342.

CALLS OF THE SPIRIT.

8, 7 & 4s M.

BROTHERS, will you slight the message
Sent in mercy from above?
Every sentence, O how tender,
Every line how full of love!
Heavenly accents

Full of strength and peace and love!

Tempted souls, they bring you succor ;
Fearful hearts, they quell your fears;
And with deepest consolation

Chase away the falling tears;
Tender heralds,

Blest is he their word who hears!

Holy angels, hovering round us!
Waiting spirits! speed your way,
Hasten to the court of heaven,
Tidings bear without delay,
That our spirits
Glad the message will obey.

343.

HE THAT HATH EARS LET HIM HEAR.'

C. M.

FAIR are the feet that bring the news
Of gladness unto me;

How many messengers God hath,
If we had eyes to see!

Thine angels speak; but still we must The hearing ear bestow :

They smite the rock; but our own lips Must stoop to drink the flow.

Lo, all things are Thine angels, Lord,
That bring my God to me:

O for the ear to hear their word!
O for the eye to see!

WANDERING AND RETURN

344.

THE PRODIGAL.

7s M.

BROTHER, hast thou wandered far
From thy Father's happy home,
With thyself and God at war?
Turn thee, brother, homeward come !

Hast thou wasted all the powers
God for noble uses gave?

Squandered life's most golden hours?
Turn thee, brother, God can save!

Is a mighty famine now

In thy heart and in thy soul?
Discontent upon thy brow?

Turn thee, God will make thee whole !

He can heal thy bitterest wound,
He thy gentlest prayer can hear;
Seek Him, for He may be found;
Call
upon Him;

He is near.

345.

'FATHER, I HAVE SINNED."

7s M.

LOVE for all! and can it be?
Can I hope it is for me?
I, who strayed so long ago,
Strayed so far, and fell so low!

I, the disobedient child,
Wayward, passionate, and wild;
I, who left my Father's home
Jn forbidden ways to roam !

I, who spurned His loving hold,
I, who would not be controlled;
I, who would not hear His call,
I, the wilful prodigal !

I, who wasted and misspent
Every talent He had lent;
I, who sinned again, again,
Giving every passion rein!

Το Father can I
my

go?

At His feet myself I'll throw, In His house there yet may be Place, a servant's place, for me.

See, my Father waiting stands; See, He reaches out His hands; God is love! I know, I see There is love for me

even me!

346.

THE PENITENT SON.

C. M.

O, RICHLY, Father, have I been
Blest evermore by Thee!

And morning, noon, and night Thou hast
Preserved me tenderly.

And yet the love which Thou shouldst claim To idols I have given ;

Too oft have bound to earth the hopes

That know no home but heaven.

Unworthy to be called Thy son,
I come with shame to Thee,
Father!-O, more than Father, Thou
Hast always been to me!

Help me to break the heavy chains
The world has round me thrown,

And know the glorious liberty

Of an obedient son.

That I may henceforth heed whate'er
Thy voice within me saith,
Fix deeply in my heart of hearts

A principle of faith,

Faith that, like armor to my soul,
Shall keep all evil out,
More mighty than an angel host,
Encamping round about.

347.

THE PENITENT.

7 & 6s M. p.

O MY God, my Father! hear,
And help me to believe ;
weary I draw near,

Weak and

Thy child, O God! receive.
I so oft have gone astray;
To the perfect Guide I flee;
Thou wilt turn me not away,
Thy love is pledged to me.

I no other claim can bring
But that I need Thine aid;
Simply to Thy love I cling,

On that my hope is stayed.
Thou canst save me, and Thou wilt;
From my bondage set me free,
Cleanse me from sin's power and guilt;

Thy strength is pledged to me!

348.

THE BROKEN SHIELD.

10s M.

O, SEND me not away! for I would drink,
Even I, the weakest, at the fount of life;
Chide not my steps, that venture near the brink,
Weary and fainting from the deadly strife.

Went I not forth undaunted and alone,
Strong in the majesty of human might?
Lo! I return, all wounded and forlorn,
My dream of glory lost in shades of night.