LXVI. THE EVENING SACRIFICE. CANST thou thy body on thy bed compose, Ere the still sleep can lull thy pillow'd head, LXVII. FAMILY WORSHIP. FAIR is the sight, by Israel's psalmist sung, Most fair, when all assemble, old and young, In patriarchal worship, heart and tongue. List to the Saviour's words!" Where two or three Meet in my name, there in the midst am I." Believe, and welcome to thy family The gracious Guest; and by his blessing try, How much domestic bliss and amity Hang on DOMESTIC WORSHIP's hallowing tie! LXVIII. HOLY MATRIMONY. Ir there's a scene, which joy unmingled cheers, And happy bridegroom meet, and side by side To yield his child, his heart's delight and pride, From God upon them. Happy omens rest On love so pledg'd, and HALLOW'D by the RITE LXIX. THE HONORED WIFE. Ir "worship," honor, (kindred terms I use, His home's, his heart's companion: if in aught Obedience, reverence; to receive is her's, Love, comfort, honor:1 made by God's design "Help meet for man," 2 like man from God she bears His image, his similitude divine; Both taught of God, and both "salvation's heirs." ' 1 Pet. iii. 1, 5, 7. Eph. v. 22, 25. Col. iii. 18, 19. LXX. THE THANKFUL MOTHER. The house of GOD, his people's lov'd resort, That she" in sorrow should her children bear: " 'Tis thine to taste, that He who smites can heal. Go then, like holy MARY! Go, repair To God's high temple; there devoutly kneel, LXXI. THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY. Is there a sight on earth, where God may throw Life, health, and all things; while the father by Sweet thoughts, which none but pious parents know! That those, whom God hath given, thy blooming race To God thou lead'st!-With goodness unendued, What were the fairest form, the loveliest face? But dear to heaven, with heaven's own tints imbued, Is female beauty deck'd with Christian grace. LXXII. GOD'S JUDGMENTS DENOUNCED AGAINST SINNERS IN THE COMMINATION. No! deem it not the Church could e'er pursue Her sons, tho' mark'd by many a crimson spot, With pray'r or wish for evil! Deem it not She bids thee e'er such pray'r or wish renew! But well she knows that holy, just and true Are God's commands and menaces; and what His word proclaims the wilful sinner's lot, She knows, and owns, and bids thee own it due. "Curs'd is the man who spurns Jehovah's will." Doubt'st thou the sentence? Does it aught declare Which is not? aught which He shall not fulfil ? Confess the truth: pray God his flock to spare: And, warn'd thyself, and heedful of the ill, Of sin, and sin's appointed doom beware! LXXIII. IN A TIME OF COMMON SICKNESS.1 'Twas not the day of Sabbath, when I past, Nor by the Church made holy: yet a dumb Lone stillness reign'd there for the week-day hum Of busy men, and every door was fast Where traffic wont to toil; and as I cast To A sidelong glance on every hallow'd dome, pray the God of mercy!-'Tis the blast Of his displeasure hovering o'er their head, Which calls them thither. Hear their fervent pray'r, All Merciful! Bid thou the arm outspread Of the destroyer from his prey forbear; And may the Great Atoner from the dead Sever the living, and thy suppliants spare! 1 On passing through a town in my diocese towards the end of August this year (1832,) I was much affected by the solemnity of LXXIV. THE SICK MAN VISITED. "PEACE to this house!"-Now, ere in langor lost The weary spirit from the task recoil Of self-research, or racking pain embroil Love, patience, trust, repentance, and release Of pardoning mercy; and his pray'r increase LXXV. THE SICK COMMUNICANT. Some should refrain till then; as if, imprest As He commands, thy Christian race hast run; And hope presageful of thy Lord's "Well done!" the appearance. All the shops were closed; the streets well-nigh deserted; and the church and other places of divine worship filled, in pursuance of an arrangement among the several ministers of religion for a day of fast and humiliation, on account of the Cholera, then |