Him He comforted me, and now that in a stronger faith I humbly trust I am united to Him, He gladdens me. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies." Praise the Lord, for He alone is sufficient, He will never leave thee nor forsake thee, no, never, never, never. Let us then prayerfully endeavour "to hold fast the confidence" that we may "receive the promise," having "respect to the recompence of the reward," for it is "great." Let him that "walketh in darkness, and hath no light, trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." The darkest cloud is but a covering, whence the prayer of Faith shall cause "the Sun of Righteousness" to emerge, "with healing on His wings." The fiercest fire is but to lighten and to purify; and the smiting of the rock within, that the waters may flow out: that He may bring forth from the fetters of sin and the bondage of the Evil One, His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness, that they may reign with Him in glory, and be numbered amongst those who "came out of much tribulation," whose ever joyous voices, loud in the triumphant songs of the redeemed and acclamations of their Redeemer, thrill through the mansions of a Father's House in the city of the New Jerusalem. There "God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain."

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning"-" fulness of joy" and "pleasures for evermore.' "God will never leave thee, no, never, never, never forsake thee."

"HOW LONG HALT YE BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS."

1 KINGS Xviii. 21.

"But I swear by that great God, whose minister I am, it is a path of light, and pleasantness, and peace."-REV. T. PRESTON.

THERE was peace on his brow and hope in his eye,
And energy deep in his voice,

As he spake of the peace and light that illume
The privileg'd road of the Cross.

"Oh then choose ye!" he cried: "why, why will ye halt,

The Tempter's suggestions to hear?

He will say it is rough, with many a fault,
And thorny, and gloomy, and drear:

But I swear by that God, whose preacher I am,
Each thorn has its blossom of ease,

Where the way-worn may rest and pilgrims refresh, 'Mid fragrance of balm's sweetest peace.

The dark clouds that o'ershade are pierc'd by the light,

That shines from the beacon above;

And the travellers bask, the sadden'd rejoice,
In sunbeams of heavenly love."

On each sound that arose, each cadence that fell,
The fervour of Truth was impress'd;

And the heart of the Speaker shone in each word,
And told of the Peace he possess'd,

Tho' no sorrow perchance has clouded his brow— (In fair places his lines they seem cast).

No hyperbole this, my spirit could tell,

The harass'd, long tried, and outcast :

For not sickness alone hath fill'd up the cup,
Still ever and aye at my lip;

Though all language were vain, and words fail to tell,
How growingly bitter each sip.

Other sorrows, alas! have stricken my heart,
And weigh'd down my spirit in woe;

And each stay seemeth reft, that solaced on earth,
E'en causing grief's cup to o'er-flow.

... are chang'd, pain and grief are enlarg❜d— I tread sorrow's wine-press alone;

And I

say in the morn, "Would God it were eve!" At eve, "Oh, would God it were morn!"

For the weight of His hand lies heavy and sadBoth body and mind are sore tried ;

Yet "refreshing and rest" flow forth from His love, And strength for the day is supplied.

Yea, the lamps that burn'd faint are shining more bright,

And comfort within doth increase :

""Tis a path"-oh! believe,-the Preacher was

right

"Of PLEASANTNESS, LIGHT, and of PEACE!"

1846.

"SPEAK GENTLY TO THE YOUNG."

"The tongue 'is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.' If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man ;' but if any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.""-JAMES iii. 8-ii. 1, 26.

Он, breathe those kindly words again!
They tell the feeling soul,

With sad unruly members' rein

Beneath its mild control.

For did we think and feel for pangs
That fasten on the heart,

From words of anger's venom'd fangs,
More rankling than the dart

Of savage Indian's arrow barb'd;

Oh! surely we should find,

The harsh and hasty temper curb'd

For who can say there's not enough,
In days of after life,

To make the pilgrim's pathway rough
Without its early strife!

Then let us shield, and not be first
To teach the young and gay,
weary burthen life doth cast
On each poor child of clay.

The

As hailstones in a summer-show'r,
Are harsh words' with'ring tone:
Dissolv'd they'd fertilize the flow'r
Which else they batter down.

And fest'ring wounds the youthful feel,
The timid, and the kind,

As oft in reckless haste we deal
The hailstones of the mind.

Oh! once again remember then— "Speak gently to the young:" Enough of life with sorrow 's rife,

And hearts full soon are wrung.

1847.