In a _moment_ shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away.--Job, xxxiv. 20. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little _moment_, until the indignation be overpast.--Isaiah, xxvi. 20. _Minutes_ are number’d by the fall of sands, As by an hour-glass; the span of time Doth waste us to our graves and we look on it. An age of pleasures, revell’d out, comes home At last, and ends in sorrow; but the life, Weary of riot, numbers every sand, Waiting in sighs, until the last drop down; So to conclude calamity in rest. _Ford._ Catch, then, O catch the transient hour, Improve each _moment_ as it flies; Life’s a short summer,--man a flower; He dies--alas! how soon he dies! _Dr. Johnson._ Hark! What petty pulses, beating, Spring new _moments_ into light; Every pulse, its stroke repeating, Sends its _moment_ back to night; Yet not one of all the train Comes uncall’d, or flits in vain. In the highest realms of glory Spirits trace, before the throne, On eternal scrolls, the story Of each little _moment_ flown; Every deed, and word, and thought, Through the whole creation wrought. Were the volume of a _minute_ Thus to mortal sight unroll’d, More of sin and sorrow in it, More of man, might we behold, Than on history’s broadest page In the reliques of an age. _James Montgomery._ MORNING. My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the _morning_ will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.--Psalm v. 3. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the _morning_: I say, more than they that watch for the _morning_.--Psalm cxxx. 6. Behold the day, behold it is come: the _morning_ is gone forth.--Ezekial, vii. 10. Seek Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the _morning_, and maketh the day dark with night.--Amos, v. 8. When first thy eyes unveil, give thy soul leave To do the like; our bodies but forerun The spirit’s duty; true hearts spread and heave Unto their God, as flowers do the sun: Give Him thy first thoughts then, so shalt thou keep Him company all day, and in Him sleep. Yet never sleep the sun up; prayer should Dawn with the day, there are set awful hours ’Twixt Heaven and us; the manna was not good After sun-rising, for day sullies flowers. Rise to prevent the sun; sleep doth sins glut, And Heaven’s gate opens when the world’s is shut.