479. "Being taken from you for a short time in presence,

not in heart." 1 Thess. ii. 17. C. M.

1 BLESSED be the dear uniting love,
That will not let us part!
Our bodies may far off remove :
We still are one in heart.

2 Joined in one spirit to our Head,
Where He appoints we go;
Still in our Saviour's footsteps tread,
And show His praise below.

3 Partakers of His heavenly grace,
The same in mind and heart;
Nor joy, nor grief, nor time, nor place,
Nor life, nor death can part.

4 Thus let us hasten to the day

Which shall our flesh restore;

When death shall all be done away,
And bodies part no more.

480.

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.". James v. 16. L. M.

1 WHAT various hinderances we meet

In coming to a mercy-seat!

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

prayer,

2 Prayer makes the darkened cloud with

draw;

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 armour bright;

And Satan trembles, when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.

4 While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when, through weariness, they failed,
That moment Amalek prevailed.

5 Have you no words? ah, think again :
Words flow apace when you complain,
your fellow-creature's ear

And fill

With the sad tale of all your care.

6 Were half the breath thus vainly spent, To heaven in supplication sent,

Your cheerful song would oftener be, "Hear what the Lord hath done for me!"

481. "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thess. v. 17.

C. M.

1 PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed;

The motion of a hidden fire,

That trembles in the breast.

2 Prayer is the burthen 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 The saints, in prayer, appear as one,
In word, and deed, and mind;
While with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.

7 Nor prayer is made on earth alone;
The Holy Spirit pleads;
And Jesus, on the eternal throne,
For mourners intercedes.

8 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.

MISSIONARY PRAYER MEETINGS.

482. "God who commanded the light to shine out of

darkness." 2 Cor. iv. 6. L. M.

1 "LET there be light!" thus spake the Word:

The Word was God; "and there was
light!"

Still the creative voice is heard ;
A day is born from every night.

2 And every night shall turn to day,
While months, and years, and ages roll.
But we have seen a brighter ray

Dawn on the chaos of the soul.

3 Nor we alone: its wakening smiles
Have broke the gloom of pagan sleep.
The Word hath reached the utmost isles:
God's Spirit moves upon the deep.

4 Already from the dust of death,

Man in his Maker's image stands ; Once more he draws immortal breath, And stretches forth to heaven his hands.

5 From day to day, before our eyes,
Glows and extends the work begun.
When shall the new creation rise
On every land beneath the sun?

6 When, in the sabbath of His love,

Shall God amidst His labours rest; And, bending from His throne above, Again pronounce His creatures blest? 7 Soon the redeemed, in every clime,

Yea, all that breathe, and move, and live, To Christ, through every age of time, Shall kingdom, power, and glory give. 483. "Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest." John iv. 35.

L. M.

1 BEHOLD the expected time draw near, The shades disperse, the dawn appear! Behold the wilderness assume

The beauteous tints of Eden's bloom!

2 Events with prophecies conspire
To raise our faith, our zeal to fire.
The ripening fields, already white,
Present a harvest to the sight.

3 The untaught heathen waits to know
The joy the gospel will bestow;
The exiled captive, to receive
The freedom Jesus has to give.

4 Come, let us, with a grateful heart,
In the blest labour share a part;
Our prayers and offerings gladly bring
To aid the triumphs of our King.

5 Let us improve the heavenly gale,
Spread to each breeze our hoisted sail;
Till north and south, and east and west,
Shall be as favoured Britain blest.