VIGIL OF EASTER-EVE.

R

ESTING from His work to-day,

In the tomb the Saviour lay,

His sacred form from head to feet

Swathed in the winding-sheet.
Lying in the rock alone,
Hid behind the sealed stone.

All that seventh day long I ween
Mournful watch'd the Magdalene,
Rising early, resting late,
By the sepulchre to wait,

In the holy garden glade,

Where her buried Lord was laid.

So, as clos'd the Sabbath night,
In Goshen watch'd the Israelite,
Staff in hand, in pilgrim guise,
By the slaughter'd sacrifice,
Waiting till the midnight cry
Signal gave that God was nigh.

So with Thee, till life shall end,
I would solemn vigil spend ;
Let me hew Thee, Lord, a shrine
In this rocky heart of mine,
Where in pure embalmed cell
None but Thou mayst ever dwell.

Still with Thee their Sabbath keep They who 'neath the altar sleep; Scarce a day perchance doth seem The time of their unbodied dream, 'Twixt their rest from labor past And their waking at the last.

Then, the new creation done,
Shall be the endless rest begun.
Jesu keep me safe from sin,
That I with Thee may enter in,
And danger past, and toil at end,
To Thy resting-place ascend.

A

Hearts to heaven and voices raise; Sing to God a hymn of gladness, Sing to God a hymn of praise. He who on the cross a victim For the world's salvation bled, Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, Now is risen from the dead.

Now the iron bars are broken,
Christ from death to life is born,

Glorious life, and life immortal,

On this holy Easter morn :
Christ has triumphed, and we conquer

By His mighty enterprise,

We with Christ to life eternal

By His resurrection rise.

Christ is risen, Christ, the first-fruits

Of the holy harvest-field,

Which will all its full abundance

At His second coming yield;

Then the golden ears of harvest
Will their heads before Him wave,
Ripened by His glorious sunshine,
From the furrows of the grave.

Christ is risen, we are risen:

Shed upon us heavenly grace, Rain, and dew, and gleams of glory, From the brightness of Thy face, That we, Lord, with hearts in heaven, Here on earth may fruitful be, And by angel-hands be gathered, And be ever safe with Thee.

Alleluia! Alleluia !

Glory be to God on high,
To the Father, and the Saviour,

Who has gained the victory;

Glory to the Holy Spirit,

Fount of love and sanctity. Alleluia! Alleluia !

To the Triune Majesty !

EASTER DAY.

PATHWAY opens from the tomb,
The grave's a grave no more!

:

Stoop down look into that sweet room: Pass through the unsealed door :

Linger a moment by the bed,

Where lay but yesterday the Church's Head.

What is there there to make thee fear?

A folded chamber-vest,

Akin to that which thou shalt wear,

When for thy slumber drest:

Two gentle angels sitting by

How sweet a room, methinks, wherein to lie!

No gloomy vault, no charnel cell,

No emblems of decay,

No solemn sound of passing bell,

To "He's gone away;
say,

But angel-whispers soft and clear,

And He, the risen Jesus, standing near.

"Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou ?”

'Tis not the gardener's voice,