"And He came and touched the bier, and they that
bare him stood still."

W

AKE not, O mother, sounds of lamentation!

Weep not, O widow, weep not hopelessly! Strong is His arm, the Bringer of Salvation, Strong is the Word of God to succour thee.

Bear forth the cold corpse, slowly, slowly bear him : Hide his pale features with the sable pall: Chide not the sad one wildly weeping near him Widow'd and childless, she has lost her all.

Why pause the mourners? Who forbids our weeping?

Who the dark pomp of sorrow has delayed? "Set down the bier :-he is not dead but sleeping!

Young man arise!" He spake, and was obey'd.

Change, then, O sad one, grief to exultation:
Worship and fall before Messiah's knee!
Strong was His arm, the Bringer of Salvation,
Strong is the Word of God to succour thee.
Bishop Heber.

"Sorrow not even as others which have no hope."

O the earth thy dust consigning,

To its God thy soul resigning,

We commit thee, unrepining,

To thy tranquil grave; Yielding thee to His protection,

To His tenderer affection

Who,-our Life and Resurrection,

Once in mercy gave.

Life's last lesson slowly learning,
To our darkened home returning,
We, with lonely hearts and yearning,
Take our toilsome way:

Thou the golden streets art treading
Where the Lamb His light is shedding,
His redeemed ones gently leading
To the founts of day.

As the flood-notes of the river
Swell their song of joy for ever
On His ear, the Lord and Giver
Of their cloudless life;

We with tearfulness and weeping

Through the night our watch are keeping, Lest the Master find us sleeping

In His hour of strife.

Lord, our suppliant cry receiving,
Bend o'er us, our need relieving,
Who, not seeing, yet believing,

Would with them be blest :
Now our toil and conflict sharing,
Now our sorrow-burden bearing,
Lift our hearts to joys preparing
In Thine endless rest.

THE FATHER'S HOUSE.

"If God will be with me

so that I come to my father's

house in peace, then shall the Lord be my God."— GEN. xxviii.

20, 21.