Oh, for the grace such teaching to apply,
And find the hidden evils where they lie!
May he who bade the process make it sure,
And with the medicine send the gracious cure!
And oh, how great the grace that hears our prayer,
And calls us back from death, when near despair!
How sweet the love that health restored doth grant,
And still supplies, preventing every want!
May the same hourly grace to each be given,
That both, as one, may keep the race to heaven!

The Lord be with thee, Dearest, and reveal,
Clear to thy heart the blissful heavenly seal
Of his electing love, and that new name,
By which, when time is ended, he will claim
Thy raptured soul, redeemed, in heaven to shine,
Among his jewels, for his praise divine!

In the same wondrous love and grace to share,
May I, though all unworthy, yet be there!

1852.

IS just a week of years, beloved wife,

Since thou and I were bound in the same

life.

With what content and peace the time has flown,
Heaven's gentlest radiance on our pathway thrown!
The kindest discipline, when most severe,

And still increasing mercies every year,
Proving God's patient love and tender care,
Till now the Sabbath hallows with its ray
The dear memorial of our wedding day!
Sacred septennial seal of years so blest,
And precious earnest of eternal rest!

What can we render for such kindness shown?
How meet the claims upon our being thrown?
Shall any object of affection dare

Usurp the place that nought with God may share?
The strongest flame of love that ever burned,
In any heart from sin's dread madness turned,
Were a small offering, though sincerely brought,
. For grace so high beyond the reach of thought.

Yet oft the greatest blessings lead astray

The soul they should have kept in God's own way; The very fire that makes our nature blest,

May light an idol's altar in the breast;

And e'en the power of love, by God bestowed,
Whirls many a lost one in the downward road;
Dread profanation of the cup of joy,

Held but for ruin, drank but to destroy!

Pondering these claims of God, an anxious heart
Found in the pages of our life's great Chart,
Between the lines of heaven and earth perplext,
Sudden bright guidance from a radiant text,
Heavenly and earthly in the same sweet sphere,
For quick dismissal of suggested fear;
A sacred warrant for the largest throne,
Ere yet by woman's loved dominion won,
Than which imagination could not dream
Absolute rule, wider or more supreme.

As Christ hath loved the Church, so love thy wife! What wondrous words, transfiguring all our life Of wedded happiness with heavenly grace; Exalting our affections to the place

Of holiest piety, in Love Divine,

Such as in Christ's own nature hath its shrine!

As Christ hath loved the Church! There is no flaw, Nor shade of evil, in this holy law;

No hazard of idolatry is here;

Impossible to hold that gift too dear,

Which God hath set in such celestial light,

That thou mayst love with thy whole being's might,
Nor ever stand reproved; since by this rule.
Too far thou canst not go in Christ's own school;
Love all thou mayst, thou shalt incur no blame,
'Tis simple duty, in the Saviour's name!

Yet mark the words, for 't is a holy light
From the first shining, if thou read aright,
Thou canst not keep the Saviour's sweet command,
Its depths of glory canst not understand,
Except on him thy heart be fixed above
All earthy objects of a creature's love.
Only by grace from sin and self set free,
Canst thou love anything as He loved thee.
Then search the passage well, and still beware
Lest thou mistake the lines of glory there;

When love like Christ to his dear Church is given,
The flaming chariot takes us up to heaven.

Therefore the Church of old hath justly lent
To this dear bond the name of Sacrament;
'T was even so by heavenly grace designed,
A hallowed life appointed for mankind;

A sacred bliss approved by Heaven's own seal,
Which Satan's art could not from Eden steal.

Amidst the wreck of Paradise retained,
The glory of our race it still remained,
Till Christ in person deigned to ratify,
And with his presence bless the holy tie;
E'en to himself its mystic force applied,

And called the Church on earth his holy Bride.