heart was willing
Thus to die for love of thee!

Wondrous joy, Thy joy, Lord Jesus!
Deep, eternal, pure and bright!
Once the lonely Man of Sorrows,
Thou canst tell of joy aright!

Now ascended unto glory,
From Thy love’s unfailing spring
Thou dost pour Thy song of triumph
Thou the song of songs dost sing!

Won in travail of Thy spirit,
Agony and shame and blood,
That blest place beside the Father,
Nearest to the heart of God!

Won for me! my praises leading,
Thou dost sing that song divine
All Thy joy my own forever!
All Thy peace for ever mine!

Hark, my soul! that hymn of glory
Filleth all the holy place!
Psalm of One who, for His people,
Gazeth on the Father’s face!

Hear the cry, "Behold, He cometh!"
Hear the cry, "The Bridegroom’s near!"
These are accents falling sweetly
On the ransomed sinner’s ear.

Man may disbelieve the tidings,
Or in anger turn away;
‘Tis foretold there shall be scoffers
Rising in the latter day.

But He’ll come, the Lord from heaven,
Not to suffer, nor to die,
But to take His waiting people
To the glorious rest on high.

Happy they who stand expecting
Christ, the Saviour, to appear:
Sad for those who do not love Him-
Those who do not wish Him here.

But in mercy still He lingers,
Lengthening out the day of grace
Til He comes, inviting sinners
To His welcome, fond embrace.

Brightness of the eternal glory,
Shall Thy praise unuttered lie?
Who would hush the wondrous story
Of the Lamb who came to die!

Came from Godhead’s throne eternal,
Down to Calvary’s depth of woe;
Came to crush the powers infernal,
Streams of praises ceaseless flow!

Sing His blest triumphant rising!
Sing Him on the Father’s throne!
Sing, till heaven and earth surprising,
Reigns the Nazarene alone!

Jesus only, when the morning
Beams upon the path I tread!
Jesus only, when the darkness
Gathers round my weary head!

Jesus only, though death’s billows,
Cold and sullen o’er me roll!
Jesus only, when the trumpet
Rends the tomb and thrills the soul!

Jesus only, when-adoring-
Saints their crowns before him bring!
Jesus only, I shall-joyous-
Through eternal ages sing!

Abba, Father, we who know Thee
Gather round the throne of grace:
Here we see Thy love and glory
Shining in the Saviour’s face!

Weakness, failure, all confessing,
We Thy promised succor claim,
Pleading, for the needed blessing,
Jesus’ ever precious Name!

Guide in prayer our needs expressing
In sweet filial liberty,
Whilst with grateful hearts addressing
Worship, praise and thanks to Thee!

Every care upon Thee casting,
We would rest in love divine,
Till in glory everlasting
In Thy heavenly light we shine!

Little children, come to Jesus;
Hark! He calls you, come away!
Little children, come to Jesus
In this bright, this gospel day.

Trust upon His sacred promise,
Lean upon His loving breast;
Little children, come to Jesus-
He alone can give you rest.

In the bosom of the Father,
Object of His endless love-
In the light and in the glory,
In His Christ I dwell above!

There, O God, I rest untroubled,
All my service to adore-
Sin and shame and death and sorrow
Left behind for evermore!

Father, all the wondrous secret
Of Thy perfect love to me-
All Thy heart’s exhaustless fullness-
In Christ’s blessed face I see!

Gazing there, I never weary,
Though my feet press though the waste,
For the bitter Marah-waters
Thou hast sweetened to my taste.

Blessed path that ends tomorrow
In the glory round Thy throne!
On! With silver trumpets sounding-
Through the waste we hasten on!

Rise, my soul, behold ’tis Jesus!
Jesus fills thy wondering eyes!
See Him now in glory seated,
Where thy sins no more can rise.

There in righteousness transcendent,
Lo, He doth in heaven appear-
Shows the blood of His atonement
As thy title to be there!

All thy sins were laid upon Him-
Jesus bore them on the tree:
God, who knew them, laid them on Him,
And, believing, thou art free.

God now brings thee to his dwelling,
Spreads for thee His feast divine,
Bids thee welcome, ever telling
What a portion there is thine.

Blessed, glorious word, "forever"-
Yea, "forever" is the word!
Nothing can the ransomed sever,
Naught divide them from the Lord.

Humble, Lord, my haughty spirit;
Bid my swelling thoughts subside;
Strip me of my fancied merit:
What have I to do with pride?

Wast Thou, Savior, meek and lowly?
And shall such a worm as I,
Weak and earthly and unholy,
Dare to lift my head on high?

Teach me, Lord my true condition;
Bring me childlike to Thy knee,
Stripped of every low ambition,
Willing to be led by Thee.

Guide me by Thy Holy Spirit,
Feed me from Thy blessed word,
All my wisdom, all my merit,
Borrowed from Thyself, O Lord!