3 To conscience speak thy quickening word.
Till all its sense of sin is stirred,
And there be left no stain of guile,
To cloud the radiance of thy smile.
4 Speak, Father, to the anxious heart,
Till every fear and doubt depart:
For we can find no home, nor rest,
Till with thy spirit's whispers blest.
5 Speak to convinée, forgive, consolet
Child-like, we yield to thy control
These hearts, too often closed before,
To grieve thy patient love no more.

C. Robbins, altd.

546. s. M.

The Christian Charge.

1 A CHARGE to keep I have,
A God to glorify;

A never-dying soul to save
And fit it for the sky;
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfil:

O, may it all my powers engage
To do my Master's will!

2 Arm me with jealous care

As in thy sight to live;

And, O! thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give:
Help me to watch and pray,

And on thyself rely;

Assured, if I my trust betray,

I shall forsaken die.

C. Wesley.

547. L. M.

All things teach of God.

1 ALL that in this wide world we see,
Almighty Father, speaks of thee;
And in the darkness or the day,
Thy monitors surround our way.
2 The winds, the lightnings of the sky,
The maladies by which we die,

The pangs that make the guilty groan,
Are angels from thy awful throne.

3 Each mercy sent when sorrows lower,
Each blessing of the winged hour,
All we enjoy and all we love,
Bring with them lessons from above.

548. C. M.

"Give thy servant an understanding heart."

1 ALMIGHTY God, in humble prayer,

To thee our souls we lift;

Do thou our waiting minds prepare
For thy most needful gift.

2 We ask not golden streams of wealth
Along our path to flow;

We ask not undecaying health,
Nor length of years below.

3 We ask not honours, which an hour
May bring and take away:

We ask not pleasure, pomp and power,
Lest we should go astray.

4 We ask for wisdom: Lord, impart
The knowledge how to live;

Bryant.

A wise and understanding heart,
To all before thee give.

5 The young remember thee in youth,
Before the evil days!

The old, be guided by thy truth,

In wisdom's pleasant ways!

549. s. M.

Montgomery.

"Why sayest thou-my way is hid from the Lord ?"

1 ALONG my earthly way,

How many clouds are spread!

Darkness, with scarce one cheerful ray,
Seems gathering o'er my head.

2 Yet, Father, thou art love:
O hide not from my view!
But when I look, in prayer, above,
Appear in mercy through!

3 My pathway is not hid;

Thou knowest all my need; And I would do as Israel did,

Follow where thou wilt lead.

4 Lead me, and then my feet
Shall never, never stray;
But safely I shall reach the seat
Of happiness and day,

5 And O from that bright throne,
I shall look back and see,—
The path I went, and that alone,

Was the right path for me!

† Edmeston.

550. c. M.

"I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid." 1 AMIDST the thrilling leaves, thy voice At evening's fall drew near: Father! and did not man rejoice That blessed sound to hear?

2 Did not his heart within him burn,
Touched by the solemn tone
Not so!-for never to return,
Its purity was gone.

3 Therefore, midst holy stream and bower
His spirit shook with dread,

And called the cedars, in that hour,
To veil his conscious head.

4 O, in each wind, each fountain's flow,
Each whisper of the shade,

Grant me, my God! thy voice to know,
And not to be afraid!

551. c. M.

The Divine presence and help.

1 AND art thou with us, gracious Lord, To dissipate our fear?

Dost thou proclaim thyself our God,

Our God forever near?

2 Doth thy right hand, which formed the earth,
And bears up all the skies,
Stretch from on high its friendly aid,
When dangers round us rise?

3 On this support our souls shall lean,
And banish every care;

The gloomy vale of death will smile,
If God be with us there.