Aud like Narcissus as they gain more near,
For the lov'd image, straight expire,

And agonize in warm desire,

Or slake their lust, as in the stream they roll.

XII.

Whilst the world burns, and all the orbs below

In their viperous ruins glow,

They sink, and unsupported leave the skies,

Which fall abrupt, and tell their torment in the noise. Then see th' Almighty Judge, sedate and bright, Cloth'd in imperial robes of light,

His wings the winds, rough storms the chariot bear, And nimbler harbingers before him fly,

And with officious rudeness brush the air,
Halt as he halts, then doubling in their flight,
In horrid sport, with one another vie,

And leave behind quick winding tracks of light;
Then urging, to their ranks they close,

And shiv'ring lest they start, a sailing caravan compose.

XIII.

The mighty Judge rides in tempestuous state, Whilst menial guards of flame his orders wait; His waving vestments shine,

Bright as the sun, which lately did its beams resign, And burnish'd wreaths of light shall make his form

divine;

Strong beams of majesty around his temples play, And the transcendent gaiety of his face allay.

His Father's reverend characters he'll wear,

And both o'erwhelm with light, and over-awe with fear. Myriads of angels shall be there,

And I, perhaps, close the tremendous rear.

Angels, the first and fairest sons of day,

Clad with eternal youth, and as their vestments gay.

15

XIV.

'Nor for magnificence alone,

To brighten and enlarge the pageant scene;
Shall we encircle his more dazzling throne,
And swell the lustre of his pompous train;
The nimble ministers of bliss or woe,

We shall attend, and save, or deal the blow,
As he admits to joy, or bids to pain.

XV.

The welcome news,

Thro' ev'ry angel's breast, fresh raptures shall diffuse.
The day is come,

When Satan with his pow'rs shall sink to endless doom;
No more shall we his hostile troops pursue,
From cloud to cloud, nor the long fight renew.

XVI.

'Then Raphael, big with life, the trump shall sound;
From falling spheres, the joyful music shall rebound,
And seas and shores shall catch and propagate it round.
Louder he'll blow, and it shall speak more shrill,
Than when, from Sinai's hill,

In thunder, through the horrid redd'ning smoke,
Th' Almighty spoke.

We'll shout around with martial joy,

And thrice the vaulted skies shall rend, and thrice our shouts reply.

Then first th' Archangel's voice, aloud,

Shall cheerfully salute the day and throng;

And hallelujahs fill the crowd,

And I, perhaps, shall close the song.

XVII.

From its long sleep, all human race shall rise; And see the morn, and Judge advancing in the skies. To their long tenements the souls return,

Whilst down the steep of Heav'n, as swift the Judge descends.

These look illustrious bright, no more to mourn,
Whilst, see! distracted looks yon stalking shades attend.
The saints no more shall conflict on the deep,
Nor rugged waves insult the lab'ring ship;
But from the wreck in triumph they arise,
And borne to bliss, shall tread empyreal skies.

PRAYER.

[MONTGOMERY.]

PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire,

Unutter'd or exprest;

The motion of a hidden fire,

That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear;
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;

Prayer the sublimest strains that reach

The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air;

His watchword at the gates of death,-
He enters heaven by prayer.

Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways;

While angels in their songs rejoice,
And say, Behold he prays.'

The saints in prayer appear as one
In word, and deed, aud mind,
When with the Father and his Son
Their fellowship they find.

Nor prayer is made on earth alone,
The Holy Spirit pleads;

And Jesus on the eternal throne

For sinners intercedes.

O Thou, by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way;
The path of prayer thyself hast trod;
Lord, teach us how to pray.

17

CAMERONIAN MIDNIGHT KYMN.

[HOGG.]

OH! thou that dwellest in the heavens so high,
Beyond yon star, within yon sky,

Where the dazzling fields need no other light
Nor the sun by day, nor the moon by night,
Though shining millions around thee stand,
For the sake of Him at thy right hand,
Oh! think on the souls he died for here,
Thus wandering in darkness, in doubt, and fear.
powers of darkness are all abroad,
They own no Saviour, and they fear no God;
And we are trembling in dumb dismay,

The

Oh! turn not thou thy face away.

C

Our night is dreary, and dim our day,
And if thou turnest thy face away,
We are sinful, feeble, and helpless dust,
And have none to look to, and none to trust.
Thy aid, O mighty One! we crave,
Not shortened is thy arm to save;
Alas, from thee we now sojourn,
Return to us, O God, return!

THE

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

[CARTER.]

THE midnight Moon serenely smiles
O'er Nature's soft repose;
No low'ring cloud obscures the sky,
No ruffling tempest blows.

Now every passion sinks to rest,
The throbbing heart lies still;
And varying schemes of life no more
Distract the lab'ring will.

In silence hush'd, to Reason's voice
Attends each mental power;
Come, dear Amelia, and enjoy
Reflection's favourite hour!

Come! while the peaceful scene invites,
Let's search this ample round!
Where shall the lovely fleeting form
Of Happiness be found?

Does it amid the frolic mirth

Of gay assemblies dwell;

Or hide beneath the solemn gloom,

That shades the hermit's cell?