2 There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads,
A place, than all besides, more sweet-
It is the blood-bought mercy-seat.

3 There is a scene, where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy-seat.

4 There, there on eagles' wings we soar,
And sin and sense molest no more,
And heav'n comes down our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy-seat.

5 Oh, let my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget Thy mercy-seat!

46

Hugh Stowell.

1 What various hindrances we meet

In coming to a mercy-seat!

Yet who that knows the worth of prayer But wishes to be often there?

2 Prayer makes the darkened clouds withdraw;

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.

3 Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Prayer makes the Christian's armor bright;

1 My God, is any hour so sweet,
From blush of morn to evening star,
As that which calls me to Thy feet,
The calm and holy hour of prayer?

2 Then is my strength by Thee renewed; Then are my sins by Thee forgiven; Then dost Thou cheer my solitude,

With clear and beauteous hopes of heaven.

3 No words can tell what sweet relief, There for my every want I find; What strength for warfare, balm for grief,

What deep and cheerful peace of mind!

4 Lord, till I reach the blissful shore,
No privilege so dear shall be,
As thus my inmost soul to pour
In faithful, filial prayer to Thee!

Charlotte Elllett.

That trem-bles in

the breast.

2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach
The majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, The Christian's native air:

His watchword at the gates of death—
He enters heaven with prayer.

5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways;
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And cry—“Behold he prays!"

6 O Thou, by whom we come to God-
The Life, the Truth, the Way;
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod;
Lord! teach us how to pray.
James Montgomery.

49

1 I love to steal awhile away

From every cumbering care,

And spend the hours of setting day In humble, grateful prayer.

2 I love in solitude to shed

The penitential tear,

Reaching far as man is found; Souls redeemed, and sins forgiven;Loud our golden harps shall sound.

Learn His name and taste His joy; Till in heaven ye sing before Him,Glory be to God most high!"

John Caweed.

53 CAROL. C. M. D.

RICHARD S. WILL:S.

54

With peaceful wings unfurled; And still celestial music floats

O'er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on heavenly wing, And ever o'er its Babel sounds, The blessed angels sing.

3 O ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way,

With painful steps and slow;—
Look up! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh, rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

4 For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet-bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold!
When peace shall over all the earth

Its final splendors fling,

And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing!

Edmund H. Sears.

Come heaven's melodious strains, Where wild Judea stretches far

Her silver-mantled plains. Celestial choirs, from courts above, Shed sacred glories there,

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

2 The answering hills of Palestine
Send back the glad reply,

And greet from all their holy heights
The Dayspring from on high:
O'er the blue depths of Galilee

There comes a holier calm;
And Sharon waves in solemn praise
Her silent groves of palm.

3 "Glory to God!" the lofty strain
The realms of ether fills;
How sweeps the song of solemn joy
O'er Judah's sacred hills!
"Glory to God!" the sounding skies
Loud with their anthems ring:
"Peace on the earth; good-will to men,
From heaven's eternal King."

Edmund H. Sears.