Where wilt thou put thy trust? In a frail form of clay, That to its element of dust Must soon resolve away? Where will thou cast thy care? Upon an erring heart, Which hath its own sore ills to bear, And shrinks from sorrow's dart? No! place thy trust above This shadowy realm of night, In Him, whose boundless power and love Thy confidence invite. His mercies still endure When skies and stars grow dim, His changeless promise standeth sure, Go,--cast thy care on Him. --_Mrs. Sigourney._ One there is above all others, Well deserves the name of Friend; His is love beyond a brother's, Costly, free and knows no end. Which of all our friends, to save us, Could or would have shed his blood? But our Jesus died to have us Reconciled in Him to God. When He lived on earth abasèd, Friend of sinners was His name; Now, above all glory raisèd, He rejoices in the same. Could we bear from one another What He daily bears from us? Yet this glorious Friend and Brother Loves us though we treat Him thus. Oh for grace our hearts to soften! Teach us, Lord, at length to love! We, alas! forget too often What a Friend we have above. --_Newton._ God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill, He treasures up His vast designs, And works His sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and will break In blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour, The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And he will make it plain. --_Cowper._ Onward, Christian, though the region Where thou art be drear and lone; God has set a guardian legion Very near thee; press thou on. Listen, Christian; their hosanna Rolleth o'er thee: "God is love," Write upon thy red-cross banner, "Upward ever; heaven's above." By the thorn-road, and none other, Is the mount of vision won; Tread it without shrinking, brother; Jesus trod it; press thou on. Be this world the wiser, stronger, For thy life of pain and peace, While it needs thee; oh! no longer Pray thou for thy quick release. Pray thou, Christian, daily rather, That thou be a faithful son; By the prayer of Jesus, "Father, Not my will, but thine, be done." --_Johnson._ THANKFULNESS.