2 But where the gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light;

It calls dead sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.

3 How perfect is thy word!
And all thy judgments just!
Forever sure thy promise, Lord,
And men securely trust.

4 My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given!
O, may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven.

The Word of God our Portion.

1 LORD, I have made thy word my choice, My lasting heritage;

There shall my noblest powers rejoice,
My warmest thoughts engage.

2 I'll read the histories of thy love,
And keep thy laws in sight,
While through the promises I rove
With ever-fresh delight.

3 'Tis a broad land, of wealth unknown, Where springs of life arise,

Seeds of immortal bliss are sown,
And hidden glory lies.

4 The best relief that mourners have,
It makes our sorrows blest;

Our fairest hope beyond the grave,
And our eternal rest.

48.

C. M.

MRS. STEELE.

Excellence of the Scriptures.

1 FATHER of mercies, in thy word
What endless glory shines!

Forever be thy name adored
For these celestial lines.

2 Here may the wretched sons of want Exhaustless riches find

Riches above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.

3 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around;
And life, and everlasting joys,
Attend the blissful sound.

4 O, may these heavenly pages be
My ever-dear delight;

And still new beauties may I
And still increasing light.

see,

5 Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be thou forever near;

Teach me to love thy sacred word,
And view my Savior there.

1 TEACH me, O teach me, Lord, thy way; So to my life's remotest day,

By thy unerring precepts led,
My willing feet its paths shall tread.

2 Informed by thee, with sacred awe
My heart shall meditate thy law,
And, with celestial wisdom filled,
To thee its full obedience yield.

3 Give me to know thy words aright,
Thy words, my soul's supreme delight;
That, purged from thirst of gold, my mind
In them its better wealth may find.

4 O, turn from vanity mine eye;

To me thy quickening strength supply;
And with thy promised mercy cheer
A heart devoted to thy fear.

Efficacy and Success of the Gospel.

1 MARK the soft-falling snow,
And the diffusive rain!

To heaven, from whence it fell,
It turns not back again;

But waters earth

Through every pore,

And calls forth all

Her secret store.

2 Arrayed in beauteous green,
The hills and valleys shine,
And man and beast are fed
By providence divine:

The harvest bows
Its golden ears,
The copious seed

Of future years.

3 "So," saith the God of grace,
"My gospel shall descend,
Almighty to effect

The purpose I intend.

Millions of souls

Shall feel its power,

And bear it down
To millions more."

CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

51.

11s M.

DRUMMOND.

Prepare ye the Way of the Lord.

1 A VOICE from the desert comes awful and shrill; The Lord is advancing! prepare ye the way! The word of Jehovah he comes to fulfil,

And o'er the dark world pour the splendor of day.

2 Bring down the proud mountain, though towering to heaven,

And be the low valley exalted on high;

The rough path and crooked be made smooth

and even,

For, Zion! your King, your Redeemer, is nigh. 3 The beams of salvation his progress illume; The lone, dreary wilderness sings of her Lord; The rose and the myrtle there suddenly bloom, And the olive of peace spreads its branches abroad.

For Advent or Christmas.

1 WATCHMAN! tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are.
Traveller! o'er yon mountain's height,
See that glory-beaming star.

2 Watchman! does its beauteous ray
Aught of hope or joy foretell?
Traveller! yes; it brings the day,
Promised day of Israel.

3 Watchman! tell us of the night;
Higher yet that star ascends.
Traveller! blessedness and light,
Peace and truth, its course portends.

4 Watchman! will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveller ages are its own;
See, it bursts o'er all the earth.

5 Watchman! tell us of the night,
For the morning seems to dawn.
Traveller! darkness takes its flight;
Doubt and terror are withdrawn.

6 Watchman! let thy wanderings cease;
Hie thee to thy quiet home.
Traveller! lo! the Prince of Peace,
Lo! the Son of God, is come.

53.

C. M.

E. H. SEARS.

The Nativity.

1 CALM on the listening ear of night
Come heaven's melodious strains,
Where wild Judea stretches far
Her silver-mantled plains!

2 Celestial choirs, from courts above,
Shed sacred glories there,

And angels, with their sparkling lyres,
Make music on the air.