HYMN S.

HYMN S.

THE

TRUE HEROES:

OR,

THE NOBLE ARMY OF MARTYRS.

You who love a tale of glory,
Listen to the song I sing;
Heroes of the Christian story
Are the heroes I shall bring.

Warriors of the world, avaunt!
Others heroes me engage;
'Tis not such as you I want,

Saints and martyrs grace my page.

Warriors who the world o'ercame,
Were in brother's blood imbrued;

While the saints of purer fame,
Greater far, themselves subdued.

Fearful Christian! hear with wonder,
Of the saints of whom I tell;
Some were burnt, some sawn asunder,
Some by fire or torture fell;

Some to savage beasts were hurl'd,
One escaped the lion's den;

Was a persecuting world

Worthy of these wondrous men?

Some in fiery furnace thrown,

Yet escaped, unsinged their hair; There Almighty power was shewn ; For the Son of God was there.

Let us crown with deathless fame

Those who scorn'd and hated fell;
Martyrs met contempt and shame,
Fearing nought but sin and hell.

How the shower of stones descended,
Holy Stephen, on thy head!
While his tongue the truth defended,
How the glorious martyr bled!

See his fierce reviler Saul,

How he rails with impious breath! Then observe converted Paul

Oft in perils, oft in death.

'Twas that GOD, whose sovereign power
Did the lion's fury 'suage,
Could alone, in one short hour,
Still the persecutor's rage.

E'en a woman-women hear,
Read in Maccabees the story;
Conquer'd nature, love, and fear,
To obtain a crown of glory.

Seven stout sons she saw expire,
(How the mother's soul was pain'd!)
Some by sword, and some by fire,
(How the martyr was sustain'd!)

E'en in death's acutest anguish,
Each the tyrant still defy'd;
Each she saw in torture languish,
Last of all the mother died.

Though their lot was hard and lowly, Though they perish'd at the stake, Now they live with Christ in glory, Since they suffer'd for his sake.

Fierce and unbelieving foes

But their bodies could destroy; Short, though bitter, were their woes, Everlasting is their joy.

A CHRISTMAS HYMN.

O How wondrous is the story
Of our blest Redeemer's birth!
See the mighty Lord of Glory

Leaves his heaven to visit earth!

Hear with transport, every creature
Hear the Gospel's joyful sound;
Christ appears in human nature
In our sinful world is found;

Comes to pardon our transgression,
Like a cloud our sins to blot;
Comes to his own favour'd nation
But his own receive him not.

If the angels who attended

To declare the Saviour's birth, Who from heaven with songs descended To proclaim good-will on earth:

If, in pity to our blindness,

They had brought the pardon needed,
Still Jehovah's wondrous kindness.
Had our warmest hopes exceeded.

If some prophet had been sent
With Salvation's joyful news,
Who that heard the blest event

Could their warmest love refuse?