"Have mercy upon me, O GOD, after Thy great goodness: according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin."-Psalm li. 1, 2.

LORD, hear a sinner's prayer,
Bowed down by fear and grief,
Impart Thy HOLY SPIRIT'S grace,
To minister relief.

Blot out my many sins,

And on my soul bestow

Strength to conclude my pilgrimage,
In this sad world below.

Have mercy on me, LORD;

A grain of sea-shore sand,

For JESU's sake Thy pardon give,

And guide me with Thine hand.

That through the Vale of Death,
Supported by Thy love,

Thy Church triumphant I may meet,
Hereafter, up above.

A Christmas Carol.

"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."-S. Luke ii. 10.

BLUE is the sky, bright stars are there,

The snow around is spread,

The trees are desolate and bare,

The spring-born leaves are dead.

The night is cold, the streets seem wide,
The crystal snow-flakes weave

A garment white for Christmas-tide,
For Holy Christmas Eve.

"Tis meet that such a garb should dress

At this glad time the earth,

For now we celebrate and bless
Our SAVIOUR's humble birth.

As did the Holy Angels sing,

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Glory to GOD on high!"

So let our earth-born anthems ring

To Heaven's starry sky.

As sunbeams from the gate of Heaven
Shine forth at morning's birth,

So did the joyful tidings given
Illume our darksome earth.

The night is cold, the streets seem wide,
The crystal snow-flakes weave
A garment white for Christmas-tide,
For Holy Christmas Eve.

As did at this time Angels sing,

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'Glory to GOD above!"

So let our earth-born anthems ring
In praise of GOD's vast love.

Judea Capta.

"For the days shall come upon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee, and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another."-S. Luke xix. 43, 44.

THE star-spangled mantle of night was o'erspread, Where rich eastern sunbeams had lately shone red: The tents of the Romans stood thick in the vale, Like waves of the ocean upheaved by a gale.

The shade of the temple fell dark o'er the hill,— The Priests all sat silent,-the Levites were still: Famine raged in the city, his withering breath Like wind in the desert,-was laden with death.

When the crimson moon rose 'mid the stars in the sky,

The clashing of weapons was heard upon high, While a sound from the Temple struck deep in each heart,

And a slow mournful voice whispered "Let us depart."

When morning arrived, Hope for Israel had fled, Zion's walls had succumbed and confusion had

spread :

The wail of the vanquished,-GOD's nation of

yore,

Seemed like moaning of waves on a desolate shore.

Their kingdom and glory is passed, like the light Of a meteor that gleameth awhile in the Night, Still the hand of a SAVIOUR is outstretched to save, And by faith in His Cross all can conquer the grave!