The ear that entertains harmonious sounds

In whispers clear,

The cunning hand, whose workmanship abounds
With records dear;-

And all this matchless fabric, well designed
In perfect skill,

Where order sits enthroned; her laws combined
And framed at will.

The soul whose varying attributes engage
The admiring eye,

Each changeful passion, turbulent or sage,
Each impulse high.

Yes, thou wast largely gifted-could it be
That clouds of night

Veiled for a while Salvation's mystery,
And dimmed thy sight?

But passed from earth, oh let us welcome now,
Thy soul's release

To realms whose suns with light immortal glow
And smile in peace.

There to the Adored, the Crucified, whose breast
No sin might know,

The Lamb immaculate, by seraphs blest,

Shall high praise flow.

"Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth.”—1 PETER ii. 21, 22.

A SON OF THUNDER.

45

A SON OF THUNDER.

A NOBLE champion comes, and lo!
With arrow fixed he bends his bow,
He sends it gifted from on high,
To work its mystic agency;
That arrow with its barbed dart,
Is sent right onwards to the heart.
'Tis ably done! methinks 'tis sent
To work a passing wonderment;
That barb goes forth the foe to kill-
To work Jehovah's sovereign will;
To kill-and make alive again
The abject sons of guilty men.

The preacher cries" obey the Word!
"Receive it, 'tis the Spirit's sword:
“That word of quick, convincing might,
"Is strong and desperate in the fight;

Two-edged is the face it wears,

"A conquering hand that weapon bears,
"And joints and marrow shall divide
"Before the Lord-the Crucified!"

His voice still pleads--he lifts his eye
Where Jesus died on Calvary,-
Where for our sins He poured His blood,
Redemption's grand, empurpled flood;
Jesus! whose light transcendeth far,
The radiance of the morning star!
The sinner's hope, the saint's high crown,
The plant of glory and renown,

The God of covenant and grace!
He bids us look-and see His face.
The Saviour's work of love we see-
His own "divine Philanthropy"-
He comes our debt of sin to pay,
To open wide the gates of day,
To clothe us in the spotless dress
Of His redeeming righteousness.
And now the Spirit from above
Descending, comes on wings of love;
He makes each healt-felt offering sweet
Before the Saviour's mercy-seat,
And bids, as hallowed incense, rise
Our faith's accepted sacrifice.

Again the preacher's voice we hear In tones sonorous, soft and clear :— On mount Moriah's sacred brow, He takes his fill of wisdom now; We listen whilst his accents tell How with the righteous all is well. "Behold the Patriarch-where by faith, "He yields his treasured hopes to death! "The heart's full sacrifice is made"See Isaac, on the altar laid!

"That hand gives fealty, when a word "Is from celestial confines heard: "The angel of the Lord' is there! "The Lord of angels' answers prayer. "Lo! in the thicket—he espies, "A ram prepared for sacrifice; "A type that spotless ram should be "Of great salvation's mystery;

A SON OF THUNDER.

"Abraham in hushed devotion, now

May well at heaven's high altar, bow—
"His arm upraised, the stroke suspends-
"Whilst now in faith, obedience ends."
Again through memory's land he strays
And pictures saints of gospel days,
Whilst Jesus in his presence came
And breathed the fragrance of his name.
"Sisters of Bethany! your Lord
"Speaks Resurrection's potent word-
"He calls the sleeper, and on earth
"Those eyelids wake to second birth ;
"Your brother rises, and behold
"Death's shadowy veil at once unfold !
"Sisters of Bethany, your guest,
"The Lord of Glory stands confest!"

"Behold a Shepherd! where He leads
"His flock to rest in verdant meads
"The Saviour in this type appears,
"For thus he walked our vale of tears.
"See! in the pastures fresh and fair,
"The Shepherd of his fold is there;

By peaceful rivers soft and slow,
"He bids his faithful followers go,
"And still beneath his wing abide
"His people saved and sanctified.
"His tabernacle now they raise
"A house of sacrifice and praise ;
"And there upon Immanuel's plains
"The Lord of life and glory reigns."

47

And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; (and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.)—MARK iii. 17.

THE SWEET SINGER OF ZION.

AND let me not thy name forget

Where memory's tablets shine,Thy name that lives with fragrance yet Within the heart's true shrine.

For still upon our spirits rest

The whispers of His love,
Who made thy earthly portion blest,

And crowned thy joys above.

Sweet was thy heritage below,

Where dews celestial lie

The streams that from the fountain flow Of God's immensity.

To filial love like thine, 'twas sweet
When languor chilled thy frame,
The Saviour's answering smile to greet
And breathe around his name.

Sweet from thy prison cage, to soar

On wings of thought sublime;

To view the Saviour and adore
Above the clouds of Time.

And when thy earthly house of clay
Life's grand partition wall,
Gave index of its sure decay,

Whilst tottering to its fall;

Thy lips could raise the exulting cry,
Warmed with Devotion's fire;
Celestial tenant, heavenward fly!

To yon blest home aspire!