E'en crosses, from his sovereign hand,
Are blessings in disguise.

3 Why should we doubt a Father's love,
So constant and so kind?
To his unerring, gracious will
Be every wish resigned.

4 In thy fair book of life divine,
My God, inscribe my name;
There let it fill some humble place
Beneath my Lord the Lamb!

189 July 7.

S. M.

St. Thomas.

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.

"The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men."-1 Thess. iii. 12.

1

2

3

4

BLEST be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love!

The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne

We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one

Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,

Our mutual burdens bear;

And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When we are called to part,

It gives us mutual pain;

But we shall still be joined in heart,

And hope to meet again.

From sorrow, toil, and pain,
From sin, we shall be free;

And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.

190

July 8.

Nuremburg.

7s.

A MORNING SONG.

"Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve me."-Ps. xl. 11.

1

THOU that dost my life prolong,

Kindly aid my morning song;
Thankful from my couch I rise,
To the God that rules the skies.

2 Thou didst hear my evening cry;
Thy preserving hand was nigh;
Peaceful slumbers thou hast shed,
Grateful to my weary head.

3 Thou hast kept me through the night;
'Twas thy hand restored the light:
Lord, thy mercies still are new,
Plenteous as the morning dew.

4 Still my feet are prone to stray;
Oh! preserve me through the day:
Dangers everywhere abound;
Sins and snares beset me round.

5 Gently, with the dawning ray,
On my soul thy beams display:
Sweeter than the smiling morn,
Let thy cheering light return.

191

July 9. L. M.

LOVE TO GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR.

Hebron.

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind: and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."-Matt. xxii. 37, 39.

1

THUS

saith the first, the great command, "Let all thy inward powers unite,

To love thy Maker, and thy God,

With utmost vigor and delight.

2 Then shall thy neighbor, next in place, Share thine affection and esteem;

And let thy kindness to thyself,

Measure and rule thy love to him."

3 This is the sense that Moses spoke;
This did the prophets preach and prove;
For want of this the law is broke,

And the whole law's fulfilled by love.

4 But oh! how base our passions are!
How cold our charity and zeal!
Lord, fill our souls with heavenly fire,
Or we shall ne'er perform thy will.

192

July 10.

C. M.

Medfield.

CONTRITION.

"God be merciful to me, a sinner."-Luke xviii. 13.

THOU! whose tender mercy hears
Contrition's humble sigh;

Whose hand, indulgent, wipes the tears
From sorrow's weeping eye;—

2 See, low before thy throne of grace,
A wretched wanderer mourn;

Hast thou not bid me seek thy face?
Hast thou not said-" Return?"

3 And shall my guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
Thy word of promise cannot fail,
My tower of safe retreat.

4 Oh! shine on this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine;
And let thy healing voice impart
A taste of joys divine.

193

July 11.

L. M.

Effingham.

DELIVERANCE FROM SIN DESIRED.

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions."-Ps. li. 1.

1

AND dost thou say, "Ask what thou wilt?”

I

Lord, I would seize the golden hour

pray to be released from guilt,

And freed from sin's polluting power.

2 More of thy presence, Lord, impart; More of thine image let me bear; Erect thy throne within my heart,

And reign without a rival there.

3 Give me to read my pardon sealed,
And from thy joy to draw my strength;
Oh! be thy boundless love revealed

In all its height, and breadth, and length.

4 Grant these requests-I ask no more,
But to thy care the rest resign:
Sick, or in health-or rich, or poor,
All shall be well, if thou art mine.

194

July 12.

7s.

Benevento.

PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE.

"The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way."-Ps. xxv. 9.

1

GUIDE, O Lord, our youthful band
Journeying toward the better land;

Foes we know are to be met,

Snares our daily path beset;
Clouds upon the valley rest,

Rough and dark the mountain's breast;
And our home may not be gained,
Save through trials well sustained.

2 Guide us, while we onward move
Bound by bonds of mutual love,
Striving for the holy mind,

And the soul from sense refined;
That when life no longer burns,

And the dust to dust returns,

With the strength which thou hast given

We may rise to thee and heaven.

3 God of love! on thee we all

Humbly for thy guidance call;
Save us from the evil tongue,
From the heart that thinketh wrong,

From the sins, whate'er they be,
That divide the soul from thee.
God of grace! on thee we rest;
Bless us, and we shall be blest.

195 July 13. L. M.

COMMUNION WITH GOD DESIRED.

Portugal.

"My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."-Ps. lxxiii. 26.

1

MY gracious Lord, whose changeless love
To me no earthly power can part,
When shall my feet forget to rove?

Ah! what shall fix this faithless heart?

2 Why do these cares my soul divide,
If thou indeed hast set me free?
Why am I thus, if thou hast died-
If thou hast died to ransom me?

3 Great God, thy sovereign aid impart,
And guard the gifts thyself hast given:
My portion thou, my treasure art,

My life, my happiness, and heaven.

4 Would aught with thee my wishes share,
Though dear as life the idol be,
That idol from my breast I'll tear,
Resolved to seek my all from thee.

5 Whate'er I fondly counted mine,
To thee, my Lord, I here restore:
With joy I all for thee resign;
Give me thyself—I ask no more.

196

July 14. C. M.

Lanesborough.

THE SAVIOUR THE GREAT OBJECT OF DESIRE.

"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord."-Phil. iii. 8.

1 MY Saviour, let me hear thy voice

Pronounce the word of peace;

And all my warmest powers shall join
To celebrate thy grace.