first-born followed, he clung with an intensity of affection to his remaining treasure. His surviving child was smitten down by sickness, and for a time life and death trembled in the scale. His trial was severe, for his child died, but his faith failed not. His frame was worn with anxiety, his face pallid with painful emotion, and the sharp arrow of affliction was deeply embedded in his heart; yet not a murmur fell from his lips; but, on the contrary, resignation to and acquiescence in the will of his heavenly Father, were meekly manifested in his words and his deeds. There is a blessed grief that all transcends; That knows too well how much has passed away Of happiness and bliss; yet meekly bends And bows submissive o'er its kindred clay: Chasten'd and humbled by the trial past, The bleeding bosom heaves a conscious sigh; But Faith is seen to smile amid the blast, And rebe' thoughts and idol passions die. That such as live only for this world, and have no Christian hope either for themselves or their children, should be overwhelmed with affliction under bereavements, can hardly be cause of wonder; but followers of the Redeemer, though they may lament the loss of those dear to them, cannot sorrow without hope, without S denying their Christian profession. He that can say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth : and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God;" "God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave;" and "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day," should be ever ready, without inordinate grief, to give up his friends, his children, his wife, and himself, into the hands of a faithful Creator and Redeemer. Christian the loss of children may be among the thorns in thy pathway through the world; but though they may wound thee, yet look unto thy Lord, and he shall give thee not only patience to endure them, but also strong consolation, and hope, and faith, and peace, and heavenly joy. A NEW CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS DAY. AWAKE! for this is Christmas morn, And raise your voices high, To celebrate the Son of God Did bright-eyed, burning seraphim, And, flashing round his radiant car, No seraph waved his shining wing; Ye winged Hallelujahs rise, Ye loud Hosannas rend the skies, In pity, tenderness, and love, He came to save mankind, They bound his brow with cruel thorns, Reviled him with their bitter taunts As mute and meekly as the lamb Ye winged Hallelujahs rise, But see, he rises; rolls away The dark sepulchral stone, And triumphs over death, and reigns Their notes of rapture raise, And cherubim and seraphim Delight to sing his praise. Then let the throng with grateful song Be merry while they may, And bid the crowd rejoice aloud, For this is Christmas day. |