Where the blaze of the skies

Comes soft to our eyes

Through a veil of mystical imageries.

But could I see,

As in truth they be,

The glories of Heaven that encompass me,
I should lightly hold

The tissued fold

Of that marvellous curtain of blue and gold.

Soon the whole,

Like a parched scroll,

Shall before my amazed sight uproll,

And without a screen,

At one burst be seen,

The Presence wherein I have ever been.

O! who shall bear

The blinding glare

Of the Majesty that shall meet us there?

What eye may gaze

On the unveil'd blaze

Of the light-girdled throne of the Ancient of days?

Christ us aid!

Himself be our shade,

That in that dread day we be not dismay'd.

Forasmuch as to all appearance the time of his dissolution draweth near,

J

CONSUMPTION.

From "The Dove on the Cross."

ESUS! my breath is failing—lead me on

Softly and gently, as my strength can bear;
Draw me to Thee in closer union,

And for eternal life Thy child prepare.
Let Thy love shine upon my soul, and chase
This mistiness and darkness quite away,
Till Faith discerns her holy resting-place
Distinctly, in the perfect light of day.
Robe me in snowy raiment; store my heart
With precious jewels from Thy treasury.
This world is not my rest, let me depart
And let my ransomed soul return to Thee.
Well may I trust Thee, who Thyself hast given
To gain for me the peace and bliss of heaven.

Fit and prepare him, we beseech Thee, against the hour of

death,

THE DAY OF DEATH.

HOU inevitable day,

TH

R. C. Trench.

When a voice to me shall say— "Thou must rise and come away;

"All thine other journeys past, Gird thee, and make ready fast For thy longest and thy last "—

Day deep-hidden from our sight
In impenetrable night,

Who may guess of thee aright?

Art thou distant, art thou near?
Wilt thou seem more dark or clear?
Day with more of hope or fear?

Wilt thou come, not seen before
Thou art standing at the door,
Saying-Light and life are o'er?

Or with such a gradual pace,
As shall leave me largest space
To regard thee face to face?

Shall I lay my drooping head
On some loved lap; round my bed
Prayer be made, and tears be shed?

Or at distance from mine own,
Name and kin alike unknown,
Make my solitary moan?

Will there yet be things to leave, Hearts to which this heart must cleave,

From which, parting, it must grieve;

Or shall life's best ties be o'er,
And all loved things gone before
To that other happier shore?
Shall I gently fall on sleep,
Death, like slumber, o'er me creep,
Like a slumber sweet and deep?

Or the soul long strive in vain
To get free, with toil and pain,
From its half-divided chain?
Little skills it where or how,
If thou comest then or now,
With a smooth or angry brow;

Come thou must, and we must die—

Jesus, Saviour, stand Thou by,

When that last sleep seals our eye.

That after his departure hence in peace, and in Thy favour, his soul may be received into Thine everlasting kingdom.

THE PRAYER.

Jeremy Taylor.

Μ'

Y soul doth pant towards Thee,
My God! source of eternal life!
Flesh fights with me;

O end the strife,

And part us, that in peace I may

Unclay

My wearied spirit, and take

My flight to Thy eternal spring,

Where for His sake,
Who is my King,

I may wash all my tears away,
That day.-

Thou conqueror of death,
Glorious triumpher o'er the grave,

Whose holy breath

Was spent to save

Lost mankind, make me to be stiled

Thy child;

And take me when I die,
And go unto my dust; my soul,
Above the sky,

With saints enrol:

That in Thy arms for ever I

May lie.

Amen.

That after his departure hence in peace, and in Thy favour, his soul may be received into Thine everlasting kingdom.

66

"SOON-AND FOR EVER."

HER DYING WORDS TO HER HUSBAND WERE: 'SOON-AND