MARY.

BY REV. C. C. VANARSDALE, D. D.

DEAR name! — a name bless'd both by God and man!
For she whom God honor'd in mercy's great plan,
Through whom all life's glory and hope have been
given, -

She bore that sweet name the selected of Heaven,
Though deeply they err who their worship bestow
On the creature thus chosen, God's goodness to show;
Yet dear is that name-o'er all others the best,
For Mary was mother of Jesus the blest.

And Mary again was the friend of his heart,
Who loved the pure teaching he came to impart ;
How meekly she sat at his feet, and received
Those words which gave life to the soul that believed!
How lowly and gentle the mind she displayed,
As she heard and gladly his lessons obeyed!
"Now Jesus loved Mary" the faithful, the pure —

With love which no wealth of the world can secure.

And Mary again, at the dim dawn of day,

To the tomb of her Lord first hurried away;
And there she stood watching, all bathed in her tears,
Till from Jesus' lips, "Mary," fell on her ears;
That name, perhaps first, which his infant lips spoke,
Again was the first when from death he awoke;
And Mary, the pardon'd, thus cheered by his word,
Was the first to proclaim her yet living Lord.

O thus may all those, who that blessed name bear,
To Jesus in faith and affection repair;

May each of them hear, through the gospel, his voice,
In love saying, "Mary,” and in him rejoice;
Then bearing his cross, and obeying his word,
May they follow, like them, their glorified Lord,
Till, their lives to his service in faithfulness given,
They shall join, at their death, all those Marys in
heaven.