When, o'er the green, undeluged earth,
Heaven's covenant thou didst shine,
How came the world's gray fathers forth
To watch thy sacred sign?

LESSON VIII.

Christian Hymn of Triumph;—from "The Martyr of Antioch."-MILMAN.

SING to the Lord! let harp, and lute, and voice,
Up to the expanding gates of heaven rejoice,

While the bright martyrs to their rest are borne !
Sing to the Lord! their blood-stained course is run,
And every head its diadem hath won,

Rich as the purple of the summer morn— Sing the triumphant champions of their God,

While burn their mounting feet along their sky-ward road.

Sing to the Lord! for her, in beauty's prime,
Snatched from this wintry earth's ungenial clime,
In the eternal spring of paradise to bloom;
For her the world displayed its brightest treasure,
And the airs panted with the songs of pleasure.
Before earth's throne she chose the lowly tomb,
The vale of tears with willing footsteps trod,
Bearing her cross with thee, incarnate Son of God

Sing to the Lord! it is not shed in vain,

The blood of martyrs! from its freshening rain

High springs the church, like some fount-shadowing palm: The nations crowd beneath its branching shade, Of its green leaves are kingly diadems made,

And, wrapt within its deep, embosoming calm, Earth shrinks to slumber like the breezeless deep, And war's tempestuous vultures fold their wings and sleep.

Sing to the Lord! no more the angels fly—
Far in the bosom of the stainless sky-

The sound of fierce, licentious sacrifice.
From shrin'd alcove and stately pedestal,
The marble gods in cumbrous ruin fall;

Headless, in dust, the awe of nations lies;
Jove's thunder crumbles in his mouldering hand,
And mute as sepulchres the hymnless temples stand.

co the Lord! from damp, prophetic cave
ore the loose-haired Sybils burst and rave;
watch the augurs pale the wandering bird:
ore on hill or in the murky wood,

-antic shout and dissonant music rude,

numan tones are wailing victims heard;

thers, by the reeking altar stone,

heir dark heads to escape their children's dying groan.

o the Lord! no more the dead are laid

despair beneath the cypress shade,

sleep the eternal sleep, that knows no morn : eager still to burst death's brazen bands,

ngel of the resurrection stands ;

le, on its own immortal pinions borne,

ing the breaker of the imprisoning tomb,

springs the exulting soul, and shakes away its gloom.

the Lord! the desert rocks break out, e thronged cities in one gladdening shout,-farthest shores by pilgrim step explored; all your wings, ye winds, and waft around, the starry cope's pale waning bound, i's universal homage to the Lord; thine head, imperial capitol,

on thy height to see the bannered cross unroll.

the Lord! when time itself shall cease,

al Ruin's desolating peace

ap this wide and restless world of man ; he Judge rides upon the enthroning wind, r all generations of mankind

al Vengeance waves its winnowing fan ; infinity's remotest space,

ges run their everlasting race,

the beatific hosts prolong,

the glory of the Lamb, the Lamb's triumphan, song.

LESSON IX.

Consolations of Religion to the Poor.-J. G. PERCIVAL

THERE is a mourner, and her heart is broken;
She is a widow; she is old and poor;
Her only hope is in that sacred token

Of peaceful happiness when life is o'er ;
She asks nor wealth nor pleasure, begs no more
Than Heaven's delightful volume, and the sight
Of her Redeemer. Sceptics, would you pour
Your blasting vials on her head, and blight
Sharon's sweet rose, that blooms, and charms her being's night?

She lives in her affections; for the grave

Has closed upon her husband, children; all
Her hopes are with the arm she trusts will save
Her treasured jewels: though her views are small,
Though she has never mounted high, to fall,
And writhe in her debasement,-yet the spring
Of her meek, tender feelings, cannot pall
Her unperverted palate, but will bring
A joy without regret, a bliss that has no sting.

Even as a fountain, whose unsullied wave
Wells in the pathless valley, flowing o'er
With silent waters, kissing, as they lave,
The pebbles with light rippling, and the shore
Of matted grass and flowers, so softly pour
The breathings of her bosom, when she prays,
Low-bowed, before her Maker: then no more
She muses on the griefs of former days;

Her full heart melts, and flows in Heaven's dissolving rays.

And faith can see a new world, and the eyes
Of saints look pity on her: Death will come-

A few short moments over, and the prize

1

Of peace eternal waits her, and the tomb

comes her fondest pillow; all its gloom
attered. What a meeting there will be

› her and all she loved here! and the bloom
ew life from those cheeks shall never flee:
is the health which lasts through all eternity.

LESSON X.

acter of a wise and amiable Woman.--FREEMAN.

7oman, whom I would exhibit to your view, possesses understanding. She is virtuous, not from impulse, and a childish simplicity; for she knows that evil well as good; but she abhors the former, and resoooses the latter. As she has carefully weighed the nd consequences of her actions, her moral principles ; and she has deliberately formed a plan of life, to e conscientiously adheres. Her character is her - knowledge and virtues are original, and are not copies of another character. Convinced that the very human being, consists in performing well the ch is assigned by divine Providence, she directs her attention to this object; and, whether as a wife, a r the head of a family, she is always diligent and

exempt from affectation, the folly of little minds. her heart is the desire of acquiring a reputation, dering herself interesting, by imbecilities and im

S.

Thus she is delicate, but not timid: she has too d sense, ever to be afraid where there is no danger; eaves the affectation of terror to women, who, from of a correct education, are ignorant of what is truly

She is still farther removed from the affectation lity; she has sympathy and tears for the calamities ends; but there is no artificial whining on her nor does she ever manifest more grief than she

S.

lightened an understanding, humility appears with