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 Abundantly fulfilling all my will; The book of my remembrance take; and take To be insulted, buffeted, and slain; Thou goest not now with battle, and the voice Thou goest a Judge, and find'st the guilty bound: And all His saints, and all His angel bands, Of meekness, truth, and righteousness. Thy throne, The sceptre of Thy kingdom still is right; 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 |