FOLLOWING JESUS.

"And a certain scribe came, and said unto him. Master, I will tollow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay nis head."-Matthew viii. 19, 20,

"SAID one, throughout this world of cares,
"Through paths beset with many snares;
"Though far from all I love on earth,
"And the dear land that gave me birth;
"E'en to the desert should'st thou flee,
"My Master, I will follow Thee!"

"The wild bird of the air hath rest,
"Within her safe and quiet nest.
"The fox far from all hunan ken,
"Finds sleep and shelter in his den;
"But I of Heaven and Earth the Lord,
"Obedient to whose sovereign word,
"Archangels leave the courts above,
"To minister to those I love:

"I, when the day of toil is done,
"And nature craves at setting sun,
"The needful meal, the quiet bed,
"Have not a home to rest my head."

And did he shrink to share thy lot ?
Saviour, thy scriptures tell us not.
May I as nothing count the loss
Of all things earthly for thy cross,
And painful though that cross may be,
With gladness bear it after Thee,
Till at thy feet I lay it down

To take the robe and wear the crown.

L. T.

"BE NOT AFRAID."

Matt. xiv. 27.

LOUD was the wind, and wild the tide;
The ship her course delayed:
Jesus came to their help, and cried,
'Tis I be not afraid."

Thus, when the storm of life is high,
Come, Saviour, to my aid!

Come, when no other help is nigh,
"Be not afraid."

And say,

Speak, and my griefs no more are heard ;
Speak, and my fears are laid;

Speak, and my soul shall bless the word,
"Tis I: be not afraid."

When on the bed of death I lie,
And stretch my hands for aid;
Stand Thou before my closing eye,
"Be not afraid."

And say,

Before thy judgment-seat above,
When nature sinks dismayed,

O cheer me with that word of love

"Tis I, be not afraid."

H. F. LYTE.

310

FLOWERS OF SACRED POETRY.

"SOON-AND FOR EVER;"

THE LAST WORDS OF A WIFE TO HER HUSBAND.

"SOON-and for ever!"

Such promise our trust,
Though ashes to ashes,
And dust to dust;
Soon-and for ever

Our union shall be
Made perfect and glorious,
Redeemer! in Thee.
When the sins and the sorrows
Of time shall be o'er;
Its pangs and its partings
Remembered no more;
When life cannot fail,

And when death cannot sever,
Christians with Christ shall be
Soon-and for ever.

THE END.

MONSELL.

INDEX.

Amidst the thrilling leaves thy voice
As each season passes by

A voice amidst the desert

As when the blue autumnal sky
Amidst the varying scenes of life
And art thou come, dear Saviour?
As the gun's alarming noise

As o'er the past my memory strays
Around a ruin old and grey
Ah! who can tell which hour

PAGE

20

25

40

51

56

61

82

88

90

97

Ah! be not sad, although thy lot be cast

278

All that I have, O Lord, is thine

283

Asleep in Jesus

288

PAGE

A spirit of unwearied zeal

Aerial voyager, who spreadst thy wing

As from the bud the flower expands to view

Beloved, it is well

Beautiful plant! clasping the ruined tower

291

292

295

23

32

Christ, whose glory fills the skies

Child of the flowing locks and laughing eye

162

230