SIGNS AND TOKENS.

"He that observeth the wind, shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap."- Ecclesiastes, xi. 4.

CHRISTIAN pilgrim, seeking still

Zion's high and holy hill,

May thy Lord to thee impart

Single eye, and stedfast heart.

Place thy trust in grace divine,
Heed not thou each changing sign;
Shouldst thou witness many a change,
Count not these as tokens strange.

Winds may rise of fearful sound,
Darkest clouds may gather round,
These may usher cloudless day,
Those but waft thee on thy way.

He who watcheth winds that blow,
May too long neglect to sow;

He who waits lest clouds should rain,
Harvest never shall obtain.

Signs and tokens false may prove,
Trust thou in a Saviour's love,
In his sacrifice for sin,

And his Spirit's power within.

Keep thou Zion-ward thy face,
Ask in faith the aid of grace,

Use the strength which grace shall give,
Die to self-in Christ to live.

Faith in God, if such be thine,
Shall be found thy safest sign,
And obedience to His will

Prove the best of tokens still.

THE CHURCH IN HER BEAUTY AND PURITY.

"A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed."-Solomon's Song, iv. 12.

DELIGHTFUL emblems, in whose guise is shown Thy church, O Lord, from spot and wrinkle free; "The world unknowing, by the world unknown," Chaste and devoted in her love to Thee.

Then Thou to her art fairest of the fair,

The chief among ten thousand :—every crown And palm victorious which her children wear, Before thy throne of glory is cast down.

Then, every anxious care on Thee repos'd,
Her image to the spirit seems reveal'd
A beauteous garden, by Thy love inclos'd,
A spring shut up, a living fountain seal'd.

Lovely as Eden, ere by sin's deceit

The tempter there a fatal entrance found; Pure as a chrystal fount in noontide's heat, Whose sunless depth by rocks is guarded round.

Her's is that state of holier innocence

Fall'n nature of itself can never know;

Thy arm's inclosure is her living fence,

Thy grace which made her pure must keep her so.

THE CHURCH IN HER DESOLATION.

"And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.”— Isaiah, i. 8.

SUCH the desolate condition

Of thy church, when sick at heart; Haste to save her, great Physician, Much she needs thy healing art.

Balm in Gilead still is growing,

Balm which every wound can heal,
Haste, thy skilful aid bestowing,
Thy compassion to reveal.

Like some poor, besieged city,
Zion's daughter now appears;

Lord, look down on her with pity,
Hear her sighs, behold her tears.

Turn thy righteous hand upon her,
Purge away her dross and tin,
Vindicate thy name and honour,

Once enshrin'd her walls within.

Once more from Thee favour winning,

Judges unto her restore;

As she had at the beginning,

Give her counsellors once more.

Raise up nursing sires and mothers,
Be thyself her Priest and King;
Make her sons a band of brothers,
Daughters-meet thy praise to sing.

So shall sin no more defile her,
Thy salvation they shall bless,
And the earth again shall style her
City of thy righteousness.

ZION'S HOPE OF REDEMPTION.

"Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness."-Isaiah, i. 27.

WITH judgment, passing that of man,
By righteousness, but not their own ;-
Such still redemption's glorious plan,
Thus Zion's converts still are known.