SIGNS AND TOKENS. "He that observeth the wind, shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap."- Ecclesiastes, xi. 4. CHRISTIAN pilgrim, seeking still Zion's high and holy hill, May thy Lord to thee impart Single eye, and stedfast heart. Place thy trust in grace divine, Winds may rise of fearful sound, He who watcheth winds that blow, He who waits lest clouds should rain, Signs and tokens false may prove, And his Spirit's power within. Keep thou Zion-ward thy face, Use the strength which grace shall give, Faith in God, if such be thine, Prove the best of tokens still. THE CHURCH IN HER BEAUTY AND PURITY. "A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed."-Solomon's Song, iv. 12. DELIGHTFUL emblems, in whose guise is shown Thy church, O Lord, from spot and wrinkle free; "The world unknowing, by the world unknown," Chaste and devoted in her love to Thee. Then Thou to her art fairest of the fair, The chief among ten thousand :—every crown And palm victorious which her children wear, Before thy throne of glory is cast down. Then, every anxious care on Thee repos'd, Lovely as Eden, ere by sin's deceit The tempter there a fatal entrance found; Pure as a chrystal fount in noontide's heat, Whose sunless depth by rocks is guarded round. Her's is that state of holier innocence Fall'n nature of itself can never know; Thy arm's inclosure is her living fence, Thy grace which made her pure must keep her so. THE CHURCH IN HER DESOLATION. "And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.”— Isaiah, i. 8. SUCH the desolate condition Of thy church, when sick at heart; Haste to save her, great Physician, Much she needs thy healing art. Balm in Gilead still is growing, Balm which every wound can heal, Like some poor, besieged city, Lord, look down on her with pity, Turn thy righteous hand upon her, Once enshrin'd her walls within. Once more from Thee favour winning, Judges unto her restore; As she had at the beginning, Give her counsellors once more. Raise up nursing sires and mothers, So shall sin no more defile her, ZION'S HOPE OF REDEMPTION. "Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness."-Isaiah, i. 27. WITH judgment, passing that of man, |