3 Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious, lonely wilds I stray,
Thy presence shall my pains beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crowned,
And streams shall murmur all around.
4 Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For thou, O Lord! art with me still;
Thy friendly rod shall give me aid,

And guide me through the dreadful shade.

84

March 24.

C. M.

Coronation.

DESIGN OF CHRIST'S ADVENT.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable* year of the Lord."— Luke iv. 18, 19.

1

HARK! the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
The Saviour promised long!

Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.

2 He comes the prisoner to release,

--

In Satan's bondage held:

The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.

3 He comes from darkening scales of vice
To clear the inward sight;
And on the eye-balls of the blind
To pour celestial light.

4 He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure;

And with the treasures of his grace,
To enrich the humble poor.

5 Our glad hosannas, Prince of peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.

The "acceptable year" is the year of Jubilee, referred to in Leviticus xxv. 10, "And ye shall proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof."

་

85

March 25. C. M.

Christmas.

THE JOYS OF HEAVEN.

"Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."-Ps. xvi. 11.

1

COME, Lord! and warm each languid heart,

Inspire each lifeless tongue,

And let the joys of heaven impart
Their influence to our song.

2 Then to the shining realms of bliss
On wings of faith we'll soar,
And all the charms of paradise
Our raptured thoughts explore.

3 Sorrow and pain, and fears and care,
And discord there shall cease,
And perfect joy and love sincere
Adorn the realms of peace.

4 There shall the followers of the Lamb
Join in immortal songs;

And endless honors to his name

Employ their tuneful tongues.

5 Lord! tune our hearts to praise and love,-
Our feeble notes inspire;

Till in thy blissful courts above,

We join the heavenly choir.

86

March 26. C. M.

St. Martin's.

COMMUNING WITH GOD IN RETIREMENT.

"And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain, apart, to pray."-Matt. xiv. 23.

1

FAR from the world, O Lord! I flee,

From strife and tumult far:

From scenes where Satan wages still
His most successful war.

2 The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree;
And seem, by thy sweet bounty, made
For those who follow thee.

3 There, if thy Spirit touch the soul,
And grace her mean abode,

Oh! with what peace, and joy, and love,
She then communes with God.

4 Author and Guardian of my life,-
Sweet Source of light divine,—
And-all harmonious names in one-
Blest Saviour!-thou art mine.

5 What thanks I owe thee, and what love! A boundless, endless store,

Thy praise shall sound through realms above, When time shall be no more.

87 March 27.

L. M.

"WHO ON EARTH ARE BLESSED ?"

Portugal.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy: blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."-Matt. v. 7, 8.

1

BLEST are the men, whose hearts do move
And melt with sympathy and love;
From Christ, the Lord, shall they obtain
Like sympathy and love again.

2 Blest are the meek, who stand afar
From rage and passion, noise and war;
God will secure their happy state,

And plead their cause against the great.

3 Blest are the souls that thirst for grace,—
Hunger and long for righteousness;
They shall be well supplied, and fed
With living streams and living bread.

4 Blest are the pure, whose hearts are clean
From the defiling power of sin;

With endless pleasure they shall see
A God of spotless purity.

5 Blest are the sufferers, who partake
Of pain and shame, for Jesus' sake;
Their souls shall triumph in the Lord,-
Glory and joy are their reward.

69

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 ALMIGHTY Maker, God,

2

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 crowneth 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

4

5

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.

Then all the chosen seed

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.