Guarding with faithful heart

The promise of His love,

That those who share His feast below,
Shall be His guests above.

Lydia Huntley Sigourney.

CXCIII.

"YE THAT FEAR THE LORD, HOPE FOR GOOD."

(Ecclesiasticus ii. 9.)

O the clouds around thee gather,

D Making dark thy solitude ?

Each one hath an inward shining,
Each one hath a silver lining,

Hope for good!

Hath thy trusted friend deceived thee,
Who in sunshine near thee stood?

Christ hath borne that woe before thee,
Let His patient love restore thee,
Hope for good!

Doth the child thy bosom nourish'd
Leave thee to misfortune's flood?
All unpitying see thee languish?
Still, amid that keenest anguish,
Hope for good!

Should all cherish'd props forsake thee,
While earth's tempests threaten rude,
Heir of an immortal nature,
Looking to the true Creator,

Hope for good!

Lydia Huntley Sigourney.

CXCIV.

GOING HOME.

Suggested by the Words of a dying Friend-" Before morning

H

I shall be at Home."

OME! Home! its glorious threshold,
Through parting clouds I see,

Those mansions by a Saviour bought,
Where I have long'd to be.
And, lo! a bright unnumber'd host
O'erspread the heavenly plain,

Not one is silent-every harp
Doth swell th' adoring strain.

Fain would my soul be praising
Amid that sinless throng,
Fain would my voice be raising

Its everlasting song.

Hark! hark! they bid me hasten
To leave the fainting clay,

Friends! hear ye not the welcome sound
Arise, and come away?"

Before the dawn of morning

These dark skies shall grow bright,
I shall have join'd their company
Above this realm of night.
Give thanks, ye weeping loved ones,
Thanks to th' Eternal King,
Who crowns my soul with victory,
And plucks from Death his sting.

Lydia Huntley Sigourney.

CXCV.

EVENING HYMN.

(Psalm xcii. 2.)

LORD, the shades of night surround us.

Homeward come Thy wandering sheep,

Throw Thy sheltering arm around us,
Safe from every danger keep,
Poor and needy,

Oh, protect us while we sleep.

Praise we bring for every blessing,
O'er us, like the dew-drops shed,
May we, Thy rich grace possessing,
Rest in peace the weary head,
Holy Angels!

Fold your pinions round our bed.

When this day of life is ended,
When its hopes and fears are o'er,
By a Saviour's love befriended,
Guide us to the heavenly shore,
Oh, receive us,

Where the light shall fade no more.

Lydia Huntley Sigourney.

CXCVI.

"GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH

THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE."

Ο

(Mark xvi. 15.)

NWARD! onward! men of heaven,
Rear the Gospel's banner high;

Rest not till its light is given,

Star of every pagan sky;
Bear it where the pilgrim stranger
Faints 'neath Asia's vertic ray;
Bid the red-brow'd forest ranger
Hail it ere he fleets away.

Where the Arctic ocean thunders,
Where the tropics fiercely glow,
Broadly spread its page of wonders,
Brightly bid its radiance flow.
India marks its lustre stealing,
Shivering Greenland loves its rays,
Afric, 'mid her deserts kneeling,
Lifts the mingled strain of praise.

Rude in speech or grim in feature,
Dark in spirit though they be,
Show that light to every creature,
Prince or vassal, bond or free;
Lo! they haste to every nation,
Host on host the ranks supply,
Onward! Christ is our salvation,
And your death is victory!

Lydia Huntley Sigourney.

CXCVII.

FAITH.

Ps rain-drop, night and day,

RAYER is the dew of faith,

That guards its vital power from death
When cherish'd hopes decay,
And keeps it 'mid this changeful scene
A bright, perennial evergreen.