4 Though I walk through the gloomy vale,
Where death and all his terrors are;
My heart and hope shall never fail,
For God, my shepherd's with me there.

107

April 16.

C. M.

Lanesborough.

HEAVEN ANTICIPATED.

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”— 2 Pet. iii. 13.

1

THERE is an hour of peaceful rest,

To mourning wanderers given: There is a joy for souls distressed, A balm for every wounded breast, 'Tis found above-in heaven.

2 There is a home for weary souls,
By sin and sorrow driven;

When tossed on life's tempestuous shoals,
Where storms arise and ocean rolls,
And all is drear but heaven.

3 There, faith lifts up her cheerful eye,
To brighter prospects given;
And views the tempest passing by,
The evening shadows quickly fly,
And all serene in heaven.

4 There, fragrant flowers immortal bloom,
And joys supreme are given;

There, rays divine disperse the gloom;—
Beyond the confines of the tomb,

Appears the dawn of heaven.

108

April 17. L. M.

Alfreton.

THE REDEEMING POWER OF LOVE.

"If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."-Rom. xii. 20.

1

WHAT precept, Jesus, is like thine,

Forgive, as ye would be forgiven!

82

In this we see the power divine,

Which shall transform our earth to heaven.

2 'Tis not the harsh and scornful word

That victory over sin can gain,
'Tis not the prison, or the sword,
The shackle, or the weary chain.

3 But from our spirits there must flow
A love that will the wrong outweigh;
Our lips must only blessings know,
And wrath and sin shall die away.

4 'Twas heaven that formed the holy plan
To win the wanderer back by love;
Thus let us save our brother, man,
And imitate our God above.

109

April 18.

L. M.

Missionary Chant.

GOD EVERYWHERE TO BE WORSHIPPED.

"From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering."-Mal. i. 11.

1 THOU, to whom, in ancient time,

The lyre of Hebrew bards was strung; Whom kings adored in songs sublime, And prophets praised with glowing tongue:

2 Not now on Zion's height alone

Thy favored worshippers may dwell;
Nor where, at sultry noon, thy Son
Sat weary, by the patriarch's well.

3 From every place below the skies,

The grateful song, the fervent prayer,-
The incense of the heart,-may rise
To heaven, and find acceptance there.

4 To thee shall age, with snowy hair,
And strength, and beauty, bend the knee;
And childhood lisp, with reverent air,
Its praises and its prayers to thee!

5 0 thou, to whom, in ancient time,
The lyre of prophet bards was strung,
To thee, at last, in every clime,

Shall temples rise, and praise be sung!

110

April 19. L. M.

SELF-EXAMINATION.

Alfreton.

"Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still."-Ps. iv. 4.

1

ETURN, my roving heart, return,

And life's vain shadows chase no more; Seek out some solitude to mourn,

And thy forsaken God implore.

2 Wisdom and pleasure dwell at home;
Retired and silent seek them there:
True conquest is ourselves to o'ercome;
True strength, to break the tempter's snare.
30 thou great God, whose piercing eye
Distinctly marks each deep retreat,
In these sequestered hours draw nigh,
And let me here thy presence meet.
4 Through all the windings of my heart,
My search let heavenly wisdom guide;
And still its radiant beams impart,
Till all be searched and purified.

5 Then with the visits of thy love,

Vouchsafe my inmost soul to cheer;

Till every grace shall join to prove
That God hath fixed his dwelling there.

111

April 20. C. M.

Mear.

GOD'S ETERNAL DOMINION.

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."-Ps. xc. 2.

1 G

REAT God! how infinite art thou!

What worthless worms are we!

Let the whole race of creatures bow,
And pay their praise to thee.

2 Thy throne eternal ages stood,
Ere seas or stars were made:
Thou art the ever-living God,
Were all the nations dead.

3 Eternity, with all its years,

Stands present in thy view:
To thee there's nothing old appears-
Great God! there's nothing new.

4 Our lives through varying scenes are drawn,
And vexed with trifling cares;

While thine eternal thought moves on
Thine undisturbed affairs.

5 Great God! how infinite art thou!-
What worthless worms are we!
Let the whole race of creatures bow,
And pay their praise to thee.

112

April 21.

C. M.

SEEKING GOD EARLY.

Lanesborough.

"With my spirit within me, will I seek thee early."-Isaiah

xxvi. 9.

1

EARLY, my God! without delay,

I haste to seek thy face;

My thirsty spirit faints away,
Without thy cheering grace.

2 So pilgrims on the scorching sand,
Beneath a burning sky,

Long for a cooling stream at hand,
And they must drink or die.

3 I've seen thy glory and thy power
Through all thy temple shine;
My God! repeat that heavenly hour,
That vision so divine.

4 Not life itself, with all its joys,
Can my best passions move;
Or raise so high my cheerful voice,
As thy forgiving love.

5 Thus, till my last, expiring day,
I'll bless my God and King;
Thus will I lift my hands to pray,
And tune my lips to sing.

113

April 22. H. M.

Lenox.

SAFETY IN GOD.

"The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night."-Ps. cxxi. 5, 6.

1

2

3

4

UPWARD I lift mine eyes,

From God is all my aid;

The God who built the skies,

And earth and nature made: God is the tower to which I fly; His grace is nigh in every hour.

My feet shall never slide,

And fall in fatal snares,
Since God, my guard and guide,
Defends me from my fears.

Those wakeful eyes that never sleep,
Shall safely keep when dangers rise.

No burning heats by day,

Nor blasts of evening air,
Shall take my health away,

If God be with me there :

Thou art my sun, and thou my shade,
To guard my head by night or noon.

Hast thou not given thy word
To save my soul from death?
And I can trust my Lord

To keep my mortal breath:

I'll go and come, nor fear to die,
Till from on high thou call me home.

114

April 23.

C. M.

St. Martin's,

1

THE TRUE CHRISTIAN'S DESIRE.

"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."-Phil. i. 21.

H, could I find, from day to day,

OH,

A nearness to my God!

Then should my hours glide sweet away,

While leaning on his word.

2 Lord, I desire with thee to live

Anew from day to day,