O! how unlike this world below, Where all is blight, and death, and wo! Where night, _dark night_, eternal reigns, And grief in every house complains! There, far above created height, Reigns the dear Son of God's delight; A man of sorrows once--but now A God to whom archangels bow. A shoreless sea of heavenly beams Around his sacred person gleams; By merit raised, by virtue tried, Exalted at his Father's side. An emerald bow his head adorns, That blessed head once crowned with thorns! His feet like burning gold; his face A sun of glory and of grace. Robes whiter than unfallen snow Down to his feet divinely flow, Unstained with blood.--Before him now No murderous priests reviling bow. Around his waist a golden zone Proclaims his title to the throne; And in his hands, with sceptre graced, The keys of death and hell are placed. There dwell creation's elder sons, Those high, those blessed, those holy ones, Who, when this earth from chaos rolled, Exulting struck their harps of gold. In their exalted spheres, divine, Like suns they move, like suns they shine; And other lights, though glorious, seem Lost in the radiance of their beam. Nearest the sacred throne they sing, And strike the sweetest, loudest string; Thus eminent above the rest, They lead the concert of the blessed. There dwell the ransomed of the Lord, Who loved to keep his holy word; Washed in his blood from every stain, With him eternally they reign. They loved him here, and all his ways, They loved to speak his name in praise, They loved to do his righteous will, And all his purposes fulfil. And now, supremely blest above, Encircled in his arms of love, He wipes the tear from every face, And crowns the children of his grace. All grief is past, they sigh no more, But live to worship and adore; Around that blissful world they rove, Amid the smiles of deathless love. Roll on, Eternity, thy years, Around the vast celestial spheres! Thou bringst no change but new delight, And scenes of joy forever bright. AN APPEAL TO CHRISTIANS IN BEHALF OF STATE PRISONERS. (_Extract from a Sermon._) "COME OVER INTO MACEDONIA AND HELP US." Acts xvi. 9.