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There let my way appear,

Steps into heaven;

All that thou sendest me
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with thy praise,

Out of my stony grief

Bethel I'll raise;

So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee-
Nearer to Thee.

And when on joyful wing
Cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly;

Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee-
Nearer to Thee!

A LEGEND OF THE SCHNEEBERG.

In one of the oldest houses; in one of the oldest streets in the ancient city of Worms, dwelt the worthy burger, Philip Dorn. "Der Meister Philip" was one of that numerous class who would not, perhaps, go out of their way very far, to cheat you; but who, when a young and inexperienced customer is sent them by Providence, are very careful to make the most of the blessing by means of wearing a grave face, going to church, and carrying a goldheaded cane. Philip Dorn was universally considered a very respectable personage; but, as all is not gold that glitters, so neither was Philip quite so respectable as was commonly supposed, as will be seen hereafter.

Our hero was a jeweler, and a cunning workman in gold and silver. It happened that one day a young countryman came to his house, with a stone which he had found in the neighboring mountains, and had brought to Philip as an honest man, and one whom he could trust. The jeweler took the stone, and after examining it attentively, said, with a careless air, that it was of small value; but that he would give him twenty thalers for it. The countryman, who knew nothing of the value of precious stones, instantly agreed, and Philip paid him the money. As soon as he was gone, our jeweler took the gem, which was a jacinth of great value, and regarded it with a well-satisfied smile. "This," said he, "is the very thing which the princess has so long desired.

Ah!

Philip, thou art a lucky fellow, thy fortune is made; who will now be able to stand against the jeweler, Philip Dorn?" So, after again surveying his bargain, he put it into a case, in which he was wont to keep his most precious things.

In a short time another visitor came to Philip; he was a little man of well-fed appearance, with enormous green spectacles, a high-crowned hat, and high-heeled shoes. This person demanded a stone proper for a ring, such as a diamond or an amethyst. Philip took down the case in which he had deposited his precious jacinth, and exhibited its contents to the stranger, who selected a fine diamond, for which Philip took care to ask double what it was worth; but the stranger paid him his demand without grudging, and went away, saying that he would soon see him again.

Philip replaced his case, and set out to inform his patroness, the princess, of his newly-acquired jacinth. He went to the palace, and with many bows, informed her highness of his good fortune, and was desired to return next day, and to bring the gem with him. After dispatching this business, he returned home, and again took down the case to feast his eyes upon the jewel, when, on opening it, to Philip's consternation, no jacinth was to be found. In vain he searched every corner-the gem was flown.

In great distress of mind Philip went out, and was pondering an apology for the morrow when on turning a corner, he felt some one tap him on the shoulder, and turning round, saw the gentleman in the green spectacles, who, with a knowing wink, asked him what was become of his jacinth. The jeweler was rather surprised, as he did not remember having seen the stranger examine it; so very naturally asked him if he knew anything about it. "That I do, Herr Philip," replied our spectacled friend, "and will perhaps help you to it if you behave well." Our hero eagerly asked where it was, but was told, that there were a few conditions he must agree to before getting it. On this Philip said something about "robbery," "justice," and "a prison;" but a vision of the poor country man and his twenty thalers, floated before his eyes. So he held his tongue, merely asked what conditions the gentleman spoke of and said he would agree to any whatever to regain his lost jewel. The stranger informed Philip, that he could not tell him at present, but that, if he came that night to the forest, at the foot of the Schneeberg mountain, he would see, and perhaps regain his jacinth. Philip promised to be punctual, on which the gentleman said adieu, telling him, that he had some business to transact at Ratisbon, but would be back in time. Philip thought this rather odd, as that city is at a considerable distance from Worms, but he said nothing; so making a polite bow, he returned home.

He waited, with the utmost impatience, for the appointed time, and when at length it began to grow dark, he set out with a beating heart for the rendezvous; soon he approached the forest, and saw the clouds eddying around the summit of the Schneeberg. He went on his way rejoicing; and, although at the first step in the

wood, he plunged up to the neck in a morass, so immersed was he in his delight at the prospect of regaining his jacinth, that he scarcely noticed his immersion in the water. On he passed, through bush, through brake, frequently coming in contact with the trunks of trees, to the utter discomposure of his sedate and sober wig; the bushes seemed to get thicker, and the pools deeper, the farther he proceeded, and at length he was fairly brought to a stand by a broad sheet of water, the leaping of which was out of the question, even to a much better leaper than our friend Philip. Whilst he was standing considering what was to be done, he heard a voice crying, "Here comes my worthy friend, Philip Dorn; prepare ye the way for him," and shouts of laughter rung through the forest, At this Philip was sore amazed; but seeing the pool disappear, he stepped boldly forward, and found himself at the rock appointed as the place of meeting.

The gentleman in the green spectacles made his appearance on the top of it, and greeted Philip with great politeness: and although the rock was very precipitous, he walked down it with the greatest ease and stood at Philip's side. "Now," said he, "Herr Dorn, you will be good enough to follow me a little further;" to which Philip bowed assent, though he would rather have been excused. On they went for a considerable time, through a part of the forest that Philip had never seen before, till at length they reached a wilderness of rocks, which appeared broken from the mountain. They still proceeded, between two high walls of rock, till they came to a wide cavern, brilliantly lighted, in which Philip saw his jacinth suspended by a gold chain, which seemed to ascend to an immense height as its other end was lost in the darkness. "Now," said his companion, "there is your jacinth; you have but to stretch out your hand and it is yours." Philip stepped forward and laid hold of his jewel, and attempted to take it from the chain, when suddenly he felt the earth sinking beneath his feet, and, attempting to withdraw his hand, found it firmly fixed to the jacinth. He turned round in agony to his conductor, and saw him standing laughing immoderately, with his spectacles in one hand and his eyes flaming like burning coals.

"Hold fast, friend Philip !" he cried; "hold fast!" and instantly vanished in the darkness.

The cavern closed up with fearful noise; and shouts of laughter, mingled with cries of "Hold fast! hold fast!" were the last sounds that were ever heard by the jeweler of Worms.

MORAL.

The

When a heart cleaves to money, money will cleave to it. treasure will in due time get the mastery over the heart, so that instead of its possessing the treasure, the treasure will possess it. The treasure will bind the heart to itself; and even when destruction and death gather fearfully around, the heart will have no power to let go its treasure. The heart will hang to its idol, by a fatal power, forever!

A VISIT TO THE TOMB OF CHRIST.

BY J. H. J.

Angels have often been employed in communicating tidings to man. In consulting the Old Testament Scriptures, we find that they often appeared to the patriarchs, and that they conveyed important intelligence to the prophets. In coming down to the New Testament, we find that it was angels that announced the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, the world's Redeemer. Their language to the shepherds on that memorable occasion was, "Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." It was angels that directed his escape into Egypt. It was angels that ministered to him in the desert. It was angels that doubtless watched with intense interest the events of the cross. And it was angels that were the first to gladden the hearts of the devoted women, the friends of Jesus, by the cheering words: "He is not here; for he is risen. Come see the place where the Lord lay." The sepulchre, where his crucified body was laid, was not his own He was beholden to another for it." "When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out of a rock."

Christ only remained in this tomb a certain predicted period. It was carefully watched, and powerfully guarded by his enemies, and it was from this sacred spot, that Christ arose with power and glory. The following lessons may be learned by a contemplative visit to the tomb of our risen Lord:

First we learn, that the official engagements of the Lord Jesus Christ are completed. Christ had voluntarily become a surety for the sinner, and as such he bore the curse for us. As such, he gave his life a ransom. "He bore our sins in His own body on the tree." He died the just for the unjust. The price that was demanded, was accepted and paid. This was done, when he yielded up his spirit into the hands of his Heavenly Father, and entered the regions of the dead. Prophecy was now fulfilled and justice had no further claim.

At the appointed time an angel was commissioned to open the door of the prision, when our divine surety was liberated. And now we see Christ's claim to his Messiahship irrevocably established, and a firm foundation laid for the hope of the sinner.

We also learn, that the enemies of Christ and man are completely vanquished. Although it is appointed unto men once to die, yet death has been overcome in our nature by Christ, the conqueror; who has trampled upon all the powers of darkness. Christ has led captivity captive, and spoiled principalities and powers, appearing

with sin, satan, and death chained to the wheels of his triumphal

car.

We also see, that the grave is a hallowed spot. Christ our risen Saviour, has perfumed it with his fragrance, divesting it of all its gloom, so that it now becomes the happy retreat of the worn out pilgrim, where all such can sweetly repose until the day of full redemption. For

"The graves of all the saints he blessed

And softened every bed,

Where should the dying members rest
But with their dying head."

We also learn, that the grave is only the temporary abode of mankind. While Adam, our federal head, forced his way into it, the second Adam, the Lord from Heaven, by his glorious resurrection and ascension, has made a passage through it; so that now, through all its dark and dreary extent, there is inscribed in glorious characters, Christ has abolished death. "Life and immortality are brought to light through the blessed Gospel of the son of God." "Now has Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept." "Because I live, ye shall live also."

Again, by a visit to the tomb of Christ, we may learn where we may find Jesus. Not in Bethlehem, nor in the garden, on the cross, or in the sepulchre, but at the right hand of God, where he now sits. exalted to be a prince and Saviour, where he waits to dispense the blessing of his grace; where he waits to give remission of sins to all who believe and call upon his name. In the language of the Apostle contained in Hebrews 4: 16, "Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Here we are taught, that in God there is help for men, and that it is our duty to come unto him in the name of Christ, that for his sake we may receive mercy. "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water," which means internal and external purity.

In approaching God, Christians should discard and reject all mediators except Jesus Christ. They need no other and to trust in another is to reject Christ. Let the sceptical come and admit his claims, come and receive him as the Son of God. Let every mourning sinner come and have faith in his ability to save, seeing that "He ever liveth to make intercession for us." Let the timid believer come, and be no longer kept in bondage through fear of death; for it is the privilege of all to exclaim, "O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." "And did he rise? Hear it, O ye nations; hear it, O ye dead! He rose; he rose; He burst the bars of death! Then first humanity triumphant passed the crystal gates of life, and seized eternal joy!"

Let all the heavenly host unite to crown him Lord of all.

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