MAN'S SPIRIT HATH AN UPWARD LOOK.

MAN's spirit hath an upward look,

And robes itself with heavenly wings; E'en when 't is here compelled to brook Confinement to terrestrial things.

Its eye is fastened on the skies;

Its wings for flight are opened wide; Why doth it hesitate to rise?

And still upon the earth abide ?

And would'st thou seek the cause to know, And never more its course repress;

Then from those wings their burden throw, And set them free from worldliness.

Shake off the earthly cares that stay
Their energy and upward flight;
And thou shalt see them make their way
To joy, and liberty, and light.

THE SECRET SIGN.

THEY know Him by the secret sign,
Which to their souls is given;
"T is written there in light divine,
With characters from heaven.

They may not tell it; but 't is there,
Forever deep impressed;

Nor grief, nor pain, nor sharp despair,
Shall rend it from their breast.

The child the parent's accent knows,
The accents ever dear;

Unlike the treacherous voice of foes,
That fills his heart with fear.

He runs to meet it; and it falls
In blessings and in joys;

And thus whene'er the Saviour calls,
His people know his voice.

They know him by the secret sign,
Which to their souls is given;
"T is written there in light divine,
With characters from heaven.

DARK IS THE WATERY WAY.

DARK is the watery way

Of life's tempestuous sea:

And none, Oh Christ, are safe, but they Who put their trust in Thee.

Loud is the stormy wind;

The seamen are afraid;

But those shall strength and mercy find,

Whose souls on Christ are stayed.

The winds they do not fear,

Nor dread the thunder's noise; The Saviour's cheering voice they hear, And evermore rejoice.

It is our Saviour's skill,

Our Saviour's arm of might,

Which guides the tossing ship at will, And puts our fears to flight.

Praise to the Pilot's power,

Praise to the Pilot's hand,

That faithful most in danger's hour,
Shall bring us safe to land.

THOU GIVER OF THE RISING LIGHT.

I.

THOU Giver of the rising light,

Thou Author of the morning ray; At whose command the shades of night Are changed to bright and sudden day; Thou too canst rend the clouded heart, Enveloped in the shades of sin; And let the light, that dwelt apart, The glory and the gladness in.

II.

Oh God, our Father and our Friend, Dark is the cloud, that wraps us now; But not in vain our prayers ascend,

Nor hopeless at thy feet we bow.

"T is in the dark, distressing hour,

That thou dost hear thy people's cry; And come and clothe them in thy power, And hide them in thy majesty.

MY HEART IS IN A LAND AFAR.

My heart is in a land afar,

Unseen by mortal eyes;

A clime, that needs nor moon nor star,

A land of cloudless skies.

They tell me, that the earth is bright,
And I have pleasures here;

But still, in that far land of light,
Are pleasures yet more dear.

Oh, that I had an angel's wing,

To bear me hence away;
Where virtue blooms with endless spring,

And love shall ne'er decay.

My heart is in that land afar,

Unseen by mortal eyes;

A clime, that needs nor moon nor star,

A land of cloudless skies.

ALTHOUGH AFFLICTION SMITES MY HEART.

ALTHOUGH affliction smites my heart,
And earthly pleasures flee,

There is one bliss that ne'er shall part,
My joy, oh God, in Thee.

That joy is like the orb of day,

When clouds its track pursue;

The shades and darkness throng its way, But sunlight struggles through.

Oh Thou, my everlasting light,

On whom my hopes rely;

With Thee the darkest path is bright,
And fears and sorrows die.

WILT THOU, OH MY FATHER, LEAVE ME?

WILT Thou, Oh my Father, leave me?
Still I'll bless thy holy will;

I may lose, but will not grieve Thee;
I will love Thee still.

Long and sharply Thou dost chide me;
I am filled with grief and shame;
But I have no joy beside Thee,
Loving still, the same.