Nor launch thy bark
In search thereof upon a shoreless sea,

Which has no ark,
No dove to bring this olive-branch to thee.

Then do not roam
In search of that which wandering cannot win:

At home! at home! That word is placed, thy very heart within.

0! seek it there,
Turn to its teachings with devoted will:

Watch unto prayer,
And in the power of faith this law fulfil.

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91
O God,

A heart from sin set free;
A heart that's sprinkled with the blood

So freely shed for me.
A heart resign'd, submissive, meek,

My dear Redeemer's throne;
Where only Christ is heard to speak;

Where Jesus reigns alone.
A humble, lowly, contrite heart,

Believing, true, and clean,
Which neither death nor life can part

From Him that dwells within.
A heart in every thought renew'd,

And fill’d with love divine;
Perfect and right, and pure and good;

A copy, Lord, of thine.

Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart:

Come quickly from above:
Write thy new name upon my heart,

The new best name of love.

92
PHERE 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.
That eye is fix'd on seraph throngs;

That arm upholds the sky;
That ear is fill'd with angel-songs;

That love is throned on high.
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.
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. 93

THAT is it keeps me back,

From which I cannot part !
Which will not let the Saviour take
Possession of my heart.

WA

Some cursed thing unknown,

Must surely lurk within;
Some idol which I fear to own,

Some secret bosom sin.
Jesus, the hindrance shew,

Which I have fail'd to see;
The inmost evils make me know

Which keep my soul from Thee.
Searcher of hearts, in mine

Thy quick’ning light display;
Into its darkest corners shine,

And take the veil away. 94

THAT thou hast,

Hold it fast: “Let no man take thy crown.”

Watch and pray:

Thus the day,
The day will be thine own.

But beware;

Do not dare
To trust thy wicked heart.

False it is;

Look to this,
Or else expect to smart.

Christ alone

Keeps his own;
He keeps them safe from harm.

In his care

Safe they are :
For mighty is his arm.

WI

His is love,

Far above
What human tongue can teach ;

When we try,

'Tis too high
For human thought to reach.

Happy day,

When we may
Behold the Saviour near;

Then to be

Safe, and free

From sin, from pain, from fear. 95 ATHER, I know that all

my

life

And the changes that are sure to come,

I do not fear to see;
But I ask thee for a present mind,

Intent on pleasing thee.
I ask thee for a thoughtful love,

Through constant watching, wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles,

And to wipe the weeping eyes ;
And a heart at leisure from itself,

To soothe and sympathise.
I would not have the restless will

That hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do,

Or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child,

And guided where I go.

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Wherever in the world I am,

In whatsoe'er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts

To keep and cultivate;
And a work of lowly love to do

For the Lord on whom I wait.

So I ask thee for the daily strength,

To none that ask denied,
And a mind to blend with outward life,

While keeping at thy side;
Content to fill a little space,

If thou be glorified.

And if some things I do not ask,

In my cup of blessing be,
I would have my spirit filled the more

With grateful love to thee
More carefully—not to serve thee much,

But to please thee perfectly.

There are briars besetting every path,

That call for patient care; There is a cross in every lot,

And an earnest need for prayer;
But a lowly heart that leans on thee,

Is happy anywhere.
In a service which thy will appoints,

There are no bonds for me;
For my inmost heart is taught "the truth,"

That makes thy children“ free;" And a life of self-renouncing love

Is a life of liberty.

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