GUARD THY TONGUE. GUARD the tongue and guard it wisely, It can cheer the sad and lonely, With the tongue we blend our voices With the tongue we utter falsely, And we do each other wrong. Can a single fountain give us Sweet and bitter waters too? Yes! the tongue speaks good and evil, Though it ought not so to do. How a spark of angry feeling It will kindle to a flame ! Hush that idle whisper, sister; Tell how firmly walks thy brother; PHILIP PHILIPS. A VOICE FROM HEAVEN. I SHINE in the light of God, His likeness stamps my brow, Through the shadow of death my feet have trod, And I reign in glory now! No breaking heart is here, No keen and thrilling pain, No wasted cheek where the frequent tear I have found the joy of heaven, I am one of the angel band ; To my head a crown of gold is given, I have learnt the song they sing Whom Jesus hath set free ; And the glorious walls of heaven still ring. With my new-born melody. No sin, no grief, no pain, Safe in my happy home! My fears all fled, my doubts all slain, My hour of triumph come. O friends of mortal years, The trusted and the true! Ye are walking still in the vale of tears, But I wait to welcome you. Do I forget? Oh, no! For memory's golden chain Shall bind my heart to the hearts below Each link is strong and bright, Flows freely down, like a river of light, Do you mourn when another star Then why should your tears run down, THE CITY OF OUR GOD. GLORIOUS things of thee are spoken, He, whose word cannot be broken, On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake thy sure repose ? With salvation's walls surrounded, Thou may'st smile at all thy foes. See! the streams of living waters, Ever flows, their thirst to assuage? Round each habitation hovering, Showing that the Lord is near ; Which He gives them when they pray. Blest inhabitants of Zion, Washed in the Redeemer's blood! Jesus, whom their souls rely on, Makes them kings and priests to God. 'Tis His love His people raises Over self to reign as kings; And, as priests, His solemn praises Saviour, if of Zion's city I, through grace, a member am ; Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in Thy name : Fading is the worldling's pleasure, All his boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasure None but Zion's children know. 2 NEWTON. WHO SHALL ROLL AWAY THE STONE? MARK xvi. 3 and 4. WHAT poor weeping ones were saying, Eighteen hundred years ago :— Say in our sad hours of woe: Thus with care our spirits crushing, Oft we've had with joy to own, Many a storm-cloud sweeping o'er us, Never comes to cause us pain. Sunshine comes-the cloud has flown. Ask not then in foolish sorrow, "Who shall roll away the stone?" Burden not thy soul with sadness, "Who shall roll away the stone?" |