4 Speak, Lord, and, from our earliest days,
Incline our hearts to love thy ways;
Thy wakening voice hath reached our ear-
Speak, Lord, to us; thy servants hear.

214

August 1.

L.M.

THE SAVIOUR'S MISSION.

Truro.

"He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper."-Ps. lxxii. 12.

1

NOW let our mingling voices rise

In grateful rapture to the skies;
Let songs of joy the day proclaim
When Jesus all-triumphant came.
2 He came to bid the weary rest,
To heal the sinner's wounded breast,
To spread the light of truth around,
Throughout the world's remotest bound.

3 He came our trembling souls to save
From sin, from sorrow, and the grave;
Victorious over death and time,
To lead us to a happier clime.

4 Then let our mingling voices rise
In grateful rapture to the skies;
Let songs of joy the day proclaim
When Jesus all-triumphant came.

215

August 2.

L. M.

Uxbridge.

RETIREMENT AND MEDITATION.

"I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways."-Ps. cxix. 15.

1 MY God, permit me not to be

A stranger to myself and thee;

Nor midst a thousand thoughts to rove, .
Forgetful of my highest love.

2 Why should my passions mix with earth,
And thus debase my heavenly birth?
Why should I cleave to things below,
And let my God, my Saviour, go?

3 Call me away from flesh and sense;

One sovereign word can draw me thence;
I would obey the voice divine,

And all inferior joys resign.

4 Be earth, with all her scenes, withdrawn ; Let noise and vanity be gone:

In secret silence of the mind

My heaven, and there my God, I find.

216 August 3.

7s & 6s.

Romaine.

LOOKING HEAVENWARD.

"We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."-2 Cor. iv. 18.

1

FROM every earthly pleasure,

From every transient joy,

From every mortal treasure
That soon will fade and die ;-
No longer these desiring,
Upward our wishes tend,
To nobler bliss aspiring,
And joys that never end.

2 From every piercing sorrow
That heaves our breast to-day,
Or threatens us to-morrow,
Hope turns our eyes away;
On wings of faith ascending,
We see the land of light,
And feel our sorrows ending
In infinite delight.

8 'Tis true we are but strangers
And pilgrims here below,
And countless snares and dangers
Surround the path we go:
Though painful and distressing,
Yet there's a rest above;
And onward still we're pressing
To reach that land of love.

217

August 4.

S. M.

Lisbon.

THE THRONE OF GRACE.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."— Heb. iv. 16.

1

2

3

4

BEHOLD the throne of grace!
The promise calls me near;
There Jesus shows a smiling face,
And waits to answer prayer.

Thine image, Lord, bestow,
Thy presence and thy love;
I ask to serve thee here below,
And reign with thee above.

Teach me to live by faith;
Conform my will to thine;
Let me victorious be in death,
And then in glory shine.

If thou these blessings give,

And wilt my portion be,

All worldly joys I'll cheerful leave,
And find my heaven in thee.

218

August 5.

C. M.

Peterborough.

PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION.

"Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me."-Ps. xxxi. 3.

1

GOD of our fathers! by whose hand

Thy children still are blest,

Be with us through our pilgrimage,
Conduct us to our rest.

2 Through each perplexing path of life,
Our wandering footsteps guide:
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.

3 Oh, spread thy sheltering wings around,
Till all our wanderings cease,

And at our Father's loved abode
Our souls arrive in peace.

4 Such blessings from thy gracious hand
Our humble prayers implore;

And thou, the Lord, shalt be our God,
And portion evermore.

219

August 6. L. M.

Alfreton.

PERPETUAL PRAISE.

"Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgments."-Ps. cxix. 164.

1 WHEN, wakened by thy voice of power,

The hour of morning beams in light,

My voice shall sing that morning hour,
And thee, who madest that hour so bright.

2 The morning strengthens into noon;

Earth's fairest beauties shine more fair;
And noon and morning shall attune

My grateful heart to praise and prayer.
3 When 'neath the evening western gate
The sun's retiring rays are hid,
My joy shall be to meditate,

E'en as the pious patriarch did.

4 As twilight wears a darker hue,

And gathering night creation dims, The twilight and the midnight, too,

Shall have their harmonies and hymns.

5 So shall sweet thoughts, and thoughts sublime, My constant inspirations be;

And every shifting scene of time

Reflect, my God, a light from thee.

220

August 7. S. M.

Silver Street.

BLESSEDNESS OF GOSPEL TIMES.

"The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations: and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."-Isa. lii. 10.

1

HOW beauteous are their feet

Who stand on Zion's hill!

Who bring salvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal!

2

3

How charming is their voice!
How sweet their tidings are!
"Zion, behold thy Saviour King,
He reigns and triumphs here.

How happy are our ears,
That hear this joyful sound,

Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found!

4 How blessed are our eyes,

5

That see this heavenly light! Prophets and kings desired it long, But died without the sight.

The watchmen join their voice,
And tuneful notes employ;
Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,
And deserts learn the joy.

6 The Lord makes bare his arm
Through all the earth abroad!
Let every nation now behold
Their Saviour and their God.

221

August 8.

C. M.

FEAR NOT.

Warwick.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."-Isa. xli. 10.

1

YE trembling souls, dismiss your fears;

Be mercy all your theme;

For mercy like a river flows,

In one perpetual stream.

2 "Fear not" the powers of earth and hell; God will those powers restrain;

His arm will all their rage repel,

And make their efforts vain.

3 "Fear not" the want of outward good;
For his he will provide,

Grant them supplies of daily food,
And give them heaven beside.