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Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage."-Ps. cxix: 54.

The songs that cheer the pilgrim's way
Who seeks a better home on high,
Purer than any earthly lay,

Sublimely swell, and sweetly die.

They tell of joys unknown to earth,
They tell of raptures yet to come,

In that bright world which gave them birth,
Whose mansions are the pilgrim's home.

And as, when music wakes the strings,
Tho lonely sorrowing exile hears
No strain so sweet as that which brings
The memory of departed years.

So, to the pilgrim exiled long

From that blest home for which he sighs,

The only joy-inspiring song,

Is that which points him to the skies.

And, sometimes, when its murmurs roll,
While pure devotion fills the breast,

And gently gliding to the soul,

They hush all earthly cares to rest.

There comes a soft, responsive note,
A strain like that which angels sing-
It comes from regions far remote,
And all around its echoes ring.

That strain is not of earth; 'tis given To cheer the pilgrim's heart alone: It is the melody of heaven;

It echoes from th' eternal throne.

With transport that no tongue can tell,
He hears that song of rapture high
In strains of sacred grandeur swell,
In tones of melting sweetness die.

O pilgrim, catch the heavenly strain,
And waken to its lingering thrills,
Till earth no more thy soul enchain,
Till joys sublime thy bosom fill.

Nor shalt thou be an exile long;

Even now bright angels bid thee come,

To join in that eternal song,

To rest in thy eternal home.

GOOD NIGHT.

CHARLES THE FIRST.

Close thine eyes and sleep secure,
Thy soul is safe -thy body sure;
He that guards thee — He that keeps
Never slumbers never sleeps.
A quiet conscience in the breast
Has only peace — has only rest.
The music and the mirth of kings
Are out of tune unless she sings.

Then close thine eyes in peace, and sleep secure
No sleep so sweet as thine

-no rest so sure.

THE WISH AND THE PRAYER.

BY ELLWOOD, THE FRIEND OF MILTON.

O that mine eye might closed be,
To what becomes me not to see;
That deafness might possess mine ear,
To what concerns me not to hear;
"That truth my tongue might always tie,
From ever speaking foolishly!
That no vain thought might ever rest,
Or be conceived within my breast;

That by each word, each deed, each thought
Glory may to my God be brought;
But what are wishes? Lord, mine eye
On thee is fixed; to thee I cry.
O, purge out all my dross, my sin,

Make me more white than snow within ;
Wash, Lord, and purify my heart,
And make it clean in every part;
And when 'tis clean, Lord, keep it so,
For that is more than I can do.

BLESSED BE THY NAME.

HOGG.

Blessed be Thy name forever,

Thou of life the guard and giver;

Thou canst guard thy creatures sleeping, Heal the heart long broke with weeping God of stillness and of motion,

Of the desert and the ocean,

Of the mountain, rock, and river;
Blessed be Thy name forever!

Thou who slumberest not, nor sleepest,
Blest are they thou kindly keepest;

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God of evening's parting ray,

Of midnight's gloom, and dawning day,
That rises from the azure sea,

Like breathings of eternity;

God of life! that fade shall never,
Blessed be Thy name forever!

THE BLESSING,

I was within a house of prayer,
And many a wounded heart was there;
And many an aching heart was bowed,
Humbly amidst the kneeling crowd:
Nor marvel;

where earth's children press There must be thought of bitterness.

Oh! in the change of human life
The anxious wish, the toil, the strife
How much we know of grief and pain,
Ere one short week comes round again.
Bend every knee, lift every heart;
We need God's blessing ere we part.

Then sweetly through the hallowed bound
Woke the calm voice of solemn sound;

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