gate; "he is diligent that he may be found at the last in peace, without spot and blameless." His attitude is that of holy and affectionate expectation. "Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, he looks for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ." And, notwithstanding the sorrows which have saddened, and the sins which have darkened his path, he is graciously enabled, at the close of his pilgrimage, to realise the blessed assurance, "At evening time it shall be light."

LAY OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH.

THROUGH the world's frequented places,

Busy street and broad highway,
Midst the throng of human faces,
Year by year, and day by day,
Wisdom's earnest voice is calling
To the slaves whom sloth and sin
Hold, in sensual chains enthralling,
"Come ye, to my vineyard, in!"

Happy in life's cloudless morning,
Yea, of all men happiest they,
Who receive that heavenly warning,
Hear it and at once obey!

They, ere lust hath dimmed the splendour
Of the opening world within,

Ere the heart hath grown less tender,

Break the bonds of sense and sin.

Them no sore avulsion rendeth

From this world's vain hopes and fears,
No unhealed remembrance blendeth
Anguish with their after years:
Time by them hath ne'er been wasted:
Ere life's tempting paths they trod,
Ere life's poisoned cup they tasted,
They became the sons of God.

Them no storm of woe compelleth
To their Father's arms to flee;
In their hearts his Spirit dwelleth
Richly, e'en from infancy.
Christ to love's unceasing duty

Them with silken cords constrains,

And with gleams of heavenly beauty

Soothes their sorrows, charms their pains.

Happy they! but few in number!

Till mid-age the millions lie

Wrapt in dreams of sensual slumber,
While life's brightest hours go by.
Them amid their cares or pleasures
Wisdom's voice again invites:

"Come, secure your heavenly treasures,
Flee from earth's impure delights!"

Some there be who heed and hearken,
Cast their worthless gauds away
Ere life's noon begins to darken,
Shade by shade, to twilight grey.
Wealth to them becomes a bubble,
Honour but an empty name;

Farewell now,

life's toil and trouble,

Fraud and folly, sin and shame.

Nobler hopes have stirred within them,
Loftier aims engage the breast,
Heaven and heavenly labours win them
From this feverish world's unrest.
They the better part have chosen ;
Late, but not too late to toil;

Years not yet the heart have frozen,

Though rank weeds o'erspread its soil.

Noon hath passed; life's fervour waneth ;
O'er the temperate heart and will
Sensual lust less blindly reigneth,
Yet the spirit slumbereth still.
Wisdom's voice again upbraideth-
"Haste, life's sun will soon go down;
Ere its life for ever fadeth,

Wake and win your heavenly crown.'

"

Fainter now that voice appeareth;
Yet it will not cease to plead
Till the awakened sleeper heareth,

Till his heart is touched indeed.
From life's evening rest he starteth,
Eager some few hours to save
(Ere the time for work departeth)
From the darkness of the grave.

Eve is gone; grey twilight's glimmer
Veileth life's cold cloudy sky;

Soul and sense are now grown dimmer,
Fadeth ear, and heart, and eye.
In the wreck of thought and feeling
Earthly love is waxing cold,

Yet are wisdom's accents stealing
To the soul in sin grown old!

Lo! the hoary sinner turneth
Feebly to the awakening sound;

In his heart strange fervour burneth,
Love has sin's strong chain unwound.

Little hath he now to proffer;

Time, and health, and strength are gone;

What remains behold him offer,

"Lord! in me Thy will be done!"