But whene'er we lose the track, Saviour let us learn of Thee, Meekly bearing every cross, Leaving all to follow Thee, Counting all things else but dross, Till we dwell with Thee above, In the fullness of Thy love. THE DAILY PORTION. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be."-Deut. xxxiii. 25. WHEN the deep waves of trouble roll In heaving billows o'er thy soul, To soothe thy heart, and calm thy fears; "E'en as thy day, thy strength shall be." When all the future seems to wear When at the dawn of opening day, "E'en as thy day, thy strength shall be." And if around thy aged head, Time shall its snowy honours shed; When dim the eye, and faint the voice, Yet in thy Saviour's love rejoice; So shall thy spirit pass away To realms of bright unclouded day. THE SEA-GULL. "He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him; his water shall be sure. "Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off."-Isa. xxxiii, 16, 17. BIRD of Heaven! o'er the sea, Roaming at thy liberty, Now aloft, and now below, Wheeling round in airy rings, Balanced by thy steady wings, Then returning to thy nest, There with folded wing to rest; While below the ocean wave, Dashes through the sea-girt cave. In thy rocky home on high, Fearless of the stormy sky, Free from danger and alarm, Thou art safe from every harm. Faithful Christian! battling long With the raging billows strong; Boldly breast the heaving wave, Though thy weary head it lave; Rise above the stormy sea, In thy flight-unfettered, free; Borne aloft on Faith's strong wing, As the gull to Heaven spring, Upward steer with stedfast sight, To the realms of life and light. In the fastness of the rock Hidden from the tempest's shock, Shall thy peaceful dwelling be Wrapt in blest security. Far above the din and strife Of the busy worldling's life; Songs of praise for ever sing. |