I

THE SOWER.

Y renk up your fallow ground!

E sons of earth, prepare the plough,

The sower is gone forth to sow,
And scatter blessings round.

2 The seed that finds a stony soil
Shoots forth a hasty blade;
But ill repays the sower's toil,
Soon wither'd, scorch'd and dead.

3 The thorny ground is sure to balk
All hopes of harvest there;
We find a tall and sickly stalk,
But not the fruitful ear.

4 The beaten path and highway side
Receive the trust in vain;

The watchful birds the spoil divide,
And pick up all the grain.

power,

5 But where the Lord of grace and
Has blessed the happy field,
How plenteous is the golden store,
The deep-wrought furrows yield.

6 Father of mercies, we have need
Of Thy preparing grace;

Let the same hand that gives the seed,
Provide a fruitful place.

Cowper.

"JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, TO-DAY, AND FOR EVER."-HEB. XIII, 8.

I

HERE'S nought on earth to rest on,

All things are changing here,

The smiles of joy we gaze on,

The friends we count most dear.
One Friend alone is changeless,
The One too oft forgot,
Whose love hath stood for ages,
Jesus, who changeth not.

2 The sweetest flower of summer,
That sheds its fragrance round,
Ere evening comes oft withers,
And lies upon the ground.
The dark and dreary desert
Has only one green spot;
'Tis found in living pastures,
With Christ who changes not.

3 Clouds soon o'ercast our sunshine,
So beautiful, so bright,
And while we still admire it,
It darkens into night,
One sky alone is cloudless,
There darkness enters not,
'Tis found alone with Jesus,
And Jesus changeth not.

4 E'en friendship's smile avails not
To cheer us here below;
For smiles are oft deceitful,
They quickly ebb and flow.

One smile alone can gladden,
Whate'er the pilgrim's lot,
It is the smile of Jesus,
For Jesus changeth not.

5 And thus our bark moves onward,
O'er life's tempestuous sea,
While death's unsparing finger,
Is stamp'd on all we see.
But faith has found a refuge
Where hope deceiveth not,
Our life is hid with Jesus,

In Him who changeth not.

6 There's nought on earth to rest on,
All things are changing here,
The smiles of joy we gaze on,
The friends we count most dear.
One Friend alone is changeless,
The One too oft forgot,

Whose love has stood for ages,
Jesus who changeth not.

F. Whitfield.

"WHAT SHALL I RENDER."-PSALM CXVI. 12, 13.

I

F Which daily I receive,

OR mercies, countless as the sands,

From Jesus my Redeemer's hands,
My soul, what can'st thou give?

2 Alas! from such a heart as mine,
What can I bring Him forth?
My best is stain'd and dyed with sin,
My all is nothing worth.

3 Yet this acknowledgment I'll make
For all He has bestowed;
Salvation's sacred cup I'll take,
And call upon my God.

4 The best returns for one like me,
So wretched and so poor,

Is from His gifts to draw a plea,
And ask Him still for more.

5 I cannot serve Him as I ought,
No works have I to boast;
Yet would I glory in the thought,
That I should owe Him most.

Newton.

I

HOPE.

WHEN I can read my title clear,

To mansions in the skies,

I bid farewell to every fear,

And wipe my weeping eyes.

2 Should earth against my soul engage,
And hellish darts be hurl'd,
Then I can smile at Satan's rage,
And face a frowning world.

3 Let cares like a wild deluge come,
And storms of sorrow fall;

May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my heaven, my all!

4 There shall my wandering, weary soul, Find her eternal rest;

And not a wave of trouble roll

Across my peaceful breast.

Watts.

"BECAUSE THOU HAST BEEN MY HELP, THEREFORE IN THE SHADOW OF THY WINGS WILL I REJOICE.”—PSALM LXIII. 7.

I

BE

ECAUSE the Lord, my Saviour, has brought me from afar,

And led me to the pastures, where all His child

ren are;

Because He looked upon me in my wilfulness and pride,

And broke down every self-built tower wherein I sought to hide ;

Because He left my helpless soul to taste sin's bitter thrall,

Till at His mercy's footstool He made me cast my all;

Because He has forgiven what He alone can

know,

And new desires for heavenly grace continues to

bestow;

Therefore I praise his faithfulness, with heart, and soul, and voice,

And in the shadow of His wings I cannot but rejoice.

2 Because He still looks on me with tenderness

and love,

And bids me trust His wisdom when all is dark

above;

Because the more I trust Him the more I feel

I may,

Through every pain and sorrow, and though He seem to slay;

Because I know my waywardness still claims His chastening hand,

And every grief and trouble is sent at His command.