Gilmore, in 1859, at the close of a lecture in the First Baptist Church, Philadelphia. It has helped me many a time and oft, and I expect that it will help me now and always to the end.

HE leaders with heavenly comfort fraugs.!

E leadeth me! Oh, blessèd thought!

Whate'er I do, where'er I be,

Still 't is God's hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me! He leadeth me!
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Sometimes 'mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,
By waters calm, o'er troubled sea,
Still 't is God's hand that leadeth me.

Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine;
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,

Since 't is my God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When, by Thy grace, the victory 's won,
E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
Since Thou through Jordan leadest me.

TUNE FROM SANKEY'S "SONGS AND SOLOS."

44-I DO NOT ASK, O LORD.

AMONG the most helpful hymns of modern times is Adelaide Procter's Prayer for Guidance. Like the author of "Lead, Kindly Light," Miss Procter died in the Roman Communion.

I1

DO not ask, O Lord, that life
A pleasant road;

be may

I do not ask that Thou wouldst take from me
Aught of its load.

I do not ask that flowers should always spring
Beneath my feet;

I know too well the poison and the sting
Of things too sweet.

For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead:
Lead me aright,

Though strength should falter and though heart should bleed,

Through peace to light.

I do not ask, O Lord, that Thou shouldst shed
Full radiance here;

Give but a ray

of

Without a fear.

peace, that I may tread

I do not ask my cross to understand,
My way to see;

Better in darkness just to feel Thy hand,
And follow Thee.

Joy is like restless day; but peace divine
Like quiet night.

Lead me, O Lord, till perfect day shall shine,
Through peace to light.

TUNE BARNBY'S "AD LUCEM."

45-GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY. COWPER'S hymn has helped multitudes to bear up under the blows of apparently adverse fortune. Within a year of the writing of this beautiful and touching hymn, Cowper's reason reeled, and he endeavoured to commit suicide by drowning in the Ouse. It is some poor consolation to know that his attempt at suicide was not a suicide of despair, but rather the perversion

of the spirit of resignation and joyful submission which finds expression in the hymn. Newton says that Cowper tried to take his life, believing it was a sacrifice which God required at his hands. The accepted legend is that he had proposed to commit suicide at a certain place, but as the driver of the postchaise could not find it, he returned home without putting his purpose into execution, and there composed this hymn.

OD moves in a mysterious way

G 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 bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take:
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall 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.
TUNE

"ST. LEONARD'S" OR "LONDON NEW."

The third verse has been much used in times of

danger and distress. It was often sung during the cotton famine, and there are few persons who cannot recall times and seasons when its comforting assurances helped to give fortitude and tranquillity to the soul. It would be difficult to find a hymn which more exactly corresponds to Lord Wolseley's ideal of a hymn, "plenty of consolation and not too much theology."

46-WHEN GATHERING CLOUDS AROUND I VIEW.

THIS is another of the hymns by Sir R. Grant, at one
time Governor of Bombay.

Wand days are dark and friends are few,
WHEN

THEN gathering clouds around I view,

On Him I lean, who not in vain
Experienced every human pain.

He sees my wants, allays my fears,
And counts and treasures up my tears.
If aught should tempt my soul to stray
From heavenly wisdom's narrow way,
To flee the good I would pursue,
Or do the sin I would not do;
Still He, who felt temptation's power,
Shall guard me in that dangerous hour.
If wounded love my bosom swell,
Deceived by those I prized too well,
He shall His pitying aid bestow,
Who felt on earth severer woe,
At once betrayed, denied, or fled,
By those who shared His daily bread.
If vexing thoughts within me rise,
And, sore dismayed, my spirit dies :
Yet He, who once vouchsafed to bear

The sickening anguish of despair,
Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry
The throbbing heart, the streaming eye.
When sorrowing o'er some stone I bend,
Which covers what was once a friend;
And from his hand, his voice, his smile,
Divides me for a little while,
My Saviour marks the tears I shed:
For Jesus wept o'er Lazarus dead.

And O! when I have safely passed
Through every conflict but the last :
Still, still unchanging, watch beside
My dying bed-for Thou hast died:
Then point to realms of cloudless day,
And wipe the latest tear away.

TUNE" STELLA."

This was one of the favourites of John Gough, the great temperance lecturer.

When the late Sir Edward Baines, founder and proprietor of the Leeds Mercury, and veteran reformer, lay dying, he asked his family to sing this hymn, after which he said with great thankfulness: "I feel inexpressibly full of His presence and glory.”

47 THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.

FOR simplicity and unwavering confidence, there are few hymns of guidance to compare with this little song and chorus from Mr. Sankey's collection.

N some way or other the Lord will provide;

way, may way:

And yet in His own way, "the Lord will provide." Then we'll trust in the Lord, and He will

provide;

Yes, we'll trust in the Lord, and He will

provide.