Poetry. SUPPLICATION. SPIRIT of God, descend upon my heart, Wean it from earth, though all its pulses move; I ask no dream, no prophet ecstacies, No angel visitant, no opening sky, But take the dimness of the soul away. Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King, All, all Thine own, soul, heart, and strength, and mind? Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh, I know Thee, glorious! might and mercy all, Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love, The baptism of the Heaven-descended dove, My heart an altar, and Thy love its flame.-DR. CROLY. PSALM CXIX. 57. THOU art my portion, Lord! Though dark my pilgrimage, if Thou be near, Thou art my portion, Lord! If as an exile I am called to roam, Thou art my portion, Lord! The heart that once has loved me may forget, The eyes, whose friendly smile I loved to greet, Thou art my portion, Lord! Oh, bless'd assurance! happiness complete! Through life's dark shadows, and the vale of death, BIBLE QUESTIONS. 81. Where does St. Paul declare the great God to be "Eternal; "Immortal; 66 Invisible;" and "Only Wise?" 82. Mention various things in nature to which the "kingdom of heaven is likened by our Lord." 83. What test is given us, by which we may know that we are Christ's? 84. How shall the inhabitants of the world be engaged, when our Saviour shall appear again? 85. Why did the woman of Samaria conclude that Jesus was the Christ? 86. How long would the manna of the Israelites keep good without corruption? Was the length of time always the same? 87. What countries are mentioned in Scripture as producing gold? And where does St. Paul call gold a "corruptible thing?" 88. What mountain in Canaan was celebrated for its heavy dews? ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF LAST MONTH. (73.) Death, 1 Cor. xv. 26. (74.) Uzziah, 2 Chron. xxvi. 15, 16; "His heart was lifted up for his destruction." (75.) Judah, Hos. vi. 4. (76.) Micah v. 4. (77.) Micah vi.; Balak asks in verses 6, 7, and Balaam answers, verse 8. (78.) Matt. xvii. 20. (79.) Amaziah; 2 Chron. xxv. 9. (80.) Heb. iii. 13; "Lest we be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." THE FRIENDLY VISITOR. THOUGHTS FOR THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR. THERE are two or three prominent subjects which should be occupying our thoughts at the close of the year: Death, the Judgment, and Heaven. It is most certain : I. Let us now be thinking of DEATH. "It is appointed unto men once to die," Heb. ix. 26. Out of the dust man was formed; into the dust man shall be turned. To think of death is a death to some men. But we ought to think of death. The thought of death will put sin to death. Death to the wicked is the end of all comfort, and the beginning of all misery. But death to the godly is the outlet to sin and sorrow, and the inlet to peace and happiness. The saints' enjoyment shall be incomparable, when the sinners' torment shall be intolerable. When a believer's soul goes out of his own bosom, it goes into Abraham's bosom. When a believer dies, he leaves all his bad behind him, and carries his good with him. When a sinner dies, he carries his bad with him, and leaves all his good behind him. The one goes from evil to good; the other from good to evil. When a saint leaves this world, his flesh returns to the dust, and his spirit returns to rest. When a sinner leaves this world, his body goes to worms, to be consumed, and his soul goes to flames to be tormented. The one goes to the Saviour, the other to the Devil. The wheat to the barn, the chaff to the fire. Oh! let us think upon death. When we come into the world, we do but live to die again. When we die out of the world, we do but die to live again. N He that lives well cannot die ill. If we are assured of a life that has no end, we shall not care how soon our life is at an end. If we live without fear, we shall die without hope. If we have no grace in our lives, we shall have no true peace at our deaths. Death levels the highest mountain to the lowest valleys. The robes of princes and the rags of beggars, are both laid up in the wardrobe of the grave. The reason why men prepare so little for death, is because they think so little of it. When they feel sin arresting them, then they fear death approaching. The grave is a bed to rest in, not a place to labour in; none can work out his salvation there. When the soul takes its flight at death from its body, they shall meet no more till the general assize. When you retire at night, go as if you were going to your grave. Close your eyes in one world, as if you would open them in another. Remember, that God can as easily turn you into dust, as take you out of dust. To-day is your living day: To-morrow may be your dying day. II. Let us think also upon THE JUDGMENT. It is most certain: "We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ." Though you will not come before His mercy-seat, you will be forced to come before His judgment-seat. They who will not hear His word, willfeel His wrath. They who are graceless in this day, will be speechless in that day. What an awful day will that be! to see the earth flaming, the heavens melting, the stars falling, the graves opening, the judgment approaching, the sun and the moon failing, Christ and his angels coming! He that comes to raise the dead, will also come to judge them. Oh the great day, to great sinners, will be a terrible. day. When they see Christ coming in the clouds, clothed with the power of God, crowned with dignity, guarded with angels, burning with wrath, and armed with force, to bring all kings and nobles, high and low, rich and poor, to the bar of God's justice. Oh! let us think of this day, and be prepared for it. III. Let us be thinking upon HEAVEN. Heaven is a place where all joy is enjoyed; mîrth without sadness, light without darkness, sweetness without bitterness, life without death, rest without labour, plenty without poverty. Oh! what joy enters into a believer when he enters into the joy a of his Master. Who would not work for glory with the greatest diligence, and wait for it with the greatest patience? And what glories are there in glory? Thrones of glory; crowns of glory; vessels of glory; a weight of glory; kingdom of glory! Here, Christ puts His grace upon His saints; there, He shall put His glory upon them. In heaven, the crown is made for them, and in heaven the crown shall be worn by them. In this life believers have some good things, but all their best things are reserved for the life to come. Think upon heaven, for meditation on heaven will make us heavenly. When our contemplations and conversation are in heaven, then we enjoy heaven upon earth. To be in Christ is heaven below, to be with Christ is heaven above. There cannot be a better thing for us than to be with the best of beings: "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," Phil. i. 21. Paul was contented to stay a while out of heaven, that he might bring other souls into heaven. His life to them was most useful; but his death to himself was full of gain. Let our condition be ever so great, it is hell without Christ. And let our condition be ever so bad, it is heaven with Him. "I had rather be in hell with Christ, than in heaven without him," said Luther. Indeed hell would be heaven itself, if God were in it; and heaven would be hell were God from it. That which makes heaven so full of joy is, that it is above all fear. That which makes hell so full of horror is, that it is below all hope. The vessels of grace shall swim in the ocean of glory. Here, all the earth is not enough for one man; there one heaven is enough for all men. We may talk of the greatness of our crowns, but we shall never know their weight till they are set on our heads. PEACE IN BELIEVING. In the autumn of the year 1851, | I passed several weeks at the Baths of Divorne, a village situated in that narrow slip of territory which appertains to France, on the eastside of the Jura range of mountains. One great recommendation to these baths is the numerous charming walks which abound in their immediate neighbourhood. The favourite walk of the visitors was one which commanded a vast extent of country; the beautiful Lake of Geneva was beneath us, its calm blue waters dotted with boats, whose lateen sails reminded one of the equally blue |