ANGELS TO BECKON ME.

December 28.

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels;
and he measured the wall thereof according to the measure of the man—that is, of the
angel.—Revelation 21:12,17.

THE blessedness of angels does not consist in the endowments
of their nature— that they are great in power, light, knowledge
and wisdom ; for notwithstanding these things, many of them
became devils. But the excellency and blessedness of the angelic
state consists in these two things: (1) That they are disposed and
able constantly, inseparably, universally, uninterruptedly, to
cleave unto God in love. And as they do so unto God, so do they
unto the person of Christ; (2) add hereunto that gracious reflex
sense which they have of the glory, dignity, eternal sweetness
and satisfaction which arise therefrom, and we have the sum of
angelic blessedness. .                              —T. Owen, D. D.

When angel hands have gathered
The first ripe fruit for Thee,
Father, Son, and Spirit,
Most holy Trinity.
                    —Ada C. Cross.

Daily, daily sing the praises
Of the city God hath made;
In the angel fields of Eden
Its foundation stones are laid.
From the throne a river issues,
Clear as crystal, passing bright,
And it traverses the city
Like a seraph beam of light.
There the wind is sweetly fragrant.
And is laden with the song
Of the seraphs and the angels
And the great redeemed throng.
Oh, I would my ears were open
Here to catch that happy strain!
Oh, I would my eyes some vision
Of that Eden could attain!
              —S. Baring-Gould.