All those who are on earth distressed,

Because they have Christ's name professed.

These stones the workmen dress and beat,
Before they throughly polished are;
Then each is in his proper seat
Established by the builder's care,

In this fair frame to stand for ever,

So joined that them no force can sever.

To God who sits in highest seat,
Glory and power given be,
To Father, Son, and Paraclete,
Who reign in equal dignity;

Whose boundless power we still adore,
And sing Their praise for evermore.

That your faith may be found in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious, and honourable.

PSALM LXXXIV.

H. F. Lyte.

LEASANT are Thy courts above,
In the land of light and love;
Pleasant are Thy courts below,
In this land of sin and woe.

O, my spirit longs and faints
For the converse of Thy saints,
For the brightness of Thy face,
King of Glory, God of grace!

Happy birds, that sing and fly
Round Thy altars, O most High!
Happier souls, that find a rest
In a Heavenly Father's breast!
Like the wandering dove that found
No repose on earth around,

They can to their ark repair,
And enjoy it ever there.

Happy souls! their praises flow
Ever in this vale of woe;

Waters in the desert rise,

Manna feeds them from the skies;
On they go from strength to strength,
Till they reach Thy throne at length,
At Thy feet adoring fall,

Who hast led them safe through all.

Lord, be mine this prize to win ;
Guide me through a world of sin ;
Keep me by Thy saving grace;
Give me at Thy side a place.
Sun and shield alike Thou art;
Guide and guard my erring heart;
Grace and glory flow from Thee;
Shower, O shower them, Lord, on me.

That your faith may be found in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious, and honourable.

FAITH IN PERIL.

HIS outward life, with all its busy forms,

ΤΗ

J. S.

Whirling like flakes of snow in alpine storms,

Confuses, chills, and in a shifting grave

Entombs the spirit that the Eternal gave.

Yet look through these to Him, undaunted strive,
Through drift and darkness, saving Faith alive,
And He will be beside thee still,-uphold,
Enlighten, cheer, with Love and Hope make bold,
And in worst hours of fear, before His eye
The mountain-ice, and gulfs of snow shall fly;
Thou on His rock shalt stand secure, and raise
Thy wings towards Heaven, and hear its songs of
praise.

That your faith may be found in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious, and honourable.

Sir Walter Raleigh.

ISE, O my soul, with thy desires to Heaven,
And with divinest contemplation use

Thy Time, where Time's eternity is given,

And let vain thoughts no more thy thoughts abuse:

But down in darkness let them lie,

So live thy better, let thy worse thoughts die.

And thou, my soul, inspired with holy flame,
View and review with most regardful eye
That holy Cross whence thy salvation came,

On which thy Saviour, and thy sin did die :
For in that sacred object is much pleasure,
And in that Saviour is my life, my treasure.

To Thee (O Jesu) I direct my eye,

To Thee my hands, to Thee my humble knees, To Thee my heart shall offer sacrifice,

To Thee my thoughts, who my thoughts only

sees:

To Thee myself, myself and all I give ;

To Thee I die, to Thee I only live.

To correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your Heavenly Father.

I

PRAYER ANSWERED BY CROSSES.

J. Newton

ASKED the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

'Twas He who taught me thus to pray, And He, I trust, has answered prayer; But it has been in such a way

As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favoured hour
At once He'd answer my request;
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea, more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid them low.

"Lord, why is this?" I trembling cried,
"Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death ?"

""Tis in this way," the Lord replied,
"I answer prayer for grace and faith.

"These inward trials I employ

From self and pride to set thee free; And break thy schemes of earthly joy, That thou mayest seek thy all in Me."