3 God of truth! it is thou who hast shed down

each ray

Of the sunshine that blesses and gladdens my

way;

From the depths of my spirit, to thee will I give
Ever-thankful affection as long as I live.

1

S. M.

490.

The whole Armor of God.

ANONYMOUS.

FOLLOWERS of Christ! arise,
And put your armor on,

Strong in the strength which God supplies
To each obedient son.

2 Stand forth in his great might,
With all his strength endued;
But take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God.

3 And, above all, lay hold

4

Of faith's victorious shield;

Armed with that adamant and gold,
Ye cannot lose the field.

Leave no unguarded place,
No weakness of the soul;
Take every virtue, every grace,
And consecrate the whole.

5 That having all things done,
And conquered in the strife,
To nobler service ye pass on,
And an undying life!

1 GOD is a Spirit, just and wise,
He sees our inmost mind;

In vain to heaven we raise our cries,
And leave our souls behind.

2 Nothing but truth before his throne
With honor can appear;

The painted hypocrites are known
Through the disguise they wear.

3 Their lifted eyes salute the skies,
Their bending knees the ground;
But God abhors the sacrifice

Where not the heart is found.

4 Lord, search my thoughts, and try my ways,
And make my soul sincere;
Then shall I stand before thy face,
And find acceptance there.

L. M.

492.

COTTON.

A Peaceful Conscience.

1 WHILE Some in folly's pleasures roll,
And court the joys that hurt the soul,
Be mine that silent, calm repast,
A conscience peaceful to the last.

2 With this companion in the shade,
My soul no more shall be dismayed;
But fearless meet life's dreariest gloom,
And the pale monarch of the tomb.

3 Amidst the various scenes of ills,
Each blow some kind design fulfils;
And can I murmur at my God,
While love supreme directs the rod ?
4 His hand will smooth my rugged way,
And lead me to the realms of day;
To milder skies, and brighter plains,
Where everlasting pleasure reigns.

C. P. M.

493.

Holiness is Everlasting.

HENRY MOORE.

1 ALL earthly charms, however dear,
Howe'er they please the eye or ear,
Will quickly fade and fly;
Of earthly glory faint the blaze,
And soon the transitory rays
In endless darkness die.

2 The nobler beauties of the just
Shall never moulder in the dust,
Or know a sad decay;

Their honors time and death defy,
And round the throne of heaven on high
Beam everlasting day.

7s. M.

494

MERRICK.

The Good Man blessed of God. Psalm 15.

1 WHO shall toward thy chosen seat
Turn in glad approach his feet?
Who, great God, a welcome guest,
On thy hallowed mountain rest?

2 He whose heart thy love has warmed; He whose will, to thine conformed,

Bids his life unsullied run;
He whose word and thought are one.

3 He who ne'er with cruel aim
Seeks to wound an honest fame,
Nor with gloomy joy possessed
Can a brother's peace molest.

4 Who, from servile terror free,
Spurns at those who spurn at thee,
And to each who thee obeys

Love and lowliest reverence pays.

5 What he swears, with steadfast will To his loss he shall fulfil;

Nor can bribes his sentence guide
'Gainst the guiltless to decide.

6 He who thus, with heart unstained,
Treads the path by thee ordained,
He, great God, shall own thy care,
And thy constant blessing share.

C. M.

495.

The Righteous and the Wicked.

TATE & BRADY.

1 How blest is he, who ne'er consents
By ill advice to walk;

Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits
Where men profanely talk:

2 But makes the perfect law of God
His business and delight;

Devoutly reads therein by day,
And meditates by night.

3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by streams,
With timely fruit does bend,
He still shall flourish, and success
All his designs attend.

4 Ungodly men, and their attempts,
No lasting root shall find;
Untimely blasted, and dispersed
Like chaff before the wind.

5 For God approves the just man's ways;
To happiness they tend:

But sinners, and the paths they tread,
Shall both in ruin end.

C. M.

496.

TATE & BRADY

The Righteous blessed.

1 How blest are they who always keep
The pure and perfect way!
Who never from the sacred paths
Of God's commandments stray.

2 Thrice blest! who to his righteous laws
Have still obedient been;

And have with fervent, humble zeal
His favor sought to win.

3 Thou strictly hast enjoined us, Lord,
To learn thy sacred will,

And all our diligence employ
Thy statutes to fulfil.

4 O then that thy most holy will
Might o'er my ways preside,
And I the course of all my life
By thy direction guide!