Return, O holy Dove, return!
Sweet messenger of rest;

I hate the sins that made Thee mourn,
And drove Thee from my breast:

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame:

So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

TUNE "MARTYRDOM."

77-O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED.

THIS is a popular Confirmation hymn, which was contributed by the late Rev. J. E. Bode in 1869 to the "Psalms and Hymns," published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

JESUS, I have promised

Be Thou for ever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.
O let me feel Thee near me:
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;

He who would fight for Thee on Earth,
Must first be true within.

Then, God of Truth, for Whom we long —
Thou Who wilt hear our prayer

Do Thine own battle in our hearts,
And slay the falsehood there.

Still smite! still burn! till naught is left
But God's own truth and love;

Then, Lord, as morning dew come down,
Rest on us from above.

Yea, come! then, tried as in the fire,
From every lie set free,

Thy perfect truth shall dwell in us,
And we shall live in Thee.

Amen.

TUNE" Tallis."

76-O FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD. "THIS is one of the most beautiful, tender, and popular of all Cowper's hymns."— Julian's "Dictionary of Hymnology."

FOR a closer walk with God!
A calm and heavenly frame;
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus and His word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return!
Sweet messenger of rest;

I hate the sins that made Thee mourn,
And drove Thee from my breast:

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame :

So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

TUNE "MARTYRDOM."

77—O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED.

THIS is a popular Confirmation hymn, which was contributed by the late Rev. J. E. Bode in 1869 to the "Psalms and Hymns," published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

JESUS, I have promised

To serve Thee to the end;

Be Thou for ever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.

O let me feel Thee near me:
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;

But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.
O let me hear Thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will:
O speak to re-assure me,
To hasten or control;

O speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of soul.
my

O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee,
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be;
And, Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.
O let me see Thy foot-marks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone;
O guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;

And then in Heav'n receive me,
My Saviour and my Friend.

Amen.

TUNE-DAY of Rest."

78-OH TO BE NOTHING, NOTHING.

THIS is one of the most popular of modern hymns. A lady who worked among the girls in business houses in the West of England for twelve years, said: "It is always surprising to hear and discover what were