For hearts, whose love to God is true,
Should open with the day :

As flowers impearl'd with morning dew

Their tenderest tints display.

Give God thy waking thoughts, that He, Throughout the day, may keep

Thy spirit company, and be

Its guardian while asleep.

Yet sleep not when the sun has risen,
For prayer with day should rise;

And holiest thoughts, set free from prison,
Should soar above the skies.

There are appointed hours between
Our souls and love divine;
Nothing of earth should intervene

To mar their blest design.

The manna's heavenly charm was gone
With morning's stainless dews;

And flowers on which the sun has shone
Their sweetest perfume lose!

Then let not needless slumber glut

Morn's glories by its sin;

When this world's gates are closest shut,
Heaven's open :-enter in !

Walk out beneath the roseate skies,

Eye, ear, and heart awake;

List to the melodies that rise

From tree, from bush, and brake.

Each fluttering leaf, each murmuring spring The great I AM doth own;

TO HIM the soaring sky-larks sing

In music's sweetest tone.

Can'st thou not sing? O! leave thy cares And follies; go thy way!

And morning's praises, morning's prayers, Go with thee through the day!

Serve God before the world below;

Nor suffer, unimplored,

That blessing from thy path to go,

He only can afford.

This done, to HIм resign thy will,

Who never will forsake

Those who, like Jacob, wrestle still,

As day begins to break.

Weep for thy sins, to Him apply
Who can those sins forgive;

But know that self and pride must die
Before thy soul can live.

Mornings are emblems, shadowing forth, Unto the spirit's eye,

Man's resurrection, and the birth

Of hopes that cannot die.

The glorious star which speaks them near,

Like that of Bethlehem,

Is life and light !-its rise more dear

Than crown or diadem.

But when the morning's prime is past,
And worldly cares are rife,
May thy soul's harmony outlast
The daily din of life!

Keep well thy temper ;-mingle not With aught that thou shalt find, Which may its lingering brightness blot, Or chase it from thy mind.

Despatch whatever must be done;

Life hath a load to bear,

Which may be borne; a path to run,
Beset with many a care.

Keep such without; and let thy heart

Be still thy God's alone;

And He, thy spirit's better part,
Shall bless thee as his own.

THE LORD MY SHEPHERD.

Davidson.

GOD, who doth all nature hold

In his fold,

Is my Shepherd kind and heedful;
Is my Shepherd, and doth keep

Me, his sheep,

Still supplied with all things needful.

He feeds me in fields, which been

Fresh and green,

Mottled with spring's flowery painting; Through which creep, with murmuring crooks, Crystal brooks,

To refresh my spirit fainting.

When my soul from heaven's way

Went astray,

With earth's vanities seduced,

For his name's sake kindly He,
Wandering me
To his holy fold reduced.

HUMILITY.

Montgomery.

THE bird that soars on highest wing
Builds on the ground her lowly nest;

And she that doth most sweetly sing,
Sings in the shade when all things rest :
—In lark and nightingale we see

What honour hath humility.

When Mary chose "the better part,"

She meekly sat at Jesus' feet;

And Lydia's gently-open'd heart

Was made for God's own temple meet;

-Fairest and best-adorn'd is she,

Whose clothing is humility.