Part 5 (1/2)

(TO A CHRISTIAN FRIEND UNDER BEREAVEMENT.)

What though the dark cloud for a season doth hover, O'er pleasures and prospects so humble as thine; The joy of the past taken from thee for ever-- And thy faint heart tempted by grief to repine: Thy Loved and thy Lost shall on earth no more greet thee, Farewell hath thine eyes with its weeping made dim; But think, though Creation henceforth may seem empty, Thou canst not be severed a moment from HIM.

Oft, oft shall the prayer unto G.o.d be ascending, Though far in the wilderness from thee we dwell, That into thine heart He may daily be sending Joys, comforts, and blessings which tongue cannot tell: That long be thy life, and all-fragrant that life be, And if more affliction thy bliss should bedim.

His voice of compa.s.sion may sweetly remind thee, Thy life, in thy trials, is hidden with HIM.

But short is our sojourn on earth at the longest, The day comes apace mid our pleasure and strife, When, though to the seeming we flourish the fairest, Shall our roots be plucked up from this nursery--life: And O, when the tomb life's scenes from us shall sever, When death's awful shadow this world shall bedim, May we rise to the kingdom of life and for ever Be planted in glory--true branches of HIM.

THE CHURCH.

x.x.xVII.

LOVE.

Let brethren cease of party names to speak-- Of party strife--have vanished ”Jew and Greek:”

Sweet Peace appear, and Love thy seat maintain, That holy Love, which chief in heaven doth reign.

x.x.xVIII.

”FORWARD.”

Advance, advance, ye hosts of G.o.d, Unfurl the standard stained with blood: Soon shall ye wave the palm on high.

Soon raise the shout of ”victory,”

And chaplets wear that never die-- The world is yours!

x.x.xIX.

THE MIGHTY NAME.

Emmanuel's name Shall win wider fame, Through vales and o'er hills it shall sound: Great Jericho's wall, Before it shall fall; The trumpets re-echo around.

XL.

COMING TO ZION.

All tribes and tongues together come, The scattered Jews and Gentiles, home; Throughout the host a chorus runs, Of special praise for Ethiop sons.

Hark, hark! the tide of song, Rolls onward from the throng: Soon Zion shall obtain The purchase of Messiah's pain.

XLI.

”ABIDE WITH US.”