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النشر الإلكتروني

THE BLESSED FAITH OF THE SAINTS.

'Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."-John, xx. 29.

MOMENTS there are, in which 'tis well
To prove the fleece, both wet, and dry;
On every point of proof to dwell,
And every argument to try.

But times and seasons, too, there are,
When faith, if genuine faith it be,
Will find that doubt belief must mar,
And may not wait, or ask to see.

Where earnest wishes to believe,

Are felt, though doubt's dark maze be trod, Such may, through grace, at last receive,. The power to say, "My Lord! My God!"

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But wiser, and more blest, are they,
Whose faith has less distrustful been;
Whose hearts, believing, can obey,
Even before the eye hath seen.

This is that high and holy faith,
Which grace divine alone can give;
Triumphant over sin and death,

Through doubt and darkness it can live.

In every trying time of need

Its influence falters not, nor faints, But proves itself, in truth and deed, That once deliver'd to the saints.

Those, who, confiding in its might,
Place in this principle their trust,
Shall walk by faith, and not by sight,
And share the glory of the just.

And bless'd are they who thus receive

The power which God within makes known;

Who, not beholding, can believe,

And live by faith in Christ alone.

JUDAS ISCARIOT.

"For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry."-Acts, i. 17.

If it were so with Thee,
Thus number'd, gifted, and yet insecure,
Oh, how much need have we
To make our calling and election sure!

What station can we win,

To rival the high rank which thou hadst won,
Ere treach'ry's fearful sin

Made thee, by emphasis, " perdition's son?"

No follower of a day

Wert thou, no hasty proselyte to change;
That such should fall away,

`Nor then, nor now, could seem a marvel strange.

But thou long time hadst been
One of the few so honour'd, and preferr'd;

Daily thy Lord hadst seen,

More often than the day his voice hadst heard.

Number'd among the elect,
Partaker in their ministry wert thou;-
How could that hand, uncheck'd,
Give to its thorny crown thy Master's brow?

There may be in whose thought
Thy fall seems part of God's appointed plan ;
Hence with no lesson fraught,

Which every heart with fearful awe should scan.

I dare not so discuss

Myst'ries which reason cannot penetrate;

Instructive, unto us,

Should be the lesson of thy fall'n estate.

Thou shouldst a watch-word be,—

A solemn and affecting one to ALL;

And, while we mourn for thee,

Each should remember—“ I may also fall!"

PHILIP'S QUERY TO THE EUNUCH.

"Understandest thou what thou readest?"-Acts, viii. 30.

How needful the inquiry still,

When we consult the sacred page,
Wherein God's high and holy will
Is yet reveal'd from age to age.

"Tis well of our own hearts to ask,
If what we read we comprehend?
Or worse than profitless a task,
Which may to condemnation tend.

We must not by our powers as men
Expect those oracles to know;
Or fathom, by our reason's ken,
The mighty depths conceal'd below.

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