246 1

CHIL

Follow Me.-MATTHEW iv. 19.

87.87.

YHILDHOOD'S years are passing o'er us,
Youthful days will soon be gone;
Cares and sorrows lie before us,
Hidden dangers, snares unknown.

20 may He who, meek and lowly,
Trod Himself this vale of woe,
Make us His, and make us holy,
Guard and guide us while we go.

3 Hark! it is the Saviour calling,

'Children, come, and follow Me!' Jesus, keep our feet from falling; Teach us all to follow Thee.

4 Soon we part; it may be never,
Never here to meet again;

O to meet in heaven for ever!
O the crown of life to gain!

1

H

247 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all 886.886.
her paths are peace.-PROV. iii. 17.
[APPY beyond description he
Who in the paths of piety
Loves from his youth to run:
Its ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all its paths are joy and peace,
And heaven on earth begun.

2 If this felicity were mine,
I every other would resign,

With just and holy scorn;
Cheerful and blithe my way pursue,
And with the promised land in view,
Singing to God return.

248 Narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life.

1

MATTHEW vii. 14.

THERE is a path that leads to God,
All others lead astray;

Narrow but pleasant is the road,

And Christians love the way.

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2 It leads straight through this world of sin,
And dangers must be passed;
But those who boldly walk therein
Will come to heaven at last.

3 How shall a little pilgrim dare
This dangerous path to tread ?
For on the way is many a snare,
For youthful travellers spread.

4 While the broad road, where thousands go, Lies near, and opens fair;

And many turn aside, I know,

And walk with sinners there.

5 But lest my feeble steps should slide,
Or wander from Thy way,
Lord, condescend to be my Guide,
And I shall never stray.

6 Thus I may safely venture through,
Beneath my Shepherd's care,

And keep the gate of heaven in view
Till I shall enter there.

249 Jesus beholding him loved him.—MARK x. 21.

1

Y cool Siloam's shady rill

How sweet the lily grows!

How sweet the breath beneath the hill
Of Sharon's dewy rose!

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2 Lo! such the child whose early feet
The paths of peace have trod,
Whose secret heart with influence sweet
Is upward drawn to God.

3 By cool Siloam's shady rill
The lily must decay;

The rose that blooms beneath the hill
Must shortly fade away.

4 And soon, too soon, the wintery hour
Of man's maturer age

Will shake the soul with sorrow's power
And stormy passion's rage.

5 O Thou, whose infant feet were found
Within Thy Father's shrine !

Whose years, with changeless virtue crowned,
Were all alike divine:

6 Dependent on Thy bounteous breath,
We seek Thy grace alone,

250

1

In childhood, manhood, age, and death,
To keep us still Thine own!

The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
JOB XXviii. 28.

886,886.

Bitmeyve the Lord with filial fear,
E only wisdom here

With loving gratitude;

Superior sense may I display,
By shunning every evil way,
And walking in the good.

2 O may I still from sin depart!
A wise and understanding heart,
Jesus, to me be given!

And let me through Thy Spirit know
To glorify my God below,

And find my way to heaven

251

1

Redeeming the time. EPHESIANS V. 16.
WIFT as the winged arrow flies
My time is hastening on ;

SWI

Quick as the lightning from the skies
My wasting moments run.

2 My follies past, O God, forgive,
And every sin subdue;

And teach me henceforth how to live,
With glory in my view.

3 'T were better I had not been born,
Than live without Thy fear!
For they are wretched and forlorn
Who have their portion here.

4 But thanks to Thy great love and grace
That in my early youth

I have been taught to seek Thy face,
And know the way of truth.

5 0 let Thy Spirit lead me still
Along the happy road;

Conform me to Thy holy will,

My Father and my God,

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252

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom.
PROVERBS iii. 13.

1

WHY

HY should we spend our youthful days
In folly and in sin,

When wisdom shows her pleasant ways
And bids us walk therein ?

2 Folly and sin our peace destroy;
They glitter, and are past;

They yield us but a moment's joy,
And end in death at last.

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3 But if true wisdom we possess
Our joys shall never cease;
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.

253

4 O may we in our youthful days
Attend to wisdom's voice;
And make these holy, happy ways
Our own delightful choice!

Chosen that good part.-LUKE x. 42.

IS religion that can give

1 TIS

Sweetest pleasures while we live;

'Tis religion must supply

Solid comfort when we die.

2 After death, its joys will be
Lasting as eternity:

254

Be the living God my Friend,
Then my bliss shall never end.

Early will I seek Thee.-PSALM lxiii. 1.
ORD, now my journey's just begun,
My course so little trod,

O, help me, ere I further run,

To give my heart to God.

2 What sorrows may my steps attend
I cannot now foretell;

But if the Lord will be my friend,
I know that all is well.

3 If I am poor, He can supply,
Who has my table spread,

Who feeds the ravens when they cry,
And fills His poor with bread.

7 7.7 7.

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