THE DYING CHRISTIAN. "PRECIOUS in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."-Psalm cxvi. 15. "Oh, loose this frame, this knot of man untie, That my free soul may use her wing Which now is pinioned with mortality." HERBERT. "I FEAR not death, for Christ has pass'd Its terrors through; And following Him, I mount at last With heaven in view. These ebon arrows tipp'd with love Affright me not: By faith upborne, I fly above, All else forgot. Like the free bird which springs on high, I leave my clay; And upward soar with stedfast eye To realms of day. To see His face who died for me Whose precious blood, Offered in love upon the tree, Brought me to God. Though feebly gasps my failing breath, I feel no fear; I tremble not, though this be death, For Christ is near. His arm of love supports my head— He whispers peace; His presence cheers my dying bed, My sorrows cease. Loosely these earthly fetters hang— One struggle more, One quiv'ring gasp, one parting pang And all is o'er." The soul has burst her bonds of clay, To view the living splendour of a day A CHRISTIAN WOMAN. "WHILE they behold your chaste conversation, coupled with fear. "Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel: "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meck and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."-1 Peter iii. 2, 3, 4. Meek is her lowly mien-the loving grace Quiet and chaste her speech, with modest fear She treads her onward path of service here. Nor would she make this wilderness a home, But seeks a better city yet to come. Wisdom and meekness to her words belong, Of eager listeners, greedy still for more. move In ready willingness to deeds of love; But willingly she takes of her own store, Nor would she wear the costly garb of pride, But the white robe wrought for a heavenly bride; Her only ornament, the spirit meek, And quiet mind her Father's child should seek. So dwells she here-no pride of outward show, come, And call His children to their heavenly home. |