203

EXAMPLES.

C.M.

"Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning."-Rom. xv. 4. WHAT blest examples do I find

Writ in the word of truth,
Of children, who began to mind
Religion in their youth!

2 Jesus, who reigns above the sky,
And keeps the world in awe,
Was once a child as young as I,
And kept His Father's law.

3 At twelve years old He talked with
The Jews all wond'ring stand; [men,
Yet He obeyed His mother then,
And came at her command.

205 « Here am 1."-1 Sam. iii. 4.

1

2

3

4

5

HUSHED was the evening hymn,
The Temple courts were dark;

The lamp was burning dim
Before the sacred ark;

When suddenly a voice divine

Rang through the silence of the shrine.

The old man, meek and mild,
The priest of Israel, slept;
His watch the Temple-child,
The little Levite kept;

And what from Eli's sense was sealed,
The Lord to Hannah's son revealed.

Oh! give me Samuel's ear,

The open ear, O Lord,

Alive and quick to hear
Each whisper of Thy word:

Like him to answer at Thy call,
And to obey Thee first of all.
Oh! give me Samuel's heart,
A lowly heart that waits,
When in Thy house Thou art,
Or watches at Thy gates,
By day and night, a heart that still
Moves at the breathing of Thy will.

Oh! give me Samuel's mind;
A sweet, unmurmuring faith,
Obedient and resigned

To Thee in life and death;

That I may read with childlike eyes Truths that are hidden from the wise. JAMES DRUMMOND BURNS.

206"

86.86.88.

"He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed."-Dan. vi. 10. LOOD Daniel would not cease to pray With all his foes in view;

GOOD

He called on God three times a day, As he was used to do;

Nor feared the power of wicked men, Who put him in the lions' den.

Soon will He sadly from you turn, Your bitter prayer for pardon spurn. "Too late! too late!" will be the cry,"Jesus of Nazareth has passed by.' MISS CAMPBELL.

"This day," saith Jesus, "thou shalt With me in Paradise."

throng,

Which moves with busy haste along, These wondrous gatherings day by day? What means this strange commotion, pray?

In accents hushed the throng reply, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." 2 Who is this Jesus? Why should He The city move so mightily? A passing stranger, has He skill To move the multitude at will? Again the stirring tones reply, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." 3 Jesus! 'tis He who once below

Man's pathway trod 'mid pain and woe; And burdened ones, where'er He came, Brought out their sick, and deaf, and lame:

The blind rejoiced to hear the cry, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.'

4 Again He comes! From place to place His holy footprints we can trace. He pauseth at our threshold-nay, He enters-condescends to stay. Shall we not gladly raise the cry?"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." 5 Ho! all ye heavy laden, come! Here's pardon, comfort, rest, and home, Ye wand'rers from a Father's face, Return, accept His proffered grace. Ye tempted ones, there's refuge nigh: "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."

6 But if you still His call refuse,

And all His wondrous love abuse,

PRAYER.

C.M.

"O Thou that hearest prayer.”-
Ps. lxv. 2.

THERE is an eye that never sleeps
Beneath the wing of night;
There is an ear that never shuts
When sink the beams of light.
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 When mortal aid is vain,

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

5 That power is prayer, which soars on Through Jesus, to the throne, [high, And moves the hand which moves the To bring salvation down. [world,

C.M.

J. A. WALLACE.

212 “The Lord thinketh upon me.'

1

Ps. xl. 17.

WILL God, who made the earth and
The night and shining day, [sea,
Regard a little child like me,
And listen when I pray?

2 If I am hungry, poor, and cold,
Then will. He hear my cry?
And when I shall be sick and old,
Oh, then will God be nigh?

3 Yes; in His holy word we read
Of His unfailing love;

And when His mercy most we need, His mercy He will prove.

4 To those who seek Him He is near,
He looks upon the heart;

And from the humble and sincere
He never will depart.

HENRY BATEMAN.

213.

S.M.

"When thou prayest, thou shalt
not be as the hy pocrites."
Matt. vi. 5-7.

1 OFTEN say my prayers,
But do I ever pray?
And do the wishes of my heart
Go with the words I say?
2 I may as well kneel down

And worship gods of stone,
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone.
3 For words without the heart
The Lord will never hear;
Nor wil! He to those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.
4 Lord, teach me what I want,

Ad teach me how to pray;
Nor let me ask Thee for Thy grace
Not feeling what I say.

COME, my soul, thy suit prepare;

Jesus loves to answer prayer:
He Himself has bid thee pray;
Therefore will not say thee nay.
2 Thou art coming to a King;
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much.
3 With my burden I begin :-
Lord, remove this load of sin;
Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.
4 Lord, I come to Thee for rest;
Take possession of my breast;
There Thy blood-bought right main-
And without a rival reign. [tain,

5 While I am a pilgrim here,
Let Thy love my spirit cheer;
As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
Lead me to my journey's end.

6 Show me what I have to do,
Every hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die Thy people's death.

JOHN NEWTON,

2 God is in heaven. Can He see
When I am doing wrong?

Yes, that He can; He looks at me
All day and all night long.

3 God is in heaven. Would He know If I should tell a lie?

Yes; though I said it very low,
He'd hear it in the sky.

4 God is in heaven. Does He care,
Or is He good to me?

Yes; all I have to eat or wear, 'Tis God that gives it me.

5 God is in heaven. May I pray

To go there when I die?

Yes; love Him, seek Him, and one day He'll call me to the sky.

216 "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray."-Ps. lv. 17. SWEET hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

1

That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief,
And oft scaped the tempter's snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.

2 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

Thy wings shall my petition bear To Him whose truth and faithfulness Engage the waiting soul to bless : And since He bids me seek His face, Believe His word, and trust His grace, I'll cast on Him my every care, And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer! 3 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of May I thy consolations share, [prayer! Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height, I view my home and take my flight. This robe of flesh I'll drop, and rise To seize the everlasting prize; [air, And shout, while passing through the "Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!" WALFORD,

217

1

76.76.76.76.

"Pray to thy Father, which is in secret."-Matt. vi. 6.

O when the morning shineth,
Go when the moon is bright,
Go when the eve declinetli,

Go in the hush of night;
Go with pure mind and feeling,
Fling every fear away,
And in thy chamber kneeling,
Do thou in secret pray.

2 Remember all who love thee,
All who are loved by thee;

Pray, too, for those who hate thee,
If any such there be.
Then, for thyself, in meekness,
A blessing humbly claim,
And link with each petition

Thy Great Redeemer's name. 3 Or if 'tis e'er denied thee

In solitude to pray,
Should holy thoughts come o'er thee,
When friends are round thy way;
E'en then the silent breathing

Of thy spirit raised above,
May reach His throne of glory,
Who is mercy, truth, and love.

4 Whene'er thou pinest in sadness,
Before His footstool fall;
Remember, in thy gladness,
His grace who gave thee all:
Oh, not a joy or blessing

With this can we compare-
The power that He has given us
To pour our souls in prayer.

L.M.

J. C. SIMPSON.

218 "Seek His face evermore "

1

Ps. cv. 4.

MY Fatould not only bend the knee,

Y Father, when I came to Thee,

But with my spirit seek Thy face,With my whole heart desire Thy grace. 2 I plead the name of Thy dear Son, All He has said, all He has done; O may I feel His love to me, Who died from sin to set me frec.

3 My Saviour, guide me with Thine eye; My sins forgive, my wants supply; With favour crown my youthful days, And my whole life shall speak Thy praise.

4 Thy Holy Spirit, Lord, impart;
Impress Thy likeness on my heart:
May I obey Thy truth in love,
Till raised to dwell with Thee above.
OLIVER HART.

219

87.87.

"Above all that we ask or think."Eph iii. 20.

1 GOD Almighty heareth ever

When His little children pray:
He is faint and weary never,
And He turneth none away.

2 More than we deserve He sends us,
More than we can ask, bestows;
Every moment He befriends us,
And supports us in our woes.
3 Let us then, in Him confiding,
Tell Him all we think and feel,
Never one dark secret hiding,
Seeking nothing to conceal.

4 Through His Son, our precious Saviour
God will pardon all our sin,
Will forgive our past behaviour,
Open heaven and take us in.

C.M.

ELIZ. STAFFORD.

Lord attends when children A whisper He can hear;

[pray,

He knows not only what we say,
But what we wish or fear.

2 He sees us when we are alone,
Though no one else can see;
And all our thoughts to Himare known,
Wherever we may be.

3 'Tis not enough to bend the knee,
And words of prayer to say;
The heart must with the lips agree,
Or else we do not pray.

4 Teach us, O Lord, to pray aright,
Thy grace to us impart;

That we in prayer may take delight,
And serve Thee with the heart.

5 Then, heavenly Father, at Thy throno
Thy praise we will proclaim,
And daily our requests make known
In our Redeemer's name.

JOHN BURTON.