Some style him the pearl of great price,
And says he's the fountain of joys;
Yet feed upon folly and vice,

And cleave to the world and its toys:
Like Judas, the Saviour they kiss,
And while they salute him, betray:
Ah! what will profession like this
Avail in his terrible day?

If ask'd what of Jesus I think?

Though still my best thoughts are but poor;
I say, He's my meat and my drink,
My life, and my strength, and my store,
My Shepherd, my Husband, my Friend,
My Saviour from sin and from thrall,
My hope from beginning to end,
My portion, my Lord, and my all.

A MORNING HYMN.

ARISE my soul, with rapture rise!

And fill'd with love and fear-adore

The awful Sovereign of the skies,

Whose mercy lends thee one day more.

And may this day-indulgent Power!
Not idly spent, nor useless be;
But may each swiftly-flying hour
Advance my soul more nigh to thee.

But can it be! that Power divine-
Whose throne is light's unbounded blaze,
While countless worlds and angels join
To swell the glorious song of praise-

Will deign to lend a fav'ring ear

When I, poor abject mortal, pray?
Yes! (boundless goodness!) he will hear
Nor cast the meanest wretch away.

Then let me serve thee all my days,
And may my zeal with years increase;
For pleasant, Lord! are all thy ways,
And all thy paths are paths of peace.

TRANSIENT AND LASTING HAPPI. NESS.

TELL me, wand'rer! wildly roving

From the path that leads to peace, Pleasure's false enchantments loving,When will thy delusion cease?

Once, like thee, by joys surrounded,
I, too, knelt at pleasure's shrine;
Once, too, all my hopes were founded
In delight as false as thine!

Then, the moments flew unheeded,
As the wave that rolls along;
Soon as one bright hope succeeded,
Came another smiling on!

But those cloudless hours that bless'd me,
Vanish'd as a dream when o'er;
And the world, that once caress'd me,
Charm'd me with its smiles no more.

Such is pleasure's transient story!
Lasting happiness is known

Only in the path to glory

In the Saviour's love alone.

"WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?"

LORD, what is life?—Tis like a flow'r,
That blossoms and is gone!

We see it flourish for an hour,

With all its beauty on;

But death comes, like a wintry day,
And cuts the blooming flow'r away.

Lord, what is life?'Tis like the bow
That glistens in the sky;

We love to see its colours glow;
But while we look, they die.
Life fails as soon; to-day 'tis here;
To-night, perhaps, 'twill disappear.

Six thousand years have passed away
Since life began at first,
And millions, once alive and gay,
Are dead and in the dust;

For life, in all its health and pride,
Has death still waiting at its side.

And yet, this short uncertain space
So foolishly we prize,

That heav'n, that lasting dwelling-place,
Seems nothing in our eyes!

The worlds of sorrow and of bliss,
We disregard, compar'd with this!

Lord, what is life?-If spent with thee In duty, praise, and prayer, However short or long it be,

We need but little care;

Because eternity will last,

When life and death itself are past.

LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS.

God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour:

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.