Beyond this vale of tears There is a life above, Unmeasured by the flight of years; And all that life is love. There is a death whose pang Outlasts the fleeting breath: Oh, what eternal horrors hang Around the second death! Lord God of truth and grace, Teach us that death to shun, Lest we be banished from Thy face, And evermore undone. Here would we end our quest; Alone are found in Thee, The life of perfect love,--the rest Of immortality. --_James Montgomery._ Gracious Spirit, Love divine! Let Thy light within me shine; All my guilty fears remove, Fill me full of heaven and love. Speak Thy pardoning grace to me, Set the burdened sinner free; Lead me to the Lamb of God, Wash me in His precious blood. Life and peace to me impart, Seal salvation on my heart; Breathe Thyself into my breast,-- Earnest of immortal rest. Let me never from Thee stray, Keep me in the narrow way; Fill my soul with love divine, Keep me, Lord, forever Thine. --_Stocker._ ST. AGNES' EVE. Deep on the convent roof the snows Are sparkling to the moon: My breath to heaven like vapor goes: May my soul follow soon! The shadows of the convent-towers Slant down the snowy sward, Still creeping with the creeping hours That lead me to my Lord: Make Thou my spirit pure and clear As are the frosty skies, Or this first snowdrop of the year That in my bosom lies. As these white robes are soil'd and dark, To yonder shining ground; As this pale taper's earthly spark, To yonder argent round; So shows my soul before the Lamb, My spirit before Thee; So in mine earthly house I am, To that I hope to be. Break up the heavens, O Lord! and far, Thro' all yon starlight keen, Draw me, Thy bride, a glittering star, In raiment white and clean. He lifts me to the golden doors; The flashes come and go; All heaven bursts her starry floors, And strews her lights below, And deepens on and up! the gates Roll back, and far within For me the Heavenly Bridegroom waits, To make me pure of sin. The sabbaths of Eternity, One sabbath deep and wide-- A light upon the shining sea-- The Bridegroom with His bride! --_Alfred Tennyson._ LIFE AND DEATH. "What is life, father?" "A Battle, my child, Where the strongest lance may fail, Where the wariest eyes may be beguiled, And the stoutest heart may quail. Where the foes are gathered on every hand, And rest not day or night, And the feeble little ones must stand In the thickest of the fight." "What is Death, father?" "The rest, my child, When the strife and toil are o'er; The angel of God, who, calm and mild, Says we need fight no more; Who, driving away the demon band, Bids the din of the battle cease; Takes banner and spear from our failing hand, And proclaims an eternal peace."