8 Lord, decide the doubtful case !
Thou who art thy people s sun,
Shine upon thy work of grace,
If it be indeed begun.
9 Let me love thee more and more,
If I love at all, I pray ;
If I have not loved before,
Help me to begin to-day.
120.
The Death of Stephen.—Acts, vii, 54-60.
1 As some tall rock amidst the waves
The fury of the tempest braves,
While the fierce billows, tossing high,
Break at its foot, and murm ring, die:
2 Thus they who in the Lord confide,
Though foes assault on every side,
Cannot be moved or overthrown,
For Jesus makes their cause his own.
3 So faithful Stephen, undismay d,
The malice of the Jews survey d ;
The holy joy which fill d his breast,
A lustre on his face impress d.
4 " Behold," he said, "the world of light
Is open d to my strengthened sight ;
My glorious Lord appears in view,
That Jesus whom ye lately slew."
5 With such a friend and witness near,
No form of death could make him fear ;
Calm, amidst showers of stones, he kneels,
And only for his murderers feels.
6 May we by faith perceive thee thus,
Dear Saviour, ever near to us !
This sight our peace through life shall keep,
And death be fear d no more than sleep.
