THE DA Y.

[HORNE.]

SWEET day, so cool, so calm, so bright,
Bridal of earth and sky,

The dew shall weep thy fall to-night;
For thou, alas! must die.

Sweet rose, in airs whose odours wave,
And colour charms the eye,

Thy root is ever in its grave,
And thou, alas! must die.

Sweet spring, of days and roses made,
Whose charms for beauty vie,
Thy days depart, thy roses fade,
Thou too, alas! must die.

Be wise then, Christian, while you may,
For swiftly time is flying;
The thoughtless man, that laughs to-day,
To-morrow will be dying.

CHILDREN OF LIGHT.

[BERNARD BARTON.]

WALK in the light! so shalt thou know That fellowship of love,

His Spirit only can bestow,

Who reigns in light above.

Walk in the light!-and sin, abhorred, Shall ne'er defile again;

The blood of Jesus Christ, the Lord,

Shall cleanse from every stain.

Walk in the light!-and thou shalt find
Thy heart made truly His,

Who dwells in cloudless light enshrined,
In whom no darkness is.

Walk in the light!-and thou shalt own
Thy darkness passed away,

Because that light hath on thee shone
In which is perfect day.

Walk in the light!-and e'en the tomb
No fearful shade shall wear;
Glory shall chase away its gloom,
For Christ hath conquered there!
Walk in the light!-and thou shalt be
A path, though thorny, bright;
For God, by grace, shall dwell in thee,
And God himself is light!

A DIALOGUE

BETWEEN DEATH AND THE BELIEVER.

[BAXTER.]

Death. COME with me, poor mortal,

Quickly come away:

My name is dreadful Death.

Through this narrow portal

Come without delay;

For here I'll stop thy breath.

Presently my dart

Shall pierce thee to the heart,

And away thy life I'll have:
It is in vain to fly,

Or any

friend to try:

For there's none that can thee save.

Believer. Welcome, friendly Death;
What canst thou do to me,

That I have cause to fear?

Though thou shalt stop my breath,
Yet I in life shall be,

When thou shalt not be there.
And though the gate be strait,
It leads unto that height

Where I shall defy thy dart :
Willingly I yield,

As armed by that shield

That will save my nobler part.

Death. Come away,

frail man,

And open now thy breast,

And take thy mortal wound: Let friends do what they can, And physic do its best,

They'll all too weak be found.

Lay now aside thy mirth,
And turn unto thy earth:

I will give thee the fatal blow:
It is vain to wish;

Thou canst not save thy flesh

For my power thou shalt know.

Believer. Readily I come,

As being not the first,

That hath pass'd through thy docr.

Thou shalt but help me home

When thou hast done thy worst;

And thou shalt be no more:

By drawing out my blood,
Thou shalt but do me good,

And ease me of my grief:
And though thou look so grim,
Thou shalt bring me to him,

That will give me full relief.

Death. Thy flesh I'll turn to clay,
And all thy bones to dust;

And leave thee in the grave.

Make no longer stay,

For come away thou must; It is in vain to crave: Clothed from head to feet, But with a winding-sheet,

My prisoner thou shalt be; Bearing my loathsome mark, Thou shalt lie in the dark,

And the face of no man see.

Believer. Thou shalt but dig the ground, Where God his seed shall sow,

And raise it at the spring:

And there I shall be found,

And Christ his own will know,
And unto glory bring:

When here I cease to live,

A better life he'll give,

Which thou shalt not destroy:

And though this life thou spill,
My soul thou canst not kill,
Nor again with fears annoy.
When thou putt'st out these eyes,
I shall receive my sight:
My day will all be noon:
Above the spangled skies,
Where never shall be night,
Nor need of sun or moon:
also shall keep

The grave

My dust in quiet sleep,

Till the coming of my Lord:

That flesh shall shine with God,
That now is but a clod,

And must lie as a thing abhorr❜d.

Death. Thy merry days are gone;
Thou shalt no longer stay:

Thy life shall end in pain:
Thy time and work is done,
And all thy sport and play;

And never shall come again.
Here take thy leave of health,
And of thy goods and wealth;
And of every pleasant friend :
Bid farewell to them all,
For here thy corse shall fall;

And the world to thee shall end.

Believer. Boast not, O conquer'd foe! For thou could'st have no strength, But what comes from my sin :

My Lord will overthrow

Thy power at the length;

And will thy prisoners win:

Thou couldst not keep my head,
When he lay in thy bed;

But he rose, and now doth reign
He'll take away thy sting,
And endless life will bring,

And with him shall I remain.

How oft have I undress'd me,
And laid my garments by,
And died till the next day!

I do but go to rest me,

And shall rise speedily;

My Lord will not delay.

When thou hast broke this shell,
My soul with Christ shall dwell,

:

And with saints and angels bright.

This world is but the womb

From which my soul must come

Into the eternal light.