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HELPS 
 
 FOR EYERY HOUR 
 
 M VIS3 3 BT THB COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION OF TH» 
 JLMBRICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL tJNION, 
 
 No. 1122 CHEBTNtrr Stbiet, 
 
Entered according \o act of Congress, in the year 1845, by 
 the American Sunday-school Union, in the clerk's office of the 
 district Court of the E *tern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 WAKING . . 
 
 Page 
 
 . 5 
 
 EATING . . 
 
 Page 
 
 22 
 
 RISING . . . 
 
 . 6 
 
 DRINKING 
 
 . . 22 
 
 PRAYING . . 
 
 . . 6 
 
 HOPING . . < 
 
 . 23 
 
 WALKING . . 
 
 . 7 
 
 FEARING . . 
 
 . 24 
 
 WORKING . . , 
 
 . 8 
 
 DOUBTING 
 
 . 24 
 
 RESTING . . 
 
 . 8 
 
 TRUSTING 
 
 . 25 
 
 READING . . 
 
 . 9 
 
 ENDURING 
 
 . . 25 
 
 THINKING 
 
 . 10 
 
 ENJOYING 
 
 . . 26 
 
 TRAVELLING . 
 
 . 10 
 
 LEARNING 
 
 . . 27 
 
 BUYING . *. , 
 
 . 11 
 
 TEACHING 
 
 . . 27 
 
 SELLING . . 
 
 . 12 
 
 REPROVING . 
 
 28 
 
 BORROWING . 
 
 . . 12 
 
 PRAISING . . 
 
 . . 29 
 
 LENDING . . 
 
 • 13 
 
 SORROWING . 
 
 . . 29 
 
 WINNING . . 
 
 . . 14 
 
 REJOICING 
 
 . . 30 
 
 LOSING . . 
 
 . 14 
 
 COMMANDING . 
 
 . . 30 
 
 SEEKING 
 
 . 15 
 
 OBEYING . . 
 
 . . 31 
 
 FINDING . . 
 
 . 16 
 
 POSSESSING . 
 
 . 31 
 
 MEETING . . 
 
 . 16 
 
 RESIGNING . 
 
 . 32 
 
 PARTING . 
 
 . 17 
 
 KNOWING 
 
 . 33 
 
 HEARING . . 
 
 . . 18 
 
 WATCHING . 
 
 . 33 
 
 TALKING . . 
 
 . . 18 
 
 WAITING . .• . 
 
 . 34 
 
 SAVING . . 
 
 . . 19 
 
 SINNING . . 
 
 . 34 
 
 SPENDING 
 
 , . 20 
 
 REPENTING . 
 
 . . 35 
 
 GIVING 
 
 , . 20 
 
 LIVING . . 
 
 . 35 
 
 RECEIVING . 
 
 . . 21 
 
 DYING . . 
 
 . 36 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/helpsforeveryhouOOamer 
 
^, E * S .!J1° F N : C - AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 00022245456 
 
 HELPS- 
 FOR EVERY HOUR. 
 
 WAKING. 
 
 Again I wake refreshed ! The morning light 
 Breaks through the darkness, pleasant to my sight. 
 Almighty God! what shall I give to thee 
 For all thy goodness and thy gifts to me? 
 
 We owe God more when we awake than we owed him 
 vrhen we slept. To sleep is a great mercy, but to awake is 
 a greater. Let our souls be awake as well as our bodies. 
 
 I laid me down and slept : I awaked ; for the 
 Lord sustained me. Ps. iii. 5. 
 
 Awake to righteousness, and sin not ; for some 
 have not the knowledge of God. 1 Cor. xv. 34. 
 
 Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the 
 dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Eph. v. 14. 
 
 It is high time to awake out of sleep ; for now 
 ;s our salvation nearer than when we believed. 
 Rom. xiii. 11. 
 
HELPS FOB EVERT HOUR. 
 
 RISING. 
 
 While from mj bed with grateful heart I rise, 
 Guide thou, this daj , great Ruler of the skies, 
 My thoughts, my words and deeds through every hour, 
 And in my weakness manifest thy power. 
 
 Better keep thy bed in sickness, than rise in health to do 
 evil. If God has refreshed thee in slumber, glorify him in 
 thy waking hours. Let thy rising from sleep remind thee 
 of the rising of Christ from the grave, and of a risen Friend 
 and Advocate above. 
 
 Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 
 Luke xxii. 46. 
 
 I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, 
 but ye heard not ; and I called you, but ye an- 
 swered not. Jer. vii. 13. 
 
 Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become 
 the first fruits of them that slept. 1 Cor. xv. 20. 
 
 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things 
 which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right 
 hand of God. Set your affections on things above, 
 lot on things on the earth. Col. in. 1, 2. 
 
 PRAYING. 
 
 While angels veil their faces with their wings, 
 Before the Lord of lords, and King of kings, 
 Can I approach him with my wants and care ? 
 Oh, what a precious privilege is prayer ! 
 
 In prayer we ask God to do for us that which we cannot* 
 do for ourselves. 
 
 What nation is there so great, who hath God 
 
 - 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 7 
 
 nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all 
 things that we call upon him for ? Deut. iv. 7. 
 
 If thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt 
 find him ; if thou seek him with all thy heart, and 
 with all thy soul. Deut. iv. 29. 
 
 When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and 
 when thou hast shut thy do^r, pray to thy Father 
 which is in secret ; and thy Father which seeth in 
 secret shall reward thee openly. Matt. vi. 6. 
 
 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all 
 flesh come. Ps. Ixv. 2. 
 
 WALKING. 
 
 While roaming joyfully, in shine or shade, 
 I tread this beauteous earth that thou hast made, 
 Lord, let me walk in wisdom's pleasant ways, 
 And live in love, in thankfulness, and praise. 
 
 Who walks with God walks wisely and securely. Though 
 in a furnace of fire, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 
 were unhurt, for he who walked with them had a form like 
 the Son of God. 
 
 If ye will walk after other gods, ye shall perish. 
 Deut. viii. 19. 
 
 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the 
 jiving. Ps. cxvi. 9. 
 
 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel 
 of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, 
 nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his 
 delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law 
 doth he meditate day and night. Ps. i. 1, 2. 
 
© HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 
 
 WORKING. 
 
 In all our works how little is our care, 
 To honour him whose workmanship we are : 
 Be this my joy, to love him more, and still 
 Perform his work, and do his holy will. 
 
 Is the labourer worthy of his hire ? Then he that doeth 
 wickedness will have the recompense of wickedness, while 
 he that worketh righteousness shall have a righteous reward. 
 
 The night cometh when no man can work 
 John ix. 4. 
 
 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every 
 good word and work. 2 Thess. ii. 17. 
 
 Work out your own salvation with fear and 
 trembling. For it is God which worketh in you, 
 both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 
 Phil, ii* 12, 13. 
 
 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle, who 
 shall dwell in thy holy hill ? He that walketh up- 
 rightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh 
 the truth in his heart. Ps. xv.1,2. 
 
 RESTING. 
 
 If earthly rest be sweet, how doubfy blest 
 To enter and enjoy a heavenly rest, 
 Where peace and joy are interrupted never, 
 And love and holiness abide for ever ! 
 
 To the storm-tost mariner — to the tcil-worn traveller— 
 to the weary body and the troubled spirit, oh what a blessing 
 is rest ! 
 
 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work, 
 but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 9 
 
 God : in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, not 
 thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor 
 thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor the stranger 
 within thy gates. Exod. xx. 10. 
 
 The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it 
 cannot rest, who«e waters cast up mire and dirt. 
 There is no peuce, saith my God, to the wicked. 
 Is. lvii. 20, 21. 
 
 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people 
 of God. Let us labour therefore to enter into that 
 rest. Heb. iv.9, 11. 
 
 Return unto thy rest, O my soul ; for the Lord 
 hath dealt bountifully with thee. Ps. cxvi. 7. 
 
 READING. 
 
 Whate'er, O Lord, of value may be found 
 Where volumes rare and learned books abound, 
 Thy word, a treasure-house of pearls and gold, 
 Outweighs them all a thousand thousand-fold. 
 
 Happy is he who desires to read, loves V? search, and 
 delights to obey the Scriptures. 
 
 Search the Scriptures : for in them ye think ye 
 have eternal life; and they are they which testify 
 of me John v. 39. 
 
 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear 
 the words of this prophecy and keep those things 
 which are written therein. Rev. i. 3. 
 
 Understandest thou what thou readest 1 Acts 
 viii. 30. 
 
 Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone 
 which the builders rejected, the same is become 
 the head of the corner ? this is the Lord's doing 
 and n is marvellous in our eyes. Matt. xxi. 42 
 
10 HELPS FOR EVERT HOUR. 
 
 THINKING. 
 
 Much more we think of earthly joy and care, 
 Of passing scenes and trifles light as air, 
 Than of his grace who formed this earthly ball, 
 The great, the good, the mighty Lord of all ! 
 
 Guard well thy thoughts, that thy words may be wise 
 *nd thine actions upright. 
 
 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation 
 of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, 
 my strength, and my redeemer. Ps. xix. 14. 
 
 I am poor and needy ; yet the Lord thinketh 
 upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; 
 make no tarrying, O my God. Ps. xl. 17. 
 
 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed 
 lest he fall. 1 Cor. x. 12. 
 
 What think ye of Christ ? Matt. xxii. 42. 
 
 In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man 
 cometh. Matt. xxiv. 44. 
 
 TRAVELLING. 
 
 Be thou, my God, where'er my feet may roam, 
 My Friend and Father, and thy heaven my home; 
 Where'er I ride, or sail, or walk, or be, 
 Lord, let me always journey on to thee. 
 
 Life is a journey, and solemn is the thought that every 
 day we are a stage nearer to heaven or to hell. 
 
 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding 
 of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come 
 as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed 
 man. Prov. vi. 10, 11. 
 
 The stranger did not lodge in the street; but I 
 opened my doors to the traveller. Job xxxi. 32 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 11 
 
 Who is this that cometh from Edora, with dyed 
 garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in 
 his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his 
 strength 1 I that speak in righteousness, mighty 
 to save. Is lxiii. 1. 
 
 BUYING 
 
 Though wealth may buy ; though money can command 
 Estates and furniture, and house and land, 
 Whate'er I purchase, this be still my cry, 
 Lord, give me that which money cannot buy ! 
 
 Money can buy much for the body and time ; but it can 
 purchase nothing for the soul and eternity. 
 
 It is nought, it is nought, saith the buyer ; but 
 when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. Prov, 
 xx. 14. 
 
 Buy the truth, and sell it not, also wisdom, and 
 instruction, and understanding. Prov. xxiii. 23. 
 
 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the 
 waters, and he that hath no money ; come ye, buy 
 and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk without 
 money and without price. Is. lv. 1. 
 
 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the 
 fire, that thou mayest be rich ; and white raiment, 
 that thou mayest be clothed. Rev. iii. 18. 
 
19 HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR 
 
 SELLING. 
 
 Among mankind, let this my maxim be, 
 To do, as I would they should do to me '• 
 Let me not sin, to gain a hundred fold, 
 Let me not sell myself for glittering gold 
 
 Though the wealth of the world be offered thee as the 
 purchase-money, sell not thyself unto sin. 
 
 Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we 
 will go into such a city, and continue there a year, 
 and buy and sell, and get gain. Whereas ye 
 know not what shall be on the morrow. For what 
 is your life ? It is even a vapour, that appeareth 
 for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Jas. 
 iv. 13, 14. 
 
 If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou 
 hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have 
 treasure in heaven : and come and follow me. 
 Matt. xix. 21. 
 
 The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid 
 in a field ; the which when a man hath found, he 
 hidetn, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that 
 ne hath, and buyeth that field. Matt. xiii. 44. 
 
 BORROWING. 
 
 The borrower's rugged path is mud and mire, 
 And thickly set with pointed thorn and brier ; 
 The less thou borrowest, the less of pain 
 Thou hast to bear — the less *o pay again. 
 
 He who is at ease and desires to be in trouble, or he who 
 has a little distress and will make it more, let him borrow. 
 
 And the same servant went out, and found one 
 of his fellow-servants, which owed him an hundred 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 13 
 
 pence : and he laid hands on him, and took him by 
 the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. Matt, 
 xviii.28. 
 
 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower 
 is servant to the lender. Prov. xxii. 7. 
 
 LENDING. 
 
 If God has given thee gold, and house and land, 
 Lend to thy neighbour with a liberal hand, 
 If he be poor, and honest, and distrest; 
 Then thou in blessing doubly shalt be blest. 
 
 Whoso lends with kindness and discretion, does good and 
 gets good :. he relieves another's heart, and adds to his own 
 happiness. 
 
 Thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut 
 thine hand from thy poor brother : but thou shalt 
 open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely 
 lend him sufficient for his need. Dent. xv. 7, 8. 
 
 A good man showeth favour and lendeth : he 
 will guide bis affairs with discretion. Ps. cxii. 5. 
 
 If ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, 
 what thank have ye ? for sinners also lend to 
 sinners to receive so much again. But love ye 
 your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for 
 nothing again ; and your reward shall be great. 
 Luke vi. 34, 35. 
 
 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that 
 would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Matt 
 v. 42. 
 
li HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 
 
 WINNING. 
 
 Whate'er in worldly ways the path I choose , 
 Whate'er of health and wealth I win or lose ; 
 Oh grant me, Lord, the pardon of my sin, 
 And give me grace eternal life to win. 
 
 Some have been ruined by success. Examine then the 
 prize thou desirest to obtain, for if it be more likely to do 
 thee evil than good, thou hadst better be a loser than a 
 winner. 
 
 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life ; and 
 he that winneth souls is wise. Prov. xi. 30. 
 
 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss 
 for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus 
 my Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of all 
 things, and do count them but dung, that I may 
 win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine 
 own righteousness, which is of the law, but that 
 which is through the faith of Christ, the righteous- 
 ness which is of God by faith. Phil. iii. 8, 9. 
 
 LOSING. 
 
 If Christ be mine, a gainer I shall be, 
 Though toss'd and wreck'd on life's tempestuous sea; 
 Let the winds blow, and angry waters roll, 
 Whate'er my loss, let me not lose my soul . 
 
 Fear not though thou losest all things in the earth ; but 
 have a care that thou losest not heaven ! 
 
 There is a time to get, and a time to lose. 
 Eccles. iii. 6. 
 
 The son of man is come to save that which was 
 lost. Matt, xviii. 11. 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 15 
 
 What is a man profited, if he shall gain the 
 whole world, and lose his own soul ? or what 
 shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt 
 xvi. 26. ' 
 
 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose 
 it, and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve 
 it. Luke xvii. 33. 
 
 And this is the Father's will which hath sen* 
 me, that of all which he has given me I shoulo. 
 lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the 
 last day. John vi. 39. 
 
 SEEKING. 
 
 Whate'er thejoyL to which thou art inclined, 
 Seek earthly objects with a moderate mind; 
 But, while thy months and moments fleetly roll, 
 Thy Saviour seek with all thy heart and soul. 
 
 Is it prudent to prefer pebbles to pearls*? Is it wise to 
 seek the things of time, and to leave unsought those of 
 eternity? 
 
 If thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt 
 find him ; if thou seek him with all thy heart 
 and with all thy soul. Deut. iv. 29. 
 
 Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his 
 righteousness, and all these things shall be added 
 unto you. Take, therefore, no thought for the 
 morrow ; for the morrow shall take thought for the 
 things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil 
 thereof. Matt. vi. 33, 34. 
 
 Here we have no continuing city, but we seek 
 one to come. Heb. xiii. 14. 
 
16 HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 
 
 FINDING. 
 
 Who finds a treasure in the tYiingg of earth, 
 Finds that which often is of little worth, 
 But he to whom a Saviour's love is given, 
 Finds life eternal, happiness and heaven. 
 
 Finding favour in this world will be a loss, if thereby we 
 ose our interest in the world that is to come. 
 
 Most men will proclaim every one his own 
 goodness : but a faithful man who can find ? Prov. 
 xx. 6. 
 
 Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst 
 thou find out the Almighty to perfection ? Job xi. 7 
 
 Enter ye in at the strait gate : for wide is th& 
 gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruc- 
 tion, and many there be which go in thereat : be- 
 cause strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, 
 which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find 
 it. Matt. vh. 13, 14. 
 
 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and th© 
 man that getteth understanding. Prov, iii. 13. 
 
 MEETING. 
 
 How sweet on earth to meet with those we love 
 After long absence, and affection prove ! 
 How doubly sweet, though death awhile may sever, 
 To meet in heaven, and part no more for ever ! 
 
 God only can enable us to meet prosperity humbly, ad- 
 versity paiiently, and death with resignation and joy. 
 
 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, 
 rather than a fooi in hi* folly. Prov. xvii. 12. 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. I? 
 
 The rich and poor meet together : the Lord i§ 
 :ne maker of them all. Prov. xxii. 2. 
 
 Prepare to meet thy God. Amos iv. 12. 
 
 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 
 with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and 
 with the trump of God : and the dead in Christ 
 shall rise first. Then we which are alive and re- 
 main shall be caught up together with them in the 
 clouds, to meet the Lord in the air : and so shall 
 we ever he with the Lord. 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17. 
 
 PARTING. 
 
 Take courage. Christian ! cast away thy fears 
 In this vain world of parting, grief and tears, 
 And look above, to heaven's eternal throne, 
 Where tears, and grief, and parting are unknown. 
 
 We may part with our possessions, and again regain them. 
 We may part with our friends on earth, and meet them 
 again in heaven ; but if we once part with the favour of God, 
 we are lost for ever. 
 
 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave- thee, 
 or to return from following after thee : for 
 whither thou goest, I will go ; and where thou 
 lodgest, I will lodge : th j people shall be my peo- 
 ple, and thy God my >od : where thou dj>st, 
 will I die, and there will I be buried : the Lord 
 do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part 
 thee and me. Ruth i. lb", 17. 
 
 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he 
 was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 
 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jeru- 
 salem with great joy. Luke xxiv. 51, 52. 
 2* 
 
18 HELPS FOR KVi-UY HOUR. 
 
 HEARING. 
 
 When listening silently in thoughtful mood, 
 How much wc hear ! how little that is good ! 
 Wisdom in what is said some part may bear, 
 But folly often has the larger share. : 
 
 If what thou hearest be good, let it not escape thee : bm 
 if it be evil, then be thou deaf as an adder. 
 
 Incline your ear, and come unto me : hear, and 
 your soul shall live ; and I will make an everlast- 
 ing covenant with you, even the sure mercies of 
 David. For as the rain cometh down, and the 
 snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but 
 watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and 
 bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread 
 to the eater : so shall my word be that goeth forth 
 out of my mouth : it shall not return unto me void, 
 but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it 
 shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. ha, 
 lv. 3, 10,11. 
 
 TALKING. 
 
 As food, or good or bad, affects our health, 
 E'en so our words are poverty or wealth ; 
 Good words a healthy virtue will impart, 
 While bad words prove but poison to the heart. 
 
 Put this question to thyself: In the course of a day how 
 many wise words do I speak, and how many foolish ? 
 
 There are many unruly and vain talkers and 
 deceivers. Titus i. 10. 
 
 And it came to pass as Moses entered into the 
 tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood 
 
HELPS FOR KVERF HOUR. 1» 
 
 at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked 
 with Moses. Exod. xxxiii. 9. 
 
 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and 
 forsake not the law of thy mother. When thou 
 goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it 
 shall keep thee; and when thouawakest, it shall - 
 talk with thee. Prov. vi. 20, 22. 
 
 Ail thy works shall praise thee, O Lord ; and 
 thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of 
 the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power. 
 Ps. exlv. 10» 11. 
 
 SAVING. 
 
 Whate'er thou savest in thy day of health, 
 Of this world's good, its wisdom and its wealth. 
 Fail not to save with care thy heart and breath 
 For Him who saved thee from eternal death. 
 
 Lay up, if thou canst, among thy savings, hope for thy 
 youth, faith for thine age, and peace for thy latter end. 
 
 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 
 1 Tim. i. 15. 
 
 I, even I, am the Lord : and beside me there is 
 no Saviour, ha. xliii. 11. 
 
 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul : oh save me 
 for thy mercies' sake. Ps. vi. 4. 
 
 Now unto him that is able to keep you from 
 falling, and to present you faultless before the pre- 
 sence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only 
 wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, 
 dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen 
 Jude24, 25. 
 
20 HELP« FOR EVERY HOUft. 
 
 SPENDING. 
 
 Spend wisely, soshalt thou be free from straits, 
 And feed the hungry poor within thy gates ; 
 But let thy spending for the Lord be free ; — 
 Remember how he spent his life for thee ! 
 
 Pause when pleasure asks thee for thy purse ; but when 
 thou canst do good, better will it be to spend than to spare. 
 
 We spend our years as a tale that is told. The 
 days of our years are threescore years and ten ; and 
 if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, 
 yet is their strength labour and sorrow ; for it is 
 soon cut off, and we flee away. Ps. xc. 9, 10. 
 
 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is 
 not bread ? and your labour for that which satis- 
 fieth not ? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye 
 that which is good, and let your soul delight itself 
 in fatness. Isa. lv. 2. 
 
 The night is far spent, the day is at hand : let 
 us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and 
 let us put on the armour of light. Rom. xiii. 12. 
 
 GIVING. 
 
 Thy mercies, Lord, around me freely shed, 
 Outnumber far the hairs upon my head ; 
 Shame on me, then, should I a niggard be, 
 And grudge, when thou hast given so much tome. 
 
 If thou wouldst prize the gift of a king, how highly 
 shouldest thou value the gifts bestowed on thee by the King 
 of kings. 
 
 Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these 
 tittle ones a cup of cold water only in the name oi 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 21 
 
 a disciple, verily I say unto you, He shall in no 
 wise lose his reward. Matt. x. 42. 
 
 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of 
 the tree of life, which is in the midst of the para- 
 dise of God. Rev. ii. 7. 
 
 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered 
 him up for us all, how shall he not with him also 
 freely give us all things? Rom. viii. 32. 
 
 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, 
 that giveth to ail men liberally, and upbraideth not , 
 and it shall be given him. Jas. i. 5. 
 
 RECEIVING. 
 
 If earthly gifts my thankfulness command, 
 Much more the gifts of an Almighty hand 
 Should move me to receive in thankful mood, 
 And fill my 60ul with love and gratitude. 
 
 If we thought less of the things we desire, and more of 
 the things we have already received of God, we should be 
 doubly thankful. 
 
 Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and 
 shall we not receive evil ? Job ii. 10. 
 
 He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, 
 driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that 
 man think that he shall receive any thing of the 
 Lord. Jas. i. 6, 7. 
 
 Receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 Cc~. 
 vi. 1. 
 
 When the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye 
 6hall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 
 I Pet. v. 4 
 
33 HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 
 
 EATING. 
 
 Does He who formed me feed me ? guide my ways? 
 And give me health, and strength, and length of days? 
 Let His, then, be my heart, whate'er befall, 
 My life, my soul, my energies, my all ! 
 
 My food is a blessing ; but if I use the strength it givet 
 re to do evil, I make it a curse. 
 
 And the Lord God commanded tjie man, say- 
 ing, Of every tree of the garden thou may est freely 
 eat : but of the tree of the knowledge of good and 
 evil, thou shalt not eat of it ; for in the day that 
 thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Gen. ii. 
 16, 17. 
 
 The meek shall eat and be satisfied. Ps. xxiL 
 26. 
 
 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every 
 word of God. Luke iv. 4. 
 
 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or what- 
 soever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 
 x. 31. 
 
 DRINKING. 
 
 Be on thy guard ! be temperate ! Alas ! 
 A fiery serpent lurks within the glass : 
 Its subtle poison may afiect thy breath, 
 And haply bring thee to eternal death. 
 
 The drunkard commits himself to the guidance of folly 
 and sin, and " puts an enemy into his mouth to steal away 
 his brains." 
 
 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep. Joel i. 5. 
 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, 
 when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it 
 
HELPS FOR EVERT HOUR. 23 
 
 moveth itself arignt. At the last it biteth like a 
 serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes 
 shall behold strange women, and thy heart shall 
 utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he 
 that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he 
 that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have 
 stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick ; 
 they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall 
 I awake ? I will seek it yet again. Prov. xxiii. 
 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. 
 
 HOPING. 
 
 Hope, heavenly hope, supports us every hour, 
 And leads us on with heart-sustaining power ; 
 Smiies brightest far when earthly ills arise, 
 And waves her wings, and bears us to the skies. 
 
 While despondency prompts the Christian soldier to lay 
 down his arms, hope animates his heart, and leads him on 
 to victory. 
 
 The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job viii. 13 
 
 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his 
 help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. Ps. 
 cxlvi. 5. 
 
 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, 
 even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath 
 given us everlasting consolation and good hope 
 through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish 
 you in every good word and work. 2 Thess. ii. 
 16, 17. 
 
 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, 
 both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into 
 that within the veil. Heb. vi. 19. 
 
24 HELPS FOR EVERT JK UR. 
 
 FEARING. 
 
 Amidst the storm and tempest, flood and flame. 
 Who fear the Lord, and praise his noly name, 
 Whatever ills betide, are yet secure, 
 And shall through countless ages still endure. 
 
 One half the things that fright us are but shadows. Let 
 the fear of the Lord secure thee from all worldly, slavish fear. 
 
 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear 
 him ; and he will show them his covenant. Ps. xxv. 
 14. 
 
 In every nation he that feareth him, and worketh 
 righteousness, is accepted with him. Acts x. 35, 
 
 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast 
 laid up for them that fear thee. Ps. xxxi. 19. 
 
 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life, and he that 
 hath it shall abide satisfied : he shall not be visited 
 with evil. Prov. xix. 23. 
 
 DOUBTING. 
 
 Doubt if thou wilt the golden sun that glows — 
 The promises that this fair world bestows, 
 With all that youth, and health, and wealth afford; 
 But never, for one moment, doubt the Lord. 
 
 Doubt eclipses the brightness of the Sun of righteousness, 
 while faith exhibits him in all his glory. 
 
 An excellent spirit, and knowledge, and under- 
 standing, interpreting of dreams, and showing of 
 hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were 
 found in the same Daniel, whom the king called 
 Belteshazzar. Ban. v. 12. 
 
 Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, 
 and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore 
 didst thou doubt ? Malt, xi 31. 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 25 
 
 Neither be ye of doubtful mind. Luke xii. 29 
 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss 
 
 for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ 
 
 Jesus my Lord. Phil. iii. 8. 
 
 TRUSTING. 
 
 Trust in a prince — he from his word may fly; 
 Trust in a friend — the dearest friend will die ; 
 Trust thine own heart — 'tis faithless, insecure; 
 But trust in God, and then thou shalt endure. 
 
 Build thy hopes on the shifting sand, and they shall fall ; 
 erect them on the Rock of Ages, and the tempes:s shall vvat 
 against them in vain. 
 
 Trust in the Lord, and do good ; so shalt thou 
 dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 
 Ps. xxxvii. 3. 
 
 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, 
 and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as 
 a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth 
 out her roots by the river, and shall not see when 
 heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green ; and shall 
 not be careful in the year of drought, neither shai^ 
 cease from yielding fruit. Jer. xvii. 7, 8. 
 
 ENDURING. 
 
 Whate'er be mine of trial, grief, and pain, 
 Teach me, O Lord, with calmness to sus'ain ; 
 How meekly should I bear them when I see 
 What thou hast borne upon the cross for me,!' 
 
 Remember, Christian, that God knows bo'h thy strength 
 and thy weakness, and be assured that he will lay on theo 
 no heavier burden than thou art able to bear. 
 
 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation : for 
 when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, 
 3 
 
26 HELPS FOR ETERY HOUR. 
 
 which Lie Lord hath promised to them that love 
 him Jas. i. 12. 
 
 Vv'eoping may endure for a night, but joy cometh 
 in the morning - . Ps. xxx. 5. 
 
 His name shall endure forever: his name shall 
 be continued as long as the sun : and men shall be 
 blessed in him : all nations shall call him blessed. 
 Ps. lxxii. 17. 
 
 He that endureth to the end shall be saved. 
 Matt. x. 22. 
 
 ENJOYING 
 
 Remember, while thy pulse is beating fast 
 With joy, that sinful pleasures cannot last. 
 Though much of worldly bliss may here be given, 
 This earth will pass away, — look on to heaven! 
 
 Sad are the joys of to-day, if they bring affliction to- 
 morrow ; and fearful are the pleasures of earth, if they rob 
 us of the happiness of heaven. 
 
 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, re- 
 fused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter : 
 choosing rather to suffer affliction w'tfc the people 
 of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a 
 season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater 
 friches than the treasures in Egypt. Heb. xi. 24 — 
 26. 
 
 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove 
 thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure : and, be 
 hold, this also is vanity. Eccles. ii. 1. 
 
 Charge them that are rich in this world, that 
 >hey be not high-iainded, nor trust in uncertain 
 riches, but in the li ang God, who giveth us richly 
 .all things tc enjoy. 1 Tim. vi. 17. 
 
HELPS FOl EVERY HOUR 
 
 LEARNING. 
 
 Whate'er I learn from fellow- sinners t ound, 
 While hopes and fears, and joys and griefs abound, 
 Kindness, and love, and meek humility, 
 My Lord and Saviour, I would learn of thee 
 
 The little we have learned compared with what we knc* 
 not, is about as much as the drop is to the ocean. 
 
 Moses was learned in ail the wisdom of the 
 Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 
 jfch vii. 22. 
 
 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; 
 and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise 
 counsels. Prov. i. 5. 
 
 Whatsoever things were written aforetime were 
 written for oar learning, that we through patience 
 and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 
 Rom. xv. 4. 
 
 But continue thou in the things which thou hast 
 learned. From a child thou hast known the Holy 
 Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise untp 
 salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesas 
 2 Tim. iii. 14, 15. 
 
 TEACHING. 
 
 Am I a teacher ? Need have I to pray 
 
 For heavenly light to guide me on my way: 
 
 Instruct me in the wisdom of thy word, 
 
 My Guide, my Friend, my Teacher, and my Lord! 
 
 He who learns of man may be wise for time ; but he 
 whom God teaches is taught for eternity. 
 
 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest 
 »hou not thyself? Rom. ii. 21. 
 
S8 HELPS FOR EVKR^ HOUR. 
 
 F jr the grace of God that bringeth salvation 
 hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, deny- 
 ing ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live 
 soberl}', righteously, and godly, in this present 
 world ; looking for that blessed hope, and the glo- 
 rious appearing of the great God and our Saviour 
 Jesus Christ. Tit. ii. 11—13. 
 
 Teach me to do thy will ; for thou art my God. 
 Ps. cxliii. 10. 
 
 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O 
 Lord, and teaches/; him out of thy law. Ps. xciv. 
 12. 
 
 REPROVING. 
 
 Reprove with meekness and in accents mild, 
 For thou thyself art error's erring child; 
 But should thy heart in sinful pathways roam, 
 Like a strong archer drive thine arrow home. 
 
 Did we reprove others as we would be reproved ourselves, 
 anger and bitterness would be unknown in our corrections. 
 
 Let the righteous smite me ; it shall be a kind- 
 ness : and let him reprove me ; it shall be an excel- 
 lent oil, which shall not break my head. Ps. 
 cxli. 5. 
 
 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than 
 an hundred stripes into a fool. Prov. xvii. 10. 
 
 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 
 and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for cor- 
 rection, for instruction in righteousness ; that the 
 man of God may be throughly furnished unto ail 
 good works. 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 29 
 
 PRAISING. 
 
 In praising man thy tongue should cautious be; 
 In praising God thy spirit should be free : 
 Not all the sounds that earthly tongues can raise, 
 Can tell his love, or half express his praise. 
 
 » 
 There are few things that do the heart more good, or 
 raise the spirit nearer to heaven, than a hearty hallelujah ! 
 
 I will praise the name of God with a song, and 
 will magnify him with thanksgiving. Ps. Ixix. 30, 
 
 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, 
 and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High. 
 To show forth thy loving kindness in the morning, 
 and thy faithfulness every night. Ps. xcii. 1, 2. 
 
 Show forth the praises of him who hath called 
 you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Pet, 
 iu 9. 
 
 SORROWING. 
 
 As falling showers refresh the thirsty ground, 
 So tears are, oftentimes, a comfort found : 
 Who sorrows for his sins, his wo shall cease, 
 For godly sorrows are the seeds of peace. 
 
 It is a question whether we have not still more reason tc 
 thank God for our sorrows than for our joys. 
 
 Happy is the man whom God correcteth : there- 
 for* despise not thou the chastening of the Al- 
 mighty. Job v. 17. 
 
 1 know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, 
 and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Ps. 
 cxix. 75. 
 
 Your sorrow shall be turned into joy John xvi. 
 20. 
 
 And there shall be no more death, neither sor- 
 row, nor crying, neither shall there be any more 
 pain. Rev. xxi. 4. 
 
 3* 
 
50 HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 
 
 REJOICING. 
 
 And do ti.ine hours and days in gladness roll, 
 And beams of sunshine brighten up thy soul ? 
 Then praise the Lord thy God with heart and voice: 
 Rejoice alou^d ! — Again I say, Rejoice ! 
 
 Fall not into evil in the season of rejoicing, as the exulting 
 fly falls heedlessly into the. web of the spider. 
 
 O come, let us sing unto the Lord ; let us make 
 a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Ps. 
 xcv. 1. 
 
 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and 
 shall trust in him ; and all the upright in heart 
 shall glory. Ps. Ixiv. 10. 
 
 Rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom. v. 2. 
 
 Whom having not seen, ye love : in whom, 
 though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye re- 
 joice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 
 1 Pet. i. 8. 
 
 COMMANDING. 
 
 O God of mercy my director be, 
 "While others I command, command thou me, 
 And guide me still, by thine Almighty power, 
 Through all my days and every passing hour 
 
 He may fearlessly go forward who has God r or liia 
 commander. 
 
 The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O 
 Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord : and thou 
 shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, 
 and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and 
 with all thy strength. Mark xii. 29, 80. 
 
 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor 
 be afraid : for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth 
 go with thee : he will no. fail thee, nor forsake 
 thee. Dtut. xxxi. 6. 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 3l 
 
 Fear God, and keep his commandments : for this 
 is the whole duty of man. Eccles. xii. 13. 
 
 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye 
 love one another. John xiii. 34. 
 
 OBEYING. 
 
 Obey not sin, though soft its whispers fall 
 Or lo^ud and long its urgent accents call ; 
 Despise its joys — resist its dread control — 
 Obey the Lord thy God with all thy soul. 
 
 He who obeys sin willingly, will soon be obliged to obe> 
 i on compulsion. 
 
 And being found in fashion as a man, he hum- 
 bled himself, and became obedient unto death, even 
 the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath 
 highly exalted him, and given him a name which 
 is above every name. Phil. ii. 8, 9. 
 
 To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Sam. xv. 22. 
 
 What shall the end be of them that obey not the 
 gospel of God ? 1 Pet. iv. 17. 
 
 Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you 
 shall be my people : and walk ye in all the ways 
 that I have commanded you, that it may be well 
 unto you. Jer. vii. 23. 
 
 POSSESSING. 
 
 Hold lightly what thou has; — 'tis but a name ; 
 Fnr al) this world can give of wealth or lame, 
 Though thine to day, to-morrow may be riven. 
 No rock but Christ ! — no resting place but heaven. 
 
 The most valuable possession in this world is a well-founded 
 hope and confidence as to the world that is to come. 
 
 I am made to possess months of vanity, and 
 wearisome nights are appointed to me. Job v>*i. 3. 
 
32 HELPS FOR EVERY HC JR. 
 
 The upright shall have gocd things hi posies* 
 sion. Prov. xiviii. 10. 
 
 Take heed, and beware of covetousness ; for 
 a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the 
 things which he possesseth. Lvke xii. 15. 
 
 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing ; as poor, yet 
 making many rich ; as having nothing, and yet 
 possessing all things. 2 Cor. vi. 10. 
 
 RESIGNING. 
 
 'Tis easy to rejoice when sunbeams shine, 
 
 But God alone can teach us to resign. 
 
 Lord, teach me still, whate'er thy hand may claim 
 
 And take away, to bless thy holy name. 
 
 We ought cheerfully to resign our friends when God re- 
 quires them ; for when he calls his children home, it is a proof 
 of love, and not of anger. 
 
 Humble yourselves under the -mighty hand 
 of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 
 
 1 Pet. v. 6. 
 
 And Job said, Naked came I out of my mother's 
 womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord 
 gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be 
 the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinnrd not, 
 nor charged God foolishly. Job i. 21, 22. 
 
 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which 
 hath great recompense of reward. Heb. x. 85. 
 
 Let the Lord do that which seemeth him good 
 
 2 Sam. x. 12. 
 
HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 33 
 
 KNOWING. 
 
 Do T possess, while knowledge freely flings 
 A ray of golden light o'er men and tilings, 
 The only cure for worldly cares and strife ? 
 And know Him whom to know is endless life ? 
 
 1 (he knowledge that refers to time be so valuable ; how 
 oug it we to estimate that whch relates to eternity. 
 
 Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand 
 doeth. Matt. vi. 3. 
 
 Lord, rmke me to know mine end, and the mea- 
 sure of my days, what it is, that I may know how 
 frail I am. Ps. xxxix. 4. 
 
 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and 
 am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, 
 even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life 
 for the sheep. John x. 14, 15. 
 
 He that loveth not, knoweth not God ; for God 
 is love. 1 John i\\ 8. 
 
 WATCHING. 
 
 Oh let me, Lord, while sin is prowling round, 
 In humble, patient watchfulness be found — 
 That I may 'scape its snares ; and teach me still 
 How I can best perform thy holy will. 
 
 Wa'ch narrowly thy thoughts, thy words, and thy deeds, 
 for they go together in good or in evil. 
 
 Blessed are those servants, vhom the Lord when 
 he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto 
 you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to 
 6 it down to meat, and will come forth and serve 
 {hem. Ijukz xii. 37. 
 
 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temp- 
 Slion. Malt. xxvi. 41. 
 
34 HELPS FOR EVERY HOUR. 
 
 Except the Lord build the house, th«y labour in 
 vain that build it : except the Lord keep the city, 
 the watchman waketh but in vain. Ps. cxxvii. i. 
 
 WAITING. 
 
 Be mine with hope and confidence to wait 
 A patient suppliant at the heavenly gate; 
 And soon in love my Saviour will arise, 
 A waiting sinner he will ne'er despise. 
 
 If we have wailed for trifles, how patiently should we wait 
 for God's commands, God's presence, and God's blessing. 
 
 Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and he 
 shall strengthen thy heart ; wait, I say, on the Lord. 
 Ps. xxvii. 14. 
 
 Those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit 
 the earth. Ps. xxxvii. 9. 
 
 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for 
 the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ : who shall 
 also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be 
 blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 1 Cor. i. 7, 8. 
 
 All the days of my appointed time will I wait 
 till my change come. Job xiv. 14* 
 
 SINNING. 
 
 What, art thou burden'd ? Dost thou feel within 
 The plague-spot and the leprosy of sin? 
 Christ is a fountain! To that fountain go — ■ 
 Though crimson red, thou shalt be white as snow. 
 
 If you make sin a companion, it will soon make you a 
 slave. 
 
 The vages of sin is dea'h ; but the gift of Cfbd 
 is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 lion* vi. 23. 
 
HELPS FtfR EVERY HOUR. 35 
 
 These things I write unto you, that ye sin not 
 And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the 
 Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : and he is the 
 propitiation for our sins : and not for ours only, 
 but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 
 ii. 1,2. 
 
 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all ac- 
 ceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to 
 save sinners. 1 Tim. i. 15. 
 
 REPENTING. 
 
 If God in love his chast'ning griefs hath sent 
 To scourge thy heart, and given thee to repent; 
 A pardoned child — fear not the world's alarms, 
 But seek for safety in thy Father's arms. 
 
 As oil and balm to the wounded body, so is repentance to 
 £ sin-sick soul. 
 
 If the wicked turn from his wickedness and do 
 that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. 
 ^zek. xxxiii. 19. 
 
 Rend your heart, and not your garments, and 
 curn unto the Lord your God : for he is gracious 
 and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, 
 and repenteth him of the evil. Joel ii. 13 
 
 LIVING. 
 
 My length of days, O Lord, wha'e'er it be, 
 With all my joys and griefs I leave to thee, 
 But let me live that I may welcome death, 
 And praise my Saviour with my dying breath. 
 
 To live without knowing that Christ died for sinners is to 
 live in vain. 
 
 As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filed 
 with the gbry of the Lori. Numb xiv. 21. 
 
1(5 HKLPS FOR EVERT HOUR. 
 
 Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall ncei 
 die. John xi. 2:5. 
 
 Incline your ear, and come unto me : hear, and 
 your soul shall live. ha. lv. 3. 
 
 And he died for all, that they which live should 
 not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him 
 vhich died for them, and rose again. 2 Cor. v 15 
 
 DYING. 
 
 If when we die, from earthly fetters freed, 
 We sink, in torment, death is death indeed ! 
 But if where saints and angels dwell we soar, 
 Then death is life, and life for evermore ! 
 
 To die is, to the follower of the Redeemer, to exchange 
 Borrow for joy, time for eternity, and earth for heaven. 
 
 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 
 shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for thou art 
 with me ; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 
 Ps. xxiii. 4. 
 
 The righteous hath hope in his death. Prov. 
 xiv. 82. 
 
 I know whom I have believed, and am per- 
 suaded that lie is able to keep that which I hnve 
 committed unto him against that day. 2 Tim, i. 12 
 
 The sting of death is sin ; and the strength of 
 gin is the Law. But thanks be to God which giveth 
 us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 
 I Cor. xv 56, 57. 
 
 THE END. 
 
Wijt Ungrateful §05, 
 
THE 
 
 UNGRATEFUL BOY. 
 
 WRITTEN FOR THE AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL CHIOS, Altt 
 REVISED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 
 
 NO. 1122 CEE8TNUT STRBETi 
 
Entered according to act of Congress, In the year 1845, by 
 Herman Cope, Treasurer, in trust for the American Sunday- 
 ■chool Union, in the clerk's office of the District Court of th« 
 Eastern D ; «trct of Pennsylvania. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH 
 
THE 
 
 UNGRATEFUL BOY 
 
 A kind schoolmaster, who was in 
 the habit of relating stories to his 
 pupils, one day called his scholars 
 around him, and began as follows : — 
 
 I am going, my dear children, to 
 
 relate to you a singular history. 
 
 May I expect your careful attention 
 
 to the close of it ? 
 
 1* 5 
 
6 TflE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 
 
 Pi&ture to yourself a little boy 
 sitting in a balcony or portico, which 
 overlooks a garden. His hands and 
 feet are bound, ne has a bandage 
 upon his eyes, while another covers 
 his mouth and nose. His ears, too, 
 are closely stopped, so that he cannot 
 use his feet or hands; neither can he 
 see, or speak, or hear. 
 
 At the same time, his brothers and 
 sisters, and their companions, are en- 
 joying themselves in the garden be- 
 neath, laughing, playing, and eating 
 fruit. Henry (for this was the name 
 of the little boy who was deprived of 
 all these pleasures) tried many times 
 to break the cords and bandages 
 
THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 7 
 
 which confined him, but his efforts 
 were vain. 
 
 I inquired why this child was 
 bound. At first nobody could tell me, 
 but a person afterwards informed me, 
 that Henry's father had reminded 
 him, the evening before, to thank 
 God for all his gifts, and that Henry 
 had replied very carelessly, that God 
 had not done very much for him. 
 This remark grieved his father, who, 
 without reproaching him at the time, 
 bade him good night, and sent him to 
 bed. 
 
 The next morning, before he had 
 risen, his father directed that he 
 should be placed upon the balcony, 
 
8 . THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 
 
 bound as I have before described 
 Henry was still struggling to free 
 himself from his bands, when his 
 father, after a time, sent a servant to 
 untie the bandage which covered his 
 mouth. Oh, if you. had heard what 
 cries Henry uttered when the ban- 
 dage was taken from his mouth ! 
 
 " Fattier ! mother ! Mother ! fa- 
 ther !" he exclaimed. Nobody re- 
 plied : — Henry continued, " I cannot 
 move ! I cannot open my eyes ! I 
 cannot hear ! Father, father ! I am 
 hungry : — I am very hungry ! It is 
 more than an hour since I tried to 
 call to you, and I could not speak ! 
 I wanted breakfast, and I could not 
 
THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 9 
 
 open my mouth ! It is too bad : I 
 was not able to speak. The words 
 were in my throat, and I wished to 
 utter them ; the bandage hindered, 
 me, father !" 
 
 He was still crying, when his father 
 came to remove the covering from 
 his ears. 
 
 Well, Henry," said he,. " why 
 nave you called me so often and so 
 loudly; I have answered you three 
 or four times that I was coming." 
 
 " Why, father, I could not hear 
 you. My eyes were shut. It seem- 
 ed as if I was far away in a desert, in 
 the middle of the night. I heard no 
 voice, nor an^ r sound. Oh, how 
 
10 THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. . 
 
 dreadful it is, not to be able to hear 
 Oh, 1 do not wish to be deaf. I be- 
 seech you, dear father, do not make 
 me deaf as I have been for the last 
 hour." 
 
 As Henry was hungry they gave 
 him his breakfast, but without un- 
 binding his hands or feet. They 
 made him eat as if he were an infant, 
 who takes its bread and milk from a 
 -spoon in its mother's hand. 
 
 Henry still complained of his 
 closed eyes, and bound limbs, but as 
 *he had an appetite, he commenced 
 eating his bread and milk, and 
 finished by complaining, and praying 
 that his father would let him see. 
 
THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 11 
 
 "Do you wish to have your ears 
 stopped again V' 
 
 " Oh no, father ! It is so bad to 
 hear nothing : neither the voice 
 of friends, nor the singing of the 
 birds, nor any noise. I would have 
 given all the world, if it had been 
 mine, for the pleasure of hearing a 
 footstep. If the wind had only 
 sounded a little in my ears ; but not 
 a leaf stirred, that I could hear. 
 Dear father, I beg you to let me 
 hear a little noise, and some con- 
 versation." 
 
 11 Will you have your mouth closed 
 again ?" 
 
 11 No : that is still worse, not to 
 
12 THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 
 
 be able to speak ! Oh, do you not 
 know that would be much worse. I 
 was hungry, and I could not call. I 
 could not open my mouth. I wanted 
 to tell you that I was suffering, and 1 
 had not the power ; I must have 
 power to speak." 
 
 Here the conversation was inter- 
 rupted by the noise of the brothers 
 and sisters of Henry playing, laugh- 
 ing and running about in the garden. 
 
 " Let us play ball," cried one. 
 
 " Oh, see me fly my kite," cried 
 another. 
 
 " We will go and send up my bal- 
 loon, said a third, "come and see 
 it — put a little straw here in the 
 
THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 18 
 
 middle — bring the watering pot : — 
 Here, Paul, you put a little water on 
 the straw. — That's it ; now put some 
 coals there. See what a smoke it 
 makes ! How it swells the balloon ! 
 How very pretty it is ! See, see the 
 gilt pictures on the paper — cut the 
 cord — there it goes ! look at it — hur- 
 rah ! It burns ! It is going to set the 
 clouds on fire !" and off the joyous 
 band ran with shouts of laughter. 
 
 Henry, who had his eyes still 
 bound, saw nothing. 
 
 " Oh, dear lather !" he said, at 
 
 last, " I will remain tied to my chair, 
 
 if you require it, but at least take 
 
 away the bandage which covers my 
 2 
 
14 THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 
 
 eyes, that I may see the balloon, and 
 all that goes on in the garden." His 
 father consented, and the band was 
 raised. But, alas ! the paper balloon 
 had burned to ashes, and Henry 
 could not see it. 
 
 Just then a little girl came from 
 the garden, to present to her father 
 the prettiest bouquet that it was pos- 
 sible to see, or to smell. Roses, 
 pinks, jessamines, lilacs, violets, all 
 were united, and together sent forth 
 the sweetest fragrance. 
 
 " Oh, how good they are," said his 
 father; " smell them, Henry." 
 
 " But, father, I cannot smell any 
 thing," said Henry, in a whimper 
 
THE UNGRATEFUL E0Y. 15 
 
 " Oh, that beautiful rose ! do, father, 
 take just this one bandage away, and 
 let me smell of it." 
 
 The bandage which covered his 
 nose was taken off; and then the little 
 boy, still tied in his chair, was left to 
 himself. His father and sister went 
 down into the garden. As soon as 
 he came* among the troop of children, 
 he was received with cries of joy, 
 " Father," said one to him, " come 
 and play with* us. O father, do play 
 with us !" 
 
 And the good father, mingling in 
 all their pleasures, jumped with some, 
 ran after others, laughed with all, — 
 in a word, he became as one }f them. 
 
16 THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 
 
 Henry, animated and excited by the 
 sight of all these plays, twisted impa 
 tiently upon his chair. It must b« 
 admitted, tbat to have two sound feet, 
 and not be able to walk, and two 
 sound arms, and not have power to 
 feel, and this, in the presence of a 
 band of playful children, who can 
 run, and leap, and do all they wish, is 
 rather a hard thing to be endured. 
 
 Henry wished to ask his father, 
 why he had treated him thus ; but it 
 was for the purpose of avoiding his 
 questions, that his father, left him. 
 He was therefore compelled to re- 
 main there, and to witness, at a dis- 
 tance, the pleasures of which he so 
 
THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 17 
 
 muck desired to partake. But, at 
 last, the father sent to have his son 
 released, and to tell him to come 
 down into the garden, and there as- 
 sembling all the children about him, 
 he began as follows : 
 
 " My dear children, — This morn- 
 ing, you have all asked me, in turn, 
 why I have deprived your brother of 
 the pleasure of playing with you. I 
 will now answer you. Henry has 
 not asked me the same question, but 
 I presume he is not less desirous than 
 you are to hear what I have to say. 
 Let him, then, as well as the rest of 
 you, listen to an explanation, which 
 
 will of course interest him the most. 
 
 2* 
 
18 THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 
 
 "Yesterday evening I told Henry 
 to remember to return thanks to God 
 for all the benefits he had received. 
 Henry, who did not feel inclined to 
 such a duty, replied, that God had 
 not conferred many blessings upon 
 him, that he knew of. At this reply, 
 so full of thoughtlessness and in- 
 gratitude, I was much grieved; but 
 said nothing on the subject at the 
 time, reserving my explanation till 
 the next day. 
 
 " Henry, and perhaps all of you, my 
 children, have been so long accus- 
 tomed to enjoy God's kind gifts, that 
 they seem to you as matters of course. 
 From this, in part, proceeds voui 
 
THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 19 
 
 ingratitude. But I ask you, is it a 
 small thing that you possess the gift 
 of sight, which enables you to see 
 all the works of God, to enjoy the 
 light, and to regulate your motions, 
 and to look upon the faces of your 
 parents and friends ? 
 
 " Is it a small thing, that you have 
 the gift of speech, by which you 
 can express your desires and your 
 thoughts ? 
 
 " The wonderful sense of hearing, 
 also, which apprizes you of danger 
 when it is near, by which you can 
 enjoy the sweet sound of music, the 
 singing of the birds, the rustling of 
 .4ie forest, and the murmuring of the 
 
20 THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 
 
 brooks , and better than all, which 
 permits you to hear the affectionate 
 words of your parents and friends 
 every day — is it not a blessing ? 
 
 " Should we not be thankful for 
 this curious sense of smell, too, with- 
 out which we might be in danger of 
 eating the most unhealthy, if not the 
 most poisonous articles ? This sense 
 is not alone useful, but it is agree- 
 able ; for, by it, you can smell the 
 flowers in the garden, the blossoms 
 Dm the trees, and the sweet and 
 wholesome perfume of the summer 
 air. 
 
 ".And then there are those light 
 feet which carry you from place to 
 
THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 2\ 
 
 place, by which you climb the moun- 
 tains, and run down the hills. And 
 these skilful hands, too, for executing 
 every wish, gaining your livelihood, 
 conveying food to your mouth, and 
 rendering you a thousand services 
 every day. Are all these then of no 
 value ? Ask Henry. He will tell 
 you on what consideration he would 
 consent to part with only one of 
 these gifts. Let us see. 
 
 " What shall I give you, Henry, in 
 exchange for your eyes 1 If you will 
 let me cover them again, I will give 
 you sports in abundance. You shall 
 have my horse for riding in the coun- 
 try, or any thing else. You have 
 
 i 
 
22 THE UNGRATEFUI BOY. 
 
 only to tell what you desire : but you 
 shall lose your sight. Are you ready 
 to exchange ? Here is the bandage." 
 
 " No, no, father, I would rather 
 live on bread and water, all my life," 
 replied Henry, trembling at the very 
 tnought of such a misfortune. 
 
 " Well, then, let me bind only 
 your mouth or ears." 
 
 But Henry earnestly entreated his 
 father not to bind him at all, adding, 
 " not even for a day, no, not even for 
 an hour ; I have already suffered 
 enough." 
 
 " My children," replied the father. 
 " you see now that God has done 
 more, much more for vou than vqu 
 
THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 23 
 
 can imagine : for it is He D'estows 
 sight, hearing, smell, taste and 
 speech. He has given you all. 
 What have we which we have not 
 received from Him, except a sinful 
 and ungrateful heart ? And let me 
 add, if you have received all that 
 you possess, is it not reasonable at 
 least that we return thanks ? To re- 
 fuse to do it, is to be like the 
 brutes. " 
 
 Henry quitted his place, threw 
 himself upon his father's neck, and 
 confessed his sin. All the joyous 
 party came into the house, and there, 
 after supper, Henry was the first to 
 propose an humble thanksgiving to 
 
24 
 
 THE UNGRATEFUL BOY. 
 
 God, for all his gifts, and his father 
 has told me, that, more than once, he 
 has seen him on his knees, alone, in 
 his chamber, earnestly engaged in 
 prayer. 
 
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