PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
ANOTHER year is numbered with the past,
With all its disappointments, hopes and fears,
And in eternity's deep ocean vast,
Immeasurable, lo! it disappears.
To some it gladness brought—to others tears,—
To some it rang a merry marriage bell,—
To others death and shrouds and gloomy biers
In ghastly march, to which the passing bell
And funeral dirge the while kept time surpassing well. The sage philosophers, with anxious brow,
Which tells of study ardent, long and deep,
As they dive into nature, seeking how
She moves and is, and climb the slippery steep
To proud pre-eminence, whilst still they keep
The longing eye upon some distant star,
As if they grudged the necessary sleep,
Lest other hand should pluck from their tiar
The spangle called renown, so sought for from afar! Warrior and statesman, merchant, prince and king,
With all their glory, craft and sovereignty,
Which in their train so much vexation bring,
In one short year have been by death set free,
If the dark numbness of the grave might be
Called liberation—where, in gloom profound,
Unconscious they await the time when He
Shall bid th' archangel his dread tocsin sound,
Which shall awake from sleep the myriads underground! Then shall the meek, who long have borne the cross,
Unshrinking at and unabashed by scorn,
And counted worldly gain as worthless dross,
Awake to gladness on that glorious morn
With all who from the gospel womb are born,
To greet their Lord triumphant from the skies,
So long expected by the few who mourn
At his long tarrying—but now their eyes
Behold the glorious Sun of Righteousness arise. May we who by the mercy of our God
Have been preserved to see another year,
Be not ashamed to spread the truth abroad,
Undaunted by that kind of slavish fear
Which makes us dread the scorner's laugh and sneer;
But boldly spread Emmanuel's banner free,
That all may see and from our lips may hear
The tidings of redemption, and that we
May gather many souls to serve and worship thee.
[J. F. C.—World's Crisis.]