BENEDICTION. L. M. 61.

JOSEPH BARNBY (1838

), 1872.

2 I pass from things of space and time, The finite meets or leaves my sight; But God expands o'er every clime, The clothing of the Infinite.

3 He walks the earth, He rides the air; The lightning's speed He leaves behind.

His Name is Love. And tell me, where Is sea or land He cannot find?

4 O, long I've known Him. Could it be
That if He did not hold me dear,
He thus would travel land and sea,
And throw His arms around me here?

5 I could not leave Him, if I would;

I would not, if the power were given; 'Twould be to leave the True and Good, The soul's Repose, the spirit's Heaven. Rev. Thomas Cogswell Upham (1799-1872), 1853. Ab.

1520

Watching and Praying.

I THEY pray the best who pray and watch, They watch the best who watch and

pray,

They hear Christ's fingers on the latch,
Whether He comes by night, or day.

2 Whether they guard the gates and watch,
Or, patient, toil for Him, and wait,
They hear His fingers on the latch,
If early He doth come, or late.

3 With trembling joy they hail their Lord, And haste His welcome feet to kiss, While He, well pleased, doth speak the word

That thrills them with unending bliss: 4 "Well done, My servants, now receive, For faithful work, reward and rest, And wreaths which busy angels weave, To crown the men who serve Me best.' Rev. Edward Hopper (1818- ), 1873

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,

O with what peace, and joy, and love
She communes with her God!

4 Author and Guardian of my life,
Sweet Source of love divine,
And, all harmonious names in one,
My Saviour, Thou art mine!

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

Shall echo through the realms above,
When time shall be no more!

There is an ear that never shuts, When sink the beams of light.

2 There is an arm that never tires, When human strength gives way; There is a love that never fails, When earthly loves decay.

3 That eye is fixed on seraph throngs;
That arm upholds the sky;
That ear is filled with angel songs;
That love is throned on high.

4 But there's a power which man can wield, When mortal aid is vain,

That eye, that arm, that love to reach, That listening ear to gain.

5 That power is prayer, which soars on high, Through Jesus, to the throne,

And moves the hand which moves the

world,

To bring salvation down.

Rev. John Aikman Wallace (1802-1870), 1839. Ab.

WILLIAM VINCENT WALLACE (1815-1865), 1856,

2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,

The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublímest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"

5 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters Heaven with prayer.

6 O Thou, by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray.

James Montgomery (1771-1854), 1819, 1853. Ab.

WOODSTOCK. C. M.

Evening Twilight.

I I LOVE to steal awhile away
From every cumbering care,
And spend the hours of setting day
In humble, grateful prayer.

2 I love, in solitude, to shed

The penitential tear;

And all His promises to plead
Where none but God can hear.

3 I love to think on mercies past,
And future good implore;
And all my cares and sorrows cast
On Him whom I adore.

4 I love, by faith, to take a view

Of brighter scenes in Heaven; The prospect doth my strength renew, While here by tempests driven.

5 Thus, when life's toilsome day is o'er, May its departing ray

Be calm as this impressive hour,
And lead to endless day.

Mrs. Phoebe Hinsdale Brown (1783-1861), 1824. Ab. & alt.

DEODATUS DUTTON, Jr., 1829.