What though our mortal comforts fade,
And droop like with'ring flow'rs?
Nor time, nor death, can break that band
Which makes Jehovah ours.

My cares-I give them to the wind,

And shake them off like dust ;

Well may I trust my

all with Him,

With whom my soul I trust.

HYMN 266.

Christian friendship.

O THAT in unfetter'd union,
Spirit could with spirit blend ;
O! that in unseen communion,
Thought could hold the distant friend!
Who the secret can unravel,

Of the body's mystic guest?

Who knows how the soul may travel,
While unconsciously we rest?

When at Mercy's footstool bending,
Thou hast felt a secret glow,
Faith and hope to heaven ascending,
Love still lingering below;
Say, has ne'er the thought impress'd thee,
That thy friend might hear thy pray'r?

Or the wish at least possess'd thee,
He could then thy feeling share?

Yes, the hour, the hour is hasting,
Spirit shall with spirit blend;
Fast mortality is wasting,

Then the secret all shall end.

Let, then, thought hold sweet communion,
Let us breathe the mutual pray'r,
Till in heav'n's eternal union,

O my friend, to meet thee there.

HYMN 267.

"Love to God."

HOW sweet, Oh, my God, is Thy voice of compassion,

Which soft as the summer's dew falls on the

mind,

Which whispers the tidings of life and salvation, And casts the dark shadows of sorrow behind.

O yes! I have known it, when kindly and

cheering,

It hushed the hoarse thunders of justice to

rest;

It was heard, and the angel of mercy appearing, Pour'd the balm of relief o'er the penitent's breast.

And still may I hear it, while crossing life's ocean,

Or borne on the billow, or breath'd in the

gale;

Enkindling the flame of expiring devotion,
And utt'ring the promise that never shall fail.

'Tis the still voice of Him who expir'd on the mountain,

And breath'd out for sinners His last dying

groan;

His voice, who on Calvary open'd the fountain, Of water to cleanse, and of blood to atone.

That voice, O believer! shall cheer and protect thee,

When the cold chill of death thy frail bosom invades ;

At its sound shall the day-star arise to direct

thee,

And gild with refulgence the valley of shades.

HYMN 268.

The dying infant.

"CEASE here longer to detain me,

Fondest mother drown'd in woe;
Now thy kind caresses pain me,
Morn advances, let me go.

"Lately launch'd, a trembling stranger,
On the world's wild boisterous flood;
Pierc'd with sorrows, toss'd with danger,
Gladly I return to God.

"Now

my

cries shall cease to grieve thee,

Now my trembling heart find rest : Kinder arms than thine receive me, Softer pillow than thy breast.

66

Weep not o'er these eyes that languish, Upward turning toward their home; Raptur'd they'll forget all anguish,

While they wait to see thee come.

"There, my mother, pleasures centre-
Weeping, parting, care or wo,

Ne'er our Father's house shall enter-
Morn advances-let me go.

"As thro' this calm, this holy dawning,
Silent glides my parting breath,

To an everlasting morning,

Gently close my eyes in death."

HYMN 269.

Resignation.

SOON will the toilsome strife be o'er,
Of sorrow and of care,
And life's dull vanities no more,
This anxious breast ensnare.

Courage my soul ! on God rely,
Deliv'rance soon will come ;

A thousand ways Jehovah has
To bring believers home.

E're first I drew the vital breath,
From nature's prison free,
Crosses in number, measure, weight,
Appointed were for me.

But Thou, my Shepherd, Friend, and Guide,
Hast led me kindly on,

Taught me to rest my weary head,

On Christ" the Corner-stone."

So comforted, and so sustain'd,
With dark events I strove,

And found them, as I walk'd by faith,
All messengers of love.

With silent and submissive awe,
Adore a chast'ning God;

Revere His judgments, trust His word,
And humbly kiss the rod.

HYMN 270.

Immortality of the soul.

THE grave

is not a place of rest,

As unbelievers teach,

Where grief can never win a tear,
Nor sorrow ever reach.

The eye that shed the tear is closed,
The heaving breast is cold;
But that which suffers and enjoys,
No narrow grave will hold.

The mould'ring earth and hungry worm
The dust they lent may claim ;
But the enduring spirit lives,

Eternally the same.

HYMN 271.

Victory over death, and the world.

I'M going to leave all my sadness,

I'm going to change earth for heaven : Where there all is peace, all is gladness; There pureness and glory are given. Come quickly then, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, weep not in sorrow of spirit, But joy that my time here is o'er ; go the good part to inherit,

I

Where sorrow, and sin are no more.