THE SHADOWLESS.

T

G. ROBINS.

HERE is a land mine eye hath

seen,

In visions of enraptured thought,

So bright, that all which spreads between Is with its radiant glories fraught.

A land, upon whose blissful shore

There rests no shadow, falls no stain; There those who meet shall part no more, And those long parted meet again.

Its skies are not like earthly skies,
With varying hues of shade and light,
It hath no need of suns to rise
To dissipate the gloom of night.

There sweeps no desolating wind
Across that calm, serene abode;
The wanderer there a home may find
Within the paradise of God.

HEAVENLY CANAAN.

ISAAC WATTS.

HERE is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.

There everlasting spring abides,
And never-withering flowers;
Death, like a narrow sea, divides
This heavenly land from ours.

Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood
Stand dressed in living green;
So to the Jews old Canaan stood,
While Jordan rolled between.

But timorous mortals start and shrink
To cross this narrow sea,
And linger shivering on the brink,
And fear to launch away.

Oh, could we make our doubts remove,
Those gloomy doubts that rise,

And see the Canaan that we love
With unbeclouded eyes!-

Could we but climb where Moses stood,
And view the landscape o'er,

Not Jordan's stream nor death's cold flood
Should fright us from the shore.

H

HOPE OF OUR HEARTS.

SIR EDWARD DENNY.

OPE of our hearts, O Lord, appear,
Thou glorious Star of day!

Shine forth, and chase the dreary night,
With all our tears, away.

No resting-place we seek on earth,
No loveliness we see;

Our eye is on the royal crown,
Prepared for us by Thee.

But, dearest Lord, however bright
That crown of joy above,
What is it to the brighter hope

Of dwelling in Thy love?

What to the joy, the deeper joy,
Unmingled, pure, and free,
Of union with our living Head,
Of fellowship with Thee?

This joy e'en now on earth is ours;

But only, Lord, above,

Our hearts, without a pang, shall know

The fullness of Thy love.

There, near Thy heart, upon the throne,
Thy ransomed bride shall see
What grace was in the bleeding Lamb,
Who died to make her free.

L

THE WELCOME DAY.

ISAAC WATTS.

O! what a glorious sight appears
To our believing eyes!

The earth and seas are passed away,

And the old rolling skies.

From the third heaven, where God resides,
That holy, happy place,

The new Jerusalem comes down,
Adorned with shining grace

Attending angels shout for joy,
And the bright armies sing-
"Mortals, behold the sacred seat
Of your descending King:

"The God of glory down to men
Removes His blest abode!

Men, the dear objects of His grace,

And He the loving God:

"His own kind hand shall wipe the tears

From every weeping eye;

And pains, and groans, and griefs, and fears, And death itself, shall die."

How long, dear Saviour, oh, how long
Shall this bright hour delay?

Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time,
And bring the welcome day!

I THITHER LIFT MY EYES.

TH

BENJAMIN Beddome.

HERE is a world of perfect bliss
Above the starry skies;

Oppressed with sorrows and with sins,

I thither lift my eyes.

'Tis there the weary are at rest,

And all is peace within;

The mind, with guilt no more oppressed,
Is tranquil and serene.

Discord and strife are banished thence,
Distrust and slavish fear;

No more we hear the pensive sigh,
Or see the falling tear.

Farewell to earth and earthly things;

In vain ye tempt my stay:

Come, angels, spread your joyful wings,
And bear my soul away!