LIFE'S MYSTERY. Ah! when before that blast my hopes all flee, Between the mysteries of death and life 545 Thou standest, loving, guiding, not explaining; We ask, and Thou art silent; yet we gaze, And our charmed hearts forget their drear complaining. No crushing fate, no stony destiny, O Lamb that hast been slain, we find in Thee! The many waves of thought, the mighty tides, The ground-swell that rolls up from other lands, From far-off worlds, from dim, eternal shores, Whose echo dashes on life's wave-worn strands, This vague, dark tumult of the inner sea Grows calm, grows bright, O risen Lord, in Thee! Thy pierced hand guides the mysterious wheels; Thy thorn-crowned brow now wears the crown of power; And, when the dread enigma presseth sore, Thy patient voice saith, "Watch with Me one hour." As sinks the moaning river in the sea In silver peace, so sinks my soul in Thee! 35 WHEN TIME SEEMS SHORT. By the Rev. GEORGE W. BETHUNE, D.D., minister of the Reformed Dutch Church, New York. This touching poem was found in his portfolio, and was written on the day before his death, which took place on the Lord's Day, April 27, 1862, at Florence in Italy, the same day on which he preached his last sermon, on Matt. ix. : "Son, be of good cheer: thy sins be forgiven thee." (Dr. VAN NEST, Memoir of Dr. Bethune, 1867, p. 409.) THEN time seems short and death is near, WHEN And I am pressed by doubt and fear, And sins, an overflowing tide, Assail my peace on every side, This thought my refuge still shall be, I know the Saviour died for me. His name is JESUS, and He died, If grace were bought, I could not buy ; If grace were coined, no wealth have I; STRONG SON OF GOD. I read God's holy Word, and find Great truths which far transcend my mind. Of thoughts so high, so deep and wide: I know the Saviour died for me. My faith is weak, but 'tis Thy gift; STRONG SON OF GOD. 547 Alfred TENNYSON, poet laureate of England. Introductory to his In Memo riam, 1849. Abridged. S TRONG Son of God, immortal Love, Whom we, that have not seen Thy face, By faith, and faith alone, embrace, Believing where we cannot prove e! Thine are these orbs of light and shade; Thou wilt not leave us in the dust: He thinks he was not made to die; Thou seemest human and divine, The highest, holiest manhood Thou: Our wills are ours, we know not how; Our wills are ours, to make them Thine. Our little systems have their day; They have their day, and cease to be; They are but broken lights of Thee, And Thou, O Lord! art more than they. We have but faith: we cannot know, For knowledge is of things we see; And yet we trust it comes from Thee, A beam in darkness: let it grow. Let knowledge grow from more to more, But more of reverence in us dwell; That mind and soul, according well, May make one music, as before. "We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones."- EPH. v. 30. "God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son, hath life."-1 JOHN v. 11, 12. HOLY OLY SAVIOUR, who art the true Vine from which we derive our spiritual life and nourishment, and without whom we can do nothing but wither and die: be pleased, we beseech Thee, so to unite us to Thee, by the power of the Holy Ghost and through the bond of a living faith, that, being partakers of Thy divine nature, we may bring forth much fruit, and for ever abide in Thee, as Thou dost abide in us, until we shall see Thee as Thou art, and glorify and enjoy Thee, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen. My blessed Saviour, Lord divine, |