O, ’tis one scene of parting here, Love’s watchword is farewell! And almost starts the following tear, Ere dried the last that fell! ’Tis but to feel that one most dear Is needful to the heart, And straight a voice is muttering near, Imperious, Ye must part! But happiest he, whose gifted eye Above this world can see, And those diviner realms descry, Where partings cannot be; Who, with One changeless Friend on high, Life’s various path has trod, And soars to _meet_, beyond the sky, The ransomed and their God. _Townshend._ Oh, what an all-glorious _meeting_, In yonder bright world we shall know; When glorified spirits are greeting The friends they left mourning below. Earth’s friendships renewed shall then heighten The loud-rolling anthem of praise; While each happy spirit shall brighten At the feet of the ancient of days. _W. J. Brock._ MERCY. All the paths of the Lord are _mercy_ and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.--Psalm xxv. 10. The Lord is good to all: and His tender _mercies_ are over all His works.--Psalm cxlv. 9. He that hath _mercy_ on the poor, happy is he.--Proverbs, xiv. 21. Blessed are the _merciful_: for they shall obtain _mercy_.--Matthew, v. 7. Be ye therefore _merciful_, as your Father also is _merciful_.--Luke, vi. 36. Ye Sacred Writings! in whose antique leaves, The wondrous deeds of heaven recorded lie, Say what might be the cause, that _mercy_ heaves The dust of sin above the starry sky, And lets it not to dust and ashes fly? Could Justice be of sin so over-woo’d, Or so great ill be cause of so great good, That, bloody man to save, man’s Saviour shed his blood. Here, when the ruin of that beauteous frame, Whose golden building shin’d with every star Of excellence, deform’d with sin became; _Mercy_ rememb’ring peace in midst of war, Lift up the music of her voice to bar Eternal fate, lest it should quite erase That from the world, which was the first world’s grace. And all again into their nothing--chaos--chase. _Giles Fletcher._ Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; And He that might the vantage best have took, Found out the remedy. How would you be, If He which is the top of judgment, should But judge you, as you are? O, think on that! And _mercy_ then will breathe within your lips, Like men new made. _Shakspere._ It is an attribute of God himself, And earthly power doth then show liker God’s, When _mercy_ seasons justice. _Shakspere._