"To you, in David's town this day, The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, "The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view display'd, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, Thus spake the Seraph; and forthwith "All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace; Good will henceforth from Heaven to men Begin, and never cease!" HYMN. THROUGH all the changing scenes of life, In trouble and in joy, The praises of my God shall still The hosts of God encamp around Who on His succour trust. Oh, make but trial of His love, How blest are they, and only they, Who in His truth confide. Fear Him, ye saints, and you will then Make you His service your delight, For God preserves the souls of those His blessings shall descend. PSALM XLII. As pants the hart for cooling streams, So longs my soul, O God for Thee, For Thee, my God, the living God, Why restless, why cast down, my soul? His aid for thee, and change these sighs God of my strength, how long shall I, My heart is pierced, as with a sword, "Vain boaster, where is now thy God? Why restless, why cast down, my soul? FROM PSALM XCV. OH Come, loud anthems let us sing, FROM PSALM C. WITH One consent let all the earth For He's the Lord supremely good, His truth, which all times firmly stood, FROM PSALM CIV. BLESS God, my soul! Thou, Lord, alone With light Thou dost Thyself enrobe, God builds on limpid air, and forms The clouds His chariots are, and storms The swift-winged steeds with which he flies. As bright as flame, as swift as wind, All proud to serve their Sovereign's will. The various troops of sea and land All wait on Thy dispensing hand, Thus through successive ages stands, SELECTIONS FROM PSALMS. Untimely grave. - Psalm vii. And though He promise to his loss, The sweet remembrance of the just Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust. -Psalm cxii. SELECTION FROM AN ESSAY FOR PROMOTING PSALMODY. O QUEEN of Sacred Harmony, How powerful are thy charms! Care shuns thy walks, Fear kindles with courage, What! Shall stage syrens sing and Psalmody sleep? Shall thy votaries abroad find heart and voice To sing in the fiery furnace of persecution, Upon the waters of affliction, And our Britons sit sullenly silent NICHOLAS ROWE. Born at Little Beckford, Bedfordshire, in 1674. Made laureate in 1715. in 1718. Died (Reign of George I.) In TATE'S successor was a far better poet, and he was also a more prosperous and happy man. was not due to the gift of the laurel, for he wore it only three His happiness, however, short years. Rowe belonged to a good family, and his advent into the world brought great joy to affectionate parents. the garden adjoining the house where he was born there has been erected a stone to his memory. The boy was clever and fond of books, and won distinction at Westminster School, where Dr. Busby of birchen fame alternately abused and praised his pupils. At sixteen, when Rowe entered the Middle Temple, he plunged with zest into the study of law, but general literature soon proved so alluring and he showed such taste and intellectual superiority in its study, that law soon lost its hold upon him. Then, as always afterward, he showed especial skill in foreign languages. His knowledge was profound and thorough, and this knowledge not only improved his taste and made him a good translator, but was of great service to him as an original worker in the field of dramatic art. The death of Rowe's father made him not only independent, but wealthy, and he soon gave up his brilliant prospects of fame as a lawyer for the more uncertain rewards of literature. At the age of twenty-five. he entered into competition with the brilliant circle of dramatists in London, by publishing a play called "The Ambitious Stepmother. In this we see a great advance upon the work of any dramatist since the death of Davenant. The sentiment of this play is noble and dignified, its moral influence good, while the language is refined and has much grace and beauty. Congreve praised it, and Betterton, Mrs. Barry, and Mrs. Bracegirdle were enthusiastic actors of it. Thus Rowe stepped at once into a successful career. handsome face and figure, his vivacious talk, his charming Rowe's manners soon won him many friends, not only among men of |