2 But liars we can never trust,

Though they should speak the thing
that's true;

And he that does one fault at first,
And lies to hide it, makes it two.

3 Have children never heard, nor read,
How God abhors deceit and wrong?
How Ananias was struck dead,

Caught with a lie upon his tongue? 4 So did his wife Sapphira die,

When she came in, and grew so bold, As to confirm the wicked lic,

That, just before, her husband told.

5 The Lord delights in them that speak The words of truth; but every liar Must have his portion in the lake

1

That burns with brimstone and with fire.

255

Children mocking.

C. M.

OUR tongues were made to bless the

Lord,

And not speak ill of men;
When others give a railing word,
We must not rail again.

2 Should any dare be so profane,
To mock, and jeer, and scoff,
At holy things, or holy men,
The Lord shall cut them off.

256 Save us from Falsehood.

LORD! if c'er I dare to speak

7's.

Words of falsehood, check my tongue;

Lest I sin against thy laws,

By committing what is wrong.

2 Plainly doth thy word declare
Thou the wicked dost despise,
Who with base and impious lips
Utter fearful oaths and lies.

3 Why, if I have dared commit
What is evil in thy sight,
Should I seek by an untruth
To conceal it from the light.
4 Idle words and foolish jests

Are offensive, Lord, to thee;
Thou requirest in the heart
Perfect truth and purity.

5 Teach me then, O Lord! to shun
Evil speaking in my youth:

1

So shall I in after-days

Hope to walk with thee in truth.

257

Lying.

C. M.

THOSE children who a promise give
Should always keep their word;
And falsehood from their little mouths
Should never once be heard.

For when a child a lie has told,
He cannot be believed;

Not even when the truth he speaks,
Because he once deceived.

30 who a lie would dare to tell,
And bring himself to shame;
And thus offend the God of truth,
And mock his holy name!

151

TIME UNCERTAIN.

258

1

HOW long sometimes a day appears!

And weeks, how long are they! Months move along, as if the years Would never pass away.

2 But months and years are passing by,
And soon must all be gone;

For day by day, as minutes fly,
Eternity comes on.

3 Days, months, and years must have an en Eternity has none:

"Twill always have as long to spend As when it first began.

4 Great God, an infant cannot tell
How such a thing can be;

I only pray that I may dwell
That long, long time with thee.

TO-MORROW, Lord, is thine,

S. M.

Lodged in thy sovereign hand;

And if its sun arise, and shine,
It shines by thy command.

2 The present moment flies,
And bears our life away;
O make us children truly wise,
That we may live to-day.

3 Since on this fleeting hour
Eternity is hung,

Waken by thine almighty power
The aged and the young.

4 One thing demands our care,
O be it still pursued;

Lest, slighted once, the season fair
Should never be renewed.

5 To Jesus may we fly,

Swift as the morning light;

Lest life's bright beams at once snould die, In sudden endless night.

260

1

Time fleeting.

LORD, what a feeble piece

Is this our mortal frame! Our life-how poor a trifle 'tis, That scarce deserves the name!

2 Our moments fly apace,

3

4

Our feeble powers decay;
Swift as a flood, our hasty days
Are sweeping us away.

Then, if our days must fly,
We'll keep their end in sight;

S. M.

We'll spend them all in wisdom's way,
And let them speed their flight.
They'll waft us sooner o'er
This life's tempestuous sea;

Soon shall we reach the peaceful shore
Of blest eternity.

1

WHY should

L. M.

say, 'tis yet too soon
To seek for heaven or think of death?

A flower may fade before 'tis noon,
And I this day may lose my breath.

2 What if the Lord in wrath declare, While I refuse to read and pray, That he'll refuse to lend an ear

To all my groans another day!

3 'Tis dangerous to provoke our God; His power and vengeance none can tell; One stroke of his almighty rod

Can send young sinners quick to hell.

4 Then 'twill for ever be in vain
To cry for pardon and for grace,
To wish I had my time again,
Or hope to see my Maker's face.

262

To-day.

L. M.

THAT awful hour will soon appear;
Swift on the wings of time it flies;
When all that pains or pleases here
Will vanish from my closing eyes.

2 Death calls my friends, my neighbours hence,
None can resist the fatal dart:
Continual warnings strike my sense;
And shall they fail to reach my heart!

3 Think, O my soul! how much depends
On the short period of to-day;
Shall time, which heaven in mercy lends,
Be negligently thrown away?

4 Lord of my life, inspire my heart

With heavenly ardour, grace divine;
Nor let thy presence e'er depart;

For strength, and life, and death, are
thine.