"W be a just God and yet a Saviour;" "just and yet the justifier of those who believe in Jesus;" able and willing to extend mercy to the guilty, while the eternal laws of his immutable justice remain sacred and inviolable; able and willing to purify and raise the sinner to the enjoyment of his presence and favour, while he "the Lord of Hosts is exalted in judgment, and God that is holy is sanctified in righteousness.' The wisdom of God is therefore most eminently manifested in the work of redemption, and in the person of the great Redeemer Emanuel, God with us-who being the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of his person, shines forth arrayed in his holiness, his righteousness, his mercy, and his truth, and every other attribute, which shedding their equal lustre in the full orb of the divine perfections, display the order, and unity, and beauty of the character of the ever blessed and glorious God. " Isaiah xlv. 21.- Rom. iii. 26.- Isaiah v. 16. IOTA. HYMNS AND POETICAL RECREATIONS. NOW AND THEN; Or the Sufferings of the Present Time not worthy to be compared with the Future Glories of the Christian. WHEN troubles press and clouds impend, Nature appall'd, aghast, Anxious, can trace no certain end, For still, while storms terrene appear, And Time's evanid aids can grant To be from sinning freed: For guilt a burden does impose Oh! blessed promise from above, And that shall ease my pain: And now, tho' toss'd by stormy waves, There the spent brine but softly laves, Tho' light afflictions tend my way, There all the streams of sorrow dry, Hence patient, then, I'll suffer toil, SONNET. How softly beautiful, how purely bright The soul to deep reflection; for the Spring Ω Which I have seen so brightly colouring MORNING HYMN. ANOTHER day of life and light, The sun comes forth in majesty Shall I alone be dumb, when all O grant me, Lord, one heavenly ray That I may walk with thee each day, In Christ alone I place my trust, He will my surety be― That when my body turns to dust, My soul may spring to thee. R. L. R. L. SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY ST. AUGUSTINE. O FAIREST, purest! be the dove That flies alone in sunny grove: And lives unseen and bathes her wing, The sacred page of God's own book THIRTY-FOURTH PSALM. My soul for ever shall repeat the praise In Him my soul shall glory, and my voice And join in praise to Him who reigns above. O come, with me exalt the Saviour's grace, The poor in spirit who Jehovah fear Cry to the Lord, nor do they cry unheard: The Angel of the Covenant is near, To save the soul that trembles at his word. Come-taste the sweetness of the living bread, The lion perishes for lack of prey, And men as savage, faint, and fall, and die; But those who seek the Lord shall find their way, Encompassed round with mercy from on high. O ye who early choose the path of life, Leave every evil course and fear the Lord; Seek righteousness and peace-avoid all strife, And peace from God shall be your sure reward. On those who fear the Lord his eye looks down And rests in love-his ear attends their prayer; But from the terrors of his awful frown The wicked fly to darkness and despair. The prayers of saints before the throne of God, Accepted rise-He bids their sorrows cease, Chooses the lowly heart as his abode, And o'er the contrite sheds the balm of peace. When Christ the righteous bore our heavy woes, Messiah's foes shall all be overthrown, LEADER of thy faithful few, Let mine eyes thy glory see- O how dark the human mind, Then the gloom is changed to gladness, FATHER-I commend my spirit From this world and its confusions, IOTA. IOTA. |