Let its one thought, one hope, one prayer,
Thine image seek-Thy glory see;

Let every other wish and care,

Be left confidingly to Thee!

LIV.

"Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."-1 Thess. iv. 14.

BUT

THEY were

what avails it now to tell of what has been? Fond-hearted, dear, and passing fair

As e'er on earth were seen!

They are

In safety with their God, secure from sin and care, And the bright day cannot be far

When we shall meet them there.

The tears

Our loss of them might claim, thoughts of their gain do dry,

That we may watch till Christ appears,
Bringing them in the sky.

Jesus!

Their hope and life in death,—our joy in grief and pain,

We live in Thee,-live Thou in us,—

And all shall meet again.

LV.

"The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another."- -Gen. xxxi. 49.

WHEN friend from friend is parting,

WHEN

And in each speaking eye

The silent tears are starting

To tell what words deny,

How could we bear the heavy load

Of such heart-agony,

Could we not cast it all-our God

Our gracious God-on Thee?

And feel that Thou kind watch wilt keep
When we are far away,

That Thou wilt soothe us when we weep,
And hear us when we pray.

Yet, oft these hearts will whisper,
That better 'twould betide

If we were near the friends we love
And watching by their side;

But sure Thou'lt love them dearer, Lord,
For trusting Thee alone!

And sure, Thou wilt draw nearer, Lord,

The farther we are gone;

Then why be sad? since Thou wilt keep

Watch o'er them day by day,

Since Thou wilt soothe them when they weep,
And hear us when we pray.

Oh for that bright and happy land
Where-far amid the blest-

"The wicked cease from troubling, and
The weary are at rest ;"

Where friends are never parted
Once met around Thy throne,
And none are broken-hearted
Since all with Thee are one!

Yet oh, till then watch o'er us keep
While far from Thee away,

And soothe us, Lord, oft as we weep,
And hear us when we pray!

LVI.

"Hear Thou in Heaven, Thy dwelling-place, and when Thou hearest, forgive."—1 Kings viii. 30.

A

ND wilt Thou hear my soul's complaint,

And wilt Thou soothe its fears,

Support it, Lord, when weak and faint,

And dry its falling tears?

Wilt Thou forget to sin how prone

Its wand'ring wishes be,

And this remember, Lord, alone

That it was bought by Thee?

And wilt Thou bear with every doubt,

And pardon every sin,

Subdue each fighting from without,
Forgive each fear within?

F

I know Thou wilt !-for thus Thy grace,

Tho' oft provoked it be,
Reflected from my Saviour's face
Shines brightest upon me!

LVII.

"Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the Kingdom of God."-Mark x. 14. "Beloved, ye hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ."-Baptismal Service.

LORD, dependent on Thy promise,

Here we lay before Thy throne

This Thy gift,-receive her from us,
Take and seal her for Thine own.

To the gate of Heav'n we've brought her,-
Cleanse her, Lord, from guilt and sin,
And, for His dear sake who sought her,
Take the little stranger in.

Raise her in Thine arms and bless her,-
Own her in Thy Church above,

Before all Thy hosts confess her
As the purchased of Thy love.

Naked-clothe her with Thy merit,
Helpless-Thou her helper be!
Dying-breathe on her Thy Spirit
That her soul may live to Thee.

Grave upon her heart the token
Only traced upon her brow,
And the words by mortal spoken
God immortal! speak them Thou!

Here within Thy sacred dwelling,
There thro' all Thy courts around,
Mortals singing, Angels telling,
She was lost, but she is found.

LVIII.

"Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into His death?"—Rom. vi. 3.

THEN the threefold Name was spoken,

WHEN

When the sacred sign was made,

When upon our brows the token

Of our baptism was laid:

Threefold was the sacred promise,-
To renounce, believe, and do ;
God of mercy-turn not from us
When those vows we here renew.

From the Devil and his dangers,
From the pomp and pride of life,
Lord, as pilgrims and as strangers,
Keep us in the holy strife.