EVENING HYMN. Now from the altar of my heart Let incense flames arise; Man's life's a book of history; This day God was my sun and shield, His care was on my frailty shown, Minutes and mercies multiplied Minutes came quick; but mercies were Till I should praise thee as I would, J. MASON. (1690.) THE SABBATH. BY MARY ANNE BROWNE, IN HER FIFTEENTH YEAR. Are calling us to prayer; Their sound floats over hills and dells, Now swelling with the swelling breeze; Now ceasing, as its murmurs cease. They tell us 'tis the time To seek for heavenly love To cleanse the heart from guilt and crime, They warn us on this holy day To cast our earthly thoughts away. It is the day to rest, To quit our earthly things,- It is the day to weep- The time the strictest watch to keep It is the day of grace,― It is the time to smile, To thank the Lord, who thus would bless, It is the time to love, To know each tie is dearer,- For what is sweeter on this day, Than, with the hearts we love, to pray? It is the time to hope,- And oft, upon this day, I've heard the Sabbath bell One in his narrow cell To moulder in his native dust, Our Sabbaths here are short: And make them the divine support To lead us up to heaven! For blessed souls by praise and prayer Make an eternal Sabbath there. London: R. Needham, Printer, 1, Belle-Sauvage-Yard, Ludgate-Hill, THE monastery of Oliva is situated in the vicinity of Oliva, a small sea-port town in Pomerania, on the southern coast of the Baltic, some eight or ten miles to the northwest of Dantzick. The engraving will show the situation to have been secluded, rural, and pleasant, resembling, in these respects, those which were generally selected for establishments of a similar character. It was founded in the twelfth century for Monks of the Cistercian order, and was richly endowed by several Sovereigns of Poland, within whose dominions it was for a long time included, who likewise conferred upon it many privileges and immunities. The church belonging to the convent is remarkably splendid and magnificent, having forty altars, which are all embellished with the richest ornaments. It has also several chapels, among which that of the Blessed Virgin is the most superb. Its splendid endowments, however, have not prevented it from sharing largely in the intestine commotions of the country to which it belonged. It has been demolished no less than seven times. The principal of these was in 1576, when Stephen Batori, Prince of Transylvania, having been elected King of Poland, the inhabitants of Dantzic, who were in favour of a Prince of the Austrian family, refused to submit.. Stephen marched against them; and having ravaged some of the land belonging to the magistrates of the city, they retaliated by VOL. III. Second Series. L |