For what is service done

By man, or trophy won

By the frail son of man, when most victorious,
That he, with haughty tone,

Should deem the palm his own,
Or of his feeble service be vain-glorious?

Can even pride suggest,

When man has done his best,

That fear is folly?-'tis a thought of madness!
Or when with heart, and voice,

The Christian can rejoice,

Are there no humbling thoughts to chasten gladness?

There is a fear-whose power,

In dark temptation's hour,

Makes him who feels it firmer than the Stoic;
A trembling-in delight,

Which gives the feeble might,

And renders the most humble-most heroic!

SELF-COMMUNION.

Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still."Psalm, iv. 4.

ERE thou giv'st thine eyes to sleep,
When thou seek'st thy peaceful bed,

Let thy thoughts their vigil keep,
Let thy soul its wings out-spread.

Commune with thy wakeful heart;—
Be communion joy, or pain :

"Tis true wisdom's better part
Thus to live the past again.

If, with memory's eye review'd,
Peace the parted day affords,

Turn to God with gratitude,
For the glory is the Lord's.

If that retrospect but show
Good neglected, evil done,

Seek for strength, whence strength must flow,
On the morrow such to shun.

Wise are they who every night
Thus the Psalmist's law obey;
Waiting, watching for that Light,
Brighter far than beams of day.

Unto such the Light will rise,
Showing clearly good and ill,
God, whose grace that light supplies,
Every roving thought can still.

Ó! how glorious is that ray

Which no shades of night can dim;

O! how soothing in its sway

Silence which proceeds from Him.`

APPROACHING THROUGH MERCY.

"But as for me, I will come into thy house, in the multitude of thy mercy."- Psalm, v. 7.

O LORD! I enter not thy courts
In fancied merit of my own;

Thy law has shaken all supports

Save what thy mercy yet makes known.

The past a dreary waste appears,
The present--but the past renew'd,
The future-fraught with boding fears
But for thy mercy's multitude.

No penitence, though deep, and sure,
No good desires, however strong,
No "high resolves," however pure,
Can vouch for hope of safety long.

These have been trusted, and have fail'd!
That purer, humbler hope make known
Which, in thy boundless mercy mail'd,
Trusts to THY RIGHTEOUSNESS alone.

DIVINE CONDESCENSION.

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained; What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visitest him?" --Psalm, viii. 3, 4.

WHEN I view the vaulted sky,

Rear'd by thee, by thee sustain❜d, Sun, and moon, and stars on high, . By thy fiat first ordain'd,

Lord! what is man? my spirit well may say,

That thou should'st thus be mindful of his way.

What the son of man? that thou

Thus should'st visit him in love?

To his

prayer in mercy bow.

From thy glorious throne above ?—

It is thy condescending grace, whose plan
Thus comprehends, and would ennoble man.

Yet thy holy word hath said,

Thou wilt not for ever strive :-
Fearful hope, and daring dread,
Let this solemn truth revive;

That we, in thy accepted day, and hour,
May of thy visitation own the Power.

THE BELIEVER'S REFuge.

"The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."—Psalm, ix. 9.

How cheerless, Lord! would be the lot

Of those whom man regardeth not,

If, in affliction's darkest hour,

Thy name were not their fortress-tower.