When from the chambers of the grave
He soar'd to Heaven again,

And by his resurrection gave

Such glorious gifts to men.

Might the rich gifts his blood has bought
Assume their proper place,

The miracles thy reliques wrought
Must yield to those of grace.

To only one thy sacred tomb
Could mortal life restore,

Our Lord's to millions is the womb
Of life which ends no more.

ON THE USE OF TIME.

"And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees."-2 Kings, xx. 10.

It seems a light and trivial thing

To view time's onward flight impell'd ;

To mark the shadow of his wing

Turn'd back!—a sight but once beheld.

Once only, to a monarch's prayer,
Was given by miracle divine

The moments pass'd again to share,
And see retrac'd time's shadowy line.

Yet thousands daily live on earth
As if their ineffectual might

Could give this wonder hourly birth

And backward turn time's rapid flight.

O time! Heaven's richest gift to man,
'Till gone too rarely understood,
How few thy richest treasures scan,
Or rightly estimate thy good.

Far beyond honours, power, or wealth,
The records of thy flight endure,
And render, by unheeded stealth,
The poorest rich, the richest poor,

Abus'd! though fame's proud heights be trod, Those barren summits nought can give;

Us'd for the glory of thy God

The humblest in content may live.

Thou Giver of this gift sublime!

Grant us thy grace its use to see,

That we may at the end of time
Enjoy eternity with thee.

THE LORD REIGNETH.

"Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth."-1 Chronicles, xvi. 31.

Be glad ye heavens, thou earth rejoice,
Man! spread through every nation
With joyful and triumphant voice
The gospel of salvation:

Publish his glory, and his praise
Whose word his works sustaineth,
And gratefully this anthem raise
Rejoice! The Lord yet reigneth!

Before His footstool prostrate fall,
Whose gracious bounty giveth
To each created object-all

On which enjoyment liveth :-
From Him alone each good descends,

His arm each ill restraineth;

Then tell to earth's remotest ends

The Lord in glory reigneth!

Praise Him for all that ye possess
Of riches, glory, power;—
Ye who have neither yet may bless
His goodness every hour:

His watchful and protecting eye
The meanest ne'er disdaineth,
Raise then, ye poor, your voice on high,
For you, for you He reigneth.

But chiefly for salvation's gift,
Of which He is the Donor,
Angels and men your voices lift,
In songs of praise and honour :
O sing with gratitude His name
Whose death our life remaineth,
The love of Jesus loud proclaim,

And say, The Lord still reigneth.

EZRA'S MOURNING.

"Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan, the son of Eliashib; and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away. y."— Ezra, x. 6.

Art thou of Ezra's seed,
Mourning, like him, transgressors led away?
Mourn on thy holy creed
Foretells thy blessing in a future day.

What though thine eyes be dim

With tears for others who themselves shed none;
Thou yet mayst know, like him,
That joy which only can through grief be won.

Thy soul, in brighter days,
The oil of joy for mourning may possess ;
And the glad garb of praise

For the dark vesture of thy heaviness.