He gave me the blessing complete-
The hope that is with me to-day,
And a quiet abode at His feet,
That shall not be taken away.

FOR-

"I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

-JER. xxix. II.

THOU knowest,-oh, the precious truth
That bids my soul be strong!
The care, the never weary care,
That cannot lead me wrong!
There is a blessed end for me,
Whereon Thine eyes are set;
Thou hast a comfort in Thy love
Too great to show me yet.

I do not know the weight of joy
That in Thy heart shall be,
When those who suffer with Thee now

Are glorified with Thee;
But I have solace in the thought,

That, whatsoe'er it do,

I connot feel a single pang

Thou art not feeling too.

Though to Thy ever listening love
Some longing thoughts I tell,
Bone of Thy bone, flesh of Thy flesh,

Thou dealest with me well;

And still I know that I may pray,

And never pause to doubt,

That Thou wilt give me health and ease,

Or bless me more without.

It must be good to share Thy cross,
Thou bearer of my sin :

And through the breaches of my strength
To feel Thy grace come in.
To know Thee in Thy glorious power,

As only need can teach—

Oh, is not this the joyful end

Which Thou wilt have me reach ?

Then let my brightest hopes for earth
At Thy disposal be,

And only show me more and more
Of those I hold in Thee.

My portion is not in the world,
Whate'er Thy heart provide,
And to have all my wealth in Heaven
Is peace on every side.

CHILDLIKE TRUST.

"I know whom I have believed."-2 TIMOTHY i. 12.

How can I err in trusting Thee,

O Thou in whom I move and live? Since Thou hast given Thy life for me, What lack I which Thou wilt not give?

Truly in Thee my soul believes—

Truly on Thee my hope is stayed;
Thy precious words my heart receives,
And waits for Thy expected aid.

Oh, who can err in trusting Thee?
Thy pleasure is Thy children's bliss,
And our eternal life will be

Beyond our largest faith in this.

:

CONSOLATION.

"For the Lord shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody."-ISAIAH li. 3.

"Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted His people."-ISAIAH xlix. 13.

A LIVING, loving, lasting word,
My listening ear believing heard,
While bending down in prayer ;
Like a sweet breeze that none can stay,
It passed my soul upon its way,

And left a blessing there.

Then joyful thoughts that come and go,
By paths the holy angels know,

Encamped around my soul;
As in a dream of blest repose,
'Mid withered reeds a river rose,
And through the desert stole.

I lifted up my eyes to see-
The wilderness was glad for me,

Its thorns were bright with bloom;
And onward travellers still in sight,
Marked out a path of shining light,
And shade unmixed with gloom.

Oh sweet the strains of those before,
"The weary knees are weak no more,
The faithful heart is strong";
But sweeter, nearer, from above,
That word of everlasting love,

The promise and the song.

COMMUNION.

"I believe in the communion of saints."-CHURCH SERVICE.

O LOVING spirit, do not go !

Thy presence is a precious thing:
It makes my tears more softly flow,
And sweetens every song I sing.
My heart with thy rejoicing fill,
And bring me heavenly tidings still.
It soothes my soul to feel thee near,
And I believe that thou wilt stay,-
Because the Lord, thy life, is here,
And He will never go away.
And blest will our communion be,
With thee in Him and Him in thee.

I love to have thee by my side,

With thy sweet face so pure and bright,
While in my Saviour's robe I hide,
A robe like thine, exceeding white;
Blest with the blessed ones above,
Seen by His light, and with His love.

Thy soul, to Heavenly bliss restored,
Mine through a sacred veil will see,—
That glorious body of our Lord

Wherein He died for thee and me.
And thou in Him mayst live within,
And know my heart without its sin.

Oft in my secret communings

With thoughts of those who count thee dear,

I speak to thee of many things

That others would not care to hear; Now that no pain thy love can share,

I like to think that thou wilt care.

I hear thee in the song of birds,

Thee in the gladdening flowers I see, And earth has music for the words

That come to us from heaven through thee : Hope, joy, the good that God has willed, Thy hope confirmed--thy joy fulfilled.

I do not bid thee now farewell,

(A prayer unmeet for life like thine), With thy beloved in heaven I dwell,

And thy beloved on earth are mine ;
My heart with them, and theirs with thee,
How canst thou, dear one, distant be?

We tarry still upon the road,

Our path goes on, we know not where, But God is always our abode,

And we are sure to meet thee there :
Our life His charge, our work His will,
To love thee is delightful still.

Soon, yes, it must be soon, we know ;
Our work of faith and love complete,

We to thy happy home shall go,

And find thee at our Father's feet. There His Beloved prepares our place, And we shall see thee face to face.

Meanwhile, to thee with whom we live
A hidden life by night and day,
Pain we are sure we cannot give,

But pleasure I believe we may :

And this belief henceforth shall be
New life, new strength, new joy to me.