See how he loved, who died for man ;
Who labored thus, and thus endured,
To finish the all-gracious plan,
Which life and heaven to man secured.

Such love can we, unmoved, survey?
Oh may our breasts with ardor glow,
To tread his steps, his laws obey,
And thus our warm affection show!

Exeter Collection.

WHO IS MY MOTHER?

"Behold my mother and my brethren."-Matthew xii. 49. WHO is my mother? or my brethren ?

He spake, and looked on them who sat around, With a meek smile of pity, blent with love, More melting than e'er gleamed from human

face,

As when a sunbeam, through a summer shower,
Shines mildly, on a little hill-side flock;

And with what look of love he said, Behold
My mother, and my brethren; for I say,
That whosoe'er shall do the will of God,
He is my brother, sister, mother, all.

Anonymous.

CHRIST PRAYING ON THE MOUNTAIN.

"He went up into a mountain apart to pray."-Matt. xiv. 23. A CHILD 'midst ancient mountains I have stood, Where the wild falcons make their lordly nest On high. The spirit of the solitude

Fell solemnly upon my infant breast,

Though then I pray'd not; but deep thoughts have press'd

Into my being since it breathed that air, Nor could I now one moment live the guest

Of such dread scenes, without the springs of

prayer

O'erflowing all my soul. No minsters rise Like them in pure communion with the skies, Vast, silent, open unto day and night;

So might the o'erburden'd Son of Man have felt, When, turning where inviolate stillness dwelt, He sought high mountains, there apart to pray.

Mrs Hemans.

II.

"And when the evening was come, he was there alone."-Matthew xiv. 23.

66

'HE was there alone "— when even

Had round earth its mantle thrown;

Holding intercourse with heaven,
"He was there alone."

There his inmost heart's emotion
Made he to his Father known;
In the spirit of devotion,
Musing there" alone."

So let us, from earth retiring,
Seek our God and Father's throne;
And to other scenes aspiring

"Train our hearts alone."

Thus when time its course hath ended,
And the joys of earth are flown,
We, by hope and bliss attended,

Shall not be "alone."

Bowring.

CHRIST WALKING ON THE WATER.

"Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."— Matt. xiv. 27.

WHEN Power Divine in mortal form,
Hush'd with a word the raging storm,
In soothing accents Jesus said,
"Lo! it is I!-be not afraid."

So, when in silence nature sleeps,
And his lone watch the mourner keeps,
One thought shall every pang remove
Trust, feeble man, thy Maker's love.

Bless'd be the voice which breathes from heaven,
To every heart in sunder riven,

When love, and joy, and hope are fled,

"Lo, it is I! be not afraid."

When men with fiendlike passions rage,
And foes yet fiercer foes engage,

Bless'd be the voice, though still and small,
That whispers, "God is over all.”

God calms the tumult and the storm;
He rules the seraph and the worm :
No creature is by Him forgot,

Of those who know or know Him not.

And when the last dread hour shall come,
While shuddering nature waits her doom,
This voice shall call the pious dead-

"Lo, it is I!-be not afraid."

Sir James E. Smith.

THE LOVE OF GOD.

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him."- John vi. 44.

O DRAW me, Father, after thee,
So shall I run and never tire;
With gracious words still comfort me ;
Be thou my hope, my sole desire :
Free me from every weight; nor fear
Nor sin can come, if thou art here.

From all eternity, with love.
Unchangeable thou hast me viewed;
Ere knew this beating heart to move,
Thy tender mercies me pursued;
Ever with me may they abide,
And close me in on every side.

In suffering be thy love my peace,
In weakness be thy love my power;
And when the storms of life shall cease,
My God! in that important hour,
In death as life be thou my guide,

And bear me through death's whelming tide.

Moravian.