A child's book of religion...

Preface

A few 'words are necessary to explain the purpose of this little book, and the way in which it may be used to the best advantage.

The author has thought it wiser to make a collection of materials for worship and instruction than to arrange a formal series of services or lessons that might interfere with freedom of selection and combination on the part of the teacher or superintendent.

The questions and answers under the captions " Truth " and " The Good Life 99 are not designed to take the place of other teaching, either by manual or discourse ; but are merely intended to supplement and vary such teaching as may be adopted. Where manuals are used, one of the catechisms, or some portion of one, may be read at such intervals of time as may be found convenient ; the whole being recited, perhaps, once in a twelvemonth. Where no manuals are used, but the teachers are left mainly to their own resources, they will find abundant material for lessons in Part DOE. by taking the Questions and Answers, in course, from week to week-; or by selecting single passages for oral exposition.

iii iv

PREFACE.

The " Golden Words " may be used as texts for lessons, or may be committed to memory by the children.

The Creed may be recited by the whole school in unison, three or four times in the year, or on festivaldays, as the conductors of the schools may decide.

The author is persuaded that the element of worship should enter more largely than it does into the systematic instruction of the young. He has, therefore, made copious selections in that department ; offering no written prayers, but endeavoring to express every form of the devout sentiment in language richer than he could frame. The poetical pieces are designed to be read responsively, like the psalms ; teacher and scholars reciting the alternate lines in full school. It is recommended that one or more of these, and one or more of the pieces in the Second Part, be used at each service ; the choice of pieces being guided by the feeling of the superintendent, or bv the tone he wishes to give to the general exercise.

The special forms of service for the festival -days indicate the order which the writer has found most convenient in the administration of his own school.

A few hymns and tunes, as many as the space would allow, and perhaps enough for ordinary use, are added to complete the design of the volume.

The book is, in the main, a compilation ; as every such book must be. All available sources have been freely drawn from, with suitable acknowledgment to the authors. Where the pieces were entirely original, as is the

PREFACE.

v case with those taken from A. J. Davis's little Manual for the Children's Lyceum, special permission to use them was cordially granted.

The list of " Rules for the Good Life," and the Questions and Answers on the subject of Rewards and Punishments, were copied, with some changes, from Leigh Hunt's lovely little book, " The Religion of the Heart." For the rest of the Questions and Answers, and for the Creed, the writer himself is responsible. The " Legends of Virtue" were taken from different collections, and have been written out for the benefit of the younger children, who can hear them read by parent or teacher. The number of them might have been indefinitely increased, had the size of the volume not forbidden.

Such as it is, the book is an experiment. If it makes a contribution to the meagre literature of the Sunday School and the Home Worship, or fills, for a time, a place now unfilled, the compiler will be satisfied.

O. B. F.

Part I. — Worship

1. Calls to Prayer.

Page.

THE CHILD'S PRAYER 1

THE BEAUTY OF PRAYER 2

PRAYER IS OF NO PLACE 4

PRAYER IS OF NO FORM 5

THE ACCEPTABLE OFFERING 6

THE FORM OF GOD 7

THE CALL OF NATURE 8

THE CALL OF THE FLOWERS 10

THE CALL OF THE BIRDS 11

THE JOY OF WORSHIP 12

WHAT RABBI JEHOSHA SAID 13

THE BOY AXD THE ANGEL -14

THE CHILD AND THE ANGELS 17

THE CHILD AND THE DOVE 18

2. Aspiration.

O LORD! THOU HAST SEARCHED ME AND KNOWN

GOD OF THE MOUNTAIN 35

vii viii CONTENTS.

Page.

PRAISE 36

THE GOOD SHEPHERD , 37

THE GOD OF THE SEASONS .38

TO A SKYLARK. 41

JOYOUS AS MORNING 42

ASPIRATIONS OF YOUTH 43

THOUGHTS OF HEAVEN .44

A SUPPLICATION .40

THE SOUL'S CALM 47

THE HEART'S PRAYER ........ 48

THE HYMN OF NATURE ....... 49

GOD'S PRESENCE IN NATURE 50

PRAISE TO NATURE'S GOD ...... 51

OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN . 51

GOD IS LOVE, AND LOVE ALONE 52

FOUNTAIN OF DIVINE LOVE 53

THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER 55

EVENING PRAYER 5G

THE DAY AND THE NIGHT ARE THINE ... 57

AN EVENING SONG 58

REST 59

SONG OF THE NIGHT 59

VESPER HYMN . 61

UPWARD 61

A CHILD'S HYMN 62

3. Trust.

the love of god 64

trusting love 65

the guides 67 song of faith 68

SONG OF CONFIDENCE 69

CONTENTS. Ix

Page.

SONG OF TRUST 70

SONG OF FORTUNE 71

THE LITTLE TREE 72

A DOUBTING HEART 75

THANKFULNESS- . 76

ONE BY ONE 78

THE ARK AND DOVE 79

GLADNESS 80

THOU, GOD, SEEST ME 81

GOD'S LOVE IN THE FLOWERS 83

MINISTERING SPIRITS 84

CONTENTMENT . ' . .86

THE ANGELS' GREETING 88

THE BETTER LAND 90

AVE SCATTER SEEDS . 91

SCATTERED IDOLS 92

THE FLIGHT OF TIME 92

CONTENTMENT 93

THOU CAM'ST NOT 95

PASSING AWAY 95

Part II. — The Good Life. Rules For The Good Life . . . . . ,97

PUNISHMENTS 100

REWARDS 106

LESSONS IN THE GOOD LIFE 110

THE PSALM OF LIFE 123

EARNESTNESS 124

PATIENCE 125

X CONTENTS.

Page.

THE SULTAN'S LESSON. ....... 126

THE BANNER AND THE CARPET 127

PARADISE 128

STRIVE, WAIT, AND PRAY 129

GIVE 130

SOWING AND REAPING 131

WORDS 132

WISHES 134

THE DARLING LITTLE GIRL ...... 136

THE LESSON OF THE FLOWERS 13?

THE BEGGAR . . .138

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS . / . . . . .140

"NOT TO MYSELF ALONE" 141

EVERY LITTLE HELPS ........ 143

LITTLE DEEDS . . . 144

GENTLENESS 145

LET IT PASS 148

LEND A HAND 150

CATCH THE SUNSHINE .151

THE FOUNTAIN 152

OVER THE SEAS OUR GALLEYS WENT . . .153

LIFE'S WORK . .156

A PARABLE ^.157

ABOU BEN ADHEM 159

YAMA AND THE DISCIPLE 160

THE LITTLE BELL IN THE HEART .... 163

THE CHILD'S WAY TO HEAVEN 164

THE KINGDOM OF GOD 168

FOLLOW ME ... 169

THE BUILDERS 170

THE LADDER OF ST. AUGUSTINE 172

THE HOLY SPIRIT .. .. . 174

CONTENTS.

PART III. — TRUTH. : j a§e

• TALK BETWEEN THE TEACHER AND THE CHILD.

The Spirit .180

Jesus the Teacher 185

Jesus the Saint 188

A CHILD'S CREED 192

Legends of Virtue.

THE POWER OF TRUST 209

TO DO GOD'S WILL IS TO BEHOLD GOD'S FACE . 211 THE LOVING EYE SEES BEAUTY EVERYWHERE . 216 "HE PRAYETH BEST WHO LOVETH BEST" . . 217 NEVER DESPISE SMALL THINGS ..... 218

CHARITY TO THE SINNING .219

MORE WAYS THAN ONE OF DOING GOOD . . 221 CHARITY THE TRUE SAINTLINESS .... 223 SHALL WE EVER TIRE OF HEAVEN? .... 226

THE INDIAN BOY AND THE FIRE 2*8

POWER OF THE DIVINE CHILD 231

THE DIVINE CHILD AT PLAY 236

THE DIVINE CHILD WITH HIS COMPANIONS . . 237 EVILS QUICKLY KILLED IN THE SEED . . .241

THE BEST USE FOR A GIFT 243

THE INVISIBLE KING 244

A PARABLE OF CONSCIENCE . . . . . .247

A CHRISTMAS SERVICE 249

THE OLD YEAR 252

THE NEW YEAR 256

EAST BR 200

WHITSUNDAY 263 xu

CONTENTS.

PART IV.— HYMNS. Page

OUR FATHER, WE THANK THEE FOR SLEEP . . 269

POOR AXD NEEDY THOUGH I BE 269

FATHER, NOW TO THEE WE RAISE .... 270

LITTLE TRAVELLERS, ZIONWARD 271

APPROACH NOT THE ALTAR WITH GLOOM IN THY

SOUL 272

THE LORD IS 21 Y SHEPHERD, NO WANT SHALL I

HOW DEAR IS THE THOUGHT THAT THE ANGELS

OF GOD 273

ACQUAINT YOURSELVES EARLY, DEAR CHILDREN,

WITH GOD 273

THE SERAPHS BRIGHT ARE HOVERING . . .274 NOW TO OUR LOVING FATHER, GOD .... 275 HOW BEAUTIFUL THE SETTING SUN .... 275 FATHER, ADORED IN WORLDS ABOVE . . .273 GOD IS SO GOOD THAT HE WILL HEAR . . .277 NEW EVERY MORNING IS THE LOVE . . .277 MORN AMID THE MOUNTAINS . . . . . . 278

HAND IN HAND WITH ANGELS 278

LITTLE DROPS OF WATER 279

PLUCK THE ROSE WHILE BLOOMING .... 279 SING TO THE LORD, AND LOUD PROCLAIM . . 280 UP TO THE THRONE OF GOD IS BORNE . . .281 OH! COME, LOUD ANTHEMS LET US SING . . 2S1 HOW SWEETLY FLOWED THE GOSPEL'S SOUND . 281 LO, THE LILIES OF THE FIELD . . . . .282 GRACIOUS GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER . . 283 FATHER, NOW TO THEE WE RAISE .... 2S3 ALL AROUND US, FAIR WITH FLOWERS . . ,'284 FATHER, HEAR THE PRAYER WE OFFER . . 38

CONTENTS.

xiii

P&ge.

GOD HAS SAID, FOREVER BLESSED .... 285 IN OUR CHILDHOOD'S MOENING, FATHER . . 285 LIFE IS NOT A FLEETING SHADOW .... 256 GUIDE 3IE, 0 THOU GREAT JEHOVAH . . .28(3 PRAISE THE LORD, WHEN BLUSHING MORNING . 287 GOD IS LOVE; HIS 3IERCY BRIGHTENS . . .287

COME, JOIN THE NOBLE ARMY 288

QUIET, LORD, ICY FRO WARD HEART .... 289 NOW TO HEAVEN OUR PRAYER ASCENDING . . 290 SHALL THIS LIFE OF MINE BE WASTED . . .291

SAVIOUR, TO THE LIVING WELL 292

PRAISE TO GOD; OH! LET US RAISE .... 293 LET US, WITH A GLADSOME MIND .... 293 I LOVED A SONG-BIRD OF THE SPRING . 29ft

NOW THAT MY JOURNEY'S JUST BEGUN . . .294 LORD, I WOULD OWN THY TENDER CARE . . 295 WE LOVE THE FATHER, HE'S SO GOOD . . .295 THERE'S NOT A TINT THAT PAINTS THE ROSE . 29i5 MY GOD, MY FATHER! BLISSFUL NAME . . . 29o BE THOU, O GOD! BY NIGHT, BY DAY . . .297 THE BUD WILL SOON BECOME A FLOWER . . 297 THE BIRD LET LOOSE IN EASTERN SKIES . . 298 WHAT IF THE LITTLE RAIN SHOULD SAY . . 299 WHEN WARMER SUNS, AND BLUER SKIES . . 299 O GOD, OUR STRENGTH! TO THEE THE SONG . . 300 HOW SWEET, HOW HEAVENLY, IS THE SIGHT . 301 EVEN HE WHO LIT THE STARS OF OLD . . . 301 THE SWEET JUNE DAYS ARE COME AGAIN . . 302 LORD, I WOULD OWN THY TENDER CARE . . 303 ANOTHER HAND IS BECKONING US .... 303 O HOME OF LOVE! WE SING OF THEE . . . 305 THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT IN THE SPIRIT'S HAPPY

HOME 307

IN THE TWILIGHT HOURS, 'MID THE BREATH OF

FLOWERS 309 xiv

CONTENTS.

Page.

KIND WORDS CAN NEVER DIE 310

'TIS A LESSON YOU SHOULD HEED .... 311 WEEP NOT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED FROM

OUR SIGHT 313

THERE'S A WONDERFUL TREE, A WONDERFUL

TREE 315

HARK! A BURST OF HEAVENLY MUSIC . . . 317

Child's Book of Religion.

I. Calls to Prayer

I. THE CHILD'S PRAYER.

BY Alpine lake, 'neath shady rock, The herdboy knelt beside his flock, And softly told, with pious air, His alphabet as evening prayer.

Unseen, his pastor lingered near.

" My child, what means the sound I hear ?

May I not in the worship share,

And raise to heaven my evening prayer?

"Where'er the hills and valleys blend, The sounds of prayer and praise ascend. My child, a prayer yours cannot be : You've only said your A B C."

1 1

" I have no better way to pray :

All that I know, to God I say;

I tell the letters on my knees:

He makes the words himself to please."

Miss Lander (from the German),

2. THE BEAUTY OF PRAYEK*

IT is good to pray unto God : for his sorrowing children

Turns he ne'er from the door ; but he heals and

helps and consoles them.

It is good to pray when all things are prospering

with us, —

Pray in fortunate days ; for Life's most beautiful Fortune

Kneels down before the Eternal's throne, and,

with hands interfolded, Praises, thankful and moved, the only Giver of

blessings.

For do ye know, ye children, one blessing that comes not from heaven ?

What has mankind forsooth, the poor, that it has not received ?

Therefore fall on thy knee, ancl pray. The seraphs, adoring,

Cover with pinions six their face in the glory of Him who

Hung his masonry pendent on nought when the world he created.

WORSHIP.

Earth declareth his might, and the firmament

speaketh his glory.

Races blossom ahd die, and stars fall downward

from heaven, — Downward like withered leaves. At the last

stroke of midnight, millenniums Lay themselves down at his feet; and he sees

them, and counts them as nothing.

Yet why do ye fear, ye children? This awful

Avenger,

Ah! is a merciful God. God's voice was not

heard in the earthquake, Not in the fire, nor the storm; but it was in the

whispering breezes.

Love is the root of creation, — God's essence.

Worlds without number Lie in his bosom like children. He made them

for this purpose only, — Only to love, and to be loved again. He breathed

forth his Spirit Into the slumbering dust ; and, upright standing,

it placed

Its hand on its heart, and felt it was warm with

a flame out of heaven.

Quench, oh, quench not that flame ! It is the

breath of your being !

From the Swedish of Tegner,

Translated by Longfellow,

3. PKAYER IS OF NO PLACE.

OH ! wherefore this dream of the earthly abode Of humanity clothed in the brightness of

God?

Were our spirits but turned from the outward and dim,

They could gaze even now on the presence of Him:

Not in clouds, nor in terrors, but gentle as when In love and in meekness he moved among men; And the voice which breathed peace to the

waves of the sea In the hush of my spirit would whisper to me. Then what if our feet may not tread where he

stood,

Nor our ears hear the dashing of Galilee's flood, Nor our eyes see the cross w^hich he bowed him to bear,

Nor our knees press Gethsemane's garden of prayer ?

Yet, loved of the Father, thy spirit is near To the meek and the lowly and penitent here; And the voice of thy love is the same, even now, As at Bethlehem's tomb or on Olivet's brow*

J. G. Whiltier.

4. PRAYER IS OF NO FORM.

OT all the pomp of rituals, nor the savor

Of gums and spices, can the unseen One please.

As if his ear could bend with childish favor To the poor flattery of the organ-keys ! Not such the service the benignant Father Requireth at his earthly children's hands ; Not the poor offering of vain rites ; but rather The simple duty man from man demands. For he whom Jesus loved has truly spoken : The holier worship which he deigns to bless Restores the lost, and binds the spirit broken, And feeds the widow and the fatherless. O brother-man ! fold to thy heart thy brother. Where pity dwells, the peace of God is there : To worship rightly is to love each other ; Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer. Follow with reverent steps the great example Of Him whose holy work was doing good ; So shall the wide earth seem our Father's temple, Each loving life a psalm of gratitude.

J. G. Whittier.

5. THE ACCEPTABLE OFFERING.

TO heaven approached a pious saint From wandering in the darkness late, And, tapping timidly and faint, Besought admission at the gate.

Said God, "Who seeks to enter here?"

"'Tis I, dear friend!" the saint replied, Trembling all through with hope and fear.

" If it be thou, remain outside ! "

Sadly to earth the poor saint turned To bear the scourging of life's rods ;

But still his heart within him yearned To mix and lose its love in God's.

He roamed alone through weary years, By cruel men still scorned and mocked ;

Till, purified by fires and tears, Again he went, again he knocked.

Said God, " Who now is at the door ? " —

" It is thyself, beloved Lord ! "

The saint replied. He doubts no more,

But passes in to his reward.

Alger'' s Oriental Pottry.

WORSHIP.

6. THE FORM OF GOD.

TO Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love All pray in their distress, And to these virtues of delight Return their thankfulness.

For Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love

Is God our Father dear ; And Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love

Is man, his child and care.

For Mercy has a human heart ;

Pity, a human face ; And Love, the human form divine ;

And Peace, the human dress.

Thus every man in every clime,

That prays in his distress, Prays to the Human Form divine, —

Love, Mercy, Pity, Peace.

And all must love the Human Form,

In heathen, Turk, or Jew : Where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell,

There God is dwelling too.

William Blake.

A CHILD'S BOOK OF RELIGION.

7. THE CALL OF NATURE.

THE harp at Nature's advent strung Has never ceased to play ; The song the stars of morning sung Has never died away.

And prayer is made, and praise is given,

By all things near and far : The ocean looketh up to heaven,

And mirrors every star.

Its waves are kneeling on the strand.

As kneels the human knee ; Their white locks bowing to the sand, —

The priesthood of the sea.

They pour their glittering treasures forth Their gifts of pearl they bring ;

And all the listening hills of earth Take up the song they sing.

The green Earth sends her incense up From many a mountain shrine :

From folded leaf and dewy cup She pours her sacred wine.

WORSHIP.

The mists above the morning rills

Rise white as wings of prayer ; The altar curtains of the hills

Are sunset's purple air.

The winds with hymns of praise are loud,

Or low with sobs of pain, The thunder organ of the cloud,

The dropping tears of rain.

With drooping head, and branches crossed,

The twilight forest grieves, Or speaks with tongues of Pentecost

From all its sunlit leaves.

The blue sky is the temple's arch ;

Its transept, earth and air ; The music of its starry march,

The chorus of its prayer.

So Nature keeps the reverent frame

With wilich her years began, And all her signs and voices shame

The prayerless heart of man,

J. G. Whittier.

8. THE CALL OF THE ELOWERS.

LO! the lilies of the field, How their leaves instruction yield ! Hark to Nature's lesson given By the blessed birds of heaven !

Every bush and tufted tree Warbles sweet philosophy : " Children, fly from doubt and sorrow : God provideth for the morrow ! "

Say, with richer crimson glows The kingly mantle than the rose '?

Say, have kings more wholesome fare Than we poor citizens of air?

Barns nor hoarded grain have we ; Yet we carol merrily.

" Children, fly from doubt and sorrow : God provideth for the morrow."

One there lives whose guardian eye Guides our humble destiny; One there lives, who, Lord of all, Keeps his creatures, lest they fall. Pass we blithely, then, the time, Fearless of the snare and lime, Free from doubt and faithless sorrow : God provideth for the morrow.

Bishop Heb> r.

WORSHIP.

u

9. THE CALL OF THE BIRDS.

LIST to the birds that sing !

Pluck the primroses ; pluck the violets ; Pluck the daisies ; Sing their praises : Friendship with the flowers noble thoughts begets.

Come forth and gather these sweet elves ; Come and gather them yourselves ; Learn of the gentle flowers whose worth is more than gold.

Pierce into the bowers Of the gentle flowers, Which not in solitude Dwell, but with each other keep society, And with a simple piety A :q ready to be woven into garlands for the good, Or upon summer earth To die in virgin worth, Or to be strewn before the bride, And the bridegroom by her side.

Come forth on Sundays, Come forth on Mondays, Come forth on any day!

Worship the God of Nature in your childhood ; Worship him at your tasks with best endeavor; Worship him in your sports ; worship him ever.

12 A GUILD'S BOOK OF RELIGION.

Worship him in the wild wood ; Worship him amidst the flowers ; Pluck the buttercups, and raise Your voices in his praise.

Edward Youl {altered).

10. THE JOY OF WORSHIP.

OH ! SWEETER than the marriage feast, 'Tis sweeter far to me, To walk together to the church With a goodly company !

To walk together to the church,

And all together pray, While each to his great Father bends, Old men and babes, and loving friends,

And youths and maidens gay !

He prayeth well who loveth well Both man and bird and beast.

He prayeth best who loveth best

All things, both great and small ; For the dear God who loveth us,

He made and loveth all.

S. T. Coleridge.

WORSHIP.

11. WHAT RABBI JEHOSHA SAID.

RABBI JEHOSHA used to say That God made angels every day Perfect as Michael and the rest First brooded in Creation's nest ; Whose only office was to cry " Hosanna ! " once, and then to die. If with life's sources to be blent, Be not return from banishment.

Rabbi Jehosha had the skill To know that heaven is in God's will ; And doing that, though for a space, One heart-beat long, may win a grace As full of grandeur and of glow As princes of the chariot know.

'Twere glorious, no doubt, to be

One of the winged hierarchy;

To burn, with seraphs, or to shine

With cherubs deathlessly divine :

Yet I, perhaps, poor earthly clod,

Could I forget myself in*God ;

Could I but find my nature's clew

Simply, as birds and blossoms do ;

And but for one rapt moment know

'Tis heaven that comes, not we that go, —

Should win my place as near the throne As the pearl, angel of its zone, And God would listen 'rnid the throng For rny one breath of perfect song.

J. E. LoiceJl

12. THE BOY AND THE AX GEL.

MORXIXG, evening, noon, and night, " Praise God ! " sang Theocrite.

Then to his poor trade he turned, By which the daily bread was earned. Hard he labored, long and well ; O'er the work his boy's curls fell : But ever at each period He stopped, and sang, ; - Praise God ! " Then back again his curls he threw, And, cheerful, turned to work anew. Said Blaise, the listening monk, " Well done ! I doubt not thou art heard, my son, As well as if thy voice to-day Were praising God the Pope's great way. This Easter Day, the Pope at Rome Praises God from Peters dome.'' Said Theocrite, "Would God that I Might praise him that great way, and die ! "

Xight passed, day shone, And Theocrite was gone.

With God a day endures alway;

A thousand years are but a day.

God said in heaven, " Xor day nor night

Now brings the voice of my delight."

Then Gabriel, like a rainbow's birth,

Spread his wings, and sank to earth;

Entered in flesh the empty cell;

Lived there, and played the craftsman well

And, morning, evening, noon, and night,

Praised God in place of Theocrite.

And from a boy to youth he grew:

The man put off the striplings hue;

The man matured, and fell away

Into the sea -on of decay;

And ever o'er. the trade he bent,

And ever lived on earth content. -

Go 1 said, "A praise is in my ear:

There is no doubt in it, no fear.

So sing old worlds, and so

New worlds that from my footstool go;

Clearer loves sound other ways :

I miss my little human praise."

Then forth sprang Gabriel's wings ; off fell The flesh disguise ; remained the cell. 'Twas Easter Day: he flew to Rome, And paused above St. Peters dome.

In the robing-room, close by The great outer gallery, With his holy vestments dight, Stood the new Pope, Theocrite :

And all his past career

Came back upon him clear,

Since when, a boy, he plied his trade,

'Till on his life the sickness weighed ;

And in his cell, when death drew near,

An angel in a dream brought cheer ;

And, rising from the sickness drear,

He grew a priest, and now stood here.

To the east with praise he turned,

And on his sight the angel burned.

" I bore thee from thy craftsman's cell,

And set thee here : I did not well.

Vainly I left my angel sphere ;

Vain was thy dream for many a year :

Thy voice's praise seemed weak ; it dropped ;

The chorus of creation stopped !

Go back, and praise again

The early way, while I remain. • With that weak voice which we disdain, Take up creation's pausing strain.

Back to the cell and poor employ ; Become the craftsman and the boy ! "

Theocrite grew old at home :

A new pope dwelt in Peter's dome.

One vanished as the other died :

They sought the good God side by side.

R. Browning.

WORSHIP.

13. THE CHILD AND THE ANGELS. 1HE sabbath's sun was setting low

" Our Father," breathed a voice below, — " Father who art in heaven."

Beyond the earth, beyond the clouds, Those infant words were given :

" Our Father," angels sang aloud, ■ — " Father who art in heaven."

" Thy kingdom come," still from the ground That child-like voice did pray ;

" Thy kingdom come," God's hosts resound Far up the starry way.

"Thy will be done," with little tongue

That lisping love implores ; " Thy will be done," the angelic throng

Sing from the heavenly shores.

" Forever," still those lips repeat

Their closing evening prayer ; "Forever," floats in music sweet

High 'midst the angels there.

Amidst the clouds at even :

Charles Swain,

A CHILD'S BOOK OF RELIGION.

14. THE CHILD AND THE DOVE.

THERE sitteth a dove so white and fair, All on the lily spray, And she listeth how to Jesus Christ

The little children pray.

Lightly she spreads her friendly wings,

And to heaven's gate hath sped, And unto the Father in heaven she bears The prayers which the children have said.

And back she comes from heaven's gate,

And brings — that dove so mild — From the Father in heaven who hears her speak

A blessing on every child.

Then, children, lift up a pious prayer :

It hears whatever you say, — That heavenly dove so white and fair,

All on the lily spray.

Fredriha Bremer ( Trans, by Mary Howitt).

WORSHIP.

ASPIRA TIOJV.

I.

OLORD ! thou hast searched me and known me.

Thou knowest my resting and my rising ;

Thou understandest my thoughts afar off.

Thou watchest my path and my lying-down,

And art acquainted with all my ways.

Before the word is on my tongue,

Behold, O Lord ! thou knowest it altogether.

Thou besettest me behind and before,

And lay est thine hand upon me.

Whither shall I go from thy Spirit,

And whither shall I flee from thy presence ?

If I ascend into heaven, thou art there ;

If I make my bed in the under- world, behold!

thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea ; Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness will cover me, Even the night shall be light about me.

A CHILD'S BOOK OF RELIGION.

Yes, the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day : The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God ! How great is the sum of them !

If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.

When I awake, I am still with thee. Search me, O God ! and know my heart ; Try me, and know my thoughts ; And see if there be any evil way in me ; And lead me in the way everlasting.

p.

I will extol thee, my God, my King ;

I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless thee,

And praise thy name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised :

His greatness is unsearchable.

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion ;

Slow to anger, and rich in mercy.

The Lord is good to all,

And his tender merjcies are over all his works.

The Lord upholdeth all that fall,

And raiseth up all that are bowed down.

The eyes of all wait upon thee,

And thou givest them their food in due season.

Thou openest thine hand,

And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

WORSHIP.

The Lord is just in all his ways, And merciful in all his works.

The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him, — To all that call upon him in truth. He meets the desire of them that fear him ; He heareth their cry, and helpeth them. The Lord preserve th all those that love him : Let all men bless his holy name for ever and ever.