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over their judgments and understandings, and nobody hath anything to do here but Christ; it is Christ that rales over the consciences and judgments of men, and therefore he is called the king of saints: it is true, other kings may bear rule over the estates of men, but as for the soul, that only belongs to Christ; and therefore believers are said to be all glorious. God dwells in the highest heavens, and in the humble heart; Christ is not only the king of nations, but king of saints; the one he rules over, the other he rules in.

I hear thee speak of the better land;
Thou call'st its children a happy band;
Mother! oh, where is that radiant shore-
Shall we not seek it and weep no more!

Is it where the flower of the orange blows,
And the fire-flies dance through the myrtle boughs?
"Not there, not there, my child."

Is it where the feathery palm-trees rise,
And the date grows ripe under sunny skies,
Or 'midst the green islands of glittering seas,
Where fragrant forests perfume the breeze,
And strange bright birds, on their starry wings,
Bear the rich hues of all glorious things?
"Not there, not there, my child."

Is it far away in some region old,

Where the rivers wander o'er sands of gold-
Where the burning rays of the ruby shine,
And the diamond lights up the secret mine,
And the pearl gleams forth from the coral strand-
Is it there, sweet mother, that better land?
"Not there, not there, my child."

Eye hath not seen it, my gentle boy!
Ear hath not heard its deep songs of joy,
Dreams cannot picture a world so fair,
Sorrow and death may not enter there;
Time doth not breathe on its fadeless bloom,
For beyond the clouds, and beyond the tomb
"It is there, it is there, my child!"

And the spirit that is to fit us for a habitation in this better land of promise is faith first, and then submission to God's supreme will-that self-resignation which, as an old divine

tells us, is the way to light, and that in the greatest difficulties and darkest perplexities. There is a kind of divine oracle within the self-resigning soul, which speaks clearly and plainly—not darkly and ambiguously. Light and integrity go together. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant;" that is, it is part of God's gracious covenant not to conceal from them, but to make them know his will. That which concerns them to know and practise, God will not hide from the sincerely obedient. God makes such "to know wisdom in the hidden part." That may be safely understood and is most true of the self-resigning soul, which the son of Zirach doth affirm :—“ Let the council of thine heart stand, for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it; for a man's mind is sometimes wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in a high tower."

PEARL V.

CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN.

HE direct manifestation of his divinity which the blessed Jesus vouchsafed to his disciples, could not fail to impress them greatly with a sense of his power and majesty. He taught them that without a full and perfect reliance upon heaven, there was no comfort on earth or hope in eternity; and he watched over his infant church as a shepherd over his flock.

The Lord is my shepherd, no want shall I know;
I feed in green pastures, safe folded I rest:
He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,

Restores me when wandering, redeems when opprest.

Through the valley and shadow of death though I stray,
Since thou art my guardian, no evil I fear;
Thy rod shall defend me, thy staff be my stay,
No harm can befal, with my Comforter near.

In the midst of affliction my table is spread;
With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o'er
With perfume and oil thou anointest my head;
Oh, what shall I ask of thy providence more.

Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God,

Still follow my steps till I meet thee above;

I seek-by the path which my forefathers trod
Through the land of their sojourn, thy kingdom of love.