(xv.) CONFIDENCE IN GOD IN BEREAVEMENTS.

["A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel, weeping for her children, refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not." Jer. xxxi. 15.]

WHY has my child, my darling child departed?
Why has my
God in wrath that loved one taken ?
Leaving me desolate and broken-hearted,
O'erwhelmed and prostrate, hopeless and forsaken.
And is it all in wrath that I am smitten,

And pressed with burdens heavy to be borne?
Hope yet, my soul, in God, for he hath written
With his own finger, blessed are they who mourn.
Perhaps I loved my child more than my God,
Neglecting and forgetting every other,

And He in mercy sent the chastening rod,
And took away the child to save the mother.
Farewell, then, earth! Why should I look below?
I too will take my staff, and weeping heavenward go.

(XVI.) THE LIGHT OF FAITH.

["These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Heb. xi. 13.]

THE light of FAITH doth guide us kindly on,
Like Israel's cloud by day and fire by night.
High o'er our heads, its splendor waxes bright,
When every other blaze is dark and gone.
By FAITH did Noah sail upon the flood,
By FAITH did Abraham offer up his son;
By FAITH the prophets and apostles won

A crown in heaven, on earth a crown of blood.

Their journey here was through a sea of flame ;

They trod it fearless, for before their eye

The star of faith shone brightly in the sky,

And showed upon each beam Christ's blessed name. Oh, let it shine for us, till we, as they,

Shall climb these rugged cliffs, and reach the hills of day.

(XVII.) MEEKNESS OF SPIRIT.

["Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peace makers; for they shall be called the children of God." Mat. v. 5, 9.1

WHEN there are clouds and tempests in the mind,
And peace and mercy are by wrath displaced,
It breaks the plan of love which heaven designed,
And turns the blooming garden to a waste.
Then keep thy soul in peace and quietness,
And strive each evil passion to restrain,
And God will smile upon thee, and will bless,
And his bright image in thy breast maintain.
He, who did bow his blessed head in woe,
The Saviour of the meek and lowly heart,
Did he not pray for those who struck the blow,
And bless the ruffian hand that aimed the dart?
Oh, be like Him, calm, patient, self-controlled,

He, who can rule himself, has richer wealth than gold.

(XVIII.) GOD ANGRY WITH REBELLIOUS NATIONS.

["Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hail-stones in my fury to consume it." Ezek. xiii. 13.]

OH, God! when nations rise against thy power,
And stand with haughty and rebellious eye;
Then do the angry, muttering thunders lower,
And stormy lightenings cleave the trembling sky.
Oh, who, unscathed, thy vengeance shall defy,
Thy day of desolation, blood, and flame?
Jehovah is not man, that he should lie,
And see dishonor put upon his name.
He buried haughty Babylon in dust,

E'en his beloved Zion felt the rod;
There is no hope, no confidence, no trust,
But in the favor and the arm of God.

His friends are safe, secure from every foe,

His enemies shall bow, and fall beneath his blow.

(XIX.) GOD RIGHTEOUS IN JUDGments.

["Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." Ps. xcvii. 2.]

SAD is my heart, embittered with deep grief,
E'en as a bulrush I bow down my head;
The dark, substantial clouds are overspread,
I see no friendly hand, find no relief.

No more I taste the joys which once I tasted,
My hopes, my honors, and my pleasures flown;
There's nought on earth which I can call my own;
All blackened, withered, torn away, and wasted,
And, in their stead, afflictive tears and woe.
Oh, give me faith, Thou holy, sovereign Power,
That I may know the hand that smites me so.
Oh, give me faith, when the dark tempests lower,
To yield Thee reverence and submission due ;

Thou art the righteous God, thy judgments just and true.