153

after Easter.

C. M.

Fatherly chastisement.

Matt. viii, 19, 20. Heb. xii, 6-11.

1 OFTEN the clouds of deepest woe
So sweet a message bear;

Dark though they seem, we cannot find
A frown of anger there.

2 Most loving is the hand that strikes,
However keen the smart,
If sorrow's discipline can chase
One evil from the heart.

3 He was a man of sorrows, He
Who loved and saved us thus;
And shall the world, that frown'd on Him,
Wear only smiles for us?

4 No; we must follow in the path,
In which our Lord has run;
We must not find a resting-place,
When He we love had none.

after Easter.

154

8.7.4.

Journeying to Canaan.

Ex. xiii, 21, 22.

Deut. viii, 2, 3.

GUIDE us, O Thou great Jehovah!
Pilgrims through this barren land;
We are weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold us with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven!!

Feed us till we want no more.

2 Open Thou the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing waters flow;
Let thy fiery, cloudy pillar

Lead us all our journey through:
Strong Deliverer!

Be Thou still our strength and shield.

3 When we tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid our anxious fears subside;

Death of death! and hell's Destruction!
Land us safe on Canaan's side:

Songs of praises

We will ever give to Thee.

155

after Easter.

D. L.M.

Present trial working final good.

Deut. viii, 15, 16. Ps. cvii, 7. John xiii, 7. 1 WHEN Israel reach'd their home at last, And 'neath their vines and fig-trees lay; How sweetly, all their perils past, Must they have mused upon God's way: What at the time seem'd hard to bear, Then could they clearly understand; And how a Father's love and care Each portion of their wanderings plann'd. 2 Thus, if we reach the heavenly place, No snares to fear, no wars to wage, Thus shall we see how heavenly grace Led us throughout our pilgrimage; How needful was each care and cross; How wisely our own way denied; How mercy shielded us from loss; How right the way; how true the Guide. 3[How sweet to understand his ways; What now we know not, then to know; And yield the tribute of our praise For what mysterious seemed below: Lord! lead us to that place of rest, And from our own fond will defend: Thou knowest what for us is best, Who knowest both the way and end.]

after Easter.

156

C. M.

The prospect of the heavenly Canaan.
Deut. xxxiv, 1-4. Heb. iv, 9.

1 THERE is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.
2 There everlasting spring abides,
And never-with'ring flowers:
Death, like a narrow sea, divides
This heavenly land from ours.
3[Sweet fields, beyond the swelling flood,
Stand dress'd in living green;
So to the Jews old Canaan stood,
While Jordan roll'd between.]

4 But tim'rous mortals start and shrink
To cross the narrow sea;
And linger shiv'ring on the brink,
And fear to launch away.

5[Oh! could we make our doubts remove-
Those gloomy doubts that rise-

And see the Canaan that we love
With unbeclouded eyes:]

6 Could we but climb where Moses stood,
And view the landscape o'er;

Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood,
Should fright us from the shore.

157

1

2

3

The ascended Saviour.

John xvi, 7. Acts i, 11.
THOU art gone up on high
To mansions in the skies,

And round thy throne unceasingly
The songs of praise arise:
But we are ling'ring here,
With sin and care opprest;
Lord! send thy promis'd Comforter,
And lead us to our rest.

Thou art gone up on high;
But Thou didst first come down,
Through earth's most bitter misery,
To pass unto thy crown:

And girt with griefs and fears
Our onward course must be;
But only let that path of tears
Lead us at last to Thee.

Thou art gone up on high;
But Thou shalt come again,

With all the bright ones of the sky

Attendant in thy train:

Oh! by thy saving power,

So make us live and die,

D. S. M.

That we may stand in that dread hour

At thy right hand on high!