How thrilling are thoughts that so swiftly are flying,

Across hills and vales that divide me from home! No murmuring breeze is so sad as my sighing, Nor dew drops so precious as tears as I roam.

We think of our friends with the sweetest emotion,"

As quick as the lightning that crossess the skies; Love wakes like the morning that brightens the ocean,

Like sunbeams that cheer the sad sleepers that rise.

THE MOURNER'S CONSOLATION.

SAD changes to mortals are given,
Their fondest delights pass away,
Fix'd blessings alone are in heaven,
Where joy is eternal as day.

Afflictions spring not from the dust
They come from the hand of the Lord;
Death comes from a God who is just,
And Christ has those ruins restored.

Then why should our tears ever flow,
For losses which God has design'd,

Since time may diminish the woe,

And grace bring its peace to the mind.

Religion alone has a charm,

To stop the disconsolate sigh

When conscience awakes with alarm,
As friends who are dear to us die.

How rich is that grace which is free,
And offer'd to children of grief!
May this be a comfort to thee,
And give thy deep sorrow relief.

A pious and sensible friend,
When nature is sinking with gloom,
Where kindness and sympathy blend,
May light up a smile o'er the tomb.

Then cultivate friendship and love,
Religion and virtue pursue,

Till souls sweetly mingle above,
Where saints bid their sorrows Adieu.

There anguish and bitterness die, There joys of salvation are known, Where God will lost comforts supply, And blessings shall flow from his throne.

PEACE AND REST.

RELIGION can the soul sustain,

Uphold it when life's powers decay : This friend at rest found Christ was gain, Had peace when call'd from earth away.

Resign'd she gave her spirit up,
United with her Lord in love;
She long profess'd a public hope,
That God would give her rest above.

PARTING WITH FRIENDS.

SIGHS will rise, though unavailing,
As each fond enjoyment ends !
Love is often heard bewailing,
Loss of dear departed friends.

Ye who know a mourner's feeling,
Sympathise, and soothe my fears;
Anguish felt is past concealing,
Rises with a flood of tears.

God can heal the broken hearted,
End these doubts and fears that rise:
None can meet, no more be parted,

Till they meet above the skies.

THE DIGNITY OF FASHIONS CONTRASTED WITH THE DUTY OF CHRISTIANS.

Lo, thousands are wiser than children of light, Love fashions as fondly when wrong as when right;

Pursue the gay throng and their practices bless, In virtues, in vices opinions and dress.

Though Moses should speak, or should Samuel rule,

If fashions oppose, each would seem like a fool.! What is Law from Mount Sinai with thunder and fire,

Compared with the law of delight and desire? When Eli's base sons were condemn'd to be

slain,

Did Israel from vices in fashion refrain?
When Ahab for sin, stern Elijah reproves,

Do pleasures in fashion, now

groves?

cease in the

The Priest and the Levite, when misery cried, Pass'd by on proud fashion's and dignity's side. My soul sinks in sorrow at scenes, of such scorn, And wishes proud mortals might, all be newborn;

That man should no more to this world be conform'd;

But, through divine grace, to God's will be. transform'd.

Behold the Redeemer descend from God's

throne !

What dignity with his mild meekness was shown!

The sick, and the poor, look'd to him for relief, Found help from a God, now acquainted with grief.

He taught both what Moses and Prophets had

said,

Was equally kind to the dying and dead.
But ah, how rejected by fashion and pride!
Too good for this world, He on Calvary died!
Here mark, ye disciples, the path he has trod,
Be meek, and be lowly, be kind like your God;
Who could with poor sinners and publicans eat,
To teach his disciples, He washed their feet.
Where then is your duty; proud follower, now,
Who gave to your Saviour the covenant vow?
Shall meekness and duty be barter'd for fame,
With fig leaves of fashion to cover your shame ?
Can you the stern Judge's reproaches endure,
For shunning all deeds which are done by the
poor?

Go then, fashion's slave, prove your newness of heart,

And act from example humility's part:

Let sabbath's by law, to devotion be given,

Let actions each day speak the spirit of heaven: