He dreams he sees a lamp flash bright, But 'tis a gleam of heavenly light That fills up all the ample gloom. The flame, that in a few short years Touch'd he upstarts-his chains unbind- His dizzy, doubting footsteps wind Then all himself, all joy and calm, The pastoral staff, the keys of heaven, LXXXVIII. ST. JAMES'S DAY. Ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. St. Matthew xx. 23. SIT down and take thy fill of joy At God's right hand, a bidden guest, Eat of the bread that cannot waste. O great Apostle ! rightly now Thou readest all thy Saviour meant, "Seek ye to sit enthron'd by me? "This can ye be? and can ye drink "The cup that I in tears must steep, "Nor from the whelming waters shrink "That o'er me roll so dark and deep?" "We can-thine are we, dearest Lord, "In glory and in agony, "To do and suffer all Thy word; "Only be Thou for ever nigh :" "Then be it so-my cup receive, "And of my woes baptismal taste: "But for the crown, that angels weave "For those next me in glory plac'd, "I give it not by partial love; "But in my Father's book are writ "What names on earth shall lowliest prove "That they in Heaven may highest sit." Take up the lesson, O my heart; Thou Lord of meekness, write it there, Thine own meek self to me impart, Thy lofty hope, thy lowly prayer: If ever on the mount with Thee With thoughts of coming agony a Stay Thou the too presumptuous flight: Lead me from Tabor's sunbright steep, Let me not grudge a few short years, With Thee tow'rd Heaven to walk and weep; Too happy, on my silent path, If now and then allow'd, with Thee Thy secret work of love to see; "Come see thy place prepar'd in Heaven." St. Matthew xvii. 12. "Likewise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them." This was just after the transfiguration. LXXXIX. ST. BARTHOLOMEW. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. St. John i. 50. HOLD up thy mirror to the sun, So perfectly the polish'd stone Gives back the glory of his rays: Turn it, and it shall paint as true The soft green of the vernal earth, And each small flower of bashful hue, Our mirror is a blessed book, Where out from each illumin'd page We see one glorious Image look All eyes to dazzle and engage, |