THE BLESSED DEAD

"HOW BLEST THE RIGHTEOUS WHEN HE DIES"

How blest the righteous when he dies!
When sinks a weary soul to rest,
How mildly beam the closing eyes,
How gently heaves the expiring breast!

So fades a summer cloud away;

So sinks the gale when storms are o'er; So gently shuts the eye of day;

So dies a wave along the shore.

A holy quiet reigns around,

A calm which life nor death destroys: Nothing disturbs that peace profound, Which his unfettered soul enjoys.

"HOW BLEST THE RIGHTEOUS"

Farewell, conflicting hopes and fears, Where lights and shades alternate dwell! How bright the unchanging morn appears! Farewell, inconstant world, farewell!

Life's labor done, as sinks the clay,
Light from its load the spirit flies;
While heaven and earth combine to say,
How blest the righteous when he dies!
Mrs. Anna L. Barbauld.

A CHANGE FROM WOE TO JOY

A CHANGE from woe to joy, from earth to heaven!

Death gives me this; it leads me calmly where The souls that long ago from mine were riven May meet again! Death answers many a prayer;

Bright day, shine on, be glad! days brighter far Are stretched before mine eyes than those of

mortals are.

Robert Nicholl.

SLEEP ON, BELOVED

SLEEP on, beloved, sleep, and take thy rest;
Lay down thy head upon thy Saviour's breast:
We love thee well; but Jesus loves thee best—
Good-night! good-night! good-night!

Calm is thy slumber as an infant's sleep;
But thou shalt wake no more to toil and weep;
Thine is a perfect rest, secure and deep-Good-
night!

Until the shadows from this earth are cast;
Until He gathers in His sheaves at last;

Until the twilight gloom is overpast-Goodnight!

Until the Easter-glory lights the skies;

Until the dead in Jesus shall arise,

And He shall come, but not in lowly guise

Good-night!

SLEEP ON, BELOVED

Until made beautiful by love divine,

Thou in the likeness of the Lord shall shine, And He shall bring that golden crown of thine— Good-night!

Only good-night, beloved, not farewell!

A little while and all His saints shall dwell
In hallowed union, indivisible-Good-night!

Until we meet again before His throne,
Clothed in the spotless robe He gives His own,
Until we know even as we are known-Good-

night!

Sarah Doudney.