343

December 8. 78.

Benevento.

CHRIST OUR INTERCESSOR.

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."-1 John ii, 1.

1 INTERCESSOR, throned on high!
Unto us thine aid supply;
By thy influence now prepare
Humble hearts for holy prayer.
Gracious, from on high descend,
With our thoughts and feelings blend,
And the shadow of thy wing
O'er our suppliant spirits fling.

2 Lend to our infirmities

Living help which grace supplies;
Thou alone canst teach alway
What to pray for-how to pray:
Nor alone instruct us how
At the throne of grace to bow;
Far beyond our fervent prayer,
Be thyself our pleader there.

344 December 9.

C. M.

SUBMISSION.

Rochester.

"And he kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done."--Luke xxii. 41, 42.

1 HOW sweet to be allowed to pray
To God, the holy one;

With filial love and trust to say,
O God, thy will be done!

2 We in these sacred words can find

A cure for every ill,

They calm and soothe the troubled mind
And bid all care be still.

3 O may that will that gave me birth,

And an immortal soul,

In joy or grief, in life or death,
My every wish control.

4 Oh, could my heart thus ever pray,
Thus imitate thy Son!

Teach me, O God, in truth to say,
Thy will, not mine, be done.

345 December 10. C. M.

WALKING WITH GOD.

Peterborough.

"He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"-Micah vi. 8.

1

Он

walk with God, and thou shalt find
How he can charm thy way,

And lead thee with a quiet mind
Into his perfect day.

2 Oh! walk with God, and thou with smiles
Shalt tread the way of tears;

His mercy every ill beguiles,

And softens all our fears.

3 Oh walk with God, while thou on earth,
With pilgrim steps must fare,
Content to leave the world its mirth,
And claim no dwelling there.

4 Oh walk with God, and thou shalt go
Down death's dark vale in light,
And find thy faithful walk below
Hath reached to Zion's height.

5 Oh walk with God, if thou wouldst see
Thy pathway thither tend:

And, lingering though thy journey be, 'Tis heaven and home at end.

346 December 11. S. M.

HUMAN BROTHERHOOD.

St. Thomas.

"Have we not all one Father? hath not one God created us?"-Mal. ii. 10. "And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also."-1 John iv. 21.

1

HUSH the loud cannon's roar,

The frantic warrior's call!

Why should the earth be drenched with gore!
Are not we brothers all?

2

Want, from the wretch depart!

Chains, from the captive fall!

Sweet mercy, melt the oppressor's heart,-
Sufferers are brothers all.

3 Churches and sects, strike down Each mean partition-wall!

4

Let love each harsher feeling drown,-
Christians are brothers all.

Let love and truth alone

Hold human hearts in thrall,

That heaven its work at length may own,

And men be brothers all.

347 December 12. C. M.

PROVIDENCE.

Medfield.

"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."-Jer. x. 23.

1

THROUGH all the years of childhood's prime,
Changes on changes roll;

Each brings its varied scenes of bliss

Or sorrow to the soul:

2 In infant joys and infant griefs
A little life we live;

A miniature of all the scenes
That future years shall give.

3 But not a scene of life comes on-
Of gladness or of tears-
Where not the hand of him that rules
Our mortal state, appears.

4 We would not wish to alter aught
That wisdom hath designed
To train for everlasting bliss
The wandering, wayward mind.

5 And if we love him as we ought,
Through life he'll be our guide;

And take us with him, when life's o'er,
For ever to abide.

348 December 13.

C. M.

St. Martin's.

WORKS OF PIETY REWARDED.

"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."-Matt. xxv. 40.

1

[OW blest the children of the Lord,

H

Who, walking in his sight,

Make all the precepts of his word

Their study and delight.

2 That precious wealth shall be their dower,
Which cannot know decay,

Which moth or rust shall ne'er devour,
Nor spoiler take away.

3 For them that heavenly light shall spread,
Whose cheering rays illume
The darkest hours of life, and shed
A halo round the tomb.

4 Their works of piety and love,

Performed through Christ, their Lord,

For ever registered above,

Shall meet a sure reward.

349 December 14.

C. M.

Balerma.

THE POWER OF THE LEAST INFLUENCE RIGHTLY EXERTED.

"The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof."-Matt. xiii. 31.

1

WHAT if the little rain should say

"So small a drop as I

Can ne'er refresh those thirsty fields,
I'll tarry in the sky?"

2 What if a shining beam of noon
Should in its fountain stay,

Because its feeble light alone
Cannot create a day?

3 Doth not each rain-drop help to form
The cool refreshing shower?

And every ray of light to warm
And beautify the flower?

4 Go then-and strive to do thy share;-
One talent-less than thine-
Improved with steady zeal and care,
Would gain rewards divine.

350 December 15. S. M.

A MORNING HYMN.

Silver Street.

"But unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of Right. eousness arise with healing in his wings."-Mal. iv. 2.

1 SEE how the mounting sun

2

3

4

Pursues his shining way;

And wide proclaims his Maker's praise,
With every brightening ray.

Thus would my rising soul
Its heavenly Parent sing;
And to its great Original
The humble tribute bring.

Serene I laid me down

Beneath his guardian care;

I slept, and I awoke, and found
My kind Preserver near!

My life I would anew

Devote, O Lord, to thee;

And in thy service I would spend
A blest eternity.

351 December 16.

C. M.

Lanesborough.

KINDNESS TO THE POOR.

"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him ?"-1 John iii. 17.

1

HOW

blest is he who fears the Lord,
And follows his commands,

Who lends the poor without reward,
Or gives with liberal hands.

2 As pity dwells within his breast
To all the sons of need,

So God shall answer his request
With blessings on his seed.