Them the Good Shepherd leads,
Where storms are never rife,
In tranquil dewy meads

Beside the Fount of life.

Ours only are the tears,

Who weep around their tomb

The light of bygone years

And shadowing years to come.

Their voice, their touch, their smile,— Those love-springs flowing o'er,Earth for its little while

Shall never know them more.

O tender hearts and true,
Our long last vigil kept,

We weep and mourn for you ;
Nor blame us : Jesus wept.

But soon at break of day

His calm Almighty voice, Stronger than death, shall say, Awake, arise,―rejoice.

THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN.

O ALMIGHTY God, we give Thee humble thanks for that Thou hast vouchsafed to deliver this woman Thy servant from the great pain and peril of Childbirth; Grant, we beseech Thee, most merciful Father, that she, through Thy help, may both faithfully live, and walk according to Thy will, in this life present; and also may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits ' towards me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord."-Psalm cxvi. 12, 13.

Before the everlasting Throne

The Angel of Jehovah's Presence stands ;
With pierced feet and hands,

Our great High Priest, Supreme, Alone :
And mingling incense-clouds that rise
From off the golden altar day and night
And fill with fragrance all the heavenlies,
He offers up with calm delight

And love that never fails nor faints
The prayers and praises of His struggling saints.
But surely none are dearer in His sight,
Who deigns to dwell

Amid the eucharists of Israel,

Than when a mother, shielded by His love
Through her worst fears of peril and of pain,
Returns to prove

The quiet of her Father's house again ;

And, her fond heart with gladness flowing o'er,
Presents the choicest she can bring
For freewill offering,

Herself a living sacrifice for evermore.

And not herself alone;

But that which Heaven has given her for her own,
A priceless dowry bought with Jesus' blood,
Her new-born treasure around whom
Hopes sweetest bloom,

The offspring of her vows and womb,
The pledge of human and of heavenly love
Seal'd here and ratified above,

She lays upon the altar of her God.
It is too precious and too frail a thing
Even for the shelter of a mother's wing:
God grant the fond petition she prefers
And be her darling rather His than hers :
His be the Hand that holds the brimming cup
In this uncertain world of storm and strife,
And His the Arm Omnipotent to shield
The fountain pure from sin He has unseal'd,
A well of water springing up
To everlasting life.

List, touch a tenderer string :
Another comes; but will she weep or sing?
Her folded blossom

Was taken, ere it well was given,
And carried by the angels into heaven,
And laid on Jesus' bosom.

But as she prays

And lifts her pale confiding gaze

To those clear crystal skies

Which hardly veil the nearer Paradise,

She smiles amid her tears,

For heaven's far music falls upon her ears :-
Whate'er betides her here below,
Her child shall never know
One touch of woe:

It has been hers to place another gem
In Jesus' many-jewell'd diadem,

And her dear Lord, her home, and she
Are richer for her babe to all eternity.

O Thou, who by Thy lowly birth
Hast knit for ever heaven and earth,
The Virgin's Saviour and the Virgin's Son,
Breathe in our every word and thought
The filial prayer Thyself hast taught,
And as in heaven on earth Thy will be done.

COMMINATION.

TURN Thou us, O good Lord, and so shall we be turned. Be favourable, O Lord, Be favourable to Thy people, Who turn to Thee in weeping, fasting, and praying. For Thou art a merciful God, Full of compassion, Long-suffering, and of great pity. Thou sparest when we deserve punishment, And in Thy wrath thinkest upon mercy. Spare Thy people, good Lord, spare them, And let not Thine heritage be brought to confusion. Hear us, O Lord, for Thy mercy is great, And after the multitude of Thy mercies look upon us; Through the merits and mediation of Thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"When I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love."-Ezek. xvi. 8.

My God, my Father, dost Thou call
Thy long-lost wandering child to Thee?
And canst Thou, wilt Thou pardon all ?
I come, I come: Lord, save Thou me.

O Jesus, art Thou passing by

With all Thy goodness, grace and power?
And dost thou hear my broken cry?
I come, I come in mercy's hour.

O Holy Spirit, is it Thou

My tenderest Friend, refused too long?
And art Thou pleading, striving now?

I come, I come: make weakness strong.

Q