OCCUPATION OF HEAVEN.

And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints.-Rev. 15: 3.

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in the temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.-Rev. 7: 16.

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.-Rev. 19: 6.

OCCUPATION OF HEAVEN.

R

IN THE GREEN PASTURES.

From the Spanish. By WILLIAM CULLEN Bryant.

EGION of life and light,

Land of the good whose earthly toils are o'er;
Nor frost, nor heat may blight

Thy vernal beauty, fertile shore,

Yielding thy blessed fruits for evermore!

There, without crook or sling,

Walks the Good Shepherd; blossoms, white and red, Round His meek temples cling;

And to sweet pastures led,

His own loved flock beneath His eye is fed.

He guides, and near Him they
Follow delighted; for He makes them go
Where dwells eternal May,

And heavenly roses blow,
Deathless, and gathered but again to grow.

He leads them to the height,

Named of the infinite and long-sought Good,
And fountains of delight,

And where His feet have stood

Springs up along the way their tender food.

And when, in the mid skies,

The climbing sun has reached his highest bound, Reposing as He lies,

With all His flock around,

He witches the still air with numerous sound.

From His sweet lute flow forth Immortal harmonies, of power to still All passions born of earth,

And draw the ardent will

Its destiny of goodness to fulfill.

Might but a little part,

A wandering breath, of that high melody
Descend into my heart

And change it, till it be
Transformed and swallowed up, O Love, in Thee.!

Ah! then beloved I should know,

Where Thou liest at noon of day,
And from this place of woe

Released, should take my way

To mingle with Thy flock, and never stray.

PALMS OF GLORY, RAIMENT WHITE.

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

ALMS of glory, raiment bright,

PALMS

Crowns that never fade away,

Gird and deck the saints in light;

Priests and kings and conquerors they.

Yet the conquerors bring their palms
To the Lamb amidst the throne,
And proclaim, in joyful psalms
Victory through His cross alone.

Kings for harps their crowns resign,
Crying as they strike the chords,
"Take the kingdom-it is Thine,
King of kings, and Lord of lords."
Round the altar, priests confess,

If their robes are white as snow,
'Twas the Saviour's righteousness,
And His blood that made them so.

Who are these? On earth they dwelt,
Sinners once of Adam's race;
Guilt and fear, and suffering felt,
But were saved by sovereign grace.
They were mortal, too, like us;

Ah, when we like them must die,

May our souls, translated thus,

Triumph, reign, and shine on high.

WHEN THE ANGELS ALL ARE SINGING.

Sir NICHOLAS BRETON.

HEN the angels all are singing

WH

All of glorie euer springing

In the ground of high heauen's graces,
Where all vertues haue their places;

Oh that my poore soule were neare them,
With an hunble heart to hear them!