hy holy name may all these sweet affections blend!
And should the world desert them, Lord, oh, be the world to them,
The song of their rejoicing here, in Heaven the crowning gem;
Thy sacred guidance grant, I pray, o'er life's tempestuous sea,
Awhile a gentle course, and then,--a sheltering port in Thee.

3d mo., 1831. E. P. K.

THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT;

OR, GOD'S PROVIDENCE MAGNIFIED IN THE CARE OF HIS CHOSEN.

When darkness over Egypt reigned,
A darkness to be felt,
Light sweetly shone round Goshen still,
The tents where Israel dwelt.

Awestruck, the Egyptians silent lay,
They rose not from their place;
God's finger had been o'er their land,
And left a fearful trace.

The very idols which they served
A gloom around them threw,
The stream they worshipped turned to blood,
The sun his light withdrew.

But Pharaoh's heart was hardened still,
He let not Israel go
Until Jehovah, King of kings,
Struck the last fearful blow.

The first-born on the kingly throne,
The first-born in the hall,--
God sent his awful mandate forth,
And death passed over all.

No house remained in this proud land
Which mourned not for its dead,
And every street was filled with gloom,
And every heart with dread.

At midnight was the message sent--
It was an awful hour,
Proclaiming man's impotency
And God's eternal power.

The mighty monarch, struck with awe,
Dismissed the people then;
Contending with Omnipotence
He felt indeed was vain.

And how were Israel employed
When light around them shone?
They then prepared the paschal lamb,
And stood with sandals on;

Staves in their hands, loins girded too,
They waited the command
To throw their loosened shackles off,
And seek the promised land.

But first they ate the passover,
And freely sprinkled round
The blood of an unblemished lamb,
In whom no spot was found.

And the destroying angel passed
Harmless o'er every door
Whose side-posts and whose lintels, too,
Faith's striking symbol bore.

Now let us pause and ask our hearts
If we have aught to learn,
If very many teaching things
We cannot here discern?

Is there not "darkness to be _felt_"
In Egypt at this hour?
And does she not refuse to bow
Before Jehovah's power?

And oh! when God's o