Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet,
Their Saviour and brethren transported to greet,
While the songs of salvation unceasingly roll,
And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul.

That heavenly music! what is it I hear?
The notes of the harpers ring sweet in the air:
And see, soft unfolding those portals of gold;
The King all arrayed in his beauty behold!
O, give me, O, give me the wings of a dove!
Let me hasten my flight to those mansions above;
Ay, 't is now that my soul on swift pinions would soar,
And in ecstacy bid earth adieu evermore.

NEAR TO THE PORT.

ANONYMOUS.

A

N aged man, by sorrow bowed,
Looked on the sky without a cloud,

And hailed, as from his couch he rose,
Another day of pure repose.

The echoes of the Sabbath bell
Upon his chastened spirit fell.

He trod, with low and reverent air
The consecrated aisles of prayer;

And felt a glory from above,
Descending as a Heavenly Dove.

O, unto him no place so sweet,

As sitting at his Master's feet;

For foretastes wonderful were given,
Of the Sabbatic rest of Heaven ;

And his heart cried, "Dear Lord, how long
Ere I shall sing the conqueror's song?"

The wish had but escaped his breast,
When visions of his longed-for rest

Came to him, with o'erpowering might,
And thrilled him with excess of light.

He felt the mortal man give way,
The spirit loosened from its clay;

And cried again, "Dear Lord, is this
The entrance into perfect bliss!"

And, as the pearly gates swung wide,
"NEAR TO THE PORT," he breathed, and died.

NEAR TO THE PORT! O, mariner,

The message does my spirit stir;

And my heart cries, "Dear Lord, how long

Ere I may sing the heavenly song?—

Ere the rough voyage of life be past,
And I anchor in the Port at last?"

AH, THIS HEART IS VOID AND CHILL.

From the German of C. J. P. Spitta, by Gerald Massey.

H! this heart is void and chill,

'Mid earth's noisy thronging-
For the Father's mansion still
Vehemently is longing!

In the garments once so strong
Now are rents distressing;
And the sandals borne so long
Heavily are pressing.

Ah! to be at home, and gain
All for which we're sighing-
From all earthly want and pain
To be swiftly flying!

With this load of sin and care,
Then no longer bending,
But with waiting angels, there,
On our Lord attending!

Ah! how greatly blesséd they
Who have rightly striven,

And rejoice eternally

With the Lord, in Heaven!

KEEP ME NOT HERE A VOICE IS CALLING.

GEORGE BURROWES.

K

"Let me go for the day breaketh."

EEP me not here! A voice from heaven is call

ing,

Arise, my love, my fair one, come away;
Unearthly light around my soul is falling,
The glory-dawn of heaven's eternal day.

Keep me not here! Amid that light descending,
Angels an escort stand in bright array;
A choral welcome harps and voices blending,
They point to heaven-"Arise and come away!"

Keep me not here! Far on yon heavenly mountain
Of frankincense and myrrh, till break of day,
Is He awaiting me by life's pure fountain,

Give me an angel's wings to soar away.

Keep me not here! The vale of death is glowing,
Its shades and terrors lighted into day;
The saints in light with wreaths triumphal strewing
Its fearful path, are beckoning me away.

Keep me not here! My deepest spirit gushing
With glowing love to Jesus, bursts this clay;
Love's deep-toned calmness, sin's last tremor hushing,
Can rest not here on earth, away! away!

Keep me not here! Around my soul is falling Heaven's mantling robe of love, heaven's boundless day;

I hear a voice from heaven-'tis Jesus calling,
Arise, my love, my fair one, come away.

THE STRANGE SURPRISE.

DWIGHT WILLIAMS.

"A little while, and ye shall not see me : and again a little while, and ye shall see me; because I go to the Father."

“A

LITTLE while,"

Lone pilgrim hear the word

Of thy dear absent Lord;

He said thou shouldst not see him for a while,

The dark defile

Of life doth briefly hide his tender smile.

"A little while,"

The veil may intervene,

And darkness hang between

The form thou lovest and thy weary eyes;
The mists will rise,

And that will be a sweet and strange surprise.

"A little while,"

And life's dark passing storm,

Shall change to sunlight warm,

And all with these shall be eternal calm,
And angel psalm

Shall on thy spirit pour. its healing balm.