Matt. xiv. 31. Luke xxii. 32.
In field or city when he taught, Oft went his spirit forth in sighs; And when his mightiest deeds were wrought, his up eyes;
He pray'd at Lazarus' grave, and shed Tears, with the word that waked the dead.
When mothers brought their babes, he took Their lambs into his arms, and pray'd; On Tabor, his transfigured look,
While praying, turn'd the sun to shade, And forms, too pure for human sight, Grew visible amidst his light.
"O Father! save me from this hour, Yet for this hour to earth I came :" He pray'd in weakness; then with power Cried, "Father! glorify thy name:" "I have," a voice from heaven replied, "And still it shall be glorified.”
For Peter, bold in speech and brave In act, yet in temptation frail,
(As once he proved him on the wave,) He pray'd lest his weak faith should fail; And when by Satan's snare enthrall'd, the wanderer recall'd.
Amidst his mournful family,
Who soon must see his face no more, With what divine discourse did he
Strength to their fainting souls restore ! Then pray'd for all his people :—where Have words recorded such a prayer!
Heb. v. Next, with strong cries and bitter tears, Thrice hallow'd he that doleful ground,
Where, trembling with mysterious fears, His sweat like blood-drops fell around, And being in an agony,
He prayed yet more earnestly.
Here oft in spirit let me kneel,
Share in the speechless griefs I see, And while he felt what I should feel, Feel all his power of love to me, Break my hard heart, and grace supply For him who died for me to die.
Stretch'd on the ignominious tree
For those, whose hands had nail'd him there, Who stood and mock'd his misery,
He offer'd up his latest prayer;
Then with the voice of victory cried, ""Tis finish'd," bow'd his head and died.
Then all his prayers were answer'd ;—all The fruits of his soul's travail gain'd; The cup of wormwood and of gall Down to the dregs his lips had drain'd ; Accomplish'd was the eternal plan, He tasted death for every man.
Now by the throne of God he stands, Aloft the golden censer bears, And offers, with high priestly hands,
Pure incense with his people's prayers: Well pleased the Father eyes the Son, And says to each request, ""Tis done."
REMINISCENCE.
REMEMBRANCE of the dead revives The slain of time, at will; Those who were lovely in their lives, In death are lovelier still.
Unburden'd with infirmity, Unplagued like mortal men, Oh with what pure delight we see The heart's old friends again;
Not as they sunk into the tomb, With sickness-wasted powers, But in the beauty and the bloom Of their best days and ours. The troubles of departed years Bring joys unknown before; And soul-refreshing are the tears
O'er wounds that bleed no more.
Lightnings may blast, but thunder-showers Earth's ravaged face renew, With nectar fill the cups of flowers, And hang the thorns with dew.
Remembrance of the dead is sweet; Yet how imperfect this, Unless past, present, future, meet, -A threefold cord of bliss!
Companions of our youth, our age, With whom through life we walk'd, And in our house of pilgrimage, Of home beyond it talk'd :—
Grief on their urn may fix her eyes,
-They spring not from the ground; Love may invoke them from the skies, -There is no voice nor sound.
Fond memory marks them as they were,
Stars in our horoscope;
But soon to see them as they are, -That is our dearest hope.
Not through the darkness of the night, To waking thought unseal'd,
But in the uncreated light
Of Deity reveal'd.
They cannot come to us, but we Ere long to them may go; -That glimpse of immortality Is heaven begun below.
AT evening time let there be light:- Life's little day draws near its close; Around me fall the shades of night, The night of death, the grave's repose; To crown my joys, to end my woes, At evening time let there be light. At evening time let there be light :- Stormy and dark hath been my day;
Yet rose the morn benignly bright,
Dews, birds, and flowers cheer'd all the way; Oh for one sweet, one parting ray! At evening time let there be light.
At evening time there shall be light: For God hath said,-" So let it be !" Fear, doubt, and anguish, take their flight, His glory now is risen on me;
Mine eyes shall his salvation see: -"Tis evening time, and there is light. Conway, North Wales, 1828.
THE LOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
"We know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD." Rom. viii. 28.
YEA,—“ ALL things work together for their good!" How can this glorious truth be understood?
'Tis like JEHOVAH's throne, where marvellous light Hides in thick darkness from created sight: The first-born seraph, trembling while he sings, Views its veil'd lustre through his shadowing wings; Or, if he meets, by unexpected grace,
The beatific vision, face to face,
Shrinks from perfection which no eye can see, Entranced in the abyss of Deity.
Yea, "ALL things work together for their good!"
How shall the mystery be understood?
From man's primeval curse are these set free, Sin slain, death swallow'd up in victory?
The body from corruption so refined, "Tis but the immortal vesture of the mind? The mind from folly so to wisdom won, 'Tis a pure sunbeam of the eternal sun?
Ah! no, no;-all that troubles life is theirs, Hard toil, sharp suffering, slow-consuming cares; To mourn and weep; want raiment, food, and rest, Brood o'er the unutter'd anguish of the breast; To love, to hope, desire, possess, in vain; Wrestle with weakness, weariness, and pain, Struggle with fell disease from breath to breath, And every moment die a moment's death.
This is their portion, this the common lot; But they have sorrows which the world knows not: -Their conflicts with that world, its fair, false joys,
Ensnaring riches and delusive toys,
Its love, its hatred; its neglect and scorn; With self-abhorrence harder to be borne ;
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