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ORK, for it is a noble thing,
With worthy ends in view,
To tread the path that God ordains,
With steadfast heart, and true,
That will not quail whate'er betide,
But bravely bear us through.

2 It recks not what the place may
That we are called to fill,

be

How much there is of seeming good,
How much of seeming ill;

'Tis ours to lend the energies

And consecrate the will.

3 Work, and with cheerful, earnest hearts, Your bravest and your best;

4

For in a busy world like ours

There is no place of rest:

And think not they, who vainly dream

Their lives away, are blest.

For in each weary, painful task

A lesson is inwrought,

If we would read the truth aright

And let ourselves be taught
Patience, and faith, and fortitude,
And fixedness of thought.

5 Work with the head and heart and hands,
And ever bear in mind

That there are sorrows here to soothe,
And spirits bruised to bind,

And cords of love in closer bond

Round human hearts to wind.

6 'Tis true the flesh will ofttimes fail When life is dim and drear:

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Then closer cling to Him whose voice
Can still each doubt and fear,

And shed on these dark hearts of ours
Heaven's sunshine calm and clear.

Psalm LXXXIV.

OW pleasant, Lord of hosts! how dear
The tents of Thine abode !

HF

My longing soul faints to be near

The courts of mine own God.

2 O blest, who dwell around Thy shrine,
With ever-growing praise;

Blest are the men whose strength is Thine,
Who bear in heart Thy ways:

3 Who, as they pass the vale of pain,
Make it a gushing rill;

Yea, blessings with th' autumnal rain
Come mantling, soft and still.

4 They will go on from strength to strength;
Each to the mighty God
In Sion they appear at length,
O'erpast their weary road.

5 Power of all armies, God our Lord,
My prayer in mercy crown!

Thou, Jacob's God, Thine ear afford,
O God, our Shield, look down!

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246

F

ATHER of mercies, in Thy word
What endless glory shines!

For ever be Thy name adored

For these celestial lines.

2 Here may the wretched sons of want
Exhaustless riches find:

Riches above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.

3 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around;
And life and everlasting joys
Attend the blissful sound.

4 O may these heavenly pages be
My ever dear delight;

And still new beauties may I
And still increasing light.

see,

5 Divine Instructor, gracious Lord! Be Thou for ever near;

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Teach me to love Thy sacred word,
And view my Saviour there!

Ex

YE of God's word! where'er we turn
Ever upon us! thy keen gaze

Can all the depths of sin discern,
Unravel every bosom's maze.

2 Who that has felt thy glance of dread Thrill through his heart's remotest cells, About his path, about his bed,

Can doubt what spirit in thee dwells?

3 The child-like faith, that asks not sight,
Waits not for wonder or for sign,
Believes, because it loves, aright—

Shall see things greater, things divine.
4 Heaven to that gaze shall open wide,
And brightest angels to and fro
On messages of love shall glide

"Twixt God above and Christ below.

5 So still the guileless man is blest,

To him all crooked paths are straight; Him on his way to endless rest

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Fresh ever-growing strengths await.

FA

AR from the world, O Lord, I flee,
From strife and tumult far;
From scenes where Satan wages still

His most successful war.

2 The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree;
And seem by Thy sweet bounty made
For those who follow Thee.

3 There, if Thy Spirit touch the soul
her mean abode,

And grace

O with what peace, and joy, and love
She communes with her God!

4 Author and Guardian of my life,
Sweet source of light divine,
And (all harmonious names in one)
My Saviour, Thou art mine!

249

TH

HERE is a book, who runs may read,
Which heavenly truth imparts,

And all the lore its scholars need,

Pure eyes and Christian hearts.

2 The works of God above, below,
Within us and around,

Are pages in that book, to show
How God Himself is found.

3 The glorious sky embracing all
Is like the Maker's love,
Wherewith encompassed, great and small
In peace and order move.

4 The moon above, the Church below,
A wondrous race they run;

But all their radiance, all their glow,
Each borrows of its Sun.

The Saviour lends the light and heat
That crowns His holy hill;
The saints, like stars, around His seat,
Perform their courses still.

6 The dew of heaven is like Thy grace,
It steals in silence down;

But, where it lights, the favoured place
By richest fruits is known.

7 One Name above all glorious names
With its ten thousand tongues

The everlasting sea proclaims,
Echoing angelic songs.

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