REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR.
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth."
REMEMBER now thy God, my child;
Choose now the better part,
Before long years of care and sin
Have aged and chilled thy heart;
Before its hidden springs of love
Have been unsealed-defiled;
Its riches spent on worthless things-
Give all to Him, my child!
Remember Him when morning light
Shines on thine opening eyes;
And when the night shades gathering round,
With soft stars gem the skies.
'Tis He who guards thy helpless sleep
From terrors dark and wild :
'Tis He who gives each joyous day--
Forget Him not, my child!
Think of Him in thy busiest hours
With book, and map, and sum,
When to the earnest, patient mind,
No other thought should come.
One loving, truthful look towards Him
Will make a dull room bright,
And hardest tasks, and tiresome sum,
Seem strangely clear and bright.
Remember that, in work or play,
His eye is fixed on thee,
And at that loving, holy glance,
Let sloth and anger flee.
When selfishness and dark deceit
Would lead thy soul astray,
One earnest, prayerful thought of Him.
Will drive these foes away.
Think of Him too, when, thou at noon,
Upon the turf dost lie,
And gaze in dreaming happiness
Upon the far off sky,
Watching the quiet clouds that float
Along so peacefully,
Or the sunny ripple of the streams—
He made them all for thee!
Or when the glad songs of the birds,
Or the fragrance of the flowers,
Or the gentle breeze that fans thy brow,
In the cool, soft evening hours;
Or the waving woods, or the sheltering hill,
Bring strange, deep joy to thee;
Bless Him who gave a heart to feel
What He gave the eyes to see!
Remember Him when loving lips
Upon thy brow are pressed,
And when, with all a mother's love,
I fold thee to my breast.
Though mother's, sister's love is sweet,
'Twill pass with them away—
He never leaves, He never dies!
He loves thee more than they !
And when death calls, and I must go,
And thou must walk alone,
And earth and sin will struggle hard,
To win thee for their own,
Remember Him, and He will be
Thy Father and thy Friend-
Thy righteousness and daily strength-
Thy Saviour to the end!
There, safe within that blessed heaven,
Where all our hopes are set,
No sinful heart, no worldly snare,
Will tempt us to forget;
No cloud of fear, no distance felt,
Our perfect joy shall dim!
His servants there shall see His face,
And ever dwell with Him!
From "THE BROAD AND NARROW WAY.”
THOU art with me, oh! my Father,
At early dawn of day;
It is Thy glory brighteneth
The upward streaming ray.
It calls me, by its loveliness,
To rise and worship Thee;
I feel Thy glorious presence---
Thy face I may not see!
Thou art with me, oh !
In the changing scenes of life,
In lowliness of spirit
And in weariness of strife.
My sufferings, my comfortings,
Alternate at Thy will :
I will trust Thee, oh! my Father,
I will trust Thee and be still.
Thou art with me, oh! my Father,
At evening's darkening gloom;
When night enshrouds the sleeping earth,
Thy presence fills my room;
The little stars bring messages
Of kindness from above:
I love Thee, oh! my Father,
And I feel that Thou art love.
'Tis sweet to work for Jesus,
In this life's little day;
To spread around "the joyful sound,"
As those forgiven may;
To tell His loving-kindness,
His promises so true;
To urge the young that they may come
And trust this Saviour too.
'Tis sweet to work for Jesus,
For Him who loved, and gave
Himself for us, an offering, thus
Our ruined souls to save.
Glad service we would render
For grace so rich and free;
Yet, Lord, we mourn that we have borne
So little fruit to Thee.
'Tis sweet to work for Jesus :
Be this our one desire,
Our purpose still, to do His will,
Whatever He require.
No action is too lowly,
No work of love too small;
If Christ but lead, we may indeed
Well follow such a call.
'Tis sweet to work for Jesus,
While our weak spirits rest
In His own care, safe sheltered there,
And with His presence blest.
In such calm, happy moments,
No greater joy we know ;
Redeemed from sin, we live for Him,
To whom our all we owe.
'Tis sweet to work for Jesus-
Oh! weary not of this,
But onward press with cheerfulness,
Though rough the pathway is.
Hold on, unmoved and patient,
Till He shall call thee home,
With joy to stand at God's right hand,
To serve before the throne.
THE ANGEL OF PATIENCE.
"Ye have need of patience."-HEB. x. 36.
A GENTLE ANGEL walketh throughout a world of woe,
With messages of mercy to mourning hearts below,
His peaceful smile invites them to love and to confide :
Oh, follow in His footsteps, keep closely by His side!
So gently will He lead thee through all the cloudy day,
And whisper of glad tidings to cheer the pilgrim way;
His courage never failing, when thine is almost gone,
He takes thy heavy burden, and helps to bear it on.
To soft and tearful sadness He changes dumb despair,
And soothes to deep submission the storm of grief and
Where midnight shades are brooding He pours the light of noon,
And every grievous wound He heals, most surely, if not
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