TIME SHALL PASS AWAY.

BY JAMES EDMESTON.

"And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by HIм who liveth for ever and ever, and who created heaven and the things which therein are, and the earth and the things which therein are, and the sea and the things which are therein, that there should be TIME no longer."

REV. x. 5, 6.

MORE awful than the rushing of those wings
Which in one night the pride of Egypt slew;
More awful than the voice which burst the springs
Of hidden waters, when the tempest blew,
And black clouds, like a funeral pall, were spread
Over a world of dying and of dead.

TIME!-what a word is that! It comprehends
All we have ever known, or can conceive—
Possessions, passions, relatives, and friends,

And all the feelings and the things which weave
The web of consciousness-these shall be past,
Changed, and for ever, for that one loud blast
Shall shut up all! Time shall no longer be,
But henceforth measureless eternity!

How has it vanished!-gone the anxious strife
Of those who toiled for wealth or for renown,

The honours and delights of men, the frown
Or smile of mortals-even life,

With all its cares, how futile will it seem,
Passed like the swift departing of a dream!

Yes, shall the fair creation, fields and flowers, Winter and Summer, Spring and Autumn, cease; Nor night nor day enwreath their circling hours;

Nor sun awake the morn, nor moon increase; Nor longer shall those twinkling watch-fires keep Their nightly guard o'er hill and vale and deep.

Then will the life of man indeed begin :
Here life is but a short and wintry day;
Then will the soul her mighty powers display,
Surpassing all she ever yet hath been,

As night is distanced by the noontide day.

That certain, never-ending state should rest
Before us ever-that should be the end,

The first of all our thoughts-to that we tend;
And we shall then be cursed or fully blest.
Thankful for all that gilds our lot to-day,

Oh! let us strive to live, when TIME shall pass away!