That when life's weary journey's o'er,
He may to wake in sin no more—
Sleep there,

Free from care,

As on his mother's breast.

THE

XCVII.

"Lord, teach us to pray."-Luke xi. 1.

HEY drew around Him,-for they oft had felt
Cold hearts, and spirits wand'ring as they

knelt ;

Thoughts all too worthless,-words too poor to prove

Their depth of feeling, and their height of love;
And ever, labouring vainly to express

Their wants, their wishes,-and their thankfulness.
They drew around Him—from His lips to learn,
(Whose grace could teach, whose love could answer
prayer,)

Words to take with them, when their souls return
To mercy's throne, and seek acceptance there.
He spake His voice the air with gladness stirr'd,
While in their hearts He dropp'd each sacred word,
Soft as the dews which evening skies distil-
With promis'd blessings-upon Zion's hill.

I

66

"O

XCVIII.

"Our Father, which art in heaven."

UR FATHER,"—covenant and sacred Name, Pledge of the dearest privilege we claim, The right of children, venturing near Thee,— Children, in Christ, of Thine own family : Thy truth,-Thy tenderness we turn to prove, Like little ones around the parent knee, Clinging in helpless confidence and love. Yet, lest the fondness of Thy fav'ring smile To too familiar commune should beguile,— The recollection that in heav'n Thou art Calms the wild fervour of each glowing heart, Subdues, but elevates those thoughts divine, Whose mystic union awe and hope combine, That Thou art mighty, yet that we are Thine.

A

XCIX.

"Hallowed by Thy Name."

ND shall not then that Name so justly dear,

Be shrined on earth, and hallow'd as on high; Claiming more tribute than a passing tear, Or the mere sickly fragrance of a sigh? With holier deeds, and higher, holier thought, Into the soul by God's own Spirit wrought,

Let us pass on through life,—a sacred band,—
Like soldiers, bent all hardness to endure,
So we can bear, safe to a better land,

That Name, and trust,—consign'd to us so pure;
Ours be the hope, above all hope supreme,—
Ours be the day-thought, and the midnight dream,—
For every hour supplies of grace to claim,
And prove God's gift by hallowing His Name.

Co

C.

"Thy kingdom come."

OME, Lord of Glory,-come in pow'r and might, Thyself reveal, and set Thy people free, Come forth in splendour,—-put Thy foes to flight,— Make trembling nations stoop and bow the knee. Thy Kingdom-sigh'd and sought for oft and long, The glorious theme of every prophet's song,— Its reign of peace—of sinless peace and love, Its heaven below-as beauteous as above, Its calm, its quiet,—all its happy days, Whose work is love, and whose repose is praise ; "Thy kingdom come "-one universal sway Be Thine, O Lord, o'er all the sons of men ;Wake every heart in unison to pray

"Thy kingdom come,” and answer Thou,-"Amen.”

CI.

"Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

THEN I consider, Lord, Thy perfect will,

WHEN

How form'd to make the miserable blest, To guide each wish,-each wayward passion still, And calm sin's sad disquietudes to rest :

When I consider, too, Thy perfect love

That reigns harmonious round Thy peaceful throne,
Where thoughts, and feelings, all in union move,
And know no will-no wisdom but Thine own :-
And when I turn to earth, whence man should raise,
Feebler it may be, but like notes of praise,
And discord find,-where every heart should be
All peace, all love, all perfect harmony ;—
My soul's first feeling and last prayer are one,
Lord, as in heav'n, in earth "Thy will be done."

CII.

"Give us this day our daily bread.”

WHERE'ER the sun begins his golden reign,

WHE

For ever bringing some fresh dawn of day, Bidding night flee, and earth awake again, To the calm smile of his perpetual ray ;

Thence, every moment, may this prayer arise
From filial hearts, 'neath some new morning's glow,
Proof of each day's dependence on the skies
For fresh supplies of all we want below;

From every clime, from every shore, Thine ear
'Midst all Thy children the same voice may hear,
"Give us this day our daily bread,”—for we

Must droop, and faint, and perish without Thee; Withdraw Thy grace,-Faith breathes its parting sigh,

Withhold Thy care one moment,—and we die.

CIII.

"And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us."

HOW wisely God hath hedged life's path below

To keep our erring footsteps lest they wander By what we want to teach us what we owe,— By what we owe to make affection fonder: Assured that we must bid farewell to bliss Were He extreme to mark what's done amiss, Our souls, provoked by lesser ills, to such Should yield the pardon we require so much, Forbearing others every hour we live, Seeking forgiveness, call'd on to forgive.