3 There what delightful truths I read
There I behold the Saviour bleed:
His name salutes my listening ear,
Revives my heart, and checks my fear.
4 There Jesus bids my sorrows cease,
And gives my laboring conscience peace;
Raises my grateful passions high,
And points to mansions in the sky.

5 For love like this, oh! let my song,
Through endless years thy praise prolong,
Let distant climes thy name adore,

Till time and nature are no more.

50

February 19. C. M.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Medfield.

"In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.-Phil. iv. 6.

1

PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed;

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast.

2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,

The upward glancing of an eye,—
When none but God is near.

3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try ;-

Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air;

His watchword at the gates of death,-
He enters heaven with prayer.

5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways;

While angels, in their songs, rejoice,

And cry,

Behold he prays!"

60 Thou! by whom we come to God,
The life, the truth, the way,-

The path of prayer thyself hast trod:-
Lord! teach us how to pray.

51

February 20.

C. M.

Warwick.

HABITUAL DEVOTION.

"Every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy name for ever and ever."-Ps. cxlv. 2.

1 WHILE thee I seek, protecting Power!

Be my vain wishes stilled;

And may this consecrated hour
With better hopes be filled.

2 Thy love the power of thought bestowed;
To thee my thoughts would soar:
Thy mercy o'er my life has flowed;
That mercy I adore.

3 In each event of life how clear
Thy ruling hand I see!

Each blessing to my soul most dear,
Because conferred by thee.

4 In every joy that crowns my days,
In every pain I bear,

My heart shall find delight in praise,
Or seek relief in prayer.

5 When gladness wings my favored hour,
Thy love my thoughts shall fill;
Resigned, when storms of sorrow lower,
My soul shall meet thy will.

6 My lifted eye, without a tear,

The gathering storm shall see;

My steadfast heart shall know no fear;
That heart will rest on thee.

52

February 21.

C. M.

EARLY PIETY.

Lanesborough.

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways: so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."-Prov. xxiii. 26: iii. 4.

1

IN

the soft season of thy youth,

In nature's smiling bloom,

Ere age arrive, and trembling wait
Its summons to the tomb;

2 Remember thy Creator, God!
For him thy powers employ;

Make him thy fear, thy love, thy hope,
Thy confidence, thy joy.

3 He shall defend and guide thy course
Through life's uncertain sea;

Till thou art landed on the shore
Of blessed eternity.

4 Then seek the Lord betimes, and choose
The path of heavenly truth;
The earth affords no lovelier sight
Than a religious youth.

53 February 22. C. M.

FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES.

Balerma.

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”—Matt. vi. 14.

1 WHEN, for some little insult given,
My angry passions rise,

I'll think how Jesus came from heaven,
And bore his injuries.

2 He was insulted every day,

Though all his words were kind; But nothing men could do or say Disturbed his heavenly mind.

3 Not all the wicked scoffs he heard, Against the truths he taught, Excited one reviling word,

Or one revengeful thought.

4 And when upon the cross he bled, With all his foes in view,

66

Father, forgive their sins," he said;
They know not what they do."

66

5 Dear Jesus, may I learn of thee

My temper to amend;

And speak the pardoning word for me,
Whenever I offend.

54

February 23. H. M.

Lenox

JOY AT THE SAVIOUR'S BIRTH.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."-Luke ii. 14.

1

2

3

4

HA

ARK! hark!—the notes of joy
Roll o'er the heavenly plains,

And seraphs find employ

For their sublimest strains;

Some new delight in heaven is known;
Loud sound the harps around the throne.

Hark! hark!-the sounds draw nigh,
The joyful hosts descend;

Jesus forsakes the sky,

To earth his footsteps bend;

He comes to bless our fallen race;
He comes with messages of grace.

Bear, bear the tidings round;
Let every mortal know
What love in God is found,

What pity he can show;

Ye winds that blow! ye waves that roll!
Bear the glad news from pole to pole.

Strike, strike the harps again,

To great Immanuel's name;

Arise, ye sons of men!

And all his grace proclaim;

Angels and men! wake every string,
For 'tis the Saviour's praise we sing.

55

February 24. L. M.

Hebron.

TEACHINGS AND INVITATION OF JESUS.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."-Matt. xi. 28.

1

HOW sweetly flowed the gospel's sound

From lips of gentleness and grace, When listening thousands gathered round, And joy and reverence filled the place!

2 From heaven he came, of heaven he spoke, To heaven he led his followers' way;

Dark clouds of gloomy night he broke,
Unveiling an immortal day.

3 "Come, wanderers, to my Father's home,
Come, all ye weary ones, and rest!"
Yes, sacred Teacher, we will come,
Obey thee, love thee, and be blest.

56 February 25. C. M.

PRAYER FOR WISDOM.

Peterborough.

"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"-Prov. xvi. 16.

1

FATHER of light! conduct our feet

Through life's dark, dangerous road; Let each advancing step still bring

Us nearer to our God.

2 Let heaven-eyed prudence be our guide;
And when we go astray,
Recall our feet from folly's paths
To wisdom's better way.

3 That heavenly wisdom from above
Abundantly impart;

And let it guard, and guide, and warm,
And penetrate each heart;

4 Till it shall lead us to Thyself,
Fountain of bliss and love!

And all our darkness be dispersed
In endless light above.

57

February 26. C. M.

Christmas.

THE CHRISTIAN RACE.

"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so grea. a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus."-Heb. xii. 1, 2.

1

A

WAKE, my soul, stretch every nerve,
And press with vigor on;

A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown.