The Future dim with doubt and fear;
But, Father, yet we praise Thy name,
Whose guardian love is always near.

2 For man has striven, ages long,
With faltering steps to come to Thee,
And in each purpose high and strong
The influence of Thy grace could see.

3 He could not breathe an earnest prayer,
But Thou wast kinder than he dreamed,
As age by age brought hopes more fair,
And nearer still Thy kingdom seemed.

4 But never rose within his breast
A trust so calm and deep as now;--
Shall not the weary find a rest?
Father, Preserver, answer Thou!

5 'Tis dark around, 'tis dark above,
But through the shadow streams the sun;
We cannot doubt Thy certain love;
And Man's true aim shall yet be won!

188. 6s. M. Anonymous.

Behold, He Cometh.

1 Hark! through the waking earth,
Hark! through the echoing sky,
Herald of freedom's birth,
There comes a glorious cry.

2 The triple chains that bind
Fall from the weary limb,
And from the down-crushed mind,
As soundeth that high hymn.

3 Unto man's waiting heart
It saith,--"Arise, be strong!
Bear thou an earnest part
Against all forms of wrong.

4 "Wouldst live in earth as lives
The glorious One above?
He for thy model gives
Himself, and he is Love.

5 "Love in each brother man
The God who loveth him;
Revere the stamp of heaven,
However marred and dim.

6 "Bid fear give place to love;
Bid doubt and passion cease;
Be every word of hate
Forever hushed in peace."

7 Sound, sound through all the earth!
Sound through the echoing sky!
Proclaim the world's new birth;
Proclaim the Lord is nigh!

189. 7s. M. *Montgomery.

The Liberty of the Sons of God.

1 God made all his creatures free;
Life itself is liberty;
God ordained no other bands
Than united hearts and hands.

2 Sin the primal charter broke,--
Sin, itself earth's heaviest yoke;
Tyranny with sin began,
Man o'er brute, and man o'er man.

3 But a better day shall be,
Life again be liberty,
And the wide world's only bands
Love-knit hearts and love-linked hands.

4 So shall every slavery cease,
All God's children dwell in peace,