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 THE LIBRARY 
 
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 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
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 TO 
 HIS DEAR AND VALUED FRIEND 
 
 THE REVEREND EDWARD MONRO 
 
 VICAK OF ST. JOHN'S, LBBDS 
 
 £;^£S.e oT^crug^ts nit |usfribcb 
 
 BY HIS PEBMISSIOIT 
 ■WITH THE WARMEST AFFECTION 
 
 THE AUTHOR 
 
 HitL HousB, Hakkow Weald 
 
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 |f 6ob grant tl^is, t^eir ntb biill be attaineb 
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 ^0 fort^ I senb tijee ; biben | am but bust, 
 Pag'st t^ou bg (Sdxucz ^elp one soul to tbe |ust I
 
 ETERNITY PAST : TDIE THAT IS : 
 ETERNITY FUTURE
 
 ETERNITY: TIME: ETERNITY 
 
 Oh ! 'tis a theme so deep, so wonderful, 
 And yet so true, to know there was a time. 
 If Time it may be called, when Creation 
 Was non-existent ; when no solid earth 
 Like ours, no atmosphere, no elements 
 Had being ; and not only had this speck 
 In God's great tmiverse, on which we live. 
 Ennobled by His incarnate presence. 
 And made by Him the battle-field 
 Of good and evil, no existence ; but 
 The glorious sun, the moon, the planets 
 Which, in distance vast, God's law obeying 
 
 B 2
 
 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 Tlieir course around the brilliant centre 
 Of our system pursue tlieir way, were not ; 
 And if to heaven with wondrous gaze, our eyes 
 We lift, in admiration lost, and think 
 How small a part, our sun, witli all its worlds 
 Attendant, deriving fi-om his splendour 
 Light and heat, doth fonn in God's creation ; 
 Our wonderment a thousandfold augments. 
 Our thought pursues its track, and a fixed star 
 Sirius, the nearest of heaven's host 
 Of brilliants, may settle on our mind ; 
 The nearest ; and yet stiU so distant far, 
 That if our single system were tenfold, 
 For all their revolutions there wou.ld be 
 Space and space again ; this star, what is it ? 
 Astronomers do tell us 'tis a sun. 
 Still more gloriously magnificent 
 It may be than our own ; and possiblyj 
 Nay probably, worlds on worlds around it. 
 This star, this fixed star, as we do speak
 
 ETERNITY TO 'COME. 
 
 lu common parlance, is to us the type 
 Of all the other countless stars of heaven 
 Surrounding us ; there is on earth no point 
 But the high ethereal broad expanse 
 Of orbs resplendent does every part 
 Environ. In the north Orion bold, 
 And in the south doth shine the beauteous 
 Silver Cross, a most glorious emblem 
 Of that high altar on which Christ did die. 
 These even but a mass of units are, 
 Amidst the untold thousands on thousands 
 Of suns and worlds to our imperfect vision 
 Apparent : there is that myriad zone. 
 The ]\Iilky Way, as men do give it name, 
 That girdle so sublime that seems to band 
 The whole together ; yet so component 
 Of such immeasurably distant spheres, 
 As to lead on to the conception vast. 
 That all before our vision, including 
 Those most wondrous nebula?, unfolded 
 
 B 3
 
 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 In our day by scientific power, 
 
 Are but themselves an unit of a whole, 
 
 So glorious and so magnificent, 
 
 As to surpass aU effort of man's mind. 
 
 And thus surrounded, so majestical. 
 
 This our world doth seem to float in glory. 
 
 And yet it is so true, there was a time 
 
 When all that we can see, or can conceive. 
 
 Had no existence by creation. 
 
 Thus far in this broad thought have we advanced 
 On the material ; vast as it is 
 In contemplation, yet far higher still 
 Than matter, though in splendour glorious, 
 Are we permitted in our thoughts to range ; 
 From visible to the invisible. — 
 
 Of the angel host in God's high Heaven, 
 How numberless, surpassing radiant 
 In brightness, how wonderful in power,
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 7 
 
 How swift, how pure, in God's presence joyful, 
 
 Upheld by Him in goodness and in love, 
 
 We can but know that which has been revealed. 
 
 Spirits they are, by God's high law ordained, 
 
 To those who are to be salvation's heirs 
 
 His will to minister ; the high office, 
 
 Most glorious duty, to them was given, 
 
 Even to the Lord of Life to minister. 
 
 When man's deadly foe for man He vanquished. 
 
 On that sinful night in the world's history. 
 When fiends poured forth their rage, and for awhile 
 Triumphant seemed, when Peter's ardent zeal 
 Struck with the sword the high priest's servant's ear, 
 Jesus in mild rebuke his ardour stayed, 
 Working a miracle, the wound He healed ; 
 And to a heavenly power, the mind 
 Of His apostle He led and guided. 
 Thinkest thou, that of the host celestial, 
 Of angels, and archangels, to my prayer, 
 
 b4
 
 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 More than twelve legions to my succour 
 
 "Would not instantly, in mighty power, 
 
 From before my Father's throne be given ? 
 
 Legions on legions were at hand, 
 
 If Christ had pleased to call them down to Him. 
 
 So do we know their numbers to be great ; 
 
 Wide as the imiversc may their province 
 
 Be, in order and degree fulfilling 
 
 That which to each by God has been assigned. 
 
 What glorious beings ! No mind on earth 
 
 Can a conception adequate educe 
 
 Of their bright essence ; in expression 
 
 So pure, so holy, su.cli radiant joy, 
 
 Such bliss immaculate, such reverence. 
 
 Such beams of holiness, and truth, and love. 
 
 Delighting to obey their Maker — God. 
 
 In spiritual form, how beautiftil ! 
 
 When He doth please that form they should assume ; 
 
 Emanations from His glory ! all are 
 
 Derived from Him who made them what they are.
 
 ETEENITY TO COME. 9 
 
 No earthly sounds are these — Excelsior — 
 
 It is the choir of heaven ! resounding 
 
 Alleluias from height to height, 
 
 From depth to depth, from breadth to breadth throughout 
 
 The broad expanse of that high-vaulted arc, 
 
 Wliere God His presence specially doth deign. 
 
 Alleluia ! for the Lord God doth reign 
 
 Omnipotent, echoes aUeluia ! 
 
 AUeluia ! for all things created. 
 
 Visible and invisible, by Him 
 
 Were made, and for His will and pleasure 
 
 Are and were created. — Alleluia ! 
 
 But in detail 'twere endless to pursue 
 The blessed subject of angelic praise. 
 In every holy attribute of God 
 There is a point which alleluias 
 Eing and re-echo, and reverberate 
 Outpom-ing and o'erflowing alleluias 
 From every comer of high heaven,
 
 10 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS *, 
 
 The truth, by God declared, that God is Love ! 
 Everlasting to everlasting, Love ! 
 
 From the deep depth of counsel infinite 
 Li God's oAvn being, before creation. 
 When He did see and know all that has been, 
 Now is, or e'er shall be, that perfect love 
 Unutterable, past all conception, 
 The blest expression of that love divined. — 
 How gi-and is truth ! grand in simplicity ! 
 The facts of love eternal developed, 
 And developing, to us are given. 
 The how, the why, belong to God alone. 
 How deep is love ! from the holy fountain 
 Of pm-e Deity, supreme Jehovah, 
 The undivided Trinity in one. 
 The stream of love folding in its embrace 
 His everlasting piu'pose, in fulness. 
 As the fulness of the great God Himself, 
 Pours forth ; and sheds a Father's love on all.-
 
 ETEENITY TO COME. 11 
 
 Angels delight this holy love to tell. — 
 
 Whence those somids mellifluent, harmony 
 
 Divine, touching the ear so gently sweet ? 
 
 Whence those notes above their fellows swelling, 
 
 So full and round, so divinely blending ? 
 
 Again, the choir of Heaven ; the holy angels, 
 
 Sweetest Cherubim, brightest Seraphim, 
 
 Glorifying in joint and full accord 
 
 The name of Jesus, very God most high ! 
 
 Louder and louder still the peal rolls on. 
 
 Sounds of pure dehght intensifying. 
 
 Thousands and thousands, tens of thousands more 
 
 Of the angehc host celestial. 
 
 In joy and love unceasingly unite 
 
 In song of holy adoration; thus 
 
 The mighty roll of voices swells and sweUs, 
 
 Magnificent in power, and in power 
 
 StiU more magnificent, till the grandeur 
 
 Of the voice of melody, vies with their theme. 
 
 Their ever constant theme — the praise of God.
 
 12 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 And oh, how glorious that heavenly theme ! 
 To span, with comprehensive mind, how vast 
 Creation's and redemption's glories are ! 
 To trace with reverence and holy fear 
 God's love to man, so infinitely deep, 
 That before creation it existed 
 In Himself alone : to approach in thought 
 The wondrous purpose of Almighty God, 
 In Eternity conceived, and ever 
 To endure, almost presumptuous seems. 
 And yet the songs of angels and of saints, 
 With clearer view than we on earth possess, 
 Doubtless in high strains celestial rise : 
 Glory to God the Father, God the Son, 
 And God the Spirit ; God alone, in One ; 
 That One in fulness manifest in Christ ! 
 And in Him exalted, in His glory, 
 Man was, and is, and evermore shall be ! 
 God said, " Let us make man in our image ;" 
 And in the image of God created
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 13 
 
 He him. Christ was that glorious image ! 
 
 And in Christ, above all holy angels, 
 
 ^Mighty in power, and wondrous excellent 
 
 In holiness and spotless piu-ity ; 
 
 Above all beings, by God created, . 
 
 Throughout the universe, man stands supreme ! 
 
 And why ? because his manhood into God 
 
 Himself is taken, in Christ ordained. 
 
 Thus, the triune Jehovah, ordained in Christ, 
 
 To all creation hath a link vouchsafed. 
 
 By which created and uncreated 
 
 Are united ; in whom, though mfinite 
 
 In glory, as His own very Godliead 
 
 Infinite, yet, in His pei-fect manhood. 
 
 Is that glory so in loving mercy 
 
 Veiled, that face to face man may see his God, 
 
 And in His presence live eternally. 
 
 So marvellous is man's redemption, 
 
 That Creation's self seems but the handmaid 
 
 To this vast act of God's eternal love.
 
 14 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 So verily it is ; there was a time 
 
 When there was no creation, visible 
 
 Or invisible, God Himself alone 
 
 In His own essence existent ; else that 
 
 Were etcrniiil, as God eternal is. 
 
 So were all creation annihilate, 
 
 God the same would be, yesterday, to-day, 
 
 And for ever ; incomprehensible, 
 
 In every holy attribute and power 
 
 In himself infinite, of addition 
 
 Or diminution subject to none. 
 
 No — all things created, material, 
 
 Or immaterial, alone do serve 
 
 To manifest Himself, and spread his love, 
 
 And of His Glory but a shadow are. 
 
 These holy truths declare we with one voice. 
 When in high praise we sing, — Glory to God, 
 The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in one ! 
 As it was in the beginning ; that is,
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 15 
 
 1 
 
 Before God's fiat called creation forth ; — 
 Is now ; the present passing lapse of time, 
 Unfolding God's most holy grace and will ; — 
 And ever shall be ; that is, when the world 
 Now present, by flames of fire purified. 
 Shall pass away, and a new heaven and earth 
 Shall take its place, the new Jerusalem 
 From God in heaven, descending like a bride 
 Adorned for her husband ; when this world 
 Shall yield its kingdoms to our Lord and Christ ; 
 And in His Church, His body, He shall reign 
 For evermore in heaven, the living head ; 
 Fuhiess of Him that filleth all ia all : — 
 World without end ; when the Archangel's trump 
 Throughout the universe its voice shall soxmd. 
 With thiilling echoes, awfully subHme, 
 " Time shall be no longer! " Eternity, 
 Eternity, Eternity now reigns, 
 And in its fall embrace Time is no more.
 
 16 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 Then comes that blissful era, past all thought 
 Ever conceived by the heart of man, 
 When the saints of Jesus, sheep of Ilis fold, 
 Lambs of His flock, on whose foreheads beam 
 The shining cross, the emblem of His love ; 
 Members of His body, made one with Him, 
 Who on this earth hath lived and died for us, 
 In Heaven shall live eternally with Him. — 
 With Him, in Him, the Christ, the Head and Crown 
 Of all things to His holy Church in heaven ; 
 That we the sons and daughters should be made 
 Of the Lord God Almighty ! how blessed ! 
 His sons and daughters ! in body risen 
 Free from the clog of sin, from sorrow free, 
 The fruit of sin, in self-same body risen. 
 But a glorious body ; for, like Him, 
 The promise is, that we shall ever be. — 
 And the soul pui-ified, holy made, 
 One with the body, then abrupt by death, 
 And now again united, never more
 
 ETEENITT TO COME. 17 
 
 Asunder to be torn, a perfect man 
 Glorified, like unto Christ Himself, 
 But in degree distant as finite is 
 From infinity immeasurable. 
 
 How unutterably far stretciied beyond 
 The power of mind, imagination, thought. 
 Is man's exalted state through Christ, in heaven I 
 What words can e'er recoimt its blessedness ? 
 First, above all, there is the holy will 
 Consentient with Deity, the same 
 That was ia Jesus when He Hved on earth, 
 His Father's will fulfilling, to atone 
 For man's rebelHon, by His own blood. 
 And briag us back unto our Father's home. 
 A will so holy, and divine, upheld 
 By God's own power, but still a will, 
 In perfect righteousness delighting ; 
 With Jesus one, saved in Him for ever. 
 From the tempter's power evermore secure, 
 
 c
 
 IS ETERNITY PAST: TI5IE THAT IS: 
 
 A will so pei-fect iu obedience, 
 
 So intense in loving adoration, 
 
 So pure, so good, that by God's gi'ace it forms 
 
 A high element in the bliss of heaven. 
 
 And oh ! witli what expanded noble powers 
 
 Of action, of intellect, of grace, 
 
 Body and soul will be endued, the man 
 
 Ennobling, transcendently surpassing 
 
 All that imagination can conceive : 
 
 No weariness, no tardy kikewarmness. 
 
 No taint of sin, no weakness, no doubting 
 
 Shall ever enter there, but unto God, 
 
 His honour and His praise, unceasingly 
 
 Shall each blest soul in heaven with one accord 
 
 Their holy service render, rejoicing 
 
 In their Lord, that they in Him are worthy 
 
 Reckoned His great Name to glorify 
 
 With all theii" faculties ; and who can tell 
 
 Their marvellous development by gi-ace ? 
 
 So freshened, so invigorated,
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 19 
 
 So enlightened, ever so sustained, 
 Who can foresee and know the height, the depth, 
 Wliich to the saints of God may then be given 
 Of things in heaven, to see, and know, and hear ? 
 And as by heavenly light and grace divine, 
 Their powers continually do expand. 
 The eaints of Jesus through ages endless. 
 In every holy attribute, nearer 
 And nearer approach to Him, still finite 
 As degree must be to infjiity. 
 Oh I what a glorious contemplation ! 
 And then again, — not only are the souls 
 Of men redeemed by Christ ; His victory 
 Was over death, and our own bodies too 
 In Him are risen ; creation, trembling 
 And groaning, also was redeemed. 
 In that new heaven and new earth, not alone 
 Our souls in holy bliss shall live, but when 
 Creation shall be perfect and renewed, 
 As from the hand of God ; no mind can grasp 
 
 c 2
 
 20 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME TEAT IS ; 
 
 The joy and bliss our senses may receive 
 
 From sight, from sound, from scent, from Nature's touch. 
 
 Yet, still another blessed source of joy, 
 Heaven opens to the saint in Jesus ; 
 The communion of the Holy Ones ! 
 Patriarchs, apostles, prophets, martyrs, 
 And all who have a good confession made 
 Of Jesus : there shall be met together 
 The faithful, true, the humble and the meek. 
 Those who by grace have loved their Lord on earth, 
 And now in heaven love him deeper still. 
 The throng of holy angels will be there, 
 Blest spirits who lost not their first estate, 
 A bright, celestial, pure company, 
 Whose radiant association. 
 Bright shining seraphs, wiU be bliss indeed. 
 
 Then, oh how great the joyous blessedness 
 Of recognition in the holy host,
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 21 
 
 Of those whom we on earth so loved, whose hearts 
 
 And ours were intertwined as one, whom death 
 
 Did for a moment snatch fi-om xis, or ns 
 
 From them ; but now united evermore. 
 
 In the kingdom of Christ's Church in glory. 
 
 Of the blessed happy occupation 
 
 Of His oAvn redeemed ones, we know not ; 
 
 But that it will be blessed, high and holy, 
 
 In the fulfilment of His loving will ; 
 
 For to the principalities and powers 
 
 In heavenly places, shall be made known 
 
 Creation all throughout, by the Church, 
 
 The wsdom manifold of God most high. 
 
 So there wiU be expanded intellect ; 
 Deeper perception spiritual ; 
 More perfect knowledge of the Lord most high ; 
 The veil away from nature and God's laws ; 
 The stronger powers of sense to gratify- 
 In all their excellence, and without spot ; 
 
 c 3
 
 22 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 The vaster view of God's creation ; 
 
 The mighty powers in us by God endued ; 
 
 Duty, its every essence, happiness ; 
 
 A clearer view of God's past love to us ; 
 
 An abiding peaceful rest in Jesus ; 
 
 A spirit of adoration pure ; 
 
 Fear lost in reverence ; and faith and hope 
 
 Engulphed in fruition and in love ; 
 
 Then isolation ceases, and each one 
 
 Doth realise himself tndy to be 
 
 A living member of the churcli of Christ. 
 
 And there the joy of recognition 
 
 Of those on earth we did so dearly love ; 
 
 And there the association blest 
 
 Of pure angelic heavenly spirits ; 
 
 No tendency to evil shall be there ; 
 
 And, above all, the presence of the Lord, 
 
 Of Jesus the Most High God incarnate. 
 
 Will be there ; and in that glorious presence 
 
 There will be such radiant joy diffused.
 
 ETEENITY TO COME. 23 
 
 All imagination surpassing far, 
 
 That in itself 'twill be eternal bliss. 
 
 And there shall be an unity throughout, 
 
 For all creation, immaterial 
 
 Or material, inanimate 
 
 And animate, in sj^irit or in body. 
 
 In intelligence, and movement perfect, 
 
 In holy will, and ordered greatness. 
 
 Shall all combine in one harmonious whole, 
 
 AVith hymns of adoration of angels, 
 
 And of saints, unto eternal ages. 
 
 To declare the glory and the Love of God ! 
 
 And as eternity rolls ages on, 
 
 Wider and wider, higher and higher still 
 
 Shall be developed man's progressive powers. 
 
 Before time was, in past eternity. 
 
 Creation's self was non-existent ; 
 
 And now time is, God's purpose to fulfil, 
 
 Himself is manifest in perfect love 
 
 Unto the work His hand divine hath made ; 
 c 4
 
 24 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 The angel's voice, when man's probation's o'er, 
 Loud shall proclaim, "Time shall be no longer." 
 Then comes the measure unfathomable, 
 When holiness, felicity, gloiy 
 Eternal, shall be the gracious meed 
 Of all who form the kingdom of Christ's Church, 
 Ever to reign with Him as kings and priests, 
 Upheld in blessed immortality. 
 
 And who such glorious inheritance 
 Shall win ? — The answer is a simple one. — 
 Christ Jesus died for all, and all to Him 
 May come ; and none that truly come to Him 
 Will He in any wise cast out ; and they 
 Of his inlieritance the heirs shall be. 
 Truly come: — those who, howe'er unlettered 
 And unlearned, in their hearts receive Him 
 In simplicity and truth, and love him 
 As a httle child its loving mother. 
 To whom it looks with trustful confidence,
 
 ETEENITT TO COME. 25 
 
 For the supply of all its wants and needs. 
 Their worship is sincere, and their belief 
 Takes in the gospel truth of Jesus' love, 
 That they are sinners saved by Christ alone ; 
 They know their creed, and in it are content, 
 They live to him, and so by faith are saved. 
 
 And all those blessed infants who in Him 
 At His divine command, by baptism 
 Are grafted ; those dear lo-"-ely innocents, 
 From their original primeval stain 
 Of sin thus cleansed, and whom in mercy 
 He to Himself hath taken home to Heaven, 
 Before the tempter's power could lure their will, 
 And cause the seeds of sin to germinate. — 
 Blessed, blessed are those sweet little ones ! 
 
 Then there are those to whom on earth are given 
 But few short years, for their eternal good, 
 As God may see it best to be for them ;
 
 26 ETERNITY PAST; TIME THAT IS; 
 
 In youth so promising, shedding around 
 
 On parents and on kin such joyous rays ; 
 
 But Jesus knew and took them for His oato : 
 
 He loved them, and having by his gi-ace 
 
 Kegenerated them in that pure font 
 
 Of water unto life, by the same grace 
 
 He them upheld, thus their will submitting 
 
 Unto Him, they grew in grace ; He saw them. 
 
 Their strivings against sin He witnessed, 
 
 And from the rocks and shoals which life beset, 
 
 His loving hand gently withdi-ew them home. — 
 
 These all had early learned to love their Lord. 
 
 Another class who truly come to Him 
 Are those who the meridian of life have reached. 
 And from their childhood have grown up in prayer 
 Continuous, earnest, humble, faithful 
 Prayer ; resting on Jesus, living in Him 
 Alone ; who in their daily life have striven. 
 Under the guidance and by aid divine
 
 ETEEXITY TO COME. 2" 
 
 Of God the Holy Ghost, to mould their will 
 
 To that of God, desiring above all 
 
 His glory, and that He woiild deign vouchsafe 
 
 To them on earth such things as in His love 
 
 And wisdom would knit them into Jesus, 
 
 And draw them nearer to Himself in Him. 
 
 Those precious gifts, their childi-en, as fiom God 
 
 They have regarded, to them committed 
 
 As a sacred stewardship, immortal 
 
 Trust ; and to their God humble petitions 
 
 They have raised, even before their birth. 
 
 That if He i^leased to grant the blessing. 
 
 They might be made His own, and in the fear 
 
 And admonition of the Lord most high, 
 
 They might, by grace, be reared and nurtured. 
 
 The means of grace, by God ordained, to them 
 
 Have ever been the channel authorised 
 
 Through which have flowed the powers thereby given. 
 
 In Baptism, as by their Lord commanded, 
 
 They have felt and known they had a title
 
 28 ETERNITY PAST; TIME THAT IS; 
 
 To membership in Christ ; children of God 
 To be ; and of heaven the inheritors ; 
 On this sure rock they set their foot, and knew 
 That if they did not by their own free will 
 Away from them cast their inheritance, 
 Theirs it was for ever and evermore. — 
 But then in early youth they keen had felt 
 Proneness to sin, and wilM wickedness ; 
 And, conscious that no power of their own 
 This sinful inclination could withstand. 
 They sought the means of all-sufficient grace 
 In Jesus ; surely by Him provided 
 In the blest ordinances of His Church : 
 Baptized already, confirmation next 
 Came to their aid ; the Holy Ghost vouchsafes. 
 On their renewing their baptismal vows, 
 And to their God their future life resolving: 
 To devote, by the laying on of hands. 
 And prayerful blessing of God's high priest, 
 From Heaven to descend, and rest on them.
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 29 
 
 Confirmation past, at tlieir Lord's command, 
 
 And as His Cliurcli enjoins, they followed on, 
 
 Avoiding subtleties of disputants. 
 
 From grace to grace, and ever and anon, 
 
 At every blessed opportunity. 
 
 In the pru'e simple element of bread, 
 
 And in the same pure element of Avine, 
 
 Made consecrate and holy by God's priest, 
 
 As Christ by His example did foreshow, 
 
 The broken body of their Lord they ate, 
 
 Li faith and verity, believing true 
 
 The words of Jesus : " This is My Body." 
 
 And of His sacred Blood they hiunbly drank, 
 
 For of the wine He said, " This is My Blood 
 
 " Shed for the remission of yOur sins." — 
 
 And both they did, obeying His command 
 
 Li love, " This do in remembrance of Me : " 
 
 And they remembered too the promise given, 
 
 " Whoso My Flesh doth eat. My Blood doth drink, 
 
 " Hath eternal life "— " He shaU hve by Me,"
 
 30 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 And " He dwelleth in Me and I in him." 
 
 They knew that bread and wine they still remain, 
 
 And yet His Body and His Blood they were. — 
 
 They believed, and so to them was given 
 
 In their inmost souls a sentient power 
 
 Of His incarnate j)resence ; the manner 
 
 "Was not for them, that was for God alone. 
 
 The holy fruits were theirs ; the Holy Ghost ! 
 
 Union with Christ ! pardon of their sins ! 
 
 And strength renewed life's combat to endure ! 
 
 And then there come the aged holy ones, 
 Whose hour of Hfe to threescore years and ten. 
 Or it may be to foiu'score years or more, 
 Has been extended ; who that fleeting hour 
 Have spent in holy service to their God, 
 In acts of faith, and deeds of charity 
 And righteousness ; by the power of gi-ace, 
 Through the ordained channels to them given. 
 They have no self-reliance, but their trust
 
 ETEKXITT TO COME. 31 
 
 For their inlieritance stands on a rock, 
 And that rock, Clirist ; so shall be firm and true. 
 These are all His, and though with hindrances 
 Many and grievous, and with many falls, 
 Their course has ever onward been to heaven ; 
 Faithful, repentant, loving, they are His, 
 And the inheritance is made then- own. 
 
 Not all have thus pursued consistently 
 Theii" way through life ; m?ny there are, indeed, 
 Who through a headlong guilty course of sin 
 Have passed ii-revocably years on years, 
 Than finest gold, or sparkling diamond, 
 More precious far, not to be recalled. 
 Wliat a fearful looking for of judgment 
 Would await them, were God to pass them by. 
 And hold His mercy fi-om them, as it were 
 Forgetting them, as they did Him forget ; 
 If to their sure doom inevitable, 
 Fruit of their o^vn acts, He were to leave them.
 
 / 
 
 32 ETERNITY PAST; TIME THAT IS; 
 
 But God is merciful, as a Father 
 
 He pitieth His ■wandering children, 
 
 And few there are, perhaps not any one, 
 
 To whom some solemn warning is not given, 
 
 Some strong call of conscience, some event 
 
 Of life ; it may be in the early death 
 
 Of those most dear ; it may be fell sickness, 
 
 That droops the strength of man to infant's power ; 
 
 The prospect brightest of their hope may sink ; 
 
 Friends may betray ; their bosom friend deceive ; 
 
 In their destruction's path them to arrest. 
 
 And point to heaven as their only good. 
 
 And all who heed God's warning so vouchsafed. 
 
 Repent, and truly give their heart to Him, ' 
 
 Turn from the fatal error of their ways, 
 
 And in obeying seek their happiness, 
 
 Shall doubtless find inheritance made sure. 
 
 These chastening mercies, as a Father 
 
 For his childi-en's good, God doth also use, 
 
 Closer to draw to Him those whom He loves.
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 3S 
 
 'Tis to God's Chiu-ch, to tliose baptized in Him, 
 To those who in that Church are truly His, 
 That His most blessed promises are made ; 
 But, God forbid that any should define 
 And limit close His all-pervading love ! 
 His all-seeing eye. His discerning glance. 
 Piercing the coat of man's outAvard semblance. 
 To the dividing of the very joints 
 And marrow of intent in each man's heart ; 
 "Weighing his motives, opportunities, 
 And temptations, sees what man^ees not. 
 He can perceive the sproiiting germ of faith. 
 The seed of love to Him ready to burst. 
 But lacking the moisture of occasion. 
 To Him are known the workings of man's mind, 
 The honest, bold, straightforward open heart, 
 That would adore and love Him as he ought ; 
 And love Him really does, and all mankind, 
 Yet firom his education, circumstance. 
 Or birth, the moulding of his character
 
 34 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 To man may seem unsettled, and not right. 
 There are the humble retiring spirits, 
 Gentle and meek, living "within themselves. 
 Oft communing, it may be, with their God, 
 In silence, love and adoration, 
 Still externally may not scorn to be 
 Ri2:htful members of Christ's Church Catholic, 
 Yet in God's sight all members of His Son. 
 
 Even 'mongst those who farthest seem from God, 
 That may exist within, imseen by man, 
 A deadly struggle may be going on ; 
 Or, as the penitent, while on the cross 
 He hung, did turn to Jesus, there may be 
 Some awful tui-ning point, some wrench of soul, 
 Open to God alone, which leads to Heaven. 
 
 Numbers within, numbers without the door 
 Of Christ's Church visible on earth to men, 
 A great multitude no man can number.
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 35 
 
 Love bids us hope salvation still may find ; — 
 Oil in their lamps sufEcient may have been 
 To give them Hght, within the door of heaven 
 Just to enter, though there the least they be. 
 Jesus redeemed all, for aU He died, 
 Let none eternally condemn another. 
 Sin as sin may be condemned, the sinner 
 We must leave to Jesus the Judge alone ; 
 God loves the sinner though He hates the sin. 
 Millions on miUions numbei'less, 
 EoUing thi-ough earth's existence constantly, 
 There are, on whose ear the name of Jesus 
 Never fell ; whom the Gospel's joyful sound 
 Has never reached ; where the light of nature. 
 Aided by streamlets of primeval truth, 
 Through ancestral rites and customs trickling, 
 Has been their only guide ; what is their doom 
 "We knoAv not, nor is it for us therein 
 To pry ; of the Gentiles, thus speaks Saint Paul: 
 " When they the things contained in the law 
 
 u 2
 
 36 ETEENITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 " By natm-e do ; " and again, thus Saint John ; 
 
 " Thon art worthy, and hast redeemed us 
 
 " To God, out of every kindred, and tongue, 
 
 " And people, and nations, by Thy blood." 
 
 Almighty is the love of God in power, 
 
 And by that boundless love there may be found 
 
 Among the heathen a goodly number, 
 
 Saved, as they only can be saved, 
 
 By the all-sufficient grace of Jesus. 
 
 Thus is hope permitted salvation 
 
 And inheritance in Heaven may be theirs. 
 
 But oh ! supremely blest are they, 
 The ambassadors of Christ, ministers 
 Of God, priests of His holy Chiu'ch on earth. 
 Heralds of salvation, in Jesus' name. 
 The Gospel to declare to sinful men. 
 And to dispense His holy sacraments. 
 To them committed ; a most sacred trust, 
 To noui'ish souls with heavenly culture.
 
 ETEKNITY TO COME. 37 
 
 Most holy office ! to sliare with Jesus, 
 
 By His divine appointment, the priesthood 
 
 Of His Church, bond of closest union 
 
 Of man with His Eedeemer ; privilege 
 
 The most exalted man can here possess. 
 
 Oh how blessed, thrice blessed, will they be 
 
 Among the holy company of heaven. 
 
 Who to their Master's glory here on earth, 
 
 "With love unfeigned, and faith imdoubting, 
 
 Their hearts, their souls, thoir minds, and all their powers 
 
 Of body, thought, and will, ever devote, 
 
 In all sincerity and truthfiilness. 
 
 As good shepherds, leading their flock to God. 
 
 To them is open to obtain in Heaven 
 
 A glorious inheritance indeed. 
 
 O ye doubtful of heart, who cannot see 
 With clearness the sheet anchor of your hope 
 Well fast in ground ; who to imholy fear 
 Give way, cast off your doubting, erring fear ; 
 
 D 3
 
 38 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 If on your spirit sin bear down its weight, 
 
 Tell it to Jesus, your soul's Physician, 
 
 His balm will heal thee, and restore to health. 
 
 Do you believe God's holy name is Love ? 
 
 Love not to one, not to a few, but all, 
 
 Therefore to you ; do you, because you have . 
 
 Within you strong sense of sin committed. 
 
 Think that from His love you are excepted. 
 
 Your prayers not heard, yourself from heaven cast out ? 
 
 Oh no ! your sense of sin is evidence 
 
 Most true that you are His ; for, if sincere. 
 
 Your heart is set to strive to sin no more. 
 
 And for past sin feels repentant sorrow. 
 
 With good resolve henceforth to live to Him. 
 
 You yearn for Jesus, Jesus yearns for you ; 
 
 Yea more for you than you can do for Him. 
 
 He died for you, you surely do not doubt 
 
 The atoning power of the blood of God 
 
 To wash away your sin ; come, then, to Him 
 
 Who longs to save you ; utterly cast out
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 
 
 The very shadow of self-dependence ; 
 Jesus, our living head, for us hath wrought 
 All righteousness, rest on Him alone ; 
 Believe the gift of God, given unto yoii ; 
 To disbelieve were to reject the gift ; 
 With humble confidence, and thanksgiving. 
 Through your Eedeemer ever make your prayer. 
 Believe His love, and with heart love to Him, 
 Though the sin for which you deeply sorrow 
 Were as scarlet, the very deepest dye. 
 You will in His sight be clad in whiteness 
 Pure as snow. Come, with simple, child-like faith, 
 Cast yourself on Jesus, and He is yom-s. 
 And you are His : if your former dimness 
 Hath arisen from unbehef your past sins 
 Could be forgiven, let the almightiness 
 Of Jesus' love be present with you now ; 
 No longer fear, but hearken to His words, — 
 " Come iinto Me, and I will give you I'est." 
 If there be any known lurking idol 
 
 D 4
 
 40 ETERNITY PAST; TIME THAT IS; 
 
 In the recesses of your heart, veiling 
 
 Your sight of Jesus, tear it from its throne ; 
 
 'T will not be hard, if with a firm resolve 
 
 You seek for grace in prayer, it will be given ; 
 
 But ask in faith, believing God will lielp you. 
 
 It may have been Avhen thought your prayers not heard, 
 
 That this was the secret cause ; God requires 
 
 An undivided heart, and though you fall 
 
 Frequent and oft, if in sincerity 
 
 You come to Jesus, fear not forgiveness ; 
 
 A kind Father's ear is ever open. 
 
 To grant you pardon and to hear your prayer : 
 
 For hath not Jesus promised ; " Him that cometh 
 
 Unto Me, I will in no Avise cast out ? " 
 
 Or it may be imagination's power 
 
 Which is the hindrance of your solid peace ; 
 
 This may arise from causes physical, 
 
 Producing groundless fear, and yet the heart 
 
 Be true; if so, God sees, accepts the heart, 
 
 And hears your prayer, and He wUl answer it
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 41 
 
 If earnestly continued ; beseecli Him 
 
 The illusion to dispel, and be sure, 
 
 That if in faith on Jesus you repose, 
 
 See in His blood your past sin washed away, 
 
 Do use the means of grace which He has given, 
 
 He will uplift your soul, dispel your fear. 
 
 And bless yoiT with the blessing of his peace. 
 
 To every grade and rank of human life, 
 To every age, or state, or rich, or poor, 
 To every nation, tongue, or people, 
 Through Jesus are the gates of heaven open': 
 And " let him that is atliirst fi-eely come ; " 
 " And whoso ■will, of the water of life 
 " Let him take freely." — Those who receive Christ 
 In simple and pure faith and love may come ; 
 The sinless innocents in Jesus washed ; 
 The young, who all theu- life have lived to Him ; 
 The middled aged, who have fought the fight 
 Of faith, living in God's ordinances ;
 
 42 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME TEAT IS ; 
 
 The full aged Christian, who with years 
 
 Hag grown from grace to grace, in love to Christ ; 
 
 The brands which from the burning have been snatched. 
 
 And by repentance been again restored. 
 
 Those in the varied circumstance of life 
 
 Who grace have found, and to their Lord have turned ; 
 
 And, as we hope, millions through the love 
 
 Of Jesus and his all-atoning blood, 
 
 Who yet on earth have never heard of Plim ; 
 
 And those so blest ones, His own true servants 
 
 Ministering in His name, who His glory 
 
 By grace have made the first desire of life : 
 
 All these the blest inheritance of heaven 
 
 May win, and live eternally with Him, 
 
 Who bought them with a price no man can coimt. 
 
 And in whose presence ever will be Bliss. 
 
 Heaven is now to all believers open, 
 Yet of ourselves alone, by oiu* own works, 
 No one can enter there ; by the merits
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 43 
 
 Of Jesus Christ, and by pure faith in Him, — 
 
 That faith which works by iove obedient; 
 
 For, " if ye love Me, My commandments keep, " 
 
 All may win the gift of life eternal. 
 
 Jesus liimself hath said, " I am the way, 
 
 The truth, the Kfe," — " Ask, and ye shall receive," 
 
 " Seek, and ye shall find" — and " I am the door, 
 
 " Knock, and it shall be opened imto you. " 
 
 That knock is prayer, pm-e, fervent prayer, 
 
 The holy, blessed privilege of prayer, 
 
 Humble, earnest, faithful, loving prayer, 
 
 The holy communion of the soid. 
 
 With God in Christ, through Christ, by God's Spirit 
 
 Proceeding from the Father, and the Son, 
 
 Vouchsafed from Jesus, and for Jesus' sake. 
 
 Let us therefore now pray while life doth last, 
 
 And nothing doubt, the answer will be given, 
 
 A blissful Immortality is yours. 
 
 God, most Holy, Eternal Father,
 
 -14 ETERNITY PAST; TIME THAT IS; 
 
 Eternal Son, Eternal Spirit — One 
 
 Co-equal, undivided Trinity 
 
 In unity incomprehensible, 
 
 In all the fuhaess of thy great Godhead 
 
 Bodily revealed and manifest 
 
 In Jesus Christ, incarnate Deity, 
 
 To Thee I pray ; in Thy name, O Jesus, 
 
 God grant me grace to be a child of thine ; 
 
 And as a child, with all my heart and soul, 
 
 With all my mind and life, all that I am, 
 
 And all that I have, truly to love Thee ; 
 
 To adore and worship Thee in spirit , 
 
 Arid in truth, now and everlastingly. 
 
 Give me to realise thy love to me 
 
 In creation, in redemption, 
 
 In salvation, and in the power 
 
 Of the Holy Ghost; to make me thankful, 
 
 Faithfiil, himible, penitent, righteous. 
 
 Holy and good ; to make me stedfest, true, 
 
 Cahn, peaceful, joyful in the assurance
 
 ETEENITY TO COME. 45 
 
 Of hope, loving, dutiful and just. 
 
 O God, forgive me all my sins, the sins 
 
 Of those so dear to me, and on all mankind 
 
 Have mercy ; forgive me all offences 
 
 Wlierein I may have injured others ; 
 
 And do thou, O Lord, in mercy, blessing 
 
 Recompense to them for all the wrong I've done ; 
 
 And if any, in thovight, or word, or deed, 
 
 Intent, or motive, have done injury 
 
 To me, I pray forgiveness for them all, 
 
 As I would fi'om my heart forgive them too. 
 
 God, all this in Jesus I do pray, 
 
 And in the power of His atoning blood ; 
 
 Yea, in thine own blood, O God Almighty; 
 
 In thine o^vn life of sorrow, sufFerine:, 
 
 And shame; in thine own fearful agony; 
 
 In thine o"\vn most deep passion, bearing 
 
 For us the just wrath of God the Father ; 
 
 In thine own most degraded cross of pain, 
 
 Of ignominy and of scorn; O God,
 
 46 ETERNITY TAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 In Tliinc own precious death, yea, Thy death, 
 
 For the sins of the world Tliou didst create ; 
 
 In Thine ovn\ sacred burial, tlie tomb 
 
 Thus sanctifying unto us ; tliine oAvn 
 
 Most glorious resurrection life, 
 
 In victory ti-iumphant o'er the grave ; 
 
 In Thy divine ascension up to heaven ; 
 
 Thy session on the high throne of God, 
 
 In that entire glory of the Father, 
 
 Wliich with Him thou hadst before the world was ; 
 
 And by. the coming of The Holy Ghost ; 
 
 In all this most heavenly work of love, 
 
 O Jesus, my God, I pray for mercy. 
 
 Pardon and forgiveness of all my sin. 
 
 O Jesus Christ, to God in Thee, through Tliee, 
 
 The alone Mediator between God 
 
 And man ; our all-prevailing Advocate 
 
 And Intercessor, Jesus, Son of God, 
 
 Passed mto the heavens, and for us 
 
 Ever living to make intercession ;
 
 ETEENITY TO COME. 47 
 
 Our High Priest, after the sacred order 
 
 Of Slelchizedek : of thy holy Church 
 
 The living head, King of kings, Lord of lords ; 
 
 The King of glory ; Prince of peace and joy; 
 
 God incarnate ; bodily in glory 
 
 Infinite, yet veiled, manifest to man; 
 
 ]\Iy Redeemer and Lord, my Saviour 
 
 And my God, Thee I adore, to Thee I humbly pray : — 
 
 O God, keep me now and ever without sm ; 
 From all temptation, and from all danger 
 Spiritual and temporal, good Lord, 
 Defend me ; from aU evil and mischief, 
 And especially from all evil thoughts 
 "VVliich may assault and hiu-t the soul, good Lord, 
 Deliver me ; let thy good providence 
 Be over me ; and grant me now 
 And always such things on earth, in Thy sight 
 Best, iur Thy glory, and my future good. 
 In every time of need sustain, guide. 
 And strengthen me, help and deliver me.
 
 48 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 God grant Tliy holy angoLs over me 
 
 May watch, succour, defend, and minister ; 
 
 God, give me grace to realise Thy presence 
 
 Always, everywhere ; Thy omnipotence 
 
 And Thy omniscience ; for as thine eye 
 
 Under the fig-tree did Nathaniel 
 
 See, so is thine eye ever upon me. — 
 
 May I reahse Thy Almighty power, 
 
 That nothmg is impossible with Thee. — 
 
 Holy Father, ever look iipon me 
 
 In thy dear Son, not as I am myself, 
 
 But only in His righteous merits ; 
 
 For all thy gracious mercies, blessings, 
 
 And goodness undeserved, I thank Thee. 
 
 My poor thanksgiving and my prayers 
 
 Hear and accept, O Lord, in Him, Thy Son, 
 
 Thine own beloved Son, in whom alone 
 
 Hiunbly I dare approach Thy throne of grace. 
 
 O God, most holy. Lord of life, Giver 
 
 Of all good things, from Heaven descended,
 
 ETEENITY TO COME. 49 
 
 As the Comforter and Sanctifier, 
 
 Dwell Thou in me for my Lord Jesus' sake ; 
 
 Be Thon my light, my life, my joy, my peace, 
 
 My comfort and my strength, my guide, my trust, 
 
 » 
 
 My ruler, and my fi-iend ; increase my faith ; 
 
 Enlarge my mind ; and by Thy power divine 
 
 Make me to love Thee with a perfect heart : 
 
 Give light unto my spirit to discern 
 
 Thy holy truth and will, and to receive 
 
 Into myself that truth in all its breadth 
 
 And iulness as revealed in Jesus ; 
 
 Exalt my soul to heaven, and in faith 
 
 Jesus my Lord in glory there to see, 
 
 My God in Him, to whom, through whom I pray. — 
 
 Oh ! my Father, lead, draw me to Thyself, 
 
 Through Thy Son Jesus, by Thy Spirit's power. — 
 
 Oh ! my Saviour, fit and prepare me 
 
 Wliile on earth, in thine own most blessed way, 
 
 To enter into the joy of my Lord ; 
 
 And that I may that blest inheritance 
 
 £
 
 50 ETERNITY PAST ; TIME THAT IS ; 
 
 In Hoaven receive, to live for ever 
 
 In lliy blissful presence, in the kingdom 
 
 Of Thy Church in glory ; bestow on me 
 
 Thy most unworthy creature, ere I die. 
 
 Thy peace, which all understanding passe th, 
 
 And which Thou alone canst give — peace in Thee, — 
 
 And may Thy grace, Thy love, Thy fellowship, 
 
 Be mine, through Jesus Chuist, my Lord and God. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 So in eternity that now is past, 
 AYlien no creation was, but God alone 
 In His ovm glorious infinity ; 
 So in the roUing years of time that is. 
 In which it hath pleased God the universe 
 To create, and shadow forth His glory ; 
 So in eternity to come, when time 
 ' ShaU be no more, the fuU accomplishment 
 Of God's will yet ever still fulfilUng, 
 There has been, from outstretched eternity
 
 ETERNITY TO COME. 51 
 
 Gone by, through time, through that eternity 
 
 As far outstretched, which lies, past time, before, 
 
 One mighty scheme of love divine, grand, deep, 
 
 Majestically vast ! — its object — man ! 
 
 Man, — in Chpjst Jesus, as the living Head, 
 
 I\Ian, — in the kingdom of Christ's Church in heaven ; 
 
 Through man in Christ, and in His holy Church, 
 
 To all the wondrous universe make known 
 
 God's majesty and power, glory and love. 
 
 How great, how high, the destiny of man ! 
 How past all thought his blessedness in heaven ! 
 How exalted from human to divine ! 
 How glorious for ever to fulfil. 
 In bodies glorified, souls purified, 
 The holy will of God ! by His Spirit 
 Empowered and upheld in Holiness ! 
 To sing His Praise, His wondrous Love declare ' 
 GLOiiy TO God in highest evermore ! 
 
 E 2
 
 52 ETEKNITY. — TKIUNE GOD. 
 
 O TuoL' incoinpreliensible, 
 
 Clearly revealed ; 
 Holiness inexpressible, 
 
 Our Sim and Shield. 
 
 From the depth of eternity 
 Thou art made known ; 
 
 Unchangeable infinity, 
 One God alone. 
 
 Declared from heaven above, 
 
 Ever to be 
 Indivisible, God of love, 
 
 One God in Three. 
 
 O everlasting Trinity, 
 
 Thee we adore 
 In Jesus, in the Unity, 
 
 God evermore. 
 
 Glory and praise O God to Thee, 
 In Thy dear Son ; 
 
 Worship to Thee eternally, 
 Incarnate One. 
 
 The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
 
 Almighty One ; 
 Our God in Jesus manifest, 
 
 Th' eternal Son.
 
 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST 
 
 E 3
 
 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 Perfection is the attribiite of God 
 Alone, most clearly seen in all His works ; 
 And, if reflected in His works, profound, 
 Impenetrable as infinity, 
 Is perfection perfect in the essence 
 Of His own being ; to His creatures known 
 By His OAvn revelation of Himself. 
 God ever was, now is, ever will be 
 Incomprehensible ; and in that way 
 And that degree alone, in which His will 
 Dotli manifest His attributes to us. 
 Whether in wisdom, power, or goodness 
 
 E 4
 
 56 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CERIST. 
 
 In creation ; or by the word of truth, 
 
 Explicitly revealing unto man 
 
 The essence of Plis own holy Godliead, 
 
 Tliat truth attesting liy Ilis powcsr divine 
 
 In those lie made tlie heralds of His will, 
 
 Creation bowing to His sovereign sway, 
 
 Do we know God: — tlius enough is given, 
 
 Us to suffice truly to apprehend 
 
 God self-existent, triune Jehovah, 
 
 Undivided Trinity, God alone. 
 
 In one sole unity, inscrutable. 
 
 Co-equal, co-eternal, three in one. 
 
 As Father, Son, and Holy Ghost declared ; 
 
 One Spirit, inherently possessing 
 
 All infinite perfection, of which 
 
 But a poor finite, though a gi-and idea. 
 
 Can be conceived by the mind of man. 
 
 Thus in words exprest; majesty divine. 
 
 Greatness and holiness, omnipotence. 
 
 Omniscience, omnipresence, goodness.
 
 THE PEEFECTION OF GOD IN CHKIST. 57 
 
 Truth and love. — Other than Avhom there is no God; 
 
 No, not any. — God is omnipotent ; 
 
 Therefore in thousand times ten thousand ways 
 
 He could create, and to creation 
 
 Could Himseh' reveal ; how truly Avondrous, 
 
 God wills His attributes to demonstrate ! 
 
 That He whose name is God, past finding out, 
 
 Shordd so ordain, that while His own essence 
 
 For ever should inscrutable remain. 
 
 We are permitted Him to know and see, 
 
 As He is ; hidden in infinity, 
 
 And yet revealed in very brightest light ! 
 
 His Godhead inviolate maintaining. 
 
 And yet so, out of Himself, descending 
 
 ^Marvellously, that of His majesty 
 
 Not one iota is im^jaired or dimmed ! 
 
 God is imchangeable, yet a change 
 
 Took place when to the Godliead man was joined ; 
 
 How clear the seeming paradox becomes. 
 
 When, by the Spirit's power, the truth we bring
 
 58 THE TEI^FECTION OP GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 Home to onr minds, that God's decrees and will, 
 
 From everlasting to everlasting, 
 
 Are one unity, an emanation 
 
 Of His own omniscient sovereignty : 
 
 Thus in the counsels of eternity 
 
 Christ was ordained to be the only way 
 
 Through Avhich God willed His nature shoidd be known. 
 
 In Christ Jesus, our Saviour, behold 
 
 God, very God eternal, incarnate ! 
 
 Himself, triune Jehovah, co-equal, 
 
 Undivided Trinity, in essence 
 
 And in will, decreeing that Christ alone. 
 
 Perfect manhood into perfect Godhead 
 
 Taken, should be to all creation 
 
 God apparent, and as apart from Christ, 
 
 And out of Him, that God unknown should be. 
 
 Incomprehensible, inscrutable; 
 
 In all His holy attributes most high : 
 
 So that in Christ alone do we know God, 
 
 x\nd out of Christ we know Him not at all.
 
 THE PEEFECTION OF GOD IN CHEIST. 59 
 
 For by Him, who of God invisible 
 
 The image is, all things created were, 
 
 Visible and invisible, by Him, 
 
 For Him, who before all things is and was, 
 
 B}' whom all things consist, and in whom dwells 
 
 All the fuhiess of God, the Trinity 
 
 In Unity that filleth all in all. 
 
 And thus did God in Christ unto Himself 
 
 Unite creation, work of His own Avill, 
 
 Still only manifest, through Him, in Him. 
 
 "Wlierefore did God create, when nought could add 
 To His perfection ? — a deep solemn thought ! 
 Only to be answered by His oAvn "Word ; 
 Tliat word divine doth tell us " God is Love." 
 May we not say, on God's authority, 
 Creation sprung from the exuberance 
 Of His loA'c ? and may we not then believe. 
 When in creation God made all things good, 
 He did design the reflex of himself
 
 60 
 
 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHItlST. 
 
 In all His holy mighty attributes ? 
 
 As in God there is one sovereign will 
 
 So to His creatures, Avhom in His imao-e • 
 
 He did to being call, a Avill He gave, 
 
 Reflection of His will, and endowment, 
 
 With power in its exercise, to look to Him 
 
 For never-failing aid, ever to keep him 
 
 In that blest estate of his existence. 
 
 Then would the freedom of his will enhance 
 
 Each step of his primeval happiness ; 
 
 But that Avill was free, so might be abused 
 
 To evil purpose of rebellion ; 
 
 And thus the very gift tliat Avas for good 
 
 Designed, might become the fruitful source 
 
 Of alienation from the giver. 
 
 Herein is God's almightiness, that sin. 
 Which is the setting up the creature's will - 
 'Gainst that of his Creator, cannot chano-e 
 The truth, that " God is love," nor ever thwart
 
 THE PEEFECTION OF GOD IN CUEIST. 61 
 
 His purposes of love ; and though in God's 
 
 Omniscience all eternity is known, 
 
 And therefore He foreknew the fall of man, 
 
 And by His foreknowledge knew redemption 
 
 By Himself alone as our Eedeenier 
 
 Could be achieved ; and though foreseeing all, 
 
 The fulness of the scope of love reqixired 
 
 In His own holy work, to give Himself 
 
 As an atonement for a sinfid Avorld, 
 
 Yet by Chiust Jesus in eternal love 
 
 He made the world, and then redeemed the world ! 
 
 So infinite, passing thought, is God's love ! 
 
 Love, deep as deep eternity itself! 
 
 He permitted, did not ordain man's fall, 
 
 And all its dire consequence ; yet in faith 
 
 We may be sure, though now we dimly look 
 
 Through a glass darkly, that the time Avill come, 
 
 When the radiant power of the Spirit 
 
 Shall to conviction so illuminate 
 
 The whole creation, that each soul condemned
 
 62 THE TERIECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 Or uncondcmnecl, must perforce, willingly 
 Or unwillingly, the unchanging truth 
 Admit, that God, the just and holy God, 
 Is not a God of vengeance, but of love. 
 There is no flaw in God's perfection. 
 Thus as Creator Christ we do behold. 
 
 The tmiverse is witness to God's power. 
 Wisdom and goodness, greatness and glory 
 ^Manifest through Christ ; in Christ redemption 
 Is the attestation of His love. 
 How glorious the one, yet higher still 
 The other ! to call creation forth, 
 Ten thousand thousand worlds, systems and spheres. 
 Wisdom, beneficence and might disjilayed 
 In every atom, perfect and wondrous, 
 Marvellous in beauty and arrangement. 
 Were, indeed, an act, in God's holy will. 
 Worthy of Himself, and to finite mind 
 Might seem the fulness of Divinity.
 
 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 63 
 
 But oh ! how imiitterably deeper 
 
 To manifest to that creation 
 
 His OAvn most holy attributes of mercy, 
 
 Justice and love, uniting to Himself 
 
 In Christ ordained, the universe He made. 
 
 Each attribute of God is in itself 
 As perfect as the rest, not any one 
 Can militate agamst, or set aside 
 The other's fulness of perfection ; 
 So God's justice doth its own meed require, 
 And even love cannot ride paramount, 
 To the deflection of one single point 
 Of God's most holy law, that sin requires 
 Satisfaction ; to the fiill and utmost. — 
 God said to man, one thing thou shalt not do, 
 I make thee lord of all the rest around 
 Thee. If thy will thou dost perversely use, 
 And, in defiance of my just command. 
 That fruit which is forbidden, thou dost cat,
 
 64 THE TEUFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 Sin will possess thy sonl, and thou shalt die. 
 
 Adam did eat, and fell, no longer then 
 
 Was paradise a paradise to him. 
 
 He was an outcast fi-om high heaven, 
 
 Banished from God, his doom was death and hell; 
 
 God's justice this demanded, and unless 
 
 A ransom could Ije paid, as infinite 
 
 As that His attribute, man had no hope 
 
 Of restoration to God's favour : 
 
 His paradise was lost, and misery, 
 
 Sin's mate, fell dire on him and all his race. 
 
 But what no finite being could have done, 
 
 For how can finite fill infinity ? 
 
 God, in the fulfilment of His counsels, 
 
 Deep in eternity, undertook to do; 
 
 And by his own act of man's redemption, 
 
 To develop to all the universe 
 
 His own all perfect holiness divine. 
 
 Justice co-equal with His holiness, 
 
 Omnipotence of His eternal love.
 
 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 65 
 
 So to creation manifesting '^ 
 
 A more sublime and glorious knowledge 
 
 Of Himself, than that creation gave. 
 
 God in Christ of all things Creator was, 
 
 God in Christ alone our Eedeemer is. 
 
 And what a mighty argument is this ! 
 
 That if there be redemption it must be 
 
 That oiir Eedeemer must be very God. 
 
 None else could satisfy infinity. 
 
 This mighty act transcendent of God's love, 
 Decreed in Christ to be accomplished, 
 And in Christ alone, Jesus, Son of God, 
 Son of the Father, one with the Father 
 And the Holy Ghost, undivided One, 
 Was done, when, ia the fulness of time, God 
 For man's redemption gave His only Son. 
 Eternal God in Christ, made perfect man 
 On earth, sinless, of reasonable soul 
 And human flesh subsisting ; in that flesh, 
 
 F
 
 66 THE rERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 By the o'ershadowing of the Holy Ghost 
 
 Of His Virgin -Mother, blessed Mary, 
 
 Bom, He lived, suffered, died, was crucified. 
 
 And from the gi'ave victorious, from death 
 
 To life He rose again, no more to die; 
 
 The grasp of death was powerless on Him ; 
 
 Impossible He could by death be held. 
 
 From Heaven came the Christ, to Heaven again 
 
 The Christ, Jesus, our Lord and God, on high 
 
 Ascended ; and in the Father's glory, 
 
 The glory of the eternal Godhead, 
 
 The glory of the Father, the glory 
 
 Of the Son, glory of the Holy Ghost, 
 
 The gloiy which He had before the world. 
 
 He sits and reigns ; the perfect man 
 
 And perfect God, One, altogether One, 
 
 God in Jesus on earth, Jesus in God 
 
 In Heaven ; as man, the law of God for man 
 
 Fulfilling in every point and tittle ; 
 
 As man, suffering for man sorrow and pain.
 
 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 67 
 
 And death, the agony profoundly deep, 
 
 That passion beyond conception bitter. 
 
 Which no tongue can utter, no thought can reach, 
 
 Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani ! 
 
 To justice infinite, as infinite 
 
 A ransom paid ; and thus did God in Christ 
 
 Unto Himself the whole world reconcile ; 
 
 His IMajesty in no point derogate. 
 
 Thus is redemption, laiown in Christ alone, 
 
 And therein, in Christ alone, do we know God. 
 
 When into being first creation came. 
 Over the face of the dark waters moved 
 The Spirit of God ; when fi-om earthly dust 
 The Lord formed man, into his nostrils 
 His Holy Spirit breathed the breath of life, 
 And man became a living soul : of old. 
 When holy men God's promises declared. 
 As they were moved by the Holy Ghost, 
 They spoke and wrote ; pointing to Christ alone, 
 
 F 2
 
 68 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 As He Himself unto His disciples, 
 
 Those Scrip tvires so graciously did open, 
 
 This in their fulness testifying. 
 
 And ere the mortal life of Jesus closed, 
 
 He said, " For you it is expedient 
 
 " I go away ; the Comforter will come 
 
 " If I depart, even the Holy Ghost, 
 
 " The Spirit of truth, whom from the Father 
 
 " I will send. He shall testify of Me." 
 
 He said, " I am the way, the truth, the life, 
 
 " No man to the Father ever cometh 
 
 " But by me : " — Jesus, He is Lord of all, 
 
 By Him, to the Father by one spirit 
 
 We have access ; He created all things ; 
 
 Creation hath hfe ; man's immortal soul 
 
 Is part of man, and man by Him was made. 
 
 Thus to creation by Him life was given. 
 
 And through Him did the Spirit breathe his breath, 
 
 " Without Him was not anything made that was made." 
 
 So by His Spirit, through holy prophets
 
 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 69 
 
 Since the -world began, was God's holy will 
 
 Unfolded ; of that rock Israel drank, 
 
 And that spiritual rock was Cln-ist. 
 
 The " Spirit of Christ " who was verily 
 
 Before the world's foundation foreordained, 
 
 In these last times made truly manifest, 
 
 In them did testify Christ's sufferings 
 
 And glory : — not until the Heaven of Heavens 
 
 Lifted its gates in glory to receive 
 
 The King of Glory, did the Holy Ghost, 
 
 The Sanctifier, from Heaven descend. 
 
 Thus unto us the knowledge high is given, 
 
 That not in creation and redemption 
 
 Only, do we know God in Christ alone, 
 
 But all life-giving power, grace, holiness, 
 
 All revelations of Himself, through Christ, 
 
 And in Christ alone, are in Him vouchsafed. 
 
 Each atom of the universe obeys 
 The sov'reign law on it impressed by God ; 
 
 F 3
 
 :0 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 Resistance to His will there can be none. 
 
 Though, by permission, in His counsel deep, 
 
 The powers entrusted to His creatures, 
 
 With free agency by Him endowed. 
 
 May to evil purpose be perverted ; 
 
 God, sole Ruler and Governor supreme 
 
 Has ever been, now is, and e'er shall be. 
 
 O'er mind and matter to eternity. 
 
 God, by Christ, the universe created, 
 
 God, by Christ Jesus, did this world redeem, 
 
 So God in Jesus, the Christ, Saviour 
 
 Omnijootent, very God, doth maintain 
 
 In Him supremacy, iiile absolute 
 
 Over that work His will brouglit into being, 
 
 Over that work His loving wiU redeemed. 
 
 In Him, of principality and power 
 
 The head ; in Him, by whom, for whom, all things 
 
 In heaven and earth, seen and unseen, exist ; 
 
 In Him, the Christ, God blessed for ever, 
 
 Who is over all, the triime God,
 
 THE PERFECTION OP GOD IN CHEIST. 71 
 
 In all fulness in the flesh manifest, 
 
 True manhood into Godhead taken up, 
 
 The imiverse doth govern, from the sublime 
 
 Magnificence of ethereal spheres, 
 
 To the provision of the needs of life 
 
 Of the minutest insect ; from the powers 
 
 Of highest seraph and archangel bright 
 
 To the most abject of creation. 
 
 In all their order, beauty, and design : 
 
 All in subjection are to Him in whom 
 
 God is, in whom God reigns, Jesus the Christ, 
 
 The same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.. 
 
 Thus God in love and condescension. 
 
 From Majesty incomprehensible 
 
 Nothing detracting, doth to creation 
 
 Witness his own perfection of Himself. 
 
 There is no contrariety in Him. 
 
 The Majesty of God is infinite, 
 To finite being unapproachable 
 
 F 4
 
 72 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 In presence, by his own unaided power ; 
 
 Wlio of himself to highest heaven can reach ? 
 
 Who penetrate to lowest depth's abyss ? 
 
 Who span in breadth illimitable space ? 
 
 Impossible ; — so also cannot man 
 
 In his own carnal weakness entrance make : 
 
 No ; nor the highest being God e'er made, 
 
 Into the presence of God's unveiled 
 
 High Majesty, without His aid divine. 
 
 But oh ! how glorious ! that God Himself 
 
 Hath, in the stupendous power of the acts 
 
 Of His eternal love, wrought out a way, 
 
 In, by, and through Himself unto Himself, 
 
 Whereby his creatui-es access free may find 
 
 To Him, who verily is God alone. 
 
 Jesus, the Christ, Creator, Redeemer, 
 
 And through whom God in man doth truly dwell. 
 
 Hath said, " I am the way," — " Unto the Father 
 
 " No man cometh but by me." And His word, 
 
 His sacred word, doth tell us plainly this,
 
 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHIIIST. 
 
 " There is one God, and one Mediator 
 
 " Between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," 
 
 " The great God and Saviom- Jesus Christ." 
 
 How blessed ! how perfect ! how glorious 
 
 Are the ways of God to His creation ! 
 
 How infinite His power and His love ! 
 
 That yielding none of His great Majesty 
 
 Inconceivable, into His presence 
 
 We may come, and in our Mediator 
 
 The fidness of the Godhead manifest 
 
 In Body see, and in Him and through Him 
 
 We may hold communion with our God : 
 
 We may speak to Him in prayer, gloriiy 
 
 His great name in praise, with hmnility 
 
 Confess oiu' sins to Him in penitence. 
 
 Oh ! when we tliink how frail and weak we are. 
 
 How drawn away by pleasure and by sin. 
 
 How overcome by our own wayward will. 
 
 How overwhelmed by earth's desires and cares, 
 
 How hard, and blind, and cold, and vain in heart
 
 74 THE PErvFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 And mind, liow dull in oiu' affections, 
 How irreverent, and in thought impiu'C ; 
 HoAv indifferent, supine and careless, 
 How negligent and ignorant, how prone 
 To err, how open to temptation, 
 How weak in faith, how poor in love and hope. 
 Conscience convinces us no moment 
 Of our life the light of God's scrutiny- 
 Can stand ; and if on ourselves we rested, 
 Though heaven be open, none would enter there. 
 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
 The victory is ours in Him ; His grace 
 Is all-sufficient, and our weakness 
 Is in Him made strength, because weak, then strong 
 All that is good in xis is by His grace. 
 With soul and body we may adore Him, 
 And worship Him in spirit and in truth, 
 Through Jesus, the Christ, very God and man. 
 In Him, veiled in flesh, God may know and see. 
 High heaven to us is truly open
 
 THE PEEFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 75 
 
 Through Christ, who is "the way, the truth, the life ; " 
 
 But how can we poor worms oiir pleadings make 
 
 To gain admission there ; merit to us 
 
 Pertaining we have none ; to a fountain 
 
 Not our oAvn we needs must fly ; to a well 
 
 Of righteousness which we digged not ; 
 
 To a spring of holiness all sinless ; 
 
 To obedience perfect of God's law ; 
 
 To enter heaven we must have all these, 
 Holiness, righteousness, and merit 
 
 Of fulfilled obedience ; besides, 
 
 As prisoners bound down by wilful sin, 
 
 A ransom we must pay, or must be paid 
 
 For us, and we ourselves are powerless ; 
 
 We cannot of ourselves appropriate 
 
 To ourselves that which to us belongs not, 
 
 But to another ; so stiU destitute 
 
 We should ever be, were it not that He, 
 
 Wlio the way opened, in that opening 
 
 Hath joined Himself to us, and us to Him,
 
 THE TEllFECTION OF GOD IN CUEIST. 
 
 Made Himself to us an everlasting head, 
 All holy, all righteous, all perfect 
 Infinitely ; so made His merit ours, 
 In His wondrous love, in His own body 
 Did our ransom pay, and in victory 
 Did to heaven ascend, as oiu- Redeemer, 
 As our only Mediator and way. 
 And as our all-prevailing Advocate. 
 Being our Mediator, we may plead 
 Through Him, as our Advocate, forgiveness 
 And acceptance ; as our only one Advocate 
 He pleads for us His blessed work of love, 
 Plis atoning blood, His all infinite 
 Suffering, obedience perfect. 
 So in this step, as in all steps 
 Of God's deep purposes of love, we see 
 God fulfilling all things, and man nothing : 
 Man utter weakness, God his only strength. 
 From first to last aU is of God alone. 
 The glory His through Jesus Christ oui- Lord.
 
 THE PERFECTION OP GOD IN CHRIST. 77 
 
 K God be for us, who shall be against ? 
 If God doth plead for us, we cannot fail ; 
 That which we could not do, He does for us, 
 He so loves us, why do we not love Him ? 
 
 Still onward flows the loving stream from God 
 Of His perfection as revealed to man. 
 In Christ, "Jesus, the Son of God most high," 
 Into the heavens for us passed once, 
 Ever living, intercession making 
 For those He has redeemed, who in their hearts 
 Believe, and, with humility and joy 
 Eeceive Him as their God and Saviour ; 
 Our Melchisedek High Priest for ever. 
 Thus not only does He plead righteousness, 
 Atonement, a ransom, obedience. 
 All fulfilled in Him, the Christ, for us, 
 But as High Priest He intercedes for us 
 In His own Person, His eternal love, 
 That everlasting love, which with the Father
 
 i THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 Was ever one, He pleads on our behalf, 
 
 And for His love's sake to His Church, His body, 
 
 For their salvation ever intercedes. 
 
 Our only Mediator, Advocate, 
 
 And Intercessor, aU in Christ alone, 
 
 And Christ in God in whom all flilness dwells. 
 
 Thus God in all is perfect in the Christ. 
 
 No point of God's perfection really is 
 More perfect than another, but there seems 
 In the divine unfolding of Himself 
 Vouchsafed to man, one central point, lustrous. 
 And so gracious, that all other points 
 In their perfection seem to concentrate 
 In that one — eternal Love — God is Love ! 
 The channel of that love Christ Jesus is. 
 The steps successive of His mighty works 
 Take bii'th in love, love their source and spring. 
 Love their continued course, and love their end : 
 Creation sprang from love, its deep, deep root
 
 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 79 
 
 Lies in past eternity, its action 
 
 Expands its blessed spirit, Avings its flight 
 
 Throughout the ever new, untiring. 
 
 Never ending ages, constant rolling, 
 
 Of eternity to come ; trace its coiu'se 
 
 Even as seen by the dim eye of man. 
 
 Taught by the Spirit of God ; thus it runs ; — 
 
 God's holy will that blessing from Himself 
 
 Should emanate ; and thence creation sprmig, 
 
 " And lo ! God beheld all that He had made, 
 
 " And it was very good ; " — God willed that man 
 
 In His own image shoixld created be. 
 
 From that blest estate man fell, was lost. 
 
 But God's will promised and gave One mighty 
 
 To redeem and save lost man ; so Himself 
 
 He gave, none else so gi'eat a work could do. 
 
 Clothed in man's nature, O wondrous mystery ! 
 
 He died for man, for him did rise again 
 
 From death, that man might live in bHss in Him. 
 
 Thus to live he must believe that Jesus,
 
 80 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 The Christ, very God and very man did so die 
 For his salvation ; to enable him 
 For this his part, fi-om heaven God descended 
 To light the soul of man its path to God ; 
 To point to Jesus risen, Christ in glory, 
 As our sole Mediator, Priest, and King, 
 Our Advocate and Intercessor, till 
 The biu'st of resiu-rection morn ; 
 When He who died for us, who pleads for us 
 His blood, who so loves xis, our Judge shall be. 
 Oh ! what a blessed pledge is this, that none 
 But those who Him do wilfully reject. 
 Shall be rejected from the life of heaven ; 
 That they who come to Him in penitence 
 And faith. He will in no wise them cast out. 
 Awful indeed will be the sinner's lot, 
 Those who despite warning, exhortation, 
 Forbearing love, and constant proffered grace. 
 Reject the glorious inheritance, 
 Prepared for all who will but come to Him.
 
 THE PERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 8i 
 
 Blessed will be the resurrection life 
 Of those, who while on earth have lived to God ; 
 By gi'ace, have daily grown in grace, in faith 
 Putting on Christ, ever in prayer their wills, 
 By nature stubborn, may be so sul)dued, 
 And moulded to their loving Maker's will, 
 As to prepare them for the day of death. 
 And for that greater day, when all mankind 
 Shall stand before the judgment-seat of Christ; 
 The throne of Him, who died for them, that they 
 Who knock on earth, may enter into heaven. 
 So Christ, the Alpha and Omega is, 
 God manifest in Christ, and Him alone, 
 Jesus, the Christ in glory, very God, 
 The same yesterday, to-day, and thi'oughout 
 The everlasting ages, for ever. 
 
 •r 
 
 For ever ! yes, for ever ! thoiigh as yet 
 
 We know not the depths extreme which God's love 
 
 Divine tmto creation shall reveal, 
 
 Wlien the kingdoms of His Christ completion 
 
 G
 
 82 THE TERFECTION OF GOD IN CHRIST. 
 
 Shall receive, in some yet grander, vaster, 
 
 More sublime effluxion of His glory, 
 
 And God omnipotent be all in all. 
 
 Thus know we God in Christ, and Christ alone. 
 
 Each step of revelation more and more, 
 
 As in His works, so also in Himself, 
 
 Tlie perfect God proclaiming, perfect Love.
 
 ADORATION 
 
 G 2
 
 85 
 
 ADORATION. 
 
 To be a Christian, uncliristianised, 
 Is a paradox, alas, too common ; 
 But to be a Christian, whose every 
 Aspiration breathes pure hoHness, 
 Whose every act is set in righteousness, 
 So far as man's infirmity permits ; 
 Whose virtues, from love to his Redeemer, 
 Vie with each other in their bright extent. 
 Where grace doth water grace, and each lovely 
 Budding flow'ret is the germ of bloom. 
 So beauteous, so fragrant with delight, 
 That while it fascinates and spreads its glow 
 
 G 3
 
 S6 ADORATION. 
 
 Of heavenly lustre, benign and pure, 
 
 On all around, shedding a balmy perfume, 
 
 Inhaled by kindred spirits; it scatters 
 
 Seed so fragrant, so infusing, so bright, 
 
 That admiration is elicited 
 
 From the profane inclined ; a Christian 
 
 Thus to be, is to be the child of God. 
 
 Through admiration the small seed of good 
 
 May in the profane so gently buried be, 
 
 That they who sow, and they in whom are sown, 
 
 That which hereafter much fruit may produce, 
 
 Of its blest influence and gradual 
 
 Eipening power aUke unconscious are. 
 
 So doth example, by its influence 
 
 For good or ill, exert a power unknown ; 
 
 But if silent, yet true, so permeates 
 
 The living character of those in Christ, 
 
 Into the mass of beings all around ; 
 
 If its leavening power be so potent. 
 
 That the good it energises, speeds on
 
 ADORATIOX. 87 
 
 His way the Christian less advanced ; 
 
 Deters the evil e'er so small degree 
 
 In his career, mayhap, insensibly 
 
 As to the cause precise, his vessel steer 
 
 From the lee shore of sin where rocks abound. 
 
 Into the blest haven of salvation ; 
 
 If this be so, how lovely is the flower 
 
 Of Christian holiness and virtue ! 
 
 But if to distant points the radius 
 
 Of its influence extends, how distant 
 
 Who can tell, how does dear home with kindred 
 
 Spirit become imbued, and a pure loA'e 
 
 Of holiness strike deep its root in one, 
 
 Another, and another, till that home 
 
 By grace becomes a home of blessedness. 
 
 Such is the power of one soul singly bent 
 
 To Jesus' glory, both to live and die. 
 
 Prayer for each other, daily, night and morn, 
 Suljmissive always to His holy will, 
 
 G 4
 
 88 ADORATION. 
 
 Special and constant, rises up to heaven 
 As incense ; but not Avithin home's circlet 
 Is confined, nor to night and morn alone, 
 1 jut oft at other times, and with a range 
 Spreading from heme, as from a centre dear, 
 Embracing all mankind, but next to home 
 Those to home dearest ; highest over all 
 With thought exalted, and aspiration 
 Holy, breathing out with fervent heart 
 Continual prayer for that the truest home, 
 The Church, the members of the family 
 Of Jesus ; the home of heaven on high, 
 The home of heaven on earth, to those in faitli 
 WTio realise its high and holy truth. 
 High as the heavens are above the earth, 
 Yea, higher still is that adoration 
 Holy, most holy, so sublime and piire, 
 The Christian soul doth realise, Avho, 
 By God's Spirit, truly discerns and feels 
 His exaltation so surpassing high"
 
 ADORATION. 89 
 
 In Jesus ! the Creator and the head 
 Of all creation, being one with Him. 
 
 Clirist the Christian's adoration is, 
 God in Christ, and Christ in glory ! Glory ! 
 Not the figure of the Man-Christ on earth. 
 In this world born by God's o'ershadowing 
 Maiy blessed, perfect God, perfect man, 
 But the very figure of the self-same 
 Man-Christ in glory ; in whose remembrance 
 Of all He underwent on earth for man 
 Eighteen centuries gone, pre-eminent 
 The Man of Son-ows, "vvith gi-ief acquainted. 
 The scorned, rejected, biiffeted, spit on. 
 In depth of agony and bloody sweat, 
 In bitterest passion, yielding Himself 
 To shameful death, most ignominious. 
 On the cross, the crucified, for man ; 
 Giving His sacred body to the grave. 
 Instant to rise again by His own power
 
 90 ADORATION. 
 
 On the third day, in victory triumphant 
 
 Over sin, and death, and hell; all for man : 
 
 Ascending up to heaven, and sitting there, 
 
 In all the ftdness of the Majesty 
 
 Of the eternal glory of the Father, 
 
 Which before creation He ever had 
 
 With Him, ruUng the universe as man, 
 
 For man ; in whose dearly-loved remembrance. 
 
 Of all His holy mighty -work of love, 
 
 Kedeeming power and saving grace for man, 
 
 We do lift up the symbol of the cross 
 
 On high, and to the world its banner 
 
 Wide unfurl, the emblem of our redemption. 
 
 Of God's love, and of salvation our hope. 
 
 In its most sacred memories the cross 
 
 Embodies all. The holy life and death 
 
 Of Jesus on earth is concentrated 
 
 There ; the cross especially to earth 
 
 Belongs, the figure that once hung thereon, 
 
 Now to heaven belongs ; so the cross we need,
 
 ADORATION. 91 
 
 But not the crucifix ; to all, the eye 
 
 Of fliith should be directed up to heaven, 
 
 See there by faith that figure glorified ; 
 
 Grasping with firm hand the blessed emblem 
 
 Of the cross in memory of Jesus upon earth, 
 
 Not to be sun-endered but with life. 
 
 'Tis well man's soul, with vivid memory 
 
 Of the past, should through the past look onward 
 
 Up on high, and constant have before him 
 
 The figure of his dear Lord in glory ! 
 
 As St. Paul thus speaks, " It is Christ that died, 
 
 " Yea rather, that is now risen again, 
 
 " Who is even at the right hand of God." 
 
 It is truly contemplation higher, 
 
 Than to confine oiu' views to earth alone ; 
 
 For it is Himself, and not another, 
 
 The crucified on earth, the glorified 
 
 In heaven, the man Christ Jesus in glory ! 
 
 And oh ! what is that glory ? Light of light ! 
 
 Yet not alone the pure brilliancy
 
 92 ADORATION. 
 
 Of light's splendour, though unnumbered suns 
 
 In all their power were as a diadem 
 
 Upon His brow, and though all radiant hues, 
 
 Diversified in every aspect. 
 
 As the Almighty power of God to them 
 
 Could give a beauty unto us luiknown. 
 
 Were to surroimd His throne ; though worlds on worlds, 
 
 Nay, the whole imiverse in harmony 
 
 Magnificent, in all its wondrous might. 
 
 To His sole glory might contribute make ; 
 
 They do but shadow forth His glory, for 
 
 They are all creation ; doubtless they yield 
 
 Their homage ; there is an infinity 
 
 In the glory of God in Jesus Christ 
 
 Beyond creation. An infinity 
 
 Of holiness, wisdom, truth, and power ; 
 
 An infinity of righteousness. 
 
 Goodness, mercy, kindness, and compassion ; 
 
 And of aU other pure perfections, 
 
 Unutterable, inconceivable
 
 ADOEATION. 93 
 
 By man ; but above all, the glorious 
 
 Infinity of God's eternal love. 
 
 And does not all this holy Majesty, 
 
 And all this pure beauty of holiness, 
 
 And all this deep depth of love eternal, 
 
 And all the fathomless perfections 
 
 Of God receive expression in the face 
 
 Of Jesus ? of Jesus in His glory ? 
 
 Sui'ely we may believe that this is so, 
 
 That in the holy person of the Christ 
 
 AU glories meet ; or, of God's own essence, 
 
 Or, God manifest in His mighty works. 
 
 The Christian in his adoration 
 
 Some conception aims to realise, faint 
 
 It must be, of this glory of the Lord. 
 
 He prays to see His figure, and by faith 
 
 He sees Him, feels His presence, knows his God. 
 
 He also knows, hereafter face to face, 
 
 It wiU be given, with powers transcending 
 
 Human thought, — " We shall see Him as He is."
 
 94 ADORATION. 
 
 In worship ever, the Christian eye 
 On the very body of his dear Lord, 
 Risen with all his wounds, and now in heaven, 
 Stedfast should be fixed, and let no semblance 
 Take its place ; and this in true accordance 
 Is with the command, " No graven image 
 " Shalt thou make unto thyscH'; " and in Him 
 To see the Father, Son, and Spirit, one 
 In Godlaead's fulness manifest in flesh. 
 Heaven ! 'tis that region where God Himself, 
 God ! uncreated sole self-existent. 
 Is pleased His glory should especially 
 Shine forth ; His holy habitation called ; 
 Though with His fulness all things He fiUeth : 
 Incomprehensibly omnipotent. 
 Omniscient and omnipresent, ever 
 Thence outpouring fi-om His infinity 
 The rich exuberance of love divine. 
 Thence Jesus the eternal Son came down 
 To earth ; from earth did thither reascend.
 
 ADORATION. 95 
 
 Into His own glory with tlie Father 
 
 And the Holy Ghost, to take that manhood, 
 
 In which with us, for us, He lived and died. 
 
 The perfect man in the perfect Godhead, 
 
 The manifested God ! not by His works 
 
 Alone, but in person, by whom those works 
 
 Were done. So Jesus Christ is God in Heaven ! 
 
 God is not changed, but only made apparent, 
 
 The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in Christ, 
 
 God visible, and Jesus Christ in God ! 
 
 Thus hath the soul one object to adore. 
 
 The manifested God, for evermore. 
 
 He is at once. Himself, unto Himself, 
 
 The only way for worsliip, prayer, and praise. 
 
 But for meditative aid how precious 
 
 Is the high painter's art, the sculptor's hand ; 
 
 When they essay delineation just, 
 
 Of His most blessed form while here below. 
 
 And of His acts of love and mercy pure.
 
 96 ADOBATION. 
 
 How beautiful to look upon His form, 
 When, in His holy mother's arm?, honom-s 
 Divine to Him were rendered ; the wise men 
 From the East, their gold and frankincense 
 And myrrh in adoration offering 
 To the Babe of Bethlehem, King of kings ! 
 And when we see Him in His early gi-owth 
 Pictui-cd among the doctors, their wisdom 
 Utterly confoiuiding, and read and see 
 The outpouring of the deep affection 
 Of His mother's heart, reverential love 
 Is into our own infxised, and we feel 
 Some of the sanctity of that dear home. 
 
 Who can tell the association blest 
 Of those two families, parents 
 And children, the Redeemer and St. John ! 
 How many minds in Christian art have tried 
 With fervom- to depict that intercoui'se. 
 Most blessed, which grew with Jesus' stature
 
 ADORATION. 97 
 
 And how sweet to contemplate tlie pure reign 
 Of holiness in those so near to God ! 
 
 How the broad canvas frequent brings to thought 
 His mighty acts of goodness and of power ! 
 How to five thousand, and acrain to four. 
 He gave the bread of sustenance, fi-eely 
 Disti'ibuting to all, much as they would ; 
 Increasing by his power divine the few 
 Scant loaves and fishes, imtil they sufficed 
 The whole multitude to fill, more at last 
 Remaining over than there were at first : 
 Most striking sign of his creative power. 
 His rule o'er nature, and His providence. 
 Whereby to each his daily bread He gives ; 
 The symbol too of that pure bread fi-om heaven, 
 Himself, the soul's most holy food on earth. 
 
 Or, it may be the " healing of the sick " 
 Portrayed, showing how while on earth he made 
 
 H
 
 98 ADORATION. 
 
 "The deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, the bhnd 
 
 " To see, the lame to walk, and the lepers 
 
 " To be cleansed" from their repugnant foulness; 
 
 Reminding us how fouler still is sin ; 
 
 From which His cleansing blood deliverance gave. 
 
 Again, the " weeping o'er Jerusalem " 
 Of the Lord of heaven, for men's sinfulness ; 
 His mild, affectionate deploring 
 Of the sad wilful hardness of their hearts. 
 Tells on its graven page His loving will. 
 
 And then, how sweet the pictm^e is of " Christ 
 " Blessing little children ; " how sweet the words 
 Embodied there, " Suffer little children 
 " To come unto me, for of such is heaven." 
 O'er every element His power is shown. 
 And painting stamps the impress on the heart, 
 Of the demonstration of that power, 
 In His cahn majestic rule, commanding
 
 ADOEATION. 99 
 
 The tiiimiltuoiis sea and winds, " Be still : " 
 
 And fi-om a tempest with fmy ragino-, 
 
 Instant, at His word divine, winds and sea 
 
 Obeyed their Creator, hushed their voice, 
 
 " And there was a great calni." His disciples 
 
 In their fear and trouble to Jesus came. 
 
 He was their helper and deliverer. 
 
 Fit emblem of his power to subdue 
 
 The fierceness of man's wrath, to subjugate 
 
 His uni-uly will and passions, to calm 
 
 The tumult of his heart, and to allay 
 
 The risings of rebellion in his soul : 
 
 But we must come to Jesus, and ask Him 
 
 In prayer, to save us, to deliver us. 
 
 And He will deliver us by His grace. 
 
 Again, see Him waUdug on the water. 
 How beautiful ! the ocean knows its Lord; 
 In dignity He treads His watery way. 
 Speaks those everlasting words of comfort, 
 
 h2
 
 100 ADORATION. 
 
 " It is I, be not afraid ; " precious 
 
 Words of strength, and peace, and consolation, 
 
 Oil ! to how many souls, while time shall last ! 
 
 But the limner's pencil to the mind's eye 
 Hath winged yet higher flights, and reminds us 
 Of Jesus' power over life and death. 
 The soul of Lazarus from his body 
 Had departed, and Lazarus was dead. 
 In eastern cHmes corruption soon its work 
 Begins ; four days of sepultiire had passed, 
 And disorganisation had begun ; 
 So 'twas ordained, that God be glorified. 
 It was a mighty act of power, his soul 
 To recall from Hades, and his body 
 From corruption to restore to perfect 
 Functions of regiven life, and to present 
 Him once again a perfect man on earth. 
 Yet so it was ! at Jesus' word divine, 
 " Lazarus come forth ! " Lazaru.s came forth ;
 
 ADOEATION. 101 
 
 And God's gloiy was tlius made manifest. 
 So, thi-ough the trump of tlie liigh archangels, 
 Will tlie same Jesus, at tlie judgment day, 
 Summon the dead ; and from its dust the earth, 
 And from its deep the sea shall, render up 
 All that to thein ever committed were. 
 Thus are we taught the lesson of God's power, 
 Of our decay, and recall to judgment. 
 Doubtless that pictures and the sculptured form 
 Ai-e graphic words leading to mental thought ; 
 And where their character is sacred, pure, 
 Expressive, holy, may conduce to thoughts 
 Of highest calibre, and depth of love ; 
 And the impressions stamped on the heart. 
 And by the mind's power spiritually 
 Conceived thereby, may add intensity 
 To prayer and adoration ; but never. 
 Never, in that prayer and adoration. 
 Should the pictured shadoAV for the substance 
 Be permitted to usurp one moment ; 
 
 H 3
 
 102 ADOEATION. 
 
 No : God incarnate in Christ in glory, 
 
 Seen by the eye of faith, in flesh, in heaven. 
 
 Discerning the Lord's body there, the same 
 
 That rose from earth, and conscious of that truth 
 
 Therein to rest ; Jesus ineffable ! 
 
 Almighty Trinity in Jesus Christ ! 
 
 Felt by the soul as very God supreme, 
 
 Should in that holy, blest communion 
 
 Of the Christian's sold with God in prayer 
 
 And praise, the one sole object be. 
 
 Wlien not engaged in prayer direct to God, 
 
 Then their dominion to these adjuncts give. 
 
 For though they short must infinitely fall 
 
 Of the reality, great is their Avorth 
 
 As sacred aids to holiness of thought, 
 
 To feelings of the heart, to help the soul 
 
 Li aspiration on its way to heaven. 
 
 One class of art delineates the works 
 Of Jesus, another his own person 5
 
 ADORATION. 103 
 
 Here tlie great difficiilty really rests : 
 How impossible truly to render 
 His divine expression, whether of sorrow 
 Or of love ; or His transcendent glory 
 As in the transfigui'ation ; or His 
 Deep agony in dark Gethsemane ! 
 Or when He with the twelve that night sat down, 
 To give to them, and Avith them to His church, 
 His body and His blood, in bread and wine ; 
 To be by them received before His death, 
 While He was present still in life on earth ; 
 To be by us received while now in heaven 
 He dwells ; but both to them and us truly 
 His body and His blood ; one in foretaste 
 Dispensed, before the mighty sacrifice 
 Was offered up ; the other from Heaven given, 
 Though there His body glorified remains ; 
 To each miraculous, the elements 
 By His will, of His grace, the conduit made, 
 
 h4
 
 104 ADORATION. 
 
 In themselves unchanged ; how wonderful ! 
 And yet how true ! for God is mfinite, 
 Alike in omnipotence and truth ; 
 And with him nothing is impossible. 
 
 What pencil can portray the character 
 Of Jesus ? so heavenly and divine ! 
 The sublimity of His expression, 
 Ever beaming pure holiness and love ! 
 His agonising woe ! His deep passion ! 
 Who was emphatically truly styled 
 The Man of Sorrows ! in radiant love 
 For us men pouring out His soul to death, 
 A -willing sacrifice on Calvary ! 
 The glories of His risen life on earth ! 
 His heavenly ascension ! and His session 
 On His Father's throne in co-equal glory 
 From everlasting to everlasting ! 
 His Great Majesty on the Judgment Day !
 
 ADORATION. 105 
 
 What human power can draw such lines as these ? 
 
 Yet though the highest art the faintest point 
 
 Can reach, compared with the reahty, 
 
 Still the expressed conception of those minds - 
 
 Imbued with adoration, and to whom 
 
 The faculty of that expression 
 
 Has been given by God, are blessed aids 
 
 And helps to other Christian minds 
 
 In their conception, soaring to a point 
 
 Which, undefined, so far surpasses art, 
 
 As heaven to earth, and mind to matter. 
 
 The Cliristian his own nothingness doth know, 
 But with his soul exalted unto heaven, 
 His prayer for hoHness and purity. 
 He, by the all-sufficient grace of Jesus, 
 Doth strive to reahse his part in Him, 
 His present risen life in Christ on high, 
 To live in heaven while he lives on earth.
 
 106 adoeation. 
 
 And him in glory ever to adore, 
 In faitli and love, in spirit and in truth ; 
 And yearns with all the fulness of his heart. 
 To love liim for his holiness, to love Him 
 For His unutterable boundless love.
 
 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD
 
 109 
 
 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD 
 
 I SAW a child, midway the road along, 
 Stretched flat on front, his arms outspread as if 
 To cling to earth, and in its young embrace 
 To grasp it to its bosom, well content 
 With grovelling in the dusty, dirty 
 Ground, in which it seemed to be imbedded 
 And surrounded ; the child was gratified 
 With its position, would have resisted. 
 Probably, any effort made to draw 
 Him from it ; careless and heedless was he 
 Of aught beyond his first propensity.
 
 110 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 
 
 Himself to gratify ; narrow and low 
 
 Indeed that his desii-e seemed ; circumscribed 
 
 And worthless one might judge its boundary, 
 
 But within that little groping figure 
 
 There was a gem so precious, Golconda 
 
 Nor Peru its parallel could furnish ; 
 
 No, nor all the real or fabled jewels 
 
 Of Oriental splendour ; nor in worth 
 
 Could all the fields of gold throughout the world 
 
 Approach it ; possessions, ample as earth, 
 
 And all that earth can give, its luxury, 
 
 And power, all that ambition could desire, 
 
 Weigh not in the balance one feather's weight. 
 
 Against the priceless gem that little child 
 
 Holds as its own within its mortal frame. 
 
 For in that child dwells an immortal soul, 
 
 A gem so precious that Christ died to save ! 
 
 A soul ! immortal ! what a wondrous field 
 
 Of thought illimitable opens wide 
 
 Its broad expanse, high as heaven, deep as heU.
 
 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. Ill 
 
 The so\il and body make the perfect man 
 One being, of matter and of spirit 
 Formed, Ms body from earth's dust created, 
 His living soul the breath of God inspired ; 
 Thus in his image God did man create. 
 Immortal, and though death is permitted 
 O'er the body for a time to triumph, 
 The breath of life from God can never die. 
 And how wondrous is that body, wherein 
 The soul doth dwell ! how replete with wisdom 
 In aU its parts ! marvellous iu figure. 
 In all its adaptations perfect quite ; 
 Its faculties siu-passing excellent ; 
 An eye piercing to orbs in distance vast, 
 Immeasurable, and yet so fitted 
 To all the purposes of life ; an ear 
 So exquisitely fonned as to convey, 
 In the vibrations of the air, sweet sounds 
 Of gentlest haraiony, and yet to bear 
 The loud rolling thunder's mighty echoes ;
 
 112 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 
 
 The liand, the limbs, the whole external frame 
 So dignified, gi'acefiil, and expressive. — 
 If the extei'nal frame so wondrous be. 
 Still even more is that which is within ; 
 The heart, that constant fountain of the life, 
 The brain, that seat of high intelHgence, 
 The varied functions, the powers physical, 
 In their combinations so profoimd, all 
 In their unceasing action betoken 
 The good, glorious wisdom of that God 
 Who made man's body so almost divine. 
 
 Of all God's works, man stands preeminent, 
 The being, man, of man and woman made, 
 Two parts of one, to make one perfect whole ; 
 The parts diverse, each one's deficiency 
 The other so beautifiilly filling ; 
 Each with a body, in life principle 
 The same, but in formation all throughout. 
 How different ; vigour and manhood in one,
 
 THE SPIKITUAL WORLD. 113 
 
 Gentleness and womanhood the other ; 
 The adaptation perfectly complete. 
 Nothing to the perfect being wanting ! 
 The two united as by God's own law, 
 We comprehend the saying, that " A man 
 " Shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be 
 " One flesh : " and if thus in the body true. 
 How in the heart and mind 'tis also true 
 They blend, in wisdom infinite fi-om God ! 
 Take love ; — their love is mutual, in depth 
 Equal, strength eqiial, but in character. 
 One, — guardian, protective, cherishing, 
 And providing ; the other — a watchful, 
 Tender, gentle, soothing, sweetening love ; 
 And in their children so concentrating 
 The full power of each, so beautifully 
 Uniting, as to them forming one love. 
 And thus endued, each -with dispositions. 
 Faculties, affections, in nature same. 
 But in expression how differently
 
 114 THE SPIRITUAL AVOIJLD. 
 
 Constituted ; so that as in the fiesli, 
 
 So also in mental jiowers, as by God 
 
 Ordained, man is of man and woman formed. 
 
 Each perfect in themselves, each the other 
 
 Perfecting ; with immortal souls endued. 
 
 And more, to the one united being, 
 
 To neither of themselves, power hath God given. 
 
 Of immortals progenitors to be ; 
 
 What high honour is thus conferred on man ! 
 
 Wliat a bond of union here exists, 
 
 A bond that makes mankind's whole race as one ! 
 
 A link of soul as well as body joined ! 
 
 In paradise, when God for Adam made 
 A help-meet for him, in Eve's creation, 
 How perfect then came forth the work of God ! 
 And man, the being man, was then comjJete. 
 Before sin entered, no impurity 
 Was known ; but in perfection absolute, 
 Of body, heart, and souJ, in God's presence
 
 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 115 
 
 They did walk in Eden's beauteous light. 
 
 The tempter came, the evil one, and guile 
 
 So specious did employ, as to prevail, 
 
 And for a time o'erturn God's ordinance. 
 
 The subjugation of the body to the soul. 
 
 And of the soul to God ; and thus deranged. 
 
 What God made good, by evil influence 
 
 Was made corrupt, and the whole train of sin, 
 
 Lust, and pride, and anger, and rebellion, 
 
 Entered into man, and led him captive. 
 
 Then did the flesh against the spirit rise, 
 
 And Adam and his wife then first " did know 
 
 " That they were naked; " and God's presence feared. 
 
 God loved them, and to them the promise gave 
 Of His redeeming power, which in due time 
 In Jesus was fulfilled, and so the man, 
 The being man, was once again restored 
 To purity, in body and in soul, 
 
 Where grace and faith in power are strong enthroned, 
 
 I 2
 
 IIG THE SPIRITUAL WOELD. 
 
 To quell tlie body's lustfi.il appetites. 
 
 To the pure all things are pure ; so in place 
 
 Of unclean thoughts, the heart and mind and soul 
 
 Are filled with wondering admiration 
 
 Of God's deep wisdom, and His power divine. 
 
 In construction, faculty and purpose. 
 
 When male and female He created man. 
 
 God the angels hath created spirits, 
 And though to them sometimes by God is given 
 Visible appearance, material 
 Existence is not theirs ; they are spirits 
 Purely, no bodies are assigned to them. 
 To the animal creation, bodies 
 Have been given, endued "with Nature's instinct ; 
 But to none, save man, an immortal soul. 
 Man is the central point of imion, 
 Of the visible and invisible. 
 Of material and spiritual 
 Existence, and this in grade the highest ;
 
 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 117 
 
 Revelation hath not told of any, 
 Nor Lath been discerned by human knowledge, 
 In whom this glorious combination 
 Doth unite, but 'tis true, in man alone. 
 And then again, tracking the thought still on, 
 See how subhme God hath willed to make him, 
 That his nature should be the very link 
 Of all creation, the whole tmiverse, 
 Whether of pure spu-it, or of matter. 
 Unto God himself, in Jesus Christ ; 
 For Jesus was a perfect man on earth, 
 Of human flesh and reasonable soul, 
 As well as perfect God, the two in one ; 
 And m that perfect nature of the Christ, 
 Into the Godhead was received in heaven. 
 Thus God in man creation doth luiite. 
 And man became imited unto God. 
 Oh ! that we now could truly realise 
 The glorious nature of our being ! 
 In Jesus Christ, our living head, to heaven 
 
 l3
 
 118 THE srirjTUAL world. 
 
 Exalted, and on earth the temples made 
 
 Of the living God, of life the giver 
 
 And the Lord, the Holy Ghost from heaven ! 
 
 Man was created good, by his o-mi will 
 He fell, to be restored by God alone. 
 Every created being doth to God 
 Allegiance owe, with all their powers. 
 To glorify and mag-nify His name, 
 His holy name ! so no one conld redeem 
 Another, none ; Jesus the perfect man, 
 Perfect not only in man's true nature, _ 
 But in obedience, every tittle 
 Of God's law fulfilling, the sinless One ; 
 Alone the victory could achieve for man : 
 And as man He did it. Is it too much 
 Intruding into God's deep mysteries 
 To believe, that with the self-same powers 
 God did give to Adam, the first Adam, 
 With those very powers the second Adam,
 
 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 119 
 
 Jesus Christ the righteous, did as man 
 In God's sight ftilfil all righteousness ? 
 As by his will, to temptation yielded, 
 The first Adam fell ; so 'tAvas by His will 
 Upheld in holiness, and against all 
 Temptation proof, that the second Adam, 
 Jesus the Christ, for man the triumph gained. 
 Thus before God man's nature was restored 
 To favour, and God fiilly justified 
 In the first Adam's condemnation. 
 Thus was obedience rendered, and God 
 Will graciously vouchsafe us to regard 
 In Him who rendered it ; but there was still 
 A farther need, a ransom to be paid 
 For sin committed, and He who was God 
 As well as man this ransom paid for us ; 
 So thus our souls immortal were redeemed, 
 And by His resurrection ours made ^u^e. 
 With this glorious truth of man's high state 
 Of being, firmly graft;ed in the heart, 
 
 14
 
 120 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 
 
 How do the things of earth to nothing sink, 
 
 Save and except as channels made for heaven. 
 
 Yet earthly blessings by God's goodness given, 
 
 Suited to om* nature and enjoyment 
 
 Must never be despised, they are God's gifts, 
 
 And ever should be sought with gratitude, 
 
 Tlianksgiving, and with prayer to use them right. 
 
 How little do we know of the unseen 
 
 Around us,, and how little do we think 
 
 Of that we know, yet that we know is great. 
 
 However little it may be compared 
 
 "With that which is ; for the essential 
 
 Elements of all truth to us are given, 
 
 The facts ; though not the how, why, when, or where. 
 
 First, above all, of God : His holy word 
 Hath told us " God is a spirit," by which 
 We understand a being quite devoid 
 Of all materiality, and which 
 Li aU its pui'e spiritual essence
 
 THE SPIRITUAL WOELD. 121 
 
 Is perfect and entire, without body ; 
 
 For the Lord Himself hath said, "A spirit 
 
 " Hath not flesh and bones as ye see Me have." 
 
 Spirits do possess great capacities 
 
 Of attributes and powers ; God in his word 
 
 Doth show us that in Himself, holiness, 
 
 And truth, and love, and every perfection 
 
 Are infinite, self- existing, supreme. 
 
 Created spirits do derive from Him 
 
 Their being and their powers ; God created 
 
 All things, therefore He is their fountain spring ; 
 
 He made them good, for He is goodness, and 
 
 He cannot of evil be the author ; 
 
 Evil is the opposite to His will ; 
 
 The holy angels are in number great, 
 
 Mighty and glorious, and ministers 
 
 Of God's Avill, they too have degrees in heaven ; 
 
 So far we know, and that with all their powers, 
 
 God's glory is their aim and happiness, 
 
 (xiving to Him that which He gave to them.
 
 122 THE SPIRITUAL "WORLD. 
 
 The good of man is their desire, Scripture 
 
 Hath said, " that likewise in heaven there shall be 
 
 " Joy over one sinner that repenteth." 
 
 Beyond this we know not ; how nnmerons. 
 
 Their power, extent, their celestial joys, 
 
 Employments, and holy avocations, 
 
 Their movements and appearance, and their place. 
 
 Are not within our reach, for they are not 
 
 Revealed ; but doubtless, their glorious throng 
 
 Our conception highest far surpasses. 
 
 But oh ! how some among them who were once 
 Holy in their creation, from the height 
 Of their once celestial blessedness 
 Have fallen ; and to a depth how fathomless ! 
 Awfiil thought, beyond redemption's sphere. 
 How appalling 'tis to think of beings 
 Once so exalted, in pure happiness, 
 Endued with mighty power, rebellious 
 Against God their IMaker, and so from heaven
 
 THE SPIRITUAL WOELD. 123 
 
 Cast out ; and now so lost that their delight, 
 
 If such a word may be to them applied, 
 
 Is ever unremittingly to strive 
 
 To drag do-uTi to the same deep perdition 
 
 As themselves, the soids of men and women ; 
 
 And to mar God's Avork of man's creation, 
 
 And His love in Jesus in redemption. 
 
 But oh ! how futile is their labour, vaiu 
 
 To thwart God's plans ; they may destroy indeed 
 
 Those souls which to their vile temptations yield, 
 
 But they are powerless 'gainst those who love 
 
 And rest implicit faith in Jesus Christ ; 
 
 They quailed before His presence while on earth, 
 
 And could not, dare not, disobey one word 
 
 From His most gracious lips, one look fi-om Him. 
 
 They knew Him, and they trembled as they said, 
 
 " "We know Thee who Thou art, Jesus, the Son 
 
 " Of God, art Thou come hither to torment 
 
 " Us before the time ?" and they obeyed Him. 
 
 No doubt great power is to them permitted,
 
 124 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 
 
 How great we know not ; but we do know this, 
 
 Their power to harm is controlled by Jesus ; 
 
 And that the holy angels than they 
 
 Are mightier ; and we do also know 
 
 Their power is but for a season short ; 
 
 Our safety from the dark roaring lion 
 
 Of evil, is alone in Jesus, but 
 
 In Him it is both certain and secure. 
 
 Their awful crime which hath on them brought down 
 
 The dire doom of everlasting burning, 
 
 And the consuming fire of a will set 
 
 And sxink in the dark abyss of evil, 
 
 And of raging sin ; ever consuming. 
 
 Never to be consumed, is not to us 
 
 Revealed ; but our conviction and behef 
 
 Is sure and stedfast, that as God is love. 
 
 There is no one part of His creation 
 
 To which His love hath not extended free ; 
 
 And so, is not that true which has been said ? 
 
 That " love is written on the gates of heU."
 
 THE SPIEITUiVL WOKLD. 12S 
 
 Of the influence wMcli angel spirits 
 In the world's affairs constantly exert, 
 We but little ken, and less consider ; 
 If our eyes were open their appearance 
 To perceive, ever we oui-selves might see 
 To be surrounded by them ; an unseen 
 Conflict between watchful guardian care 
 Protecting us, by God's loving mercy ; 
 And the lying subtleties of deceit, 
 Throwing temptation imder every form 
 Before us, infusing u.nholy fear, 
 And groimdless doubt of Jesus' holy love, 
 Assaulting us, by the devil's mahce, 
 Ever going on ; which though now Tmseen 
 Yet not imfelt, we may believe to be. 
 Thanks be to God that He that is with us, 
 Is greater than he which is against us. 
 So may we rest in perfect peace and trust 
 On Jesus, God over all, ever nigh, 
 The same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.
 
 126 THE SPIKITU.VL -WORLD. 
 
 Trace back iu tlie world's history its age, 
 Count it six tliousand years ucarly complete, 
 Oh ! what may that completion not produce ? 
 A thousand million hinnan heings now 
 Exist on the world's surface, in each one 
 Dwells an immortal soul, never to die ; 
 The body dies, and to its native dust 
 Returns, to rise again at the last day, 
 But the soul never ; that lives on and on. 
 Man's days prescribed are threescore years and ten. 
 Some few do farther stretch the cord of life ; 
 How great the number where that cord is snapped, 
 And quick cut short ere life has scarce began ; 
 So is the average of life reduced 
 To thirty-three swift flying years of time. 
 A thousand millions ! three and thirty years ! 
 Each one passing moment passing a soul 
 Away from earth, leaving the body dead ; 
 Thousands of millions — thousands of millions 
 Of eternal souls sped away from earth ;
 
 THE SPIEITUAL WORLD. 127 
 
 And oil ! to what ? not yet unto that state 
 Of final consummation of theii* bliss 
 Or woe, that awaits them at the gi'eat day 
 Of judgment, when their bodies shall arise, 
 And with their souls again the perfect man 
 Shall form ; meanwhile their souls are sentient, 
 And it may be, that those who while on earth 
 Believed in Jesus, loved Him, adored Him, 
 And in pm"e faith rested their peace in Him, 
 Do love, adore, believe, and rest on Him 
 Still, but with no drawback of temptation. 
 And in faith strengthened by a purer light ; 
 Yet still a faith, which, the bright assurance 
 Of hope they had in life renders brighter 
 Still, yet only hope as yet, in patience 
 Waiting with joy the advent of their Lord 
 In glory ; looking imto Jesus, He 
 Who in humihation gave Himself 
 'To be their Savioiir and Redeemer, 
 And at whose second coming to judgment.
 
 128 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 
 
 Hope in fruition shall be swallowed up. 
 That theirs is now a state of blessedness 
 We know ; for to the thief our Lord did say, 
 " Verily, to-day shalt thou be with Me 
 " In paradise ; "—again, St. Paul desires 
 " To depart, and be with Christ, which is far 
 " Better; for to die is gain." — The nature 
 Of that state is to us but little known, 
 How spirit may a spirit recognise 
 We cannot tell, but we can Uttle doubt 
 That this is so. — Angels' isolation, 
 Each to each unknown, admits not credence ; 
 Angels are identified by given names. 
 In God's own word we read of Gabriel, 
 Of Michael ; it would be contrary 
 To the whole system of God's unity 
 Of purpose, which so pervades creation, 
 To think the holy angels have no power 
 Of knowledge one of another ; do they 
 Not act in concord in the praise of God ?
 
 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. '29 
 
 Are tliey not all unto the souls of men 
 INIinist^ring spirits ? must they not then, 
 In that ministration, the faculty 
 Possess of discerning spirits ? and if 
 Of men, then surely each of each other. 
 God is a spirit, and knows all spirit ; 
 The archangel Michael Satan knew, 
 Wlien for Moses' body he contended : 
 Therefore there is, under the power of God^ 
 A mode, whether b}' some affinities, 
 Wliich the place of actual vision take. 
 Or whatever other means we know not. 
 By which one spirit may know another. 
 This then of angels to be true is held, 
 And if of angels, doth it not follow 
 That the souls of men, who have entrance found 
 Into paradise, there may recognise 
 The souls of those so dear to them on earth. 
 To whom like entrance hath by God been given ; 
 Holy David said, " I shall go to him, 
 
 K
 
 130 THE SriRITUAL AYOKLD. 
 
 " He shall not come to me ; " consolation 
 Blessed to be draAvn from this grounded hope. 
 Angels, as instniments of God, regard 
 Us here below ; but whether it may be 
 That souls of those departed from this world 
 Have cognisance of those that they have left, 
 Is not for us to know, because to us 
 It hath pleased God it shotild not be revealed. 
 
 Oh ! agonising thought — there are some souls 
 Who do not rest in Jesus; how remorse 
 Must tear them, when all before is dark 
 And gloomy, when they see that salvation 
 "Wliich they spumed on eai-th now to them become 
 All but hopeless ; yet a lingering hope, 
 Paling with its own dim most feeble light, 
 May yet remain even to them until 
 The Judgment Day ; when the dread, words shall sound, 
 " Depart from me, ye cursed, into fire 
 " Everlasting, prepared for the devil 
 " And his angels " — dread anticipation !
 
 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 131 
 
 They too may each other know ; how bitter 
 Their feeling of reproach 'gainst those who led 
 Them wrong : and now repentance all too late ! 
 
 Such the spiritual world may be, nay, 
 j\Iay we not say that such it really is ? 
 If then such high, exalted interest 
 Pertains to man, so above all beings 
 Created by the loving will of God ; 
 Heaven for his home ; Eternity his life ; 
 Holiness and truth, pui'ity and love 
 His bliss ; God's glory his sole aim in view ; 
 "WHiere sorrow is unknown ; sin never comes ; 
 Where peace dwells ever ; and all is love, love 
 Of Jesus ; seeing His holy presence ; 
 The virtuous affections of the heart, 
 The intellect of mind, the perception 
 Of the soul, and every noble power 
 iVnd capacity, in our risen life, 
 111 body as in soul, ever consonant 
 
 K 2
 
 132 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 
 
 In all things to the will of God most high ; 
 
 And all enlarged, and progressively 
 
 Enlarging, deepened and deepening, 
 
 Heightened and heightening eternally : 
 
 If such then be man's holy destiny, 
 
 So glorious, high, so never fading ; 
 
 So happy, so blissful, and so blessed ! 
 
 How woful is the will, how hard the heart. 
 
 How blind the sight that rejects such blessing 1 
 
 And yet this bending of the will on earth. 
 This softening of the heart, this lighting 
 Of the sight to see, know, and realise 
 The things that belong unto our peace, 
 Must be from God, and by His gi-ace alone. 
 Man's power is powerless, but powerful 
 Through prayer, which is the blest communion 
 Of the soul with God, bringing gi-ace from heaven. 
 Thus the gates of Heaven open wide are flung. 
 And all who will may freely enter there. 
 For God is more free to give than we are 
 To receive ; He tells us to ask and pray
 
 THE SPIEITTJAL WORLD. 133 
 
 In th€ name of Jesus Christ, believing, 
 
 And -we shall never ask or pray in vain. 
 
 Jesus hatli said, " All things whatsoever 
 
 •*' Ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall 
 
 ^' Receive ; " and " Ask, and it shall be given yoxi." 
 
 Oh ! hear Him expostulate : " Ye will not come 
 
 •^' To me that ye might have life ;" and again, 
 
 ^' Why will ye die, O house of Israel ? " 
 
 The souls of men are precious ia God's sight, 
 
 ^Tis not His will one single soul be lost. 
 
 With an inheritance so ennobling, 
 So enduring, with joys so passing thought. 
 Is it not wondrous that the world should find 
 So apt an emblem ia that little child ? 
 How dark the influence, perverse the will, 
 Which mankind so blinds to their 0A\ai true good ; 
 Which makes so many grovel to possess 
 Heaps of earth's dust, gold and silver called, 
 To which by the world's usage power is given. 
 
 B.3
 
 134 THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. 
 
 Some gather it simply for the dust's sake ; 
 Others make their hoard, that it may the means 
 Be made of ministering to their vices, 
 Whether of pride, ambition, or of lust 
 And worldly pleasure, giving to the flesli 
 Full sway of every sinful appetite. 
 
 Others by habit, want of thought, plod on 
 lu a prescribed track, set by their fathers. 
 Careless of aught beyond their daily wants. 
 In their own way, indulging ease, and what 
 In their sight is man's whole duty, to leave 
 A fortune, as 'tis called, for their children. 
 
 Others, who seem reckless of the world's wealth, 
 But at heart love it, dash out right and left 
 With boldness in its schemes with such success. 
 As if of fortune they were childi-en born ; 
 These dispense their gold with a free hand, but 
 On no principle, save unto themselves. 
 Though in appearance 'twas for others' good.
 
 THE SPIEITUAL "WOELD. 135 
 
 Others there are who toil and labour, who 
 Early rise, late take rest, and eat the bread 
 Of carefulness, who wend their way through life 
 Eespectablj, but never think of God, 
 As He to whom their doings should be -wi-ought. 
 
 Some of another class, to whom treasure 
 Has been committed without toil, stewards 
 Of God's gifts, but who hold them not of God ; 
 ^Yith these and other classes yet, their heart 
 Is with the world, like the child's boimdary 
 Of desire, 'tis themselves to gratif)' ; 
 And they look not beyond the heap of dust 
 They make, and its subservience to then- will. 
 Such is the case with multitudes ; these all 
 Do place their souls in fearful jeopardy. 
 Oh ! if from the world's dream they should awake^ 
 Ere their life doth close ; and eternity 
 Enter on their soul's thought, there is One m heaven, 
 Who, like the Father with the prodigal, 
 
 K 4
 
 136 THE SriRITUAL WORLD. 
 
 Will run to meet them, if with repentance 
 They will wholly c«st tliemselves on Jesus- 
 
 Eiches are God's gift, and in their abuse 
 The evil lies, — not intrinsically 
 In themselves ; like all other stewardships 
 By God to man committed, use them right, 
 And they the means of much gi'eat blessing are 
 To the possessor, and to all around ; 
 They are a trust, which faithfully obtained, 
 And faithftilly applied, brings down reward 
 From heaven, in time and for eternity. 
 So riches are no bar to heaven, neither 
 Is poverty a passport there, but all, 
 Eich or poor, who to God's glory live, 
 Shall surely find in Jesus, happiness 
 Eternal, heavenly riches, past all thought. 
 
 God grant we all, Avhile we have time, may look 
 Beyond the world to that which is to come ; 
 God forbid one sinner sliould pass judgment
 
 IN EEMEMBKANCE OF MAEY. 137 
 
 On another ; no, rather let us all, 
 
 As in our power lies, strive for each other, 
 
 As well as for ourselves, a helping hand 
 
 To give, onward to carry us to heaven. 
 
 God is Love ! in His love may we find peace. 
 
 And in our own hope, may we hope for all. 
 
 IN EEMEMBEANCE OF MAEY. 
 
 O CHILD of Heaven, fuir and bright, 
 
 O dearest Mary, should it be. 
 That, dwelling in most holy light, 
 
 Thou art permitted near to me : 
 
 "Were thy blest presence to us known. 
 
 While to earth's cares we still are boimd ; 
 
 Thy spirit pure regarding home, 
 
 \Vhere once thy joys and cares were found : 
 
 If with thee OTir joys are blended. 
 
 Though on earth, and thou in heaven ; 
 
 Peaceful resting, sorrow ended. 
 
 How great to us the blessing given !
 
 138 IN REMEMBRANCE OF MART. 
 
 We cannot tell, it may be ti'ue, 
 God grants this blest communion ; 
 
 To minister as angels do, 
 To those in saintly union. 
 
 Praised be God, thy peaceftd rest 
 
 Is .safe for ever and secured ; 
 Without us, thou art ever blest 
 
 In Jesus Christ thy Saviour Lord. 
 
 Not thine only, Mary dearest, 
 
 But thine own dearest brothers too ; 
 
 And infant love, sister sweetest. 
 The bKss of heaven share with you. 
 
 'Tis Jesus' love on which we rest 
 This hopeful trust of mercy given ; 
 
 On Jesus' grace, that ye are blest 
 With rich inheritance in heaven. 
 
 Hope, joyous hope, bids us look on, 
 
 Press toward the mark of our high prize ; 
 
 Wlien parents, children, may be one. 
 And none be wanting in the skies. 
 
 'Tis wise, 'tis good, 'tis holy love, 
 God's mysteries to us are hidden ; 
 
 When we shall reach those realms above, 
 Then to our souls shall light be given.
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE
 
 141 
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 Oh Thou Almighty Powei-, the Great First Cause, 
 Who holdest in Thine hand the universe, 
 Whose power none can deny, for all must oavti 
 Effect and cause, Avhate'er that cause may be ; 
 Ever vouchsafe Thy holy Church by grace, 
 To know Thee as Thou art, the source of power, 
 Truth and love, supreme Creator, God alone : 
 Eternal unity in Trinity, 
 Trinity in unity, manifest 
 In all Thy Godhead's fulness in Jesus 
 The Christ, King of Heaven, Kuler, Lord of all. 
 
 *k7
 
 142 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 O God, we how before Thy awful throne 
 Of glorious majesty, and ever 
 In humble prayer, beseech thy holy guard 
 And keeping, to preserve us from the sin. 
 The proud fatal sin of independence 
 Of Thee, and of Thy revealed will and word. 
 This may have been the sin of angels fallen, 
 As dependence sm-ely is the vital 
 Blessedness of those who in God's favour 
 Stand; — that there may be an independence 
 Personal, constituted so by God 
 Himself, as in the gift of man's free will, 
 Is true, to choose to rest on God or no ; 
 That independence is ordained by God, 
 And that which lie ordains cannot be sin. 
 If God's gift given to man for good be made 
 By man of his own ruin the self cause, 
 It lies in the abuse and not the use ; 
 Though the right use can be by grace alone. 
 Which grace can. ever be obtained by prayer.
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 143 
 
 So do we see there may exist a state 
 Of conditional independence ; 
 A state wherein the power to act aright, 
 Or wrong, is given ; the power being derived 
 Creates dependence, thns one source of power ; 
 And if the act be good, it is by grace, 
 Thus dependent, so one source of goodness. 
 But if the act be evU, 'tis an act 
 Of the free will, casting away the good. 
 And so an act of independence is ; 
 Thus the relation between God and man ; 
 To God all power and goodness, yet to man 
 A power permitted, from God's will derived. 
 And this phase holds good, or from God to man, 
 Or man imto his fellow-man, the same 
 Principle exists, and exemplifies 
 The Scripture maxim in the light of truth, 
 "The powers that be are ordained of God." 
 God some men has placed, in respect of others, 
 In conditional independence ;
 
 144 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 Thoy may act right, then 'tis by grace alone ; 
 
 They may act wrong, then 'tis their ovni fi-ee will. 
 
 Every being with some power is endued. 
 
 Some more, some less, more or less, all from God ; 
 
 If all did use it right, it would result 
 
 In perfect harmony, and every part 
 
 Of man's social sta,te, into the other jmrts 
 
 "Would so fit in, to make a perfect whole ; 
 
 Not by folly's notion — equahty — 
 
 But by the exercise of those powers 
 
 And faculties, or gifts of worldly power, 
 
 Which God in various extent to each 
 
 Has given, in mode and time and circumstance ; 
 
 Producing all those various degrees 
 
 In the relations of this earthly life, 
 
 Which ope so wide a field for love and faith. 
 
 Thus, in the good ordinary action 
 
 Of its exercise, some to influence 
 
 Would rise, some to a lower grade descend. 
 
 As their endowments, and capacities,
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 145 
 
 And opportimities afForded them 
 
 By God, to their advancement may lead on, 
 
 Or their let placed in a more humble sphere. 
 
 It needs not stretch of boundary prescribed 
 
 To give to every man his proper place. 
 
 The inlierent nature of mental j^ower, 
 
 The strength of man's physical condition, 
 
 According as their gift may be, themselves 
 
 Are quite suiEcient, though in accordance 
 
 Perfect "vvith God's will for their use designed, 
 
 To raise one man, another to depress, 
 
 And so produce an ever-changing scene. 
 
 God's constitution of society, / 
 
 Like all His other works, is very good : 
 
 When marred by sin of man, then evil reigns. 
 
 Independent God every man has made 
 Of his fellow-men to be, inasmuch 
 Their powers are not derived fi-om them, but God ; 
 But He has made them all dependent too,
 
 146 DEPENDENCE AND INDErENDENCE. 
 
 Eacli on others, with assigned duties 
 
 And limits ; from the king's authority, 
 
 Through every grade of life, to every age, 
 
 Down to the poor cotter's crying infant ; 
 
 Thus is man, in power, as 'tween man and man, 
 
 Bounded by duty, at once dependent 
 
 And independent of and on the rest ; 
 
 So true it is, that now and for all time. 
 
 Whether of empires, or of social life, 
 
 " The powers that be are ordained of God; " 
 
 And in their .station, be it what it may. 
 
 Their duties are co-relevant with power, 
 
 To them on whom they lean, or lean on them. 
 
 No power is absolute, no sul:)jection 
 
 Due, man to man, from all conditions free, 
 
 And those conditions are the law of God. 
 
 So long as each therein his duty does 
 
 To God, the duties to his station due 
 
 By others, as by the command of God, 
 
 That must the rule of every duty be.
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 147 
 
 Sliould by all ever be fully rendered ; 
 
 Wlietlier to tlie king as supreme, or to 
 
 The labouring father in his own home. 
 
 Obedience to power in possession, 
 
 If rightful used, a bounden diity is, 
 
 Let whoever be, by whom 'tis wielded ; 
 
 So that as all power is conditioned. 
 
 And those conditions are decreed by God, 
 
 With limits and extent as he permits. 
 
 Subject to his ordinance, and controlled 
 
 By Him, the apostolic words are true, 
 
 " The powers that be are ordained of God ;" 
 
 Not for tyrannising xise, neither for 
 
 Rebellion to authority that is ; 
 
 Not to exact a blind obedience, 
 
 Nor to rise up in disobedience. 
 
 But in all things fulfil that golden law. 
 
 Each in your station do to another 
 
 As you would that other should do to you. 
 
 Dependence and independence balanced 
 
 L 2
 
 148 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 Truly would work to the world's happiness; 
 Their boundaries o'erthrown, God set at nought, 
 Becomes the fruitful source of misery, 
 Anger, and pride, and every boundless sin. 
 
 Wliat did from God cast our first parents off ? 
 A straw before the wind its current tells ; 
 To eat an apple were a trivial thing ; 
 True, but if in eating of that apple 
 Or no, man's rebellion or submission, 
 Obedience or disobedience, 
 Were involved, 'tis not the apple eaten, 
 Or not, as a thing of itself worthy 
 Of account, but of importance great, 
 As the test and touchstone by God ordained, 
 Whether the creature He had made should be, 
 With free will, holy and obedient, 
 In blessed happiness ; or, rebellious. 
 And indicating by a simple act 
 The token of rebellion, that spirit,
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. UJ 
 
 Wlaicli woiild tell out from that one little seed, 
 
 A line of evil to eternity. 
 
 To eat that apple was to disobey, 
 
 To disobey was to exert a will 
 
 Against the Giver of that "will, and so 
 
 To lose the blessing which dependence gave, 
 
 And to incur the curse, the penalty 
 
 Brought dowTi by that act of independence. 
 
 Incalculable loss ! the elements 
 
 Of happiness all gone, perverted quite. 
 
 Good turned to evil, rectitude to sin, 
 
 Pure, holy love in all hiunility 
 
 Trod under foot by pride's usurping tlirone ; 
 
 The conscience, self-condemning, could not brook 
 
 God's presence, that glorious source of bliss. 
 
 But vainly slimk to hide its guiltiness. 
 
 And to seek Aveak reftige in concealment. 
 
 From God dependence and independence 
 Both do spring ; and though in reality 
 
 l3
 
 150 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 As unto God, no true independence 
 
 Can there be, Avhetlier as from man to God 
 
 Himself, or fi-om man to man, his fellow. 
 
 Yet, practically, by the ordinance 
 
 Of God, in wisdom, the two states exist. 
 
 He hath permitted them that men may do 
 
 Their duty wilUngly, not ol" constraint, 
 
 Ever by grace when done, free will when not. 
 
 The love of independence is replete 
 With danger ; it unlinks the chain by which 
 Man rests on God ; impairs and oft destroys 
 The girdle of society, the cord 
 Which interweaves among mankind, 
 Binding them together with advantage 
 J\lutual ; and disorganises all. ^ 
 
 As between God and man there do exist 
 Tavo principles, antagonistic, yet 
 When within their fixed boimdaries controlled,
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 151 
 
 Are in accordance found to be ; 
 
 So do the same exist 'tween man and man, 
 
 In their relations to each other here. 
 
 Independence is a power given by God, 
 
 Closely bound iip with the free will of man, 
 
 And in its train responsibility ; 
 
 In that precise degree man is endued 
 
 With position, power, giving him command 
 
 O'er men and things, so far he may be called 
 
 Independent ; as others stand to him, 
 
 Less endued than he, so he stands to those 
 
 To Avhom a greater power is given, and so 
 
 He may be called dependent ; each and all 
 
 Have some degree of power in their own will 
 
 To exercise, thus are independent; 
 
 But each and all do owe allegiance 
 
 To some other, and thus dependent are ; 
 
 Moreover none can stand alone in power, 
 
 The rich man needs the poor man's hand to work, 
 
 l4
 
 152 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 The poor man needs requital from tlie rich ; 
 Not only so, but each one, rich and poor, 
 Independent individually, 
 Is to the body of society 
 A debtor, and society to him 
 Is indebted in retiu-n ; in exact 
 Proportion to tlie clear poise of duty 
 Responsibihty its right assumes. 
 
 The constitution of society, 
 Graduating from wealth to poverty. 
 From power to weakness, from erudition 
 To the unlearned, as ordained by God, 
 Is doubtless wise and good ; degrees of men 
 Would seem to be God's plan ; if all did well 
 In their respective stations, human lot 
 Of happiness might be found equipoised 
 More truly than men commonly do think ; 
 That happiness, 'tis true, might of a caste 
 In some be higher than in some others,
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 153 
 
 The scale not resting in a man's riches 
 Or his poverty, but in the nature 
 Of his mental character ; that idea 
 May be regarded in a point of view 
 INIore abstract, and it might be found to be, 
 If all did well, the happiness of man 
 Considered merely as to earthly wants 
 "Was so disposed, suited to each man's state, 
 As that their shares were nearly equipoised. 
 Wlio perfect acts aright ? Truth answers, none ; 
 Confusion comes, and Avi'ong takes place of right : 
 As far 'tis done, 'tis done by Christian men, 
 Who both obey and rule with meekness calm. 
 
 The truest independence upon earth 
 Is that of blessed Christian liberty ; 
 The faithfiiJ Christian lives to God alone. 
 His works on earth are done as mito Him, 
 He rests on Him, and knows on whom be rests, 
 Of all events Disposer, the supreme ;
 
 154 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 He looks for peace and rest not here beloAV ; 
 
 For lasting liappincHs he looks to heaven, 
 
 There is his home, and there his chief delight ; 
 
 He prays to God to oveiTiile his coiu-se 
 
 In life, first to God's glory, and then next 
 
 To his oAvn heavenly welfare, his trust 
 
 For daily need's supply secui-ely rests 
 
 On Him who is almighty and all good. 
 
 His happiness and hope are not in wealth. 
 
 Or power, thus if he hath them not, his mind 
 
 And soul, set as they are on better things, 
 
 Can readier bear the disappointment 
 
 Of the world, and all the world's power can give. 
 
 He knows he cannot thus be blest, unless 
 
 He strive to please his stu-e dependence — God; 
 
 This can he do alone through grace, by prayer. 
 
 So he ever prays to God in Jesus, 
 
 Jesus in God, through Jesus Christ, his God : 
 
 In whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead 
 
 Of the Father, the Godliead of the Son
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 155 
 
 In the same fulness, and the like fulness 
 Of the Godhead of the Holy Ghost, one 
 Undivided Trinity, all in Jesus. 
 
 Resting on Him, without whom no sparrow 
 Falls, ever looking up to Him, he sees 
 His hand in all things, the events of life 
 He knows and feels are imder his control, 
 He feels his weakness, is sometimes deprest, 
 God is not less then over him for good ; 
 He resorts to prayer, he finds it wandering, 
 But still he prays, and prays more earnestly, 
 And his prayer is ansAvered by light and peace. 
 
 He feels it difficult his way to see 
 In his day's path, as regards earthly things 
 He thmks his Avay is right, believes it given ; 
 Others think it wrong, he appeals to Heaven 
 For guidance, and fears not Heaven will guide him.
 
 156 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 He is blest wifli imtold earthly blessings, 
 He knoAvs that all good gifts do come from God, 
 And he holds them, uses them, as God's own ; 
 The blessing in such use is liis, made his 
 By the very natui-e of God's goodness. 
 Pie is by sickness brought to verge of death. 
 His powers gone, the world from view fast fading. 
 He knows he leaves behind those to him dear. 
 The constant object of his prayers, whether 
 In weal or woe, in God his Father's hand ; 
 If 'tis the first, who them can keep so well 
 From prosperity's deep snares and dangers ? 
 The last, 'tis to the God of the widow. 
 And to the Father of the fatherless. 
 He in sure faith coixfides them in his prayer. 
 He loves God, and he prays to love Him more. 
 He lives by faith and prays for its increase. 
 
 If his lot be poverty, from comj^etence 
 Cast down, he strives by penitence for sin^
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 157 
 
 Aiid tliankfulness for mercy undeserved, 
 
 Still to seek in God, strength, peace, and blessing ; 
 
 And not to plungfe anew into the world's 
 
 Vortex, for the world's sake, and in his heart 
 
 And mind to fix his hope on wealth regained, 
 
 And on his own powers to rest to do it : 
 
 But in his heart to feel that blessed trust, 
 
 " Though He slay me yet will I trust in Him." 
 
 If fi-om an open hand and willing heart. 
 Which imder circumstance seemed justified ; 
 If ft'om erroneous judgment, if from 
 Too much self-confidence, if fi'om a want 
 Of due consideration, by a zeal 
 Too ardent, he has been led on to action 
 In a course, however motives just and right 
 ]\Iight be, yet unto himself and others 
 Deeply injurious, he feels his faults, 
 And prays to God forgiveness for himself, 
 And that He Avill bless with good recompense
 
 158 DErENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 In double measm-c, unto each of those, 
 
 To whose injury and sore detriment 
 
 He has been the real though unwilling cause. 
 
 The faithful Christian earnestly doth strive 
 That middle course to hold, in exercise 
 Of all the talents, power, and position, 
 God has given him in life, so as to steer 
 His bark in all its right relations, just 
 To tliose whom God hath pleased to place above, 
 And equally to those whom the same God 
 Hath pleased beneath him in their coxirse should walk. 
 Thus in every phase of man's mortal life 
 Is the blest state of Christian liberty. 
 By dependence the most perfect upon God 
 For all his needs, whether for earth or heaven, 
 Verily, independence the most real. 
 
 There is no human being Lives on earth 
 Who docs not occupy some middle state.
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 159 
 
 Invested with a power ordained of God ; 
 
 To the powers above him owing due respect, 
 
 Willing dependence, and recognition 
 
 Of God's hand, in His having placed them there : 
 
 And to those whom God has made dependent 
 
 Upon him, he is, before God the Lord, 
 
 Responsible to exercise his power 
 
 With jxTstice, gentleness, love and mercy. 
 
 The high to low, the low to high are boimd 
 
 By these ordained rules of God most high, 
 
 Though 'tis given to the high to have control. 
 
 On other's labour they are dependent ; 
 
 And though the poor man on his labour rests. 
 
 His work is fi-ee, God made him not a slave ; 
 
 His labour is a duty for his good. 
 
 And though the ever-changing scenes of life 
 
 Do constant vary each man's relation 
 
 To all others, the self-same laws prevail. 
 
 The breaking of those mutual laws, both 
 
 Of dependence and of independence,
 
 160 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 Of man's misery is a fruitful som-ce, 
 Spi-ings out of sin, and leads to sin again. 
 
 No mortal lives in whom existetli not 
 Both principles, in less or greater power ; 
 When rightly exercised they are a chain 
 Of mutuality 'twixt man and man, 
 And to the good of all most clearly tend ; 
 But independence, when permitted range 
 Of exercise, the Avill of man perverse 
 The sovereign dictator of its limits, 
 Then the chain is broken, each link disjoined, 
 Man becomes the adverse of his fellow ; 
 Ambition, pride and selfishness, anger 
 And strife, dire feud and animosity 
 Spring up in rampant strength, and carry on 
 Its victim to the depth of u.ntold guilt. 
 How wrong may independence be applied ! 
 In the world's acceptance of its meaning 
 What is it but indulgence of self-will ?
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 161 
 
 To act without concern or thought of those 
 By whom Ave are surrounded, and to care 
 For one's self alone ; never regarding 
 What is right as right, but simply looking 
 To the right of power, for aggrandisement 
 It may be, of self or children ; perhaps 
 For pride, to appear great in the world's eyes ; 
 Too often shown in angry temper's mood, 
 In malice or revenge, or fearful spite ; 
 Under the guise of holding manly right. 
 Sometimes it takes another course, and flies 
 To sensuality, and hideous vice ; 
 Or the soul to drown in sheer drunkenness ; 
 Or becomes lavish on some pet idol, 
 Be it what it may, and squanders freely 
 On his oAvn humour, or for such purpose 
 As it pleases him, those good gifts and powers 
 Committed to his trust to give account. 
 How are the comforts of a home destroyed, 
 By the wayward use of independence ! 
 
 M
 
 162 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 Harshness and often tyranny take place, 
 
 And disobedience, and jealousies 
 
 Arise, and love is cold, and confidence 
 
 Impaired, the unison of blood is lost, 
 
 Where all, as one united, ought to be. 
 
 Contemplated on a scale extended, 
 
 How dreadftil are the evils to mankind ! 
 
 Whence come wars and wide spread desolation ? 
 
 Come they not hence ? of man's unlawftil lusts. 
 
 Leading men on, self-will to gratify. 
 
 Hardened and blind as to the means employed ? 
 
 Come they not all of men's discontentment 
 
 With the good gifts of God to them assigned ? 
 
 Sui'ely it is the casting off control. 
 
 Not bending where God would that we should bend ; 
 
 Sm-ely it is the tyrannising use 
 
 Of powers conferred, where we should use them well ; 
 
 Surely 'tis this use of independence. 
 
 In the world's sense, on our evil nature 
 
 Grafted, that is at least one fi-uitful source 
 
 Of the world's misery and wretchedness.
 
 DEPENDENCE AJ^D INDEPENDENCE. 163 
 
 Not so dependence; there, every link 
 Of tlie gi-eat moral chain is in its place ; 
 Those below do hang on them, they hang on 
 Those aboTe ; and all consist together ; 
 The very act of each dependent one 
 Keeping Iris place, does in itself involve 
 The independence true of those on whom 
 They do depend ; they are two parts of one ; 
 And this holds good of all change possible 
 In the affairs of men, whatever state 
 At any given moment may exist. 
 If from that moment all would act aright, 
 On this true principle, though wrong before, 
 The product would be peace and unity. 
 Equity would hold her scales in balance ; 
 The same mind which to its superiors 
 Would deference yield, with all willingness, 
 Would also to its own inferior 
 So justly use its power, and so temper 
 AU its acts with kindness and with mercy, 
 
 H 2
 
 164 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 That free good-will would ever circulate 
 Through all the varied forms of social life. 
 
 As undue independence genders pride, 
 And is the frviitful source of evil great, 
 So due dependence of humility. 
 Of happy meekness, and affectionate 
 Association, a true promoter 
 Is ; one of every sin is capable. 
 The other to all virtues consonant. 
 And more, the one by setting God at nought, 
 Eebellion is, and dislocates from Him ; 
 The other, on God resting, all in all, 
 Through meek submission exaltation gains. 
 
 But oh ! 'tis but too true, evil doth so 
 Beset us — withm inclined, and tempted 
 From without, this blest state of unity 
 Is scarcely to be hoped for here below ; 
 Hereafter, in another, better state,
 
 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 165 
 
 With risen bodies, it may perfect be. 
 But like all other righteous principle, 
 Though to perfection it cannot attain. 
 By reason of our sin and man's self-will ; 
 Though it be so far distant from that point, 
 That in the world's practice, the distance is 
 As fi'om east to west, or from north to south ; 
 Yet it is manifest, if rightly di'a"\vn 
 That principle has been, that on each one 
 A bounden duty lies, with earnestness 
 To strive, by aid divine, to cany out, 
 As far as infirm nature will allow. 
 The blessed rule of doing all to God, 
 As one who has to give account at last ; 
 And so in every man his neighbour see, 
 And whether than himself richer he be, 
 Or poorer, higher or lower, always 
 To do to him as he would be done by. 
 Thus, through grace, his equilibrium 
 To maintain, a true servant to his God, 
 
 M 3
 
 166 DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 Using his talent justly, oppressing 
 
 None, and yielding to all the meed their due. 
 
 Let none to gi-eatness think they raise themselves 
 B)' despising those below them ; oh, nf) ! 
 True greatness lies to sen^e the King of kings ; 
 Did He despise the poor ? or value set 
 On the world's wealth ? Oh, no ! He loved the poor ! 
 And let not those whom God hath humbly placed, 
 Think that they raise themselves by murmuring 
 Outcry ; and unfounded allegation 
 Adverse to those, by God's will, over them. 
 So tar as either class transgress God's laws, 
 They surely seek their own unhappiness ; 
 Si) far as either to His laws conform. 
 They meet His smile, and in their hearts find peace.
 
 GLORY TO GOD
 
 169 
 
 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 When finite beings strain their utmost strength 
 
 To glorify the source firom whence they sprung, 
 
 How feeble is the effort, when compared 
 
 With their lofty theme of aspiration ! 
 
 Increase to render to infinity 
 
 Were impossible for finite power ; 
 
 Yet God pennits creation His glory 
 
 To declare, and glory render back to Him, 
 
 And graciously ascribes unto Himself 
 
 As creation's yield, that which is His own ; 
 
 Dispensing bliss and blessing through the act.
 
 170 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 Glorv to God on liic-h, in highest heaven ! 
 Be suug by angels and by men, in time, 
 And through eternity ! Let all the worlds 
 On Avorlds, ten thousand times ten thousand more 
 In number, and ten thousand times again, 
 Rolling in that vast arc on every side 
 This world siirrounding, in the breadth of space 
 Illimitable, with all their glories 
 And their beauteous grandeur, in loud song 
 Of harmony exalt their maker, God ! 
 Let them eternally adore the Lord ! 
 
 Oh praise the God of Holiness and Love ! 
 Praise Him that these most heavenly attributes, 
 In revelation of Himself do take 
 Pre-eminence ; in the development 
 Of His power and might, in divine wisdom. 
 In the glad tidings of man's salvation, 
 In the blessedness of heaven, the pure bliss 
 That reigneth there, and evermore shall reign
 
 GLORY TO GOD. 171 
 
 In tlie celestial hierarchy ; 
 
 In the soiil of man, for heaven designed, 
 
 In all God's ways to man, and above all, 
 
 In redemption, that great and blessed work, 
 
 How gloriously do these attributes 
 
 Shine forth ! they seem to be the very soul 
 
 Of all God's acts, and so pervade all else, 
 
 As to inspire such power and pure beauty 
 
 In all the rest, and so predominate 
 
 By their inflision, that it would appear 
 
 To be His chosen way, the character 
 
 In Avhich it best hath pleased His sacred will, 
 
 Creation should eternally adore the Lord ! 
 
 Holiness ! comprehensive word of words. 
 
 Embracing in its holy influence 
 
 (What word but holy can express itself?) 
 
 All other attributes of God ; 'tis not 
 
 An isolated attribute, but one 
 
 In which all others centre, 'tis with love 
 
 Combined, holy love ! that demonstration
 
 172 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 Of Himself to which other attributes, 
 
 Equally in their glory infinite, 
 
 Do seem to lend their aid, to gloriiy 
 
 God in His Holiness, and in His Love ! 
 
 Almighty is God's power, infinitely 
 
 Deep His wisdom, unerring in His truth, 
 
 Magnificent in His stupendous works, 
 
 Marvellous in order of their greatness, 
 
 And marvellous incomparable 
 
 In their minutiae, in form and beauty 
 
 Surpassing exquisite, adaptation 
 
 Wondrous perfect, goodness in every work, 
 
 Majesty in all, of great compassion, 
 
 And ever in all things just and righteous ! 
 
 But oh ! what gives to power, and to wisdom, 
 
 And to all the great glorious display 
 
 Of God's works and ways throughout creation, 
 
 And in that most stupendous work of all, 
 
 Eedemption, their excellency sublime, 
 
 But that they are all begun, continued,
 
 GLORY TO GOD. 17J 
 
 And to end in pure Holiness and Love ? 
 
 Doth not God's Avord that descrij)tion give 
 
 With which He is best pleased, that " God is Love?" 
 
 And, " Be ye holy, for I am holy," 
 
 Is His blessed injunction and command ; 
 
 The High and Lofty One inhabiting 
 
 Eternity, and " whose name is Holy ! " 
 
 And again, how strong the declaration, 
 
 " Without hohness no man shall see the Lord." 
 
 So should hohness be our heart's desire, 
 
 And so love ever present in our breast, 
 
 Eemembering we are to be Hke Jesus, 
 
 And so eternally adore the Lord! 
 
 Blessed Jesus, by whom all things consist, 
 Upholding all things by Thy power divine, 
 In whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells, 
 Thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory, 
 Now, for ever and for ever, amen !
 
 1'4 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 Systems of the universe, dazzling suns, 
 Pale, placid moons, ye bright rolling planets, 
 All ye stars of light in beauteous order 
 Eanged, in the vast rich canopy of heaven, 
 Centres may be of circling worlds unseen, 
 Innumerable ; ye flaming comets 
 Wonder exciting, traversing your course 
 Assigned, not one devious step permitted ; 
 All ye created spheres, of whose glories 
 Our dim sight but bright sparkling specks can see, 
 Ye that are visible to mortal ken, 
 And ye, may be a thousand milhons more 
 Invisible, rich in brightest splendour, 
 A mighty majesty of rolling worlds ; 
 Praise ye your maker, God, most holy God ! 
 All His will beneficent obeying, 
 By whose almightiness ye were and are. 
 And at whose pleasure ye were created, 
 By whose power ye are in your course restrained ; 
 Let your loud voice resound from star to star,
 
 GLORY TO GOD. - 175 
 
 One to another telling out His glory, 
 As in yom- orbits grand ye onward sweep, 
 All in rapid movement, wheeling 
 Yonr mighty masses, and revolving too 
 On your own imaginary axes 
 With such precision and exactitude, 
 That not the time of one electric spark 
 Doth vary in your motions as ordained. 
 But all in order wondrously consist, 
 Till the accumulated song of praise 
 Swells in its echoes to infinity. 
 And thus eternally adore the Lord ! 
 
 Were we to try and stretch conception's power, 
 Of God's restraining rule withdrawn, leaving 
 To a million spheres their given impetus, 
 How awfully terrific, past all thought, 
 Would be the crushing crash of meeting worlds, 
 Shattering and shattered, in fi-agments hurled. 
 Broken, hither, thither, till collision
 
 176 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 On collision, sucli dire destruction and 
 Confusion made, they would be worlds no more. 
 
 Or were it thy will, O God, utterly 
 The whole creation to annihilate, 
 One single instant would fulfil that Avill : 
 Eternity to come would be as past 
 Eternity once was, when Thou alone. 
 In all thy glorious infinity, 
 Wert equal fulness, before creation, 
 The same yeterday, to-day, and for ever. 
 
 But such is not thy will, we surely know 
 From Thy revealed word ; or to withdi-aw 
 Thy loving rule, or to annihilate 
 The glorious works of Thy hand divine, 
 Though for man's guilt, no sentence were severe. 
 For Thy forbearing love we praise and bless 
 Thy holy name, and fain would gloriiy 
 Thy majesty ; God gi-ant to us thy grace
 
 GLOEY TO GOD. 177 
 
 That in our hearts Ave now and ever may 
 Out praises sing, Glory to God most High ! 
 
 Oh nniverse, in thy grandeur exalt 
 And worship God ! and not in thy grandeur 
 Only as a whole, but thy elements 
 Unto His Glory also shall redound. 
 
 O thou light and heat, whose radiant power 
 So universal is, that without thee 
 Nature herself would die ; thou, by God's law 
 One animating principle of life. 
 Who dost foster into being countless 
 Multitudes ; thou who sheddest thy bright beams 
 O'er all creation, and whose rays diffuse 
 Such glorious effects, such varied tints. 
 Such beauteous colour, such resplendence 
 In the heavens above, in the earth beneath, 
 In every form and feature nature's face 
 Exliibits ; cheering with thy brilliancy 
 
 N
 
 178 GLORY TO GOD. • 
 
 That which were dvill without thee, 
 
 And wonders woi-king by thy wide iulluence 
 
 Benign, inscrutable, far, far beyond 
 
 The point which man can reach and penetrate;- 
 
 In this our day unfolding unto us 
 
 Marvels that tell how little -we do kno^v ; 
 
 Thou, who in electric power wonderful 
 
 Art the chief agent, in the lightning's flash 
 
 Terrific, grand, sublime and beautiftil; 
 
 Or, in the slender wire doth thy presence 
 
 Clearly demonstrate, giving power to man 
 
 Till now by him imknown, and even noAv 
 
 Not comprehended ; thou, who dost echpse 
 
 In one moment the studied art of man. 
 
 The truth portraying, dwindling to nothing 
 
 Man's puny efforts as compared with thee, 
 
 Though the cost of years in toil and study ; 
 
 O wonder working power, in the silent 
 
 Exercise of thy tmiversal good. 
 
 All glory, glory give to the great God,
 
 GLORY TO GOD. I79 
 
 Wiio spake tlie word, " Let there be liglit," and light 
 There was, thus by Him thou wert created ! 
 
 O thou wide-spread sea, whose vohiminoiis 
 Expanse o'er more than half this globe extends, 
 Teeming with life, with depth unfathomable. 
 In thy stormy rage so magnificent, 
 Tossing the angiy surge, now moimtains high. 
 Now to the hollow deep, lashing the rocks 
 With foam, and rolling dashing on the shore, 
 As if again to overwhelm the earth. 
 Thy huge swelling billows so gigantic. 
 Each wave would seem itself to be a sea ; 
 In the gentle motion of thy calmness, 
 "With sound so soothing, rippling on the sand ; 
 In the order of thy tides and currents 
 From pole to pole, and the circumference 
 Of the earth embracing ; bleak north and south 
 Your mighty icebergs floating off, double 
 In depth below to height above, leaving 
 
 n2
 
 ISO GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 Your frigid homes to seek more genial climes 
 111 suited, and find your own destruction. 
 Thou higliwny of the nations of the earth ; 
 Thou recipient of all earth's waters, 
 In exhalation giving oiit again 
 That which the rivers freely gave to thee ; 
 Feeding the atmosphere, and forming clouds 
 Of towering grandeur to drop their fatness 
 On tlie dry gi-ound, and having fertilised 
 Earth's surface, once again return to thee ; 
 So in thy circlet, working as ordained, 
 Praise ye the Lord, and glorify your God ! 
 
 Ye winds and tempests, and ye hurricanes, 
 Instruments of destruction and of good ; 
 Ye soothing, balmy, whispering zephyrs, 
 So sweetly giving to the mind repose. 
 And in thy vibrating power, such sweet sounds 
 Of stirring music to the ear doth bring ; 
 Ye pure snows, each flake in varied beauty
 
 GLORY TO GOD. 181 
 
 Crystolline, emblem of heart purity ; 
 
 Ye showers so gentle, noiu-ishing the earth, 
 
 Life giving, as God's Spirit to the soul ; 
 
 Ye ice and pelting hail, ye mists and dews, 
 
 Roaring cascades, fountains, and bubbling springs, 
 
 Each in your place to good contributing ; 
 
 O thou blue ethereal sky's expanse, 
 
 Upward tlirough which man's thought ascends to Heaven ; 
 
 Thou loud thunder, reverberating, 
 
 Crasliing in air with crackling suddenness, 
 
 Striking with awe as 'twere the voice of God ; 
 
 O thou clouds in majesty and beauty 
 
 Ever varying, sometimes portentous, 
 
 Sometimes in radiant light effulgent, 
 
 Honoured by thy Maker's use, when to heaven 
 
 He ascended, and so again to be 
 
 When in His glorious second advent 
 
 In the clouds of heaven He again shall come. 
 
 So may the tlirong of anguLs and of saints. 
 
 As clouds of splendour, fill the gorgeous sky. 
 
 N 3
 
 182 GLOKY TO GOD. 
 
 O all ye works of the Lord, excellent, 
 
 And exceeding wonderful, magnify 
 
 And praise the Lord, and glorify your God. 
 
 And now, O earth, tliy God doth call on thee^ 
 In all things Him to worship and adore ; 
 He gave thee all thy marvellous powers 
 And capacities, He knows thy frame-work, 
 Praise ye Him, for He made thee what thon art t 
 He framed thee out of nothing, each atom 
 Of thy multifarious substance, deep 
 To thy centre, thence to thy surface fair, 
 In wisdom occupies its place assigned. 
 Fulfils that mission which His will has given, 
 Must obey his laws, and so for ever shall. 
 Though for the sin of man now under curse. 
 And so must be, until baptismal fire 
 Its purifying work on thee hath wrought ; 
 Yet thou art redeemed by Him that made thee, 
 The morning star of thy new creation
 
 GLOEY TO GOD. 183 
 
 "Will soon fivise, and then tlioii slialt sliine fovtb 
 In pure loveliness, unknown before. 
 
 Ye mountain ranges spread o'er all the earth, 
 Your lofty peaks raised high above the world 
 Around, pointing like the chm-ch spire to heaven, 
 Reminding us that our true home is there ; 
 Ye fruitful vales, rich in luxuriance, 
 With flocks and herds, and corn, and fi-uits, and flowers, 
 Nurtui-ed by flowing rivers, brooks and streams, 
 Apt emblem of the Spirit-nurtured soul ; 
 Ye mighty caverns, hollow depths unknown. 
 Ending may be in one great vacancy ; 
 Ye volcanoes, craters, biu-ning mountains. 
 With terrific power belching to mid air 
 Your fiery entrails, leading the thoughts 
 To that deep dark abyss of fire and woe. 
 The doom of those who will not come to God : 
 Tell out your Maker's power in sounding praise ! 
 
 n4
 
 184 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 O world, at tlie beginning God did tliee 
 Create, tlie order of thy creation, 
 And of all created things, doth to him 
 Alone pertain the knoAvledge ; Ave know not ; 
 Nor to our salvation is it needful 
 We should know. It may be that changes gi-eat, 
 Through many ages, on thee have j)assed, 
 So doth thy crusted surface indicate ; 
 But this we know most truly by God's "Word, 
 The race of man from Him existence had 
 On earth only six thousand years ago : 
 Suffice it ever imto us to know 
 That which God giveth ; all our powers bending 
 His wisdom and His goodness to descry, 
 Not into things inscrutable to dive. 
 Thou art wonderfully made, the riches 
 Of thy substance, or for use or splendour, 
 Are inexhaustible ; fi-om within thee 
 Come forth silver and gold, the brilliant 
 SparkKng diamond, and all precious stones,
 
 GLOEY TO GOD. 196 
 
 Emblems of that more precious than yourselves ; 
 
 Thou givest the iron and brass, metals 
 
 Of all kinds, stones, and beauteous marbles, 
 
 Useful coal and every kind of product, 
 
 Like the talents to oiu- trust committed, 
 
 All are for some good purpose to be used. 
 
 And thy life-sustaining surface is fraught 
 
 With gorgeous beauty ; thy forests vast. 
 
 And varied foliage, speak loud temis of praise ; 
 
 Thy pastures green and fair do tell of peace ; 
 
 Thy fruits, the mner life with so much care 
 
 Preserved by substance round, and to man's good 
 
 So conducive, do of the inner life 
 
 Of man remind us, ^Tl•apt up in Jesus ! 
 
 From thee alone doth man his food derive, 
 
 And not man only, but all living things ; 
 
 Thou art the fruitful mother, giving bread 
 
 And nourishment to all who ask of thee 
 
 Thy produce for theii' labom-, so plainly 
 
 Uttering the truth, that lie by whose power
 
 186 GLOEY TO GOD. 
 
 Alone tliou yicldost for the body's life, 
 Is for man's living soul more free to give 
 That living food than we are to receive ; 
 O earth, earth, with all thy powers magnify 
 And praise the Lord, and glorify your God ! 
 
 O all ye living creatures on earth's face, 
 Come ye and raise your living voice to heaven, 
 In your* wondrous forms and instincts, your strength. 
 And power, your sagacities, your beauty, 
 Youi- innumerable varied species 
 On earth, in earth, in water, and in aii-. 
 Ye countless millions of every figure 
 And of form, from gigantic to minute, 
 Each one without exception, as perfect 
 As if that one were the sole work of God ; 
 With habits, and capacities, and arts, 
 So fitted to your end designed, and each 
 So in creation placed, that every niche 
 Is fiUed, and such a perfect whole is framed,
 
 GLOr.Y TO GOD. 1S7 
 
 That in the chain there no disjointure is, 
 
 But thi-onghout the range of nature's kingdom, 
 
 Every creature, every plant, each atom, 
 
 Is a link set another link within. 
 
 So gradual, and yet so true, that while 
 
 Your name is multitude, your name is one : 
 
 So with one voice give God your Maker praise. 
 
 'T were vain the attempt creation's wonders 
 To describe, it is one great miracle, 
 In all its parts, its workings, and its end ; 
 We can but glance its wisdom, manifold. 
 Whether in the structure of an insect, 
 God's mighty army, when he calls it forth, 
 Or in those developments of beauty. 
 Or of strength and wondrous adaptation, 
 In fish or fowl, in animal or flower. 
 Which seem more manifest, or in those 
 More hidden workings which philosophic 
 Science oft essays to trace ; one and all
 
 188 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 Ai-c demonstrations of almightiness, 
 In love and goodness ever exercised, 
 Deep, fathomless, yet clear as daylight truth. 
 Oh ! then let all that God has ever made. 
 His praise declare, and glorify His name ! 
 
 And, above all, ye chikh-en of God's love, 
 Immortal beings, with undying souls, 
 Eich in the riches of His saving grace, 
 "With intellect to comprehend, and mind 
 To gi-asp eternal things ; whose eye can scan, 
 In mental thought, ideas Avhich deeply pierce 
 The truth of infinite eternity 
 Gone by, the rolling hour of passing time, 
 And the deep impenetrable future ; 
 Ye, for whom God made the world, and all things 
 Very good, though by your sin perverted, 
 "Who art endued with noble faculties. 
 So elastic, that to their expansion 
 And enlarged progression no bounds appear ;
 
 GLORY TO GOD. 189 
 
 To whom God deigns to open more and more 
 
 Intelligence and knowledge of His ways 
 
 And works, eacli advancing step leading thought 
 
 Onward, by new great marvels, to perceive 
 
 Sublime, yet, in comparison, still faint 
 
 Inadequate ideas of His greatness, 
 
 His goodness. His Avisdom, His love. His power. 
 
 Eternity itself, though constantly ; 
 
 Unfolding to creation the knowledge 
 
 Of created things, ne'er can exhaust 
 
 The depth profound, and height of God in them. 
 
 'Tis not only with the gift of knowledge 
 
 And of intellect in things external 
 
 Thou art endued ; you have an inward life, 
 
 A never-dying life ; you have a heart 
 
 Susceptible of intense affection ; 
 
 You have a soul, with holiness, with truth, 
 
 With purity, hiunility, and love 
 
 To be impressed, to make you meet for heaven ; 
 
 These high gifts of God are youi's, neglect them
 
 190 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 Not ; by divme love given, destroy tlicm not ; 
 
 Sink not your mind, your licart, your soul, 
 
 In works and ways that to destruction lead, 
 
 But by prayer, through the ordained means of grace, 
 
 Seek earnestly that God be pleased to grant 
 
 Such grace to you, that you may dedicate 
 
 The whole fulness of your mind's intellect, 
 
 The warm devotion of jouv inmost heart. 
 
 The exaltation of your priceless soul, 
 
 With faith and gratitude, to magnify 
 
 And praise the Lord, and glorify your God ! 
 
 O man, beloved of God, couldst thou behold 
 In fulness, all the great and mighty things 
 Which God for thee hath done ; from nothing brought 
 He created thee, gave thee thy body 
 To work His will and thine o^vn happiness ; 
 Gave thee thy soul, thine everliving soul, 
 Wliich with thy body constitutes thee — man ! 
 He laid the world's creation at thy feet,
 
 GLORY TO GOD. 191 
 
 And with full dominion tliee invested ; 
 
 In paradise He placed thee, surrounding 
 
 Thee with every element of bliss ; 
 
 And yet more, He -vvallved in presence with thee ; 
 
 One single test He did on thee impose. 
 
 That you might know and feel that you were His. 
 
 In youi" self-will you fell, and ruin brought 
 
 On all mankind in thee, and on the world ; 
 
 Wlaat did God do ? in love He had made you. 
 
 He so loved you still, that to redeem you 
 
 From your lost estate, which no power but His, 
 
 His justice to vindicate, man to save, 
 
 Ever could have done, He gave you Himself; 
 
 God gave you Ilis Son, that Son one with Him ; 
 
 G*d the Son did give Himself, ever one 
 
 With the Father ; and the Holy Ghost one 
 
 With the Father and the Son, God alone. 
 
 Has come down from heaven, that in Jesus Christ, 
 
 God the Eedeemer and only Saviour 
 
 Of the world, you, man, may live in heaven !
 
 192 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 "For wliosoever believetli in Tliin 
 
 " Shall not perish, but have everlasting 
 
 " Life ;" and lo, these are the true words of God ! 
 
 O man, for whom such ransom has been paid, 
 
 O thou, for whom the law has been fulfilled, 
 
 O thou, whom God with open arms invites 
 
 Home to the bosom of a Father's love ; 
 
 Thou, the most exalted of God's creatures, 
 
 By thine high mystic imion in the Christ, 
 
 Fall down before the footstool of His throne. 
 
 And pray to be convinced of sin ; and pray 
 
 For faith and penitence ; to realise 
 
 In ti'uth, by the power of the Holy Ghos 
 
 Forgiveness of your sin, and salvation 
 
 Of your entire manhood, soul and body. 
 
 In Jesus, the Christ, manifested God. 
 
 O thou for whom such saving means of grace 
 
 Have been vouchsafed, to whom so much is given, 
 
 To be grafted iuto Christ, live on Christ, 
 
 Feed on His body, di-ink His very blood.
 
 GLOEY TO GOD. 193 
 
 In the pure elements of bread and wine, 
 
 So made, tliougli still imchanged, by power divine. 
 
 Oh realise thy resurrection Hfe 
 
 In JesuSj risen now, in Him, thy head, 
 
 Thy living head ; so let yoiu* affections 
 
 Rest on things above, not on things on earth, 
 
 That with a depth of love as deep as man 
 
 Can know ; that with a holy reverence. 
 
 As great as man can feel ; with a pure heart. 
 
 As pure as man's infirmity permits ; 
 
 With gratitude so quickened by delight ; 
 
 And with a soul devoted to your God ; 
 
 You may with all your faculties and powers 
 
 Adore His glorious and holy name, 
 
 And worship Him in truth, and magnif)- 
 
 And praise the Lord, and glorify your God ! 
 
 Were not the Lord the gracious God He is. 
 To deign acceptance of adoring praise 
 From the creation of His hand ; apart 
 

 
 194 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 From Him, creation would be desolate ; 
 But God is love, He in love made all things, 
 And in that same love, though to His glory- 
 No adoring praise can add, He permits 
 Creation, for its own highest blessing. 
 To Him to render that adoration, 
 Glory, honour, and praise, which is at once 
 The most blessed and the boimden duty 
 Of creation to its creator — God ! 
 
 Shout, O ye heavens, and ye that dwell therein, 
 Angels, archangels, principalities, 
 And powers, ye shining radiant bright ones, 
 Ministering spirits before God's throne. 
 Ye holy cherubim and seraphim 
 And all the hierarchy of heaven, 
 Shout your alleluias, alleluias. 
 With your angelic voice of harmony, 
 With sweet rapturous melody divine, 
 With the celestial loud trumpet's sound,
 
 GLORY TO GOD 195 
 
 With harps, and all the music of the spheres, 
 Praise, O praise ye the Lord, the God of Heaven ! 
 
 Ye saints in paradise who joyful wait. 
 With longing expectation and desire. 
 The second Advent of yotu- Lord, Jesus, 
 Li glory, and in your living spirits 
 Evermore love him with a fervent love ; 
 Ye sacred multitude in blessed rest. 
 Who from earth's toils and cares have passed away, 
 And from temptation's power now are free, 
 Ye who to your Saviour are nearer brought 
 Than saints on earth, though both do hve in Him ; 
 Ye blessed company, fi'om Adam first 
 To tlie last ptu-ified and righteous 
 Soul, to whom 'twas given thy gates to enter ; 
 Patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs ; 
 Holy men, holy women, new born babes. 
 Washed in the foimtain of their Saviour's blood ; 
 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, 
 
 o 2
 
 196 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 Noah, Dauiel, Job and Samuel, 
 
 Moses, Aaron, David and Isaiah, 
 
 Peter, James, and John, Stephen, and Saint Paul ; 
 
 Confessors who have died for Jesus' name, 
 
 And thou, O most blessed Virgin Mary, 
 
 Highly favoured, holy among women, 
 
 Mother of Jesus, the incarnate God ! 
 
 Ye who may have a brighter glimpse of heaven, 
 
 And of heaven's occupants, oh ! join with them, 
 
 Mingle your song of praise with theirs on high, 
 
 Resound their choral alleluia notes, 
 
 Which have such sweetness from their holiness, 
 
 And sing of your Redeemer's saving love ; 
 
 Your powers not yet are full ; when the great day 
 
 Shall come ye shall sing more gloriously 
 
 Th' eternal song, the triumph of the Lamb, 
 
 The Father's love, and His co-equal Son, 
 
 And Holy Ghost, glory to three in One. 
 
 And all ye saints on earth, the Church of God,
 
 GLOKY TO GOD. 197 
 
 The living members of your living Head, 
 
 And ye wlio yearn that life to live in Him, 
 
 Striving in prayer, in ever constant prayer, 
 
 Nearer and nearer to draw near to God ; 
 
 Ye poor in spirit, and ye meek in mind, 
 
 Hungering, thii-sting after righteousness. 
 
 Who love to forgive, and forgive to love, 
 
 Calming the troubled waves of man with peace, 
 
 IMoui-ning for sia, and merciful to all ; 
 
 Ye who the world's scorn can bear for Jesus' sake. 
 
 And all in whom the seed of life is sown ; 
 
 O ye are one in Christ, with those blest saints 
 
 In paradise, and ye are flowing on 
 
 With them to those unseen, imheard-of joys, 
 
 Which are in heaven laid up for them and you. 
 
 O then, by faith, know that your voice 
 
 Shall to the throne of grace ascend Avith theirs ! 
 
 Holy communion blest, body and soid ! 
 
 O then, while here below, ere ye go hence 
 
 To them, in life, in act, in word, in thought.
 
 198 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 In spirit and in mind, in heart and soul, 
 The grace of God pre-venting, helping you, 
 Let your whole self hosannas loudly sing. 
 In love obedient, so magniiy 
 And praise the Lord, and glorify your God ! 
 
 " O praise God in His Holiness ; praise him 
 " In the firmament of his power ; praise Him 
 " According to His excellent greatness ! " 
 Let all creation praise His Holy name ! 
 Come, O come ye to the glorious feast 
 Of hallowed homage to Almighty God. 
 Spirits in pure celestial essence. 
 In adoring love His will fulfilling, 
 Youi- radiant beauty, your holiness. 
 Your spotless purity, your power and might, 
 All the angelic graces to you given 
 Ascribe ye unto Him, ft'om whom they came ; 
 And in the song of heavenly praise in tones 
 Melodious, transcending human thought.
 
 GLORY TO GOD. 199 
 
 Fill the wliole arc of heaven, re-echoing, 
 
 " We give Thee thanks, Lord God Almighty, 
 
 " Holy, Holy, Holy, which art and wast, 
 
 " And art to come ! The first and last ! — Amen." 
 
 Ye sonJs of men departed, and ye souls 
 Of men still passing the short hour of life, 
 O man redeemed by the Almighty love 
 Of your great God and Savioiu* Jesus Christ, 
 Respond the strain of angels' praise on high ! 
 
 All material being, ye systems 
 Of the rmiverse, with your million worlds. 
 With all your glories, with yoiu* mightiness 
 And grandeur, your sublime magnificence. 
 Brilliant stms, and shining stars of light, 
 EoUing throiigh space, by power divine controlled ; 
 In aU the wisdom, goodness and beauty, 
 Animate and inanimate in you 
 Displayed, in ten thousand times ten thousand
 
 200 GLORY TO GOD. 
 
 Forms and ways, so marvellous and perfect 
 
 In all your glorious, harmonious 
 
 Order and arrangement ; — one splendid whole ! •* 
 
 Do ye with the angelic host of heaven, 
 
 And with man as high as heaven exalted ! 
 
 In everlasting anthem praise the Lord ! 
 
 All Glory, Honom-, Majesty, and Love, 
 Worship and Adoration unto GOD ! 
 The Almighty GOD of Heaven and of Earth ! 
 Glory to GOD, Creator of aU things' ! 
 Glory to GOD, Redeemer of the world ! 
 Glory to GOD, Holy, Holy, Holy ! 
 Eternal Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! 
 GOD alone in One ! Jesus ! only One ! 
 Glory to GOD, in JESUS ! GOD's ow SON \—Amen. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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