FOR A TEMPERANCE MEETING.
SLAVERY and death the cup contains;
Dash to the earth the poisoned bowl!
Softer than silk are iron chains
Compared with those that chafe the soul.
Hosannas, Lord, to Thee we sing,
Whose power the giant fiend obeys;
What countless thousands tribute bring,
For happier homes and brighter days!
Thou wilt not break the bruised reed,
Nor leave the broken heart unbound:
The wife regains a husband freed!
The orphan clasps a father found!
Spare, Lord, the thoughtless; guide the blind;
Till man no more shall deem it just
To live by forging chains to bind
His weaker brother in the dust.
STRONG DRINK HATH SLAIN ITS THOUSANDS.
MOURN for the thousands slain,
The youthful and the strong!
Mourn for the wine-cup's fearful reign
O'er the deluded throng!
Mourn for the ruined soul;
For reason's life and light
Lost by the fiery, maddening bowl,
And turned to hopeless night!
Mourn for the lost; but call,
Call to the strong, the free!
Rouse them to shun that dreadful fall,
And guard their liberty!
Mourn for the lost; but pray,
Pray to the Lord above,
To break the fell destroyer's sway
And show his saving love!
God bless our native land!
may she ever stand
Through storm and night!
When the wild tempests rave,
Ruler of wind and wave,
Do thou our country save,
By Thy great might!
For her our prayers shall be,
Our fathers' God, to Thee,
On Thee we wait!
Be her walls Holiness;
Her rulers, Righteousness;
Her officers be Peace;
God save the State!
Lord of all truth and right,
In whom alone is might,
On Thee we call!
Give us prosperity;
Give us true liberty;
May all the oppressed go free;
God save us all!
REMEMBRANCE OF OUR FATHERS.
IN pleasant lands have fallen the lines
That bound our goodly heritage,
And safe beneath our sheltering vines
Our youth is blest, and soothed our age.
What thanks, O God! to Thee are due, That Thou didst plant our fathers here, And watch and guard them as they grew, A vineyard to the Planter dear.
The toils they bore our ease have wrought;
They sowed in tears,-in joy we reap;
The birthright they so dearly bought
We'll guard, till we with them shall sleep.
Thy kindness to our fathers shown,
In weal and woe, through all the past,
Their grateful sons, O God! shall own,
While here their name and race shall last.
O THOU, whose presence went before
Our fathers in their weary way,
As with Thy chosen moved of yore
The fire by night, the cloud by day!
When from each temple of the free,
A nation's song ascends to heaven,
Most holy Father, unto Thee
Now let our humble prayer be given.
Sweet peace be here; and hope and love
Be round us as a mantle thrown,
As unto Thee, supreme above,
The knee of prayer is bowed alone.
And grant, O Father! that the time
Of earth's deliverance may be near,
When every land, and tongue, and clime,
The message of Thy love shall hear ;-
When, smitten as with fire from heaven,
The bondman's chain shall sink in dust,
And to his fettered soul be given
The glorious freedom of the just.
" THE FAST WHICH I HAVE CHOSEN.'
6 Is this a fast for me?'
Thus saith the Lord our God; 'A day for man to vex his soul, And feel affliction's rod?
'No; is not this alone
The sacred fast I choose,Oppression's yoke to burst in twain, The bands of guilt unloose?
To nakedness and want Your food and raiment deal: Not from your brothers coldly hide, But all their sufferings heal?
Then, like the morning ray, Shall spring your health and light; Before you, righteousness shall shine, Around, my glory bright!'
PRAYER OF A STRICKEN PEOPLE.
O THOU, whose power stupendous
Upholds the earth and sky!
Thy grace preserving send us,-
To Thee, O Lord! we cry.
From wilds of fearful error,
Wherein we darkly stray,
Oppressed with doubt and terror,
For saving aid we pray.
O God of mercy, hear us!
Our pain, our sorrow, see;
Thy healing pity spare us,
And bring us home to Thee!
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