THE INVISIBLE PRESENCE.

"And he said, Thou canst not see my face, for there shall no man see me, and live."

What holy secret, Lord, is this,

That thou dost ever round us dwell?

The earth, the Heaven, Hell's dark abyss
The greatness of thy presence tell.

Our thoughts, our ways, our heart's desire,
Our purpose hid, our plan exprest,

Our words, our looks, our life entire,
All, all to thee are manifest.

At home, abroad, awake, asleep,
With others, or companionless,
In daylight broad, in darkness deep,
Thou'rt present, God of holiness.

No voice we hear, no form we see,
Nor mighty sign, nor miracle,
Yet still, in awful majesty,
Thou'rt present, great Invisible.

Amazing thought! that God most high Should stoop so low, should be so near! On this vile earth should cast his eye! Should us poor sinners hold so dear !

Ah! not to judge-'tis to bestow
Gifts far exceeding, Lord, our due,
That thou dost walk with us below,
Albeit hidden from our view:

And if the sight of thee's concealed
From these dim eyes, 'tis only till
The sin-sick soul by grace is healed,
And sight of God would bring no ill.

For scarce we bear the sun's bright rays, Or the quick lightning's awful might; How then could we endure the blaze

Of the Creator's glorious light?

O never could the sinner's eye

Behold the Godhead and not die:

Come, then, we pray thee, come, Lord, nigh, But come to us invisibly.

ST. JOHN BAPTIST.

"He sent, and beheaded John in the prison.”

The Baptist's voice, whose mighty cry
Proclaimed Messiah's reign as nigh,

Is hushed in silence now;

None saw the blow

Which laid him low;

Alone in his dark prison-cell

The noble martyr murdered fell ;
He fought his battle well:

The damsel brought his bleeding head,
Which on a charger she had laid ;
None wept-none pitièd!

Yet vain were Herod's cruel boast,
If angels of the heavenly host
Receive the souls God values most:

The good may die—they are not lost.

Another voice with gentler cry
Warns that the reign of God is nigh;
Great works by him are done :

A mightier one

By far than John,
A mightier Name than ancient seers--
King Herod in his palace hears,

And pales with guilty fears :
In vain they seek to' allay his dread :
'Tis he—John-risen from the dead,'

The affrighted monarch said : Him too will Herod one day mock, And deck him for a laughing-stock, The Lord-- the Shepherd of the flock, To wicked men a stumbling-block !

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