Faith

"Faith is the confidence of things hoped for."

"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end."

Hope still, though darkness round thee spread,
Count mercy in the cloud o'erhead,

And lean thee upon God.

Wait for the strength the Lord will send,

He that endureth to the end,

Shall win the crown at last;

Nor will he mourn the way was dim,

Christ trod a darker way for him,

And clasps his weak hand fast.

"Only believe"-O wondrous words!
That wake the doubting soul's dull chords,
That Jesus pleaded thus.

"Only believe"! O Lord of Light,

Help us to watch for Thee by night,

Who watched all night for us.

ANNA SHIPTON.

Faith.

"Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."

E saw Thee not when Thou didst come
To this poor world of sin and death,
Nor e'er beheld Thy cottage home
In that despised Nazareth;
But we believe Thy footsteps trod
Its streets and plains, Thou Son of God.
We did not see Thee lifted high

Amid that wild blaspheming crew,
Nor heard Thy meek imploring cry,

"Forgive, they know not what they do;" Yet we believe the deed was done, Which shook the earth, and veiled the sun.

We stood not by the empty tomb,
Where late Thy sacred body lay,
Nor sat within that upper room,

Nor met Thee in the open way;
But we believe that angels said,
"Why seek the living with the dead?"

We were not with the chosen few,

Who saw Thee thro' the clouds ascend,
Nor raised to heaven our wondering view,
Nor to the earth did prostrate bend;
Yet we believe that mortal eyes
Beheld that journey to the skies.

Now Lord of love who reign'st on high, And dost Thy waiting people bless, With rays of glory from the sky

Which shine e'en on our wilderness; We can believe Thy faithful Word, And trust in our redeeming Lord.

FOR THE EPIPHANY.

From the German of Müller.

A LIGHT is breaking forth—
O soul! delay no more;
The wondrous star gives tidings true,
Thy Lord is at the door.

Go forth from thine own land
To seek this Lord afar,

And let thine eyes be ever turned
Towards that bright morning star.

To thee it has arisen

Mark thou that beam so mild,

It leadeth thee to thy Saviour-LordJesus the heavenly child.

Now, therefore, ready be,

Leave all thou hast behind,

Leave all thou lovest dear and best,
Go forth with willing mind.
And gird thyself in haste

To journey through the wild,
And tarry not upon thy way,

Till thou hast found that Child.

Then fall thou at His feet,

In thy heart's lowliness;

He with His heavenly ray of joy,
Thy soul will deign to bless.
Offer thyself to Him

In grateful, loving fear,
And sing with all the Angel-choir
Immanuel, He is here!

Here is the Truth, the Way,
The entrance into Life;
Here is the gate of Paradise,
A resting-place from strife.

With God and all His saints

Thou hast communion dear,
Here by this manger thou art blest,
God dwelleth in thee here.

A way He sheweth thee

Thou knewest not before

The path of quietness and peace

To the true heavenly shore.

M. G. T.

SONNET.

I CALL my little child unto my knee;

He leaves his play, and resting his small hand
Gently on mine, most quietly doth stand,
Waiting with patience till I set him free;
And his sweet face looketh up lovingly.
Without a shade of doubt at my command,
But fond confidingness, expression bland
Of pure affection in his eyes I see.
Oh! if the earthly parent doth receive
Such willing duty, loving reverence,

Much more should we-God's children-fear to grieve
By setting our self-will His will above
Him, who to all so richly doth dispense

The gracious tokens of His boundless love.

H. M. RATHBONE.

"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees."

O FAINT and feeble-hearted!

Why thus cast down with fear?
Fresh aid shall be imparted,
Thy God unseen is near.

His eye can never slumber,

He marks thy cruel foes;
Observes their strength and number,
And all thy weakness knows.