Time doth not breathe on its fadeless bloom

For, beyond the clouds, and beyond the tomb, "It is there, it is there, my child."

Mrs. Hemans.

THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD CONSIDERED.

POWER is that glorious attribute of God Almighty, which furnishes the rest of his perfections.-'Tis his omnipotence that makes his wisdom and goodness effectual, and succeed to the length of his will. Thus his decrees are immutable, and his counsels stand; this secures his prerogative, and guards the sovereignty of his being, 'twas his power which made his ideas fruitful, and struck the world out of his thought. 'Twas this which answered the model of the creation, gave birth to time and nature, and brought them forth at his first call: thus he spake the word and they were made, he commanded, and they were created. 'Tis the divine power, which is the basis of all things; which continues the vigour of the second causes, and keeps the sun and moon in repair. This holds everything constant to appointment, and true to the first plan, thus the revolutions of the seasons, the support of animals, the perpetuity of species, is carried on and maintained. Without this, things would soon run riot, and ramble out of distinction, the succours of life. would be cut off and nature drop into decay.

Omniscience, and goodness without a correspondent power would be strangely short of satisfaction: to know everything without being able to supply

defects, and remedy disorders, must prove an unpleasant speculation: to see so many noble schemes languish in the mind and prove abortive; to see the most consummate wisdom, the most generous temper fettered and disarmed must be a grievance, but when omnipotence comes into the notion, the grandeur is perfect and the pleasure entire.

Jeremy Collier.

ON THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid,
Star of the east the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Cold on his cradle the dew drops are shining,
Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore him in slumbers reclining,

Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all.

Say, shall ye yield him in costly devotion,
Odours of Eden and offerings divine,
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine.

Vainly we offer each ample oblation;

Vainly with gold, would his favours secure Richer by far is the heart's adoration,

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid,
Star of the east the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Heber.

A PERSECUTING SPIRIT REPROVED.

ARAM was sitting at the door of his tent, under the shade of his fig-tree, when it came to pass that a man stricken in years, bearing a staff in his hand, journeyed that way.

And it was noon-day: and Aram said to the stranger, "Pass not by, I pray thee, but come in, and wash thy feet, and tarry here until the evening; for thou art stricken in years, and the heat overcometh thee." And the stranger left his staff at the door, and entered into the tent of Aram; and he rested himself. And Aram set before him bread and cakes of fine meal baked upon the hearth. And Aram blessed the bread, calling upon the name of the Lord: but the stranger did eat, and refused to pray unto the Most High, saying, thy Lord is not the God of my fathers; why, therefore, should I present my vows unto Him? And Aram's wrath was kindled, and he called his servants, and they beat the stranger, and they drove him into the wilderness. Now in the evening Aram lifted up his voice unto the Lord, and prayed unto him. And the Lord said, "Aram, where is the stranger that sojourned this day with thee?" And Aram

answered and said, "Behold, O Lord! he eat of thy bread, and would not offer unto thee his prayers and thanksgivings; therefore did I chastise him, and drive him from before me into the wilderness." And the Lord said to Aram, "Who hath made thee a judge between me and him; have not I borne with thine iniquities, and winked at thy backslidings; and shalt thou be severe with thy brother, to mark his errors, and to punish his perverseness? Arise, and follow the stranger, and carry with thee oil and wine, and anoint his bruises, and speak kindly unto him; for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, and judgment belongeth only to me. Vain is thine oblation of thanksgiving without a lowly heart. As a bulrush thou mayest bow down thine head, and lift up thy voice like a trumpet; but thou obeyest not the ordinance of thy God if thy worship be for strife and debate. Behold the sacrifice that I have chosen: is it not to undo the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?-to deal thy bread to the hungry, and to bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?" And Aram trembled before the presence of God, and he arose, and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the wilderness, to do as the Lord had commanded him.

Percival.

ON THE DEATH OF A DEPARTED FRIEND.

THOU art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee;
Tho' sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb;

The Saviour has pass'd through its portals before thee,
And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom.

Thou art gone to the grave; we no longer behold thee,
Nor tread the rough path of the world by thy side;
But the wide arms of mercy are spread to enfold thee,
And sinners may hope, since the sinless has died.

Thou art gone to the grave, and its mansion forsaking,
Perhaps thy tried spirit in doubt lingered long;
But the sunshine of heaven beamed bright on thy waking,
And the song which thou heard'st was the Seraphim's

song.

Thou art gone to the grave, but 'twere wrong to deplore thee, When God was thy ransome, thy guardian, thy guide; He gave thee and took thee, and soon will restore thee, Where death hath no sting, since the Saviour hath died.

Heber.

FROM A MEMORIAL OF A BELOVED SISTER.

LET him, who, in reckless inconsideration, wantonly wounds a tender and innocent spirit, and eventually seeks his connubial happiness elsewhere, enjoy it as he may. There is a Hand above him that registers in fearful characters the deed of folly and of negligence; and O! if there be any sorrow natural to our suffering state, that makes its way direct to heaven,