O spirit of the living God, In all Thy plenitude of grace, Where'er the foot of man hath trod, Descend on our apostate race. Give tongues of fire, and hearts of love, To preach the reconciling word; Give power and unction from above, Where'er the joyful sound is heard. Be darkness, at Thy coming, light; Confusion--order, in Thy path; Souls without strength inspire with might, Bid mercy triumph over wrath. O, Spirit of the Lord! prepare All the round earth her God to meet; Breathe Thou abroad like morning air, Till hearts of stone begin to beat. Baptize the nations; far and nigh, The triumphs of the cross record; The name of Jesus glorify, Till every kindred call Him Lord. God from eternity hath willed, All flesh shall His salvation see; So be the Father's love fulfilled, The Saviour's sufferings crowned through Thee. --_James Montgomery._ [Illustration: APPARITION TO THE SHEPHERDS.] THE CLOUDLESS. No shadows yonder! All light and song; Each day I wonder, And say, How long Shall time me sunder From that dear throng? No weeping yonder? All fled away; While here I wander Each weary day, And sigh as I ponder My long, long stay. No partings yonder! Time and space never Again shall sunder; Hearts cannot sever; Dearer and fonder Hands clasp for ever. None wanting yonder, Bought by the Lamb! All gathered under The evergreen palm; Loud as night's thunder Ascends the glad psalm. _--Horatius Bonar._ COMFORT. Hast thou o'er the clear heaven of thy soul Seen tempests roll? Hast thou watched all the hopes thou wouldst have won Fade, one by one? Wait till the clouds are past, then raise thine eyes To bluer skies. Hast thou gone sadly through a dreary night, And found no light, No guide, no star, to cheer thee through the plain, No friend, save pain? Wait, and thy soul shall see, when most forlorn, Rise a new morn. Hast thou beneath another's stern control Bent thy sad soul, And wasted sacred hopes and precious tears? Yet calm thy fears, For thou canst gain, even from the bitterest part, A stronger heart. Has Fate o'erwhelmed thee with some sudden blow? Let thy tears flow; But know when storms are past, the heavens appear More pure, more clear; And hope, when farthest from their shining rays, For brighter days. Hast thou found life a cheat, and worn in vain Its iron chain? Has thy soul bent beneath earth's heavy bond? Look thou beyond; If life is bitter--_there_ forever shine Hopes more divine. Art thou alone, and does thy soul complain It lives in vain? Not vainly does he live who can endure. O be thou sure, That he who hopes and suffers here, can earn A sure return.