"Though, like a wanderer,

The sun gone down,

Darkness comes over me,

My rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,-
Nearer to Thee.

"There let my way appear

Steps unto heaven;

All that Thou sendest me

In mercy given ;

Angels to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to Thee,→
Nearer to Thee.

"And when, on joyful wing,
Cleaving the sky;

Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly;

Still all my song shall be,

Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee."

[7TH SUNDAY.

"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man and He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not."-REV. 1. 13, 17.

At sight of

WE are told, in the last verse of this chapter, that the candlesticks which the apostle saw are the seven Churches which then existed in Asia. In the midst of those Churches he saw one like unto the Son of man; a glorious form, the description of which he gives, and which he knew to be the Son of man, his own glorified Master and Head. this glorified body of his Lord, the disciple fell down as dead; but Jesus laid His right hand upon him, and said, "Fear not!" Let us meditate on this beautiful revelation of our Saviour's divinity and humanity, of His majesty and tenderness, of His greatness and condescension, of His power and love; remembering what we read in a former verse, that the disciple to whom it was

revealed was then a brother, and companion in tribulation, for he was still in the flesh.

And Jesus is still the same; the same wonderful God-man and Saviour, who still walks in the midst of His Church, revealing Himself to His faithful people as their mighty Alpha and Omega, their omniscient, omnipresent God, yet their tender sympathizing friend, saying unto the feeblest of them,-Fear not; I am able to save you; none shall pluck you out of my hand; I, who have been the Author, will be the Finisher of your faith; commit the keeping of your soul to me. I lay down my life for my sheep, and you shall never perish. I will hold thee by my right hand; therefore fear not. It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom-fear not.

"I love to hear that voice of old,
Which, over Patmos' rocky shore,
Thus sweetly spake 'I live, behold!
I am alive for evermore!'

แ

"My Saviour lives! '-no mortal ears Can listen to more joyous strains; High above yonder rolling spheres My God, and yet my brother, reigns.

"My Saviour lives!' He intercedes
Still as the Lamb, the crucified.
'Father, I will,' 'tis thus He pleads;
Ne'er was the boon He asked denied.

"My Saviour lives!' and still His heart
Responsive beats upon the throne,
To every pang from which I smart;
He makes my tears and woes His own.

"My Saviour lives!' If thus so near,
Ne'er at His will shall I repine;
Ilis presence dries each falling tear,
Proclaims all needful discipline.

"My Saviour lives!' and soon again He'll come to take His pilgrims home, To feel no longer aching pain,

And from Himself no more to roam

"My Saviour lives!' to see His face
My endless happiness will be.
Lord, independent of all place,
Where'er Thou art is heaven to me."

[8TH SUNDAY,

"I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."--REV. I. 18.

We all know what it is to fear death, and many suffer much from this cause. But let us meditate on this assurance of our Saviour, and see if faith in these blessed words will not chase away some portion, at least, of that fear of death which is so natural to man. Jesus your Saviour has the keys of hell, that is, of the unseen world, or of the grave, and of death. Oh! believer, you have trusted your Saviour often, and will you not trust Him yet again? You have trusted in Him, and not feared coming trials, and will you not trust in Him for dying grace and strength? He liveth, and was dead, and He is alive for evermore. He died to take away sin, the sting of death; He lives, yea, He is alive for evermore, to be with His people in their last