FROM "THE PRELUDE." WHEN first I made WHE Once more the circuit of our little lake, For cold and raw the air was, and untuned; While on I walked, a comfort seemed to touch A heart that had not been disconsolate : Strength came where weakness was not known to be, At least not felt; and restoration came Like an intruder knocking at the door Of unacknowledged weariness. I took The balance, and with firm hand weighed myself. - Of that external scene which round me lay, Little, in this abstraction, did I see, Remembered less; but I had inward hopes And swellings of the spirit, was rapt and soothed, Conversed with promises, had glimmering views And more than pastoral quiet, 'mid the stir WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. CHANGE. ATHER! there is no change to live with Thee, FATHE Save that in Christ I grow from day to day; In each new word I hear, each thing I see, I but rejoicing hasten on the way; The morning comes with blushes overspread, And in its modest dawn around me shed, Thou hear'st the prayer and the ascending hymn; JONES VERY. ALL THINGS ARE YOURS. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee." GEN. xiii. 17. "All things are yours . . . things present.' I COR. iii. 22, 23. HILE toil and warfare urge us on our way, WHILE And heart is answering heart in signs of pain, Have we no words of strengthening joy to say No songs for those who suffer but to reign? Behold, the paths of life are ours - we see And disappointment lifting up our head. Kings unto God, we may not doubt our power, We need no haste where he has said "Be still"- And to show forth His honor to the end. O ye that faint and die, arise and live! Sing, ye that all things have a charge to bless! Take thy whole portion with thy Master's mind Toil, hindrance, hardness, with His virtue take- Ours be a loyal love for service tried, - To show, by deeds and words and looks that cheer, How He can bless the scene in which He died, And fill His house with glory even here. ANNA L. WARING. CHEERFULNESS TAUGHT BY REASON. I THINK we are too ready with complaint In this fair world of God's. Had we no hope Round our aspirant souls; but since the scope For a few days consumed in loss and taint? ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. GOD'S PRESENCE THE SOURCE OF ALL JOY. "In Thy presence is fulness of joy ; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." PSALM xvi. 11. FRIEND of souls, 't is well with me Whene'er Thy love my spirit calms! Of love, that beams from out Thy breast; In Thee, O God, his joy and rest! Through deserts of the cross Thou leadest, From out the clouds Thy child Thou feedest, I know Thy wondrous ways will end I know, whom Thou wilt glorify, Thou lead'st through depths and darkness here. To others Death seems dark and grim, But not, Thou Life of life, to me; I know Thou ne'er forsakest him Whose heart and spirit rest in Thee. |