LV. "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you." St. John, xiv. 27. NoT as the world gives, givest Thou, indeed, A hollow love that fails us in our need Wrong judgments mockery when our bosoms bleed These are the presents which the world supplies O Lord of love and life, and inner joy, Thy gifts are different, sure a gentle ray That makes the heart more lightsome every day, A faithfulness no wrongs of ours destroy, A thousand pleasures, innocent and coy, - Forgiveness when we err, and guidance when we stray. LVI. "Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." 2 Corinthians, iii. 17. I HEARD a child, on a fair summer day, The mother answered gently "The good God The green leaves twinkled; and the brooklet gay Light clouds roved free o'er Heaven's fields of blue; for me Said but these happy words "Be free, be free, LVII. "Eyes to the blind." Job, xxix. 15. Он, joy it is when we our mission find, How else appease the thirst of soul and mind Remorse which most doth wait on wasted powers The rankling nothingness of trifled hours And thwarted aims? Feel'st thou that thou art blind? Go unto Nature. Beauty, Joy, and Use, Are severed but in man's philosophy. The rose does more than feed the honey bee ; In Christ Creation's eye- thy filmy sight, And thou on earth shalt choose thy place aright. LVIII. "I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities." 2 Corinthians, xi. 30. HE, who did boast his own infirmities As his best right, in this my rule shall be; For whom Thou didst Thy Father's bosom leave, The more my depths lie open to my ken, When most I grieve, Most let me triumph in a joy divine, LIX. "At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore." Psalm xvi. 11. WITHOUT the smile of God upon the soul But a ray Upon this darkness suddenly may dart, And Christ's dear love be poured into the heart Then doth the morning cheer, the night hath calm, LX. "Fire and hail, snow and vapours - stormy wind fulfilling his word." Psalm cxlviii. 8. THERE are who deem the earthquake and the storm Fulfilments of that dread mysterious curse, Which God inflicted on the universe When man from angel drooped into a worm : And hark! a festive voice is everywhere LXI. "He taught them as one having authority." St. Matthew, vii. 29. THE written Word is needful! What were man More than a coil of sand that billows twist, Leaving brief chronicle where last they ran. The need... By more than eloquence enticed, Who had from heaven no written record won.* LXII. "As gods, knowing good and evil." Genesis, iii. 5. EVIL! thou art a necessary good Fountain of Individualities, Great tenure, thou, of all existences That are not God. . . If rightly understood, No! We our souls divinely must transmute Into the loftier ways of Providence! *See Layard's Nineveh. |