To know if they are flourishing indeed—
That o'er the young and very tender grape
Hovers no blight (m) of deadly influence-
That the pomegranate buddings have escaped
All that combined to hinder their advance (n)——
For flourishing appearances deceive (0)
Even the vigilant,—and Thou alone,

Searcher of spirits! canst make known the state,
Both of ourselves, (p) and those with whom we deal!

And thus engaged-thus busy in thy cause,
E'en in retirement-skall my grateful thoughts
From my whole duty's circle still converge
On Thee! its centre-with redoubled love! (q)
In watering others, I myself shall feel

Refreshed more largely! (r) Wilt not thou, O Lord,
Now at this season of predicted spring,

When fruits once rare, and but by strict research
Obtained as trophies, are no longer scarce,
But in their ripening fragrance fill the sense,
The Christian sense, with cheerfulness and hope,
Courting the gatherers to persevere—
Wilt Thou not now, in larger measure still,
Vouchsafe to sanction, fructify, and bless (s)
The efforts of thy people? Let them go
By thee accompanied, or vain indeed

(m) 2 Tim. ii. 16, 17; iv. 4.

(0) Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32; 1 John ii. 19. (q) 1 John iii. 24. (2) Prov. xi. 25.

H

(n) 2 Cor. ii. 11.
(p) Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24.
(s) Heb. vi. 10.

Their goings forth to cultivate or sow: (t)
By all thy former mercies we implore! (u)—
For at our gates already are laid up
All manner of matured and pleasant fruits (v)
For coming ages (w) of abundant joy-
Things new and old are there laid up
for thee,
As histories of martyrs, pastors, saints,
And victories of elders and of youths,
O'er sin and tribulation,-Bitter things,
Made sweet and welcome for the sake of Christ,-
Pleasures rejected which He could not bless,
Idols demolished, vanities renounced—

The Cross triumphant, and the serpent foiled-
Garlands of gladness for thy kingdom plucked-
Hopes fresh and verdant in the vale of death!
Oh, our beloved! may our fruits increase-
Already at our gates are pleasant things.

(t) Is. xxxii. 20.
(v) Matt. xiii. 52.

(u) Is. lxiii. 7.

(w) Ephes. ii. 7.

MEDITATIONS

ON

CHAPTER VIII.

"BOTH He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." -HEBREWS II. 11.

"The Lord will have mercy upon Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land."-ISAIAH XIV. 1.

"Now, if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness?"-ROMANS XI. 11.

MEDITATIONS.

CHAPTER VIII.

VER. 1.-"O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! When I should find thee without I should kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.”

How solemn, how terrific, was the scene (x)
When God in dreadful majesty drew nigh,
And spake his law in thunders! Then the hills
Shook to their strong foundations! Then the skies
Were rent for passage of devouring flame,
Darting forth rapidly-and seemed to show
Glimpses of world-wide conflagration near!
Quailed the stout-hearted then, and reverent bowed
Around Sinai's limits, trembling crowds,
Awe-struck and sin-convicted! (y) "Holy God!
We die we perish! Who can bear thy wrath-
Or feel unscathed thy holiness intense?

We die we perish! (2)—we must be consumed,
Hearing again those terror-breathing tones!

(x) Ex. xix. 16-18.
(2) Num. xvii. 12, 13.

(y) Ex. xx. 18, 19.