Till every limb obey the mounting soul, The mounting soul, the call by Jesus given. He who the stormy heart can so control The laggard body soon will waft to heaven. LXXIV. TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. The heart knoweth his own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. Proverbs xiv. 10. WHY should we faint and fear to live alone, Since all alone, so Heaven has will'd, we die a, Nor even the tenderest heart, and next our own, Knows half the reasons why we smile and sigh? Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woe Our hermit spirits dwell, and range apart, Our eyes see all around in gloom or glow Hues of their own, fresh borrow'd from the heart. And well it is for us our GOD should feel Alone our secret throbbings: so our prayer May readier spring to Heaven, nor spend its zeal a Je mourrai seul. Pascal. For if one heart in perfect sympathy Beat with another, answering love for love, Weak mortals, all entranc'd, on earth would lie, Nor listen for those purer strains above. Or what if Heaven for once its searching light The rude bad thoughts, that in our bosom's night Who would not shun the dreary uncouth place? So might we friendless live, and die unwept. Then keep the softening veil in mercy drawn, Thou who canst love us, tho' Thou read us true; As on the bosom of th' aerial lawn Melts in dim haze each coarse ungentle hue. So too may soothing Hope thy leave enjoy Sweet visions of long sever'd hearts to frame: Though absence may impair, or cares annoy, Some constant mind may draw us still the same. We in dark dreams are tossing to and fro, Pine with regret, or sicken with despair, The while she bathes us in her own chaste glow, O bliss of child-like innocence, and love Bright are their dreams, because their thoughts are clear, Their memory cheering: but th' earth-stained spright, Whose wakeful musings are of guilt and fear, Must hover nearer earth, and less in light. Farewell, for her, th' ideal scenes so fair Yet not farewell her hope, since Thou hast deign'd, Creator of all hearts! to own and share The woe of what Thou mad'st, and we have stain'd. Thou know'st our bitterness-our joys are thine b b Psalm xxxi. 8. Thou hast known my soul in adversities. |