to the Children's Hour, was copied into the Christian Age. There it was seen by Mr. Sankey, and one day, at the close of an unusually impressive meeting in Edinburgh, Mr. Sankey put the hymn verses before him, touched the keys of the organ, and sang, not knowing where he was going to come out. He finished the first verse amid profound silence. He took a long breath and wondered if he could sing the second the same way. He tried it and succeeded. After that it was easy to sing it. When he finished the hymn the meeting was all "broken down." Mr. Sankey says it was the most intense moment of his life.

TH

HERE were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold;

But one was out on the hills away,

Far off from the gates of gold.

Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.

"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine,
Are they not enough for Thee?"
But the Shepherd made answer,
Has wandered away from Me;

"This of Mine

And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep."

But none of the ransomed ever knew

How deep were the waters crossed;

Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through,

Ere he found His sheep that was lost.

Out in the desert He heard its cry,

Sick, and helpless, and ready to die.

"Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way, That mark out the mountain's track?" "They were shed for one who had gone astray Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."

"Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?” 'They are pierced to-night by many a thorn."

66

But all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,

There arose a cry to the gate of heaven,

66

Rejoice! I have found my sheep.'

And the angels echoed around the Throne,
"Rejoice! for the Lord brings back His own."

TUNE BY IRA D. SANKEY.

87-ALMOST PERSUADED.

THE sad, wistful wail of the music to which this hymn was set has made it an instrument of power to many souls. The task of clinching a decision almost crystallised into action is one of the most necessary and difficult of all the tasks of the religious teacher. In its performance, such hymns as this have proved too useful to permit their exclusion on the pedantic ground that they are not addressed to the Deity. The purists are in danger of provoking a reaction which will result in objections being taken to any hymns which are not directly addressed to those whose course may be altered by touching melody or sacred song.

"A

LMOST persuaded: " now to believe;
"Almost persuaded" Christ to receive:
Seems now some soul to say?

"Go, Spirit, go Thy way:
Some more convenient day

On Thee I'll call."

"Almost persuaded:" come, come to-day! "Almost persuaded:" turn not away! Jesus invites you here,

Angels are lingering near,

Prayers rise from hearts so dear,
O wanderer, come!

"Almost persuaded: " harvest is past!
"Almost persuaded: " doom comes at last!
"Almost cannot avail;
"Almost" is but to fail;
Sad, sad, that bitter wail
"Almost" - but lost!

TUNE BY MR. BLISS.

88-TIME IS EARNEST.

THIS is one of the anonymous hymns of the world. It belongs to the hortative class, appealing to those who sing it and who hear it sung. It first appeared in 1851, and has done much good.

IME is earnest, passing by;

TIME

Death is earnest, drawing nigh:

Sinner, wilt thou trifling be?
Time and death appeal to thee.

Life is earnest; when 't is o'er,
Thou returnest never more.
Soon to meet eternity,

Wilt thou never serious be?

God is earnest: kneel and pray,
Ere thy season pass away
Ere He set His judgment throne;
Ere the day of grace be gone.

Christ is earnest, bids thee come;
Paid thy spirit's priceless sum;
Wilt thou spurn thy Saviour's love,
Pleading with thee from above?
O be earnest, do not stay;
Thou mayest perish e'en to-day.
Rise, thou lost one, rise and flee;
Lo! thy Saviour waits for thee.
TUNE 66
-

CYPRUS," ALSO CALLED "SHERBORNE."

89-COME, YE SINNERS, POOR AND
WRETCHED.

HYMNS, say some purists, ought only to be addressed to God. They may be right in the abstract, but, as a practical fact, hymns which are addressed to the congregation are often most useful. Their utility can sometimes be measured, which is impossible in the case where the hymn is addressed to the Deity. One of these hymns which these purists would drive from the hymn-book still retains its hold on the Christian Church. It was written by one of Whitfield's converts named Joseph Hart, who is still so far from being forgotten that an obelisk was erected over his grave in Bunhill Fields so recently as 1875. It is in great use at revival services, and has been cut about extensively to suit the views of the different gospellers.

COME, ye sinners, poor and wretched,

Weak and wounded, sick and sore,

Jesus ready stands to save you,

Full of pity joined with power;
He is able,

He is willing: doubt no more.

Come, ye needy, come and welcome,
God's free bounty glorify;
True belief, and true repentance,
Every grace that brings us nigh,
Without money,

Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth,
Is to feel your need of Him:
This He gives you;

'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and broken by the fall;
If you tarry till you 're better,
You will never come at all.
Not the righteous,

Sinners, Jesus came to call.
Agonising in the garden,

Lo! your Saviour prostrate lies :
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Hear Him cry before He dies,
It is finished!

Finished the great sacrifice.
Lo! the Incarnate God, ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood.
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude:
None but Jesus

Can do helpless sinners good.

Saints and angels joined in concert,

Sing the praises of the Lamb:
While the blissful seats of heaven
Sweetly echo with His name.
Hallelujah!

Sinners here may sing the same.

XII.-Joy, Love, and Peace.

90-OUR GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST.

MR. ASQUITH, late Home Secretary, writes: "My favourite among hymns is, and has for a long time been, Watts's 'Our God, our Help in Ages past.' I feel sure that your collection when complete will be both interesting and useful."