The day in night declining,
Says I must too decline;
The year its life resigning-
Its lot foreshadows mine.

2 The light my path surrounding,
The love to which I cling,
The hopes within me bounding,
The joys that round me sing-
All melt like stars of even
Before the morning's ray,
Pass upward into heaven,
And chide at my delay.
3 The friends gone there before me,
Are calling from on high,
And joyous angels o'er me
Tempt sweetly to the sky.
"Why wait," they say, and ". wither,
'Mid scenes of death and sin?
O rise to glory hither,

And find true life begin."

4 I hear the invitation,

And fain would rise and come;

A sinner to salvation;

An exile to his home:
But while I here must linger,
Thus, thus let all I see

Point on, with faithful finger,
To Heaven, O Lord, and Thee.

891

1

Prov. viii. 17.

NE there is above all others,
Oh, how He loves!

ONE

His is love beyond a brother's,

Oh, how He loves!

8's & 4s.

Earthly friends may fail and leave thee, This day soothe, the next day grieve thee, But this Friend will ne'er deceive thee, Oh, how He loves!

2 Love this Friend who died to save thee
Oh, how He loves!

Dost thou love? He will not leave thee,
Oh, how He loves!

Think no more, then, of to-morrow,
Take His easy yoke and follow,
Jesus carries all thy sorrow,
Oh, how He loves!

3 All thy sins shall be forgiven,
Oh, how He loves!
Backward shall thy foes be driven,
Oh, how He loves!

Best of blessings He'll provide thee,
Nought but good shall e'er betide thee,
Safe to glory He will guide thee,
Oh, how He loves!

892 Psalm xxxi. 15. P. M.

A. L. W.

1 Fis portioned out for me,

ATHER, I know that all my life

And the changes that will surely come,
I do not fear to see;

But I ask Thee for a present mind,
Intent on pleasing Thee.

2 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.

3 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.

4 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.

5 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.

6 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-

And careful-less to serve Thee much,
Than to please Thee perfectly.

7 There are briers besetting every path,
Which 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 any where.

8 In a service which Thy love appoints,
There are no bonds for me;

For my secret heart is taught the truth
That makes Thy children free;
And a life of self-renouncing love
Is a life of liberty.

893 Psalm xli. 4-6. C.M. MONTGOMERY.

1 THOUSANDS, O Lord of Hosts! this day,

Around Thine altar meet;

And tens of thousands throng to pay
Their homage at Thy feet.

2 They see Thy power and glory there,
As I have seen them too;

They read, they hear, they join in prayer,
As I was wont to do.

3 They sing Thy deeds, as I have sung,
In sweet and solemn lays;

Were I among them, my glad tongue
Might learn new themes of praise.

4 For Thou art in their midst to teach,
When on Thy name they call:
And Thou hast blessings, Lord, for each,
Hast blessings, Lord, for all.

5 I, of such fellowship bereft,
In spirit turn to Thee;

Oh! hast Thou not a blessing left,
A blessing, Lord, for me?

6 The dew lies thick upon the ground,
Shall my poor fleece be dry?

The manna rains from heaven around;
Shall I of hunger die ?

7 Behold Thy prisoner ;-loose my bands,
If 'tis Thy gracious will;
If not, contented in Thy hands,
Behold Thy prisoner still!

8 I may not to Thy courts repair,
Yet here Thou surely art;
Lord, consecrate a house of prayer
In my surrendered heart.

9 To faith reveal the things unseen;
To hope the joys untold:

Let love, without a veil between,
Thy glory now behold.

10 O make Thy face on me to shine,
That doubt and fear may cease;
Lift up Thy countenance benign
On me,-and give me peace.

Help me throughout life's varying scene,
By faith to cling to Thee.

2 Blest with this fellowship divine,
Take what Thou wilt, I'll ne'er repine:
E'en as the branches to the vine,
My soul would cling to Thee.

3 Far from her home, fatigued, oppress'd,
Here has she found her place of rest,
An exile still, yet not unbless'd,
While she can cling to Thee,

4 Without a murmur, I dismiss
My former dreams of earthly bliss,
My joy, my consolation this,

Each hour to cling to Thee.

5 What though the world deceitful prove,
And earthly friends and joys remove,
With patient uncomplaining love,
Still would I cling to Thee.

6 Oft when I seem to tread alone
Some barren waste, with thorns o'ergrown
Thy voice of love, in gentlest tone,
Whispers," Still cling to Me."

7 Though faith and hope may long be tried,
I ask not, need not aught beside;
How safe, how calm, how satisfied,
The soul that clings to Thee!

8 They fear not Satan, nor the grave;
They feel Thee near, and strong to save:
Nor dread to cross e'en Jordan's wave;
Because they cling to Thee.

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