Favourite Welsh Hymns Part 2

Here, behold the seat of mercy: Here, from doubt and fear release: Here a Refuge for the guilty: Here are joy and health and peace: Here a Covert near the G.o.dhead, Where the vile may make their nest;[3]

Justice smiling fond approval, Honoured Law declares them blest.

[3]"_Nyth_," a current figure in Welsh poetry.

XII.

HEAVENLY ADORATION.

Angelic throngs unnumbered, As dawn's bright drops of dew, Present their crowns before HIM With praises ever new: But saints and angels blending Their songs above the sun, Can ne'er express the glories Of G.o.d with man made one.

THE SOUL.

XIII.

SELF-CONVERSE.

Heedless soul of mine, bethink thee Ere thine hours on earth are past,-- Ere thou fly to spirit-regions, If thou real treasure hast.

Where will be thine endless dwelling?

Where thine everlasting home?

What thy portion, joy or mourning, In the world beyond the tomb?

When these eyes shall lose their l.u.s.tre,-- Fading with the failing breath, And roll, lightless, in the conflict, With inexorable Death; How wilt thou survive the anguish-- How sustain all earthly loss, If thou know not the Redeemer, If thou cling not to his cross?

XIV.

SELF-REPROACH.

O the weakness, O the folly, That my heart did e'er entwine Round a joy, or hope, or promise, Vain, unstable World, of thine!

Thou with all thy proffered treasure Shalt ere long from me remove:-- Turn, fond heart, with holy rapture, Unto G.o.d thy trust and love.

Are there none of my companions, Will from life attend me forth, Or will fondly watch beside me In the cold and silent earth?

All thy boasting this, O Friends.h.i.+p!

Shedding tears and heaving sighs, When my need of thee is greatest, When thy doting votary dies?

XV.

APPEAL.

Unhappy soul, what sayest thou To one with power and love All thy transgressions to forgive, Thy misery to remove?

Wilt follow Him, poor guilty soul?

He giveth life and He doth kill: Arise, arise, and in Him trust; Say, guilty soul, "I will!"

His are the skies above thee spread, He sitteth on heaven's throne; All His, if thou art with him joined, He bids thee deem thine own.

Wilt follow Him, sad, needy soul?

He condescends to call thee still: Come, doubt no longer, in Him trust; Say, needy soul, "I will!"

XVI.

THE SEARCH.

I had sought throughout creation, Searched its vast, amazing whole, For an object to delight in, Adequate to fill the soul.

After turning nature's pages Forward, backward, o'er and o'er, I attained not satisfaction, But my longings grew the more.

Then amid angelic orders Asked I if there were not one, Willing to extend his friends.h.i.+p To a wretched soul undone: Soon a lofty spirit answered, "No; there is not one of us, Can hold friends.h.i.+p with a spirit Fallen, guilty, wandering thus."

Shame and grief now overwhelmed me,-- My sad heart was nigh to break, All my frame with terror trembled, And my tongue no more could speak; Then gushed forth a briny torrent, Down unto the crystal floor, Nothing through unending ages, Can from memory blot that hour.

Then a glance in helpless sorrow Turned I to the central throne,-- There I saw the Mediator Who for my life gave his own.

"There is He," I faintly whispered, "Read I not upon His face, That his heart is full of pity, Full, to sinful worms, of grace?"

Then I drew unto his footstool, Prostrate fell before his seat; And I pleaded for his favour; Pointing to his hands and feet: "I will pour," I said, "my sorrow And my need into his ear, All my grief I will unbosom: It is Jesus, need I fear!"

Then while I a bosom opened, Full of darkness, want and sin, He a bosom full of mercy Opened to receive me in: Those kind hands which once were pierced, Reached he forth to raise my head:-- From that all-transporting moment All my hopeless longings fled.

XVII.

A FAREWELL.

Fly, Earth's gaudy, fading trifles; Empty joys, no longer stay: Stand aside, vain schemes of profit: Gay companions, speed away!

I depart, the Bridegroom cometh; I dare sport with you no more, But would with the wise now ready Enter ere He close the door.

Come, ye thoughtless, enter with me, Flee, while Mercy saith there's room: Flee, before the storm o'ertake you: Flee, ere your destruction come: Swiftly speeds the dread avenger, Swiftly speeds the judgement hour; Speed we to the refuge swiftly, While we have an open door.

XVIII.

THE UNSEEN.

Though unseen, O Lord, I love Thee, Wondrous is thy saving might, Thus to wean my soul so sweetly From its sinful chief delight: More Thou didst in one short instant Than a world could e'er have done, Winning Thee a happy dwelling In this sterile heart of stone.

XIX.

HOLY WONDER.

Strange that I am not cut down Without mercy, To endure thy righteous frown, Beyond pity!

That on earth I still survive I will praise Thee-- To thy praise and glory live, Who hath spared me.