THE ORDER OF CREATION.

(Memorial Lines.)

"He spake the word, and they were made: He commanded, and they were created."-Psalm cxlviii. 5.

GOD spake the word, by all obeyed,
And in six days the world was made.

I.

First He bade shine the glittering light,
And separated day from night.

II.

Next in the void He fixed yon sky,
And hung His watery clouds on high.

III.

Then bade the gathered seas to flow
From earth, and trees and grasses grow.

IV.

On the fourth day, the glorious sun,
And moon, and stars, their course begun.

V.

Next feathered fowls upstarted free
Through air, and fishes thronged the sea.

VI.

And, last, the creeping things of earth,
With man, His image, had their birth.

Then Heaven's high King creation viewed,
In all its parts pronounced it good,

The seventh sanctified, and blest
The Sabbath-day, His day of rest.

КАРРА.

A RECOLLECTION OF THE LAST SERVICE AT MARGARET CHAPEL, EASTER-TIDE.

IT is a still quiet morning, yet full of gladness, for it is the second day of the Blessed Feast of the Resurrection-the hour of supreme rejoicing hath dawned upon the Church. She hath put off the sackcloth and ashes wherein throughout the penitential Fast She mourned for the sins that pierced Her Beloved; and now She hath lifted up Her voice, all gloriously, in that deep cry, "The

VOL. VIII.

C

LORD is risen!" whilst far and near, above-below, His own redeemed have caught and echoed back the tone-forth hath it gone from the beating hearts of earth so clear and strong, it hath ascended even to the courts of heaven, and there the holy ones, for ever full of loving sympathy, have quick responded to the joyous accents, and with their sweet angel voices have proclaimed throughout the exulting spheres "Worthy is the Lamb!"

And now to-day, in the mighty capital of this our Christian land, how do they keep the feast? Let us go forth into these crowded streets and learn. Here all is activity and turmoil; there is a hurrying to and fro, a sound of many voices on the air; eager feet are chasing each other on the pavement, as one hasteneth to his merchandise, and another to his gains. The promise of this life seems to be alone before their eyes, arrayed in its many different shapes of false allurement; and whether it smile for them as wealth, or fame, or human love, or false ambition, right earnestly are their hands stretched forth to grasp and toil for it; whilst so thick is the atmosphere around them with this world's hopes and fears, that scarce a ray from the Glory Seat above can pierce those mists to lighten their dim gaze; although to all mankind this holy Easter Tide is in truth the very dawn of light and life eternal.

Is it nought then to those millions who but for the glad tidings of this Resurrection morning must have lain for ever in darkness and the shadow of death, that the Sun of Righteousness hath risen upon this sorrowful world and gone up on high to lighten eternity with the radiance of His living Presence? Is it nought to them who one and all are hurrying to that grave which is the true aim and object of their toilsome efforts, howsoever their mocking dreams may hide it with the phantom likeness of some good attainable on earth; is it nought to them that One hath come forth from that tomb most powerless to hold Him, and to the invincible king before whom all must lie prostrate in the dust, hath said, death, I will be thy plague!" so that the whole world may this day cry out with voice exulting, "How hath the oppressor

ceased!

Alas! it would indeed seem all nought to them, and it is as though this vast dwelling-place of man, most thickly crowded with immortal souls, which shall be brought to judgment, were so choked up with the deadly sin, the bitter sorrow, the unblessed joys of the present evil world, that there is found no room for holy hope or faith.

Yet, as it was said of old to the prophet in his desolation, "I have reserved to Myself seven thousand that have not bowed the knee to Baal," so even in this vast wilderness of vice and woe, a green oasis may be found where spring the waters of everlasting life, where the weary-hearted and the pilgrim to the Holy Land of Promise, faint with life's toilsome journey, may lie down

by cooling streams, and where to-day the sweet Hallelujahs sound from lips rejoicing, echoing the melody His own redeemed are making to Him in their hearts.

In that quiet silent street many persons may be seen hastening along with longing looks that seem turned to some beloved object, they too walk with eager feet and earnest eyes, borne onwards like all the rest of whom we have spoken by desire and hope; but these have a chastened serenity of aspect which speaks of desires purified, and of a sure expectation that they shall attain the comfort and the joy they seek in the favoured spot to which they are approaching.

It is a low unpretending building with nothing in its exterior to attract so much as the observation of the passers by, and yet dear unto those who come there day by day, dear and dearer than the sweet abode of childhood or the beloved hearth where the friends of their mortal life are gathered, is this the very home of their souls on earth. They pass beneath the low dark entrance, type of that still darker passage which leads from earth to purer spheres; and truly it seems as though they had passed from this world of toil and turmoil into some blessed region of calm and holy atmosphere where the most weary spirit that ever was tossed by the tempest here may find a happy resting place. For this is one of the favoured garner-houses of the LORD on earth, wherein He gathereth to Himself a rich harvest of souls; His treasury, where He makes ready the jewels with which He shall make up His crown; the very antechamber of His kingly dwelling, where His servants must abide a little season whilst they prepare themselves against the hour when they shall be called into His presence and shall behold His face in glory.

But if the outward aspect of this sanctuary, dear to so many hearts, be dull and uninviting, how fair, yea, how glorious is the sight within! glorious, because all here is symbolical of Truths Sublime and Sacred. To-day the good news of the marvellous Resurrection is set forth as a visible joy-so to speak-before the eyes of all who kneel within those blessed walls. That holy altar where the soft shadows fall so solemn and subdued, is decked with fairest flowers, the first promise of the spring, offering up in honour of Him who is the First Fruits from the dead the sweet incense of their fragrant breath, like the silent prayer ascending from the souls that worship there; nor is the fair tribute of nature its only ornament, rich vestments also, prepared with exceeding care, are hung around it, for they who minister in this holy house would be content to share with the meanest and poorest of the earth if only they might with costly and rich offerings beautify the place where His honour dwelleth.

Soft and bright too is the flood of radiance that gushes from the holy lights and falls upon the stone pavement, where many a one

with bowed knee and grateful heart hath received the gift of life eternal; types are they of Him Whom this favoured flock have here been taught to know not as the Light of the world only, but of each individual soul.

Yet it is not to the bright lights nor to the beautiful flowers that the earnest gaze of these worshippers is directed, for there is THAT displayed upon this sacred altar which hath for their longing spirits a brightness and a loveliness exceeding all that the fairest things on earth could offer, even the glory and the beauty of His love made manifest in suffering.

There is the Cross uplifted to be a very magnet to their souls, drawing them out of this world's vanities to follow Him Who once bore it along the rough way, where by the treading of His own sacred feet He made for them a path unto His FATHER'S house; there is it displayed, but not to be an empty symbol to this happy flock. He, who these many years hath watched over them so tenderly and carefully, who day by day hath borne them on his heart before the mercy seat, hath ever taught them the deep and searching doctrine of that cross with no faint or temporizing words-all lovingly, but with uncompromising faithfulness he hath led them to know and feel that it can never be a glorious future hope except it be a present burden; no promise of undying joy above unless a very principle of life below, that, in a word, men may not hope, when clinging to it, in the last dread hour, that it should bear them safely through the deep waters of death, unless when living they have borne it fixed with all its piercing sharpness in their hearts.

They have learnt this from their priest's own lips, and therefore is there ever a hushed and solemn stillness in this holy place, as kneeling down before that awful sign all bend in reverent adoration during the brief interval till the appointed hour of prayer. And now breaking in upon the silence comes the soft yet pealing music in strains to-day so lofty and exulting it seems, as though with an angel's voice, to bid them lift up their heart to GOD. It announces the coming of the white-robed train, the little choristers walking first with reverent looks, for they are duly taught that they are highly favoured to be thus early chosen to so sweet a toil; and then the priests in their fair garments pure and clean as the white linen of the saints. The doors of the sanctuary are thrown open, and the solemn service commences-that due worship of GOD which day by day for many a year has never failed within these walls. Never hath the morning light aroused the glad voices of nature to wake and praise Him, but mingling with them has gone up the tribute of these grateful hearts; nor ever the stars come forth at even to testify without speech or language of His glory to all lands, but the sweet sound of these thanksgivings hath ascended far beyond their sphere to the feet of Him Who sits at

the right hand of the FATHER. Yes, day by day for many a year, strife and dissensions have been in the land since then, famine and pestilence have entered there, the Church hath been rent by sore convulsions, ofttimes hath she been distracted and well-nigh dismayed; yet still, however the tempests raged without, how fierce soever the madness of the people; unchanging and unflinching within these walls GOD hath been honoured with a holy worship. Never hath the cry for mercy failed nor the voice of praise been hushed; but still with a firm constancy and a calm devotion they have embodied as their principle of action this one truth, "The LORD is King be the people never so impatient." He is king and is to be worshipped, and how shall they heed or hear what man can do unto them?

But now to-day there is an unwonted sadness thrilling in every tone as the worshippers duly take their part in the solemn service, and chiefly there is the trace of deep emotion in the voice of him, the shepherd of those sheep who so long hath ministered beneath this roof; there are many even who weep in silence with the mournful weeping of those who are about to part from some cherished object to which their heart clings fondly; and who shall blame their tears? For it is the last time that they shall ever come into this holy house to meet their risen LORD. The last time that these brethren in sympathy and love, who have shared the same privileges, and obeyed the same guide, shall here be gathered at His feet; the last time that all meekly, as little children, who imitate, with stammering words the parent's prayer, they shall follow the gentle voice of their beloved priest as he leads them in the deep confession of daily shortcomings, or that in humble thankfulness they shall bow them down to feel the iron bands of sin relaxing round their penitent hearts as they receive the solemn absolution of Him in Whom is the power of the keys, uttered through His servant's lips, the last time-the last time! No more to praise Him there, where first perhaps they learnt the sweetness of His mercy, no more to hear from the voice they love so well, the words of holy wisdom, which allured them, it may be, out of all the joys of life to fly here stricken and penitent; the voice that hath ever been all love to them, whether it spake in rebuke or admonition, or in tones of tender comforting, from this place no more! oh who can blame them if they weep!

Yet is their sorrow not without hope nor even unmingled with a deep rejoicing, for if these old walls must fall and this humble temple be destroyed, it is but that another may rise upon its ruins more noble and more fitting the service of their Master. His devoted servant desires only as it were to widen the cords of the tent that they may embrace the many souls who would long to press in there and find a refuge; he does but seek to build a holy and a beautiful house wherein more worthily to receive the glorious Guest