Whatsoever your sickness is, know you certainly, that it is God's visitation.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

WIS

EPHESIANS III. 13.

7. Keble.

ISH not, dear friends, my pain away—
Wish me a wise and thankful heart,

With God, in all my griefs to stay,

Nor from His loved correction start.

The dearest offering He can crave
His portion in our souls to prove,
What is it to the gift He gave,

The only Son of His dear love?

But we, like vexed unquiet sprights,
Will still be hovering o'er the tomb,
Where buried lie our vain delights,
Nor sweetly take a sinner's doom.

In Life's long sickness evermore

Our thoughts are tossing to and fro: We change our posture o'er and o'er, But cannot rest, nor cheat our woe.

Were it not better to lie still,

Let Him strike home and bless the rod, Never so safe as when our will

Yields undiscerned by all but God?

Thy precious things, whate'er they be
That haunt and vex thee, heart and brain,
Look to the Cross, and thou shalt see

How thou mayest turn them all to gain.

Lovest thou praise? the Cross is shame :
Or ease? the Cross is bitter grief:
More pains than tongue or heart can frame
Were suffered there without relief.

We of that altar would partake,

But cannot quit the cost-no throne Is ours, to leave for Thy dear sake— We cannot do as Thou hast done.

We cannot part with Heaven for Thee—
Yet guide us in Thy track of love :
Let us gaze on where light should be,
Though not a beam the clouds remove.

So wanderers ever fond and true

Look homeward through the evening sky, Without a streak of Heaven's soft blue

To aid Affection's dreaming eye.

The wanderer seeks his native bower,
And we will look and long for Thee,
And thank Thee for each trying hour,
Wishing, not struggling, to be free.

That your faith may be found in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity.

ERUSALEM! that place divine,

Drummond.

The vision of sweet peace is named,
In Heaven her glorious turrets shine,
Her walls of living stones are framed ;
While angels guard her on each side,
Fit company for such a bride.

She, decked in new attire, from Heaven
Her wedding chamber, now descends ;
Prepared in marriage to be given

To Christ, on whom her joy depends.
Her walls, wherewith she is enclosed,
And streets are of pure gold composed.

The gates, adorned with pearls most bright,
The way to hidden glory show ;
And thither, by the blessed might
Of faith in Jesus' merits go

All those who are on earth distressed,
Because they have Christ's name professed.

These stones the workmen dress and beat,
Before they throughly polished are;
Then each is in his proper seat

Established by the builder's care,

In this fair frame to stand for ever,
So joined that them no force can sever.

To God who sits in highest seat,
Glory and power given be,
To Father, Son, and Paraclete,
Who reign in equal dignity;

Whose boundless power we still adore,
And sing Their praise for evermore.

That your faith may be found in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious, and honourable.

PSALM LXXXIV.

H. F. Lyte.

LEASANT are Thy courts above,

Pin the land of light and love;
PLE

In

Pleasant are Thy courts below,
In this land of sin and woe.

O, my spirit longs and faints
For the converse of Thy saints,
For the brightness of Thy face,
King of Glory, God of grace!

Happy birds, that sing and fly
Round Thy altars, O most High!
Happier souls, that find a rest
In a Heavenly Father's breast!
Like the wandering dove that found
No repose on earth around,

They can to their ark repair,
And enjoy it ever there.

Happy souls! their praises flow
Ever in this vale of woe;

Waters in the desert rise,

Manna feeds them from the skies; On they go from strength to strength, Till they reach Thy throne at length, At Thy feet adoring fall,

Who hast led them safe through all.

Lord, be mine this prize to win ;
Guide me through a world of sin ;
Keep me by Thy saving grace;
Give me at Thy side a place.
Sun and shield alike Thou art;
Guide and guard my erring heart;
Grace and glory flow from Thee;
Shower, O shower them, Lord, on me.