Look on the mother's meek distress, O Lord, and heal her childlessness; Her bondage break, and let her be Free, and a mother of the free!

MATTHEW V. 48.

"BE YE THEREFORE PERFECT, EVEN AS YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT."

THERE is One whose eye ne'er closes

By night or day;

Strew not then thy couch with roses,

But watch and pray.

There's One whose suns on sinners rise,

As on his saints;

Then mete not out thy charities

With cold restraints.

There's One who died, that you may live

When life grows dim ;

Then think it not too much to give

That life to him.

MATTHEW XIII. 44.

AGAIN, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO TREASURE HID IN A FIELD; THE WHICH WHEN A MAN HATH FOUND, HE HIDETH, AND FOR JOY THEREOF GOETH AND SELLETH ALL THAT HE HATH, AND BUYETH THAT FIELD."

WHY dost thou hide the treasure, Lord?

For many pass it by,

Although its value they have heard,

And that 'tis somewhere nigh.

Is it from helpless misery hid?
From man in better need?

Friend of the friendless soul, forbid
That this should be my creed!

But some there are so dull and blind

So lost-so dead in sin

Open the cell, and they would find

No precious things therein.

Thy word is-" Seek, and ye shall find ;"

Search out the place, and go

And sell all thou didst leave behind,
And there thy all bestow.

And if we still those terms refuse,

Of what can we complain?

Not ours, but thine, the wealth we loseThy gift that's given in vain.

MATTHEW XV. 26, 27.

64

BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS NOT MEET TO TAKE THE CHILDREN'S BREAD, AND TO CAST IT TO THE DOGS. AND SHE SAID, TRUTH, LORD; YET THE DOGS EAT OF THE CRUMBS WHICH FALL FROM THEIR MASTER'S TABLE."

THEY tell us, Lord, we are not thine,
Because not all their creed we hold;
They bid us heaven and hope resign,

For they alone are Israel's fold.

Thou knowest, Lord, if it be so

Still, she was not of Israel,

For whom thy mercies once did flow-
The crumbs that from thy table fell.

And we, in faith and patience strong,
To thee will come and cry like her;
Enlighten us, if we be wrong;

Enlighten them, if they do err.