cious to them that believe, on which alone our feet can be steadily fixed, that our goings may be established."

Imperial Rock of Ages! on whom no tempesttossed voyager ever suffered shipwreck; trusting in whom none ever was disappointed; and clinging to whom none ever perished! Evermore be Thou our sure refuge and our secure hiding-place!

A. B. G.

God.

OLIEST of holies! Thou art God alone,
On Thy all-glorious, everlasting throne !
Thou, Rock of Ages, dost the same abide,
While our durations by short minutes glide;
Thy wondrous works Thy mighty power de-
clare,

Which yet faint sketches of Thy glory are.
Thy majesty ten thousand suns outvies,
A sight too radiant for the seraph's eyes.
Thy Deity, uncircumscribed by place,
Fills heaven, and earth, and extra mundane space;
Above all change unchangeably abides,

And, as it pleases, casual changes guides.
Thou present art in this terrestrial sphere—
Where'er we fly or hide, Thou still art near;
Thou present art when sinners dare thy stroke;
Thou present art when saints Thine aid invoke.
Thou, in all sin's recesses, dost survey
Pollution with an unpolluted ray;

Thou present art all creatures to sustain,

And influence Thine universal reign.

Thou in the temple of the world dost dwell,
All blessings to confer, all ills repel;
Benign, or dreadful, Thou still present art,
In every saint, in every sinner's heart.

Thy saints there, for thy Godhead, temples build, Which with Thy gracious Shechinah are filled; And from Thy presence sinners feel within, Anticipation of wrath due to sin.

Thou Searcher of my heart! my heart possess,
Thine own idea deeply there impress.

Oh purify me, Lord! as Thou art pure;
From the polluting world, my soul secure;
Thine image reëngrave: to copy Thee
Is my chief prayer-shall my ambition be.

The Gracions Invitation.

"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

RACIOUS "word" of a gracious Saviour, on which the soul may confidingly repose, and be at peace forever! It is a present rest-the rest of grace as well as the rest

of glory. Not only are there signals of peace hung out from the walls of heaven—the lights of Home glimmering in the distance to cheer our footsteps; but we have the "shadow" of this

great Rock" in a present "weary land." Before the throne above is there "the sea of glass," without one rippling wave; but there is a haven even on earth for the tempest-tossed-"We which have believed Do enter into rest.”

Return, then, unto thy rest, O my soul! Let the sweet cadence of this "word of Jesus" steal on thee amid the disquietudes of earth. Sheltered in Him, thou art safe for time, safe for eternity!

There may be, and will be, temporary tossings, fears, and misgivings-manifestations of inward corruption; but these will only be like the surfaceheavings of the ocean, while underneath there is a deep, settled calm. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace (lit. peace, peace) whose mind is stayed on Thee." In the world it is care on care, trouble on trouble, sin on sin; but every wave that breaks on the believer's soul seems sweetly to murmur "Peace, peace!"

And if the foretaste of this rest be precious, what must be the glorious consummation? Awaking in the morning of immortality, with the unquiet dream of earth over-faith lost in sight, and hope in fruition;-no more any bias to sin-no more latent principles of evil-nothing to disturb the spirit's deep, everlasting tranquillity -the trembling magnet of the heart reposing, where alone it can confidingly and permanently rest, in the enjoyment of the Infinite God.

From "Words of Jesus," by Rev. John R. Macduff.