Bernard Barton.

1784-1849.

THE LAND WHICH NO MORTAL MAY KNOW.

THOUGH earth has full many a beautiful spot,
As a poet or painter might show;

Yet more lovely and beautiful, holy and bright,
To the hopes of the heart and the spirit's glad sight,
Is the land that no mortal may know.

There the crystalline stream, bursting forth from the throne,

Flows on, and forever will flow;

Its waves, as they roll, are with melody rife,

And its waters are sparkling with beauty and life,
In the land which no mortal may know.

And there, on its margin, with leaves ever green,
With its fruits healing sickness and woe,

The fair tree of life, in its glory and pride,
Is fed by that deep, inexhaustible tide,

Of the land which no mortal may know.

There too are the lost! whom we loved on this earth,
With whose mem'ries our bosoms yet glow;
Their reliques we gave to the place of the dead,
But their glorified spirits before us have fled
To the land which no mortal may know.

Oh! who but must pine in this dark vale of tears,
From its clouds and its shadows to go,

To walk in the light of the glory above,

And to share in the peace, and the joy, and the love, Of the land which no mortal may know !

TOO LATE.

BITTER the anguish with these two words blended,
For those contemplating their hopeless lot,
Who find life's summer past, its harvest ended,

--

And winter nigh, while they are gathered not.

Yet do Thou, Lord, by Thy supreme conviction,
Give them to feel that, though their sins are great,

Thy love and mercy own not our restriction,
But that with Thee, it NEVER IS TOO LATE !

FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY.

STILL abide the heaven-born Three, Faith, and Hope, and Charity! Faith-to point our heavenly goal, an anchor to the soul:

Hope

Faith and Hope must pass away;
Charity endures for aye!

Hope must in possession die;
Faith in blissful certainty ;
These to gladden each were given;
Love, or Charity for Heaven!
For, in brighter realms above,
Charity survives as Love.

Love to Him, the great I AM!
Love to Him, the atoning Lamb!
Love unto the Holy Ghost!
Love to all the heavenly host!
Love to all the human race,
SANCTIFIED BY SAVING GRACE!

In that pure and perfect love,
Treasured up for Heaven above,
Christian! may thy grateful heart
Have its everlasting part;

And when Faith and Hope are mute,
Find in endless Love their fruit!

SIGNS AND TOKENS.

He who watches winds that blow,
May too long neglect to sow ;

He who waits lest clouds should rain,
Harvest never shall obtain.

Signs and tokens false may prove;
Trust thou in a Saviour's love,
In His sacrifice for sin,
And His Spirit's power within.

Keep thou Zion-ward thy face,
Ask in faith the aid of grace,
Use the strength which grace shall give
Die to self-in Christ to live.

Faith in God, if such be thine,
Shall be found thy safest sign,
And obedience to His will
Prove the best of tokens still.

FAREWELL.

NAY, shrink not from the word "farewell!" As if 'twere friendship's final knell ;

Such fears may prove but vain :

So changeful is life's fleeting day, Whene'er we sever hope may say "We part to meet again!"

Even the last parting earth can know, Brings not unutterable woe,

To souls that heavenward soar; For humble Faith, with steadfast eye, Points to a brighter world on high, Where hearts that here at parting sigh,