"WOULD THE DEAR ONES!"

"Of such is the kingdom of God."—LUKE Xviii. 16.

WOULD the dear ones I might love
Were not so far away!

And fancy pictures cherubs fair,
With sparkling eyes or mild,
Sunburnt brow, and waving hair,
As native forests wild.

I hear their voices sounding,

As they gambol o'er the flow'rs; And wish that they were bounding In this parent-land of ours,

To glad me with their cheerings
Of light and frolic glee,
Or with their fond endearings

Were clust'ring round my knee;

O'er some sad ditty yearning,

With little eyes bedim ;

Of Jesu's pity learning,

Or lisping out a hymn.

No sounds more holy breathe there,
Than infant's voice in pray'r;
Few sights more lovely be there,
Than childhood's joyous air,

Its springs the earth bedewing
With innocence and love,
And in our pathway strewing
Fair symbols of above:

Their angels there beholding
A Heav'nly Father's face,

And echoing, on harps golden,
Their hallow'd infant praise.

"GOD BLESS THEE."

"And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them."-MARK X. 16.

"GOD bless thee," my sweet little one;
For thou'rt kin to me and mine,

And innocence and love and truth,
In thy dear features shine.

"God bless thee," thou dear little one,
Though I shall never see

Thine early days or after years—

Thy home's no place for me.

"God bless thee" for thy father's sake,

And mayst thou happy be;
And may no sorrow rise to check
The joy he feels in thee.

"God bless thee," for thy mother too,
And mayst thou well repay,
The tender love, the watchful care,
She gives thee day by day.

"God bless thee" and thy parents both,

Though

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they be;

And may they find a warmer heart,

To beat for them and thee.

TO A VERY KIND AND DEAR FRIEND.

"Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you,"-PROV. i. 23.

A WARNING thrice given, a voice from above,
A message of mercy of kindness and love,
To lead thee by Faith unto Calvary's mount,
And teach thee to wash in Jesus' own fount.

Thy care to His bosom to urge thee to bring,
To Him, from sin's burden, for freedom to cling;
Nor trust to thyself e'er to work out the way,
To mansions of bliss, to the kingdom of day.

But clothe in His garment, all righteous and pure,
And seek through His merits hope stedfast and sure;
To own that His mercy and goodness alone,
Can faultless present thee at heaven's high throne.

Yet saying the while, "There is much to be done, "Go perfect through grace the good work I've begun : Thou'rt saved from the grave, thou art rais'd from Death's door, message of mercy-go,

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doubt thou no more."

The voice of thanksgiving, for thee, oh! my friend,
Of pray'r, and of praise, doth fondly ascend;
For lone were my pathway, and sad were my heart,
If God in His wisdom had bid thee depart.

And pray thou for me, that meekly I bear
EACH yoke of that Just One whose sorrows I share :
He knows that I FEEL-though my spirit be blest,
With hope of that world where the weary do rest;
And frail, and unworthy, and pow'rless to stand-
Preventing and furth'ring I need at His hand.

COMFORT FOR THE DOUBTING AND THE FEARFUL.

"COME now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be

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as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." "Him that cometh to me I

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will in no wise cast out." "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." "Wait on the Lord be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart." "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee." "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." "Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings." "The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him." retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy." "In due season we shall reap, if faint not." "God will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

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