A CALL TO VIGILANCE.

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."Romans, xiii. 12.

SAVIOUR, and GOD! impress on all
This awful portion of thy word;
Bring home its solemn, fearful call,
To hearts that have too long demurr'd.

If, in the fancied shades of night,

Our souls have trusted,-Oh, display The dawning of that heavenly light, Which ushers in thy cloudless day!

If deeds of darkness we have done,
While night yet hover'd round our path,

Teach us hereafter such to shun,

Dreading thy day of righteous wrath.

The night far spent, the day at hand,
Rouse us by thy life-giving breath ;
That we before Thee yet may stand,

Nor sleep the awful sleep of death.

Convince us, if we hope to be
Accepted, in thy holy sight;

Our spirits must be cloth'd by Thee,
In thy whole armoury of light.

Nor less the needful truth make known,
That none can be with this supplied,
Unless all armour of our own,

Trusted no more, be laid aside.

For none thy panoply can wear,

But those whom Thou hast first uncloth'd;

And none thy cloudless day can bear,

But those who sin's dark night have loath'd.

THE APOSTLE'S KNOWLEdge.

"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."-1 Corinthians, ii. 2.

WOULDST thou of knowledge, more and more,

The sum and substance gain,Adding to mind's immortal store, The wealth that shall remain ?—

O search not, with the learned Greek,
In earthly wisdom's mine;

Nor, like the Jew, this treasure seek

In outward rite or sign.

But seek thou, as th' Apostle sought,
What far surpasseth show,

In speech, in action, and in thought,
Christ crucified to know.

This saving knowledge would'st thou learn, From human lore conceal'd,

Thy thought and vision inward turn,

For there it is reveal'd.

There would the Lord anoint thine

His glorious cross to see,

Which to the world can crucify,

The world, no less, to Thee.

His Spirit's deep baptismal power
Must aid that cross to bear;

So shalt thou, in a future hour,
The crown of glory wear.

For God will, in the end, bestow

That crown on none beside

eye,

Those, who, like Paul, but seek to know
Christ, and him crucified !

PRESENT VISION IMPERFECT.

"For now we see through a glass darkly."-1 Corinthians, xiii. 12.

DIM and dark our present vision,

Through time's shadowy glass made known, When compar'd with views elysian, Which hereafter shall be shown.

Yet enough of glory,-beauty,

Here to faith's keen sight are given,

To refresh the path of duty,

And make glad the way to heaven.

See we not, beyond the portal

Of the grave's brief resting-place, Glimpses of those joys immortal,

Which await the heirs of grace?