The higher ground thou may'st have gain'd,

Its counsel more is needed;

Nor can thy safety be maintain'd,

The watch-tower left unheeded.

In light or darkness, joy or woe,
By good or ill surrounded,
Thy hope of conquest o'er each foe
On watchfulness is founded.

Not in the wisdom, or the might
Of man, for these will fail thee,
When powers of darkness, born of night,
In conflict shall assail thee.

The watchfulness that slumbers not
Must be through grace imparted;

By faith and prayer it is begot,
And saves the simple-hearted.

RETIREMENT AND PRAYER.

"And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed."— Luke, v. 16.

IF thus our Lord himself withdrew,

Stealing at times away,

E'en from the lov'd, the chosen few,

In solitude to pray,

How should his followers, frail and weak,

Such seasons of retirement seek.

Seldom amid the strife and din

Of sublunary things,

Can spirits keep their watch within,

Or plume their heaven-ward wings;
He must dwell deep, indeed, whose heart
Can thus fulfil true wisdom's part.

Not in our own spontaneous will
Can we the world shut out,—
Say to our passions, "Peace, be still!"
Or check each rising doubt;

Alone, by prayer, 'tis slowly won,
In the world's throng too rarely done.

How needful is it, then, for man

From things of time to steal, Those of eternity to scan,

Their magnitude to feel :The first are transitory, vain ; The last for ever will remain.

Retirement must adjust the beam,
And prayer must poise the scales ;
Our Guide, Example, Head supreme,
In neither lesson fails;

Oh, may we in remembrance bear,

He sought retirement,-practis'd prayer!

A CHRISTIAN'S REJOICING.

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." Luke, x. 20.

REJOICE not, or rejoice with awe,
That subject spirits own your law;
That powers of darkness, wont to be
Your masters, from your presence flee.

If such dominion foster pride,
With instant danger 'tis allied;
If meekly held, obey the voice
Which bids you tremblingly rejoice.

When call'd to meet your foes in fight,
'Tis good to feel your Saviour's might;
For victory grateful thanks may rise,
But truest bliss still deeper lies.

--

'The joy of heaven is perfect joy,
Which fear nor danger can alloy ;-
The purest man on earth can know
From love and gratitude must flow.

If faith a humble hope supply,
Thy name is register'd on high,
Though in no robe of triumph clad,
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad.

The power which fallen spirits dread, Which can on serpents, scorpions, tread, Such powers, could we command at will, Yield but the joy of conflict still.

This latent perils may allure,

The hope of heaven is peaceful, pure;
If faith this hope to thee assign,
Rejoice in Him who made it thine.