It is a solemn thing to live! More solemn still to die То pass the narrow gate of time, To know when God the nations calls Our spirits too must there appear Thrice blessed they who watch and pray, In faith that hour to see: Lord! since for ever we must live, Oh, let us live with Thee! (Original.) ROMANS VIII. 18. A. R. C. OH! glimpses of heaven, We pierce with the spirit The vista of years; The land we inherit Looks bright through our tears; To us it is given Within us to feel The earnest of heaven, The Spirit's deep seal. We soon shall be dwelling Where bosoms are calm; We soon shall be telling The praise of the Lamb; We'll soon swell the meeting Of glorified ones, And list their glad greeting In Canaan's sweet tones. Our faith sees the regions Where Christ is the light, The glorious legions Whose robes are made white; Sweet voices immortal Are borne to our ears, And Zion's bright portal Unfolded appears. We look down the valley : Its shadows are dim Yet forth we will sally And oh when death frees us From fetters of clay, How gently our Jesus THE EPIPHANY. GEORGE TREVOR. STAR of glory! brightly streaming, Led the wise men from afar! Till thy heavenly light thou sheddest Holy Father! thou who gavest Them that light and grace to see! Holy Son! O Christ! who savest All that look for light to Thee! Holy Spirit! ever pouring Grace on them that seek aright!— Grant us, Lord! with hearts adoring, Still to walk with Thee in light! WOULD I WERE A CHILD! MRS ABDY. OH! would I were a child again, a child with spirit free, Singing glad songs of merriment beneath the hawthorn tree; Watching the many-colour'd clouds pursue their course on high, Trying to count the silver stars that gem the evening sky; Weaving, beside the sparkling stream, a wreath of summer flowers, Or reading wondrous fairy tales in green sequester'd bowers. The sights, the sounds of nature then my happy hours beguiled: Would I could feel her power again-oh! would I were a child! I chose my sprightly playmates for simplicity and mirth ; |