THE MORNING STAR.

I AM THE ROOT AND THE OFFSPRING OF DAVID, AND THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. REV. XXII. 16.

BENIGHTED on the troublous main,
While stormy terrors clothe the sky;
The trembling voyager strives in vain,
And naught but dark despair is nigh;
When lo, a gem of peerless light,
With radiant splendour shines afar;
And through the clouds of darkest night,
Appears the Bright and Morning Star.

With joy he greets the cheering ray,
That beams on ocean's weary breast;
Precursor of a smiling day,

It lulls his fears to peaceful rest;
No more in peril doth he roam,
For night and danger, now are far;
With steady helm he enters home,

His guide the Bright and Morning Star.

Thus when affliction's billows roll,
And waves of sorrow and of sin,
Beset the fearful, weeping soul,
And all is dark and drear within:

'Tis JESUS, whispering strains of peace,

Drives every doubt and fear afar;

He bids the raging tempest cease,

And shines the Bright and Morning Star.

REDEMPTION.

ARISE, SHINE, FOR THY LIGHT IS COME. Isa. lx. 1.

HARK, 'tis the prophet of the skies
Proclaims Redemption near;

The night of death and bondage flies,

The dawning tints appear.

Zion, from deepest shades of gloom,

Awakes to glorious day;

Her desert wastes with verdure bloom,

Her shadows flee away.

To heal her wounds, her night dispel,

The heralds cross the main;

On Calvary's awful brow they tell,

That JESUS lives again.

*Missionaries to Palestine.

From Salem's towers the Islam sign,
With holy zeal is hurled,

'Tis there IMMANUEL's symbols shine,

His banner is unfurled.

The gladdening news conveyed afar,
Remotest nations hear;

To welcome Judah's rising star,
The ransomed tribes appear.

Again, in Bethlehem swells the song,

The choral breaks again;

While Jordan's shores the strains prolong,

"GOOD-WILL, AND PEACE TO MEN!"

STANZAS.

Nor dogmas of a hidden age
Compose Religion's creed;

Not Superstition's gloomy page,

Stained with some barbarous deed.

Not he, indulging vain pretence,
Who boasts the impulse given;
Not he that dares Omnipotence,
Can hope to enter heaven.

The careless, and the mad profane,

Possess no holy calm;

The heart that holds Religion vain

Can never taste its balm.

But he is blessed, whose thoughts are still

From proud presumption free;

Who loves mankind, and doth fulfil

That precept, Lord, to thee.