Tranquil amidst alarms,

It found him in the field,

A veteran slumbering on his arms,
Beneath his red-cross shield:
His sword was in his hand,

Still warm with recent fight;
Ready that moment, at command,
Through rock and steel to smite.

At midnight came the cry,

"To meet thy God prepare!"

He woke, and caught his Captain's eye;
Then, strong in faith and prayer,
His spirit, with a bound,

Burst its encumbering clay;

His tent, at sunrise, on the ground,
A darkened ruin lay.

The pains of death are past,

Labor and sorrow cease;

And life's long warfare closed at last,
His soul is found in peace.
Soldier of Christ! well done;
Praise be thy new employ;
And while eternal ages run,
Rest in thy Saviour's joy.

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

ON HIS BLINDNESS.

WHEN I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent, which is death to hide,
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more
bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest he returning chide; "Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?" I fondly ask: But Patience, to prevent

What shall I do?- Make vows and break them still?

'T will be but labor lost;

My good cannot prevail against mine ill :
The business will be crost.

O, say not so; thou canst not tell what strength
Thy God may give thee at the length.
Renew thy vows, and if thou keep the last,
Thy God will pardon all that's past.
Vow while thou canst; while thou canst vow,
thou mayst

Perhaps perform it when thou thinkest least.

Thy God hath not denied thee all,
Whilst he permits thee but to call.
Call to thy God for grace to keep

Thy vows; and if thou break them, weep. Weep for thy broken vows, and vow again : Vows made with tears cannot be still in vain. Then once again

I vow to mend my ways;

Lord, say Amen,

And thine be all the praise,

GEORGE HERBERT.

ON JORDAN'S STORMY BANKS.

ON Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye

To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.

O the transporting, rapturous scene
That rises to my sight!

Sweet fields arrayed in living green,
And rivers of delight.

There generous fruits, that never fail,
On trees immortal grow;

There rock, and hill, and brook, and vale
With milk and honey flow.