The Light, the Way, and the Truth.

Lord, who art the Light, the Way, the Truth, the Life; in whom there is no darkness, error, vanity, nor death; the Light, without which is darkness; the Way, without which there is wandering; the Truth, without which there is error; the Life, without which there is death; say, Lord, let there be light, and I shall see light, and eschew darkness; I shall see the way, and avoid wandering; I shall see truth, and shun error; I shall see life, and escape death; illuminate, Oh, illuminate my blind soul, which sitteth in darkness and the shadow of death; and direct my feet in the way of peace.

SAINT AUGUSTINE.

Royal Dominion of Christ.

E, the Father infinite,

Turning, addressed Messiah, where he sat
Exalted gloriously, at His right hand.
This day belongs to Justice, and to Thee,
Eternal Son! Thy right for service done

Abundantly fulfilling all my will;
By promise Thine, from all eternity,
Made in the ancient Covenant of Grace;
And Thine, as most befitting, since in Thee
Divine and human meet, impartial Judge,
Consulting thus the interests of both.
Go then, my Son, divine similitude!
Image express, of Deity unseen!

The book of my remembrance take; and take
The golden crowns of life, due to the saints;
Thy armor take; gird on thy sword, thy sword
Of justice ultimate, reserved, till now
Unsheathed, in the eternal armory;
And mount the living chariot of God.
Thou goest not now, as once to Calvary,

To be insulted, buffeted, and slain;

Thou goest not now with battle, and the voice
Of war, as once against the rebel hosts:

Thou goest a Judge, and find'st the guilty bound:
Thou goest to prove, condemn, acquit, reward;
Not unaccompanied; all these, my saints.
Go with Thee, glorious retinue! to sing
Thy triumph, and participate Thy joy;
And I, the Omnipresent with Thee go;
And with Thee, all the glory of my throne.

And all His saints, and all His angel bands,
As, glorious, they on high ascended, sung
Glory to God, and to the Lamb! they sung
Messiah fairer than the sons of men,
And altogether lovely. "Grace is poured
Into Thy lips, above all measure poured;
And therefore God hath blessed Thee evermore.
Gird, gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Thou
Most Mighty! with Thy glory ride; with all
Thy majesty, ride prosperously, because

Of meekness, truth, and righteousness. Thy throne,
O God, forever and forever stands:

The sceptre of Thy kingdom still is right;
Therefore hath God, Thy God, anointed Thee,
With oil of gladness, and perfumes of myrrh,

Out of the ivory palaces, above

Thy fellows, crowned the Prince of Endless Peace." Thus sung they God, their Saviour; and themselves, Prepared complete to enter now with Christ,

Their living Head, into the Holy Place.

Pollock's "Course of Time."

John.

Emerald.

Refreshing Light.

"Because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth." HE EMERALD or smaragdus is the precious stone of the fourth foundation of the Celestial City, where it is sealed with the name of John. Among all the precious minerals there is none other so grateful to the sight as the emerald, for its intense and admirable greenness, entirely free from the admixture of either yellow or blue, and likewise for its pellucid clearness. To the wearied eye there is no color so refreshing or salutary as pure grass-green. When satiated with the gaudy beauties of the gay parterre, gladly do we turn for relief to the cool verdure of the lawn. The emerald, by its delightful color and brightness, seems to suggest its own interpretation-REFRESHING LIGHT. In value it ranks nearly as high as the diamond, and it was considered as one of the choicest exports of ancient Tyre. It used to be worn as an amulet and prized as a remedy for epilepsy. Not an inapt symbol is