as I am, except these bonds. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: and when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves,-saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death-or of bonds. Then said Agrippa-unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.

DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB. BYRON.

The Assyrian came down like a wolf-on the fold,
And his cohorts-were gleaming-in purple and gold;
And the sheen of his spears-was like stars-on the sea
Where the blue wave-rolls nightly on deep Galilee.
Like the leaves of the forest-when Summer is green,
That host,-with their banners,-at sunset were seen;
Like the leaves of the forest-when Autumn hath blown,
That host,- —on the morrow,-lay-withered and strown.
For the Angel of Death-spread his wings on th' blast,
And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;
And the eyes of the sleepers-waked deadly and chill,
And their hearts—but once heaved,—and forever were still.
And there—lay the steed,—with his nostrils all wide,
But through them-there roll'd not the breath of his pride;
And the foam of his gasping-lay white on the turf,
And cold-as the spray of the rock-beating surf.

And there-lay the rider, distorted and pale,
With the dew on his brow and the rust on his mail;
And the tents were all silent, the banners—alone,
The lances-unlifted, the trumpets-unblown.

And the widows of Ashur-are loud in their wail;
And the idols are broke-in the temple of Baal;
And the might of the Gentiles, unsmote by the sword,
Hath melted-like snow in the glance of the Lord.

THE CONSTANCY OF THE JEWS IN CAPTIVITY. PSALM CXXXVII.

By the rivers of Bab-y-lon, there—we sat down,—yea,—we wept, when we remembered Zion.

We hanged our harps-upon the willows-in the midst thereof.

For there they (that carried us away captive) required of us a song; and they that wasted us-required of us mirth, saying, Sing us-one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song-in a strange land?

If I forget thee,—O Jerusalem, let my right hand-forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee,-let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem-above my chief joy.

Remember, O Lord,-the children of Edom-in the day of Jerusalem;who said, Raze it, RAZE it, even to the foundation thereof.

O daughter of Bab-y-lon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served-us.

Happy shall he be, that taketh-and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S CARE. PSALM XXIII.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down-in green pastures: he leadeth me-beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me-in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk-through the valley-of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod-and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me—in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup-runneth over.

Surely-goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord-for ever.

GOD'S DOMINION IN THE WORLD. PSALM XXIV.

The earth-is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world,-and they that dwell therein.

For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand-in his

holy place?

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,- ―nor sworn deceitfully.

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness—from the God of his salvation.

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates! and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord-mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King—of glory shall come in.

CHRISTMAS CAROL. E. H. SEARS.

It came upon a midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,

From angels-bending near the earth-
To touch their harps of gold:-
"Peace on the earth,-good-will to men
From heaven's all-gracious King ;”-
The world in solemn stillness-lay
To hear the angels-sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly-music-floats
O'er all the weary world;

Above its sad—and lowly-plains
They bend on hov'ring wing,
And ever o'er the Babel-sounds
The blessed angels sing.

But with the woes of sin and strife
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel strain have rolled-
Two thousand years of wrong.
And man-at war with man,-hears not
The love-song which they bring;—
Oh! hush the noise,-ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.

And ye,-beneath life's-crushing load,—
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;—
Oh! rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold;

When peace shall over all the earth

Its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world send back the song

Which now the angels sing.

AN EXHORTATION TO PRAISE GOD. PSALM XCVIII.

Oh, sing unto the Lord-a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed-in the sight of the heathen.

He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth-have seen the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise-unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets-and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

Let the sea-roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together

Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

THE LORD'S RESURRECTION.

Angel, roll the rock away!
Death,-yield up thy mighty prey!
See! he rises from the tomb,
Glowing in immortal—bloom.
'Tis the Savior! angels,-raise—
Fame's eternal trump of praise!
Let the world's remotest bound
Hear-the joy-inspiring sound!

Shout,-ye saints, in rapt'rous song!
Let the strains be sweet-and-strong!
Hail the rising God, this morn,
From his sepulcher-new-born!

Powers of heaven,—seraphic choirs,—
Sing, and strike your sounding lyres!
Sons of men, in humble strain,
Sing your mighty Savior's-reign !
Ev'ry note with-wonder swell!—
Sin o'erthrown,-and captive-hell!
Where is hell's once dreaded king?
Where, O death! thy mortal sting?

CREATION PROVES THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. L. M. DOUBLE

The spacious firmament on high,

And all the blue ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,

Their Great Original proclaim.

Th' unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display,

And publishes to every land

The work of an Almighty Hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,

The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the list'ning earth
Repeats the story of her birth;

While all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though, in solemn silence, all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball;
What though no real voice or sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found;
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
Forever singing, as they shine,
The Hand that made us is Divine!

THE LIVING WATERS.

See-from Zion's sacred mountain
Streams of living-water flow!
God has open'd there-a fountain :
This supplies the plains below.
They are blessed

Who its sov'reign-virtues know.

Through ten thousand channels flowing,
Streams of mercy-find their way;
Life and health and joy bestowing.
They the Savior's love display.
O ye-nations,

Hail the long-expected day!

Gladden'd by the flowing treasure,—
All-enriching as it goes,

Lo! the desert smiles-with pleasure,
Buds and blossoms as the.rose:
Ev'ry object

Sings for joy-where'er it flows.

Trees of life-the banks adorning,-
Yield their fruit to all around.

They who eat-are saved from mourning ;—
Pleasures spring and hopes abound:
Fair their portion!

Endless life with glory crown'd.

THE MORNING DAWNS.

The morning dawns: celestial light
Dispels the gloomy shades of night:
Truth rears her standard once again,
And love,-celestial love, shall reign.

The Heavenly-Sun, the Lord our God,
Beams his refulgent rays abroad:

He comes to bless the humble soul,

And spread his truth-from pole—to pole.

Now nations barb'rous, rude, and blind,
In Jesus shall salvation find:
Idols before his name shall fall,
And he alone be-Lord of all.

Thus-ev'ry land and clime shall hear
The Lord is God,-his name revere;
From sin, and death, and darkness rise,
And join the concert of the skies.