THE SABBATH.

The day that God calls his, make not thine own
By sports, or play, though 'tis a custom grown;
God's day of mercy whoso doth profane,
God's day of judgment doth for him remain.

MS. Poetry of the Seventeenth Century.

Toil! with thy thousand cares, away!

I seek its hallowed rest.

When virgin Earth was young,

The word that blest it came;

With trumpet's voice the mandate rung
From Sinai's hill of flame.

Joy for the Sabbath hours!

My soul, think on thy vow;

Lie trembling, ye tumultuous powers!
Tread softly, worldlings, now!

This Resurrection Morn

Broke ancient Midnight's spell, When ONE of lowly woman born, Spoiled Death and eager Hell.

Up, for retirement's haunt!

The solemn, secret place,

Where God supplies the spirit's want

With treasures of his grace.

Its hushed and early hour
Invites prevailing men;

The Sabbath day-break! — Oh, there's power
With Him to wrestle then.

Up! where Devotion waits,

Where the bowed heart adores;

Be lifted, oh, ye temple gates!
Be opened, joyful doors!
There, at the organ's peal,
And choir's melodious tone

Of rising anthem, humbly kneel
Before thy Father's throne.

The bread and wine are here;

Thou, whom thy heart esteems as least,

Art welcome to the cheer.

The spousals of the King

And Church are held to-day; Thy willing gift of gladness bring, And bring thy white array.

Weep, follower, beneath the cross,
The Sabbath is profaned!

Oh, not alone by those :—

Yet darker is the frown:

The CHRISTIAN joins the Sabbath foes,

By him 'tis trodden down!

NIAGARA..

NIAGARA!-the poetry of God!

Whose numbers tell, in everlasting hymn,
Only of God! The morning stars that woke
Music along their courses, early caught
Its far off echoes, and in wild delight

Returned them, softened, round the universe.
Think not, think not, Earth's triflers! that for you
And garish Day, these melodies chime on.
When ye, diminished, lost, are known not, Night,
Night to the awful anthem ever hearkens,
And ever with new joy. Oh, how sublime
The symphony, that, under the expanse
Of stars, peals on in unexhausted power:
Niagara! and the sole listener, Night!

SHIP OF THE LINE PENNSYLVANIA.

"LEAP forth to the careering seas,"

Oh, ship of lofty name!

And toss upon thy native breeze

The stars and stripes of fame!

And bear thy thunders o'er the deep

Where vaunting navies ride! -
Thou hast a nation's gems to keep-
Her honor and her pride!

None from the compact shrinks afraid,
No traitor utters nay!

We pledge our fervent love, and thou

Thy glorious ribs of oak,

Alive with men who cannot bow

To kings, nor kiss the yoke!

Speed lightnings o'er the Carib Sea,
Which deeds of hell deform;
And look! her hands are spread to thee
Where Afric's robbers swarm.
Go! lie upon the Egean's breast,
Where sparkle emerald isles-
Go! seek the lawless Suliote's nest,
And spoil his cruel wiles.

And keep, where sail the merchant ships,
Stern watch on their highway,

And promptly, through thine iron lips,
When urged, our tribute pay;
Yea, show thy bristling teeth of power,
Wherever tyrants bind,

In pride of their own little hour,
A freeborn noble mind.

Spread out those ample wings of thine! While crime doth govern men,

'Tis fit such bulwark of the brine

Should leave the shores of PENN;

For hid within thy giant strength
Are germs of welcome Peace,
And such as thou, shalt cause at length
Man's feverish strifes to cease.
From every vale, from every crag,
Word of thy beauty's past,
And joy we that our country's flag
Streams from thy towering mast-
Assured that in thy prowess, thou
For her wilt win renown,

Whose sons can die, but know not how
To strike that pennon down.

1837.

SUCH MAY NOT I.

In the hour of my distress,

When temptations me oppress,
And when I my sins confess,

Sweet Spirit! comfort me.

Litany, by Robert Herrick.

WHO of our mortal race is he,

So firmly fixed by fortune's power, That from the shock he's counted free, Of tossing waves, in trouble's hour? Let him still clasp his fancied bliss, And look defiance, too, on care,

Not heeding, in a world like this,

If there's a better known, or where:-
Such may not I.