1 O, what is life?--'tis like a flower That blossoms and is gone; It flourishes its little hour, With all its beauty on: Death comes, and, like a wintry day, It cuts the lovely flower away. 2 O, what is life?--'tis like the bow That glistens in the sky: We love to see its colors glow; But, while we look, they die: Life fails as soon:--to-day 'tis here; To-morrow it may disappear. 3 Lord, what is life?--if spent with thee In humble praise and prayer, How long or short our life may be, We feel no anxious care: Though life depart, our joys shall last When life and all its joys are past. 520. L. M. Bowring. Our Times are in thy Hand. 1 Our times are in thy hand, and thou Wilt guide our footsteps at thy will: Lord, to thy purposes we bow, Do thou thy purposes fulfil! 2 Life's mighty waters roll along, Thy spirit guides them as they roll; And waves on waves impetuous throng At thy command, at thy control. 3 Lord, we, thy children, look to thee, And with an humble, prostrate will, Find in thine all-sufficiency A claim to love and serve thee still. 521. S. M. Edmeston. "Why sayest thou--my way is hid from the Lord?" 1 Along my earthly way, How many clouds are spread! Darkness, with scarce one cheerful ray, Seems gathering o'er my head. 2 Yet, Father, thou art love: O hide not from my view! But when I look, in prayer, above, Appear in mercy through! 3 My pathway is not hid; Thou knowest all my need; And I would do as Israel did,-- Follow where thou wilt lead. 4 Lead me, and then my feet Shall never, never stray; But safely I shall reach the seat Of happiness and day. 5 And O from that bright throne, I shall look back, and see,-- The path I went, and that alone, Was the right path for me. 522. C. M. Needham. The Dead speaking to the Living. 1 Rise, O my soul! pursue the path By ancient worthies trod; Aspiring, view those holy men Who lived and walked with God. 2 Though dead, they speak in reason's ear, And in example live; Their faith, and hope, and mighty deeds, Still fresh instruction give. 3 Confiding in his heavenly strength, They conquered every foe; To his almighty power and grace Their crowns of life they owe. 4 Lord, may I ever keep in view The patterns thou hast given; And never wander from the road That led them safe to heaven. 523. C. M. Barbauld. The Pilgrimage of Life. 1 Our country is Immanuel's ground; We seek that promised soil; The songs of Zion cheer our hearts, While strangers here we toil.