478.

The good Shepherd and his Flock.

1

2

3

GREEN pastures and clear streams,
Freedom, and quiet rest,

Christ's flock enjoy, beneath his beams,
Or in his shadow, blest.

The mountain and the vale,

Forest and field, they range;

The morning dew, the evening gale,
Bring health in every change.

Secure amidst alarms,

From violence or snares,

The lambs He gathers in his arms,

And in his bosom bears.

4

The wounded and the weak,

5

6

He comforts, heals, and binds;

The lost He came from heaven to seek,
And saves them when He finds.

Through wilds of brier and thorn,
In darkness if they stray,

They wander not like waifs forlorn,
Their Shepherd is their way.

Should storms of trouble blow,

Warn'd of the coming shock,

They to the Rock of Ages go;

Their Shepherd is their rock.

Let Satan take the field;

8

9

Quench'd are the darts of all their foes,

Their Shepherd is their shield.

Death may assail, but Death

Is vanquish'd in the strife;

Their moment of departing breath
Begins eternal life.

Conflicts and trials done,

His glory they behold,

Where Jesus and his flock are one,
One Shepherd, and one fold.

10 When the last trump shall sound,
And graves break up their sleep,
At his right hand may we be found,
Among the chosen sheep.

479.

The Christian Israel.

1 THUS far on life's perplexing path,
Thus far Thou, Lord, our steps hast led;
Snatch'd from the world's pursuing wrath,
Unharm'd though floods o'erhung our head;
Like ransom'd Israel on the shore,
Here then we pause, look back, adore.

2 Strangers and pilgrims here below,
Like all our fathers in their day,
We to the land of promise go,
Lord, by thine own appointed way:
Still guide, illumine, cheer our flight,
In cloud by day, in fire by night.
3 Safety thy presence is, and rest;
While, as the eagle, o'er her brood,
Flutters her pinions, stirs the nest,
Covers, defends, provides them food,
Bears on her wings, instructs to fly,-
Thy love prepares us for the sky.

4 Protect us through the wilderness,
From fiery serpent, plague, and fo;
With bread from heaven thy people bless,
And living streams where'er we go;
Nor let our rebel-hearts repine,
Or follow any voice but thine.

5 Thy holy law to us proclaim,
But not from Sinai's top alone;
Hid in the rock-cleft be thy name,
Thy power, and all thy goodness, shown;

And may we never bow the knee,
Or worship any God but Thee.

6 When we have number'd all our years,
And stand, at length, on Jordan's brink,
Though the flesh fail with mortal fears,
O let not then the spirit sink;

But, strong in faith, and hope, and love, Plunge through the stream, to rise above! 480.

What is Prayer?

1 PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire,
Utter'd or unexpress'd;

The motion of a hidden fire,
That trembles in the breast.

2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear;

The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant-lips can try;

Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air;

His watch-word at the gates of death;
He enters heaven with prayer.

5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways;

While angels in their songs rejoice,
"Behold, he prays!"

And cry,

6 The saints in prayer appear as one,
In word, and deed, and mind;
While with the Father, and the Son,
Sweet fellowship they find.

7 Nor prayer is made on earth alone;
The Holy Spirit pleads,

And Jesus, on the' eternal throne,
For mourners intercedes.

8 O Thou by whom we come to God,
The life, the truth, the way!

The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray!

481.

“O Thou that hearest Prayer!"-Psal. lxv. 2.
1 THOU, God, art a consuming fire;
Yet mortals may find grace,
From toil and tumult to retire,
And meet Thee face to face.

2 Though "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord!"
Seraph to seraph sings;

And angel-choirs, with one accord,
Worship, with veiling wings;-

3 Though earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne, Thy way amidst the sea;

Thy path deep floods, thy steps unknown,
Thy counsels mystery ;-

4 Yet wilt Thou look on him who lies
A suppliant at thy feet;

And hearken to the feeblest cries
That reach the mercy-seat.

5 Between the cherubim of old,
Thy glory was express'd;

But God, through Christ, we now behold
In flesh made manifest.

6 Through Him who all our sickness felt,
Who all our sorrows bare;

Through Him in whom thy fulness dwelt,
We offer up our prayer.

7 Touch'd with a feeling of our woes,
Jesus, our High-Priest, stands :

All our infirmities He knows;
Our souls are in his hands.

8 He bears them up with strength divine,
When at thy feet we fall:
Lord, cause thy face on us to shine;
Hear us-on Thee we call.

482.

The Preparation of the Heart.
I LORD, teach us how to pray aright,
With reverence and with fear:
Though dust and ashes in thy sight,
We may, we must draw near.

2 We perish if we cease from prayer;
O grant us power to pray!

And when to meet Thee we prepare,
Lord, meet us by the way.

3 Burden'd with guilt, convinced of sin,
In weakness, want, and wo,
Fightings without, and fears within,
Lord, whither shall we go?

4 God of all grace, we come to Thee,
With broken, contrite hearts;
Give what thine eye delights to see,
-Truth in the inward parts :-
5 Give deep humility;-the sense
Of godly sorrow give;

-A strong, desiring confidence,
To hear thy voice, and live ;-

6 Faith in the only sacrifice

That can for sin atone;

To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes,
On Christ, on Christ alone ;-

7 Patience, to watch, and wait, and weep, Though mercy long delay;

Courage, our fainting souls to keep,
And trust Thee though Thou slay.

8 Give these,-and then thy will be done; Thus strengthen'd with all might,

We, by thy Spirit and thy Son,
Shall pray, and pray aright.