But, this thy strange work is; each day thy voice
The elements control for man's chief good;
The breeze, the sun, the shower, bid earth rejoice,
And minister to man his daily food.

See where from jars of stone they pour the wine, Who from the fount but now with water came; Oh! is it not to prove by power divine,

That Christ and God are one and still the

same?

Yes! He who said at first, "Let there be light," And light there was; who made the earth,

the sea,

The sun, the moon, the stars, the day and night, Sits at a marriage feast in Galilee !

He speaks, and it is done; the limpid wave

Turned into wine, the mighty God displays; He who at first had made, now comes to save And bless, by turning sinners from their ways.

Oh! let us ever seek his heavenly food,

And ask for grace that we may more believe; Not water turned to wine, but wine to blood,

He gives, through faith, his people to receive.

No. 71.

The New Birth.

St. John, iii. 1-21.

OH! what shall guide proud man aright?
Shall lofty science, or reason's light?
Can these the gates of Heaven unbar,
And give to man an entrance there?

Athens and Rome shall ever tell
What these could do to burst the spell,
To break foul Satan's hopeless chain,
And lead man back to God again.

These did each demon dark enshrine,
As though he were a God divine;
These did each form of vice permit,
That heart could think, or hand commit.

Shall then repentance favour find?
"Tis well, within its banks confined,
The stream should flow; but how restore
The havoc it has made before?

But knows not God that man is weak, And would he more obedience seek Than we can yield? and claims he here More than that each should be sincere ?

Alas! 'tis thus that Satan blinds,
And still enchains our faithless minds;
He whispers still: Ye shall not die,
God's mercy's great,—on that rely.

Thus Satan still his prey deceives,
He utters lies, and man believes;
Skilful each weapon to prepare,
E'en faith itself he makes a snare.

What then shall save? Free grace alone, Grace that shall turn man's heart of stone; Grace that shall give a heavenly birth,

And raise our thoughts from things of earth.

They who shall reign above the skies,
The Spirit here must first baptize;

Must fill their hearts with thoughts of love,
And bid them live for things above.

Oh! may the Holy Spirit's fire
Thus sanctify from low desire;
Kindle new zeal, new love impart,
Till Christ alone possess my heart.

No. 72.

The Well of Sychar.

St. John, iv. 5-42.

WHEN long by Syrian's suns opprest,
How grateful for awhile to rest

Within some watery glade;

Where the tall palm-tree rears its head,

And light acacias softly shed

An ever-pleasing shade.

On Sychar's well, e'en thus alone
A stranger sat; and asked of one
Who came to fill her flask,
Water to drink; she quickly drew,
Wondering meanwhile that he a Jew,
Of her such gift should ask.

Discourse ensued of heavenly things,
Of water that salvation brings,
Which he who once shall taste,
For gifts of earth shall never thirst;
But shall that living water first,

E'er seek with eager haste.

But who shall give?-the stranger said,

'Twas his on each believer's head

That living stream to pour;

To lead them to that pure well's brink,
And give them of that cup to drink,
So full of life and power.

And who, then, could that stranger be?
He told her things which none but He
Who sees what is unseen

Could ever know; He read her thought,
He told her every deed she'd wrought,—
And what she once had been.

She said, when Christ should come, she knew
That He would all things bring to view.
He told her I am He;

And she believed, and through her word
Were others brought to seek the Lord,
And owned him Christ to be.

'Tis thus, O Lord, thy kingdom grows,
Thine own believe, and each one shows
Proof of his heavenly birth;

Fire kindles fire; as through the night
The planets catch the distant light,
And give it back to earth.

Oh! may I thus thy grace receive,
Grace both to hear and to believe,
And grace thy love to tell;
Grace the world's glories to despise,
Its pomps forsake, and only prize

Salvation's living well.