LIII.

"My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth."

BEHOLD, my righteousness is near,
And my salvation is gone forth!
O turn ye, then, with heart sincere,
And wait on me, ye sons of earth!

Lift up your eyes, the heavens survey,
And earth's extensive orb behold;
But, lo! the heavens shall pass away,
And like a vest the earth wax old.

Yet still the Rock of my salvation,
Upheld by mine almighty hand,
Through every age and generation,

Unshaken shall for ever stand!

Ye, now, that know my righteousness,

And in whose heart is sealed my

Seek ye the guidance of my grace,
And I will grace divine afford.

Word;

And fear ye not the world's dread scorn,
Nor of revilings be afraid :

But fear ye me, the Lord alone,

And let your mind on me be stayed.

Awake, awake, put on thy power,

O arm most mighty of the Lord!

Awake, as in the times of

yore,

And gird Thee on thy flaming sword.

For art thou not that arm of might,

That humbled down the Egyptian's pride;-

That arm that did for Israel fight,

And lead them through the Red Sea's tide!

Rise, Israel, then, and stand thou up;

Behold, thy warfare now is o'er :

For thou hast drained the bitter

cup;

But never shalt thou drink it more.

For, lo! the time now draweth nigh,
The great Redeemer's glorious day,-

When every tear, from every eye,
For ever shall be wiped away!

I

LIV.

ON THE DECEASE OF A FRIEND.

"Thy brother shall rise again."

WHAT though our brother's gone,

He yet shall rise again,

Where sin and sorrow are unknown, Beyond the reach of pain.

Then mourn we not his loss,-
For he has but laid down

The burden of his daily cross,

For an immortal crown.

This world was not his home;

Sad dwelling if it were!

But he shall find beyond the tomb,

A mansion bright and fair.

A sweet eternal rest,

Above yon starry sphere;

Where they shall reign with Jesus blest, Who suffered with Him here.