Oh! why should bliss depart in haste, And _friendship_ stay to moan? Why the fond passion cling so fast, When every joy is gone? Yet never let our hearts divide, Nor death dissolve the chain; For love and joy were once allied, And must be joined again. _Watts._ Christ had His _friends_--His eye could trace In the long train of coming years, The chosen children of His grace, The full reward of all His tears. These are _friends_, and these are thine, If thou to Him hast bowed the knee; And where these ransomed millions shine Shall thy eternal mansion be. _Anonymous._ In yonder bright clime Christian _friendships_ of earth Shall live through eternity’s day, Shall blossom like plants in the land of their birth, But never to suffer decay. _W. J. Brock._ GAIN. What shall it profit a man, if he shall _gain_ the whole world, and lose his own soul.--Mark, viii. 36. For me to live is Christ, and to die is _gain_.--Philippians, i. 21. But what things were _gain_ to me, those I counted loss for Christ.--Philippians, iii. 7. Godliness with contentment is great _gain_.--I. Timothy, vi. 6. Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get _gain_. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.--James, iv. 13, 14. I left the God of truth and light, I left the God who gave me breath, To wander in the wilds of night, And perish in the snares of death. In riches when I sought for joy, And placed in sordid _gain_ my trust, I found that gold was all alloy, And worldly pleasures fleeting dust. _J. Montgomery._ The Christian knows each cloud of grief Bears impress of his God; That love, he knows, will send relief Which sends the chastening rod. He suffers still:--God doth not spare; But, lo, He soothes his grief!-- The Christian has a cross to bear,-- But has a Christ’s relief! A crown was purchased by his cross, A Paradise by pain; And for His sake, each present loss Shall yield eternal _gain_. _Anon._ No more, my God, I boast no more Of all the duties I have done; I quit the hopes I held before, To trust the merits of Thy Son. Now for the love I bear His name, What was my _gain_ I count my loss; My former pride I call my shame, And nail my glory to His cross. _Watts._ GARDEN--EDEN--GETHSEMANE. And the Lord God planted a _garden_ eastward in _Eden_; and there he put the man whom he had formed.--Genesis, ii. 8.