88

March 28.

C. M.

Balerma.

SPEAK GENTLY.

"And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' -Eph. iv. 32.

1

SPEAK gently, it is better far

To rule by love than fear;

Speak gently,-let no harsh word mar
The good we may do here.

2 Speak gently to the young, for they
Will have enough to bear;

Pass through this life as best they may,
'Tis full of anxious care.

3 Speak gently to the aged one,
Grieve not the careworn heart;
The sands of life are nearly run,
Let them in peace depart.

4 Speak gently to the erring ones;
They must have toiled in vain ;
Perchance unkindness made them so;
O, win them back again!

5 Speak gently,-'tis a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy, that it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.

89

March 29. S. M.

Silver Street.

PRAISE TO OUR CREATOR.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name."-Ps. ciii. 1.

1

2

ALMIGHTY Maker, God,

How wondrous is thy name! Thy glories how diffused abroad, Through all creation's frame!

Nature, in every dress,

Her humble homage pays;

And finds a thousand ways to express
Her gratitude and praise.

3 The lark mounts up on high

4

5

With unambitious song,

And bears her Maker's praise on high,
Upon her artless tongue.

My soul would rise and sing

Her great Creator too;

Fain would my tongue adore my King,

And pay the homage due.

For God then let me spend
The remnant of my days,

And ever may my soul ascend,
In grateful songs of praise.

90

March 30. S. M.

Lisbon.

PRAISE FOR PRESERVING GRACE.

"Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who erowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies."-Ps. ciii. 4.

1

TO God, the only wise,

Our Saviour, and our King,

Let all the saints below the skies

Their humble praises bring.

2

'Tis his almighty love,

3

His counsel and his care,

Preserves us safe from sin and death,

And every hurtful snare.

He will present our souls,
Unblemished and complete,

Before the glory of his face,
With joys divinely great.

5

Shall meet around the throne:

Shall bless the conduct of his grace,
And make his wonders known.

To our Redeemer God

Wisdom with power belongs; Immortal crowns of majesty,

And everlasting songs.

91

March 31.

L. M.

Duke Street.

THE CHRISTIAN WARFARE.

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."-Eph. vi. 11.

1

AWAKE, my soul! lift up thine eyes;

See where thy foes against thee rise,
In long array, a numerous host;
Awake, my soul! or thou art lost.

2 Here giant danger threatening stands,
Mustering his pale, terrific bands;
There pleasure's silken banners spread,
And willing souls are captives led.
3 See where rebellious passions rage,
And fierce desires and lusts engage;
The meanest foe of all the train

Has thousands and ten thousands slain.

4 Come, then, my soul! now learn to wield The weight of thine immortal shield; Put on the armor, from above,

Of heavenly truth and heavenly love.

5 The terror and the charm repel,

And powers of earth, and powers of hell;
Jesus, our Saviour, triumphed here;
Why should his faithful followers fear?

92

April 1.

8s & 7s.

SPRING.

Greenville.

"Rejoice in the Lord your God; for he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain."Joel ii. 23.

1

O! the bright, the rosy morning Calls me forth to take the air; Cheerful spring, with smiles returning Ushers in the new-born year.

2 Vernal music, softly sounding,

Echoes through the verdant grove; Nature now, with life abounding, Swells with harmony and love.

3 Now the kind, refreshing showers
Water all the plains around;
Springing grass and painted flowers
In the smiling meads abound.

4 Praise to thee, thou great Creator!
Praise be thine from every tongue!
Join, my soul, with every creature,
Join the universal song.

93

April 2.

L. M.

A YOUTH SEEKING WISDOM.

Effingham.

"And thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever."-1 Chron. xxviii. 9.

1

I

ASK not wealth, nor pomp, nor power,

Nor fleeting pleasures of an hour:

My soul aspires to nobler things

Than all the pride and state of kings.

2 One thing I ask ;-Lord! wilt thou hear,
And grant my soul a gift so dear?—
Wisdom, descending from above,
The sweetest token of thy love:-

3 Wisdom, betimes to know the Lord,
To fear his name, and keep his word;
To lead my feet in paths of truth,
And guide and guard my wandering youth.
4 Then shouldst thou grant a length of days,
My life shall still proclaim thy praise;

Or early death my soul convey

To realms of everlasting day.

94

April 3.

L. M.

THE SAVIOUR EVER PRESENT.

Wells.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."-Matt. xviii. 20.

1

JESUS, where in thy name we meet,
There we behold thy mercy-seat;
Where'er we seek thee, thou art found,
And every place is hallowed ground.

2 For thou, within no walls confined,

Inhabitest the humble mind;

Such ever bring thee where they come,
And going, take thee to their home.

3 Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few!
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of thy saving name.

4 Here may we prove the power of prayer
To strengthen faith, and sweeten care;
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all heaven before our eyes.

5 Lord we are few, but thou art near;
Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;
Oh! hear our prayer before thy throne,
And make our waiting hearts thine own.

95

April 4.

C. M.

PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

Warwick.

"Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face."-Ps. lxxxix. 14.

1

GOD moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

2 Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

3 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

4 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

5 His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;