CALAMITY.

THEY prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.-II. Samuel, xxii. 19.

Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!--Job, vi. 2.

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.--Psalm lvii. 1.

He that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.--Proverbs,

xvii. 5.

STRICT necessity

Subdues me, and calamitous constraint!

Lest in my hand both sin and punishment,
However insupportable, be all

Devolved.

Much rather I shall choose

To live the poorest in my tribe, than richest
To be in that calamitous prison left.

From adverse shores in safety let her hear
Foreign calamity, and distant war;

Milton.

Milton.

Of which, great heav'n, let her no portion bear.

Prior.

Friends counsel quick dismission of our grief;
Mistaken kindness! Our hearts heal too soon
Are they more kind than He who struck the blow?
Who bids it do His errand in our hearts,
And banish peace till nobler guests arrive,
And bring it back, a true and endless peace?
Calamities are friends.

When great calamities afflict the soul,

Then, God of Mercy, then, we cry to Thee!
Thou the physician art to make us whole;
Thou art the help in our calamity.
But when the clouds of grief be overpast,
And we may bask in sunshine once again,
Then praise and prayer become a weary task;
Thee we forget, and so neglect to ask
The aid we implored amid our grief and pain.
Calamities are links of that bright chain
Of love divine around us ever cast,

Young.

Weaning us from the world, and all things light and

vain.

Egone.

H

CALMNESS.

THEN said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.--Jonah, i. 11, 12, 15.

As they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish! Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water and they ceased, and there was a calm.--Luke, viii. 23, 24.

BE calm in arguing-for fierceness makes
Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
Why should I feel another man's mistakes,
More than his sicknesses or poverty?

In love I should, but anger is not love,
Nor wisdom neither: therefore gently move.
Calmness is great advantage-he that lets
Another chafe, may warm him at his fire,
Mark all his wanderings, and enjoy his frets,
As cunning fencers suffer heat to tire.

Truth dwells not in the clouds: the bow that's there
Doth often aim at, never hit the sphere.-Herbert.

There is a calm the poor in spirit know,
That softens sorrow, and that sweetens woe;
There is a peace that dwells within the breast,
When all without is stormy and distrest;
There is a light that gilds the darkest hour,
When dangers thicken, and when tempests lower;
That calm is faith, and hope and love is given;
That peace remains when all beside is riven,
That light shines down to man direct from heaven.
James Edmeston.

The roaring tumult of the billowed sea

Awakes him not: high on the crested surge,

Now heaved, his locks flowed streaming to the blast: And now descending, 'tween the sheltering waves,

The falling tresses veil the face divine:

Meek through that veil, a momentary gleam,
Benignant shines; he dreams that he beholds

The opening eyes, that hopeless long had rolled
In darkness,-look around bedimmed with tears
Of joy; but suddenly the voice of fear
Dispelled the happy vision. Awful he rose,
Rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,
"Peace, be thou still!" and straight there was a calm.
With terror-mingled gladness in their looks,
The mariners exclaim-"What man is this,
That even the wind and sea obey his voice?"

Grahame.

Earth has not anything to show more fair!
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty!
This city now doth like a garment wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,

Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields and to the sky-
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air,
Never did sun more beautifully steep

In his first splendour valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at its own sweet will;
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still.

Like a frail bark upon an angry sea

Wordsworth.

Is man, o'erburdened with a weight of sin; Tossed to and fro, and like to perish, he

Seeks how he best may 'scape, and safety win: What trembling Jonah is it hides within, That from the Lord would vainly strive to flee? Seek till ye find him, straight the quest begin! And cast him forth that ye may lightened be. Then with a prayer approach the throne of grace, The Saviour's with thee, though he seems to sleep; Have ye but faith, and wait a little space,

He will arise, and say unto the deep"Be still!" The waves will sink, like your alarm, O'er troubled heart and soul will come a mighty_calm.

Egone.

CALVARY.

AND when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him.--Luke, xxiii. 33.

O CALVARY! how blessed are thy borders,
More holy than God's sanctuary mount,
Of whose high praise be Angels the recorders;
But grateful Man thy praises shall recount,
There Jesus is adored, but here he died!

O Calvary! that road is as a fount,

Whence with a sanguine stream thou art supplied, Yet healing as Bethesda.-Calvary!

From Calvary a cry was heard,
A long reiterated cry;
My Saviour's every mournful word
Bespeaks thy soul's deep agony.

J. A. Heraud.

Let the dumb world her silence break;
Let pealing anthems rend the sky!
Awake, my sluggish soul, awake!
He died, that we may never die.

When on Sinai's top I see
God descend in Majesty,
To proclaim His holy law,
All my spirit sinks with awe.
When, in ecstacy sublime,
Tabor's glorious steep I climb,
At the too transporting light,
Darkness rushes o'er my sight.
When on Calvary I rest,
God, in flesh made manifest,
Shines in my Redeemer's face,
Full of beauty, truth, and grace.

Here I would for ever stay,
Weep and gaze my soul away;
Thou art heaven on earth to me,
Lovely, mournful Calvary.

Cunningham.

J. Montgomery.

CANAAN.

AND I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.--Exodus, vi. 4.

Behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession.--Deuteronomy, xxxii. 49.

Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance. --I. Chronicles, xvi. 18.

O! COULD we make our doubts remove

Those gloomy doubts that rise, And see the Canaan that we love, With unbeclouded eyes.

Could we but climb where Moses stood,

And view the landscape o'er;

Nor Jordan's streams, nor death's cold flood,

Should fright us from the shore.

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye

To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.

O the transporting, rapt'rous scene,
That rises to my sight!

Sweet fields, arrayed in living green,
And rivers of delight.

All o'er those wide extended plains,
Shines one eternal day;

There God the Son for ever reigns,
And scatters night away.

When shall I reach that happy place,
And be for ever blest?

When shall I see my Father's face,
And in his bosom rest?

Tell me, where is the promised land-
The Canaan of our earthly hopes,
Where Peace and Joy go hand in hand,
By sparkling streams, and flowery slopes?
It may be far, it may be near,

Oh, Pilgrim, faith must be thy guide
Across the desert wild and drear,

And o'er the Jordan's swelling tide.

Watts.

Stennett.

Egone.