To every ear in every land He speaks as He did then. “ Ah wherefore persecute ye me? “ With your own endless woe. “ Know, though at God's right hand I live, “I feel each wound ye reckless give “To the least saint below. “I in your care my brethren left, “Not willing ye should be bereft “Of waiting on your Lord. “ The meanest offering ye can make“A drop of water-for love's sake 8, “ In Heaven, be sure, is stor’d.” O by those gentle tones and dear, Thou only hope of souls, 8 St. Matthew x. 44. VOL. II. I Ne'er let us cast one look behind, What every thought controuls. As to thy last Apostle's heart Zeal's never-dying fire, Intenser blaze and higher. And as each mild and winning note (Like pulses that round harp-strings float, When the full strain is o'er) Left lingering on his inward ear Music, that taught, as death drew near, Love's lesson more and more : So, as we walk our earthly round, Be in our memory stor'd: “ Christians! behold your happy state: “ Christ is in these, who round you wait; “ Make much of your dear Lord !" LXXX. THE PURIFICATION. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. St. Matthew v. 3. BLESS'D are the pure in heart, For they shall see our God, The secret of the Lord is theirs, Their soul is Christ's abode. Might mortal thought presume To guess an angel's lay, The courts of Heaven day. Such the triumphal hymns On Sion's Prince that wait, In high procession passing on Towards His temple-gate. Give ear, ye kings—bow down, Ye rulers of the earthThis, this is He; your Priest by grace, Your God and King by birth. No pomp of earthly guards Attends with sword and spear, And all-defying, dauntless look, Their monarch's way to clear : Yet are there mor: with him youThe armies of the highest Heaven, All righteous, good, and true. Spotless their robes and pure, Dipp'd in the sea of light, From men's and angels' sight. His throne, thy bosom blest, O Mother undefild That throne, if aught beneath the skies. Beseems the sinless child. Lost in high thoughts, “whose son “ The wondrous Babe might prove," Her guileless husband walks beside, Bearing the hallow'd dove; Meet emblem of His vow, Who, on this happy day, Did on God's altar lay. But who is he, by years Bow'd, but erect in heart, Whose prayers are struggling with his tears ? “Lord, let me now depart. “Now hath thy servant seen “Thy saving health, O Lord : “ 'Tis time that I depart in peace, “ According to thy word.” Yet swells the pomp: one more Comes forth to bless her God : Full fourscore years, meek widow, she Her heaven-ward way hath trod. |