FOR what shall man exchange his soul,
Born to survive the glorious sun,
When age on age has ceased to roll,
Its endless being but begun?
Shall he, with an immortal mind,
Too oft pursue life's shadows vain,
And with mysterious folly blind,
Barter his soul for worldly gain?
Pangs, keenest to the lost, will spring
From memory of their earthly state,
With moments ever on the wing,
Yet felt not, prized not, till too late.
Lord, teach us where our safety lies,
Let us the best of lessons learn;
Pilgrims below, may we be wise,
And make our souls our chief concern !
ON HEARING TWO YOUNG LADIES SING
A SONG CALLED "THE ROSE OF THE
DESERT."
KIND maidens, if the sweetness of your strain
Can for a moment still the throb of pain;
If" desert roses" such a bloom supply,
As kindles sparkling hope in care's dim eye;
How sweetly shall their grateful song resound,
Who painless rest and endless joy have found!
How bright the palm by the Redeemer given!
How glorious the unfading crown of heaven!
R. W. KYLE.
LORD! as the rain comes
Which waters earth, no
But makes the tree to b
And feeds and gladdens
So may thy Word upon
Come down in blessing,
So may it come in unive
And fill the dreary wild
Let Truth look down fro
Justice and Mercy meet
Nations new born their
The ransomed of the L
Heralds the year of jub
And every tongue prais
A CLOUD was passing n A gleam of crimson t Long had I watched th O'er the still surface Tranquil its spirit seem Even in its very moti While every breath of Wafted the traveller Emblem, me-thought, o To whose white robe And by the breath of m Right onward to the Where, to the eye of fa And tells to man his
no man cometh unto n xiv. 6.
arth to heaven.
therein,
and sin!
ad out thy light,
ful night; ount in me, h eternity.
blood,
to God.
living way,
endless day:
ight'ning ray
ain the strength
nd reach our heaven
our past hours,
y bore to heaven; e more welcome news. experience call;
if not, worst foe.
A TOILSOME life is mine,
And troubles mark my way-
Lord, let thy tender mercy shine,
And turn the night to day.
My wants and woes abound,
I sink in helpless fear-
Oh Father! ever gracious found,
I pray Thee still be near!
Look down with pitying eye,
My Saviour and my God!
And hear my spirit's humble cry,
O'er-burdened with its load.
Thou seest, gracious Lord,
The trouble of my soul!
Shew me the comforts of thy word,
And murmuring thoughts control.
Let me confiding turn,
In all my griefs to Thee;
The lowly thou wilt never spurn,—
Defend and comfort me.
Guard me from thoughts of ill,
Increase my faith and love,
And through life's gloom conduct me still
To endless joys above!
"I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me."-John xiv. 6.
THERE is one only path to mortals given,
By which they may ascend from earth to heaven.
Thou art the way-O may I walk therein,
And leave the varied paths of woe and sin!
Thou art the truth, blest Son! send out thy light,
And dissipate the shades of deathful night;
Thou art the life-be Thou the Fount in me,
Whose living stream flows through eternity.
"Tis, Jesus! by thy spirit and thy blood,
The fallen race of man is brought to God.
Thou art the way to heaven, the living way,
By which we mount to realms of endless day :
Thou art the truth, by whose enlight'ning ray
Alone, we find the one appointed way;
Thou art the life by which we gain the strength
To tread the way when found, and reach our heaven
at length.
REFLECTION ON THE PAST.
'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours,
And ask them what report they bore to heaven;
And how they might have borne more welcome news.
Their answers form what men experience call;
If wisdom's friend, her best: if not, worst foe.
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