Those arms were round our childish ways,
A guard through helpless years to be ;
O leave not our maturer days,

We still are helpless without thee!

We trusted hope and pride and strength;

Our strength proved false, our pride was vain,
Our dreams have faded all at length-
We come to thee, O Lord! again.

A guide to trembling steps yet be!
Give us of thine eternal powers
So shall our paths all lead to thee,

And life smile on like childhood's hours.

T. W. Higginson.

The Spiritual Husbandman's Lament.

FT, in the summer days, I've marked some wild

On which the sower vainly spent his

toil;

Heaven's showers distilled, but still no verdure

smiled

O'er all the cheerless length of that obdurate

soil.

How fitly pictures this dull waste, methought,
The arid wilderness I plough in vain !
Cursing" steals on apace, to doom the spot
Where only thorns repay the Spirit's gracious

rain.

Lord of the vineyard, with thy power descend! Breathe on these hearts of stone, and bid them live!

The garden's beauty to the desert lend,

And for the encumb'ring weed the rose of Sharon

give!

Bishop Eastburn.

For Visitors of the Sick.

ORD, lead the way the Saviour went,

By lane and cell obscure,

And let love's treasure still be spent,
Like His, upon the Poor;

Like Him through scenes of deep distress,
Who bore the world's sad weight,
We, in their crowded loneliness,
Would seek the desolate.

For thou hast placed us side by side,
In this wide world of ill,

And that thy followers may be tried,
The Poor are with us still.

E

Mean are all offerings we can make,

But thou hast taught us, Lord, If given for the Saviour's sake, They lose not their reward.

William Croswell.

"Lord, Save Me.”

Y faith looks up to thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,

M

Saviour Divine !

Now hear me while I pray;

Take all my guilt away;

Oh, let me, from this day,
Be wholly thine!

May thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!

As thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be-
A living fire!

While life's dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be thou my guide;

Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow's tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From thee aside.

When ends life's transient dream,
When death's cold, sullen stream
Shall o'er me roll,

Blest Saviour! then, in love,
Fear and distrust remove;

Oh, bear me safe above

A ransomed soul!

Ray Palmer.

The Angel of the Lord.

NWARD speed thy conquering flight,

Angel, onward speed,
Cast abroad thy radiant light,

Bid the shades recede;
Tread the idols in the dust,

Heathen fanes destroy;

Spread the Gospel's love and trust,
Spread the Gospel's joy.

Onward speed thy conquering flight,
Angel, onward fly !

Long has been the reign of night;
Bring the morning nigh.
Unto thee earth's sufferers lift

Their imploring wail;
Bear them Heaven's holy gift

Ere their courage fail.

Onward speed thy conquering flight,

Angel, onward speed ! Morning bursts upon our sight,

Lo! the time decreed :

Now the Lord His Kingdom takes,
Thrones and empires fall;
Now the joyous song awakes,
"God is All in All!"

S. F. Smith.

"Dur Father."

OWLY and solemn be
Thy children's cry to thee,
Father Divine;

A hymn of suppliant breath,
Owning that life and death

Alike are thine!