THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. St. Luke x. 23, 24. ON Sinai's top, in prayer and trance, Fasting he watch'd and all alone, Wrapt in a still, dark, solid cloud, The curtain of the Holy One Drawn round him like a shroud: So, separate from the world, his breast There one by one his spirit saw, Of things divine the shadows bright, Through gold and gems, a dazzling maze, And ended, where unearthly rays Yet not that gorgeous place, nor aught Could half appease his craving thought; "Shew me thy glory, gracious Lord! ""Tis Thee," he cries, "not thine, I seek'." k See that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. Hebrews viii. 5. i Exodus xxxiii. 18. Nay, start not at so bold a word The spark of his first deathless fire The eye in smiles may wander round, Caught by earth's shadows as they fleet; But for the soul no help is found, Save Him, who made it, meet. Spite of yourselves, ye witness this ", This witness bore the saints of old When highest rapt and favour'd most, Still seeking precious things untold, m Pensees de Pascal, part 1. art. viii. Canaan was theirs, and in it all The proudest hope of kings dare claim; Fire from Jehovah came. Yet monarchs walk'd as pilgrims still In their own land, earth's pride and grace; And seers would mourn on Sion's hill Their Lord's averted face. Vainly they tried the deeps to sound But He their aching gaze repress'd For not without us fully bless'd" The rays of the Almighty's face No sinner's eye might then receive; n Hebrews xi. 40. That they without us should not be made perfect. Only the meekest man found grace But we as in a glass espy The glory of His countenance, Not in a whirlwind hurrying by The too presumptuous glance, But with mild radiance every hour, From our dear Saviour's face benign Bent on us with transforming power, Till we, too, faintly shine. Sprinkled with His atoning blood Bless'd eyes, which see the things we see! Beheld, and not belov'd.. • Exod. xxxiii. 20-23. |