When the flames and hellish cries

Fright mine ears, and fright mine eyes,
And all terrors me surprise,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the judgment is revealed,
And that opened which was sealed,-
When to thee I have appealed,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

ROBERT HERRICK.

HOPE OF THE HUMAN HEART.

66
FROM ANIMA MUNDI."

GOD is good,

And flight is destined for the callow wing,

And the high appetite implies the food,

And souls must reach the level whence they

spring;

O Life of very life! set free our powers,
Hasten the travail of the yearning hours.

Thou, to whom old Philosophy bent low,
To the wise few mysteriously revealed;
Thou, whom each humble Christian worships
now,

In the poor hamlet and the open field:
Once an idea, now Comforter and Friend,
Hope of the human heart, descend, descend!

RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES,

LORD HOUGHTON.

II.

PRAYER AND ASPIRATION.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed-

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burthen of a sigh,
The falling of a tear-
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try-

Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The majesty on high.

Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice

Returning from his ways,

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

And cry,

Prayer is the Christian's vital breathThe Christian's native air

His watchword at the gates of deathHe enters heaven with prayer.

111

The saints in prayer appear as one

In word, and deed, and mind,
While with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.

Nor prayer is made by man alone-
The Holy Spirit pleads-
And Jesus, on the eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.

O 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!

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

THE TIME FOR PRAYER.

WHEN is the time for prayer?

With the first beams that light the morning's sky,
Ere for the toils of day thou dost prepare,
Lift up thy thoughts on high;

Commend the loved ones to his watchful care:
Morn is the time for prayer!

And in the noontide hour,

If worn by toil, or by sad cares oppressed,
Then unto God thy spirit's sorrow pour,

And he will give thee rest :—

Thy voice shall reach him through the fields of

air:

Noon is the time for prayer!

When the bright sun hath set,—

Whilst yet eve's glowing colors deck the skies;When the loved, at home, again thou 'st met,

Then let the prayer arise

For those who in thy joys and sorrow share:
Eve is the time for prayer!

And when the stars come forth,

When to the trusting heart sweet hopes are given, And the deep stillness of the hour gives birth

To pure, bright dreams of heaven,

Kneel to thy God-ask strength, life's ills to bear: Night is the time for prayer!

When is the time for prayer?

In every hour, while life is spared to thee-
In crowds or solitudes-in joy or care-

Thy thoughts should heavenward flee.

At home-at morn and eve-with loved ones there, Bend thou the knee in prayer!

G. BENNETT.

SEASONS OF PRAYER.

To prayer, to prayer;-for the morning breaks,
And earth in her Maker's smile awakes.
His light is on all below and above,—
The light of gladness, and life, and love.
Oh, then, on the breath of this early air
Send upward the incense of grateful prayer.

To prayer;--for the glorious sun is gone,
And the gathering darkness of night comes on;
Like a curtain from God's kind hand it flows,

To shade the couch where his children repose. Then kneel, while the watching stars are bright, And give your last thoughts to the Guardian of night.

To prayer;--for the day that God has blest
Comes tranquilly on with its welcome rest.
It speaks of creation's early bloom;

It speaks of the Prince who burst the tomb.
Then summon the spirit's exalted powers,
And devote to Heaven the hallowed hours.

There are smiles and tears in the mother's eyes,
For her new-born infant beside her lies.
Oh, hour of bliss! when the heart o'erflows
With rapture a mother only knows.

Let it gush forth in words of fervent prayer;
Let it swell up to Heaven for her precious care.

There are smiles and tears in that gathering band, Where the heart is pledged with the trembling hand:

What trying thoughts in her bosom swell,

As the bride bids parents and home farewell!
Kneel down by the side of the tearful pair,
And strengthen the perilous hour with prayer.

Kneel down by the dying sinner's side,
And pray for his soul through Him who died.
Large drops of anguish are thick on his brow;
Oh, what are earth and its pleasures now!
And what shall assuage his dark despair,
But the penitent cry of humble prayer?