L VI.-LONG DID I TOIL. ONG did I toil, and knew no earthly rest, Far did I rove, and find no certain home; Yes, He is mine-and nought of earthly things Could tempt me to forget His love one hour. Go, worthless world, I cry, with all that's thine: Go, I my Saviour's am, and He is mine. The good I have is from His stores supplied, Whate'er may change, in Him no change is seen; He stays me falling, lifts me up when down, While here, alas! I know but half His love, I hope to love Him better, praise Him more, How fully I am His and He is mine. VII.-JESUS, I MY CROSS HAVE TAKEN. [ESUS, I my cross have taken, JES All to leave and follow Thee; Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou, from hence, my all shalt be. Perish every fond ambition, All I've sought, or hoped, or known: Yet how rich is my condition! God and Heaven are still mine own. Let the world despise and leave me: They have left my Saviour too; Human hearts and looks deceive me:- Thou art not, like them, untrue. And, while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might, Foes may hate, and friends may shun me: Go then, earthly fame and treasure! ३ Man may trouble and distress me, While Thy love is left to me! O! 'twere not in joy to charm me, Take, my soul, thy full salvation; What a Saviour died to win thee: Haste then on from grace to glory, Armed by faith and winged by prayer: God's own hand shall guide thee there. A VIII.-ABIDE WITH ME. 1847. BIDE with me! fast falls the eventide ; The darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me! Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day: O Thou, who changest not, abide with me! Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, Come not in terrors, as the King of kings, Thou on my head in early youth didst smile; I need Thy presence every passing hour; I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless: Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Robert Pollok. 1798-1827 ROBERT POLLOK, the author of "The Course of Time," was born at North Muirhouse, Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, on the 19th of October, 1798. He entered Glasgow University, and also studied for five years in the Divinity Hall of the United Secession Church at Glasgow with a view to the Presbyterian Ministry. While still a student, he wrote and published anonymously a series of "Tales of the Covenanters," which became popular and reached a second edition, in issuing which he acknowledged the authorship. He commenced the poem with which his name is indissolubly associated in the month of December 1824, and completed it in July 1826. It was published in March 1827, and became immediately popular. Two months after the issue of his poem, Pollok was licensed for the Ministry. He preached, however, but four times. Symptoms of a pulmonary disease, which rapidly developed, compelled rest during the following summer, and before its close he visited London, en route for Italy, but was too ill to pursue his intentions. Acting on advice he went to Shirley Common, near Southampton, to winter, but died there on the 18th of September, 1827. "The Course of Time,'" said Professor Spalding, "much overlauded on its first appearance, is the |