GONE BEFORE.

THOU art in heaven, and I am still on earth ;
'Tis years, long years since we were parted here,
I still a wanderer amid grief and fear,
And thou the tenant of a brighter sphere.

Yet still thou seemest near;

But yesterday it seems,

Since the last clasp was given,

Since our lips met,

And our eyes looked into each other's depths.

Thou art amid the deathless, I still here,

Amid things mortal, in a land of graves,
A land o'er which the heavy-beating waves
Of changing time move on, a land where raves
The storm, which whoso braves

Must have his anchor fixed,

Firmly within the veil ;

So let my anchor be ;

Such be my consolation and my hope!

Thou art amid the sorrowless, I here,

Amid the sorrowing; and yet not long

Shall I remain 'mid sin, and fear, and wrong. Soon shall I join you in your sinless song.

Thy day has come, not gone,

Thy sun has risen, not set,
Thy life is now beyond

The reach of death or change;

Not ended but begun.

Such shall our life be soon,
And then, the meeting-day,
How full of light and joy!
All fear of change cast out,
All shadows passed away,
The union sealed for ever
Between us and our Lord.

THE ELDER BROTHER.

YES, for me, for me he careth
With a brother's tender care;
Yes, with me, with me he shareth
Every burden, every fear.

Yes, o'er me, o'er me he watcheth, Ceaseless watcheth, night and day: Yes, even me, even me, he snatcheth From the perils of the way.

Yes, for me he standeth pleading,
At the mercy-seat above;

Ever for me interceding,

Constant in untiring love.

Yes, in me abroad he sheddeth

Joys unearthly,-love and light;

And to cover me he spreadeth

His paternal wing of might.

Yes, in me, in me he dwelleth ;-
I in him, and he in me !
And my empty soul he filleth,
Here and through eternity.

Thus I wait for his returning,
Singing all the way to heaven;
Such the joyful song of morning,

Such the tranquil song of even.

LIFE FROM THE DEAD.

SPIRIT of everlasting grace,

Infinite source of life, come down!

These tombs unlock, these dead upraise,
Thy glorious power and love make known.

Breathe o'er this valley of the dead,

Send forth thy quickening might abroad, Till, rising from their tombs, they spread, In full array,-the host of God!

Thy heritage lies desolate,

And all thy pleasant places mourn; O look upon our low estate,

In lovingkindness, Lord, return!

Now let thy glory be revealed,

Now let thy presence with us rest ;O heal us, and we shall be healed!

O bless us, and we shall be blest!

IT IS FINISHED.

BLESSED be God, our God!

Who gave for us his well-beloved Son,

His gift of gifts, all other gifts in one. Blessed be God, our God!

What will He not bestow?

Who freely gave this mighty gift, unbought, Unmerited, unheeded, and unsought,

What will He not bestow ?