The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

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April 5. S. M.

St. Thomas.

FAITH IN THE SEED OF TRUTH.

"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."-Ps. cxxvi. 6.

1 SOW in the morn thy seed;

2

3

4

At eve hold not thine hand;
To doubt and fear give thou no heed;
Broad cast it o'er the land.

The good, the fruitful ground
Expect not here nor there;

O'er hill and dale, by plots 'tis found,-
Go forth then everywhere.

Thou knowest not which may thrive,
The late or early sown;

Grace keeps the precious germ alive,
When and wherever strown.

And duly shall appear,

In verdure, beauty, strength,

The tender blade, the stock, the ear,
And the full corn at length.

Cold, heat, and moist, and dry, Shall foster and mature the grain, For garners in the sky.

97

April 6.

L. M.

Uxbridge.

THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD.

"The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts."-1 Chron. xxviii. 9.

1

ORD! thou hast searched and seen me thro';
Thine eye commands, with piercing view,

My rising and my resting hours,

My heart and flesh, with all their powers.

2 My thoughts, before they are my own,
Are to my God distinctly known;
He knows the words I mean to speak,
Ere from my opening lips they break.

3 Within thy circling power I stand,
On every side I find thy hand;
Awake, asleep, at home, abroad,
I am surrounded still with God.

4 Oh! may these thoughts possess my breast,
Where'er I rove, where'er I rest;

Nor let my weaker passions dare
Consent to sin, for God is there.

98

April 7.

L. M.

THE BLESSINGS OF BENEFICENCE.

Ward.

"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble; and he shall be blessed upon the earth."-Ps. xli. 1, 2.

1

THRICE happy man who fears the Lord,

Loves his commands, and trusts his word;
Honor and peace his days attend,
And blessings to his seed descend.

2 Compassion dwells upon his mind,
To works of mercy still inclined;
He lends the poor some present aid,
Or gives them, not to be repaid.

3 His soul, well-fixed upon the Lord,
Draws heavenly courage from his word;
Amid the darkness, light shall rise,
To cheer his heart and bless his eyes.

4 He hath dispersed his alms abroad;
His works are still before his God;
His name on earth shall long remain,
Nor shall his hope of heaven be vain.

99

April 8. S. M.

Silver Street.

EXHORTATIONS TO WORSHIP.

"O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker."-Ps. xcv. 6.

1

2

3

4

COME, sound his praise abroad,
And hymns of glory sing;

Jehovah is the sovereign God,

The universal King.

Come, worship at his throne;

Come, bow before the Lord:

We are his works and not our own;
He formed us by his word.

To-day attend his voice,
Nor dare provoke his rod;

Come, like the people of his choice,

And own your gracious God.

His arm shall well sustain

The children of his love:

The ground on which their safety stands
No earthly power can move.

100

April 9.

7s & 6s.

Amsterdam

"LET EVERY LIVING THING PRAISE THE LORD."

"Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord."-Ps. cl. 6

1

PRAISE the Lord, who reigns above

And keeps his courts below;

Praise him for his boundless love,

And all his greatness show;

Praise him for his noble deeds;

Praise him for his matchless power;

Him, from whom all good proceeds,
Let earth and heaven adore.

2 Publish, spread to all around,
The great Immanuel's name;
Let the gospel-trumpet sound;
The Prince of peace proclaim:

Praise him, every tuneful string!
All the reach of heavenly art,
All the power of music bring-
The music of the heart.

3 Him, in whom they move and live,
Let every creature sing;
Glory to our Saviour give,
And homage to our King;
Hallowed be his name beneath,

As in heaven, on earth adored:
Praise the Lord in every breath;-
Let all things praise the Lord.

101

April 10.

C. M.

Arlington.

YOUTH INVITED TO THE SAVIOUR.

"Wisdom is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her."-Prov. iii. 15.

1

YE

hearts with youthful vigor warm,
In smiling crowds draw near,
And turn from every mortal charm,
A Saviour's voice to hear.

2 The soul that longs to see his face
Is sure his love to gain;

And those that early seek his grace
Shall never seek in vain.

3 What object, Lord, my soul should move,
If once compared with thee?
What beauty should command my love,
Like what in Christ I see?

4 Away, ye false, delusive toys,
Vain tempters of the mind!
"Tis here I fix my lasting choice;
For here true bliss I find.

78

102

April 11.

7s.

Sabbath.

A CHILD-LIKE SPIRIT IMPLORED.

"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no wise enter therein."-Luke xviii. 17.

1

QUI

UIET, Lord! my froward heart;
Make me teachable and mild,
Upright, simple, free from art;
Make me as a weaned child;
From distrust and envy free,
Pleased with all that pleases thee.

2 What thou shalt to-day provide,
Let me as a child receive;
What to-morrow may betide,
Calmly to thy wisdom leave:
'Tis enough that thou wilt care;
Why should I the burden bear?

3 As a little child relies

On a care beyond his own,
Knows he's neither strong nor wise,
Fears to move one step alone ;-
Let me thus with thee abide,
As my Father, guard, and guide.

4 Thus preserved from Satan's wiles,
Safe from dangers, free from fears,
May I live upon thy smiles,

Till the promised hour appears, When the sons of God shall prove All their Father's boundless love.

103

April 12. S. M.

PRAYER FOR A HOLY HEART.

Watchman.

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end."-Ps. cxix. 33.

1

GREAT Source of life and light,

Thy heavenly grace impart,

And by thy Holy Spirit write
Thy law upon my heart.

79