[Hymns]
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PERHAPS we may be pardoned in giving insertion to a few MAORI HYMNS of our own composition; they will serve as specimens, and may not be unacceptable to the English public, who have done so much for the evangelization of the benighted people of this country.
A MAORI HYMN.
TRANSLATION.
Tune "Josiah," 7's & 6's.
GREAT JEHOVAH! What am I?
An heir of endless woe!
Yet thou deign'st to hear my cry,
While grace and mercy flow
As a river from thy throne,
Watering this poor soul of mine;
Thy paternal care I own,--
My blessings are divine!
Richer far thy love which shone,
On all mankind and me,
When thou gav'st thy only Son,
To bleed upon the tree;
Blessed Saviour! thou art mine!
Thou my debt of sin hast paid;
I am free--thy blood divine
Hath full atonement made.
Lo! the night of inbred sin,
Enwraps my captive heart;
Thou can'st make me pure within,
And light and life impart;
Jesus, now thy grace bestow,
Let my soul thy presence prove.
Let me, while I live below,
Be sweetly lost in love.
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HE WAIATA KARAKIA.
TE REO MAORI.
Ko "Hohaia" te rangi. --7's & 6's.
E IHOWA! k' wai ahau.
I arohaina ai?
Ia ra, i ia tau,
E rere ana mai
Ng' awa o to aroha,
Ki au, pononga kino kau;
Painga mai, nahau, e Pa!
Te taea te tatau.
Poka ke to atawhai,
Ki tenei ao, me au;
I te tukuranga mai,
Kia mate iho tau
Tama 'roha pu; --aue!
Toku Oranga, ki au!
Na to mate aku he,
I ea; --te mate au.
Ma ou toto kia pa,
Ki taku ngakau po,
K' ora i te hara; --a
Ka whai nohoanga Mou;
Nei ano, e Ihu e!
Te ngakau nei, nohoia mai;
Kia hemo ai te he,
Kia tomo i te pai.
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MAORI HYMN.
[Translation.]
Tune, "New Sabbath."--L,M.
How wayward is my heart! and Oh!
How madly in the paths of woe
It bears my steps along; and clings
To this cold earth, and earthly things.
Nor heaven's calm, and sacred rest,
Enkindles in this carnal breast
One hope; --nor yonder pit, I fear,
Nor aught, --so reckless my career.
But death will soon assume his sway
And seize this tenement of clay;
Then where, Oh, where, may mortals tell
Shall this poor sin stained spirit dwell?
Jesus, unloose the bands, I pray,
Which bind my spirit, day by day;
Oh, take away this darkened heart,
And then a heart, renewed, impart.
A heart obedient, wise, subdued,
A heart benign, with truth imbued;
A heart unmov'd by sin! thus prove
Thy full, thy free, and perfect love.
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HE WAIATA KARAKIA.
Te Rangi--Ko Ratapu Hou. --L.M.
Hore i toku ngakau nei
Te poka ki nga ara he!
Hore i tana mahi hao,
Ki enei rawa, o te ao!
Te rangi, me nga taonga mau,
Kihai manakohia e au;
Te reinga; --E! kahore mai
Te porangi, te wehi ai.
E au, --aue! me ake pa
Te mate ki te tinana;
Te wairua; --kohea ra nei,
I enei kino, --enei he?
E Ihu! me wewete au,
I enei rore whakarau;
Me tango tenei ngakau po,
Me tuku mai he ngakau hou.
He ngakau rongo, matau, pai,
He ngakau tika, atawhai;
He ngakau hara kore: a,--
Kia tomo i to aroha.
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The original of this hymn on the Crucifixion was written about eighteen years ago, when the translator was quite a youth. It was submitted to the Reverend Nathaniel Turner, who published it shortly afterwards, and is to be found in the collection used by the Wesleyan Missionary Society.
MAORI HYMN.
Tune, "Old Hundred."--L.M.
WHOSE mournful voice is heard to cry,
High o'er the Mount of Calvary?
Ah! 'tis the Lord's, whose dying throes
Proclaim the acuteness of his woes.
His hands were nailed to yonder tree;
And then his side was pierced! O see
The streaming blood from every wound,
Now stains the cross, now stains the ground.
His sacred head, he bowed in death!
And as he yielded up his breath,
He finished the Redeeming plan,
And ransomed every child of man.
Wherefore was He, the Holy, slain?
For whom did He the load of pain
And grief endure? Twas in our stead
Messiah, Prince of Glory, bled.
'Twas love that brought Him here below
To save from everlasting woe;
To save from every blot of sin,
Each guilty man that comes to him.
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HE WAIATA KARAKIA.
Te Rangi Ko, "Rau Tawhito."--L.M.
Nowai te reo e tangi mai
Runga i Maunga Kawari?
No te Ariki atawhai;
He hawenga, na te mamae!
I tu nga ringa i te whao,
I werohia te kaokao;
A! i pupu nga toto ra!
I runga, i te ripeka.
Ko tona matenga tapu,
I piko iho ki raro;
I mau i runga i a ia,
Nga hara o te ao katoa.
Mo te aha ra, i maru?
Nawai ra tenei kohuru?
Nawai?--na tatou katoa,
I mate ai te Mihaia!
Na tona aroha nui,
I kawe mai ki raro nei;
Kia ora ai te tangata
I ana tini kinonga.
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MAORI HYMN.
[Translation.]
Tune, "Pilgrim." --6.6.4.
There is a country fair,
A region of delight;
No woe may ever enter there,
Nor any cloud of night.
Bliss eternal,
All enjoy in that bright home.
And there no passing ill,
May move the tranquil breast;
For love will ev'ry bosom fill,
And all be holy rest.
Bliss eternal,
All enjoy in that bright home.
The soul with all her powers
Of thought, can ne'er conceive
The glory of those heavenly bowers,
Departed saints receive.
Bliss eternal,
All enjoy in that bright home.
Jesus, my only stay!
My Advocate above:
Direct and keep me in the way
To that bright home of love;
And unite me
To the ransomed spirits there.
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HE WAIATA KARAKIA.
Te rangi--ko "Manene."--6.6.4.
TERA he wahi hou,
He wahi ata pai;.
Kahore kau o reira po,
Kahore he mamae.
Koa rawa,
Ina tae ki taua Pa.
Te hara, me te he,
Ko reira ngaro ai;
Nga hiahia poka ke
Ka mutu tonu mai.
Koa rawa,
Ina tae ki taua Pa.
Te ahua; --aue!
Te ngakau, kore kau
E matau iti; ekore
E taea te hahau.
Koa rawa,
Ina tae ki taua Pa.
E Ihu! toku Pai,
Me toku Kai-wawao;
Horoia au, kia tomo ai
Ki ia Pa mamao;
Kia uru,
Ki nga mano kua tae.
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The following little poem will serve as a specimen of the modern poetry of the New Zealanders, under the influence of the Gospel, which has happily reached them, through the instructions of the Missionaries. As in the days of old, so at the present time, when the truths of Christianity enter the heart, the warrior will no longer delight in scenes of blood, "the weapons of his warfare" cease to be "carnal," and they become "mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God," and the affections involuntarily dwell upon the name of Jesus, that name which is
"Music in the sinners ears,
And life, and health, and peace."
When the New Zealander has committed to the cold grave the remains of his beloved relative, and sits down to compose a hymn with such sentiments of resignation as this contains, surely there is ample encouragement for those whose privilege it is to "sow beside all waters;" and although there may be much to dishearten the devoted Missionary, in the prosecution of his arduous labours amongst this too covetous, and too self-conceited people, the gracious declaration of the Great Head of the Church is unalterably sure, --"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."
HYMN, COMPOSED BY A NATIVE,
Occasioned by the Death of a relative.
[FREE TRANSLATION.]
At eventide, the time of rest,
When holy feelings calm the breast,
The Lord of love we humbly praised,
While angels hovered round and gazed.
Go, Kiri, to the Mount of God,
Where Jesus taught, and Jesus trod;
And where amidst the weeping few,
To heaven in shining clouds he flew.
Now safe in Canaan's blissful shore,
Where faith is exercised no more;
The spirits of that holy place,
See the Redeemer, face to face.
Lord, thou art good to those who know
Thy name, and walk with thee below;
But on the wicked thou will fire,
The vengeful thunders of thine ire.
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HE HIMENE
I TITOA E TE TANGATA MAORI, I TE MATENGA AI O TONA WHANAUNGA.
E muri ahiahi,
Takoto ki te moenga;
He nui te whakapono,
Ki te papa karakia.
Tukua mai e Ra,
Re ture a te Atua;
Tenei nga anahera,
Kei runga i a koe.
Haere atu koe Kiri!
Ki Maunga Oriwa;
Te kakenga a Ihu,
I whano ai ki te rangi.
Naku koe i tuku atu,
Ki te motu o Ihowa;
I ahu to wairua,
Ki runga ki Kenana.
Ka paingia e Koe,
Te hunga whakapono;
Te tangata tinihunga,
Ka whiua ki te mate.
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MAORI HYMN.
[Translation.]
L. M. --Tune "Peru."
When man is wracked with cares and fears,
Each day, or through successive years;
When cast on life's relentless wave, --
Father! 'tis thou alone canst save,
Thou art the source of life, the glow
Of health thou giv'st; the tides which flow
Within, and bear me to yon sea,
May ebb, ere I find rest in thee.
All power is thine; Oh guard this heart
In all its avenues; impart
Thy aid, when watchful foes assail; --
Clothed in Thy strength, I must prevail.
How good Thou art, Thy creatures show
Above, and in this vale of woe;
To me that goodness now extend,
And be my everlasting friend.
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HE WAIATA KARAKIA.
L. M. --TE RANGI, KO "PERU."
Ko koe e Pa, te pou whakau,
I roto i nga rangi hau.
O ia wa, o ia wa,
O tenei mea, te tangata.
Ko koe te Toko; nau nga tai,
O tenei rei i pari ai;
A mau te tai tutuki nei,
Ka timu atu, aianei.
Ko koe te Kaha; mau e pa
Nga koki o te ngakau; a--
Mahau te ngakau e arai,
Kei riro ki te whakawai.
Ko koe te Pai; me tuku pu
Te Pai ki au e Pa; kia tu
Au roto i te hunga pai
He tohu, na tou atawhai.
