And His rest will be the dearer
As we think of weary ways,
And "His light" will be the clearer
As we muse on cloudy days.
Oh! 'twill be a glorious morrow
To a sad and stormy day!"
We shall recollect our sorrow

As the streams that pass away.

SONNET.

HUMILITY AND FAITH.

REV. H. ALFORD.

SAVIOUR and Lord beloved! what homage new
Shall Thy church give Thee in these latter days,
When there is nothing new? No song of praise
That ages have not sung, nor worship due
That hath not long been paid? Faithful and true
Our hearts are beating to Thee: can we raise
No monument for victories of grace-

Must all our efforts be so poor and few?
Oh, vain and earthly wish-that would be great
In over-serving! rather may we lie

In meekest self-devotion at Thy feet,

And watch the quiet hours as they pass by,
Content and thankful for occasion shown
To make old service and old faith our own!

S. MARIA IN VIA LATA.

PAUL'S HIRED HOUSE

"SOLACE OF SONG."

Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house.-Acts xxviii. 30.

THERE is a pleasure which the curious find
When yielding to the fancy's secret spell,
Endowing stones with attributes of mind,

And voice, to murmur tidings from their shell
Of ages floating down the stream of Time-
Tales of their inert being's earliest prime.

Thus they cry out-they live to tell of war,
Of human violence the crushing arm,

Of deeds of lowering hate and fell despair,

Of a home's blessings, love's delicious charm; They tell where Murder's bloody step hath trod; Echoing the martyr's groans for vengeance from his God!

Two lingering years, these rude and rough-hewn stones
The prisoner harbour'd-so the legends say-
His inward conflicts noted, heard his moans,

The gleam reflected of each heaven-sent ray:
Then list their voice they may awhile unfold
Lessons of wisdom from the days of old.

They tell of wo-wrought by his fretting chain,
And inward canker of unbidden sin;
Hardness of those, who dared the cross disdain,

Yet vainly hoped the proffer'd crown to win;
They saw him gird his armour to the fight,
And prayerful wrestling seek celestial might!

They tell of labour-noon, and night, and morn,
Faint heart to cheer, the stubborn will subdue ;
Repelling Jewish hate and Gentile scorn;

Pointing a Saviour to the sinner's view;
His Master's cross they saw him meekly bear-
A day of labour, and a night of prayer.

They tell of comfort-when of love the glance
Pierced, like a sword, within the heart's recess,
Causing the faint and sinking spirits dance

With a quick sense of inborn happiness—
The summer sun, that gilds a stormy sky,
Beams not so welcome to the wanderer's eye!

They tell of joy-when 'fore the Spirit's power,
The shatter'd arms of vanquish'd Nature lay,
And fitful burst upon the midnight hour

Bright dawnings of an everlasting day;

Ephesians iii. 1,

When Jew and Gentile in the dust adored,

By heavenly might bow'd down to own Messiah LORD.

They tell of rapture-when a vision bright

Beam'd as his guerdon from the Throne above; A crown of glory, and a robe of light,

Seal'd with the covenant seal of covenant love! When sounds of angel-harps and voices flow'd O'er the full soul, waft from the throne of God!

Who would not linger in this silent cell,

The hum of centuries rolling on his ear, With Paul in fetter'd loneliness to dwell,

Joy in his smile and sorrow in his tear! With him at Jesus' footstool sweetly learn

Lessons of heavenly love, and feel the kindlings burn ?*

Who would not linger where the Saviour came
And went, an ever-loved and frequent guest-

As speeds the eagle, with a mother's flame,

To guard and feed the inmates of her nest; And, fluttering o'er the life she holds so dear, Each want supplies, and soothes each throbbing fear?

Lo! through the gloom celestial glories stream,

Opening a vista to th' enraptured eye; While these rude stones the bright reflection gleam, And point the gaze to yonder scenes on high, Where burns the Throne amid the angelic seven ! -It is the House of God-It is the Gate of Heaven! †

Luke xxiv. 32.

Gen. xxviii 17.