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Sacred teachers, will ye teach me,

Blessed instructors, will ye tell,
How my voice may reach that portal
Where the seraphs crowd in throngs?
How the lispings of a mortal

May be heard 'midst angel songs?

God and Father, thou didst give me
Sorrow for my portion here;
But thy mercy will not leave me
Helpless, struggling with despair ;
For to thee, when sad and lonely,
Unto thee, alone, I turn;
And to thee, my Father, only

Look for comfort when I mourn;

Nor in vain-for light is breaking
'Midst the sorrows, 'midst the storms;
And methinks I see awaking

Heavenly hopes and angel forms;
And my spirit waxes stronger,
And my trembling heart is still,
And my bosom doubts no longer
Thine inexplicable will.

"It is a great truth, wonderful as it is undeniable, that all our happiness-temporal, spiritual, and eternal - consists in one thing, namely, in resigning ourselves to God, and in leaving ourselves with him, to do with us and in us just as he pleases. When we arrive at this state of entire and unrestricted dependence on God's spirit and providences, we shall then fully realize that what we experience is just what we need, and that, if God is truly good, he could not do otherwise than he does. All that is wanting is, to leave ourselves faithfully in God's hands, submitting always and fully to all his operations, whether painful or otherwise." - MADAME GUYON.

88

I SEE THEE STILL.

I SEE THEE STILL.

CHARLES SPRAGUE.

I SEE thee still :

Remembrance, faithful to her trust,
Calls thee in beauty from the dust;
Thou comest in the morning light,
Thou'rt with me through the gloomy night;
In dreams I meet thee as of old:
Then thy soft arms my neck infold,
And thy sweet voice is in my ear.
In every scene to memory dear
I see thee still.

I see thee still

In every hallowed token round:
This little ring thy finger bound;
This lock of hair thy forehead shaded;
This silken chain by thee was braided;
These flowers, all withered now, like thee,
Sweet sister, thou didst cull for me;

This book was thine - here didst thou read;
This picture—ah, yes, here, indeed,
I see thee still.

I see thee still:

Here was thy summer noon's retreat;

Here was thy favorite fireside seat;

This was thy chamber-here, each day,
I sat and watched thy sad decay;
Here, on this bed, thou last didst lie;
Here, on this pillow, thou didst die.
Dark hour! once more its woes unfold-
As then I saw thee, pale and cold,
I see thee still.

I see thee still:

Thou art not in the grave confined -
Death cannot chain the immortal mind;
Let earth close o'er its sacred trust,
But goodness dies not in the dust.
Thee, O my sister! 'tis not thee
Beneath the coffin's lid I see;
Thou to a fairer land art gone ;

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There, let me hope, my journey done,
To see thee still.

WORDS TO A MOURNING HUSBAND.

REV. ROBERT HALL.

You have learned, my dear friend, the terms on which all earthly unions are formed; the ties on earth are not perpetual, and must be dissolved; and every enjoyment but that which is spiritual, every life but that which is "hid with Christ in God," is of short duration. Nothing here is given with an ulti

90

WORDS TO A MOURNING HUSBAND.

mate view to enjoyment, but for the purpose of trial, to prove us, and "to know what is in our hearts; and if we are upright before God, to do us good in the latter end." You had, no doubt, often anticipated such an event as the inevitable removal of one from the other; and I hope neither of you were wanting in making a due improvement of the solemn reflection, and laying up cordial for such an hour. Still I am well aware that the actual entrance of death into the domestic circle is unutterably solemn, and places things in a different light from what we ever saw them in before. . . . This heavy blow is undoubtedly intended to quicken your preparation for a future world. It loudly says to you, and to all, “Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.” God grant it may be eminently sanctified by weaning you more completely from this world, and "setting your affections" more entirely and habitually "on things that are above." You will then, in the midst of that deep regret such a loss has necessarily inspired, have cause to bless God that you were afflicted.

66 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."-PSALM XXXIV.

SHE SLEEPS THAT STILL AND PLACID SLEEP.

HERVEY.

SHE sleeps that still and placid sleep,
For which the weary pant in vain ;
And, where the dews of evening weep,
I may not weep again.

O, never more upon her grave

Shall I behold the wild flower wave!

They laid her where the sun and moon
Look on her tomb with loving cye,
And I have heard the breeze of June
Sweep o'er it, like a sigh.
And the wild river's wailing song
Grow dirge-like, as it stole along.

And I have dreamed, in many dreams,
Of her who was a dream to me;
And talked to her, by summer streams,
In crowds, and on the sea,

Till in my soul she grew enshrined,
A young Egeria of the mind!

"Tis years ago

and other eyes

Have flung their beauty o'er my youth;

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