Oh! I seem to stand

Trembling, where foot of mortal ne'er hath been, Wrapp'd in the radiance of Thy sinless land,

Which eye hath never seen.

Visions come and go;

Shapes of resplendent beauty round me throng; From angel lips I seem to hear the flow

Of soft and holy song.

It is nothing now,

When heaven is opening on my sightless eyes,
When airs from paradise refresh my brow,
The earth in darkness lies.

In a purer clime,

My being fills with rapture-waves of thought Roll in upon my spirit-strains sublime

Break over me unsought.

Give me now my lyre!

I feel the stirrings of a gift divine; Within my bosom glows unearthly fire, Lit by no skill of mine.

Trust.

OMMIT thou all thy griefs
And ways into His hands,

To His sure truth and tender care,
Who earth and heaven commands.

Who points the clouds their course,
Whom winds and seas obey:
He shall direct thy wandering feet,
He shall prepare thy way.

Put thou thy trust in God,
In duty's path go on;

Fix on His word thy steadfast eye,

So shall thy work be done.

No profit canst thou gain

By self-consuming care;

To Him commend thy cause, His ear

Attends the softest prayer.

Give to the winds thy fears;

Hope, and be undismayed;

God hears thy sighs, and counts thy tears;
God shall lift up thy head.

Through waves, and clouds, and storms,
He gently clears thy way:

Wait thou his time-thy darkest night

Shall end in brightest day.

Luther.

A Valediction.

OD be with thee my beloved,-God be with thee!
Else alone thou goest forth,

Thy face unto the north

Moor and pleasance, all around thee and beneath thee,

Looking equal in one snow!

While I who try to reach thee,

Vainly follow, vainly follow,
With the farewell and the hollo,
And cannot reach thee so.

Alas! I can but teach thee

God be with thee my beloved,-God be with thee!

Can I teach thee my beloved-can I teach thee?
If I said, go left or right,

The counsel would be light,—

The wisdom poor of all that could enrich thee,

My right would shew like left;

My raising would depress thee,

My choice of light would blind thee,—

Of

way,

would lead behind thee,—

Of end, would leave bereft.

Alas! I can but bless thee—

May God teach thee my beloved,—may God teach thee!

Can I bless thee my beloved,-can I bless thee?

What blessing word can I

From my own tears, keep dry?

[thee?

What flowers grow in my field where with to dress

My good reverts to ill;

My calmnesses would move thee,—
My softnesses would prick thee,-
My bindings up would break thee,-
My crownings, curse and kill.

Alas! I can but love thee

May God bless thee my beloved,-may God bless thee!

Can I love thee my beloved,-can I love thee?
And is this like love, to stand

With no help in my hand,

When strong as death I fain would watch above thee? My love-kiss can deny

No tear that falls beneath it:

My oath of love can swear thee
From no ill that comes near thee,-
And thou diest whilst I breathe it,

And I,-I can but die!

May God love thee my beloved,—may God love thee!

E. B. Browning.

Abide with me.

BIDE with me: fast falls the eventide;
The darkness thickens: Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me;

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see:
O Thou who changest not, abide with me!

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,-
Familiar, condescending, patient, free,

Come not to sojourn, but abide with me;

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing on Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea;
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour,-
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless :
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness:
Where is death's sting? where grave, thy victory?
I triumph still if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.