AS WITH GLADNESS men of old
Did the guiding star behold.
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright,
So, most gracious God, may we
Evermore be led by Thee.

As with joyful steps they sped,
Saviour, to Thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before
Thee whom heaven and earth adore,
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy-seat.
As they offered gifts most rare
At Thy cradle rude and bare,
So may we with holy joy,
Pure, and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in the narrow way.
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

In the heavenly country bright
Need they no created light.
Thou its light, its joy, its crown,
Thou its sun, which goes not down.
There forever may we sing
Hallelujahs to our King.
        W. C. Dix.
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BLESSÈD ASSURANCE, Jesus is mine:
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God.
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blessed.
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
          Fanny J. Crosby.
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O WORSHIP THE LORD in the beauty of holiness,
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim.
With gold of obedience and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him; the Lord is His name.

Low at His feet lay thy burden of carefulness,
High on His heart He will bear it for thee,
Comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
Guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.

Fear not to enter His courts in the slenderness
Of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine.
Truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
These are the offerings to lay on His shrine.

These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness,
He will accept for the name that is dear.
Mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness,
Trust for our trembling and hope for our fear.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim.
With gold of obedience and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His name.
          John S. B. Monsell.
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GOD IS WORKING HIS PURPOSE OUT,
As year succeeds to year.
God is working His purpose out,
And the time is drawing near.
Nearer and nearer draws the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled
With the glory of God,
As the waters cover the sea.

From utmost East to utmost West,
Where’re man’s foot hath trod,
By the mouth of many messengers
Goes forth the voice of God.
Give ear to Me, ye continents,
Ye isles, give ear to Me,
That the earth may be filled
With the glory of God,
As the waters cover the sea.

March we forth in the strength of God
With the banner of Christ unfurled,
That the light of the glorious gospel of truth
May shine throughout the world:
Fight we the fight with sorrow and sin,
To set their captives free,
That the earth may be filled
With the glory of God,
As the waters cover the sea.

All we can do is nothing worth,
Unless God blesses the deed.
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
Till God gives life to the seed.
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled
With the glory of God,
As the waters cover the sea.
      Arthur C. Ainger.
Contributors:   Revd Graham Summers, Deborah Yeates, Ruth Green, Roy Bentham
Production:   David Carter