And thou hast safely reached the heavenly goal, To rest for ever on its peaceful shore; To know the boundless love of Him who diedTo dwell through countless ages with the crucified. THE CLOUDY AND DARK DAY. "As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places, where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day."-Ezek. xxxiv. 12. WHEN the blue sky is shaded And peace finds no room; When the thought of to-morrow Brings fear to the soul, And the deep waves of sorrow Unceasingly roll. When bright hopes are dying, And the full heart is sighing O'er scenes that are past; When gladness has perish'd, When comfort has flown, And the friends once so cherish'd Have left thee alone. Pale mourner repine not, But raise the sad eye, Though prosperity shine not, Thy Shepherd is nigh; And carry thee home. H. THE PENITENT. "And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.Luke vii. 48. OH! shrink not from her, gaze upon that brow, And breathes a hope, a yearning hope of rest; Proud man would spurn thee, woman would not own A wretched outcast-thou must weep alone.— Yet not alone, one eye still turns to thee, One loving heart still beats in sympathy; To Jesu's feet thy heavy burden bear, Thy sin-stained soul shall find a refuge there He woos thy love, and longs to set thee free, ON THE DEATH OF A CHRISTIAN FRIEND. "Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."-Psalm xvi. 11. "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."-2 Cor. v. 8. THE last sigh is hush'd; and the spirit has flown To the presence of Jesus, before His bright throne, With rapture is bending, to gaze on that brow, At the sight of whose glory e'en cherubim bow. No trouble can darken the heavenly home, Where the soul now reposes, no longer to roam In this dark world of sorrow, the purified sight, Beholds the full blaze of ineffable light. What vision can picture that world all divine, Where the beams of Jehovah in majesty shine What heart can imagine a glory like this, Where the soul ever dwells in the fulness of bliss? Then why should we sorrow o'er those that are gone, Or grieve that their triumph has left us alone Let us rather rejoice, and look up from the tomb, To a region where pleasures immortally bloom. BATH PRINTED BY BINNS AND GOODWIN. |