Westward, still, the midnight breaking,
Westward, still, its light be poured!
Nations Thy possession making,
Utmost lands Thy dwelling, Lord!

Where the wilderness is lying,
And the trees of ages nod,
Westward, in the desert crying,
Make a highway for our God.
Westward, till the church be kneeling
In the forest aisles so dim,
And the wild-wood's arches pealing
With the people's holy hymn.

CHARITABLE MEETINGS.

237.

ACCEPTABLE OFFERINGS.

78 M.

LORD! what offering shall we bring,
At Thine altars when we bow?
Hearts, the pure, unsullied spring,
Whence the kind affections flow:

Willing hands, to lead the blind,
Heal the wounded, feed the poor;
Love, embracing all our kind;
Charity, with liberal store.

Teach us, O Thou heavenly King,
Thus to show our grateful mind,
Thus the accepted offering bring,
Love to Thee and all mankind.

238.

FOR A CHARITABLE OCCASION.

C. M.

FATHER of mercies, send Thy grace
All-powerful from above,
To form in our obedient souls
The image of Thy love.
O may our sympathizing breasts
The generous pleasure know,
Kindly to share in others' joy,
And weep for others' woe.

Where'er the helpless sons of grief
In low distress are laid,

Soft be our hearts their pains to feel,
And swift our hands to aid.

O, be the law of love fulfilled
In every act and thought,
Each angry passion far removed,
Each selfish view forgot.

Be thou, my heart, dilated wide
With this kind, social grace,
And in one grasp of fervent love
All earth and heaven embrace.

239.

6 FEED MY LAMBS.'

P. M.

Ho! ye that rest beneath the rock,
On pastures greenly growing,
Or roam at will, a favored flock,
By waters gently flowing;

Hear ye upon

ye upon the desert air
A voice of woe come crying,
Where, cold upon the barren moor,
God's little lambs are dying!

See the great Shepherd bend and call
From fields of light and glory,
'Go, feed my lambs, and bring them all
From moor and mountain hoary!'
Ye favored flock, the call obey,
And from the desert dreary
Lead those who faint along the way,
Or wander, lost and weary.

240.

THE ANGEL IN THE PRISON.

118 M.

GOD's angels! not only on high do they sing, And soar through our skies with invisible wing; But here, on the earth, where in wretchedness lie Its sin-stricken children to struggle and die.

They come, in their mercy and power, to dispel The spectres of gloom from the prisoner's cell; In love's name to say to the stricken one there, That God still will hear, and give answer to prayer.

And strong grows the heart of the outcast; and soon

In that dim prison come the pure light-gleams of noon;

The resolve and the faith of the sinner forgiven Send him back to the world with a heart seeking heaven.

God's angels! Love speed them o'er earth's wide domain !

New aids to impart, and new triumphs to gain; Till the wrathful and wrong from our world shall retire,

And humanity's groans in her praises expire.

For the promise of truth-though the doubting deny

Is, that love shall prevail in the earth as on

high;

Its life-waters healing, wherever they flow,
With the angels above, or the angels below.

REFORM MEETINGS.

241.

FOR A MEETING OF REFORMERS.

78 M.

HOLY Father! in Thy name,
Caring naught for hate or shame,
Meeting boldly every storm,

We would seek the world's reform.

Bravely may we bear the cross,
Meekly suffer earthly loss,
Patient always in Thy sight,
May we struggle for the Right.

K

Heart to heart and hand to hand,
One in purpose may we stand;
Thus, in holy union strong,
May we vanquish every wrong.

Turn Thou back the swelling tide,
Bid the raging storm subside,
Guide us through the deepest night,
Through the cloud reveal Thy light.

242.

THE REFORMER'S VOW.

S. M.

GOD of the earnest heart,

The trust assured and still,
Thou who our strength forever art,-

We come to do Thy will!

Upon that painful road

By saints serenely trod,

Whereon their hallowing influence flowed,

Would we go forth, O God!

'Gainst doubt and shame and fear

In human hearts to strive,

That all may learn to love and bear,
To conquer self, and live;

To draw Thy blessing down,
And bring the wronged redress,
And give this glorious world its crown
The spirit's Godlikeness.

No dreams from toil to charm,
No trembling on the tongue,-
Lord, in Thy rest may we be calm,
Through Thy completeness, strong!