Work! and pure slumber shall wait on thy pillow. Work! thou shalt ride over care's coming billow, Lie not down weary 'neath woe's weeping-willow, Work with a stout heart and resolute will.
Droop not, though shame, sin, and anguish are round thee,
Bravely fling off the cold chain that hath bound thee;
Look on yon pure haven smiling beyond thee,
Rest not content in thy darkness—a clod.
Work for some good, be it ever so slowly,
Cherish some flower be it ever so lowly,
Labour! all labour is noble and holy;
Let all thy deeds be a prayer to thy God.
"DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THE WAY." Numbers xxi, 4.
Pilgrim of earth, who art journeying to heaven!
Heir of eternal life! child of the day!
Cared for, watched over, beloved and forgiven,
Art thou discouraged, because of the way?
Cared for, watch'd over, tho' often thou seemest
Justly forsaken, nor counted a child-
Loved and forgiven, tho' rightly thou deemest
Thyself all unlovely, impure, and defiled.
Weary and thirsty-no water-brook near thee,
Press on, nor faint at the length of the way;
The God of thy life will assuredly hear thee,
He will provide thee with strength for the day."
Break through the brambles and briars that obstruct
Dread not the gloom and the blackness of night, Lean on the Hand that will safely conduct thee, Trust to His eye to whom darkness is light!
Be trustful, be steadfast, whatever betide thee,
Only one thing do thou ask of the Lord-
Grace to go forward, wherever He guide thee,
Simply believing the truth of His word.
Still on thy spirit deep anguish is pressing-
Not for the yoke that His wisdom bestows,
A heavier burden thy soul is distressing-
A heart that is slow in His love to repose.
Earthliness, coldness, unthankful behaviour-
Ah! thou may'st sorrow, but do not despair;
Even this grief thou may'st bring to thy Saviour;
Cast upon Him e'en this burden of care!
Bring all thy hardness: His power can subdue it:
How full is the promise! the blessing how free!
"Whatsoever ye ask in My name, I will do it,
"Abide in My love and be joyful in Me."
PRAY FOR THOSE THOU LOVEST.
Pray for those thou lovest!
If uncounted wealth be thine,-
The treasures of the boundless deep,-
The riches of the mine;
Thou canst not to a treasured friend,
So dear a gift impart,
As the earnest benediction
Of a deeply loving heart.
Yes, pray for those thou lovest !
Thou may'st vainly, idly, seek,
The force of fervid tenderness,
In feeble words to speak.
Go; kneel before thy Father's throne,
And meekly, humbly, there
Ask a blessing for the lov'd one,
In the holy hour of prayer.
Seek not the worldling's friendship
It will droop and fade ere long,
In the dull and heartless glitter
Of the pleasure loving throng.
But seek the friend, who when thy prayer
To heaven shall murmured be,
Breathes forth in fervent sympathy
A fervent prayer for thee!
And should the flowery path of life
Become a path of pain,
The friendships formed in bonds like these,
Thy spirit shall sustain;
Years may not chill, nor grief invade,
Nor poverty impair,
The love that grew and flourished
In the holy hour of prayer.
UNIVERSAL PRAISE.-8. 7.
Praise to Thee, Thou great Creator!
Praise be Thine from every tongue!
Join, my soul, with every creature;
Join the universal song!
Father! source of all compassion!
Pure unbounded grace is Thine;
Hail the God of our salvation!
Praise Him for His love divine.
Joyfully on earth adore Him,
Till in heaven our song we raise ;
There enraptured fall before Him,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
For ten thousand blessings given,
For the hope of future joy,
Sound His praise through earth and heaven,
Sound Jehovah's praise on high.
Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed:
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.
Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of the 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 christian's vital breath, The christian's native air,
His watchword in the hour of death: He enters heaven with prayer.
Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And cry,
"Behold he prays!"
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!
Remember now thy God, my child;
Choose now the better part,
Before long years of care and sin,
Have aged and chill'd thy heart;
Before its hidden springs of love
Have been unseal'd-defiled;
Its riches spent on worthless things—
Give all to Him, my child!
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