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No. 55.

A Father's Love.

St. Luke, xi. 9-13.

WHAT can a father's feelings move,
More than his child's endearing love?
The artless smile, the innocence,
The unsuspecting confidence,
The accents of a gentle child,
Will cause the sternest mind to yield.

Too soon the world's ensnaring art
Blunts the best feelings of the heart;
Sullies the gushing springs of life,
And wastes their strength in angry strife;
Till, what should be a fountain bright,
Reflects no longer Heaven's pure light.

grows

Chilled by the world's cold selfishness,
The heart in its own deep recess
Broods o'er its thoughts, and callous
In its own dull, unblest repose;
Where no responsive notes of love,
To the bruised soul may comfort prove.

The world will echo back the voice
That rings with laughter; will rejoice
To join mad pleasure in its race,
And to the bold give honoured place;
Will smile on those who worship gold,
And selfishness for prudence hold.

Blest, then, are they to whom of Heaven,
In sweet domestic ties are given

A daily source of pure delight,

A spring that keeps the heart aright;
Where still in each responsive mind,
Pure kindly thoughts an echo find.
Sweet interchange of love is there,
The children's good, the father's care;
Who gives them still whate'er is meet,
Nor mocks them by a heartless cheat;
Giving them stone instead of bread,
When asking only to be fed.

And thus does sweet endearment grow,
And love in each young breast does glow;
That when by early grace they are taught,
And to their heavenly Father brought,
From Him 'tis easy to believe,
That all good things they shall receive.

For Thou, O God, our Father art,
And we thy children; when the heart
Thy Holy Spirit does renew,

And soften with thy heavenly dew;
The gracious seal thou here dost give,
That with thee we shall ever live.

No. 56.

Earthly Treasure.

St. Luke, xii. 16-21.

WHY comes that song of gladness From out those marble walls, As if no grief or sadness

Could be within its walls?

Is it the hymn that rises
In grateful thanks to God,
To show how well man prizes
The gifts he has bestowed?

God's goodness in creation

Wakes not that joyful strain;
Nor yet Christ's great salvation,
Purchased by blood and pain;
No thankful gratulation
That music pours along,
No humble supplication
Is in that evening song.

Elate with earthly treasure,
The lord of that fair pile
Heaps riches without measure,
From many a southern isle;
By worldly wealth surrounded,
He counts his treasures o'er;
Yet still, with lust unbounded,
He ever covets more.

And now, with song and laughter,

He joys the wine to pour;

He thinks not of hereafter,

Enough the present hour;
He drowns all thought and sorrow
Within the sparkling bowl,

And knows not that to-morrow
God shall require his soul.

But, soon that morrow brightens
From eastern hills afar,

And humble hearts it lightens

As they pour their morning prayer;
From off their beds of heather
The widow's household rise,
And praise their God together,
Who grace and food supplies.

But, hushed is now the laughter
Within that marble hall;
Beneath its golden rafter
Hangs now the sable pall;
For death that house has entered,
Its lord is now laid low;

And God to him has rendered

His recompense

of woe.

Then let me seek that treasure

Laid up in Heaven above; And give me, Lord, full measure Of thine eternal love;

That when cold death shall sever

My soul from this frail clay, I may with thee for ever

Enjoy an endless day.

No. 57.

Jerusalem.

St. Luke, xiii. 34, 35.

OH! thou the fairest once of cities fair,

Jerusalem, earth's chiefest joy and pride; Where David first, with harp and solemn air, Did chaunt his hymns at morn and even-tide.

To thee from realms afar did monarchs bring Their gold and spicy gifts to David's Son; Foreshowing those who came their heavenly

King

To seek, a greater far than Solomon.

And in thy streets and palaces alone,

Did prophets tell of things revealed from heaven;

Whilst all the world bowed down to wood and

stone,

To thee alone were truth and mercy given.

But, chiefly wast thou blest that thou didst see
Within thy temple gates thy God and King;
Where for unnumbered acts of majesty,
Thy people did their loud hosannahs sing.

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