76

L. M.

Desire of Progress.

T. H. GILL

1 LORD, thou wouldst have us like to thee;
Lord, thou wouldst lift us to thy Son:
Thou biddest us aspirants be, -

Put all divine ambition on!

2 Thou sovereign Lord Almighty! lo,
On, on to thee the weaklings press;
From strength to strength our souls would go,
Upelimbing thine almightiness.

3 All-holy one! we give not o'er;

The sinners would be one with thee!

Yes, all-prevailingly explore,

Depth after depth, thy purity.

4 Alas our wrath! alas our pride!
Yet shall they not at last be gone?
O, may we not each day abide
Still nearer the all-loving One?

5 Father of lights! our darkness dares
Hope into something bright to rise;
Each well-won truth our souls declares
Of closer kin to thee, all-wise.

6 Would we not grow divinely bright?
Take sweetness in, put glory on
Yes, wax more worthy to delight
In thee, first fair, all-glorious one?

77

11 & 10s M.

JAS. F. CLARKE.

Prayer for Purity.

1 FATHER, to us, thy children, humbly kneeling,
Conscious of weakness, ignorance, sin, and shame,
Give such a force of holy thought and feeling
That we may live to glorify thy name;

2 That we may conquer base desire and passion,
That we may rise from selfish thought and will,
O'ercome the world's allurement, threat, and fashion,
Walk humbly, gently, leaning on thee still.

3 Let all thy goodness by our minds be seen,
Let all thy mercy on our souls be sealed;

Lord, if thou wilt, thy power can make us clean;
O, speak the word! thy servants shall be healed.

59

78

Lord's Day.

L. M.

The Lord's Day Morning.

1 ANOTHER Six days' work is done,
Another day of rest begun;
Return, my soul, enjoy thy rest;
Improve the day that God hath blest

STENNETT

2 O, that our thoughts and thanks may rise,
As grateful incense, to the skies,

And draw from heaven that sweet repose,
Which none but he that feels it knows!

3 This heavenly calm, within the breast,
Is the dear pledge of glorious rest
Which for the church of God remains,
The end of cares, the end of pains.

4 In holy duties let the day,

In holy pleasures, pass away;

How sweet the Christian rest to spend,
In hope of that that ne'er shall end!

79

80

S. M.

SPIRIT OF THE PS

The Day of Rest.

1 SWEET is the task, O Lord,

Thy glorious acts to sing;

To praise thy name, and hear thy word,
And grateful offerings bring.

2 Sweet, at the dawning hour,

Thy boundless love to tell;

And when the night-wind shuts the flower,

Still on the theme to dwell.

3 Sweet, on this day of rest,

To join in heart and voice

With those who love and serve thee best,
And in thy name rejoice.

4 To thoughts of praise and joy
Be every Lord's day given,
That such may be our blest employ
Eternally in heaven

8 & 7s M. SUN. SCHOOL H. B.

Lord's Day Morning.

1 WELCOME, Welcome, quiet morning!

Welcome is this holy day;

Now the sacred morn, returning,
Says a week has passed away.

Let me think how time is passing;
Soon the longest life departs;
Nothing human is abiding,

Save the love of humble hearts.

2 Love to God, and to our neighbor,
Makes our purest happiness;

Vain the wish, the care, the labor,
Earth's poor trifles to possess.

Swift my life's vain dreams are passing;
Like the startled dove they fly,
Or the clouds each other chasing
Over yonder quiet sky.

3 Father, now one prayer I raise thee:
Give an humble, grateful heart;
Never let me cease to praise thee,
Never from thy fear depart.

Then, when years have gathered o'er me,
And the world is sunk in shade,

Heaven's bright realm will rise before me;
There my treasure will be laid.

81

L. M.

MRS. GILMAN

Day of Rest.

1 WE bless thee for this sacred day,
Thou who hast every blessing given,
Which sends the dreams of earth away,
And yields a glimpse of opening heaven.