In this dull stone, so poor, and bare
Of shape or lustre, patient care
Will find for thee a jewel rare.

But first must skilful hands essay,
With file and flint, to clear away
The film, which hides its fire from day.

This leaf? this stone? It is thy heart:
It must be crushed by pain and smart,
It must be cleansed by sorrow's art,

Ere it will yield a fragrance sweet,
Ere it will shine, a jewel meet
To lay before thy dear Lord's feet.

S. WILBERFORCE.

THE REFINER'S FIRE.

"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." - Mal. iii. 3.

HE that from dross would win the ore

Bends o'er the crucible an earnest eye,
The subtile, searching process to explore,
Lest the one brilliant moment should pass by,
When in the molten, silvery, virgin mass,
He meets his pictured face as in a glass.

Thus in God's furnace are his people tried;
Thrice happy they who to the end endure;
But who the fiery trial may abide ?

Who from the crucible come forth so pure,

That He, whose eyes of flame look through the whole, May see his image perfect in the soul?

Nor with an evanescent glimpse alone,

As in that mirror the refiner's face;

But, stamped with Heaven's broad signet, there be shown Immanuel's features full of truth and grace;

And round that seal of love this motto be,

"Not for a moment, but- Eternity!"

MONTGOMERY.

GOD KNOWETH WHAT IS BEST.

"For who knoweth what is good for man in this life?"- Eccl. vi. 12.

WHAT, many times I musing asked, is man,
If grief and care

Keep far from him? he knows not what he can,
What cannot, bear.

He, till the fire hath purged him, doth remain
Mixed all with dross :

To lack the loving discipline of pain,

Were endless loss.

Yet when my Lord did ask me on what side.
I were content

The grief, whereby I must be purified,
To me were sent,

As each imagined anguish did appear,
Each withering bliss

66

Before my soul, I cried, O, spare me here!
O, no, not this!"

Like one that having need of, deep within,
The surgeon's knife,

Would hardly bear that it should graze the skin,
Though for his life.

Nay, then, but He, who best doth understand,
Both what we need

And what can bear, did take my case in hand,
Nor crying heed.

LOOKING UNTO JESUS.

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."— Heb. xii. 2.

O MY Soul! what means this sadness?
Wherefore art thou thus cast down?

Let thy grief be turned to gladness;
Bid thy restless fear be gone;
Look to Jesus,

And rejoice in his dear name.

Though ten thousand ills beset thee,
Though thy heart is stained with sin,
Jesus lives, he 'll ne'er forget thee,
He will make thee pure within;
He is faithful

To perform his gracious word.

Though distresses now attend thee,

And thou tread'st the thorny road, His right hand shall still defend thee; Soon he 'll bring thee home to God: Thou shalt praise him,

Praise the great Redeemer's name.

O that I could now adore him,
Like the heavenly host above,
Who for ever bow before him,
And unceasing sing his love!
Happy spirits!

When shall I your chorus join?

FAWCETT.

JUST AS THOU ART.

"Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.”—John vi. 37.

JUST as thou art, - without one trace
Of love, or joy, or inward grace
Or meetness for the heavenly place,
O guilty sinner, còme!

Thy sins I bore on Calvary's tree,
The stripes, thy due, were laid on me,
That peace and pardon might be free;-
O wretched sinner, come!

Burdened with guilt, wouldst thou be blest?
Trust not the world, it gives no rest;
I bring relief to hearts oppressed;

O weary sinner, come!

Come, leave thy burdens at the cross;
Count all thy gains but empty dross;
My grace repays all earthly loss;

O needy sinner, come!

Come, hither bring thy boding fears,
Thy aching heart, thy bursting tears;
'T is Mercy's voice salutes thine ears;
O trembling sinner, come!

"The Spirit and the Bride say, Come! "

Rejoicing saints reëcho, Come!.

Who faints, who thirsts, who will, may come;

Thy Saviour bids thee come!