Of sickness bound;—yet, O my God, I bless Thy mercy, that with sabbath peace hath fill'd My chasten'd heart, and all its throbbings still'd To one deep calm of lowliest thankfulness.

The putteth his full trust only in Thy mercy.

JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING.

F. Newton.

OMETIMES a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;

It is the Lord, who rises
With healing in His wings:
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation,

We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new;

Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say—
E'en let the unknown to-morrow

Bring with it what it may,

It can bring with it nothing,

But He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,
Will clothe His people too;
Beneath the spreading Heavens
No creature but is fed;
And He who feeds the ravens,
Will give His children bread.

Though vine nor fig-tree neither
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there :

Yet God the same abiding,

His praise shall tune my voice;
For, while in Him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.

Strengthen him with Thy blessed Spirit; and, when Thou art pleased to take him hence, take him unto Thy favour, through the merits of Thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MISERY.

(PART.)

Henry Vaughan.

SU

UCH is man's life, and such is mine,

The worst of men, and yet still Thine;

Still Thine, Thou know'st, and if not so,
Then give me over to my foe.

Yet since as easy 'tis for Thee

To make man good as bid him be,
And, with one glance (could he that gain)
To look him out of all his pain,
O send me from Thy holy hill,
So much of strength, as may fulfil
All Thy delights (whate'er they be)
And sacred institutes in me!
Open my rockie heart, and fill
It with obedience to Thy will;
Then seal it up, that as none see,
So none may enter there but Thee.
O hear, my God! Hear him whose blood
Speaks more and better for my good!
O let my crie come to Thy throne!
My crie not poured with tears alone,
(For tears alone are often foul,)
But with the blood of all my soul;
With spirit sighs, and earnest groans,
Faithful and most repenting moans;
With these I crie, and crying pine,

Till Thou both mend, and make me Thine!

PSALM LXXI.

I En Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion: but rid me, and deliver me in Thy righteousness; incline Thine ear unto me, and save me.

2 Be Thou my strong hold, whereunto E may alway resort: Thou hast promised to help me; for Thou art my house of defence, and my castle.

3 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

4 For Thou, O Lord God, art the thing that E long for Thou art my hope, even from my youth.

5 Through Thee have E been holden up ever since I was born: Thou art He that took me out of my mother's womb; my praise shall alway be of Thee.

6 E am become as it were a monster unto many: but my sure trust is in Thee.

7 let my mouth be filled with Thy praise : that E may sing of Thy glory and honour all the day long.

8 Cast me not away in the time of age : forsake me not when my strength faileth me.

9 For mine enemies speak against me, and

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they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together, saying: God hath forsaken him, persecute him, and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

10 Go not far from me, O God: my God, haste Thee to help me.

II Let them be confounded and perish that are against my soul: let them be covered with shame and dishonour that seek to do me evil.

12 As for me, E will patiently abide alway : and will praise Thee more and more.

13 My month shall daily speak of Thy rightcousness and salvation : for E know no end thereof.

14 E will go forth in the strength of the Lord God and will make mention of Thy righteousness only.

15 Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth up until now: therefore will E tell of Thy wondrous works.

16 Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age, when I am gray-headed until E have showed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to all them that are yet for to come.

17 Thy righteousness, O God, is very high, and great things are they that Thou hast done : O God, who is like unto Thee?

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

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