GUARD THY TONGUE.

GUARD the tongue and guard it wisely,
Thence a world of evil springs;
Though it be a little member
Yet it boasteth wondrous things.
It can whisper words of comfort;
It can wound and cheer the heart;
It can seal the bonds of union;
It can break them all apart.

It can cheer the sad and lonely,
Like a beam of morning light;
O'er a gentle, loving spirit
It can throw a cruel blight.
We have need to guard it wisely
And be careful what we say,
Lest we harm an erring brother,
Who may stumble by the way.

With the tongue we blend our voices
In the melody of song;

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 !
We can chain the savage lion,
But the tongue can no man tame.
With the tongue we bless our Father,
With the tongue His name profane,
With the tongue we praise our Maker,
And we take His name in vain.

Hush that idle whisper, sister;
Think the Lord is standing near,
Listening to each word thou speakest
Of the souls to Him so dear!

Tell how firmly walks thy brother;
All his brave and true deeds tell ;
Speak not of the past's dark errors,
Tell not that he tripped and fell.

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
Hath rolled and left its stain.

I have found the joy of heaven,

I am one of the angel band ;

To my head a crown of gold is given,
And a harp is in my hand!

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
Till they meet to touch again.

Each link is strong and bright,
And love's electric flame

Flows freely down, like a river of light,
To the world from which I came.

Do you mourn when another star
Shines out from the glittering sky?
Do you weep when the raging voice of war
And the storms of conflict die?

Then why should your tears run down,
And your hearts be sorely riven,
For another gem in the Saviour's crown,
And another soul in heaven.

THE CITY OF OUR GOD.

GLORIOUS things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!

He, whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode !

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,
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove :
Who can faint while such a river

Ever flows, their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which, like the Lord the Giver,
Never fails from age to age.

Round each habitation hovering,
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a covering,

Showing that the Lord is near ;
Thus deriving from their banner,
Light by night and shade by day,
Safe, they feed upon the manna,

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
Each for a thankoffering brings.

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 :—
We, the same weak faith betraying,

Say in our sad hours of woe:
Looking at some trouble lying,
In the dark and dread unknown,
We too, often ask with sighing,
"Who shall roll away the stone?"

Thus with care our spirits crushing,
When they might from care be free,
And in joyous song out-gushing,
Rise, with rapture, Lord, to Thee.
For before the way was ended

Oft we've had with joy to own,
Angels have from heaven descended,
And have rolled away the stone.

Many a storm-cloud sweeping o'er us,
Never pours on us its rain;
Many a grief we see before us,

Never comes to cause us pain.
Ofttimes in the feared to-morrow

Sunshine comes-the cloud has flown.

Ask not then in foolish sorrow,

"Who shall roll away the stone?"

Burden not thy soul with sadness,
Make a wiser, better choice;
Drink the wine of life with gladness,
God doth bid thee, man, rejoice.
In to-day's bright sunshine basking,
Leave to-morrow's fears alone;
Spoil not present joys by asking,

"Who shall roll away the stone?"