COMPENSATION TO THE SLAVE.*

BY MRS. ABDY.

YES, wisely and well has our senate decided,
And the deed shall a gem in its diadem stand;
By mercy and justice its counsels were guided,
And slavery's moanings have ceased in the land.

But though Providence thus has your fiat directed,
One proof of additional zeal I would crave;
Your care has the rights of the master protected,
Oh! let compensation extend to the slave!

Yet, what for his ills can afford reparation,
His spirits restore, or his vigour renew ?
Golconda's vast wealth were a poor compensation,
Too trivial a boon were the mines of Peru.

Oh! give him the records of light and of gladness,
The "pearl of great price" for his portion decree;
There show him we all were in bondage and sadness,

Till by Christ's precious blood we were ransomed and free.

[trition,

Ye have wronged him—ye think on those wrongs with con-
Like Zaccheus, a fourfold requital bestow;
Send the faithful and good on a merciful mission,

And teach him the ways of salvation to know.

* Suggested by a Speech of the Rev. H. Stowell's, at the Church Missionary Meeting.

This, this shall be lasting and true compensation,
More pure than the ransom that lately ye gave;
For the Saviour shall speak through his blest revelation,
Glad tidings of freedom and peace to the slave.

THE MONTHLY PRAYER-MEETING
FOR MISSIONS.

BY JOSIAH CONDER.

COME to the house of prayer. It is the night
When, by a compact sweeter than command,
Their mutual prayers throughout this happy land
The scattered family of Christ unite:
Nor here alone observed the simple rite;

In western climes prolonged, by many a band
In busy town, lone wild, or coral strand;
Where'er the Gospel shines, a beacon light,
Taught by one Spirit, all their prayers agree.

This night, the self-exiled for Christ can dare Dwell on dear friends he ne'er again may see:

The thought is balm, that on their hearts they bear His name, while blending thus in harmony

The vows of faith.

Come to the house of

prayer.

ON THE MISSIONS OF

THE UNITED BRETHREN;

COMPOSED ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOCAL ASSOCIATION

IN AID OF THOSE ANCIENT AND EXCELLENT MISSIONS.

BY T. GRINFIELD, M.A.

Not long a century yet hath roll'd,*
Since the first missionary band
Went forth, in Christian meekness bold,
To war with Satan in his land.

Of all the deeds that century knew,

What lovelier shines in memory's page?

What enterprise can time review,
Nobler, since apostolic age?

Till then, o'er many a pagan coast
No heavenly ray the darkness broke;

All Europe slept;-no sacred host

Yet, at the Spirit's call, awoke.

*The first Moravian Mission was undertaken among the negro slaves in the Danish West India Islands, in 1732; the next, among the Greenlanders, in the following year.

M

At last Messiah's farewell charge,
Neglected, oh, too long! was heard —
Dawn of millennial day,―at large

O'er the dark earth to preach his word.

Who were those first of men to claim,
That first of human honours, who?
UNITED BRETHREN was the name,

So dear to Christ,* to them so due.

Not injur❜d Afric's utmost cape,

Nor stern ice-girded Labrador,

Their love's unwearied search escape :

:

They brave th' extremes of either shore.

Joyous to make their Saviour known,

They feel his presence in the soul,
A shade beneath the burning zone,
A shelter at the frozen pole.+

Horror around them learns to smile;
The desert blossoms with the rose;
And task-worn negroes, blest the while,
Echo sweet hymns to Esquimaux.

While war the blood of nations shed,

And bade the name of Brethren cease,
'Twas theirs o'er savage tribes to spread
Thy balmy banner, Prince of peace!

While slavery o'er the Atlantic wave
Unpitying bore her human spoil;
They rais'd a freeman from the slave,

And turn'd to triumph tears and toil.

John xvii. 21, "That they all may be ONE!" + Isa. xxxii. 2.

Hath wisdom plann'd, or fancy dream'd,

Aught worthier man's attempt than this?
Myriads, from guilty wo redeem'd,

Peopling eternity with bliss!

Then, Christian, help this veteran train,
Van of the missionary host;

Who fought through many a hard campaign,
When all were slumbering at their post!

They sink, o'erpower'd;—they quit the field,—
Unless we, rallying, bring them aid :

To mercy's sacred impulse yield!
Let old neglect in part be paid!

'Tis heaven that asks it!-they are dumb;
Not obvious, not obtrusive they:
"Tis conscience calls thee:-pause not, come!
The seed will rise another day.

Thou dwell'st in ease; the preachers toil!
In light; the pagans pine in gloom!
Think, will thy death-bed lose a smile?
Think, will it mar thine endless doom?

We do to Christ whate'er we do

In love to those he died to save:

Turn, while thou canst, false wealth to true!
Secure thee friends beyond the grave!*

* See Luke xvi. 9, 11, "Make to yourselves friends," &c.

Clifton, 5th of February, 1835.