1 WHEREVER two or three may meet,
To worship in thy name,
Bending beneath thy mercy-seat,
This promise they may claim:
2 Jesus in love will condescend
To bless the hallowed place;
The Saviour will himself attend,
And show his smiling face.

3 How bright the assurance! gracious Lord, Fountain of peace and love,

Fulfil to us thy precious word,

Thy loving-kindness prove.

4 Our offspring to thine arms we bring;
Receive our infant race;

O tune their lips thy love to sing,
And fill their hearts with grace.

1 BEFORE thy footstool kneeling,
To thee, O Lord, we cry;
While for thy gift of healing
We raise our voice on high:
Diseases and afflictions

Thy ready servants are;
Chastisements and corrections

To quicken us in prayer.

C. M.

7s & 6s.

2 We own our guilt and folly,

But thou can'st still forgive;
And thou, most high and holy,
Can'st bid the sick revive:
Though now cast down in sorrow,
In darkness and distress,
Joy may return to-morrow,
Through thy restoring grace.

3 As suppliants now before thee,
In thy great name we plead;
Physician, we adore thee,
And trembling ask thine aid
Before thy footstool kneeling,
To thee, to thee we cry;
Send down thy gift of healing,
On thee our souls rely.

1 THE widow and the fatherless,

Who cry to heaven in their distress,
Shall find a hand for ever near
To wipe away each sorrowing tear.

2 Rich promises are kindly given
To humble souls by sorrow riven;
Our God upholds them by his care,
And hearkens to their tender prayer.

L. M.

66

3 "O let thy widows trust in me:
Thy fatherless no want shall see;
For none who ever trust in God
Shall find a desolate abode."

4 Here to the stricken ones, O Lord,
Thy consolations now afford;

Be thou their Husband, Parent, Friend,
Till all life's pilgrimage shall end.

1 To thee, when called awhile to part,
With friends or kindred dear:

To thee we raise each drooping heart,
And tell each rising fear;

For thou, O Lord, art ever nigh,
To hear thy servants when they cry.
2 As children of a Father's care,
Thy presence we implore;

As friends of Jesus, we would share
That blessing evermore:

'Tis this alone can cheer the soul,
And every rising grief control.

3 If thou art with us when we part
With friends or kindred dear,

To fill with joy each drooping heart,
And banish every fear;

C. L. M.

'Tis easy then to say adieu,

For Jesus smiles, and heaven is true.

PRIVATE DEVOTION.

[Many of the Hymns in this department are of irregular or unusual metres, and, as such, not designed to be sung. They are inserted as helps to Private Devotion.]

434

Invocation to the Trinity.

[For reading only.]

1 Most High and Holy Trinity!

Who of thy mercy mild

Hast formed me here in time to be
Thy image and thy child:

O let me love thee day and night
With all my soul, with all my might;
O come, thyself my soul prepare,
And make thy dwelling ever there!

2 Father! replenish with thy grace
This longing heart of mine,
Make it thy quiet dwelling-place,
Thy sacred, inmost shrine!

Forgive that oft my spirit wears

Her time and strength in trivial cares;

Enfold her in thy changeless peace,
So she from all but thee may cease!

3 O God the Son! thy wisdom's light
On my dark reason pour;

Forgive that things of sense and sight
Were all her joy of yore;

Henceforth let every thought and deed
On thee be fixed, from thee proceed,
Draw me to thee, for I would rise
Above these earthly vanities!

4 O Holy Ghost! thou fire of love,
Enkindle with thy flame my will;
Come with thy strength, Lord, from above,
Help me thy bidding to fulfil:
Forgive that I so oft have done

What I as sinful ought to shun;
Let me with pure and quenchless fire
Thy favour and thyself desire!

5 Most High and Holy Trinity!
Draw me away far hence,
And fix upon eternity

All powers of soul and sense!

Make me at one within; at one

With thee on earth: when life is done,
Take me to dwell in light with thee,
Most High and Holy Trinity!