212 July 30. S. M. Shirland. THE ARK OF SAFETY. "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings."-Ps. xvii. 8. 1 OH, cease, my wandering soul, On restless wing to roam; All this wide world, to either pole, Behold the open door; 3 4 Oh, haste to gain that dear abode, There safe thou shalt abide, There sweet shall be thy rest, Then cease, my wandering soul, All this wide world, to either pole, 213 July 31. L. M. Uxbridge. YOUTHFUL OBEDIENCE. "Behold I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God and a curse, if ye will not obey."-Deut. xi. 26, 27. 1 IN Israel's fane, by silent night, The lamp of God was burning bright; 2 A voice unknown the stillness broke; 3 Thus early called to serve his God, 4 Speak, Lord, and, from our earliest days, 214 August 1. L. M. Truro. THE SAVIOUR'S MISSION. "He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.”—Ps. lxxii. 12. 1 NOW let our mingling voices rise In grateful rapture to the skies; 3 He came our trembling souls to save 4 Then let our mingling voices rise 215 August 2. L. M. RETIREMENT AND MEDITATION. Uxbridge. "I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways."-Ps. cxix. 15. 1 MY God, permit me not to be A stranger to myself and thee; Nor midst a thousand thoughts to rove, 2 Why should my passions mix with earth, 3 Call me away from flesh and sense; One sovereign word can draw me thence; And all inferior joys resign. 4 Be earth, with all her scenes, withdrawn; Let noise and vanity be gone: In secret silence of the mind My heaven, and there my God, I find. 216 August 3. 7s & 6s. Romaine. LOOKING HEAVENWARD. "We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."-2 Cor. iv. 18. 1 FROM every earthly pleasure, From every transient joy, From every mortal treasure 2 From every piercing sorrow 3 'Tis true we are but strangers 217 August 4. S. M. Lisbon. THE THRONE OF GRACE. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."Heb. iv. 16. 1 2 BEHOLD the throne of grace! The promise calls me near; There Jesus shows a smiling face, And waits to answer prayer. Thine image, Lord, bestow, Thy presence and thy love; I ask to serve thee here below, And reign with thee above. 3 Teach me to live by faith; 4 If thou these blessings give, All worldly joys I'll cheerful leave, 218 August 5. C. M. Peterborough. PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION. "Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me."—Ps. xxxi. 3. 1 GOD of our fathers! by whose hand Thy children still are blest, Be with us through our pilgrimage, 2 Through each perplexing path of life, 3 Oh, spread thy sheltering wings around, And at our Father's loved abode 4 Such blessings from thy gracious hand And thou, the Lord, shalt be our God, 219 August 6. L. M. PERPETUAL PRAISE. Alfreton. "Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righte ous judgments."-Ps. cxix. 164. 1 WHEN, wakened by thy voice of power, WH The hour of morning beams in light, Earth's fairest beauties shine more fair; My grateful heart to praise and prayer. 4 As twilight wears a darker hue, And gathering night creation dims, The twilight and the midnight, too, Shall have their harmonies and hymns. 5 So shall sweet thoughts, and thoughts sublime, My constant inspirations be; And every shifting scene of time 220 August 7. S. M. BLESSEDNESS OF GOSPEL TIMES. Silver Street. "The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."-Isa. lii. 10. 1 OW beauteous are their feet HOW Who stand on Zion's hill! Who bring salvation on their tongues, |