A CALL TO VIGILANCE. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."Romans, xiii. 12. SAVIOUR, and GOD! impress on all If, in the fancied shades of night, Our souls have trusted,-Oh, display The dawning of that heavenly light, Which ushers in thy cloudless day! If deeds of darkness we have done, Teach us hereafter such to shun, Dreading thy day of righteous wrath. The night far spent, the day at hand, Nor sleep the awful sleep of death. Convince us, if we hope to be Our spirits must be cloth'd by Thee, Nor less the needful truth make known, Trusted no more, be laid aside. For none thy panoply can wear, But those whom Thou hast first uncloth'd; And none thy cloudless day can bear, But those who sin's dark night have loath'd. THE APOSTLE'S KNOWLEdge. "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."-1 Corinthians, ii. 2. WOULDST thou of knowledge, more and more, The sum and substance gain,Adding to mind's immortal store, The wealth that shall remain ?— O search not, with the learned Greek, Nor, like the Jew, this treasure seek In outward rite or sign. But seek thou, as th' Apostle sought, In speech, in action, and in thought, This saving knowledge would'st thou learn, From human lore conceal'd, Thy thought and vision inward turn, For there it is reveal'd. There would the Lord anoint thine His glorious cross to see, Which to the world can crucify, The world, no less, to Thee. His Spirit's deep baptismal power So shalt thou, in a future hour, For God will, in the end, bestow That crown on none beside eye, Those, who, like Paul, but seek to know PRESENT VISION IMPERFECT. "For now we see through a glass darkly."-1 Corinthians, xiii. 12. DIM and dark our present vision, Through time's shadowy glass made known, When compar'd with views elysian, Which hereafter shall be shown. Yet enough of glory,-beauty, Here to faith's keen sight are given, To refresh the path of duty, And make glad the way to heaven. See we not, beyond the portal Of the grave's brief resting-place, Glimpses of those joys immortal, Which await the heirs of grace? |