HBRARY WNivawiTy Of CALIFOKNIA 'i Have not we too ? yes we have, Answers, and we know not whence, Echoes from beyond the grave. Recognised intelligence ! Such rebounds our inmost ear Catches sometimes from afar. Listen, ponder, hold them dear; For of God — of God they are. Wordsworth. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/echoesofeternityOOfryhrich ECHOES OF ETERNITY, BY HENEIETTA J. FRY. AUTHOR OF THE PASTOR'S LEGACY; HYMNS OF THE REFORMATION, ETC. " Time flies very fast ; yet a little while and there will remain nothing but certainties, reaUties, and eternity." BATH : BINNS AND OOODWIN. SOLD BY THE LONDON AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. LOAN STACK "OH ETERNITY! ETERNITY HOW SWEET IS ETERNITY -OCAv<)Xf»X>0- BATH : PRtNTBD BT BINNS AND OOODWTN. ? ^ R- 07 PREFATORY NOTE Moat of these translations, which are from Geiirum oriijinals, were made seve- ral years ago, and before the tenter liad inet with amjthing of tlie kind from otlier pens. Tlie few pieces from Melancthon which luive been introduced, are taken from a sumU volume of Latin poems bearing his name, and puhlishcd at Wittenberg in 1560. ' In translating tliese tlie writer luis availed herself of the assistance of a friend, which site has pleasure in acknowledying liere. Tlie expression of a dying Christian, u-hich is given at the back of thf title- page, was uttered by a nuin in very humble circumstances, named Barker, wlw died at Tewkesbury a few years ago. His night-watcher heard him ejaculate to himself, just before he passed away, " Oh Eternity ! Eternity ! Ivow sweet is Eternity ! " — with him the work of conversion to Christ had not been left for a dying pillow. Ill HEAVEN. who will show iiie those delights on high ? Echo. I. Thou, Echo? thou art mortal, all men know. Echo. No. Wert thou not born among the trees and leaves •> 1 Echo. Leaves. And are there any leaves that still abide ? Echo. Bide. What leaves are they ? impart the matter wholly. Echo. Holy. Are holy leaves the echo then of bliss 1 1 Echo. Yes. Then tell me, what is that supreme delight ? Echo. Light. Light to the mind ; what shall the will enjoy ? . 1 Echo. Joy. But are there cares and business with the pleasure? Echo. Leisure. Light, joy, and leisure ; but shall they persever ? Echo. Ever. George Herbekt. PREFACE. A few words may suffice to explain, and if need be, to apologize for this little work. The translations have been carefully revised ; and the writer hopes that they are generally faithful renderings from their originals, Avith this alloy, at the best — that an idea is apt to lose its fairest bloom by the touch of the translator. The hymns are followed by passages from various authors of different habits of thought, and of different ages, which have appeared to harmonize with them ; and is there not something very interesting in these coincidences of the human intellect, that amidst the infinite variety of things, and of the emotions of the minds of men, our understandings should so often X PREFACE. come to the same point — that independent thinkers often present us with the same idea, with the same utterance of that idea, and sometimes even with the same words ? And yet this is not strange, — for what- ever be the fluctuations of the world around us, and whatever the apparent diversities of life, human nature is, in its essence, one and the same; and all that there is of truth in our fallen humanity, is but the reflection of His voice who is the Truth, and who changes not. He speaks to us alike in nature, in revelation, and in the depths of our own souls ; so that age after age repeating the same eternal verities, seems like the long-resounding echoes of One Voice amid the eternal hills. Bristol, 1859. CONTENTS I'AGE. MORNING . . . . . 1 EVENING ...... 6 BEHOLD WHAT MANNER OF LOVE . . 9 THE FAREWELL . . . . .12 ON THE PSALMS OF DAVID ... 15 HOME SICKNESS . . . . .17 WE ARE THE LORD's . . . . 22 THE APPEARING OF CHRIST . . .25 ON THE SETTING SUN .... 30 CLEAR SHINING THROUGH TEARS . _ . 34 THE FULNESS OF JESUS ... 36 THE pilgrim's SONG . . . -41 EVENING DEVOTION .... 47 SABBATH MORNING . . . -52 Xll CONTENTS. PAGE. OS THE PROPHETS . . . .59 ON THE ARK OF CHRIST, WHICH IS THE CHURCH OF GOD ..... 60 DISTICHON . . . . .63 DE VAGIENTE ECCLESIA ... 64 THE CRADLE-CRY OF THE CHURCH . .65 GRACE AT MEAT .... 68 THANKSGIVING AFTER MEAT . . .68 " THE SONG OF SONGS " . . . • 70 CONSIDER THE LILIES OF THE FIELD . . 72 THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT ... 75 LORD I AM THINE • . . . .78 THE WORD OF LIFE .... 81 THE SPIRIT OF THE FATHERS . . .88 PENTECOSTAL HYMN .... 94 THE STARS . . . . • . 97 THE christian's HERITAGE . . . 100 THE BEAUTIES OF CREATION ... . 103 CONSOLATION FOR THE NIGHT . . 107 CONTENTS. XIU PAGE. SPRING . . . . . .109 SUMMER ..... Ill AUTUMN ...... 113 WINTER ..... 115 MY SOUL IS STILL IN GOD . . .120 THE WONDERS OF THE SPRING . . 120 COMFORT IN THE LOVE OF JESUS . . -129 REST IN GOD . . , . 133 WEEP NOT 'FOR ME ... . 139 LIFE AND FULL ENJOYMENT IN CHRIST . 142 MESSENGERS TO THE HEATHEN . . . 147 A PRAYER ..... 151 HYMN ON Christ's passion . . . 153 PATIENCE . . . . . 159 ADVENT HYMN . . . . -163 DAYS AND HOURS .... 169 RESURRECTION . . . • • 172 MELODY ..... 175 LIGHT . •••■.. 180 XIV CONTENTS. PAGE. " MY SOUL THIRSTETH FOR THE LIVING GOD " 183 DE MORTE REVERENDI VIRI D. DOCTORIS MARTINI LUTHERI ..... 180 ON THE DEATH OF THAT REVERED MAN DR. MARTIN LUTHER .... 187 DAS LETZTE BLATT . . , - 188 THE LAST LEAF . . . * 189 ECHOES OF ETEENITY, " My voice SHALT THOU HEAR IN THE MORNING, O LORD ; IN THE MORNING WILL I DIRECT MY PRAYER UNTO THEE, AND WILL LOOK UP." — PSALM V. 3. Lo ! in the east the golden morn appearing, Kindles high heaven ; The world that night had covered with her mantle, To sight is given, Lit up by the gay sunshine — which illumes Each woodland, vale, and mountain as they sleep — And soft seclusion keep, Wliere in a bed of pilloAvy clouds they lie, Till glittering they stand forth beneath the sun's clear eye. Thus Jesus, to my heart Thy light and joy impart, «^ Thou Sun of my dark being ! waken there The bright and cheering ray Of Thy own perfect day. With all its heavenly radiance blest and fair. a ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Reveal each secret thing Of this polluted heart's imagining, This heart of mine Which should an impress be Thou gracious Lord, of Thee, And in the likeness of Thy glory shine. Oh let me walk this day encircled round With thy pure light, Warmed with thy love to compass duty's hound Before Thy sight, And as a creature of new life would I My soul engage With new devoted powers to consecrate My pilgrimage ; Whilst for this gift of new-born life I raise Creator of its breath to Thee the song of praise ! I ask not an exemption from the ill Which each day brings, — No, but for love to beai' it, and for faith Whose virtue flings A sanctifying charm o'er all terrestrial things. Since to Thy own dear hand each good I owe And to Thy heart Which rich in blessing, makes my cup with blessings flow. ECHOES OF ETEBNITY. 3 I ask not outward calm — Only Thy will, And that a childlike spirit may be mine, Serene and still ; That when the world comes in wdth swelling tide My soul to move. Thy own adopted one, I may abide Safe in Thy love : Thus, lift my heart from earth to Thee and heaven above. I ask not — give me Lord a quick release AVhen griefs oppress ; No, but be Thou my peace amid the strife Of earth's distress ; I ask not— ^give me to inherit soon Thy kingdom Lord ! No, but before this breath Shall be consumed in death, Let sin itself within my being die. Struck by Thy mighty arm, which gives the victory. Sun of my morning hours ! let not Thy beams Greet me this day in vain ; But oh, be Thou my light oft as I tread Where shades of darkness reign ; Shine down upon my Spirit and bestow Salvation, health and holy ecstasy — 4 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. So that on earth my pilgiim journey done — I may behold with joy my evening's setting sun ! Spitta. Eising, to sing my Saviour's praise, Thee, may I publish all day long, And let thy precious word of grace Flow from my heart and fill my tongue. Fill all my life with purest love. And join me to thy church above. Wesley. I will begin here also with the beginning of time, the morning : * * retire your mind into a pure silence from all thoughts and ideas of worldly things ; and in that frame Avait upon God, to feel his good presence, to lift up your hearts to Hun, and commit your whole self into his blessed care and protection ; * * * read a chapter or more in the Scriptures, and afterwards dispose yourselves for the business of the day ; ever remembering that God is present, the Overseer of all your thoughts, words and actions ; and demean yourselves my dear children, accordingly; and do not you dare to do that, in his holy, all-seeing presence, which you would be ashamed a man, yea a child, should see you do. And as you have intervals from your lawful occasions, delight to step home, within yourselves I mean, and commune with your own hearts, and be still ; and " One like the Son of God " you shall find and enjoy with you and in you ; a treasure the world knows not of; but is the aim, end and diadem of the children of God. This will bear you up against all temptations, and cany you sweetly and evenly through your day's business ; supporting you under disappointments, and moderating your satisfaction in success and prosperity. William Penn. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 5 Two things are required to begin a christian man — the first is a steadfast faith, or trust in Ahiiighty God — to obtain all the mercy that he hath promised us through the deserving and merits of Christ's blood only, without all respect to our own works ; — and the other is that we forsake evil and turn to God to keep his laws, and to fight against ourselves and our corrupt nature perpetually, that we may do the will of God every day better and better. WlIXIAM TiNDAL. My soul ! take down thy harp from the wUlow ; and now the night is past, let the first of the morn find thee going forth in the matin of praise to the Chief Singer. God the Holy Ghost is exciting thee, it is He which points to Jesus. He shews thee the King in his beauty, and bids thee behold his suitableness, transcendant excel- lences, grace, love, favour, glory. Carry, then, all thy concerns to this Chief Musician. Put forth all thy strength to praise Him, that while Jesus is attentive to the Hallelujahs of Heaven, he may hear thy feeble note, amidst all the songs which are ofiered Him, giving glory to his great name, from the uttermost parts of the earth. Dr. Hawker. " But they constrmned him, saying, Abide with us : foe it is toward evening, and the day 18 far spent. and he went in to tarry with them." — Luke xxrv. 29. Oh Lord ! Thy presence through the day's distractions Has made them light ; Stay with me when the evening closes round me And ushers night. As in the day with strength my soul sustaining Thou tarriedst here, So in the quiet of the evening watches Do Thou draw near ; Companion of my hours with toil opprest, — Ahide Thou with me in my hours of rest ! Alone with Thee my God ! and all apart From worldling's noise, Within my closet's sheltered privacy I list Thy voice With tutored ear ; Speak Thou an evening blessing to my heart That waits on thee, ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 7 Thy word of blessing has the power to bless Benignantly ; It falls like rain upon the thirsty soul When tired with day's turmoil we seek its soft control. Without Thee oh my God, the evening's fall Is chill and lone, But with Thee 'tis a sacred festival Of loftiest tone ; Whilst with Thy heart-refreshing solace crowned I take my fill Of blessings, which by Thy kind bounty given, Their sweets distil : When Thou art with me at the day's decline, Then does each earthly good with heavenly lustre shine. At hush of day come Thou rich visitant My guest to be, Oh come and make Thy own abiding home Good Lord with me ! From this past day's offences Thou canst give A full release, — Salvation's cup and the sweet balm of health And joy and peace : Then let me find reposing on Thy breast, Beneath the night's brown shade, a soft and sacred rest. Spitta. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Oft as I lay me down to rest, may the reconciling word Sweetly compose my weary breast ! While, on the bosom of my Lord, I sink in blissful dreams away, And visions of eternal day. Wesley. The evening come, read again the Holy Scripture, and have your times of retirement as in the morning, that so the Lord may be the Alpha and Omega of every daj"^ of your lives. William Penn. In the solitary retirement of a garden, how delightful was the expanse studded with stars and the gentle moonlight to my soul ! — There seemed something in me in fearful contrast to this sweetly solemn scene, which singled me out amidst it all, as the only piece of sm there ; and how emphatically did this word belong to that piece. A Mediator was indeed precious, and it was the only idea which emboldened me at that moment to cry ' Abba Father.' The im- pressions and feelings of that short hour I ardently wished might continue with me aU the remainder of my pilgrimage. — Oh that I may frequently recall this balmy night of exquisite celestiality, which seemed as if only fit for the participation of freed spiiits, freed from corruption and mortality. Lord, it was good to be there, for I found Thee whom my soul best loveth. Memorials of Two Sisters. ^e|i0& ko^^t mummx 0f ftabie Behold the Father's love ! He makes His goodness i^lain, Whilst bending down His face on us, His mild compassions reign. His well-beloved Son He gives, By whom the ransomed sinner lives ; See heaven's best treasm-e given to save The vilest abject from the grave ! Again behold the Father's love Which shines upon us from above ! Look on the Saviour's love, Deep in His breast that flowed ! He freely suffered all for us That we might come to God. Upon the cross extended see. He bears that woeful agony ! He pours the life-blood from His veins To wash away our guilty stains : Again, the Saviour's love behold ! A love by mortal lips untold. 10 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. See too the precious love The Holy Ghost displays, Whilst to the vilest of the vile, He teaches wisdom's ways ! He chides and counsels — and His voice Of comfort, hids the heart rejoice : Thus ever in our inmost ear, He speaks in whispers soft and clear ; Who would not praise then, love like this Full in its three-fold plenteousness ! Spitta. The Father, shining on His throne, The glorious co-eternal Son, The Spirit one and seven, Conspire our rapture to complete ; And lo ! we fall before His feet And silence heightens heaven. Weslfa'. The universal King Let all the world proclaim ; Let everj^ creature sing His attributes and name ! Him Three in One, and One in Three, Extol to all eternity ! Wesley. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 11 The doctrine of the Trinity is to the Christian the key of the Bible. The Spirit imparting skill to use it, and the power ; when used, it unlocks this divine arcana of mysteries, and throws open every door in the blest sanctuary of truth. But it is in the Hglit of salvation that its fitness and beauty most distinctly appears — salva- tion in which Jehovah appears so inimitably glorious — so like Himself. The Father's love appears in sending His Son; the Son's love in undertaking the work; the Holy Spirit's love in applying the work. And in the manner of prayer, how sus- taining to faith, and how soothing to the mind, when we can embrace in our ascending petitions, the blessed Three in One. For through Him (the Son) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Dr. Wln'slow. 'Hwkiieli "Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine HEART?" — Acts xxi. 13. What mean ye thus those tears to weep ' To weep and hreak mine heart ; In Jesu's brotherhood we meet And never more shall part. The bond that binds our spirits here No time or place can sever ; — That which is stablished in the Lord Stands fast in Him for ever. We give the hand of friendship firm As men are wont to do ; With promise of eternal faith And hearts for ever true. We look on loved companions — We deem that look our last, — But surely, Jesus round our souls, His mantling love hath cast. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 13 With mortal men 'tis " here and there," " Thou goest," and " I stay," But when united in our Head All hounds of place give way. We talk of separations, Once more a kind adieu, Whilst still we travel one same road With one same home in view. Then why should grief our hearts distress, And tears of sorrow flow ? We know our soul's Beloved One, And at His side we go. Beneath the same kind Guardian, And led hy one same hand, By one same path of safety still. We gain one Father-land. Then let not sorrow shade the hour As parting moments fly. But let new covenant with Christ Our Spirit's theme supply. When Jesus is our chosen good. The joy that crowns each heart. We are not to each other lost When thus on earth we part. S PITTA. 14 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Those who are united to the Saviour, when once a friendship is formed, can never part. They may indeed, be at a distance, still they are one in Him ; one Father loves them, one Saviour blesses them, one Spirit smiles on them. They meet before the same mercy-seat, they travel the same road, and though their tents may be pitched for a season in different parts, they live in the blessed hope of finally assembling around the same Throne, sing- ing the same song, and for ever enjoying the same inheritance. Could we but keep that day in view, temporary partings would only make us more earnestly desire eternal union. May it be your privilege to live always reahzing this blessed hope. J. Haij)Ane Stewaet. How gladly would we have travelled together through the wilderness, but it might not be ; still the same guide is vouchsafed to both, and he wiU lead us by a right way — for this is our assur- ance, ' the Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and for evermore.' Paeting Gift. What very great delight there is in the society of those whose society is in heaven, and how delightful is the love of those who first love God ! I have often gone to you lately, and have highly enjoyed our intercourse ; and also I have frequently been hoping for good and pleasure, when my heart has been sadly depressed and distracted. Then I have always felt that the best society of those we most fondly love can give us no real pleasure, unless God accompanies us into their company, any more than a beautiful landscape can delight when there is no sun to gild it. And I have sometimes left you, bitterly feeling deep remorse for my foUy, in endeavouring, or expecting to find pleasure in anything whilst my heart felt separated from God. M. A. SCHIMMELPENNINCK. If any reverence for God affects thy pure mind, and thou dost with honour due worship the name of Christ, — if thy mind is used to contemplate the fountain from which all things flow, and that Divine Intelligence which rules and preserves the universe, — then, my son, ponder well these his venerable oracles, which erst were sounded forth from the harp of the son of Jesse : for even as the glory of God was beheld by Moses through the cleft of the rock, so also, believe me, my son, is it displayed in these songs. Melancthon. And now could the author Hatter himself that any one would take half the pleasure in reading the following exposition, which he hath taken in writing it, he would not fear the loss of his labour. The employment detached him from the bustle and hurry of life, the din of poUtics and the noise of folly ; vanity and vexation flew away for a season, care and disquietude came not near his dwelling. He arose, fresh as the morning to his task ; the silence of the night invited him to pursue it : and he can truly say that food and rest were not preferred before it. Every Psalm improved infinitely upon 16 E(JHOES OF ETEItNlTY. his acquaintance with it, and no one gave him uneasiness but the last ; for then he grieved that his work was done. Happier hours than those which have been spent on these meditations on the songs of Sion, he never expects to see in this world. Very pleasantly did they pass, and move smftly and smoothly along : for when thus engaged he counted no time. They are gone, but have left a relish and a fragrance upon the mind, and the remembrance of them is sweet. Bishop Horne De tous les prophetes, celui qui nous est le plus connu, c'est David, dont I'histoire nous est rapportee avec le plus de deve- loppement. L'objet capital de la mission que David a re^u de Dieu, pour toutes les generations dans I'Eglise, c'est la compo- sition des Psaumes. Voyez les prieres d'un David, les Psaumes, des prieres qui ont ete capables, non-seulement de le soutenir lui- meme, mais qui sont comme les cent cinquante colonnes qui sou- tiennent de generation en generation, et qui soutiendront jusqu'a la fin du monde, toutes les generations du peuple de Dieu ! Adolphe Monod. " For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of god, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." — 2. cor. v. 1. Hungering, thirsting as we go On our fainting course below, Where the world's commotion seems Genius of our waking dreams, All oiir yearning spirits move Towards our Father's house above. Here we walk in pilgrim dress Tattered by the wilderness, And the very shoes we wear Chafe the weary passenger. Let us hasten tlien to rise To our mansion in the skies, To the Saviour's home above, Purchased by His dying love ; Shades of earth shall then depart. And in every stricken heart Pain shall heave her latest sigh As we drop mortality. 18 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. There, a clean escape from sin Disembodied souls shall win, And the Lord, enthroned on high, In unclouded majesty, They shall worship — whilst they wait Serving on his regal state. And with angel bands agree In devoted harmony. But with what a long delay Dost thou Lord thy purpose stay ! And our earth-bound souls in vain, Seek the heavenly heights to gain. O then help us, make us meet To enjoy that blissful seat, Where thy children, victor-crowned. Shall their victor-songs resound, Where the banquet of Thy love Shall their sweet refreshment prove, And their ransomed spirits be Ever, gracious Lord, with Thee ' SriTTA. There are blessed moments, in which the soul, by converse with Christ and His eternal kingdom, has such \dews, that the whole world below seems but one noisy impertinence. I heard somebody at such a moment, come in and discourse gravely on the news about Buonaparte. It then seemed too trifling to be thought ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 19 of; but I know that to-morrow I shall be asking after Buonaparte. Blessed moment, (not far off,) when I shall behold His Grloiy ! And flesh and sin no more control. The sacred pleasures of the soul. KicHAED Cecil. We know, by faith we know, If this vile house of clay. This tabernacle sink beloAv In ruinous decay ; We have a house above. Not made with mortal hands ; And firm as our Redeemer's love That heavenly fabric stands. Absent alas ! from God, • We in the body mourn ; And pine to quit this mean abode And languish to return : Jesus ! regard our vows. And change our faith to sight, And clothe us with our nobler house Of empyrean hght ! Wesley. It is from the sides of eternity I now address you. 1 am heartily sorry that I have so little strength to write what I long so much to communicate to you. But let me tell you, my brother, eternity is another thing than we ordinarily take it to be in a healthful state. Oh ! how vast and boundless. Oh, how fixed and unalterable ! Oh, of what infinite importance is it that we be 20 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. prepared for eternity I I have been just a dying, now for more than a week, and all around me have thought me so ; but in this time I have had clear views of eternity, have seen the blessedness of the godly in some measure, and have longed to share their happy state, as well as been comfortably satisfied, that through grace I shall do so. D. Beaineed. His breathing being difficult, he said, "It is labour, but not sorrow. O ! deliver me, if consistent with thy blessed will. I am in the hands of a merciful God — take me. I can give up all in this world. Mercy I Mercy I Oh ! come, come, blessed Jesus, if it is consistent with thy blessed will." " ! for patience 1" he exclaimed ; " ! for a little help to be preserved in patience;" adding, after some further expression, " But surely mercy is even now covering the judgment-seat as to a hair's breadth." A hope was expressed to him, that although the body was brought very low, the mind was anchored on the un- failing rock ; he promptly replied, " yes : — ^if it were not so, what should I now do, or what would now become of me ? Ah ! truly, I am a poor creature every way, wholly dependant upon the mercy of my Kedeemer ; and if He do but permit the pearl gates to be so far opened, that I may be admitted within them, it will be enough. O ! I see the goodly land before me, and the glorious journey thither, but I am not yet permitted to enter it. It is indeed a beautiful prospect, as clear to the eye of my soul as any outward object to the natural sight." He then exclaimed, " O the love of my Kedeemer, how sweet it is. May my latest breath be en- gaged in singing His praises." He further observed, that he had no works or merit of his own to carry with him on that beautiful road, nor any claim to prefer at the pearl gates, but the love and ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 21 mercy of that Saviour, who shed His precious blood for him. * * He quietly passed away from time to eternity, on the 12th of the 6th month, 1836, aged about eighty-two years. Memoir of Thomas Shtllitoe, A Minister of the Society of Friends. . Dr. Shirley, Bishop of Sodor and Man, was while travelling, attacked with the disease which terminated his Hfe. During his short illness he said to his wife — *' ! M., I have had during this illness, such an insight into the eternal world, that death seems a mere transition. I believe heaven to be only an expansion of that intense happiness which I am now enjoying in communion with God. Oh ! what a bauble is this world, what a mere bubble to be caring about l" When Mrs. Shirley was reading to him, 1 John. 4, he stopped her at the 18th verse, and repeated — " Yes, ' perfect love casteth out fear — he that feareth is not made perfect in love.' I have no little scruples ; a child who loves his father is not always thinking whether he is offending him — ^he does his best to please him, and feels assured of his love. * Perfect love casteth out fear.' " * * * At eight o'clock, a.m., 21st of April, 1847, after three deep sighs, he exchanged time for eternity. Memoir of Bishop Shirley. l^ uu iht W^xVb, " For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he MIGHT BE Lord both of the dead and living," — Romans xiv. 9. We are the Lord's, in living or in dying ! We are the Lord's, who once for all men died ! We are the Lord's, and shall all things inherit ! We are the Lord's, who won all things for us ! We are the Lord's ! So let us live unto Him, His own, with soul and body freely His, And heart, and mouth, and walk shall bear us witness That it is surely true, we are the Lord's ! We are the Lord's ! So in the darksome valley No shadowing forms shall come, but one clear star Shall lighten us with its untroubled shining, — It is that precious word : — we are the Lord's ! We are the Lord's ! So shall He keep and save us In the last fight, when other help is far ; No evil shall from death befal our spirit, That word stands ever true : — we are the Lord's I Spitta. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 23 A dream of Mary Fletcher's during her last illness. She dreamt she was going down a rough road, with a short wall by the side of it, which she leaned upon, and called it the wall of salvation. All the light she had while getting along with difficulty was a twinkling star. She persevered to the end, but then found a mud pond, which when she saw, she thought, — " Well, if this is the way. 111 plunge in ;" but while she was intend- ing to do so, in a moment of time, the twinkling star became a bright comet, and by the blazing light it gave, she discovered a clear narrow path, by which she was instantly over, she hardly knew how. In relating this to a friend, she said, " I am going down the rough road, this illness has been a long and painful one, but I lean upon the wall of salvation, and the comet will come. The following passage is from the Memoir of Richard Foster, a -Minister of the Society of Friends. His decline was gradual, but his bodily sufferings were often great ; he was however strengthened to sustain them unrepiningly ; his heart overflowed with love, and as he drew near the close of all on earth, his spirit seemed to be irradiated from the unseen world ; for on its being remarked that he was passing through the dark valley, he replied " It is not dark to me ; I see a bright light beyond it." When asked if he felt happy, he exclaimed " Happy beyond conception." Again, " Is this dying ? glory, glory !" and thus through that faith in Jesus, which giveth the victory, he triumphantly passed away, on the 24th of fifth month, 1858. In reference to my outward afiViirs, having set my house in order I am waiting, sensible of the approach of death ; having no desire after life, enjoying the satisfaction that I shall leave my children 24 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. in an orderly way, and having less need of me, than when things were less contracted and settled. I feel that death is a king of terrors, and know that my strength to triumph over him, must be given me by the Lord, at the very season when the trying time cometh. My sight to-day of things beyond the grave, will be insufficient in that hour, to keep me from the sting of death when he comes. It is the Lord alone who will then stand by me, and help me to resist the evil one, who is very busy when the tabernacle is dissolving, his work being at an end when the earthen vessel is broken. Lord, what quiet, safety, or ease is there in any state but that wherein we feel thy living power : all desirable things are in this. Maey Pennington. "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great JOY." — Matt. xi. 10. Thou who in the night of death Didst with purest radiance shine, Lord Redeemer ! Pouring in Thy light divine : Thee; in Herod's hall of state, Thee I sought, and sought in vain ; Pomp and glitter round him sate. Lust and luxury held their reign, — But my spirit turned to Thee In its deep-felt poverty ; And my yet unquiet hreast Longed to find in Thee its rest. Thence I wandered — seeking still. Where my gracious Lord might dwell ; Reason's venerated lore Impress none of Jesus bore ; Nor upon the worldly wise Did the star of Jacob rise. 26 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Truly as the blind they spoke Of the light whose glorious ray From their dark horizon broke To ascend its heaven-ward way ; And with them I failed to find The Redeemer of mankind. In the Temple's sacred bound, Where upon the altar, glowed Fire of incense To perfume the courts of God, — Where in gorgeous pomp arrayed Pure devotion seemed to smile, — Where the glittering lights displayed Channs to dazzle and beguile ; Symbols of Himself I found Shadowed forth in all around. But in that majestic fane Christ my Lord I sought in vain ; And as there I found him not, So Jerusalem, in thee, In thy eveiy hallowed spot Nought of Jesus could I see ; Then I took my onward way Where the plains of Bethlehem lay. Here, in silence and alone, Her deserted streets I trod, ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 27 Brother-wanderer was there none Who could guide me to my God : When, behold ! with sweet surprise, In the heavens a radiant star. Shining in the upper skies. Greets my vision from afar, — Seeking thus with faith divine, Lo, at length the Saviour mine ! Only seek, and thou shalt find Jesus as thy all in all ; Be not thou of faltering mind, Let not toilsome ways appal, Nor thy soul's supreme desire Born from heaven, in earth expire. Simply following, full of faith, Free from reason's doubtful strife, Take possession of the word, Word of promise, word of life ; Heaven's effulgence then shall shine, And its guiding star be thine. Spitta. And if a man be unwise and unrighteous, his offerings are unhallowed, and his saciifices unholy things ; and his prayers are discordant and capable of nothing but perdition ; and even when they seem to be offered, they work not the remission, but the Jib ECHOES OF ETERNITY. remembrance of sins. But if he be holy and righteous, his sacrifice remains stedfast, whether flesh be ofiered, but still more if no victim at all be brought. For what is the true sacrifice but the worship of the soul which loves God? whose thanksgiving remaineth for ever, and is inscribed as a memorial with God — doing Him service with the sun, and with the moon, and with the whole creation. Philo. I rose, and round the city rang'd, in vain, For He was not among the busy train : — What place is left unransacked ? Oh where next Shall I go seek the author of my rest ? Of what bless'd angel shall my Hps inquire The undiscovered way to that entire And everlasting solace of my heart's desire ! I reach'd this glorious city ; he's not here : I sought the country ; she stands empty-handed ; I searched the court; he is a stranger there : I asked the land; he's shipped : the sea; he's landed. Ev'n whilst mine eyes were blind, and heart was bleeding, He that was sought, unfound, was found, unsought, As if the sun should dart his orb of Hght Into the secrets of the black-browed night : Ev'n so appeared my love, my sole, my soul's deUght. QUAKLES. Having be>n tenant long to a rich Lord, Not thriving, I resolved to be bold, And make a suit unto him to afford A new smaU-rented lease, and cancel the old. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 29 In Heaven, at his manor I him sought : They told me there, that he was lately gone About some land, which he had dearly bought Long since on earth, to take possession. I straight returned, and knowing his great birth, Sought him accordingly in great resorts : In cities, theatres, gardens, parks, and courts ; At length I heard a ragged noise and mirth Of thieves and murderers : there I him espied, Who straight, " Your suit is granted " said, and died . Herbert. When marshall'd on the nightly plain, The glitt'ring host bestud the sky ; One Star alone of all the train, Can fix the sinner's wand'ring eye. Hark ! hark ! to God the chorus breaks, From ev'ry host from every gem ; But one alone the Saviour speaks, It is the star of Bethlehem. KiRKE White. ^ "The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose." — eccles. i. 5. What gorgeous hues of light combine And wait on yonder sun's decline, As now his softened lustre sheds Life, joy and blessing on our heads, And eye and soul and sense agree In one delightful sympathy ! No longer, Lord, our dazzled sight Adoring, tracks that orb of light ; He sinks behind the mountain's brow Which shines with golden margin now, And in vermilion tints are dyed The lofty hills the landscape wide. And is he set ? so sink away When He who rules the king of day, Speaks by His nod — so then decline The glories that around us shine. The worldly pomp, the lordly might. Exchanged for dust and glooms of night. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 31 Yes he is set ; and distant far From us hath flown his radiant car ; — The light that bless'd our eastern skies Is gone on far-off lands to rise ; To them the new-born day he brings, Whilst thousands praise Thee, King of Kings, Friend of mankind ! for light benign By thy kind bounty sent to shine On children whom thy hand hath strewn Throughout this earth's remotest zone. Thou bidd'st the clouds with purple glow, The blushing hills lie spread below : Look where those mountain tops appear ! And oh how soft the evening air ; With life-refreshing breath it comes — From upland heights, from nature's homes. But now the glorious landscape wears A dewy paleness, bathed in tears : It fades — the beauteous colours fly — And all its living roses die. Creator, God ! Thy work are we, And children of Thy family : Thou art our light, when over all Hath darkness spread her shadowing pall ; 32 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Thy mercy gives our eyelids sleep Whilst Thou dost guardian vigils keep, And call'st us when refreshed we rise To hail the morning's golden skies. Thy teaching voice is understood — It tells us Lord ! that Thou art good ; That Thou the source and centre art Of every joy that fills the heart, — And for Thy love, so full, so free, It asks an answering love to Thee. Lavater. Extract from " Travels in the Holy Land,'' by Wm. Rae Wilson. Next morning I set out, and arrived in the evening at Malaga. One custom struck me as remarkable : on entering the town, at the principle promenade, just as the sun was going down, every person who had a few minutes previously, marked the progress of the sun, whether they were pedestrians, on horseback, or in carriages, stood still in a moment, on this glorious luminary disappearing, as if by an immediate impulse, or word of command ; when they remained uncovered, the females veiUng their faces with their fans, and a devotional soliloquy was repeated by each, expressive of gratitude for mercies received from the God of heaven, during the day. How fine has the day been, how bright was the sun ! How glorious and joyful the race that he run ! Though he rose in a mist when his course he begun And there followed some droppings of rain ; ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 33 Yet now the fair traveller's come to the west, His rays are all gold, and his beauty is best ; He paints the sky gay as he sinks to his rest, And foretels a bright rising again. Just such is the christian, his course he begins Like the sun in a mist, when he mourns for his sins — And melts into tears ; — then he breaks out and shines, And travels his heavenward way ; And as he draws nearer, to finish his race, Like a fine setting sun he looks richer in grace, And gives a sure hope at the end of his days, Of rising in brighter array. Dk. Watts. mm. " And he snALii be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, EVEN A MORNING •\VITHOUT CLOUDS ; AS THE TENDER GRASS SPRINGING OUT OF THE EARTH BY CLEAR SHINING AFTER RAIN." — 2. SAM. XXIII. 4. Grey clouds are gathering overhead Their pall of sombre hue, And still their deepening shades come on To circle round heaven's blue. And thou ! methinks from thee hath flown Bright shining of thy skies, And all thy soul is overcast With sorrow's sable dyes. But see ! the clouds in showers descend, And now shines out heaven's blue ! Again 'tis sunshine in thy soul, Though tears thy cheek bedew ! Spitta. I felt a little ray of comfort this morning in these words " My King and my God ;" for however tried, however aflflicted, however clouded we may be, in this there is indeed hope and consolation, (if it please Almighty loving-kindness to permit us to see it,) even ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 35 to feel that the Most High is our King and our God ; that he hath in abundant mercy manifested hhnself to be so, and that now and then, through the help of our Eedeemer, we have been enabled to prove that we have sought to serve him, and desired that He alone should be our King and our God. Dearest, kindest Lord, Thou who hast regarded me, and dispersed many clouds for me, be pleased yet to regard me, whatever be my state, however low I may be brought before Thee, and in thine own time disperse my clouds ; let the sun arise as clear shining after rain. Elizabeth Fiiy. From the dark chamber where the sick one lay The sister came : I asked, " Is she no more ?" No 'Avords she spake, but a sweet sunshine o'er Her parted lips in thankfulness did play ; And tears that chased the darkness all away Pour'd from their lucid founts, so dim before. That blessed rain did all our hearts restore : And, Oh ! the brightness of that healing ray. John Eagles. " ANJJ of his fulness have all we received, and grace i'Oil GRACE."— .luHN I. 16. Oh where doth mercy dwell Which holdeth not the sinner in disdain ? And where is love That doth with open arms go forth to meet The penitent ? Oh where is sin forgiven, and a veil thrown Over disgrace and shame ? And, in despite the terrors death and hell Would cast around, The blessing given of everlasting life ? Be of good courage ! for with Jesus Christ Such grace in fulness dwells. Where shall we find a balm to heal our wounds, A solace for our pain ? Oh where does wisdom dwell, — and tell me where Shall the soul void of counsel and of peace, Her consolation find ? Oh where resides the power That renovates the spirit of our minds, ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 37 That lifts the fallen ones up And gives us strength For life's laborious, undiverted course ? Whose guardian care Preserves us that we miss not of our way ? Take comfort ! for with Jesus Christ we find Such rich supplies of grace. Who gives us life to satisfy, and joy In sorrow's darkening hour. Whilst in the Providence of God we find Our soul's supreme content ? Who gives us childlike trust and lays us doAvn In a kind father's lap ? Who doth our vain cares banish ; and permits That we God's works of wonder should behold ? Kejoice thyself in this, — Thy Jesus Christ is of such grace the giver. Who gives the spirit of a child of God, With pure humility, That questions nothing of His holy mind ; Meekness, that unprovoked, lays at her side The winged shaft of scorn ; And love, the gift of grace, that waiting stands For every semce ready ; whose full heart Holds back no sacrifice. But can rejoice with them that do rejoice ? 38 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Thank God ! Thy Jesus Christ the giver is Of graces such as these. Who makes it gain to die, and so ordains We should not look on death ? And when stripped hare of all things, from this scene Of earth we go, Who makes us heirs of everlasting good ? Whose the decree That yet once more the harvest of this world, Sown hy his hand, shall, through his holy word In glory rise To crown the season of a new-born spring ? Wake songs of praise ! Thy Jesus Christ bestows Such grace as this. Oh Thou eternal Word ! who unto all Disposest all things, and who art thyself Our all in all. Since it hath pleased the Father that in Thee All fulness dwells, Thou hast invited all, And all may come in near approach to Thee : How blessed then the soul that can receive. And with true sense enjoy Both what Thou giv'st, and what Thyself Thou art ! Spitta. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 39 Yes ! tliere is both balm in Gilead, and a Physician there ! for the blood and lighteousness of Jesus is the truest balm : and Jesus himself a Sovereign and an Almighty Physician. But if that blood be not applied, if Jesus be not known nor consulted, how shall health be obtained ? my soul ! hast thou known thy disease, felt thy disorder ; art thou cominced that it is incu- rable by all human means, — no medicine, no earthly physician can administer relief ? Hast thou known these things ? And convinced of the infinite importance of seeking elsewhere, art thou come to Jesus ? What sayest thou my soul to the inquiry ? Art thou acquainted with Jesus ? Hast thou made known thy case to him ? And hath he told thee all that is in thine heart ? Hath he taken thee under his care ? Is he administering to thee the balm of .Gitead ? Oh my soul 1 see to it that nothing satisfieth thy mind, until that thou hast heard his soul-reviving voice, saying, I . am the Lord that healeth thee. Seek it for thy life, say unto the Son of God — " speak but the word, Lord, and my soul shall be healed." Dr. Hawker. Christ is a path if any be misled ; He is a robe if any naked be ; If any chance to hunger, He is bread ; If any be a bondsman. He is free ; If any be but weak, how strong is He ; To dead men, life ; He is to sick men, health ; To blind men, sight ; and to the needy, wealth ; A pleasure without loss, a treasure without stealth ! It ought to be the habit of our souls, as the hours of each day pass over us, frequently to bring our ignorance and weakness to the Fountain of light and strength ; — our poverty and emptiness, to the fulness lohich is in Chrht. J. J. Gurney. 40 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Jesus died to redeem you from eternal woe, and make you happy for ever in heaven. He comes to you, and, showing the marks of his wounds, says " see how I loved thee, sinner ! I love thee still ! Come unto me that I may save thee from sin and from hell 1" Oh reject not so gracious a Saviour. Trample not under foot such wonderful love ! You will never meet with such another friend ! Trust him ! Love him ! You will always find him full of pity and tenderness ! He will comfort, guide, protect and save you amid all the dangers and sorows of life, deliver you from the sting of death, and then make you happy for ever in heaven ! O come to this loving Saviour. Newman HAiJi. i^tm B "These all died in faith, not haying received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they WERE STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH." "For they that say such THINGS DECLARE PLAINLY THAT THEY SEEK A COUNTRY." — HEB. XI, 13. 14. Amid the world's vexations Oh let me not complain, Although in grief I languish Or agonize with pain. I seek no crown of honor Where a cro^vn of thorns He wore- The Lord of life and glory Who thus my trespass bore. I would not seek to follow A path where roses be, For here the High and Holy One Bled on the accursed tree. Lord ! grant me for life's journey, Thy truth with guiding ray, And send Thy Holy Spirit down To lead me in the way ! 49 ECHOES OF ETERNITY, And now with full surrender I'll walk with Thee my God ! Where that steep narrow pathway Thy holy footsteps trod. With still increasing virtue Let faith my portion he, And her sweet fruit of blessing, Pure, fervent charity. Without her sacred presence In vain my tent I move, For love alone can lead us To find our home in love. Beneath her hallow'd guidance, Sustained by her alone. Through this wide world I follo^\'— She brings me to Thy throne. Dear Lord ! Thy voice of mercy Has called me to Thy side, Yet still earth's toilsome pathways My soul from heaven divide. But thence, with arm extended Do Thou my weakness stay ; And oh, uphold Thy servant To run his heavenward way ! ECHOES OF ETEENITY. 43 Teach me to gaze with rapture To Thy hlue heavens on high, While thus entranced in vision I commune v^rith the sky ! Let themes like these beguile me As earthly shades I view ! Wliilst peace within my bosom Shall whisper — ' heaven is true.' Yes ! here on earth a stranger, I bind grief's mantle on, A pilgrim veiled in shadow, And sorrow's favorite son. But see, my chosen signet ! The cross my true love claims ; It speaks of Him, the dearest Of all beloved names. And still my cherished token The Saviour's cross shall be, Until in Canaan's glories My Fatherland I see ! Sputa. Should we not mention that he had a heart susceptible of the most tender friendship ? I have frequently thought that this, of all others, was the distinguishing part of his character. How few 44 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. have we known of so kind a temper, of such large and flowing affections ? Was it not principally by this that the hearts of others were so strangely drawn and knit to him ? Can anything but love beget love ? This shone in his very countenance, and continually breathed in all his words, whether in public or private. AVas it not this, which quick and penetrating as lightning, flew from heart to heart ? Which gave that life to his sermons, his conver- sations, his letters ? Ye are witnesses ! Wesley's Sermon on the Death of Whitefield. Give me my scallop-shell of quiet, My staffe of faith to walk upon. My scrip of joye, (immortal diet !) My bottle of salvation, My gowne of glory, hope's true gage ; — ^And thus I take my pilgrimage. Blood must be my body's balmer. While my soule, like peaceful palmer, Travelleth tow'rds the land of heaven ; Other balm will not be given. Over the silver mountains. Where spring the nectar fountains, There will I kiss The bowle of bliss. And drink mine everlasting fill, Upon every milken hill ; My soul will be a-dry before, But after that will thirst no more. Sir Walter Kaleigh. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 45 Now the pilgrim prays, and then trials are light ; For prayer to him, on his way, Eesembles the pillar of fire by night, And the guiding cloud by day. And when Zion's glittering walls are near, Tho' his eyes may with tears be dim. Some rays from her gates his soul shall cheer, And the swell of her choral hymn. At length his tears are all wiped away, He enters the City of Light ; And how gladly he changes his gown of grey For Zion's robe of white ! Then the dear and the blessed ones meet his gaze, From whom time no more shall sever, And he joins in their endless song of praise, " Hallelujah !" for ever, and ever ! A. OriE. The faith that was in Abraham's heart, originated such doings in the history of his life as declared plainly that he sought a country. And our faith is nothing, it is but the breath of an empty profession, but the utterance of a worthless orthodoxy ; if it be not followed up by such measures, and such movements, as plainly declare that immortality is the goal to which we are tend- ing; that the world is but the narrow foreground of that perspective which is lying at our feet ; and, with the eye stretch- ing forward to the magnificent region beyond it, that we are actually keeping on the strait but single path which conducts to this distant heaven, though set at every footstep with thorns, and hemmed on the right and on the left with difiiculties innumerable. Dr. Chalmers. 46 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Many years ago, when I was an object of much contempt and derision in this university, I strolled forth one day buffeted and afflicted — with my little Testament in my hand. I prayed earnestly to my God, that He would comfort me with some cordial from his Word, and that on opening the book I might find some text which should sustain me. It was not for direction that I was looking, for I am no friend to such superstitions as the Sortes Virgiliancs, but only for support. I thought I would turn to the Epistles, where I should most easily find some precious promise ; but my book was upside down, so without intending it, I opened on the Gospels. The first text which caught my eye was this, " They found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name ; him they compelled to bear his cross.'.' You known Simon is the same name as Simeon. What a word of instruction was here ; what a blessed hint for my encouragement ! To have the cross laid upon me, that I might bear it after Jesus, — what a privilege ! It was enough. Now I could leap and sing for joy, as one whom Jesus was honoring with a participation in His sufferings. * * * Eelating this on another occasion, Mr. Simeon added : — ^And when I read that, I said Lord, lay it on me, lay it on me ; I will gladly bear the cross for thy sake. And I henceforth bound persecution as a wreath of glory round my brow ! Charles Simeok. How pensive is eve to my spirit, How smilingly daylight departs, The birds to their vespers are waking — Their song is a concert of hearts. The flowers are all silent around us — No voice to the flowrets is given, But still as they bend in devotion. Their prayers are ascending to heaven. Wherever around or above me The gaze of my intellect turns, With holy and high adoration Each spark of intelligence burns. The streamlet that shines like a mirror Eeflects the cerulean dome. And the hues that fair nature has painted In grace and in majesty come. All things that exult in their being On wings of petition arise. They ask for their hours of reposing, The blessing that falls from the skies. 48 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. And all to my spirit are speaking, They bid me their dictates obey: As with silent example they whisper, " Thou son of humanity, pray"! Spitta . FEOM THE SAME. How pensively the eve steals o'er us, While day with winning smile, departs : And listen where that woodland chorus Pours the full gush of gladsome hearts : The birds prolong Their evening song And strain like their's its truth imparts The flowers are all unheard, attending — No voice or speech to flowers is given,— Yet, silent suppliants, see them bending Their lowly fonns beneath the heaven. To earth they bow Their faces now • Amid the tranquil hush of even. Where'er I look, where'er I wander T'is all devotion's sacred grace ; See ! in the stream reflected yonder The grand cemlean vault I trace : ECHOES OF ETERNITY, 49 The heavens of blue, With colours true, Are painted in that streamlet's face. And all with loving souls are praying For blessing on their hours of rest ; And all things to my soul are saying, In words with wisdom's signet pressed : — " Thou child of clay ! Arise and pray, Prayer is thy being's high behest." Spitta. Let me take the lark for my pattern ; which, as I was returning from an evening ramble, attracted my observation. Warbling her Creator's praise, she mounted in the serene sky. Still she warbled, and still she mounted, as though she meant to carry her tribute of harmony unto the very gates of heaven. Having reached at last her highest elevation, and percei^dng herself at an immense distance from the starry mansions, she dropped on a sudden to the earth ; and discontinued at once both to sing and to soar. Now the morning appears, and is awakening the world, our little songster re-tunes her throat, and re-exerts her wings. Heevey. Fi'om " A Proper new Boke of the Armony of Byrdes." When Dame Flora In die Aurora, Had covered the meadowes with flowers And all the fylde, Was over distylde With lusty Aperll showers. H 50 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. For my disporte, Me to comforte Whan the day began to spring Foorth I went With a good intent To here the byrdes sing. I was not past, Not a stones cast So nigh as I c'd deme, But I did see a goodly tree, Within an herbor grene. Wheron did lyght, Byrdes so thyche As starres in the sky, Praisynge our Lorde Without discorde With goodly armony. DiBDEN. And then of mute and insensible things it holdeth true, that, though they cannot hope, they at least wait a restoration. We cannot ascribe to them, without an effort of poetry or of personifi- cation, the posture of looking forward to that day of their coming enlargement, when they shall be emancipated from the distress and imprisonment in which they are now held. — But still when we include them in the description of these verses, Rom. viii, we commit no greater \dolence upon the literalities of sober and prosaical truth than is done in other parts of Scripture — when all nature is summoned to an act of attendance upon God — when the voice of praise is heard by the ear of fancy as arising to heaven from the ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 51 mountains and the forests, and the valleys are made to sing, and the little hiUs on every side to rejoice — when on the approach of its Maker, the whole creation is represented as vocal — when the fields are called upon to break forth into gladness, and the floods to clap their hands. De. Chalmers. In contemplating the scenes of nature, where indeed there is neither voice nor language, yet it is impossible not to observe how the elements conspire to serve God, and to bless mankind. St. Clement, in his epistle to the Corinthians, enlarges upon this thought, to the following effect : — " the heavens declare the glory " of their great Creator, uniformly performing their operations in obedience to his decrees. At the word of the Almighty the sun aiiseth, and knoweth his going down. The heavenly bodies run their appointed circuits in concert, and their motions clash not. Day and night, spring and summer, autumn and winter, in peaceful order give place to, and succeed each other. The earth, without murmuring or disputing, yields her increase at the stated seasons. Winds blow, and waters roU, in subserviency to the will of Him who made them ; the very waves of the ocean practise submission ; they pass not the bounds prescribed them, but, under the regulation of that powerful voice which said, " Hitherto shall ye come, but no farther," they only serve to fill up the mighty chorus of inanimate beings that are incessantly, in their way, rendering homage to the Lord of nature. They continue this day according to his ordinance ; for all things serve him in their several places without let or molestation. Bishop Horne. "I BESEECH YOU THEBEFORE, BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE." — ROM. XIL 1. Day of the Lord ! thou to my soul A sacred festival shalt he ; And I will welcome thee with joy Like the saints' first community : Who once confessed This day of rest A truce for holy thought, and high solemnity. From every vain thing far — My thoughts to heaven shall fly ; And plumed with joy, Their powers employ, When, oh my God ! with Thee I keep this festal day of immortality. With many a holy hand, Who on this day hefore Thy presence stand. My soul shall join; And we Thy name will praise ; ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 53 And I will raise My votive heart and voice to speak Thy love : Whilst still, oh Lord ! to Thee, With angel company, I'll sing a holier strain in yonder worlds above. Within this calm abode. Whose courts are perfum'd with the name of God, The gospel sound goes forth : And here, oh Lord ! I listen to the dictates of thy word, Whilst softly sighs my soul to Thee Touched by thy spirit's ministry. Yes, Thou wilt teach me and console, And in Thy precious love My great Kedeemer ! I'll rejoice ; And all my powers shall move With prostrate will, and bended knee. Thou Saviour of the world to Thee ! Thy holy scriptures, Lord ! With tranquil mind to ponder, This day my soul her high requirement finds — Her cup of health : I were a fool. Thou God of truth ! to squander Thy wisdom's lore, my treasure and my wealth. 64 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. No, rather with Bimplicity of heart Father in heaven ! Will I that page unrol Which Thou hast given ! And where Thy statutes shine in light and life. There in the spirit of a child would I, With thankful heart, and meek, my little lamp supply. Retiring now in stillness to thy home, Thought's calm retreat, Do thou, my spirit ! in devotion come Thy God to meet : There ask thyself what impulses of will Thy heing guide ; Ask what disturbs, and what with joy caa fill Thy heart's full tide ; And there thy works examine, weigh each deed ; Prove thy life's aim ; Be honest to thyself, and Jesus Christ, As thy great pattern, all thy soul shall claim. There, there thy sins forget not, sins perchance Which unrepented lie ; And there, in deep contrition, search them out With careful eye ; Till God shall look upon thee, and his voice Shall bid thy self-abased soul rejoice : ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 55 There, tracing his compassions, thou shalt raise From earth's low bed of dust, the thankful notes of praise. Day of the Lord ! with blessings laden Thou comest with sweetness to my heart ; And now, Thou sun of light and glory ! To me Thy quickening beams impart ; So shall my being rise on wings to heaven. Father ! I pray thee, bless My soul's deep worship in its calm recess, And, with the Spirit's fulness, make me full. Then, oh my Saviour ! turn, and one pure ray. Forth shining from Thy face, shall crown my Sabbath day. Lavateh. That it is our bounden duty, by the regular attendance of public worship, to confess our allegiance to the King of kings, admits of no question. We are commanded in Scripture not to " forsake the assembling of ourselves together ;" and in the zealous performance of this great duty, we have a sure guide in the example of Jesus Christ himself. How often do we read of his appearing in the synagogues on the Sabbath days ; and how important is the infor- mation given us by the evangelist, that this was his " custom." Blessed be his holy name, he still condescends to bestow his presence upon his disciples, when they are gathered together, for the solemn purpose of worshipping the Father. He is for a crown of glory and for a diadem of beauty unto the residue of his people, he brings them unto " the banqueting-house," and his " banner over them is love." J. J. GURNEY. 56 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. May every sabbath you shall spend upon earth, bring down such a glimpse of heaven's glory and heaven's blessedness upon your habitations. No care ; no poverty ; no desolation, by the hand of death upon your household; no evQ, saving remorse, that the world can oppose, need to keep such precious visitations away from you. But remember that it is only to those who keep the sayings of the Saviour, that He has promised thus to manifest Himself; and it is only after a pure and watchful and conscientious week, that you can ever expect its closing sabbath to be a season of rejoicing piety, a day of peace and of pleasantness. Dr. Chalmers. First day, (Sunday) 17th. — My body recovering, though weak, my spirit tendered before the Lord for His great and unspeakable benefits, my naturally too-insensible heart softened before Him, who I may say is the deHght of my soul, my Lord and my God, my Saviour and Eedeemer. I remember those that are worshipping as worshipping with them, and my spirit feels sweet unity with the church militant, and perhaps, though utterly unworthy of it with his church triumphant ; as if I could unite with both, in the everlasting song of high praises, even to our God, and to his Lamb, who hath shown such tender mercy towards us, and made Himself manifest to us as our Saviour and Eedeemer. Blessed for ever be His name. Elizabeth Fry. Fear God; shew it in desire, refraining, and doing; keep the inward watch, keep a clear soul, and a light heart. Mind an inward sense upon doing anything. When you read the scripture, remark the notablest places, as your spirits are most touched and affected, ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 57 in a common-place book, with that sense or opening which you receive ; for they come not by study, or in the wUl of man, and they may be lost by carelessness and over-growing thoughts and busi- ness of this life : so in perusing any other good or profitable book, yet rather meditate than read much. Wm. Penn. OF THE INCOMPAKAELE TREASURE OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. Here is the spring Avhere waters flowe To quench our heate of sinne ; Here is the tree where trueth doeth growe To lead our lives therein. Here is the judge that stints the strife .When men's devises faile ; Here is the bread that feedes the life That death cannot assaile. The tidings of salvation deare Comes to our eares from hence ; The fortresse of our faith is here And shielde of our defence. Then be not like the hogge that hath A pearle at his desire. And takes more pleasure of the trough And wallowing in the mire. Eeade not this booke in any case But with a single eye : Reade not, but first desire God's grace To tinderstand thereby. 68 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Pray still in faith with this respect To fnictifie therein, That knowledge may bring this effect To mortifie thy sinne. Then happie thou in all thy life What so to thee befalles : Yea, double happie shalt thou be When God by death thee calles. Geneva Version, 1595. Consider the infinite wonders of the Holy Scriptures, the more than human grandeur and sublimity of their contents, and the admirable simplicity of their style ; in which there is nothing of afiectation, nothing over-wrought, and which bears the clearest and most undeniable character of truth. Pascal. Christian reader. Here hast thou, most dear reader, the New Testament, or covenants made with us of God, in Christ's blood. Faith now, in God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the covenants and appointments made between God and us, is our salvation. Wm. Tyndale. oil that my lips could speak The praises high Of those bold Seers whose holy bosoms glowed With Deity : How these fanned fresh the flame Of doctrine true, And taught what honour to the Father in heaven From men is due ; — They steered the troubled state Where raging currents flowed, And by their counsels they relieved Their country's galling load ; — They sang with prophet-voice That future advent-morn, When the Eternal Father's son Should here be born, From our foul sins to wash us throughly free With his redeeming blood poured out on Calvary, Melancthon. >B i\t &lk 0f S|rM, U\u\ n i\t ^Vhen Jason to his father-land Had home the golden fleece away, Expecting when his regal hand Should o'er his realms resume its sway, 'Tis said, that ark — His wave-worn hark — Perfidious laid her Captain low ; The falling poop, With headlong swoop, Strikes Him a sudden, fatal hlow. When now his wearied limhs recline Beside his home and household shrine. Not thus thy Argo, Christ, shall fall on thee, Battered althousfh and rent her timbers he. ••&■' When proud Orion wakes the Avateiy deep. And heaven's battalions rush with angry sweep Panting for war. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 61 See stmggling in mid-ocean, tempest-riven, Thy bark's frail fonn, — When, lo, stretched out thy own right hand from heaven, Piercing the storm ! In safety now thy mariners abide, Anchored on thee amid the threatening tide. Oh living image of the Eternal Sire, Light of his throne, Christ, our best Friend, do thou defend and keep Thy Church — thy own. Melancthon. 'Twas when the seas with hideous roar A little bark assailed, And potent fear, with awful power, O'er each on board prevailed : — Save one, the captain's darling child, Who fearless view'd the storm, And playful, Avith composure smiled At danger's threatening form. " Why sporting thus," a seamen cries, " When sorrows overwhelm ? " " Why yield to grief? " the hoy replies, " My Father's at the helm ! " 62 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. We know not whither our frail barks are borne, To quiet haven, or on stormy shore, Nor need we seek to know it, while above The tempest, and the water's angriest roar, Are heard the voices of redeeming love ; So shall we find none dreary or forlorn. Whither we go we know not, but we know That if we keep our faces surely set Toward new Zion, we shall reach at last, When every danger, every woe is past. The city where the sealed tribes are met. Whither the saved of the nations flow ; The city with its heaven-descended halls, The city builded round with diamond walls. E. C. Teench. iMk|0fc, Ut tua pertingat, penetretque precatio caelum Corde sit ex puro, sit brevis atque frequens. Thy prayer, to reach and penetrate the skies, Frequent and few in words, from a pure heart should rise. Wouldst thou thy wishes heaven should reach, and find sweet welcome there, Let a pure heart the language teach of brief and frequent prayer. J. E. ^terni de mente patris sapientia nata, In qua Mundi operum fulsit idea novi Et quae distinxit pulcherrima corpora renim, Et jussit formas singula habere suas. Hsec eadem in parvis vagit sapientia cunis, Naturae nostrse membra tenella gerens. Sic quanquam infundit se nostra in pectora, nobis Nondum se totam cernere posse dedit. Ut tamen in nobis sint tantse exordia lucis, Tanquam vagitus, dogmata prima sonat. Non spemis quanquam infirmos, si debita credant Te K{npa pro nobis Christe dedisse patri. Ah precor infirmis adsis ut mentibus, atque Doctrinae foveas semina sparsa tuse, Dum tua se totam pandet sapientia nobis, Atque Patrem clara luce videre dabit. Quando mortali solventur carcere mentes, Et Duce te, coeli culmina celsa potent, Christe, tuo exulibus patriam tu sanguine reddis ; Nulla venit nobis Te nisi dante salus. Melancthon. -Q h^st mtMt-a^ ^f t^^ mkms:^. That Wisdom whose birth-place was in the mind of the Eternal Father, and in which the conception of the works of a new world shone, and which, embody- ing matter in varied beauty, bade each species assume a fashion of its own — that same Wisdom puts forth its infant- cry in a little cradle, and wears the tender limbs of our nature. In like manner, although she infuses herself into our inmost being, she has not yet given us the power to behold her whole self. Still, that we may be illumined by the dawniiigs of so great a light, she gives expression to her first doctrines in cradle-cries. Thou dost not spurn men, weak though they be, if they believe that thou, oh Christ, hast given thyself to the Father as a ransom in our stead. Ah ! I beseech thee that thou wilt assist our feeble minds, and cherish the scattered seeds of thy teaching, until thine own Wisdom shall unfold its whole self to us, and shall give us to behold the Father in clear light, when these intelligences shall be freed from their mortal prison-house, and thou being their Leader, shall seek the towering heights of heaven. Thou, oh Christ, by thy blood restorest thy exiled-ones to their father-land, and from thee alone do we obtain salvation. THE SAME. That Wisdom of eternal birth Which from the Father's bosom came. Secret in which the imagined earth Shone, of a new and lustrous frame ; And which with many a varied grace Bodied and robed material things, Giving them each with Beauty's face Their own specific fashionings ; — Lo, that same Wisdom's infant-cries Come from a little cradle -bed ; She stoops to wear a human guise, In our weak body habited : Thus though our inmost being feels The influence of her presence there, Not yet her fulness she reveals, Nor shows us all her beauty rare. But, that in us may brightly beam The dawnings of a light so clear. In tones which like child-accents seem She lets us her first teachings hear. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 67 Yes, Jesus ! thou wilt not upbraid Those weak ones who behold in thee A ransom to thy Father paid — Paid for our debt to set us free. Assist our feeble minds, oh Lord, And cherish by thy showers benign The scattered seed-germs of thy w^ord, And thy theology divine. Till thy hid Wisdom shall unfold In perfect flower her eveiy grace, Whilst through her favour we behold In purest light the Father's face, When from their prison-house set free, And all earth's bonds of being riven, These souls of ours, led up by thee. Shall seek the towering heights of heaven. Thou to thy exiled ones, thine own, Their father-land wilt then restore, Blood-bought by thee ; for thou alone Oh Christ, canst save for evermore. Melancthon. To this repast, which is thy gift, oh Christ, grant thy blessing, that, at thy command, it may nourish our weaiy bodies. Bread alone does not keep up life in our frail body ; it is thy word which prolongs the period of its existence. Now that our repast has banished hunger, and our meal is removed, we will give thanks to thee, oh Father Supreme. For our human powers will derive no assistance from this nutriment, unless they be cher- ished byDivine aid ; for all things live as they are operated on by thy Spirit, and it is through thy afflatus that they all breathe and enjoy health. Do thou also now minister nourishment to our thankful souls, and feed our spirits with immortal food. And since we are the objects of thy care, do thou, oh Father, most Good, preserve us, and over-rule our pursuits and the seasons of our lives. And, oh Father, most Good, as thou hast provided for us a repast, do thou add strength therewith, for thy goodness sake. Amen. Met.atnctiion. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 69 His converse at his table was very profitable, and yet pleasant ; never rising, either at home or abroad, without dropping something of God, according to the rule he laid down to others. He was veiy much in commending and admiring the mercies of God in every meal, and still so pleased with his provision for him, that he would often say, ' He fared deliciously every day, and lived far better than the great ones of the world, who had their tables far better fur- nished. For he enjoyed God in all, and saw his love and bounty in Avhat he received at every meal : ' so that he would say, ' wife ! I live a voluptuous life, but blessed be God, it is upon spiritual dainties, such as the world knows not, and tastes not of.' Joseph Alleine. J0mg $t wBm^s, "The song of songs, which is Solomon's." — Cant. i. 1. " A song of songs" there is, Which when thou once hast known, 'Tis then thy soul's superior hliss To make that song thy own. And in a soft and gladsome strain To sine: it o'er and o'er acfain. ■■iD No faltering voice of man First gave its music forth ; That song so rich in winning charms Never knew mortal birth ; — Those strains so teaching, deep and strong. Have chords that all to heaven belong : It celebrates a love Before whose melting ray, Like mists in presence of the sun, Life's shadows flee away ; The griefs and woes of earth depart When this ecstatic song springs upward from the heart. S pitta. ECHOES OF ETERNITY, 71 This book appears to be a very bright and powerful ray of hea- venly light, admirably fitted to excite pious and devout affections in holy souls, to draw out their desires toward God, to increase their dehght in him, and improve their acquaintance and commu- nion with him. * * * It requires some pains to find out what may, probably, be the meaning of the Holy Spirit in the several parts of this book : as David's songs are many of them level to the capacity of the meanest, and there are shallows in them, in which a lamb may wade, so this of Solomon's will exercise the capacities of the most learned, and there are depths in it, in which an elephant may swim. Matthew Henry. When we were enumerating the excellencies of the sacred writings, methinks we might have added ; — are you fond of pastoral in all its flowery graces, and blooming honours ? Never have we seen such exquisite touches of rural painting, or such sweet images of endeared affection, as in the " Song of Songs, which is Solomon's." AU the brilliant and amiable appearances in nature are employed to delineate the tenderness of his heart, who is love itself; to pourtray the beauty of his person, who is " the chiefest among ten thousand ;" and describe the happiness of those souls, whose " fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." Hervey. ;0msilr^jr t\t Wiiim ^f t\$ "And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of THE field, how THEY GROW ; THEY TOIL NOT, NEITHER DO THEY SPIN." — Matthew vi. 28. Thou beauteous lily of the field, Thou child to nature dear, Oh ! tell me who has decked thy form In hues so bright and clear ; Who thus has given thee to my sight Attired in robes of purest white ? And tell me, wherefore art thou clad So goodly in array. With spangles wrought of richest gold That glitter to the day ? King Solomon in glory drest Was not arrayed in such a vest. God raised thee from the dust of earth, God loves thee, gentle flower ; Whilst in the silent watch of night When darkness holds her power, An angel-form to thee he sends Whose hand a fostering succour lends. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. He bathes thy mantle in the dew, And dries it in the wind, And bleaches it when summer suns Are genial warm and kind ; And on thy youthful brow is set Thy springtide's shining coronet. Thou beauteous lily of the field, In all thy honours drest, Thy form of finished loveliness, Thy fair and polished vest ; Methinks, sweet flower, thy lips impart Wisdom's deep counsels to the heart. Thou lovely lily of the field. Celestial truth is thine, And gems of purity and grace Within thy petals shine ; Kesplendent is each stariy gem In truth and nature's diadem. Yes, thou hast learned with tutored mind, The art of thinking well, And He, the Lord of earth and heaven, Preserves his flow'ret-bell ; He shelters with His guardian care Thy tender stem, thy blossoms fair. S PITTA. 74 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Even the lilies of the field, which are incapable of adorning themselves, are far more beautifully decorated than Solomon, or any earthly monarch, in his royal robes. And has the Lord, with such perfection, adorned the very vegetables, that wiU so soon be cut down, withered, dried up, or burned ; and wiU he not suitably clothe the Christian ? Or should he be desirous of such adornings, as are surpassed by the flowers of the field ? This must arise from weakness of faith, respecting the truths and promises of God, which will expose a man to just rebukes. Solicitous and distrustful enquiries about temporal things may consist with the character of those who know not God ; who consequently must count the world their portion ; and who rely on their o\sti foresight for obtaining the good things of it : but Christians have a nobler portion and a better provider. " Their Father knoweth what they want ;" and he has sufficient power, truth, goodness, and love to them, to send what is best for them ; their anxiety is then entirely superfluous. Scott. . Sure, Lord, there is enough in thee to dry Oceans of ink ; for as the deluge did Cover the earth, so doth thy majesty ; Each cloud distils thy praise, and doth forbid Poets to turn it to another use : Roses and lilies speak thee. Herbert. " He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool : but whoso walketh WISELY, HE SHALL BE DELIVERED." — PrOV. XXVIII. 26. Salvation is a boon, A heritage that's given To every child of Adam's race That lives beneath the heaven ; Then, hand in hand, Our peaceful band Shall seek the one eternal land. Sweet harmony of soul Sustains our spirit's power, As pilgrims here on earth we roam In the world's conflict hour ; Join heart with heart, And half the smart Of earthly sorrows shall depart. Then let us most desire Our gracious Lord to please ; And he shall chase our household foes. And give us sweet release : 76 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Then envy flies, And discord dies With all the train of our heart's miseries. Spit'ja. " Be of one mind." The apostle in this verse, taking leave of his Corinthians, bequeaths to them the same legacy which the blessed Jesus bequeathed to all his followers ; — " Peace I leave with you," said the Master; " my peace I give unto you." "Finally brethren" says this his faithful disciple, " be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you :" such are the conditions, upon the performance of which, we may hope for the presence of God in the midst of us. He who "maketh men to be of one mind in a house," delighteth to dwell in the house where they are so. The spirit of discord resides in the world, — that scene of confusion, that mystic Bahel ! Jerusalem is a city at unity in itself, and is therefore the habitation of the Prince of Peace. Man is reconciled to God by the righteousness of Christ, through faith ; to himself, by the answer of a conscience thus purged from sin ; and to his brethren, by christian charity shed abroad in his heart. All these operations worketh one and the same spirit ; whence the unity, of which we are now speaking, is styled " the unity of the spirit," which is represented as encircling all things in heaven and earth with a bond of peace. Bishop Horne. The saints in prayer appear as one, In word, and deed, and mind. When with the Father and his Son, Sweet fellowship they find. James Montgomery. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 77 Men ought to take heed of rending God's church by two kind of controversies : the one is, when the matter of the point contro- verted is too small and Ught, not worth the heat and strife about it, kindled only by contradiction ; for as it is noted by one of the fathers, Christ's coat indeed had no seam, but the church's vesture was of divers colours, whereupon he saith, " in vesta varietas sit, scissura non sit," they be tVo things, unity and uniformity ; the other is when the matter of the point controverted is great, but it is driven to an over-great subtlety and obscurity, so that it becometh a thing rather ingenious than substantial. Lord Bacon. They which are all of one mind, whatsoever the number of their persons be, are in reference to that mind, but one; as all the members, howsoever different, yet being animated by one soul, become one body. Charity is of a fastening and uniting nature ; nor can we call those many, who endeavour " to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." " By this," said our Saviour, " shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." And this is the unity of charity. Bishop Pearson. ^mh M Bw "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are grod's." — 1. cor. vi. 20. Give what thou wilt oh Lord ! my grateful heart The boon receives : Take what Thou wilt ! my soul obedient back, Her treasure gives : Only with thee I would for ever dwell. Let me thy ways pursue, oh God ! and all is well. Sweetly the gracious current of thy will My being guides, And there with hallowing empire, calm and still O'er all presides : Led by thy hand my steadfast course shall be ; Let me begin and end my pilgrim path with thee. Leaning upon myself, and not on thee, I were a fool ; Then I should stumble oft, and wander free From thy sweet rule : Self-chosen paths are profitless and vain. There no salvation smiles, there no full blessings reign. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 79 For me, my Saviour, God ! with tenderest care Thy love hath planned : Oft have I found Thee, all unsought in prayer, Beside me stand. Oh ! if thou hadst not made my soul thine own, Ne'er had I turned to seek thy mercy's throne. S PITTA. Was enabled in secret prayer to raise my soul to God with desire and delight. It was indeed a blessed season to my soul : I found the comfort of being a christian ; I counted the sufferings of the present life not worthy to be compared with the glory of divine enjoyments; even in this world. All my past sorrows seemed kindly to disappear, and I remembered no more the sorrow for joy. I felt exceeding serious, calm, and peaceful, and encouraged to press after holiness as long as I live, whatever difficulties and trials may be in my way ; may the Lord always help me so to do. Amen, and Amen. Brainerd. Paul saith that, the love of a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned — ^is the end and fulfilling of the law : for faith unfeigned in Christ's blood, causeth to love for Christ's sake — which love is the pure love only, and the only cause for good conscience ; for then is the conscience pure when the eye looketh to Christ in all deeds, to do them for his sake — not for our own singular advantage. Tyndale. 80 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Nous n'avons pas d' idee de ce que nous pourrions faire si nous etions completement perdus dans cet accord complet avec Dieu, si nous ne cherchions pas d'autre volonte que la sienne, si nous n'avions pas une parole de notre bouche, pas un battement de notre coeur, pas une pensee de notre intelligence, pas un mouvement de notre esprit ou de notre corps qui ne fut tourne vers lui pour I'attendre dans I'esprit de Samuel, " Parle, Seigneur, ton serviteur ecoute." Quelques hommes ont montre ce qu' un homme pent faire : un Luther, un Calvin, un Saint Paul, un Mo'ise ; ces hom- mes-la ont montre ce qu' un homme pent faire quand il ne cherche que la volonte de Dieu. Adolphe Monod. Spend no time anxiously in forehand contrivances for this world ; they will never succeed ; God will turn his dispensations another way. Self-contrivances are the effect of unbehef. I can speak by experience ; would men spend those hours they run out in plots and in contrivances, in communion with God, and leave all to Him by believing, they would have more peace and comfort. " The Sun behind a Cloud." Besides the encouragements and assurances given in the Scrip- tures to prayer, my own experience will stand a terrible witness against me, if I should ever cease to pray. I cannot allow myself to put down remarkable answers, which I have had to prayer, lest I should stumble the weak, or provoke the scornful. I know not ■when I ever prayed in earnest, that in one way or other, I had not satisfactory evidence that God heareth prayer. Ten thousand times hath he reproached unbelief, by saying. Here I am, why art thou fearful, thou of little faith ? And so strong is this evidence to me when I examine the detail, that I see and feel that he said it not in vain, " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." KicHARD Cecil. l\^ ^0ri& 0f Sife. Thou word of Life, unsullied spring ! Fresh from the courts of heaven ; — By thee to every drooping soul Immortal strength is given. As to the flower that withering bends ■ Beneath the noontide beam, And mid the thirsty desert waste, Stoops to the freshening stream ; So to our spirit-wilderness Thy affluent waters seem. Without thy presence to our souls Oh what can earth supply ? 'Tis but a pathway through a vale Where darkening shadows lie : Without thee, what were heaven above, Could such discordance be ? 'Twere like the hall of joy, locked up Beneath a mystic key. 82 ECHOES OF ETERNITY, Apart from thee, thou quickening Word, Oh what can life bestow ? 'Tis hut an ever-present death, A dark deceitful shew : Without thee what is death ? — grey night Untinged by morning's glow. From thee with gladdening pulse we draw Warmth genial and divine ; From thee the beams of holy light With full refulgence shine ; By thee with wonder-working power The veil of sense is riven , Thou canst disclose the gates of hell. And thou canst open heaven. In thunders to the sinner's ear Thy voice of awe goes forth, To rouse him from his slothful rest Amid tlie clods of earth. Before that God who sits as judge With balance right and true Thou bid'st us tremble, whilst he gives To each the judgment due. Thou bid'st us love with filial heart That Father kind and good. Who bears in His long-suffering grace With mortal turpitude. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. b6 That God who as an offering gave His own heloved Son, That He might pay the penalty For trespass man had done, And who will thus the sinner take Home to his love for Jesu's sake. Thou word of Life I — to him whose ear The hlessed truth receives, Salvation's endless heritage Thy faithful promise gives ; For he alone whose heart has learned Thy sacred worth to prize, Shall in secure possession hold This jewel of the skies. Then will I gird thee to my side, Oh thou the spirit's sword, Help me to fight the fight of faith God's ever hlessed word ! Thus shall I gain in realms on high The fadeless crown of victory ! S PITTA. And being now made by Him the children of God, may we shine with a bright, steady flame, as lights in the world, and hold out for the benefit of all around us, the word of life, as the gospel which redeems us from the second death, and raises us to eternal life, may properly be called. 84 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. May we spread its lustre through as wide'^' circle as possible, and with it, that happiness Avhich nothing but a cordial belief of it, and subjection to it can bring to the human heart. And brandish in your hands the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, those declarations of His word and gospel which His spirit has inspired, and by a firm confidence in which you will be able not only to defend yourselves, but to repel your adversaries. De. Doddridge. Eeturn, O holy dove ! return. Sweet messenger of rest ; I hate the sins that made Thee mourn, And drove Thee from my breast. The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that Idol be. Help me to tear it from thy throne. And worship only Thee. So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame ; So purer Ught shall mark the road That leads me to the Lamb. COWPER. At anchor laid, remote from home, Toiling, I cry, " Sweet Spirit come ! Celestial breeze no longer stay, But swell my sails, and speed my Avay. Fain would I mount, fain would I glow. And loose my cable from below : But I can only spread my sail ; Thou, Thou must breath the auspicious gale." TorLADV, ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 85 let us entreat the Lord again " to send a plentiful rain, to confirm his inheritance when it is weary." The scriptures predict a day when the Holy Spirit shall he given in a very abundant manner. Thus it is written in the prophets, Joel ii. 28, 29, Isaiah xliv. 2, Zechariah xiv. 8, and Ezekiel xxxvii. and xlvii. In all these passages of scripture, expressions are used which give promise to a very large effusion of divine influence. " I will pour my spirit upon all flesh," upon every age and station ; upon their sons and their daughters ; the old men and the youth ; the sen^ants and the handmaids. " I will pour floods upon the dry ground :" not sending this living water in a scanty measure, hut like the bursting forth of the mountain torrents which spread on every side. *' In summer and in winter shall it be " a continued supply, not affected by the heat of summer or the cold of winter. " The breath came into them, and they lived and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army " ; not a few scattered converts, but a vast multitude, like the eastern armies. J. H. Stewart. I was thinking this morning, amidst all my business, my many engagements, my numerous cares, and the little time I have for reflection and quiet ; what I should do if my dependance was not placed upon the Eternal word of Hfe ? which is with me in every place. I could not but feel this an invaluable gift. I think it a blessing to feel the operative power of this word of life, and through abundant mercy, it leads me at seasons, sometimes at very low seasons, to feel it my meat and my drink to do the will of my Heavenly Father. Elizabeth Fey. 86 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. " He that followeth Me shall have the light of life." Be it our's brethren, to make this glorious promise our own. For to have the light of life, what is it? It is to be in fellowship with Him who is at once the light and life of men ; and in this fellowship to become more and more a child of light, for whom the darkness is now past ; the darkness of a selfish, the darkness of a proud, the darkness of an unholy heart, and for whom the time light now shineth. That light thou mayest make, if thou wilt, more and more thine own, mayest clothe thyself with it, till it be to thee armour of light, at once a sun and a shield, a glory and a defence. Arrayed in this, thou mayest pass unharmed through all temptations of this world, till thou, being brought at length into a meetness for the inheritance of the saints, in light shalt stand, all unawares it may be, within the gates of that hea- venly city, which needeth neither sun nor moon, '• for the glory of the Lord doth Hghten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." E. C. Trench. Now these are called here the groanings of the Spirit of God, because it is in fact He who hath awakened them in the spirit of man. When he intercedes for a believer, the believer's own heart is the channel through which the intercession finds its way to the throne of grace. It is not that there is any want either of light or of utterance about Him ; but He doeth his work gradually upon us, and often infuses a desirousness into our hearts before He reveals the truth with distinctness unto our understandings. He walketh by progressive footsteps, in accomplishing the creation of a new moral world — even as He did when employed in the creation of our present system of materialism. He then moved upon the face of the waters, before He said, let there be light, and there was light. Dr. Chalmers. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 87 The doctrine of redundant and illimitable pardons, constitute the glory, and seals the Divinity of the glad tidings ; of tliat gospel, which the Irish version of Scripture (we are told) emphatically entitles — " The story of peace." It did so even to believers of patriarchal times ; much more in these last days when God hath spoken by his Son, — when the " story of peace," the doctrine of boundless pardon, is more fully developed, and still more strongly ratified. That doctrine pours into the mind, if strengthened to receive it with cordial and animated faith, a beam at once convict- ing, purifying, and healing ; which, while it enlightens each secret chamber of imagery, pierces also and scatters each defilement, and efiaces each record of condemnation there; bringing out more visibly, but to, cancel as potently, the stains of guilt, and the sen- tences of ruin ; shining in the heart to display the dreadful strength and complexity of its self-riveted chains, and to melt them in the glow and splendour of a Divine Redemption. John Sheppard. J|j^ ftpktt 0f i^st Mui^!txB. " For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself TO THE SEARCH OF THEIR FATHERS : " (" FOR WE ARE BUT OF YESTERDAY, AND KNOW NOTHING, BECAUSE OUR DAYS UPON EARTH ARE A SHADOW:") "SHALL NOT THEY TEACH THEE, AND TELL THEE, AND UTTER WORDS OUT OF THEIR HEART?" — Job VIII. 8. 9. 10. " to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of god, and the promises;" '' Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ CAME, who is over ALL, GOD BLESSED FOR EVER. AMEN." — ^ROM. IX. 4. 5. Spirit of strength and faith, Life of the lowly soul, Of meek obedience, and of powers That move in sweet control : Creator Thou of all The works which God hath wrought, By whom to us, the fruits of heaven Are richly brought : Thou spirit that didst once inspire Prophets and Kings, a goodly band. And kindled'st with celestial fire The messengers of God's right hand ; — Thou wast their strength, their impulse high. And witness of their ministry. ECHOES OF ETEENITY. 89 Oh clothe us, children of the dust, With gifts divine ; That might and courage-hreathing faith In us may shine. With zeal for God's own house And grace to say, " We fight the fight of faith,— Earth, with thy toys, away!" Grant us the assured helief Wliich Abraham knew, That holy confidence of faith With purpose true, Which bears with conquering power away Through all the doubts that cloud our day ; That whilst the covenant of grace Our hearts confess, Receiving with a trustful joy Its righteousness, Still at God's footstool would lay down Each hour, its best beloved one. And when a false, delusive world Its net would lay, And with its threatenings and its lures Would lead astray, Then grant us Joseph's holy mind With saintly fortitude combined. 90 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Pour down the unction which of old On Moses fell, When God's long-suffering grace he asked For Israel ; And for our Church in evil days May we our intercessions raise. Nor let us see with cold regard Their doom of woe, But, touched with Moses' hallowed grief Our tears shall flow With sighs, with loud lament and ruth For those who leave the paths of truth. Grant us the spirit of the hrave That did inspire King David, w^hen on Judah's foes He poured his ire ; His trust in Christ his rock When tempests rose. His truth to Friendship's sacred name, His love of foes ; His contrite heart that wept for sin And sought God's pardoning grace to win. As once Elijah's breast With indignation glowed, With holy wrath and jealousy For Israel's God ; ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 91 So now let kindling zeal Within us move, When Superstition's blinded throng In error rove, — Nor to their gods with head or knee Bow down, but only Lord, to thee. With souls of saintly dress, Thy great apostle band Who as the witnesses of grace Unbending stand, Give us in mockery and in shame To publish forth To all the world, that Jesus' blood Has precious worth ; And oh we pray Thee grant That we the truth may know, The truth that makes our spirits free And makes our joys o'erflow : Nor shall our hearts this pearl resign For power, almighty power, is Thine. Like Stephen give us peace When darkest woes are rife, Whilst, each in his appointed stand, We meet the hottest strife. 92 ' ECHOES OF ETERNITY. And when earth's loud commotion's swell With tempest rage, Then let the clear serene of faith Our souls engage : In death let heaven be opened, and our eye See Jesus on His throne of majesty ! Spirit of strength and faith, Life of the lowly soul — Of meek obedience, and of powers That move in sweet control ; Creator, Thou, of all The works which God hath wrought. By whom to us the fruits of heaven Are richly brought ; — Thou spirit that didst once inspire Prophets and kings, a goodly band, And kindledst with celestial fire The messengers of God's right hand ; Dwell too in us — ^with influence high, And there reveal Thy ministiy. However much the most perfect of the species may have to glory of in the eye of his fellows, he has nothing to glory of hefore God. The apostle affirms this of Abraham, a patriarch whose virtues had canonized him in the hearts of all his descen- dants ; and who from the heights of a very remote antiquity still ECHOES OF ETEKNITY. 93 stands forth to the people of this distant age, as the most venerably attired in the worth and piety, and all the primitive and sterling virtues of the older dispensation. As to his piety ; of this we have no document at aU, till after the time when God met him — till after that point in his history which Paul assigns as the period of his justification by faith,— till after he walked in friendship with the God who found him out an alien of nature ; and stretching forth to him the hand of acceptance, shed a grace and a glory over the whole of his subsequent pilgrimage in the world. Dr. Chalmers. Longed to "depart and be mth Christ," more than at any time of late. My soul was exceedingly united to the saints of ancient times, as well as those now living; especially my soul melted for the society of Elijah and Elisha. Was enabled to cry to God with a childlike spirit, and to continue instant in prayer for some time. Brainerd. Aussi, mes amis, la pri^re est la marque distinctive des serviteurs puissants du Seigneur. Tous, avec des differences considerables, ils nous offrent ce trait commun : ce sont des hommes qui prient beau- coup, et des hommes qui prient ardemment. Voyez la pri^re d'un Jacob ; il lutte avec le Seigneur toute une nuit, jusqu'a ce qu'il ait triomphfe du Seigneur lui-meme, qui se prete a ce triomphe pour exercer la foi de son serviteur. Voyez les prieres d'un Moise, et d'un Samuel, d'un Moise, fondateur d'Israel, d'un Samuel refor- mateur d'Israel ; d'un David et d'un roi Josaphat. Adolphe Monod. ^mn. " Through God we shall do valiantly : for he it is that shall tread DOWN our enemies." — PsALM LX. 12. oil day ! that hast unto our souls set forth The Father's counsel, and proclaimed the worth Of Jesus' great salvation — by each tongue Inspired the glory of his name to praise, Oh, let the voice of song, a votive psean raise. The earth was lying, veiled in night. With error's deepest shades opprest ; Now her dark places wake to light — By thy smile blest : Sing thanks to Jesus ! he shall be High on God's throne of majesty; Let each disciple's gracious soul The triumphs of his name extol. And blessings to their righteous Lord For all his finished work accord : He sends the promised Spirit down And hosts proclaim His high renown ; Well pleased they vie — through earth's broad zone To make His holy statutes known. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 95 By Jesus sent, they gather in With willing mind, Apostles who shall teach His law To all mankind : Strengthened hy God, they conquering go — And scorn and rage, With every threatening host, in vain Their powers engage ; Strengthened hy God they conquering go — And in His name, great works they do. Heaven sheds on you its gracious showers, Oh ye, who favor Z ion's towers ! And see ! her light, with cheering ray, Pours on the heathen's darkened day. With joy they serve the Lord — and now The world that once had learned to how Beneath the idols' galling yoke, Hath from her evil bondage broke : Long time forgetful — see her learn Her great Creator to discern ! And through a Saviour's merit, claim To call Him by a Father's name. And now an entrance large, is given With Christ to be,— Glad citizens of Zion — guests of heaven, Eternally. 96 ECHOES OF ETEKNITY. And oh, our Father, God ! let us enjoy Blessing and bliss ; Whilst trusting in thy love, our faith, with sight, Companion is ; — Thus shall our thankful voices raise For rich delights like these, the sacred song of praise. SCHLEGEL. Thus we are brought to the feast of Pentecost, the morrow after the seventh sabbath from the Passover feast, the first day of the week. I say again, can there be any doubt that the type of the first fruits here mentioned finds its antitype in the gathering of the first-fruits of the spiritual harvest, in the conversion of about three thousand souls by the preaching of St. Peter on the day of Pentecost — "begotten," as St. James says, ".by the word of truth, to be a kind of first fruits of his creatures " — predicted, as the Israel of God, to be holiness to the Lord, the first fruits of His increase " — and called in Kevelation, the first fruits unto God and the Lamb ? Cummins. ?]^ie fttars. "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon AND THE STARS, WHICH THOU HAST ORDAINED." — PSALM VIII. 3. Oh realm of Stars ! Oh silver light ! That hreaks through darkening clouds of night, In you; a picture fair I see, Of your Creator's majesty, Of Him whose hand hath strewn the sky, And placed each glittering gem on high : A holy spectacle appears — My soul is ravished with the spheres. And now, oh Lord ! in worship low. To Thee with prostrate knee I how ; I feel Thy presence — Thou whose voice Hath bid each radiant orb rejoice ; I feel thy presence — as I turn To gaze on worlds that round me bum ; Unnumbered hosts, where thought in vain, Would strive their Maker's seat to gain. I soar through boundless fields of space — My vision scans the wondrous place, o 98 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Where in creation's ample hall I see from far, this earthly ball, Which only as a point of light In dim perspective, meets my sight. Again through thousand worlds I range, My spirit feels the impress strange And visits in each bright abode, The common children of our God, The dwellers by His finger made ; And by a Father's eye surveyed. Blessed in their borders with a sense Of His paternal providence. Oh God ! how fair, with light divine, On mortal dust, thy glories shine. Yet how shall words thy praise proclaim, Or speak the wonders of thy name ! My soul adoring, bows to lliee, And silent, owns thy majesty. What field for enthusiasm can be named in comparison with the innumerous and ever-burning stars — ^the first objects which attract the eyes of children, who send up their sweetest smiles, and up-lift their tiny hands to pluck them down as playthings, — the beloved of solitary shepherds, who, lying on the hill-side, try to count them in their multitudes, call them by names of their own, love those " watchers and holy ones," as if they were companions and friends, ECHOES OF ETEENITY. 99 and sometimes exclaim, with the great shepherd King of Israel, " when I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained ; what is man ? " GiLFILLAN. The spacious firmament on high. With all the blue, ethereal sky. And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim. What, though in solemn silence all Move round this dark terrestrial ball ; What, though nor real voice nor sound Amid their radiant orbs be found ; In reason's ear they all rejoice. And utter forth a glorious voice ; For ever singing as they shine, — " The hand that made us is divine." Addison, " I am the light of the world." A great teacher of the Greek Church is very earnest that we should not limit " the world" here, to that world which we inhabit, but should give the word a wider, and as he believes, its proper extension. Christ is the light he urges, not of this world, but of all worlds ; the unity of that crea- tion of God, whereof this world is only a province, demanding that not man only, but all the hierarchy of heaven, angels, principalities and powers, should behold the glory of the Father in the Son, that in his light they should see light ; so that to refuse or reject Him, is to put ourselves out of harmony with all creation, with the moral law not of this only, but of all worlds. I will not at the present pause to inquire, whether this extended meaning may be justly given to Christ's language here. TllENCH. " While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the THINGS which ARE NOT SEEN: FOR THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL ; BUT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL," — 2. COR. lY. 18. Come, let us rejoice in our heritage high, 'Tis our own Father-land in the realms of the sky ; Though the tears of the pilgrim may moisten his cheek, Yet the glance that is upward, of rapture shall speak. Oh tell me, my brothers ! is all we possess A mortality moulded in perishingness ? And are]^we not clothed with immortal degree. As the children of hope and eternity ? And the Saviour ascended — say hath he not given The boon of a life that is fadeless in heaven ? Then how should despondency shade with her gloom The spirit that rises unspoiled from the tomb ? Since those who are crowned with a chaplet divine. Where, encircled in light, does the Amaranth shine, With a jubilee gush of emotions will glow At this heritage fair, which our God shall bestow. ECHOES OF ETEKNITY. 101 Then with visions of hope, which the Spirit elate, We'll look up to that land where the promises wait, Yes, for yonder above, in the regions sublime, Salvation is waiting the children of Time. 'Tis a boon which the mind cannot reach with its powers, Whilst with joy we exult, " This salvation is ours." Thou Lord ! who hast finished thy purpose of grace. Guide those who rejoice in the truth of thy ways ; Oh lead them, oh lead us to blessedness high, To the home of the saints in the realms of the sky ; And united in bonds with our brethren above. Let us dwell in eternal fruition of love ! Klopstock. This inheritance is often called a kingdom, and a crown of glory. This last word may allude to those garlands of the ancients, and this is its property, that the flowers in it are all amaranths, as a certain plant is named, and so it is called, " A crown of glory that fadeth not away." Is it not time to consider whether we be provi- ded with anything surer and better than what we have here ; whether we have any inheritance to go home to after our wandering, or can say with the apostle, " We know that if our house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Leighton. 102 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Christ is ascended into heaven to teach us, that we are strangers and pilgrims here, as all our fathers were, and that another coun- try belongs unto us ; from whence we, as strangers and pilgrims, should learn to abstain from fleshly lusts, and not mind earthly things ; as knowing that we are citizens of heaven, from whence we look for our Saviour, the Lord Jesus ; yea fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. We should trample upon our sins, and subdue the lusts of the flesh, that our conversation may be correspondent to our Saviour's condition ; that where the eyes of the apostles were forced to leave him, thither our thoughts may follow him. Bishop Pearson. Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool : — for all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith THE LORD : BUT TO THIS MAN WILL I LOOK, EVEN TO HIM THAT IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD. — ^ISAIAH LXYI. 1. 2. Eejoice in the beautiful earth ! , For well may your spirits rejoice ; Since God in His might has gone forth And sown a rich harvest of joys. This beautiful earth is arrayed As a footstool of infinite love, Where wonderful charms are displayed, And order and harmony move. Eejoice in the moon and the sun. In the stars that resplendently glow ! In the round of their orbits they run, And shine on this valley below. The God who inhabits on high Has made them — the work of His hand Like jewels they spangle the sky. Called out at his potent command. 104 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. On the borders — so broad and so fair, Of the drapery mantling His throne, These brilliants in beauty, appear — By His finger of majesty thrown. And if such be the splendours that move Bound the footstool and throne of His might, Oh, what is the heart of His love But a well-spring of blessing and light. Spitta. Oh God ! oh good beyond compare ! If thus thy meaner works are fair, If thus thy glories gild the span Of rained earth and fallen man ; How glorious must the mansion be Where Thy redeemed shall dwell with Thee. Bishop Heber. What a glorious world ! I exclaim, as I look up to the alternate clear effulgence and cloudy beauties of the sky, and then over all the vernal charms of the earth. How genuine, how innocent are all these delightful visions. Peace be to thee, candid nature, and thy scenes ! — thou art what thou appearest. J. Foster. Willingly would I pass for a plain old man at aU times, more prone to draw a profitable lesson from the works of creation than to indulge in idle ecstacies and useless sentimentality ; but ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 105 sometimes the boundless beauty of creation so bursts upon me, so takes me, as it were, by storm, that I cannot do otherwise than surrender up for the moment, my whole being, to the delightful occupation of feasting my eye and my heart on the banquet before me, and of adoring the Almighty hand which has not only spread an intellectual table for me in the -wilderness, but given me a keen appetite to relish the repast. Old Humphrey. I have often thought, in travelling through their land (the people of Angola), that it presents pictures of beauty which angels might enjoy. How often have I beheld, in still mornings, scenes the very essence, of 'beauty, and aU bathed in a quiet air of delicious warmth ! yet the occasional soft motion imparted a pleasing sensa- tion of coolness as of a fan. Green grassy meadows, the cattle feeding, the goats browsing, and all this flooded Avith the bright African sunshine, and the birds singing among the branches, before the heat of the day has become intense, form pictures which can never be forgotten. Dr. Lrv'iNGSTONE. Powers Illimitable ! — 'tis but the outer hem Of God's great mantle, our poor stars do gem. Eagles. January 20. Eose at five, and began to ascend Table Mountain at six, with S. and M. : I went on chiefly alone. I thought on the christian life ; what up-hill work it is ; and yet there are streams flowing down from the top, just as there was water coming down the Kloof, by which we ascended. Towards the top it was very steep, P 106 ECHOES OF ETEBNITY. but the hope of being soon at the summit encouraged me to ascend very lightly. As the Kloof opened, a beautiful flame-coloured flower appeared in a little green hollow, waving in the breeze. It seemed to be an emblem of the beauty and peacefulness of heaven, as it shall open upon the weary soul when its journey is finished, and the struggles of the deathbed are over. We walked up and down the whole length, which might be between two and three miles ; and one might be said to look round the world from this promontory. I felt a solemn awe at the grand prospect, from which there was neither noise nor small objects to draw off" my attention. I reflected, especially when looking at the immense expanse of sea on the east, which was to carry me to India, on the certainty that the name of Christ should at some period resound from shore to shore. Henry Martyn. " Before the foundation of the world." " Foundation." In this word is plainly intimated the resemblance of the world to a buidling ; and such a building it is, as doth evidence the great- ness of Him who framed it ; so spacious, rich, and comely, so firm a foundation, raised to so high and stately a roof, and set with variety of stars, as with jewels, therefore called, as some concieve it, " the work of his fingers," to express the curious artifice that appears in them. LeICtHTON. " Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in HEART." — Psalm xcvii. 11. "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness." — Psalm cxii. 4. Weep not, child of grief and sadness, Weep not thou, in life's young day ! Many, a joy shall wake thy gladness, Many a grief shall pass thy way. What though morn, on gladsome pinion, Shed her roseate tints from far ; Weep not, night's sublime dominion Has its heaven with many a star. " Then sorrow, touched by thee, grows bright, With more than rapture's ray : As darkness shews us worlds of light We never saw by day. MooiiE. Both day and rright open sources of comfort, when Jesus is present, and when Jesus sanctifies. How indeed, my soul, canst thou be otherwise than comfortable while Jesus is with thee, and 108 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. manifesting himself unto thee ? * * * His loving-kindness, which is better than life itself, will make daylight in the soul, when otherwise it is night. And his love wiU shine, as the stars in the darkest night sparkle with more lustre, "with increasing brightness, when dark providences are around. Nay, Jesus will give songs in the night, when aU things else are out of tune. De. Hawker. " Praise ye the Lord." " Praise him for his mighty acts : praise him ACCORDING TO HIS EXCELLENT GREATNESS." " LeT EVERY THING THAT HATH BREATH PRAISE THE LORD. PrAISE YE THE LORD." — PSALM CL. 1. 2. 6. Praise God, who made the spring And dressed the earth in her fair garnishing : Thy might went forth And foraied the earth, Thy love sent hlessings down — and happiness had hirth : Creatures, your Maker praise ! The Land that once lay dead Waked up and lived again. And each new day, this world helow Saw hlessings fall, like rain : The worm was glad that life was his, And all the hirds of heaven exulted in their hliss. The face of earth is young once more, And heaven's clear splendours glow ; And hill and vale and wood resound With joy's exulting flow ; Whilst he from whom all blessings come, With pity in his eye. 110 ECHOES OF ETEBNITY. Looks do^vn upon a world that's framed By His great potency. Praise God, for he is near — sing all His hosts ; The Lord our God is everywhere throughout the coasts Of earth and heaven and sea — thy name I'll praise, Almighty God of love, to thee my song I'll raise. Funk. We now rejoice with you in the coming spring, and the warm sunbeams. Although the spring-time of youth is past for us, not so, thank God, the eternal spring, which still grows fresher as we grow older. I have, to my great delight, just opened the balcony door for the first time this year ; and am quite transported ynih all that the sweet spring breathes, and with all that it reveals to eye and ear. The little birds know not how to leave off singing and rejoicing; and I would sing and rejoice with them. ****** Let your heart beat in sympathy with the renewed spring-time of nature, which makes us young and fresh, and gladsome, like the little tomtits in the oak tree behind my window. Caroline Perthes. Hamburg^ See ! Theron, what the cheering warmth and the genial showers of spring have done ! Such a change, so pleasing and so enno- bling, the Gospel of Christ introduces into the soul. Not a day, scarce an hour passes, but this season of universal fecundity produces something new. And is there any state, or any circum- stance of life, on which the faith of Christ does not exert a similar efficacy, and bring forth fruit unto God ? Heevey. WBi^mier, " Lord how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made THEM all: the earth is full of thy riches." — Psalm civ. 24. Around me all is joy — and oh, my God ! Thy world, how fau^ ! in festal garh arrayed ; Mountain and vale, and wood and meadow shine. How holy is each place ! and wheresoe'er With wandering step I go, my gracious God ! Thy presence still is near. Thee I behold In ^very place, in each created thing, Father of all, I look and gaze on thee ! The garden flowers glittering with morning dew, Say to my heart, how bounteous is our God ! The murmuring waves with their sweet voices say, God is the source and well-spring of all good. The lisping brooks re-echo, Praise the Lord ! See how the ears of corn with blessing full, Bend low their heads, whilst scarce the slender stem Bears its rich burthen up, — and here the bees Their sweet load gather, all to serve mankind, From God's fair flowers ; and there the silkwoiin spins. Ere yet she change and rise to life again, — Her shroud and grave. And oh, our Father God ! 119 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. With strength and grace crowned as thy attributes, How hast thou deigned, as in paternal love, To look on man, how multiform thy works. In beauty clad, and cast in wondrous mould. All that hath life from thine abundance. Lord ! As thou hast given them richly to enjoy. Their food receive ; the mountains and the vales Herb for the cattle yield, and wine and bread. Far round me all is joy, and oh my soul. Rejoice in this, God's universe of charms. Rich is he too, in mercy to myself, And may my praise resound aloft to him Who thus benignly smiles on me — on all, In bounteous blessings kind : then let my voice With the great concert of created things, Sound universal praise ; to thee oh God, Thanksgiving and renown — for thou art good ! • Fedderson. The summer is come ; she hath said, ' Rejoice ! ' The wild woods thrill to her merry voice ; Her sweet hreath is wandering around, on high. Sing, sing through the echoing sky ! There is joy in the forests ; the bird of night Hath made the leaves tremble with deep delight ; But mine is the glory to sunshine given : — Sing, sing through the echoing heaven ! V Mes. Hemaks. "TnOU CROWNEST THE YEAR WITH THY GOODNESS; AND THY PATHS DROP FATNESS. — Psalm lxv. ]1. How rich in joy, in bliss, in blessing, Oh great Creator ! is thy beauteous earth ; In rain and sunshine, and when storms are raging. The power that holds us up is bodied forth, — That power which ne'er grows old, but ever new, Pours down a thousand gifts to meet our raptured view. From its frail shell for us, the seed-born springs. And all around. Are waggons with the fulness of the fields In plenty crowned, By thy kind eye surveyed, w^hich from above, Looks down upon us with paternal love. The pinions of the wind — With rain and stonn and flood, The lightnings play. Thou dost restrain, oh God ! The elements' wild wrath and nature's hour Are witnesses to thee, touched by thy spirit's power. Q 114 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. New gifts, new blessings does the Autumn bring Both far and near, To solace and to cheer ; The gardens stand in all their bright array, And painted fruits peer out in colors gay From their dark shadowy leaves, — Whilst thy kind favors, in profusion bland On town and country smile, fresh falling from thy hand. Then look we up to heaven, with joy-lit eye, Whilst mutual love is ours, and praise to thee on high. Our lives have been prolonged to witness once more within the last few weeks, the wide progress of decay over the field of nature. The infinite masses of foliage, which unfolded so beautifully in vegetable life, in the spring, and have adorned our landscape, have faded, fallen, and perished. We have beheld the grace of the fashion of them disclosed, continuing awhile bright in the sunshine, and gone for ever. John Foster. And, oh ! in a lovely autumnal day When leaves are changing before thee. Do not nature's charms, as they slowly decay. Shed their own mild influence o'er thee ? And hast thou not felt, as thou stood'st to gaze, The touching lesson such scene displays ? B. Barton. "llK GIVETH SNOW LIKE WOOL: HE SCATTEKETH THE HOARFROST LIKE ASHES." " He CASTETH forth HIS ICE LIKE MORSELS : WHO CAN STAND BEFORE HIS COLD?" — PsALM CXLVII. 16. 17. Winter is here — and none may dare intrude Within the deep unbroken solitude, Which spreads unrivalled o'er the vast domain AVhere Nature holds her universal reign : — In lifeless beauty now behold her lie, ^Reposing soft in death's white-drapery, Whilst those fair flowers, her children, gently rest Tn deep seclusion on their mother's breast, Within her close embrace, and dreaming there Of that bright morning, when in vestments fair. The Spring resurgent to new life shall rise And shake the drowsy veil of slumber from her eyes. Earth, thy fair charms are fled ! thy beauty's zone With all the glory of thy pride is gone ; And like some strain funereal to our hearts. Thy teaching voice its deep-felt truth imparts : The world's rich wealth is borne on wings away. Its gifts are passing as the passing day : 116 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Up, up toward heaven thy spirit's gaze must be, To find eternal grace and majesty. Let life prepare thee for that blissful sphere. Think not to make thy home of blessing here ; Whilst from this earth thy only suit shall be, Koom for this robe of dust in life's extremity. But when the resurrection mom shall rise And songs of jubilee salute the skies. Then shall the grave her sacred trust resign And give thee back the vestment that was thine. Thus all things change below — then seek not thou Thy cup of bliss where time's dark waters flow ; Far hence to yonder heaven direct thine eye, Thy blessings shine ascendant in the sky : Look up, for treasured in the courts above Salvation dwells, — the Saviour's perfect love. Spitta. Those mountains, covered with perpetual ice ; those rocky pyi-a- mids, covered with everlasting snow ; those awful obscure valleys, from which pour down a great number of torrents, among a thousand cascades ; those natural fountains and reservoirs, which sui-pass by far, everything which the most powerful monarch could procure ; those deserts, whose calmness and solitude is not even interrupted by the song of birds ; those numerous flocks, the image of inno- cence ; in short, all this has a something moving, splendid, and majestic, — one remembers it with pleasure, and feels, by some secret magic, a desire of re turning and renovating such lively ideas by fresh contemplation. Baeon Haixer. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 117 Who would have thought my shrivelled heart Could have recovered greenness ? It was gone Quite underground ; as tiowers depart To see their mother- root when they have blown ; Where they together, All the hard weather, Dead to the world, keep house unknown. ****** These are thy wonders. Lord of love ! To make us see we are but flowers that glide ; Which when we once can find and prove, Thou hast a garden for us where to bide. Who would be more, Swelling through store. Forfeit their paradise by their pride. George Herbert. The bleak A\dnd whistles, snow showers far and near Drift, without echo, to the whitening ground ; Autumn hath passed, and, cold and drear, Winter stalks on, with frozen mantle bound. Mrs. Norton. But this world is not the christian's resting place : here to the very last he must be a pilgrim and a stranger ; a soldier, whose warfare ends only with life, ever struggling and combating with the powers of darkness, and with the temptations of the world around him, and the still more dangerous hostilities of internal depravity. The perpetual vicissitudes of this uncertain state, the peculiar trials 118 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. and difficulties with which the life of a christian is chequered, and still more, the painful and humiliating remembrance of his own infirmities, teach him to look forward almost with outstretched neck, to that promised day when he shall be completely delivered from the bondage of corruption, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. In anticipation of that blessed period, and comparing this churlish and turbulent world, (where competition, and envy, and anger, and revenge, so reek and agitate the sons of men,) with that, blissful region where love shall reign without disturbance, and where all, knit together in bonds of indissoluble friendship, shall unite in one harmonious song of praise to the author of their common happiness ; the true christian triumphs over the fear of death : he longs to realize these cheering images, and to obtain admission into that blessed company. With far more justice than it was originally used, he may adopt the beautiful exclamation — " O praeclum ilium diem, cum ad ilium divinum animorum conci- lium coetumque proficiscar, atque ex hae turba et colluvione dis- cedem." W. WiLBERFOECE. Some of the most wonderful exhibitions of the wisdom, power, and goodness of Almighty God are to be traced in a simple snow storm. Who does not love to see the snow come down ? Perhaps the storm begins at night, having long been brooding and threat- ening. At first it is a timid sprinkling, but soon increasing fast, the thick snow-flakes fall in earnest. All night the storm prevails, but meanwhile as still and calm as when a white winding-sheet is laid over the body of a departed soul. * * With such amazing infini- tude of care and art is this winter vesture of our northern world prepared, and so prepared, that the bright, fleecy, grateful, shelter- ing cloud comes down upon the earth's bosom even as a bird sinks ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 119 with downy warmth upon her nest. It falls like a dream over the frosty earth, as gently as the evening dew upon the summer flowers. G. B. Cheever. 'Twas the cold season when the rustic's eye From the drear desolate whiteness of his fields Rolls for relief to watch the skiey tints And clouds slow varying their huge imagery. S. T. Coleridge. m Biill in ft^ltr, Be still and know that I am God." — Psalm xlvi. 10. In God my soul is still, He speaks the waves to peace ; Let him do with me as he will Till days on earth shall cease : He is my Lord, and I his servant stand, And all is well, appointed hy his hand ; His paths are truth and mercy. How shall the soul of man. Untutored hy his Lord, With silent lips his judgments scan Nor speak one foolish word In question of the wondrous ways of heaven, Its high disposals to its children given ; Nor cavil at his will. We ask — ^liow this and that. We sigh — how can it he ! We fret that earth should vex us so And so unceasingly ; ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 191 We murmur and we ask in wonder, why We meet so undeserved a destiny, So much below our merits. Thus do we — and the while Our God his silence keeps. Until the grand results display His wonders of the deeps ; Then comes at length our own appointed day, When full of shame we close our lips and lay Our mouths in dust before him. Then in true worship bowed To God, my soul be still ! When in his pleasure, not in thine. He leads thee as he will ; And now behold life's darkening journey done. Thy mouth is opened and thy joys begun In praising and thanksgiving. Attend but his delay. And joy thy powers shall fill, Nor may one sad regret be thine — - Hushed in thy Saviour's will ; 'Till through a blest eternity, thy voice Shall sing hosannas, and thy soul rejoice. Thy God to praise and honour. Spitta. R 122 p:choes of eternity. " Glimpse of the World to come," by George P. Philips, Edinburgh. The very day I was taken ill, I was thinking in the morning, that it was very likely God would punish me soon, for my repeated olF-puttings. For some days I found much difficulty in getting near to God or Christ, or the throne. I had much fear in coming, and I could only see God angiy in my sufferings. I did not wholly humhle myself before God, but excused myself, and complained of his hardness. Much very anxious thought for three or four days — much very deep prayer although I was able to draw near with confidence, through Christ, and to see God merciful, and Christ merciful — and that my sufferings were for my good, that they were sent in love, to wean me from the world, and teach me to think and pray. I was soon able to think with much greater steadiness than before, to see God really with me, Christ beside me, and some- what to realize the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, now was the time for rooting out sin and examining my heart ; but from what motive was sin to be put away : — this weighed much. I never felt so ill before. I conceive my present state cannot last long : this exhaustion must be a precursor of death ; but I lie here, waiting for the issue, without a fear, without a doubt, and without a wish." To a friend who remarked " Many hearts are engaged in prayer for you," he rejoined " In prayer ? aye, and I trust in praise too, — praise for countless, endless mercies." * * * * The writer was sitting by his bedside, and, on making some en- quiries as to what had been lately passing in his mind, and of what at that time more pai-ticularly he was thinking, he immediately replied with great animation, " I do'nt think now, — I am enjoy- ing." He then expressed his entire surrender of himself to the ECLHOES OF ETERNITY. 123 will of God, and spoke of his extreme joy in having his own will so completely in unison with that of God ; adding, with remarkable emphasis, " He cannot do anything against my will." Charles Simeon. It is hard for the survivor, with a heart full of love and yearning, no longer to hear and see the dear departed one. How deeply and vividly I feel this, when with my motherly heart, I think of my beloved children in heaven. I cannot help asking, why our Hea- venly Father has appointed these painful partings ; and though I receive no answer, I am reassured and comforted by the knoAvledge that it is His will, and that He wills nothing but good, even where it does not seem so to us. Caroline Perthes, Hamburg. You have been led to ask mournfully, — why all this : why not a calmer dismissal of the prepared and expecting spirit ? Why these pains prolonged, or accumulated, or sharpened, when a mer- ciful Father, a compassionate Eedeemer, is about to receive the departing and beloved sufferer to his own embrace ? To these queries we must accept, and may with reason accept, the Scrip- tural answer, which has been repeatedly adduced. The beloved sufferer, though an adopted son, is still learning obedience : attaining that last and highest gradation of perfective endurance, which worketh for him " a far more exceeding and eternal glory." The grace by which he endures this final test, — "not charging God foohshly," but trusting in his Avise and merciful design, although it be God's own gift, and can afford no shadow of a plea for boasting, shall be " counted worthy " of a rich and "full reward." Yet there is something strangely illustrious in the fact, that lapsed and renovated creatures acquire a sort of conformity and 124 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. communion with the Son of God, which beings that have never suffered cannot be imagined to possess. If there be first a some- thing surpassingly glorious in the peculiarity and condescension of his suffering " for us," there is next a something reciprocally glorious, in the peculiarity and honour of our suffering with Him. J. Sheppakd. Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament, adversity is the blessing of the New, which carrieth the greater benediction, and the clearer revelation of God's favour. Yet, even in the Old Tes- tament, if you listen to David's harp, you shall hear as many hearse- like airs as carols ; and the pencil of the Holy Ghost hath laboured more in describing the afflictions of Job than the felicities of Solo- mon. Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes ; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes. We see in needle- works and embroideries, it is more pleasing to have a lively work, upon a sad and solemn ground, than to have a dark and melan- choly work upon a lightsome ground : judge, therefore, of the plea- sure of the heart by the pleasure of the eye. Certainly vii-tue is like precious odours, most fragrant where they are incensed, or crushed ; for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue. Francis Bacon. Do not be discouraged. God, when educating a soul for him- self, sufiers it to be tried, temjjted, cast down, and sometimes almost destroj^ed, because man is ever prone to ascribe that praise to himself, which belongs only to his Creator : prone continually to mistake imparted grace for inherent goodness. We see the alternations of assistance given, and assistance withdrawn or ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 125 Avitliheld, of affliction and prosperity, a prominent feature in God's dealings with his chosen people, the Jews, whose historj'^ shadows forth his deaUngs "with Christians generally. He fed them with manna, and he suffered them to hunger ; he brought forth water out of the rock at one time, and at another obliged them to drink of an embittered fountain ; now he gave them rest beneath the green palm trees of Elim, and again, made them traverse the great and terrible wilderness. Why these variations ? Why this dis- cipline ? Why expose them to a painful pilgrimage of forty years, when as many days would have sufficed for their journey into the promised land ? Why were they not placed at once in rest, wealth, and hai)piness ? God has told us : it was, said he, addressing the JeAvs at the close of their wanderings, " to humble thee, and prove thee, to know what was in thine heart ;" " without me," says the Saviour, "ye can do nothing," " I can do all things." says St. Paul " through Christ which strengtheneth me :" here we have the same system of discipline applied to us spiritually, which to the Jews had been applied temporally. And why ? That no flesh may glory in the presence of the Lord; that vain, proud, erring man, by constantly feeling the weakness of his own strength, may constantly rely upon his Saviour's ; that he may be weaned from self-right- eous dependance, from ambitious hopes, and forward reasonings, and be thankful to embrace salvation as offered in the gospel, by God in the office of Saviour, to man in his character of sinner. M. J. Jewsbuhy. " He cutteth out rivers among the rocks ; and his eye seeth every PRECIOUS THING." " He BINDETH THE FLOODS FROM OVERFLOWING ; AND THE THING THAT IS HID BRINGETH HE FORTH TO LIGHT." — JOB XXVIII. 10. 11. See, the mnter gone and over ! Snow and rain have passed us by : Life, whom Death had held his j^risoner, Bursts to new-found hberty. From its winter slumbers waking, Now, in each obscured recess. Nature's every form is breaking Into finished loveliness. Spring's own hand itself shall dress her. Spring with genial breath, is near ; And the admiring heart shall bless her As she smiles in beauty here. In the deserts God is breathing Life and warmth through grove and plain And with quickening voice is sounding Through the graves of nature's leign. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 12' There her streams again are flowing, There her face with beauty smiles ; Thousand germs to life are budding In the vales and on the hills. Here and there the tender blossoms Scarce their straightened dwellings break, And where gentle airs are straying Wake their asking thoughts to speak. Music's vocal charms are swelling From the bird's light-hearted choir, Yes — 'tis spring within our borders ; Come, ye flowers, to light aspire ! Over all the shout is thrilling, — Life from death, is waked anew, And whilst earth puts on her bridals Softly smile the heavens of blue. Come, and gaze upon this wonder, Glad within thy spirit — home ! God doth make his desert blossom And for thee, the spring is come. S PITTA. Consider this beautiful vernal season ; what a gloomy and unpromising scene and season it arises out of ! It is almost like creation from chaos ; like life from a state of death. Again, 128 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. how welcome are the early signs and precursory appearances of the spring : — the earlier dawn of the day ; a certain cheerful cast in the Hght, even though still shining through an expanse of desolation ! it has the appearance of a smile : — a softer breathing of the air at intervals ; the bursting of the buds ; the vivacity of the animal tribes ; the first flowers of the season ; and by degrees, a delicate, dubious tint of green. It needs not that a man should be a poet or a sentimental worshipper of nature to be delighted with all this. J. Foster, On the day preceding the last anniversaiy of her betrothal, she wrote ; — " To morrow will be my day of days, the first of May ; and gladly would I wander with my beloved bridegroom amid the hills and woods, when I might see and hear none but himself, and might thank God, that, after four-and-twenty years, I can keep the day with feelings of the most thorough joy and satisfaction. A few sighs may escape, for my breath is but short ; but joy shall be continually renewed : yes, certainly, the woods, the green Avoods, would be my chosen home ; though when I look through the fresh green leaves at the blue waters and the un- clouded sky, all is so beautiful that it is only with shame and self-reproach that I can really wish for more. Such a fulness of spring splendour and beauty, I think I have never seen ; — ^the love- liness of the trees and foliage, grass, and flowers, is inexpressible. And this great change from death to life has come to pass in a few days, I might saj^ in a few hours When we stand in the sweet spring-tide, looldng through the tall, bright, green trees to the pure blue sky, one can scarcely reahze all the trouble and sorrow that may be within and around us : yes, spring is the time of joy; and that joy carries my heart upwards to that bright and happy land, where there shall be no more pain or sorrow. Caroline Perthes. i.0m&rt m iht m^!t b$ I " Now THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHOM Jesus loved. — John xiii. 23. With calm repose, oh let me lie, My Saviour, on thy breast ; That shrine of holy sympathy For hearts with grief opprest. My Jesus ! crown of all my joys ! Thy sheltering love extend ! And on the bosom of thy grace Let all my sorrows end ! Oh what are hearts of earthly mould To that dear heart of thine ; It burns with pure, celestial fire, Ineffixble, divine. Can there be love, unchanged by time ! Unsullied by decay I Untouched amid the stomiy blasts Of life's eventful dav ? 130 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Love, which the cruel shafts of death, May strike, yet strike in vain ; Still in this heritage helow 'Tis mingled all with pain. Though soft and strong the bonds may be Which bind our souls below ; Yet soon destruction hastes his work And death deals out his blow. Unfathomed are the depths beneath, Unsealed the heights above, That own the empire of thy grace, The empire of thy love. That love, imbought with price, shall stand Calm, undisturbed and pure ; In spite of all the guilt of sin, For ever to endure. Inconstant though our faith may be, Unstable and untrue, Thy love eternally shall flow From well-springs ever new. Beneath thy kind and pitying eye. Within thy large embrace ; The souls that seek thy favouring smile Are welcome to thy face. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 131 Yes, for within tliy heart of truth One little place is found ; A promised refuge for the poor, A spot of holy ground. Grant us, oh Lord our God, we pray, That when our tear-drops flow, When friendship's forai is sear and dead In this cold world below — Grant us that then, Avith peaceful mind, ,We lean upon thy breast ; Whilst thus reposing in thy love,. Our souls indeed are blest. S PITTA. From blessed experience we declare that the Messiah is come, and His essence is Love incarnate, His Name, Free Salvation, and His delight the eternal happiness of the children of men. Upon trials a thousand times successfully repeated, we proclaim him the help of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the health of the sick, the strength of the weak, the riches of the poor, the peace of the disquieted, the comfort of the afflicted, the light of those that sit in darkness, the companion of the desolate, the friend of the friendless, the way of the bewildered, the wisdom of the foolish, the righteousness of the ungodly, the justification of the un- holy, the redemption of captives, the joy of mourners, the glory of the infamous, and in a word, the salvation of the lost. J. Fletcher. 132 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Pbilosopliers have measured mountains, Fathom'd the depths of seas, of states, and kings ; Walked with a staff to heaven, and traced fountains ; But there are two vast spacious things. The which to measure it doth more behove, Yet few there are that sound them — Sin and Love. Who would know Sin, let him repair Unto Mount Olivet ; there shaU he see A man so wrung with pains, that all his hair, His skin, his garments, bloody be. Sin is that press and vice w^hich forceth pain. To hunt his cruel food through every vein. Who knows not Love, let him assay And taste that juice which, on the cross, a pike Did set abroach ; then let him say If ever he did taste the hke. Love is that liquor, sweet and most divine. Which my God feels as blood, but I as wine. Heebert. Jesu, Lover of my soul. Let me to thy bosom fly. While the nearer billows roll, While the tempest still is high : Hide me, O my Saviour, hide. Till the storm of life be past ; Safe into the haven guide, receive my soul at last ! C. Wesley. From the depths that lie within, From thyself, thou seek'st in vain, Vainly seek'st thou Light and peace and joy to gain. Then unto the fount repair ! . Of our life the inmost spring, Haste thy footsteps. From thy God thy fulness bring ! Where thy being had its birth Let thy seeking spirit flee ! Thy first solace Eest in God himself shall be. But alas ! thou canst not go, And beneatli his wing abide ; Sin divides thee From a loving Father's side. See the Saviour's hand of love, And his arm extended, see I Whilst he lifts thee. In his heavenly courts to be. 134 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. He, thy mediator, comes, He redeems thee from the fall ; Thus removing Sin, thy soul's partition-wall. Life, thy great Creator gave, Life, my Saviour now bestows ; And the Spirit To thee in His fulness flows. He, the Holy Ghost, appears Through life's vale thy guide to be. And to bring thee Gifts of grace abundantly. Hearts-ease suited to thy need. In His rich supply, He brings ; Truth's pure essence. Strength, in all its solacings. He each holy purpose gives, He will speak in whispers mild ; He will teach thee How thy Father loves his child. At the fountain-head of life Dost thou gaze with joy-lit eye. Though life's vapors, To a blest eternity ? — ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 135 Art thou in God's favour, blest, Reconciled and cro^vned with love, And enjo}dng, Earth-bound here, bright hopes above ? In thyself and in the world, Seek not then thy rest to find ; Downy couches 111 can soothe the toil-worn mind. Though thou place the infant head In the softest cot to lie. Though thou hush him With thy sweetest lullaby. Softer would that head repose On a mother's breast the while. Stiller slumbers Would his new-born sense beguile. Where, his being's solace sweet. First the draught of life is his, Gently swelling All the streams of infant bliss. Thus to God, my spirit, turn ! With each weight of woe opprest ; He shall give thee, He alone can give thee rest. Spitta. 136 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. It would be interesting, perhaps, to enter into a particular anal- ysis of the mental state to which our attention is directed in these remarks But without attempting to do this, we may properly remark here, that the state of mind which is described as meekness or quietness of spirit, is characterized in a very high degree, by inward harmony. When the judgment is rendered clear by religious influences, when the appetites are subdued, when the various pro- pensities and affections, once rebellious and conflicting, are each and all in their place, operating where they ought to operate, and not operating where they ought not to operate ; the mind not only presents the aspect of rest and quietness, but is obviously in harmony Avith itself ; without which indeed, the state of rest could not exist. The love of God is restored to its position, as the con- trolling principle ; and every natural desire and afifection is exer- cised in subordination to it. There is not that inward jarring which had formerly existed ; thought in conflict with thought, passion contending with passion, or conscience asserting rights which it could not maintain. " Disorderly passions," says Matthew Henry in his interesting discourse on meekness and quietness of spirit, — " are like stomiy winds in the soul ; they toss and hurry it, and often strand and overset it, they move it as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind ;" — it is the Prophet's comparison, and is an apt emblem of a man in a passion. Now meekness restrains these winds, says to them — Peace be still, and so presences a calm in the soul, and makes it conformable to Him who has the winds in His hand, and is ever to be praised, that even the stormy winds fulfil his word. T. C. Upham. ECHOES OF ETEBNITY. 137 The men of this infidel generation, whose every faculty is so bedimmed by the grossness of sense, that they cannot lay hold of the realities of faith, and cannot appreciate them, — to them the barriers we have now insisted on, which lie in the way of man taking God into his love, and of God taking man into his acceptance, may appear to be so many faint and shadowy considerations, of which they feel not the significancy; but to the pure and intellectual eye of angels, they are substantial obstacles, and One Mighty to save had to travail in the greatness of his strength, in order to move them away. The Son of God descended from heaven, and he took upon him the nature of man, and he suflfered in his stead, and he consented that the Avhole burden of offended justice should fall upon him, and he bore in his own body on the tree the weight of all those accomplishments by which his Father behoved to be glori- fied ; and after having magnified the law, and made it honourable by pouring out his soul unto the death for us, he went up on high, and by an arm of everlasting strength, levelled that wall of parti- tion which lay across the path of acceptance, and thus it is that the barrier on the part of God is done away, and he, with untarnished glory, can dispense forgiveness over the whole extent of a guilty creation, because he can be just, while he is the justifier of them who believe in Jesus. De. Chalmers. I had a deep peace, a peace which seemed to pervade my whole soul. A peace which resulted from the fact, that aU my desires were fulfilled in God, I desired nothing ; feared nothing ; willed nothing; I feared nothing, considered in its ultimate results and relations, because my strong faith placed God at the head of all perplexities, and all events. Lady Guion. 138 PXHOES OF ETERNITY. See, Pardon for lost sinners is written, with pointed steel and streaming blood, on his pierced hands and feet ! The double flood issuing from his wounded side, more than seals the dear-bought blessing: the handwriting against us is nailed to his cross and blotted out with his precious blood : his open arms invite, draw, and welcome returning prodigals ; and there encircled, the worst of sinners may find a safe and delightful retreat, a real and present heaven, J. Fletcher. n^i mt %m. " But Jesus turning unto thkm s.ud, Daughteus of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children." — luke XXIII. 28. For Jesii's agony and death, Oh, weep not ye ! Weep rather, that engulphed in sin, Your souls should be ; Jesus is all immaculate — For you he bore the curse and wounds of direful hate. Companions of his cross ! In vain your tear-drops fall ; And what avails it to behold Death's dark and shadowy pall ! In vain ye lift the loud lament Where the Redeemer's soul was sj^ent, If ne'er ye raise the enquiring sigh — For whom, and wherefore did he die ? Could there no sin be found In David's rightful son 2 And say — is death alone the meed By sinners won ? 140 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Whilst stripes unmerited, lie bore, And by his death, he stooped, the guilty to restore. Oh then, for whom was waged This unexamj)led strife ? For whom did Jesus, on the cross, Pour out his life ? — For you, his brethren — for you — Was Jesus bathed in death's cold dew. And now, your Lord of spotless mould, Perfect in suffering, you behold ; Yes — well might tears of anguish flow At this dread scene of sacred woe. But when, with heart-felt grief Your sins ye rue, Beholding in the Saviour's pangs, Their merit due ; Oh then shall He whose soul With aspect mild. Endured for enemies, the curse. As sorrow's child, — Speak to your hearts — with mercy in his eye. And bid the fountain of your tears be dry. Spitta. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 141 Was not your Lord and Master haled from the priests to Herod, and before Pontius Pilate, and spit upon ? He was hated, and spit upon for thee. Did he not go to prison for thee ? And was he not mocked and scourged for thee ? Did he not bow to the cross and grave for thee, he Avho had no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth ? And did he not bear thy sins in his own body upon the tree ? And was he not scourged for thee, " by whose stripes we are healed." Did he not suffer " the contradiction of sinners" ? Who died for sinners, and went into the grave for sinners, and died for the ungodly, yea tasted death for every man ; who, through death, destroyed death, and the devil, the power of death, and is risen, — for death and the grave could not hold him ; and the powers and princi- palities, with all their guards and watches, could not hold him within the grave ; but he is risen, and is ascended, far above all princi- palities, powers, thrones, and dominions ; and is set down at the right hand 'of God, and remaineth in the heavens till all things be restored ; and he is restoring with his light, grace, truth, power, spirit, faith, gospel, and word of life : so that you read of some that came to " sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." GeorctE Fox. Determine, as St. Paul, to know nothing but Christ, and him crucified. Consider the inexpressible value and inconceivable efficacy of his precious, all-atoning blood. It is the blood of the sacred body, assumed by the eternal Logos, when " He appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh," both as a victim and a priest, to suffer the penalty of His own righteous law for us, and to "put away sin by the sacrifice of himself :" the blood of " the Lamb of God," slain to sprinkle many nations; the blood of that mysterious being, who fills the " bosom of the Father," and the everlasting throne ; at whose feet all the heavenly powers cast their crowns ; 149 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. and to Avliom in the midst of the acclamations and adorations of " an innumerable company of angels," in the midst of "sounding trumpets, thunderings, lightnings, and voices ; the spirits of just men made perfect, ascribe salvation," — free, full, immensely dear- bought " salvation :" and, to say all in one word, it is " the blood of God made manifest in the flesh." J. Fletcher. It is the moral design of the cross which gives it all its efficacy as a doctrine. Thus it creates us anew. In consequence of its own native virtue it accomplishes our salvation, by removing that consciousness of guilt, which makes us desire that " God would depart from us," and keeps us at a distance from him. What did the apostles intend when they set forth Jesus Christ and him cruci- fied ? Was it for the pui-pose of presenting a tragical spectacle before the eyes of men, or merely to exhibit an illustrious example of patience and suffering fortitude ? No, my brethren ; it was the only name " given under heaven among men, whereby they must be saved." They presented that blood as it there flowed warm from his veins, as the blood which cleanseth from all sin ; as the blood which is to be received by faith ; as the blood which ofiered peace " speaking better things than that of Abel," as the blood by which the thunders of the law were hushed : which was shed for the pur- pose of harmonizing the Divine attributes and uniting guilty creatures to the Eternal Majesty, in bonds of perfect amity and everlasting alliance. Robert Hall. unh inll m\!^^mmt m MktmL "Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as OINTMENT POURED FORTH, THEREFORE DO THE VIRGINS LOVE THEE," — CANT. 3. Jesus, my sun ! before whose eye, Night and her shades of darkness fly ; Jesus, my pure delight, my hhss, Thou who canst banish each distress ; Within my heart, from day to day, Thy name is heard melodiously : Oh, how does love untold, like thine. Thou Son of God ! on sinners shine. Deep through my soul an influence steals ; A heavenly breath its power reveals ; And ever in my inmost ear. It speaks in whispers soft and clear : To God let all thy wishes tend. In him let each ambition end. What though the world for me no more Eetain each fondly-cherished store, With pure devotion I resign For Christ, my Lord, what once was mine 144 ECHOES OF ETEKNITY. Beside this pearl of costly worth, How sordid were the spoils of earth : Well pleased these glittering chamis I flee, All that beguiles my soul from Thee ! Apart from thee, my Saviour Lord, What virtue can my life afford ? My being's element thou art, The life-blood of this throbbing heart. Since thus I live — ^without avail. Shall death my settled peace assail : Then what can harm me or dismay — Since thou hast washed my sins away. No more shall pain or suffering spread Their vapouring damps around my head ; For legion-bands like their's shall never From Christ, his dear disciple sever ; Nor earthly cross have power to move My spirit from its home in love. Thou well-spring of eternal bliss, Thou Fountain-head of blessedness ! When I can claim thee for my own. Then joys and sorrows all are one ; — In truth my riches are not mean, Though on a beggar's staff I lean ; For wealthy as a king am I In faith's abounding treasury. ECHOES OF ETEHNITY. 145 If here such sweet delights I taste, Of heaven the blissful antepast, What will the full fruition be When each enfeebling sense shall flee ! Then death himself a blessing gives, And grace her rich reward receives ; A heavenly heritage is mine, A kingdom and a crown divine. Dear Lord, upon my soul impress This signet-word of holiness, That I .without thy love, am lost, A hopeless wreck on ocean tost ; But thou, with saving grace hast come And called my wandering spirit home, To anchor in a port of rest — The faithful haven of thy breast. Spitta. We must trust as little children, then we shall not live in dread. How strange that Christians should be afraid of diseases, accidents by railway, and such things, when God is always with them. Dr. Gordon. " And it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, Avhich moveth,whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live." — Ezek. 47. 9. Listen to this promise, my soul, and make it the subject of this morning's meditation, of this day, and every day. See how lich, how extensive, it is in the life-promising power ; and the river of U 146 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. life in Jesus possesseth all these blessed effects. To every poor sinner, brouglit into this rich stream, it gives life, spiritual life, eternal life. And who shall describe the length, the breadth, the heights, the depths, of it ? Not only extending over all the con- tinent of the earth, but from the borders of hell to heaven, and from one eternity to another. And its sovereignty is such that it bears down all before it — washing away sin, and guilt, and misery ; diffusing streams of life, and grace, and mercy ; opening sources of joy, and peace, and happiness, for ever and ever. Oh ! precious, precious Jesus ! make glad my soul with the streams of this river : be thou the fountain of all my happiness, and all my springs be in thee. Hawker. On the 22nd of July, he unexpectedly broke out into the following words : " mother, how happy I am ! The Lord Jesus will cer- tainly take me either to-night or to-morrow morning, and will accompany me himself through the valley of the shadow of death." He then said to his father, who was just returned from the field, and wondered at the cheerfulness of the dying child, " Oh how rich I am ! God is my father, Jesus is my brother, and I am a child of God ! I shall inherit a whole kingdom ! How poor am I and yet how rich. With my bodily eyes I can scarcely see you any longer, but I behold Jesus more clearly. I must now leave you and leave you willingly. * * * Jonas En.ERs. UB^iinrgieirB to tl^t mzuil^m. " Go YK THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST :" " Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I AM with you alway, even unto the end of the world." — Matthew xxviii. 19. 20. _____ Ye messengers of Christ, By. him commissioned forth To preach Salvation through the bounds Of utmost Earth : To bid the bhnd their Saviour see, The dead to wake — ■ Thrice blessed ministers are ye For his dear sake. Strike onwards through the depths Where darkness reigns, Where brooding horror o'er the gloom Her hold maintains. Your gifts of faith and love shall be Crowned by your Lord with victory. Lift high the banner of the cross Where shines the Saviour's name, That heathen lands with subject mind May own his matchless fame ; 148 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. To all the world a witness be Of the Kedeemer's majesty That he must conquer and that they Or soon or late must pass away. Ye wrestlers strong in Faith I No glittering sword is yours, No blandishments to grace the fight Your mastery ensures : Press on, press on with conquering hand, Assert Messiah's wide command. The earth is his, and he alone Maintains his universal throne ; He who has sent you fortli Will help you through, Your King is ever at your side With succour tme ; And though as sheep among the wolves are ye, Yet shall ye walk with joy amid his pastures free. A kindling zeal, a glowing love Have bade your willing footsteps move ; These both commissioned from on high Have touched your spirit's ministry ; Have bade you tell with message true What Christ your Lord has done for you, And to each brother's ear 2)roclaim The virtue of a Saviour's name. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 149 Then seek not honour, glory, wealth. As yours to he. No, hut the precious hlood that flowed On Calvary. Oh then with gladsome heart receive The shame and scorn that worldlings give ; Eejoice when ever}* land shall be Filled with a Saviour's majesty. Eejoice and triumph that your fame Should lie in dust for Jesu's name ; Eejoice to stand with open gate. Where enters, Israel's King with state. Hosannahs to the Lord Let thousand voices sing, Now that our night of pain is past Shall joy's loud anthem ring ! Let all the far-off kingdoms come In concourse to their heavenly home, And there shall thousand, thousand knees In worship bend Before the mighty Son of God, The sinner's friend : This — faithful witnesses ! shall be The sweet reward to crown your work and ministry. 150 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. " The Lord " now sends you forth to his servants among the heathen, — ^yea to the heathen themselves, — with your hands laden with the fruits of his love in your hearts, to dispense to them, as you have done to me and thousands in this land, his own gifts. May he keep you as diligent and upright and humhle and perseve- ring, with all faith, and hope, and charity whither you are going, as where you have heen ! and may not only the living in the uttermost parts of the earth, hut generations unborn, rise up to call you blessed, blessed of the Lord, — for to Him give all the glory ; — with as much reason as I do at this day, and as I shall do when I meet you at the judgment seat of Christ. J. Montgomery. Soldier go — but not to claim Mouldering spoils of earth-born treasure, Not to build a vaunting name. Not to dwell in tents of pleasure. Dream not that the way is smooth, ■ ■ Hope not that the thorns are roses; Turn no wishful eye of youth, Where the sunny beam reposes. Thou hast sterner work to do — Hosts to cut thy passage through ; Close behind thee gulfs are burning — Forward ; there is no returning. Charlotte Elizabeth. April 15th. — may God confirm my feeble resolutions ! O what have I to do but labour, and pray, and fast, and watch for the salvation of my soul, and those of the heathen world. Ten thou- sand times more than ever do I feel devoted to that precious work. gladly shall this base blood be shed, every drop of it, if India can be benefited in one of her children — if but one of these children of God Almighty might be brought home to his duty. Hexey Maetyn. lirH^er, " By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." — john xiii. 35. Thou who in that last night Before thy passion, didst in converse high To thy disciples teach the wondrous worth Of mighty love ; — Oh ! do thou now remind Thy church and company, — hearts all too prone To sever from each other, hid them learn That thy last care when sojourning below Was that thy members should in oneness dwell. Count Zinzendorf. Our trust in the Almighty is, that with us, contentions are at the highest float, or that the day will come ( for what cause of despair is there ?) when the passions of former enmity being allayed, we shall, with ten times redoubled tokens of our unfeignedly redou- bled love, show ourselves each towards other, the same which Joseph and the brethren of Joseph were at the time of their interview in Egypt. Our comfortable expectation and most thirsty desire whereof, what man soever amongst you shall any way help to satisfy, (as we truly hope there is no one amongst you but some Avay or other will,) the blessings of the God of peace, will in this world and in the world to come, be upon him more than the stars of the firmament in number. Eichaed Hooker. 152 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. If we love one another witli pure hearts fervently, we shall love God supremely. .]. Montgomery. While we walk with God in light God our hearts doth still unite ; Dearest fellowship we prove, Fellowship in Jesu's love : Sweetly each, with each combined. In the bonds of duty join'd, Feels the cleansing blood apphed. Daily feels that Christ hath died. J. Wesley. )^mu mi mtiUB WumiBm "Who his own self bake our sins in his own body on the tree, that WE, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." — 1 Peter ii. 24, Clotlie me oh Lord, with strength ! that I may dwell Upon thy passion — and may ponder well Its import high ; And hathe my spirit in that sea of love Which did thee move Our sinful souls to save from guilt and misery. With God the Father, one, 'Twas Thine on earth, to put our nature on Clothed in a garh of frail mortality : Then on the cross, in death Didst thou pour out thy breath, To suffer in our stead that mortal agony. And hearing thus our guilt, our substitute to be. Oh, work supreme of wonder and of grace ! On thee I muse : And when in thought thy mysteries I trace. My captive powers entranced, their aid refuse — My very heart bounds high when themes like these I choose. 154 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. And here I learn a lesson, and behold The curse of sin : While God is just, and will in wrath avenge Each evil thing — That God is love, and doth the world redeem From perishing. Enraptured and in dread, As round the cross I tread, My soul this truth receives, and droops her feeble wing, I there behold my merit and my pride Together slain : He stabs me to the heart — and then he lifts His child again : He shows me my high calling, and transfonns This breast of mine. So that a foe no longer, I exclaim — Lord, I am thine ! Oh God of my salvation ! in thy blood My soul believes ; Grant that whilst here before thee, in the dust Thy creature lives, My thankful heart may bear her part, And praise thee for the grace which thus my soul receives. Oh scene surpassing thought ! our finite ken Searches in vain : ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 155 By faitli alone these hidden paths are trod — Else who such steeps would dare, and seek to find out God. His dearest attributes are love and grace In concert joined : Whilst low in adoration bowed, we trace Their lines combined, And praise those glorious heights, where mercy sits enshrined. Oh gracious Lord ! Send down thy holy spirit from above, , To teach this heart, That I with honor due, thy sacred cross may view. And at the voice of love, her hallowed ways pursue. When earth-born pains distress, And crosses vex my soul, I will not yield to sorrow's wave Its large control ; No rather Avill I serve my Saviour God, Who, to redeem my soul, that thorny pathway trod. To choose the good — the evil to eschew. Thy sufferings teach. Oh Lord I How can I walk in sin, and still believe thy word ? Since Christ, himself hath given. To lift our souls to heaven, Thou stubborn will ! How can this heart of mine thv vain behests fulfil ? 156 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. And oh ! my heart exclaims, I would not choose but love The brother who thy pitying claims ; Whilst from above, The merits of thy blood shall his redemption prove. I will not for reproaches, render back The angry word, Since thou our Holy Head, in silence meek The accuser heard. A breast that's pure oh Lord ! Is fruit of love like thine, And God the Father gives us strength That in thy name divine. As subjects of thy cross, we in thy light should shine". Oh everlasting bliss — Thou leadst us on To perfect good. Thou on the cross hast my salvation wrought With thy own blood ; Here I rejoice in faith — but yonder world Above the skies, Shall give a crown of glory and of life, That never dies. Gellert ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 157 To be happy — fixedly happy — the soul must bathe in deeper streams than those of earth — affiliation with God through his Son, warmth of love, personal yet pure and distinct from cold abstraction, are the healthiest nourishment of the soul. Men find this out with but a short experience of the world, and the farther they go, the farther they prove it ; and far and wide it reigns a general truth. Whitmore Winslow. But though I was so much blessed, I was not conscious of any merit, nor tempted to any suggestions of merit in myself. Indeed I seemed to be so united with God, so made one with the centre and sun of all good, that my thoughts did not easily turn upon myself as a distinct object of reflection, and consequently, it would not have been an easy thing for me to attach to myself the ideas of desert or merit. Lady Guion. As the brazen serpent lifted up in the wilderness, when viewed by the wounded Israelites, was the only means by which the poison of the fiery serpents could be expelled, and health restored to their tortured, dying bodies ; so Jesus lifted up on the cross, when beheld by the eye of faith, as bleeding and dying in our stead, is the only way by which sin, the sting of death, can be extracted out of our guilty, perishing souls ; the only antidote that can restore us to saving health and eternal life. J. Fletcher. He has become man, and as man he has suffered for us — he who was God, and as God had that to pay which we had forfeited and could not pay. Here is the only foundation of real peace for every heart which knows its own deep capacities of joy, and its yet deep need of purification and atonement. He has suffered, and 158 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. therefore I am free. His humanity is my very ransom ; it stands between me and my sin — between my sin and the just wrath of a holy God. Again ; in this, to every faithful soul, is the best assurance of the infinite compassion of the Lord. He who stooped so low to save us, when we knew him not, will not, cannot leave us to perish, when we seek his mercy. Here, again, is that which assures us of our Saviour's sympathy amidst all the trials and harassing perplexities of life. From the everlasting Son of the eternal Father, clothed in majesty, robed in light unapproachable, creating the universe, ruling over hosts of heaven, we seemed too infinitely distant to count on sympathy : but on the virgin-born, on the Son of David, or the man of sorrows, on the human nature of our Lord, our wounded souls can rest their anguish, our tempted souls can stay their weakness ; for he too was " perfected through suffering," yea, he can be touched with a feeling of our infirmities, having been in all points " tempted like as we are." Bishop Wilberforce. Our Lord, however, continually informs us of the spontaneity of his sufferings for us : I came, I am content, I delight to do thy will. He gave himself : he laid down his own life : lie showed that divine alacrity in going to the sacrifice, which the heathen considered a most propitious circumstance. If the victim was dragged reluc- tantly to the altar, it was regarded by them as a bad omen. But no victim, either human or animal, suffered so freely as the blessed Saviour in this great transaction. EoBERT Halt.. "For ye have need of vatience, that, after ye have done the \vn.i >F God, ye might receive the promise." — Heb. x. 86. There goes a noiseless angel forth, Throughout this world below ; Commissioned to assuage the tide Of eveiy human woe ; Commissioned high of God, is he To work his gentle ministry. His eye with kind expressiveness, Of sacred peace can tell ; And grace and soft compassion, there In sweet accordance dwell : — Oh, follow him, with stedfast aim. This angel — Patience is his name. He leads thee on through life's rough paths, A tnisty guide and true — He speaks, with joy's prophetic glance. Of golden days in view, — Art thou disheartened at the way ? His strength thy faltering steps shall stay ! 160 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. He helps the Saviour's cross to bear, And makes each present thing A happy messenger of good, With blessing on its wing ; He softens sorrow's keenest smart. And humbles the rebellious heart. With certain touch thy wounds he heals — But thou must wait his hour ! He bears thy weakness, yet each pulse Must feel his chastening power ; Thy tears he chides not, but the while His comforts shall thy woes beguile. He makes thy dark and shadowy skies Once more, as noontide clear; And when the tempest in its rage Disturbs thy atmosphere, And murmuringly, thou askest why ? Smiling, but mute, he points on high. So does he journey at thy side — He little loves to speak ; He dwells where visions fair and high. Around his spirit break : That glorious bourne, those visions fair — The crown of all his joys is there ! Spitta. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 161 I saw moreover in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had him into a little room where sat two children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was Passion, and of the other Patience : Passion seemed to be much discontent, but Patience was very quiet. * * * * Then said Christian to the Interpreter, explain this matter more fully to me. So he said, these two lads are figures. Passion, of the men of this world, and Patience, of the men of that which is to come. For as thou seest. Passion will have all now, this year, that is to say, in this world, so are the men of this world : they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until the next world, for their portion of good. That proverb " A bird in the hand is worth two in the- bush," is of more authority with them, than all the divine testimonies of the good of the world to come. But, as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags ; so will it be with all such men at the end of this world. Then said Christian, now I see that Patience has the best wisdom, and that upon many accounts ; because he stays for the best things ; and also because he will have the glory of his, when the other has nothing but rags * * * I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now, but to wait for things to come. BUNYAN. When we contrast our merits with our mercies, how mean are the one, and how manifold are the other ; and when we compare our sufferings with our enjoyments, it is to our reproach that a word of repining should ever escape from our lips. Whatever may be, afflicted christian, the weight of thy trouble, it was not placed upon thee without the knowledge of thy heavenly Father ; submit thyself to his almighty will. Bear thy cross now patiently, and Y 162 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. after awhile thou shalt wear thy crown triumphantly. Take up thy trial without murmuring, and thou shalt soon take up thy timbrel with rejoicing, in agreement with the words of holy writ : " For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Old Humphrey. "And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being inteepreted IS, God jvith us."— Matt. i. 23. Immanuel ! Thy praise we sing ! Of every grace Thyself the spring ! Oh thou, the fairest flower of heaven ! To Thee our votive song is given. Hallelujah. Thou art the Prince of Life — and Thou The Star that shines in morning's glow ; Whilst yet to thee, the Lord of Lords, Each heart a note of praise accords. Hallelujah. To sing Thee, Lord ! with all Thy host. Shall be our soul's unceasing boast, That Thou, oh long-expected Guest ! Hast come at length, to make us blest. Hallelujah. Since first this wondrous world was made. And deep its grand foundations laid ; How many a heart has waked to Thee Throughout Time's lengthened dynasty ! Hallelujah. 164 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. How many a prophet, priest and seer Has watched to see thy dawn appear I — But first amid the waiting hand Does Israel's King and Shepherd stand, Hallelujah. Who strung his psaltery's sweetest tone To make its music all thy own ; And Thou well-pleased, didst lend an ear And deign his sacred strains to hear : Hallelujah. How Christ from Zion came, and broke Our bondage, with its galling yoke, And brought us help,which made ths voice Of Jacob's chartered sons rejoice. Hallelujah. Now Thou art with us — and Thy head In yon low manger finds a bed ; Now thou art small, of low estate. Yet all to make Thy people great. Hallelujah. Thou, who didst clothe the worlds, we see Revealed in unclothed infancy ; To Thee a strange abode is given — Whilst Thine is all the host of heaven. Hallelujali. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 165 Exalted in Thy high renown, Of angel bands the joy and cro^vn ; Behold Thee stoop — to make Thy rest Upon an earthly mother's breast. Hallelujah. Thou, the sweet Friend of man, didst find Full many a foe in human-kind ; Thy advent, Herod saw with fear, Yet Thou didst bring salvation near. Halleluj ah. But I' Thy humble servant. Lord ! I speak with all my soul's accord, — I love Thee, yet with not that heart Which soon shall choose the better part. Hallelujah. The Avill is mine, the power is weak, Yet shall my faithful spirit seek In grace accepted, to fulfil As best she may, Thy holy will. Hallelujah. And though I am Avith sin replete, And love not as to love were meet, Yet therefore Thou to earth didst come. To gather Avandering sinners home. Hallelujah. 166 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Oh then, no more Thy face I'll dread, Since all my doubts and fears are fled ; Thou who didst bear the scorn, art He Who trampled death in victory. Hallelujah. And Thou dost hush our grief and pain To waken Joy's exulting strain ; Then glad hosannalis I wdll bring, For ever more Thy praises sing. Hallelujah. And yonder, in those halls on high Where reigns thy glorious majesty, My voice with rapture's loftiest swell, On boundless, countless themes shall dwell. Hallelujah. Paul Gerhardt. Not " Son of Man," but " Son of David," was the popular name for the expected Messiah among the Jews. Others in the early Church, and among the Keformers, have understood him to claim by this title participation in the human nature. No doubt he claimed this ; but he claimed much more ; he took this name (a name already given him in the Old Testament, Dan. viii. 13,) as he who alone realized the idea of man, — as the second Adam, who, unlike the first, should maintain his position as the head and representative of the race, — as the one true and perfect flower which had ever unfolded itself out of the root and stalk of liumanity. E. C. Trench. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 167 He, (the Son of God) cared not, that he must for a season, abdicate the throne, and resign the government of the universe ; that he must wrap up his conditions within the bounded sphere of a creature ; that man's puny strength must be his measure ; and man's penetrable and suffering frame, the continent of his being ; that his spirit too, must take on human affections, and his body be afflicted with human wants ; nor that hell and hell's sovereign should be loosed against him, those of his own house- hold become traitors, those he died for, his executioners, death, his portion, and the grave, his abode. Nor did he care that during the hottest of this fiery trial, his Father should cloud his face and withdraw his countenance, and leave him to tread the winepress of sorrow alone, and roll his garment in his blood. Oh what is this we speak of? Can it be that the Creator should take the fashion of a creature, dwelUng upon the ungrateful earth he made, in want of a morsel of its bread, and a cup of its waters, to satisfy his hunger and his parching thirst, calling upon the creatures he formed and fed, for their charity, their pity, their justice, and denied by the unnatural children whom his hand did form ! Edward Ir\t[ng. Though he (the Messiah) was the Creator of men and angels, he vouchsafed to be born of a woman, that we the wretched offspring of degenerate Adam might be born again, born of God. Though he had stretched forth the heavens, like a curtain, and bespangled them with stars innumerable, he wrapped himself in the scanty, fading garment of our flesh, and put on the veil of our miserable humanity, that we might be invested with the gloiy and communi- cable perfections of the divine nature. Though he was the King of kings, and Lord of lords, he did not disdain to take upon him the form and office of a servant, that we might be delivered from 168 ECHOES OF ETEENITY. the slavery of Satan, and that angels might be sent forth to minister for us, who are the heirs of salvation. Though he was the " fulness of him who fills all in all," he worked that we might not work, toiled, that we might rest ; and endured hunger and thirst, that we might taste the hidden manna, eat the bread of life, and drink with him the mystic wine of his Father's kingdom. J. Fletcher. had the Tetrarch, as he knew thy birth. So known thy stock, he had not thought to paddle In thy dear blood ; but prostrate on the earth. Had veil'd his crown before thy royal cradle. And laid the sceptre of his glory down. And begged a heavenly for an earthly crown. QUARLES. I^MB. "So TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS, THAT WE MAY APPLY OUR HEARTS UNTO WISDOM." — Psalm xc. 12. So pass our fleeting days — and this again Is gone to join the transitory train ; Whilst night,' the comforter of those who mourn, Is making to our homes a quick return. But thou, oh Lord our God, and thou alone, Art as thou wast — the great unchanging one ; Thou slumherest not nor sleepest — but to thee The shades that close us round — as purest lustres be. Resigned to thee this night, myself I give, Whom should I fear, since in thy life I live ; Partaker of thy grace, no creature ill Nor death himself, my soul with dread shall fill ; And were this night my last — oh Lord ! I pray Lead by thy might, to heaven's eternal day ! In thee I live — and I am thine in death — Redeemer, Lord ! be near, and help my latest breath ! C. F. Neander. 170 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Now, is the constant syllable ticking from the clock of time, Now, is the watchword of the wise, Now, is on the banner of the prudent. Cherish thy to-day and prize it well, or ever it be gulphed into the past; Husband it, for who can promise, if it shall have a morrow ? Behold, thou art,' — it is enough ; that present care be thine ; Leave thou the past to thy Redeemer, entrust the future to thy Friend ; But for to-day, child of man, tend thou charily the minutes. The harvest of thy yesterday, the seed-corn of thy morrow. TUPPER. With sense our conduct is at strife. We squander Time, yet cling to Life The rich material throw away, Yet would not shorten Life one day. With zeal, with energy sublime, Mark how the Saviour valued Time ! The work of centuries appears. Crowded within his three short years. His great Salvation keep in view. But look at his Exam'ple too ! Hannah More. Happy are they who hear and obey the voice of Jesus to-day, while it is called to-day. To-morrow is uncertain. Death may be at the door, and at death, our state will be determined for eternity. John Newton. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 171 The next thirteen days, he appears to have been continually in deep concern about the improvement of precious time ; and there are many expressions of grief that he improved time no better ; such as, " Oh what misery do I feel, when my thoughts rove after vanity, I should be happy if always engaged for God ! wretched man that I am ! " &c. Speaks of his being pained with a sense of his barrenness, perplexed with his wanderings, longing for deliver- ance from the being of sin, mourning that time passed away, and so little was done for God, &c. Br inerd. How little can the life of any christian man be that disjointed, unmeaning thing, which in our conduct we seem often to consider it. It is indeed an undivided whole; every hour has an influ- ence on that which follows it ; and the great result of aU is but the summing up of the influences which have filled our days. But of this we lose sight, Lecause we do not use these opportunities of thought. Our minutes fly by us, and they seem to leave us for ever ; and we forget that it is the very wonder of our Hves, that leave us they cannot; that even as they seem to pass, they cling to us ; that they are taken up into our very selves, making us what they have been, more fit or more unfit for that unseen Presence — for that heavenly kingdom. Bishop Wilberforce. " But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits OP them that slept." "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, WE SHALL ALSO BEAR THE IMAGE OF THE HEAVENLY." — 1 COR. XV. 20, 49. Kise again ! yes, thou shalt rise again, my dust After a short rest ; Then, immortal life shall he Whose own hand created thee. Upon thee bestow. Praise ye the Lord. Yes, to rise and bloom again, shall I be sown ; Then the Lord of harvest goes. And he doth his sheaves enclose And gathers mortals in. Praise be to God. Day of thanks, thou day of joy's bright tear ! Day of our God ! When I have slept my sleep beneath the sod. Thy call shall wake me up. Then we shall be like those that dream. And in gladness. With the Saviour we shall go, All his pure delights to know ; ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 173 When each sadness Weary pilgrims then shall find no more. Now by the Redeemer led, I into the holiest come. In His kingdom To possess the saint's bright home ; To His gloiy whilst I raise Notes of praise, And behold His face unveiled. Klopstock. Perthes was a frequent and willing visitor at Klopstock's house, till his death in 1803. His funeral procession showed the respect in which the people of Altona and Hamburg held their fellow-citizen. As the body was borne from the church to the grave, a chorus of young girls sang " To rise again — yes, to rise again ! " It was a moment of general emotion. Life of Perthes. The earth bars fruit in life and fruit in death — A living world, a vast necropoKs, Old fabled ground of Jupiter and Dis — Humanity the ground which buddeth breath, Whose beauty in purer spirit vanisheth, And passeth in that change to higher bliss. The ripe tree drops its seed, which death's abyss Taketh, and for new spring time nourisheth. There is a common citizenship between The dead and living — what they had, we have, In this our hand-built city ; in that unseen. 174 ECHOES OF ETEKNITY. Not made with hands, still live the good and brave, There is no death — we do but shift the scene. To take up our new freedom in the grave. Eagles. Also Christ saith in the gospel, verily I say unto you, except the wheat-corn fall into the ground and die, it bideth alone, but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit. Here men may see by the words of Christ that it behoved that he died in the flesh, and that in his death was made the fruit of everlasting life for all them that believe on him, as it is written — for as by Adam all die, even so by Christ shall all live, and every man in his own order, for as one clearness is in the sun, another in the moon, and a star in clear- ness nothing in comparison to the sun, even so is the again rising of the dead men, for we be sown in corruption, and shall rise again incorruptible, we are sown in infirmity and shall rise again in virtue, we are sown in natural bodies, and shall rise again spirit- ual bodies. WvcLirrE. " God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh." He was the portion of humanity, which like the first-fruits, was sanctified upon the altar of Divine justice, by the acceptance of which the whole mass was sanctified. The whole of that nature was morally qualified to be presented by faith to the Divine Being, an ofiering and a sacrifice " of a sweet smelling savor." As by one man came death, so by one man came also the resurrection of the dead. By his resurrection he became the " first-fruits " of the human race. By him our nature is purged from that moral disqualification which would otherwise for ever have attached to it, but which is now entirely removed in consequence of the Father's acceptance and approbation of this Divine sacrifice and substitute. Egbert Hall. Wachet auf ! ruft uns die Stimme. CHORUS. To €hee sweet sleep and rest ! For from thy breast, The woes of life that press earth's pilgrim down Are past and gone : See, on Time's border-land 'Tis thine to stand ; When he w^hom no death conquers, in his hand Taketh thy soul ; And unto thee, freed spirit, unto thee, Salvation comes ; — Whilst thou before the throne dost praise triumphantly, To make thee blest In holy rest, The Saviour died as thou. And now to thee a rich reward he gives To crown thy brow. 176 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. A VOICE. Thou day of God art come — When from this world To thee I go, and make my spirit's home, Thou Great I Am, With thanks and praise and glory to thy name ! * Now in yonder blessed chorus, To our God above, I sing. For that Thou, Lord, unto judgment Diddest not thy creature bring; Father ! Father ! For he trusted in thy wing.' CHORUS. Oh what light will then surround thee In the burst of heavenly day; All earth's shadows, Earth's dark night is passed away ; Be thou blessed ! Twice amen, our spirits say. Now softly rest On Jesu's breast, As he hath finished all for thee, Jesus only Makes thee clean from sin to be ; Whilst the band of brethren come — Heavenly convoy ! To convey thee to thy home. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 177 A VOICE. Celestial light Surrounds me quite And the glorious day I see, Such as never Day on earth illumined me : Now on heavenly heights appear Kind instructors, Wlio shall teach my listening ear ; — ■ There they stand in clear display To my spirit ; Weep hot ! their's is hright array. From light to light I soar — Meanwhile the grave, That gaiment which on earth I wore Shall freely have ; Its lawful prey that rohe of dust shall be — It did but fetter down and clog this spirit free. CHORUS. Yes, let us weep thee from our joyful band Severed and gone, At loss of whom a copious flood of tears Might well flow on : They go to sow thy dust but thou shalt rise With that bright beam, — Go to thy rest ! the Lord shall give thee place To dwell with Him, 2a 178 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. To rise again when that short day is done ; Then mortal, shalt thou greet thy hfe's eternal sun ! Klopstock. The city of God is full of most noble citizens, who are all sharers of the same blessedness. Their conversation also, being with wise and holy personages, shall much increase their joy. Every one shall then rejoice as much in the felicity of another as in his own ineffable joy. All these know God without error, behold him without end, praise him without weariness, love him without tediousness, and in his love, repose themselves in God. Besides all this, the glory and greatness of the empyrean heaven and the lustre of that celestial city shall infinitely delight the blessed citizens. When a servant of God enters into heaven he shall be received with divine music, all the blessed in heaven often repeating those words in the gospel ; well done, good servant and true, because thou hast been faithful in a few things, thou shalt be placed over much ; enter into thy Master's joy. Bishop Taylor. According to his desire, most of the time that was spent with him, was spent in praise ; and he would be still calling out, " more praise still. Oh help me to praise him; I have done with prayer, and all other ordinances ; I have almost done conversing with mortals. I shall presently behold Christ himself, who died for me, and washed me in his blood ; I shall, before a few hours are over, be in eternity, singing the song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb. I shall presently stand upon Mount Zion, with an innumer- able company of angels, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant. I shall hear the voice of much people, and be one amongst those who shall say, ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 179 Hallelujah ! salvation, glory, honour and power unto the Lord our God; and again we shall say Hallelujah ! And yet a little Avhile, and I shall sing unto the Lamb a song of praise, saying worthy art thou to receive praise, who wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation ; and hast made us unto our God Idngs and priests, and we shall reign with thee for ever and ever." John Janeway. Were I to adopt the figurative language of Bunyan, 1 might date this letter from the land of Beulah, of which I have been for some weeks a happy inhabitant. The celestial city is full in view. Its glories beam upon me, its breezes fan me, its odours are wafted to me, its sounds " strike upon my ears, and its spirit is breathed into my heart. Nothing separates me from it but the river of death, which now appears but as an insignificant rill that may be crossed at a single step, whenever God shall give permission. The Sun of righteousness has been gradually draAving nearer and nearer, appearing larger and brighter as he approached, and now he fills the whole hemisphere ; pouring forth a flood of gloiy, in which I seem to float like an insect in the beams of the sun ; ex.uldng yet almost trembhng, while I gaze on this excessive brightness, and wondering, with unutterable Avonder, why God should deign thus to shine upon a single worm. A single heart and a single tongue seem altogether inadequate to my wants. I want a whole heart for every separate emotion, and a whole tongue to express that emotion. O my sister, my sister, could you but know what awaits the Chris- tian ; could you only know as much as I know, you could not refrain from rejoicing, and even leaping for joy. Labours, trials, troubles would be nothing ; you would rejoice in afllictions, and glory in tribulations ; and like Paul and Silas, sing God's praise in the darkest night and the deepest dungeon. Dii, Payson. A FRAGMENT. Whence do thy holy well-springs bubbling rise Sweet Light ? the fountain where, of thy primeval birth ? Out of whose depths of waveless purity Thy unquenched being comes ! — Say, dost thou gush Forth from the gates of heaven — the creature thou Of him the first-begotten Son of God ? Art thou a breath of him originate. Or of His throne art thou the reflex fair ? Before Jehovah's word had poured thee forth. The silent depths of space were mantled round With night's deep shade. He spake, — when from the heavens In all its noiseless might poured forth a flood That all the ancient realm of darkness made Extinct and dead, engulphed in savage ire : And now the host of stars exult with joy And praise the Lord ! — there rose the fount of light. F. A. Keummacher. Let us contemplate that Divine Being, who raised — from notliing raised this stupendous system of things ; and supports — Avith his word supports the magnificent frame. Who, to speak in th'e ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 181 language of his own spirit " openeth the eyelids of the morning, and commandeth the day-spring to know its place." Commandeth the light by its punctual and pleasing ministrations, to draw aside the curtain of darkness, and discover the skies shining with glories, and disclose the earth, blooming with beauties. J. Harvey. Teach me thy love to know. That this new light which now I see, May both the work and workman shew : Then by a sunbeam I will climb to thee. G. Herbert. But what is light ? is it not a combination of different rays, — the red, the orange, the yellow, the green, the blue, the indigo, and the violet? Some would think, perhaps, that they could make better light if they had the brilliant rays alone : but so think not I ; I would have the due proportion of the sombre with the bright ; and all in simultaneous motion : and then I think I should more resemble both the created and the uncreated light. At all events, this is my one ambition, to live with one Mary at my Saviour's feet, listening to his words (whilst others are cumbered about the world), and to die with the other Mary washing his feet with my tears, and wiping them with the hairs of my head. Charles Simeon. Ask not thou my soul's transgression, Seek not thou my hidden grief ; For the living God, my spirit Thirsteth, till it find relief. What though every earthly blessing Round me flows, my cup to fill ; In his absence, poor and wretched Roves my wandering spirit still . Wealth and honours, pomp and pleasure, Science, knowledge, beauty bright ; None can fill my heart's deep yearnings, None can yield my spirit, might. Strength for living, loving, suffering, Joy and courage when we die. Hearts content and meek endurance, Can the Lord of life supply. ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 183 Painted forms of heathen worship, Gods that man's invention he, Cannot soothe my spirit's anguish — All their stamp is vanity. Thought can never reach her summit, Earth's amhition still must pall ; What can fill the immortal heing, What hut God, our all in all. When, oh when shall I behold him, And his face of glory see ; Freed from earth's delusive shadows All my trust in him shall be. When, oh when shall I possess him. Never more to leave his side. Holding all the gifts and graces Which his promise has supplied ; When shall all his Spirit's fulness Fit me in his courts to dwell. When shall all my will be sated . In his will ineffable : When shall each desire that woos me In that one desire be lost, To adorn his work and service, And to make his praise my boast. 184 ECHOES OF ETERNITY. Well I know the heart's deep yeai-nings Shall not endless torment give, — He who gave this thirst for gloiy, He shall hid us drink and live. Spitta. Eeturn unto thy rest, my soul ; I feel this is the grand secret for obtaining peace in a world of sin and sorrow. When the heart turns away from the confusions and disturbances to which it is continually exposed, and taking wing, flies to the bosom of God, when the voice of Christ walking in the night on the troubled waters, is heard — ^it is I, be not afraid ; this is peace ! And this, too, is his own direction for obtaining it : — In the world, ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace. Be of good cheer ; I have overcome the world. EicHAED Cecil.- Let us beware of every thing which, under any promise, would take us out of ourselves and separate us from God. At such seasons let us even keep ourselves as free as may be from neces- sary business ; let us strive to hush our spirits into silence, that there may be nothing to intercept that voice which will speak to us if we wait for it ; let us fear lest we be led to seek for any other shelter of our spirits short of him their Lord, that so we may find ourselves to be alone with him, that he may frame and fashion us ; may mould our hearts as he will ; may purify, and enlighten, and soften, and strengthen, and deepen them by his presence in the cloud and mystery of sorrow. Let us remember alway who is smiting us, nor dare to look at our griefs but in the ECHOES OF ETERNITY. 185 light of his presence ; lest looking at them alone, we be soured by their sharpness, or become fretful, or dull, or even desperate, and so reprobate. Let us cast ourselves upon the assurance of his love, even though it bear the semblance of the flame-breath of the furnace ; and walk humbly with him, lest we mar or hinder the blessed purpose of his mercy towards us. Bishop Wii,berforce. 2b Occidit omnigena venerandus laude Lutherus, Qui Christum docuit non dubitante fide. Ereptum deflet vero liunc Ecclesia luctu, Cuius erat Doctor, verius imo pater. Occidit Israel prsestans auriga Lutherus, Quern mecum sanus lugeat omnis liomo. Nunc luctumq suum lachrymoso carmine prodat, Hoc etenim orbatos, flere, dolere, decet. Melancthon. m. Luther — his sun is set ! — 'tis ours to raise To his revered remembrance, varied praise. He preached his Saviour with unfaltering faith ; And the lorn church sincerely weeps his death. Her Teacher he ! — or rather his dear name Does from her lips a Father's honour claim ! Fallen is our Israel's chariot-chieftain now ! Then let the wise their heads in sorrow how : Orphaned of him — 'tis meet in tearful strain To clothe our natural grief, and utter forth our pain. So scMiesst sich denn des kleinen Tempels Tliiir ; Des Biichleins Blatter sind zu Ende liier. Anbetung Gottes, Walirheit stand auf ihnen, Die Liebe zu dem Better, der erschienen. O Leser, jetzt an dich die ernste Frage : Was stebt im Buche deiner Lebenstage ? Die Blatter dieses Biichleins lioren auf — Wie viele Blatter hat dein Lebenslauf ? Weisst du es nicht ? Dann weine heut um Frieden : Im Blute Gottes wird er dir beschieden. Heisst die Beschreibung deines Lebens, Siinde ? So flieh zum Kreuz, dass dich das Schwert nicht finde 1 Dann hat auch siissen Harfenton dein Herz, Unhorbar steigen Lieder himmelwarts ; Dann auf des Lebens letztem Blatte stehet — " Ja komm, Herr Jesu !" und die Seele gehet Zum Tempel, wo die rechten Harfentone Der Liebe klingen, hell, in ew'ger Schone. Julius Kobnee. l^^ Inrst ^mt And now this little temple folds its door ; So of this tiny tome the pages close ; Worship of God and tinith its hallowed lore, Whilst love of Christ in golden letters glows. Oh reader ! now to thee a close appeal, — Wliat does the hook of thy life's-day reveal ? Now does the course of these few pages cease, How many show thy pilgrim journey there ? Knowest thou it not ? then sue this day for peace Through Jesu's hlood, and he will grant thy prayer, Say — of thy life, is sin the tahlet-word ? Fly to the cross then, and escape the sword ! So sweetest harp-tones shall thy soul engage. And more than mortal songs salute the skies, When graven stands upon thy life's last page — " Yes, come Lord Jesus ! " — shall thy spirit rise Up to that temple where those harp-tones pure. Love's euphony of hliss — for ever shall endure. PRINTED BY BINNS AND GOODWIN, BAT^. 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