A CHRISTIAN'S PLEADING.

'Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ."-Philemon, 8 and 9.

STATESMEN have pleaded-for applause,

And some for sordid pelf;

The patriot-for his country's cause;

The lover-for.himself.

But statesman, patriot, lover-ne'er,

In passion, or pretence, Appeal'd to heart, or eye, or ear, With deeper eloquence,

Than these few simple words make known
To those who feel their force,

Whose eyes can see, whose hearts can own
Their pure and holy source.

What is that source? A heart renew'd
By grace, from God above;
With meekness, gentleness imbued,
And taught to win by love.

Which, govern'd not by studied rules
That human art may frame,—
Trusts not the rhet'ric of its schools,
But pleads a Saviour's name.

And, for His sake thus bound in chains, With tenderness can greet,

Him whom it might command, but deigns So mildly to entreat.

Oh ye! who may aspire in thought,

To act the pleader's part,

Deign by a Christian to be taught

The way to touch the heart.

THE REWARD OF THE FAITHFUL.

"There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God.”— Hebrews, iv. 9.

MEEK follower of a lowly Lord,

Are trouble, fear, and sorrow, thine?
May humble faith to thee accord
This promise of His word divine:
For His a glorious rest remaineth,
And stedfast faith that rest attaineth.

Art thou of holy grace a child?

This world thy rest can never be;
By sorrow marr'd, by sin defil'd,
It is a home unworthy thee;
And thou shalt be by grace translated,
Where peace and purity are mated.

But, oh, remember, those alone
His hallow'd rest shall enter in,
Whose hearts, believing, first disown

The pride of self, the power of sin: If thou into His rest wouldst enter, Faith must achieve this high adventure.

Faith in the Son of God-who gave His sinless life to ransom thine; Faith in God's gracious will to save, Faith in His Spirit's aid divine; Thine eye by faith that rest beholdeth, And faith its entrance still unfoldeth.

Possessing this-thy soul shall be
Prepar'd with every ill to cope,
And Achor's valley prove to thee
The door of calm confiding hope;
Of hope which-on a Saviour grounded,
Though tried, can never be confounded.

THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE.

"But the wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."-James, iii. 17.

HAST thou this wisdom from above,
Pure, gentle, peaceable, divine?
Examine well thy faith and love,
And know if it indeed be thine.

Hath grace thy heart so purified,
That no unclean, unholy thing
Can there uncheck'd, unmourn'd abide,

To taint thought's deep and hidden spring?

Peaceable, and at peace within;

Gentle, and easy

of access

To all intreaty-not of sin;

And full of mercy, prompt to bless ;