A time shall come, when bound no longer here,
Our spirits shall to other scenes ascend.
Then, God of mercy, may we find thee near,
And own the Almighty evermore our friend!

XXX.

CONCLUSION OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

MATTHEW VII.

Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. Verse 24.

WHEN by pain and care oppressed,
Anguish fills the trembling breast,
When our earthly comforts fail,
When temptation's floods assail,
Father! in that fearful hour,
Aid us by thy heavenly power,

When the blasts of adverse fate
Leave the mighty desolate,

When around in ruin wide
Fall the lofty domes of pride,

May our tower of safety be,
Rock of ages! based on thee.

SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

Transient are the joys of earth,
As the hour that gives them birth;
Faithless as a lovely dream,

Fading at the morning's beam ;
Treacherous as the fleeting sand,
Wave-washed on the ocean's strand.

But thy servants' trust, O Lord!
Rests on thine unfailing word,
On the precepts Jesus gave,
On our Father's will to save,
On the strength, and light, and love,
Beaming from thy throne above.

55

XXXI.

CHRIST RAISES THE WIDOW'S SON.

LUKE VII. 1-16.

Behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. - Verse 12.

FEW were the joys the widow knew,

In poverty resigned;

But one loved boy beside her grew,

Obedient, faithful, kind.

His bounding step, his glance so bright,
Filled the low cot with joy;

The mother gazed with fond delight,

Upon her noble boy.

Years passed, and every passing year

Some fresh adornment gave.

Oh oft the loveliest beings here

Are earliest for the grave!

Years passed; he stood in manhood's grace,

Still duteous by her side;

And she could mark his father's face,

With sadness, yet with pride.

CHRIST RAISES THE WIDOW'S SON.

It came,

the inscrutable decree!

"The will of God be done!"

The widow said, and bent the knee,

Beside her lifeless son.

Her heart was broken; yet she bore
Meekly God's holy will,

And, while she felt life's joy was o'er,
She suffered, and was still.

It was not o'er. A voice was heard,
Of calm but awful sound;

And Death, at that controlling word,
His iron chain unbound.

Mourner! that voice e'en now can save;
And calm, submissive Faith

Can gain the victory o'er the grave,

And wrest the sting from Death.

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XXXII.

CURE OF DEMONIACS.

MATTHEW VIII. 18–34.

There met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. Verse 28.

O uncreated Light and Love,

Beaming in majesty above!

Thou who didst grant the mental ray
At nature's dawn, to worthless clay,
And through thy Son's blest word unbind
The veil that hid the darkened mind;
Still bid the powers of evil flee,
And sanctify our souls to thee!

O banish from thy servants' path,
The demon host of Scorn and Wrath,
Error, with wildly beaming eye,
And dull Insensibility,

Blind Prejudice, and fierce Desire,
And Malice, with his heart of fire.
At thy command we burst their chain,
And in thy freedom rise again.