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45

February 14. C. M.

Peterborough.

CHRIST THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.-John xiv. 6.

1

THOU

art the WAY-to thee alone
From sin and death we flee;

And he who would the Father seek,
Must seek him, Lord, by thee.

2 Thou art the TRUTH-thy word alone
True wisdom can impart;

Thou only canst inform the mind
And purify the heart.

3 Thou art the LIFE-the rending tomb
Proclaims thy conquering arm,
And those who put their trust in thee
Nor death, nor hell shall harm.

4 Thou art the WAY-the TRUTH-the LIFE;
Grant us that WAY to know,

That TRUTH to keep-that LIFE to win,
Whose joys eternal flow.

46 February 15. C. M.

GOD EVERYWHERE.

Arlington.

"Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether."— Ps. cxxxix. 3, 4.

1 IN all my vast concerns with thee,
In vain my soul would try

To shun thy presence, Lord, or flee
The notice of thine eye.

2 Thine all-surrounding sight surveys
My rising and my rest;

My public walks, my private ways,
And secrets of my breast.

3 My thoughts lie open to the Lord,
Before they're formed within;

And ere my lips pronounce the word,
He knows the sense I mean.

4 Oh, wondrous knowledge, deep and high!
Where can a creature hide?
Within thy circling arms I lie,
Beset on every side.

5 So let thy grace surround me still,
And like a bulwark prove,
To guard my soul from every ill,
Secured by sovereign love.

47

February 16. 7s. & 6s.

Romaine.

THE REIGN OF CHRIST.

"And he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth."-Zech. ix. 10.

1

HAIL to the Lord's anointed!

Great David's greater Son;

Hail, in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free,
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.

2 He comes, with succour speedy
To those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy,

And bid the weak be strong;
Before him on the mountains,
Shall Peace, the herald, go;
And righteousness, in fountains,
From hill to valley flow.

3 For him shall prayer unceasing,
And daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
A kingdom without end:
The tide of time shall never

His covenant remove;

His name shall stand for ever;
That name to us is-Love.

48

February 17. C. M.

Rochester.

"WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?"

"To do good, and to communicate,* forget not: for with such sacrifice God is well pleased."—Heb. xiii. 16.

1

WHO is thy neighbor? he whom thou

Hast power to aid or bless;

Whose aching heart or burning brow
Thy soothing hand may press.

2 Thy neighbor? 'tis the fainting poor,
Whose eye with want is dim;
Oh, enter thou his humble door,
With aid and peace for him.

3 Thy neighbor? 'tis the heart bereft
Of every earthly gem;

Widow and orphan helpless left:-
Go thou, and shelter them.

4 Thy neighbor? 'tis the weary slave,
Fettered in mind and limb;

He hath no hope this side the grave;
Go thou and ransom him.

5 Thy neighbor? pass no mourner by;
Perhaps thou canst redeem

A breaking heart from misery ;-
Go, share thy lot with him.

49 February 18. L. M.

GRATITUDE FOR THE SAVIOUR.

Wells.

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”—2 Cor. ix. 15.

1

NOW

let my soul, eternal King!

To thee its grateful tribute bring:

My knee with humble homage bow;
My tongue perform its solemn vow.

2 All nature sings thy boundless love,
In worlds below-and worlds above:
But in thy blessed word I trace
Diviner wonders of thy grace.

"To communicate or impart to others; that is, to share with them what we have."-Barnes.

3 There what delightful truths I read
There I behold the Saviour bleed:
His name salutes my listening ear,
Revives my heart, and checks my fear.
4 There Jesus bids my sorrows cease,
And gives my laboring conscience peace;
Raises my grateful passions high,
And points to mansions in the sky.

5 For love like this, oh! let my song,
Through endless years thy praise prolong,
Let distant climes thy name adore,

Till time and nature are no more.

50

February 19. C. M.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Medfield.

"In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.-Phil. iv. 6.

1

PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed;

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast.

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 sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air;

His watchword at the gates of death,-
He enters heaven with prayer.

5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways;

While angels, in their songs, rejoice, -"Behold he prays!"

And cry,

60 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.

51

February 20. C. M.

HABITUAL DEVOTION.

Warwick.

"Every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy name for ever and ever."-Ps. cxlv. 2.

1

WHILE thee I seek, protecting Power!

Be my vain wishes stilled

And may this consecrated hour
With better hopes be filled.

2 Thy love the power of thought bestowed;
To thee my thoughts would soar:
Thy mercy o'er my life has flowed;
That mercy I adore.

3 In each event of life how clear
Thy ruling hand I see!

Each blessing to my soul most dear,
Because conferred by thee.

4 In every joy that crowns my days,
In every pain I bear,

My heart shall find delight in praise,
Or seek relief in prayer.

5 When gladness wings my favored hour,
Thy love my thoughts shall fill;
Resigned, when storms of sorrow lower,
My soul shall meet thy will.

6 My lifted eye, without a tear,

The gathering storm shall see;

My steadfast heart shall know no fear;
That heart will rest on thee.

52

February 21. C. M.

EARLY PIETY.

Lanesborough.

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways: so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."-Prov. xxiii. 26: iii. 4.

1

IN

the soft season of thy youth,

In nature's smiling bloom,

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