3 For death his sacred seal hath set
On bright and bygone hours;
And they we mourn are with us yet,
Are more than ever ours;·

4 Ours, by the pledge of love and faith,
By hopes of heaven on high;
By trust, triumphant over death,
In immortality.

354.

P. M.

THE DEPARTED.

ANONYMOUS.

THE spirits of the loved and the departed
Are with us, and they tell us of the sky,
A rest for the bereaved and broken-hearted,
A house not made with hands, a home on

high;

Holy monitions, a mysterious breath,—
A whisper from the marble halls of death.

2 They have gone from us, and the grave is

strong,

Yet in night's silent watches they are near; Their voices linger round us, as the song Of the sweet bird that lingers on the ear, When, floating upward in the flush of even, Its form is lost from earth and swallowed up in heaven.

355.

11s. M.

ANONYMOUS.

ARE THEY NOT ALL MINISTERING SPIRITS?

How dear is the thought, that the angels of

God

May bow their bright wings to the world they once trod;

Will leave the sweet songs of the mansions

above,

To breathe o'er our bosoms some message of

love!

2 They come, on the wings of the morning they come,

Impatient to lead some poor wanderer home; Some sinner to save from his darkened abode, And lay him to rest in the arms of his God.

3 They come when we wander, they come when we pray,

In mercy to guard us wherever we stray;
A glorious cloud, their bright witness is given;
Encircling us here are these angels of heaven.

356.

C. M.

*J. H. PERKINS

SPIRITUAL PRESENCE.

1 IT is a faith sublime and sure,
That ever round our head
Are hovering, on noiseless wing,
The spirits of the dead.

2 It is a faith sublime and sure,
When ended our career,
That it will be our ministry
To watch o'er others here;

3 To bid the mourners cease to mourn,
The trembling be forgiven,
To bear away from ills of clay
The deathless soul to heaven.

357.

C. M.

JANE TAYLOR

THE UNSEEN WORLD.

I THERE is a state unknown, unseen,
Where parted souls must be;
And but a step doth lie between
That world of souls and me.

2 I see no light, I hear no sound,
When midnight shades are spread;
Yet angels pitch their tents around,
And guard my quiet bed.

3 The things unseen, O God, reveal;
My spirit's vision clear,

Till I shall feel, and see, and know.
That those I love are near

4 Impart the faith that soars on high,
Beyond this earthly strife;

That holds sweet converse with the sky,
And lives eternal life.

MINISTERING ANGELS.

1 BROTHER, the angels say,
Peace to thy heart!
We, too, O brother, have
Been as thou art,
Hope-lifted, doubt-depressed,
Seeing in part,
Tried, troubled, tempted,
Sustained, as thou art.

2 Brother, they softly say,
Be our thoughts one;
Bend thou with us and pray,
"Thy will be done!"
Our God is thy God;

He willeth the best;
Trust Him as we trusted-
Rest as we rest!

3 Ye, too, they gently say,
Shall angels be;

Ye, too, O brothers,

From earth shall be free:
Yet in earth's loved ones

ANONYMOUS.

Ye still shall have part,
Bearing God's strength and love
To the torn heart.

Thus when the spirit, tried
Tempted and worn,
Finding no earthly aid,

Heavenward doth turn,

359.

Come these sweet angel-tones,
Falling like balm,

And on the troubled heart
Steals a deep calm.

C. M.

MRS. MILES.

FORETASTE OF HEAVEN.

1 WHEN, on devotion's seraph wing,
The spirit soars above,

And feels Thy presence, Father, Friend,
God of eternal love!

The joys of earth, how swift they fade
Before that living ray,

Which gives to the rapt soul a glimpse
Of pure and perfect day!

2 A gleam of Heaven's own light, though now Its brightness scarce appears

Through the pale shadows that are spread
Around our earthly years;

But Thine unclouded smile, O God!
Fills that all-glorious place,

Where we shall know as we are known,
And see Thee, face to face.

360.

S. M.

BRIGGS' COLL.

THE ANGELS' CALL.

1 COME to the land of peace!

From shadows come away;

Where all the sounds of weeping cease,
And storms no more have sway!