104

Happy who in tender years

Leans on God for his support;
Who life's bark in virtue steers,
That it reach salvation's port.

Guide, O guide this hopeful band,
Father, in Thy truth and light!

May these children ever stand
Firm in goodness and in right.

Thine, O God, these souls are Thine,
Undefiled they came from Thee;
Guide them in Thy love divine,
Heirs of immortality!

II.

(Psalm viii.)

Lord! from pole to pole rebounding
Tidings of Thy name are sounding;
Splendors bright

Praise Thy might,

High in heaven's tent unfurled.

Spheres along

Sounds the song,

Praising Thee from world to world,

More than songs of spheres, yea even
More than praises sung in heaven,
Thee as sole

God extol

Children, pure and guileless now;
Thee they all

Father call,

And to serve Thee ever vow.

Hearken then this day with pleasure
To our children's lisping measure,
As like birds

Heavenwards

Soar their hearts from earth's chains free ; And each breast,

Glad and blest,

Offers joyful prayers to Thee.

And thus, to Thy heights ascending,
Let our humble pleas be wending;
Hear, O hear!

As we near,

To our prayers fulfilment grant;

We would fain

Blessings gain

For faith's holy covenant.

105

THE DAILY SACRIFICE.

O Israel's God, I bring Thee now my will,
That would be Thine whate'er it cost;

Love Thy good gifts, yet love Thee most; This is my prayer while yet the morn is still, Take Thou my will,

The soul and body, Thou dost hold in life,
Be ever ready in thy fear

To fight for truth and justice here,
And trusting Thee to meet the final strife,
For thou art life.

Bless all my works and ways, my light increase, Order my doings for the best,

In all my toil be Thou my rest, Until at last I lay me down in peace That ne'er shall cease.

106 ROSH-HASHANAH (NEW YEAR).

I.

(Resolve.)

Into the tomb of ages past
Another year hath now been cast;
Shall time unheeded take its flight,
Nor leave one ray of higher light,
That on man's pilgrimage may shine
And lead his soul to spheres divine?

107

Ah! which of us, if self-reviewed,
Can boast unfailing rectitude?
Who can declare his wayward will
More prone to righteous deeds than ill?
Or, in his retrospect of life,

No traces find of passion's strife?

With firm resolve your bosoms nerve,
The God of right alone to serve;
Speech, thought, and act to regulate,
By what His perfect laws dictate;
Nor from His holy precepts stray
By worldly idols lured away.

Peace to the house of Israel !
May joy within it ever dwell!
May sorrow on the opening year,
Forgetting its accustomed tear,
With smiles again fond kindred meet,
With hopes revived the festal greet !

II.

The Two Voices.

Between the past and future year
We pause awhile in our career,

Two voices to attend.

One speaks of life and light and bloom,

One warns us of the unseen tomb

To which all must descend.

Experience and hope thus stand
Addressing all the human band,
As on they swiftly speed.

Young pilgrims but the promise hear,
That time in every coming year

Will but to pleasure lead.

Few even of matured age

Can that grave wisdom long engage
Which for reflection calls;

Still blind and rash, they forward pass,
The last few minutes of their glass
Wasting in mirth's gay halls.

O listen to the warning tone

In sorrow sent from mem'ry's throne,
Ye children of the dust!

No falsehood rests upon the tongue
That counsels both, the old and young,

In God alone to trust.

Put off each ling'ring weakness now!
Faith will your minds with strength endow
Self-conquest to achieve ;-

Will give you fortitude to bear

The chastenings, frequent and severe,

You may on earth receive.