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Prayer for the Monthly Concert.

LXXII.

REGINALD HEBER.

FROM foes that would the land devour;
From guilty pride, and lust of power;
From wild sedition's lawless hour;
From yoke of slavery ;

From blinded zeal by faction led;
From giddy change by fancy bred ;
From poisonous error's serpent head,
Good Lord, preserve us free!

My Fatherland.

Where is my Fatherland?

Where fires of spirits high were glowing,

Where flower crowns for the fair were growing,
Where manly hearts, glad freedom knowing,

Burned for all holy things to stand-
There was my Fatherland!

Why weeps my Fatherland?

Because her people's rulers, quaking
At mad oppression's wrath outbreaking,
Crouch, all their holy vows forsaking,
Because her cries no ear command,-
This weeps my Fatherland!

120

Prayer for the Monthly Concert.

Defend, oh God! with guardian hand,
The laws and rulers of our land,

And grant our church thy grace to stand,
In faith and unity!

The Spirit's help of thee we crave,

That thou whose blood was shed to save,
May'st, at thy second coming, have
A flock to welcome thee!

Whom calls my Fatherland?
Though stricken deep, yet not despairing-
She calls aloud with steadfast bearing,
For Freedom, for a saviour-daring,

To stay the avenger's scourging hand,-
These calls my Fatherland!

What will my Fatherland?

Her foe's slave-host she yet will shatter,
Will from her soil the blood-hounds scatter,
She will have free sons gazing at her,-
This will my Fatherland!

What hopes my Fatherland?
In her just cause she hopes unshaken;
Hopes her true sons will yet awaken,
Hopes in God's mercy, though forsaken,―
That her deliverer forth shall stand!
This hopes my Fatherland!

Free translation from Korner.

Devotion to the Cause of Christ.

LXXIII.*

M. W. CHAPMAN.

THE memory of the faithful dead

Be on their children's hearts this day! Your father's God, their host that led, Will shield you through the stormy way. Your Saviour bids you seek and save The trampled and the oppressed of earth, At his command the storm to brave, Faithful and true! come boldly forth!

Their suffering though your souls must shareThough pride oppress and hate condemn, Stand up! and breathe your fearless prayer For those in bonds as bound with them.

Unheeded fall the fierce command

That bids the struggling soul be dumb! Shout with a voice to rouse a land!

Bid the free martyr spirit come!

* The present times will be but imperfectly understood by those who shall come after us; none but those now living, and possessing an opportunity of seeing the play of the machinery set in motion by the controllers of the clergy, can appreciate the strength of soul it now requires to pray publicly' for master and slave.

122

Circumspection.

Searcher of hearts, to thee we bow-
Uphold us with thy staff and rod.
Our fervent hearts are ready now—
We come to do thy will, oh God!

Circumspection.

LXXIV.

WESLEY.

WATCHED by the world's malignant eye,
Who load us with reproach and shame,
As servants of the Lord most high,
As zealous for his glorious name,
We ought in all his paths to move,
With holy fear and humble love.

That Wisdom, Lord, on us bestow,
From every evil to depart;
To stop the mouth of every foe,

While upright both in life and heart,
The proofs of godly fear we give,

And show them how the Christians live.

Fifteenth Psalm of David.

LXXV.

WATTS.

WHO shall inhabit in thy hill,

Oh God of holiness?

Whom will the Lord admit to dwell So near his throne of grace?

To George Thompson.

L. M. CHILD.

I've heard thee when thy powerful words
Were like the cataract's roar-
Or like the ocean's mighty waves
Resounding on the shore.

But even in reproof of sin,

Love brooded over all

As the mild rainbow's heavenly arch

Rests on the waterfall.

I've heard thee in the hour of prayer,
When dangers were around:

Thy voice was like the royal harp,

That breathed a charmed sound.

The evil spirit felt its power,
And howling turned away;

And some, perchance, who came to scoff,
Remained with thee to pray.'

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