The moon that walks in brightness, says,
Lo, God is good! and man, endued
With power to speak his Maker's praise,
Should still repeat that God is good.

MRS. FOLLEN.

SEEKING GOD.

E come in childhood's innocence,
We come, as children, free!
We offer up, O God! our hearts

In trusting love to thee.

Well may we bend, in solemn joy,
At thy bright courts above,—
Well may the grateful child rejoice
In such a Father's love.

In joy we wake, in peace we sleep,
Safe from all midnight harms,
Not folded in an angel's wings,
But in a Father's arms.

We come not as the mighty come,

Not as the proud we bow;

But as the pure in heart should bend,

Seek we thine altars now.

"Forbid them not," the Saviour said ;—

In speechless rapture dumb,

We hear thee call,-we seek thy face,

Father, we come !-we come!

T. GRAY, JUN.

"What Blessing shull I Ask for Thee?" 353

"THE LORD BLESS THEE, AND KEEP THEE.”

m

AY he who erst on Calvary bled,

With all his love, my daughter, bless thee;

Soft dews of mercy o'er thee shed,

Sustain thy soul when woes oppress thee;
May his unfading rays illume,

Life's wilderness of guilt and gloom,
Thy star of hope,―thy rock of faith,—
Thy light in darkness,-life in death.
Though clouds invest that awful throne,
No mortal eye may gaze upon,
One kindly beam breaks forth above,
One ray of everlasting love!
On earth 'tis but a meteor streaming,
In heaven a sun of glory beaming,
The gauds of earth are frail as fair,
Fix then thy warm affections there;
To him thy hopes immortal raise,

And win the love that angels praise.

DALE.

"WHAT BLESSING SHALL I ASK FOR THEE ?”

HAT blessing shall I ask for thee,

In the sweet dawn of infancy?

-That which our Saviour, at his birth,

Brought down with him from heaven to earth.

What next in childhood's April years,
Of sunbeam smiles and rainbow tears?
-That which in him all eyes might trace,
To grow in wisdom and in grace.

What in the wayward path of youth,

Where falsehood walks abroad as truth?
-By that good Spirit to be led,

Which John saw resting on his head.

What in temptation's wilderness,
When wants assail, and fears oppress?
-To wield like him the Scripture-sword,
And vanquish Satan "by the word."

What in the labour, pain, and strife,
Combats and cares of daily life?
-In his cross-bearing step to tread,
Who had not where to lay his head.

What in the agony of heart,

When foes rush in and friends depart?
-To pray like him the Holy One,
"Father, thy will, not mine, be done."

What in the bitterness of death,

When the last sigh cuts the last breath?
-Like him, your spirit to commend,
And up to paradise ascend.

What in the grave, and in the hour

When e'en the grave shall lose its power?

-Like him, your rest awhile to take;

Then at the trumpet's sound awake,

Him as he is in heaven to see,

And as he is yourself to be.

MONTGOMERY.

66

Of Such is the Kingdom of Heaven." 355

"OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN."

WHY should children fear,

When sickness dims the eye,

To lie down in the grave,

And innocently die;

Since Jesus Christ his word has given,
That such as these shall enter heaven?

Then weep not, parents dear,

Because we go above;
We leave you here below,

To seek a tenderer love;

For Jesus Christ his word has given,
That such as WE shall enter heaven.

Sigh not o'er our pale brows,

Where death has set his seal ;
Nor shrink at those chill hands,
That have not power to feel,
For Jesus Christ his word has given,
That such as WE shall enter heaven.

Let our young playmates come,

And view the grassy mound,

And plant their early flowers

As if 'twere happy ground;

For Jesus Christ his word has given,
That such as THEY shall enter heaven.
MRS. GILMAN.

"OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN."

UR Father, who in heaven art,
All hallowed be thy name!

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
In earth and heaven the same.

Give us this day our daily bread;
Our trespasses forgive,

As those who trespass against us
Our pardon shall receive.

Into temptation lead us not,

Deliver us from ill;

For thine the kingdom, thine the power,

And thine the glory still!

JANE TAYLOR.

"GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD."

AY by day the manna fell;

Oh, to learn this lesson well!
Still by constant mercy fed,
Give me, Lord, my daily bread.

Day by day the promise reads,
Daily strength for daily needs;
Cast foreboding fears away:
Take the manna of to-day.