Are your affections more divine? 
  Do you in Jesus’ image shine? 
  More dead unto the world and sin,
  Than when you did the year begin? 
  If fraught with truth our moments are,
  And swift to heaven the tidings bear;
  How should we weigh each act and word,
  And wisely think, for thoughts are heard! 
  At this important period pause,
  And unto God commit your cause;
  With firm resolve and earnest prayer,
  To meet Him in the clouds, prepare. 
  Him first, Him last, in all things own,
  Whose wisdom guides in paths unknown;
  Then, as the winged hours ascend,
  Shall blessings fall upon my friend;
  Till, full of years, matured you rise
  To claim your birthright in the skies.”

X.

WORKS OF MERCY.

  “I DESIRED MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE.”—­Hosea vi. 6.

Mercy is the brightness of the glory of God;—­the rainbow round about the throne; wherein the pure light of Deity, too effulgent for the eye of sinful man, is refracted, and presented under an aspect, which not only reveals his manifold wisdom, and perfections, but blends them in one bright manifestation of beauty, which even sinners may dare to contemplate, with wonder, admiration and love.  Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the picture, being the brightness of the Father’s glory, full of grace and truth.  While He enters the lowly abodes of humanity, to contemplate its sorrows, and minister to its relief; the dazzling effulgence of divine majesty is veiled under a covering of flesh.  Nevertheless, it is GOD who weeps with Martha, and Mary; who wipes away the widow’s tear, and speaks words of comfort to the outcast.  Incomprehensible Mystery!  It is GOD incarnate, who suffers and dies upon the cross to purchase life for His enemies.  What a picture is this!  So far as it is capable of being reproduced, God loves to see it revived in His children; and never does a man become more truly great, or more faithfully represent his Master, than when, “putting on bowels of mercies,” he seeks by every means to alleviate the sorrows and sufferings of his fellows.  “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”  At this period, Mrs. Lyth’s journal abounds with instances of her benevolent exertions, but a few of which we can transfer to these pages; yet they are ever recorded with an humble consciousness of her own unworthiness.  She proceeds:—­

“I want to improve all my moments for God, but, on reviewing the past, I find I need everywhere the blood of sprinkling.  I am Thine, save me.  I feel Christ is precious now.  He has my whole heart, yet I want an increase of every grace, especially of patience, and meekness.—­I feel my own poverty is great; be it so, let me only receive more largely out of Thy fulness.  Humble, O humble me to the dust, but let Thy image shine in me.  While I write I am awed by the presence of