Login / Free Registration
We apologize for the need for an account, but it serves to protect the integrity of the works and prevent their being used without permission.
Chapter 8 - Numbers 141 - 165 Hymns and Meditations by Chapman, Robert Cleaver
141. C.M.
OUR Father, we would sing to Thee;
Great God, our eyes have seen
Thy justice bruising on the tree
Thy Son, to make us clean.
Darkness at noon the land o'erspread;
Our guilt did hide Thy face
From Jesus, suff'ring in our stead,
Thou Holy God of grace.
To Thine elect Thy Spirit shows
The cross of Thy dear Son;
With Him we in Thy love repose,
For we with Him are one.
142. P.M.
ONLY on Thee, my God, I wait,
Thy word my heart sustaining;
Thy gentleness hath made me great,
Thy child am I in low estate,
With hidden glory reigning.
Whate'er the cup Thou givest me
I drink, and drinking bless Thee;
For by Thy Son brought nigh to Thee,
For ever Thine, by truth made free,
My Father, I possess Thee.
The voice of Thy beloved Son,
My Father, Thou art hearing;
Thou only wise-Thy will be done,
While I gird up my loins and run
My race, no evil fearing.
Thy Spirit brings before mine eyes
The cross and cruel scorning
That He endur'd, whose sacrifice
e Gives me above this earth to rise,
And wait the cloudless morning.
I read the heart of Christ the Lord,
I know His expectation;
Behold! He comes, the living Word,
He that was smitten by the sword,
The Captain of Salvation.
O make me by the Spirit strong
To serve the Lord of Glory;
To Him that bought me I belong-
He is my strength, my hope, my song,
The Lamb, the King of Glory.
143. C.M.
O JESUS LORD, whose hands and feet
Declare Thy power to save,
Dominion o'er myself complete,
Full mastery I crave.
Myself I slay and bring to nought,
For I am not mine own;
With an eternal ransom bought,
Heir of a lasting throne.
By threefold title I am Thine,
Teach me to do Thy will;
One business, King of Kings, be mine,
Thy bidding to fulfil.
May I in body, spirit, soul,
Thy holy vessel be!
Do Thou my ev'ry wish control,
Thy sorrows let me see.
O make me by Thy Spirit strong,
Saviour, on Thee to lean;
A pilgrim skill'd in heavenly song,
Beholding things unseen;
A perfect image of Thy ways,
A burning, shining light;
A polish'd jewel to Thy praise,
In God the Father's sight.
144. C.M.
THY brethren, Lord, are my delight,
I love them strong or weak;
They all are precious in my sight,
The froward with the meek.
I serve them, Lord, for they are Thine,
The Father's gift to Thee;
The Spirit, by Thy blood divine,
From prison set them free.
Since love will crave return in kind,
And prize it more than gold,
If my due recompense I find,
My joy can scarce be told.
Then with new strength my loins I gird
To magnify Thy name,
Thou Son of God, the living Word,
The Father's spotless Lamb.
But if I be the less belov'd,
While I love more and more,
For froward saints to sorrow mov'd,
Still I Thy name adore.
And still the froward ones I serve-
Thy members, Lord, are they;
Hold Thou me up, nor let me swerve
From Love's excelling way.
145. C.M.
MY Holy Father, I am Thine,
Before Thy throne I bow,
For by the cross of Thy dear Son
Thy name of Love I know.
Thy Spirit quicken'd me from death,
Thy still, small voice I hear;
Thy thunders to my peaceful soul
Thy holy name endear.
Thou hearest and Thou pleasest me,
My God, Thy will be done;
Thou givest whatsoe'er I ask,
My heart with Thine is one.
O may I ever walk with Thee,
And with Thy Spirit fill'd
Show Jesus forth, His death and life,
And be Thy pleasant child.
146. C.M.
THOU Son of God, my heavenly Lord,
My Saviour, I am Thine;
Thy dwelling-let Thy mind and ways
In everything be mine.
O let my conscience in Thy sight
Be pure, without a stain;
And mine integrity do Thou
With constant care maintain.
The griefs and suff'rings of Thy cross,
Lord, give me to behold,
With inward eye ne'er waxing dim,
With heart ne'er turning cold.
With wisdom by Thy Spirit fill'd,
With humbleness and love,
May I keep all Thy words and seek
Thyself and things above.
147. C.M.
MY Father, Thou dost make me glad,
For in this vale of tears
I listen to my Shepherd's voice,
He to mine eye appears.
Enthron'd He sits at Thy right hand,
By His own blood divine;
My heavenly Father, God of Grace,
I am both His and Thine.
Seal'd by Thy Spirit, I rejoice
And rest in Thy dear Son,
Who gave Himself the lost to save-
To make Thy glories known.
Thou lovest Him who offered up
Himself a sacrifice;
On Jesus Thou hast set Thine heart,
On Jesus fix'd Thine eyes.
Thy children are His flesh and bones,
His jewels, His delight;
His beauty theirs---they all, as He,
Are precious in Thy sight.
With power and skill He brings to pass
Thy wise and sure decrees;
The peace and joy of Christ the Lord
I share and dwell at ease.
Thou only art my Rock--Thy wealth
Suffices for my need;
O'er all my soul contentment reigns-
The Lord is risen indeed!
I see Thine everlasting house,
Thy children's blissful home,
And hasten through this vale of tears,
With songs amid the gloom.
148. C.M.
O THOU that dwellest in the light
Of Thine own majesty,
Begirt with native power and might,
Jehovah God, most High!
From everlasting Thou hast been,
Eternal are Thy days;
Thou art above the creature's ken,
And all the creature's praise.
Treasures of joy Thou didst possess,
Great God, in Thine own Son;
The Spirit in that blessedness
With Thee and Him was one.
Yet, Thou, Jehovah, wouldst command
The universe to be;
Thy Son Thou gavest, and Thy hand
Once bruis'd Him on the tree.
Rais'd up with Jesus from the dead,
We by the Spirit bring
Our off'ring, and with Christ our Head,
To Thee, our God, we sing.
Our Father, Thou art Light and Love,
We bless Thy holy name;
Our songs Thy heart to gladness move-
Our joy is in the Lamb.
O fill our hearts with joy like Thine,
To walk as children dear;
As lights in this dark world to shine,
Thy Spirit's voice to hear.
Thy children in a little while
Must all in glory meet,
And praise Thy name with perfect skill,
With harmony complete.
149. C.M.
ANOTHER world, my God, I see,
Where Thou art all in all;
Thither I haste, Thy pilgrim child,
Obedient to Thy call.
There every knee shall bow to Him
That put my sins away,
That died Thy myst'ries to reveal,
Thy riches to display.
Jesus Thy Son shall quickly come-
Faithful is He and true;
He did the heav'ns and earth create,
And shall create anew.
Joint-heir with Christ the Lord, I wait
The morn, and watch by night:
His yoke is easy to the neck-
I prove His burden light.
A child of dust, far off from Thee,
An heir of wrath was I,
When by Thy Spirit and Thy truth
Quicken'd and set on high.
My God and Father, I adore
Thy name, for I am Thine;
Thou art my portion and reward,
Let all Thy will be mine.
150. C.M.
THY voice of love, my God, I hear,
My Father, I am Thine;
From death redeem'd, and brought so near
To Thee, by blood divine.
Thy saints, how precious in Thy sight!
Thrice blessed in Thy Son;
With Jesus they are Thy delight,
They all with Him are one.
My constant sacrifice I bring
Of thanks and praise to Thee;
Thy Spirit teaches me to sing
My song of liberty.
All bitter things He turns to sweet
For me, whate'er my pain;
In Christ the Lord I am complete-
The Lamb for me was slain.
My path Thou knowest, and my frame;
By trials long and sore
I learn to fear Thy holy name,
To trust Thee and adore.
Thou crownest me from day to day
With kindnesses of grace;
Soon wilt Thou wipe my tears away,
Soon shall I see Thy face.
The morn is breaking; I rejoice,
For Thy dear Son I wait;
In Thee suffic'd, Thy will my choice,
Content in ev'ry state.
151. C.M.
THOU, Lord, in darkness art my light,
Thy Spirit's voice I hear,
And midst the thickest gloom of night
I see my Shepherd near.
Thou triest me in wisdom deep,
Thine heart to make me know,
And for Thyself my heart to keep
Secure from ev'ry foe.
Jesus, Thou Son of God, Thine eyes
Are like a fiery flame;
Perfect in Thy one sacrifice,
I bless Thy holy name.
Peaceful I worship at Thy feet,
And on Thy bosom rest;
My soul is for Thy friendship meet,
In heavenly beauty drest.
Lord, search me out-try Thou my reins,
May I Thy word believe,
And, bound to Thee with golden chains,
Thy Spirit never grieve.
152. C.M.
F ATHER, how great is Thy delight
And joy in Christ the Lord,
Thy Son, whom once Thy Justice smote
With sin-avenging sword!
He gave Himself the curse to bear,
He lives, our great High Priest;
Thy bosom, whence He came, is now
His everlasting rest.
Thy children by Thy Spirit learn
With Christ the Lord to sing,
To follow Him, and wait till He
Their full redemption bring.
O let Thy Spirit keep our hearts;
Let us with Thee be one,
Walking in holy fellowship
With Thee and with Thy Son.
153. C.M.
FATHER, whose holy name I fear,
Thou givest me Thy best;
The time to give, dost Thou defer?
In Thee, my God, I rest.
My portion Thou, the only wise;
No anxious thought have I;
Thy Spirit teaches me to rise
With Christ, and sit on high.
Jesus- He prospers evermore,
Performing Thy decrees;
With Jesus I Thy name adore,
With Jesus dwell at ease.
With Him I died-now am I Thine,
To wage my daily war,
In weakness, by His pow'r divine,
Thy glory all my care.
With Jesus' love Thy children fill,
That by Thy Spirit's might
Joyful we may do all Thy will,
And in Thyself delight.
154.
DARKNESS before the sun must flee away,
The moon and stars are hid, while He is seen,
And, from the earth's foundation, He has been
The sale and faithful ruler of the day;
His strength to run his race knows no decay,
All lands he visits with a kingly mien.
Winter departs, and earth again is green,
Fruitful and glad beneath his quick'ning sway.
When souls were wrapt in thickest gloom of night,
Rose from the tomb the Saviour of mankind,
The King whose favour is the only light
Of life eternal;-He, the heart and mind
Renewing, holds His course with power and might,
For on the cross He once His life resign'd.
155.
IF while my soul draws nigh to God by night,
I see the stars in clust'ring myriads shine,
I mark how all their glories they combine,
A host well-order'd, marvellously bright.
I listen to their silence,-they unite
A skilful choir to sing of love divine;
And are to me a picture and a sign
Of good things promis'd, hidden still from sight.
My Father, says my heart, Thou wilt not leave
Israel for ever scatter'd and forlorn.
They that shall soon the wilful King receive,
Israel, that slew Thy Son with rage and scorn,
Shall, in the land, to their Messiah cleave,
A countless people of Thy Spirit born.
156.
MY well-belov'd is holy,
The Father's spotless Lamb;
The Captain of Salvation,
Th' Omnipotent I AM.
The angels were not able
His hidden mind to scan;
His thoughts--one with the Father's,
Of boundless love to man.
Unsearchable His wisdom,
By Him were all things made;
His cross by perfect weakness
His pow'r to save display'd.
His heart is ever faithful;
How gentle is His love!
On Him the Spirit rested,
In fashion as a dove.
His cheeks that once were smitten
By scorners, wear a smile;
Because, in Him delighting.
His spouse performs His will.
It is my bliss to please Him;
His smile is like sweet flow'rs,
It is a bed of spices,
All fragrant after show'rs.
He tells me what temptations
In days of flesh He bore;
His bitter death He shows me,
He lives for evermore.
By Him are all things order'd,
His hand I ever bless;
His sympathy--how tender!
Through His own deep distress.
He holds a righteous sceptre,
He died to reach His throne;
Enduring is the kingdom
Of God's beloved Son.
Like Lebanon with cedars,
His countenance I see;
With joy and loving favour
He lifts it up on me.
A table I prepare Him,
He drinks my spiced wine;
My Lord is all delightsome,
I on His breast recline.
This is my heavenly Bridegroom,
My Brother, Saviour, Friend,
Whom God did from His bosom
For man's redemption send.
157.
THY ways, 0 Prince's daughter,
Are ways of truth and peace;
No, earthly cares distress thee,
Thy pleasures still increase.
Thou leanest on thy Bridegroom,
Who fills thy heart with song;
He taught thee by His Spirit
In weakness to be strong.
One with thy Lord and Saviour,
No more a child of earth :
By death and resurrection
Thou art of heavenly birth.
Well does thy soul remember
How He for thee was slain.
His sorrows thou dost ponder-
His death and all its pain.
A heap of wheat-the finest-
With lilies compass'd round,
Pictures the store of wisdom
That in thy heart is found.
Bowels thou hast of pity;
Thy words of comfort flow
To cheer all contrite mourners-
Thy Lord to make them know.
Thou walkest in the Spirit,
In love and godly fear;
No voice of crafty stranger
Can win thy prudent ear.
Integrity preserves thee;
Thy mind so pure and wise
Is like the royal fish-pools
That mirror forth the skies.
How many are thy children!
They sit down at thy feet
To learn the hidden wisdom;
Thy words to them are sweet.
The name of thy Redeemer,
Whom God for thee did bruise,
Sheds forth for thee its fragrance-
To thee His wounds He shows.
Th' approaching foe thou markest,
Watching against his wiles;
His terrors ne'er alarm thee,
His cunning ne'er beguiles.
The cross that was thy ransom
Rais'd thee to high estate;
According to that ransom
Thine every thought is great.
Thou knowest what beseems thee,
Spouse of the King of kings;
In Him thy joy thou findest-
In Him thy living springs.
He walks with thee in friendship;
No thought has He apart
From thee, His true companion-
He tells thee all his heart.
How fair thou art, how pleasant!
For all His mind is thine;
Thou art His stately palm tree,
His clusters of the vine.
Child of His God and Father,
His sister and His dove;
Thy Lord is all thy treasure-
His joy is in thy love.
158.
IN darkness of temptation
I sought my well-beloved;
He is the wise refiner
By whom my faith is prov'd.
I sought but could not find Him,
Yet still my search pursu'd;
His absence left me nothing
Save cheerless solitude.
In His right paths I waited,
Again to meet my Lord;
I could not see nor hear Him,
Yet trusted in His word.
The faithful watchmen found me,
My drooping soul they cheer'd ;
A little space I pass'd them,
And, lo! the King appear'd.
So fled away the darkness
And sorrows of the night;
How welcome was the day-break!
The sunrise, 0 how bright!
I held Him, nor would suffer
My Lord from me to part;
He walks with me in friendship,
Unfolding all His heart.
To know Him-to be like Him,
This is my one desire;
He grants it by His furnace
And His refining fire.
159.
"WHEN late I saw the moon at dead of night
In perfect beauty of her fulness rise,
I watch'd her steps, and as she climb'd the skies
Ponder'd the glory of her placid light.
Musing, I said: A fountain out of sight,
Ever the same, yon silver orb supplies
With all her peaceful beams that cheer mine eyes
Until the sun display his power and might.
Then pour'd I forth my prayer:-So may Thy Bride,
Blest Lamb of God, till Thy appearing, shine,
And in this world of unbelief and pride,
Let her who is by threefold title Thine
Walk in the Spirit--in Thy love abide,
For Thee, her Lord, a witness and a sign.
160.
HAIL! Star of Morning, Lamb of God most high!
Thou movest me Jehovah's name to praise;
For, by His Spirit disciplin'd, I gaze
On Thee in peace with heavenly wisdom's eye,
That diligently reads in earth and sky
God's mysteries of love. Thy gentle rays,
While yet to show his beams the sun delays,
Announce to all mankind his rising nigh;
But to the ransom'd saints, the chosen seed,
Joint-heirs with Christ, who have no city here,
Thy brightness speaks with God their Father's voice,
Of Christ enthron'd with Him their cause to plead;
The night far spent-the day of glory near-
And greatly at Thy message I rejoice.
161.
IN vain I sought my guiltiness to hide,
While I was blind and void of holy fear;
I hew'd out broken cisterns; had no ear
For truth that makes man free. I walk'd in pride;
My wisdom scorn'd the Christ once crucified,
The Saviour pierc'd with the soldier's spear.
My life was only death; yet I could sneer
At Jesus' name, and Jesus' grace deride.
Now, 0 my God, I enter into rest;
Led by Thy Spirit to the spotless Lamb,
In whom I glory, smiting on my breast:
Thy Son for men a sacrifice became
Of savour sweet, and I, in Jesus blest,
My God and Father, praise Thy holy name.
162.
FATHER, thou knowest all my tribulation,
Such wisdom I desire,
That by Thy Spirit I may fix mine eyes
On Thy true Priest and King,
Whose sacrifice
Redeem'd and cleans'd Thy chosen generation;
So 'midst the floods and walking through the fire,
I shall with harp attun'd Thy praises sing,
Yet lowly at Thy throne Thy will inquire,
And, strong in weakness, cling
To Christ the Lord, once offer'd on the tree-
To Jesus Thy dear Son, whose truth has made me free.
He is Thy joy-His voice well pleas'd Thou hearest,
Well pleas'd Thou hearest mine.
Thy Spirit pleads for me; Thou see'st His mind,
True mirror of Thine own.
By Him I find
The ways wherein Thou to Thy friends appearest;
O try my heart, purge it with blood divine
From faults and errors to myself unknown,
That in each wish and thought it may be Thine.
The faithful servant's crown
I seek at Jesus' hands--a little while
And He shall give it me, with His approving smile.
163,
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you."
IN majesty and peace, my risen Lord,
Thou sittest far above all heavens enthroned
With God the Father, who in His own Son,
The spotless Lamb once slain, hath found His rest.
At His right hand Thou art His polished shaft,
Ever accomplishing by friend and foe,
By angels and by men, His purposes.
Now through Thy cross, the crown of gold is Thine,
The golden sceptre, and the iron rod.
Worthy art Thou the universe to rule;
By Thee and for Thee were all creatures made;
The Father's image Thou--the Word of Life-
The second Man- -Head of the new creation-
Head of the Church Thy body. I am Thine;
Thou, Lord, art mine; Thy glory I behold,
Thy perfect beauty, and in fellowship
With God, Thy God and Father, rest in Thee.
Thy peace, my Lord and Saviour, rules my heart,
Which, by Thy Spirit with Thy fulness filled,
Her occupation finds in pleasing God.
Stranger and sojourner, my homeward way
Pursuing, I with holy fear observe
Thy footprints, and Thy word of patience keep;
My cup of blessedness o'erflows; my harp
Ne'er on the willows do I hang-by grief,
By toil and hardship, grow my skill to sing
With Thee to God the new and heavenly song.
For thou hast taught me by Thy cross to care,
With bowels like Thine own, for all mankind;
And how to love all whom the Father gave
Out of the world to Thee-His only Son-
His Lamb once slain-His Firstborn from the dead.
164.
"The trial of faith."
MY God! I trust in Thee;
Father, I bless Thy Name!
At Thy right hand Thy Son I see,
Jesus, the spotless Lamb!
The righteous Thou dost try,
Thy love to make them know;
Thine ears are open to their cry,
Thy wisdom brings them low.
By fire and flood and storm
Thou dost my patience prove;
Thy purposes in me perform-
Father, Thy name is Love!
Thou art the only wise;
How good Thy discipline!
Thy saints, so precious in Thine eyes,
As gold Thou dost refine.
My heart--Thy dwelling-keep
Pure and all undefiled;
Ever with Thee in fellowship,
With all Thy fulness filled.
Thy Spirit gives me might;
The Bridegroom with me dwells,
My strength, my glory, my delight-
Thy mysteries He reveals.
My faith which, through the gloom
Of trial, keeps Thy word,
Shall be my praise when He shall come,
The Lamb, the glorious Lord!
Triumphant, I my crown
Shall cast at Jesus' feet,
When we shall know as we are known,
And all in glory meet.
165.
"I will trust and not be afraid."
O MY Father! joy and gladness
Fill my heart that rests in Thee;
By Thy Spirit, in my sadness,
Christ, the King of Peace, I see.
Power and Justice join'd to bruise Him
And to raise Him from the dead;
Now Thy Holy Spirit shows Him,
Thron'd on high, to all His seed.
He, the cup so bitter drinking,
(How unsearchable the pain!)
Down beneath the billows sinking,
Trusted to be rais'd again.
I believe, when out of measure
Press'd, that He is ruling well;
He can do His Father's pleasure
By the very powers of hell.
In each time of sore temptation,
I will trust, nor be afraid;
Fill'd with heavenly consolation,
While I made my Father glad.
Thou art faithful to deliver-
Only on my God I wait,
Thou wilt be to me, as ever,
Wise and tender, good and great.
Father, at Thy word I tremble,
Pleasing Thee is mine employ;
For the Lord will soon assemble
All Thy saints to share His joy.
Jesus, He that sought and found me,
Gives me of His bread and wine;
Holy angels camp around me-
All things, Thou hast said, are mine,
Satan's craft shall ne'er beguile me,
Walking humbly in Thy light;
Ne'er shall unbelief defile me,
Strong in my Redeemer's might.
Let Thy word be a discerner
Of my heart in all its ways;
At Thy throne, a daily learner,
I will wait with songs of praise.