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Dear Saviour take this faithless heart,

And let it ne'er from Thee depart!;
But may my eye for ever be,

Firm and unwav'ring, fixed on Thee.

THE MOON AND THE CHURCH.

"Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?-Canticles vi. 10.

ORB of beauty! that on high
Shinest in the clear blue sky,

With thy pale, yet radiant light,

Through the long and cheerless night.

Whence thy silvery lustre, say,

With its soft and placid ray?

"I am dark and black alone,

And these beams are not my own,

From the bright sun's glorious blaze
I derive my borrowed rays;

And his light reflects on me,
All its rich intensity."

Church of Christ! thou lovely bride,
Dwelling at thy Saviour's side;

Fairer than the shining moon,

Clearer than the sun at noon;
Whence the beauty, tell us now,
That adorns thy radiant brow?

"I've no beauty of my own, I am vile and poor alone,

All my loveliness I bring,

Fresh and clear from Christ the Spring:

He reflects His light on me,

Clothes me in His purity.

"When I weep he dries my tears,

Soothes my sorrows, calms my fears,

Guides me with His arm of love,

When my wandering footsteps rove;
From my foes He sets me free,
He is all in all to me.

"He has washed me in His blood,
Saved me from the wrath of God;
Clothed me in the glorious dress,
Of His spotless righteousness:
And in glory I shall shine,
With His lustre all divine."

THE LAMB OF GOD.

"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." -1 Peter ii. 24.

JESUS, thou spotless Lamb,

My sins on thee were laid;

With fearful weight they crushed and bowed

Thy self-devoted head.

They caused Thy bloody sweat,

In dread Gethsemane;

And forced the cry "My God, my God,

Hast Thou forsaken me?"

The fountain of Thy blood,

Has washed my guilt away;
And Thy blest robe of righteousness
Is now my bright array.

Ciothed in this glorious dress,

The Father looks with love;

In this poor heart Thy Spirit dwellsThat bright celestial dove.

Unspotted may I keep

This robe from sin's dark stain;

Living to righteousness alone,

As dead, yet risen again.

Still longing for the day,

Saviour, when Thou shalt come,
And take Thy bride, Thy purchased one,

To her eternal home.

THE SHEPHERD.

"And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice."-John x. 4.

JESUS, keep us near to Thee,

Ever dwelling at Thy side,

Teach us Saviour how to be,
Quiet, happy, satisfied.

May we never wish to roam,
From our Shepherd's peaceful home.

We are foolish, silly sheep,

Far from Thee we often stray;

Bitter, painful fruits we reap,

When we leave the narrow way.

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