"In the dwelling-places of light and gladness, give them the spirit of joy.

"In the tabernacles of shadow and rest grant them the treasures of felicity.

"Whence every sorrow is excluded, and where the souls of the righteous, without labor, expect the first-fruits of eternal life, and where the spirits of just men, being made perfect, wait for the fruition of their promised reward.

"In that place where the laborers and the weary turn their eyes towards paradise, and they who are invited to the marriage supper look for the Bridegroom; where they who have been called to that feast wait until they go up to the same, and earnestly desire the new state of glory; where sorrows are banished away, and joys remain, through and for the sake of thine only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Saviour."

Some of these prayers seem to imply a belief in an intermediate state of the dead, and many of them furnish glowing descriptions of the joys of paradise.

FROM THE ABYSSINIAN LITUGY.

"From the throne of thine unconceived glory,

vouchsafe, O Lord, to look with an eye of pity and compassion on the souls of the faithful departed, the works of thine own hands.

"Be merciful unto them, O great King, and forgive their transgressions, putting away the remembrance of former sins, because of thine own dear Son.

"Leave them not desolate in the place of darkness and trouble, but lift up their eyes to the land of paradise, and satisfy their longings with the waters of thy comfort.

"Protect them from the incursion of their foe, and shield them by the hand of thy Omnipotence.

"Call them, in their day of rejoicing, to delight in the glories of thy heavenly mansions, where light and peace and joy eternal are forever and ever.

"We ask this both for the quick and dead because of thy only-begotten Son, in whom continually we place our hope and trust.”

XXXIII.

POPE'S UNIVERSAL PRAYER.

"Father of all! in every age,

In every clime adored,

By saint, by savage, and by sage,

Jehovah, Jove, or Lord!

"Thou great First Cause, least understood, Who all my sense confined

To know but this, that Thou art good,

And that myself am blind;

"Yet gave me, in this dark estate,

To see the good from ill;

And, binding nature fast in fate,
Left free the human will.

"What conscience dictates to be done,

Or warns me not to do,

This teach me more than hell to shun,

That more than heaven

pursue.

"What blessings thy free bounty gives

Let me not cast away;

For God is paid when man receives; To enjoy is to obey.

"Yet not to earth's contracted span Thy goodness let me bound,

Or think Thee Lord alone of man, When thousand worlds are round.

"Let not this weak, unknowing hand Presume thy bolts to throw,

And deal damnation round the land

On each Ijudge thy foe.

"If I am right, thy grace impart
Still in the right to stay;
If I am wrong, O, teach my heart
To find that better way!

"Save me alike from foolish pride,
Or impious discontent,

At aught thy wisdom has denied,
Or aught thy goodness lent.

"Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the fault I see;

That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.

"Mean though I am, not wholly 80,
Since quickened by thy breath;
O, lead me wheresoe'er I go,

Through this day's life or death.

"This day be bread and peace my lot;

All else beneath the sun

Thou know'st if best bestowed or not, And let thy will be done!