MEETING ABOVE.

Leggett.

IF yon bright stars which gem the night
Be each a blissful dwelling sphere
Where kindred spirits reunite

Whom death hath torn asunder here ;-
How sweet it were at once to die,
To leave this blighted orb afar!
Mixt soul and soul to cleave the sky,
And soar away from star to star.

But oh, how dark, how drear, how lone,
Would seem the brightest world of bliss,
If, wandering through each radiant one,
We failed to meet the loved of this!
If there no more the ties shall twine

Which Death's cold hand alone could sever, Ah, would those stars in mockery shine,— More joyless, as they shine forever!

It cannot be each hope, each fear

That lights the eye or clouds the brow, Proclaims there is a happier sphere

Than this bleak world that holds us now.

HEAVEN'S REST.

There is a voice which sorrow hears,

When heaviest weighs life's galling chain; 'Tis Heaven that whispers" Dry your tears, The pure in heart shall meet again."

HEAVEN'S REST.

Reb. Ray Palmer.

LORD, Thou wilt bring the joyful day!—
Beyond earth's weariness and pains,
Thou hast a mansion far away,

Where for Thine own a rest remains.

No sun there climbs the morning sky,
There never falls the shade of night;

God and the Lamb, forever nigh,
O'er all shed everlasting light.

The bow of mercy spans the throne,
Emblem of love and goodness there;
While notes to mortals all unknown,
Float on the calm celestial air.

Around the throne bright legions stand,
Redeemed by blood from sin and hell;

And shining forms-an angel band,
The mighty chorus join to swell.

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THE GATES OF THE CELESTIAL CITY.

There, Lord, Thy way-worn saints shall find
The bliss for which they longed before;
And holiest sympathies shall bind

Thine own to Thee, forevermore.

O Jesus, bring us to that rest,

Where all the ransomed shall be found,
In Thine eternal fullness blest-

While ages roll their cycles round.

THE GATES OF THE CELESTIAL CITY.

I SEE them far away,

In their calm beauty, on the evening skies;
Across the golden west their summits rise,

Bright with the radiance of departing day.

And often, ere the sunset light was gone,
Gazing and longing, I have hastened on,

As with new strength, all weariness and pain
Forgotten, in the hope those blissful heights to gain!

Heaven lies not far beyond ;

But then these hills of earth-our changeful air
Circles around them, and the dwellers there
Still own Mortality's mysterious bond.

The ceaseless contact, the continued strife,

Of sin and grace, which can but close with life,

THE GATES OF THE CELESTIAL CITY.

Is not yet ended, and the Jordan's roar

Still lies between their path and the Celestial shore.

But then the pilgrims say,

On those calm heights, the tumult and the noise
Of all our busy cares and restless joys

Has almost in the distance died away.
All the past journey, "a right way" appears,
Thoughts of the future wake no faithless fears,
And through the clouds, to their rejoicing eyes,
The City's golden gates and pearly gates arise.

Courage, poor fainting heart!

These happy ones, in the far distance seen,
Were sinful wanderers once, as thou hast been,
Weary and sorrowful, as now thou art.
Linger no longer on the lonely plain-
Press boldly onward-and thou too shalt gain
Their vantage-ground; and then, with vigor new,
All thy remaining race and pilgrimage pursue.

Ah! far too faint, too poor

Are all our views and aims-we only stand
Within the borders of the Promised Land ;-

Its precious things we seek not to secure;
And thus our hands hang down, and oft unstrung,
Our harps are left the willow-trees among.

Lord, lead us forward, upward, till we know

How much of heavenly bliss may be enjoyed below.

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