MATTHEW XXI. 22.

"ALL THINGS, WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER BELIEVING, YE SHALL RECEIVE."

OFT had I prayed, believing prayed,

Yet nothing could obtain ;

And in my folly, oft I said,

Lord, is thy promise vain?

I prayed in youth, that I might win
The race of youthful pride;
Though hope burned like a fire within
My heart, it was denied.

I prayed for power, I prayed for wealth;
Nor wealth nor power was mine—
In lingering pain I prayed for health,
And felt my strength decline.

At the last, Wisdom spoke-" My son,
Christ's kingdom is of Heaven;

Ask heavenly things-they shall be done ".
I asked, and it was given.

MATTHEW XXVI. 40.

'AND HE COMETH UNTO THE DISCIPLES, AND FINDETH THEM ASLEEP, AND SAITH UNTO PETER, WHAT, COULD YE NOT WATCH WITH ME ONE HOUR?"

I SAT beside my evening fire,

My Bible on my knee,

And read, where Jesus doth inquire,
"Could ye not watch with me?"

Sure, thought I, I could watch all night,
With Jesus by my side;

A trial this! with what delight

Would I be now so tried!

And then I cried, “It is, O Lord,

It is with me e'en so."

"For I sit here, whilst thou art gone

To Heaven to pray for me;

Life's solemn hour I watch alone,
And yet I watch with thee.

“But when these dim and wearied eyes With sight of thee are blest,

Lord, wilt thou say to me, likewise,

Sleep on, and take thy rest?"

MATTHEW XXVII. 46.

"AND ABOUT THE NINTH HOUR JESUS CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING, ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACTHANI? THAT IS TO SAY, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?"

In reason's pride those words I scanned,
And thought how I might understand

Hints of a secret, strange and high—
O dark and dreadful mystery!

That He, the Immortal, should complain
Of being left to mortal pain!

That He should on the cross declare,

That God, his God, had left him there!

But when I laid the book aside,

And thoughts of sin subdued my pride,
Back to my heart those sad words came--
The same, yet seemed they not the same.