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THE ARK.

"And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

"And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

"And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered."-Gen. vii. 17-20.

THE clouds grow darker, and the angry sky

A heavy torrent of destruction pours;

The proud waves rear their crested heads on high,

And louder still the deafening tempest

roars;

Yet on the rolling ocean's stormy breast,

There floats a quiet home of peace and rest.

Higher the waters rise, and every hill,

And lofty mountain-top is lost to sight; The heavy clouds pour forth a deluge still, Changing the light of day to gloomy night; Still floats the ark the raging sea above, Around her flows the oil of peace and love.

Poor fearful soul! why tremble at the wave, The heaving billow, and the tempest's sweep, Why dread the stormy sea, which seems to lave Thy fainting spirit in affliction's deep?

Know thou, that love divine directs the dart, Which sends such anguish thro' thy bleeding heart.

Jesus would draw thee nearer to the side,

That poured for thee a stream of crimson dye; Love flowed in every drop of that dark tide, Which purchased thee to dwell with Him on high;

Cleave then to Him, abide in His embrace, Glorious He soon shall come and see thee face to face.

E

RETURN TO ME.

"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud, thy sins; return unto me for I have redeemed thee."-Isa. xliv. 22.

By nature prone to go astray,

How oft I leave the narrow way,
Yet Jesus watches when I stray,

And says "Return to me."

Though stained with sin, my robe defiled, His love unwearied seeks His child,

And still I hear those accents mild, "Return, return to me."

Alas! this weak and fleshly heart
Still seeks from Jesus to depart,
He wounds it with a blood-dipt dart,
And cries "Return to me."

"Oh seek not here to build a nest,
Nor sigh to leave a world unblest,
I am thy hope, thy joy, thy rest,
Thine all, 'Return to me.""

"I love thee still, behold thy name, Graved on my hands, in love I came, To rescue thee from guilt and shame, 'Return, return to me.'"

"Rest in my deep unchanging love, Dwell near my side, nor seek to rove, So shalt thou reach thy home above, Ever to dwell with me."

DOUBTS AND FEARS

For with Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy light shall we see light." Psalm xxxvi. 9.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Cor. x. 4, 5.

CHILD of earth, with earnest gaze,
Brooding o'er the tangled maze

Of thy wandering thoughts, which seem
Like a strange, mysterious dream;

Bring the gloomy doubts that roll
Through thy dark and troubled soul
To thy Maker, none but He

From their sway can set thee free.

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