me, and be a little less separated to God, and you will escape the reproach of self-righteousness." When we listen to suggestions of this kind, we are parleying with the Tempter, and we would do well to take heed lest we fall. How soon would our doubts, as to what we may do, find an end, if our hearts were really given to God! Then nothing, about which a doubt arose, would be entered upon, and the anxious excuses put forward now, to satisfy questioning conscience, would be unknown. Pilgrims and strangers here, journeying on to a home where nothing unclean can enter, we should carefully avoid all needless handling of uncleanness now;-and surely the knowledge that every good thought or word, or action, is the work of the Spirit within the soul, while the sins, which do so easily beset us, are all our own, ought to be sufficient to check overweening self-righteousness. Besides, the Christian knows it is not in his own garment, even if unsoiled, that he can appear at the marriage supper of the Lord. Believe me, dear Alice, we need every thing to strengthen us in our warfare here, as well as to shun all that could tempt us ;-if our God calls us to the enemy's camp, he will enable us there to conquer in his might; till he does, may we choose, like David to be "a companion of those that fear him and keep his precepts," and may our's be the blessing promised to him, that "walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners." Ps. cxix. 63. i. 1, 2. AN IRISH LADY. TRUST IN THE LORD AT ALL TIMES. PSALM LXII. 8. OH! pardon these rebellious tears as gushingly they spring, O'er early joys, once bright and fair, left dull and withering; Nor blame thy froward child, who now, when all around is dark; Would float o'er memory's sunny tide, in fancy's fairy bark, Who that has cherish'd loveliest flowers, and watch'd their opening bloom, Could see them unmatur'd decay, nor mourn their blighted doom? Who that has linger'd fondly in hope's glowing garden land Could roam alone, with eye undimm'd, o'er sorrow's surge-lash'd strand? I must be sad, I cannot gaze in solitude forlorn; And coldly see life's roses fade; and leave the changeless thorn, I cannot mark each fountain dry, each earth-light die away, Nor, grieve for the refreshing spring, the bright though fitful ray ! Hush! restless dreams! methinks a voice breathes o'er my soul like balm, And memory's breezes sink to peace, thought's tossing billows calm; O'er my spirit's gloom the rainbow of the Word divine is thrown, And it seems an arch from brighter worlds for seraphs to glide down. "Frail, child of earth! why weepest thou? oh! why so slow to learn, That clouds and tempests oft convey a blessing few discern? Why linger still with vain regret in pleasure's hapless bowers, Why wilt thou sorrow idly thus o'er earth's decaying flowers? If now thy path seem dark and drear; oh! can'st thou not confide That He, whose mercy Hagar cheer'd beside the flowing tide * Can, if He knows it to be best, ope many a hidden spring, And make the desert, with a word, in new-born beauty sing? Oh! trust Him! though a threat'ning main lay dark before thy path, Though hosts pursuing gather'd strength in fierce relentless wrath; *Genesis xxi. 17. The bitter blast makes plain thy way, the wild unquiet sea Sweeps death-fraught only to thy foes, a rampart unto thee! Oh! fear not, should it be thy lot, a fugitive opprest, To lay thee down, like one of old,† entreating perfect rest; Behold ev'n then, a spirit bright in gentle dreams will glide, And from God's own abundant stores thy wants shall be supplied. Nor yet lament the needful frost, which nipped the bloom of heart; A brighter spring may yet succeed, when storms prepare to part; And the golden flowers of promise, and the precious fruits of faith Start forth luxuriant from the soil, now wrapp'd in wintry death. Oh should life's course be all o'ercast and 'circled round with gloom, And a painful thorny way be thine Heaven's stars alone illume; 'Tis but a night which hides the shore all deck'd in peerless day, And the dawning of eternity will chase each cloud away y! * Exodus xiv. 9, 21, 27. +1 Kings xix. 4. |