Stranger! how great soe'er,
With lowly reverence bow!
There's one in that poor shed,
One by that wretched bed,
Greater than thou.

Beneath that pauper's roof,
Lo! Death doth keep his state;

Enter no crowds attend:

Enter- no guards defend
This palace gate.

That pavement damp and cold,
No whispering courtiers tread.
One silent woman stands
Chafing with pale, thin hands,
A dying head.

No busy murmurs sound;

An infant wail alone:

A sob suppressed-again

That short, deep gasp-and then The parting groan!

O change! O wondrous change!

Burst are the prison bars!

This moment there

In mortal prayer

so low

- and now

Beyond the stars!

O change! stupendous change!
Here lies the senseless clod;
The soul from bondage breaks,
The new immortal wakes-

Wakes with his God.

THE AGED CHRISTIAN.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. Luke 2: 29.

'Tis enough -the hour is come;

Now within the silent tomb
Let this mortal frame decay,
Mingled with its kindred clay;
Since thy mercies oft of old,
By thy chosen seers foretold,
Faithful now,
and steadfast prove,
God of truth, and God of love!

Since at length my aged eye,
Sees the day-spring from on high!
Those whom death had overspread
With his dark and dreary shade,
Lift their eyes, and from afar
Hail the light of Jacob's star;
Waiting till the promised ray
Turn their darkness into day.

Sun of righteousness, to thee,
Lo! the nations bow the knee;
And the realms of distant kings
Own the healing of thy wings.
See the beams intensely shed,
Shine on Zion's favored head!
Never may they hence remove,
God of truth, and God of love!

'I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.'

John 11: 25.

DEAD in sin, and deep in shame,

Kindle, Lord, a vital flame;

Bid the clouds and darkness flee,

Bid me rise and rest in thee

Raise me, Saviour,

Raise to all eternity.

Breathe into this soul of mine

Life eternal, life divine;

Slay these passions, fierce and rife,

End, O end this mortal strife —
Conquering Saviour,

Thou the vict'ry art and life.

Free from sin from Satan free;

Let my life be hid with thee;

Send thy seraphs from the skies,

Seal this living sacrifice

Risen Saviour,

Ceaseless let this incense rise.

O'er the silence of the tomb,
May celestial vigor bloom;
When the world dissolves in fire,
Then in robes of light attire
Then, O Saviour,

May I join the immortal choir.

'THE TIME OF THE DEAD.'

Rev. 11: 18.

GREAT God! what do I see and hear?
The end of things created!
Behold the Judge of man appear,
On clouds of glory seated!

The trumpet sounds, the graves restore
The dead which they contained before :
Prepare my soul to meet him.

The dead in Christ shall first arise,
At the last trumpet's sounding,
Caught up to meet him in the skies,

With joy their Lord surrounding;
No gloomy fears their soul dismay;
His presence sheds eternal day

On those prepared to meet him.

But sinners, filled with guilty fears,
Behold his wrath prevailing;

For they shall rise, and find their tears
And sighs are unavailing:

The day of grace is past and gone;
Trembling they stand before the throne
All unprepared to meet him!

Great God, what do I see and hear?
The end of things created!
Behold the Judge of man appear,

On clouds of glory seated!
Low at his cross I wait the day,
When heaven and earth shall pass away,
And thus prepare to meet him!

HEAVENLY REST.

There remaineth, therefore, a rest for the people of God. - Heb. 4: 9.

SWEET is the name of rest,

How much the word conveys!

It is to be supremely blest
In the bright world of praise.

It is to rest from sin,

Which here will still endure:

The holy place to enter in,

And be forever pure.