Wild Fancy, peace! thou must not me beguile
With thy false smile :

I know thy flatteries and thy cheating ways;
Be silent, Praise,

Blind guide with siren voice, and blinding all
That hear thy call.

Come, Self-devotion, high and pure,
Thoughts that in thankfulness endure,
Though dearest hopes are faithless found,
And dearest hearts are bursting round.
Come, Resignation, spirit meek,

And let me kiss thy placid cheek,

And read in thy pale eye serene

Their blessing, who by faith can wean
Their hearts from sense, and learn to love

God only, and the joys above.

They say, who know the life divine,

And upward gaze with eagle eyne,

That by each golden crown on high,
Rich with celestial jewelry,

that little coronet or special reward which God hath prepared (extraordinary and besides the great Crown of all faithful souls) for those

I

Which for our Lord's redeem'd is set,
There hangs a radiant coronet,

All gemm'd with pure and living light,
Too dazzling for a sinner's sight,
Prepar'd for virgin souls, and them
Who seek the martyr's diadem.

Nor deem, who to that bliss aspire,
Must win their way through blood and fire.
The writhings of a wounded heart

Are fiercer than a foeman's dart.

Oft in Life's stillest shade reclining,
In Desolation unrepining,

Without a hope on earth to find
A mirror in an answering mind,
Meek souls there are, who little dream
Their daily strife an Angel's theme,
Or that the rod they take so calm
Shall prove in Heaven a martyr's palm.

And there are souls that seem to dwell

Above this earth-so rich a spell

"who have not defiled themselves with women, but follow the (virgin) Lamb for ever." Bp. Taylor, Holy Living, c. xi. sect. 3.

Floats round their steps, where'er they move,

From hopes fulfill'd and mutual love.

Such, if on high their thoughts are set,
Nor in the stream the source forget,
If prompt to quit the bliss they know,
Following the Lamb where'er he go,
By purest pleasures unbeguil'd
To idolize or wife or child;

Such wedded souls our God shall own
For faultless virgins round his throne.

Thus every where we find our suffering God,
And where He trod

May set our steps: the Cross on Calvary
Uplifted high

Beams on the martyr host, a beacon light
In open fight.

To the still wrestlings of the lonely heart
He doth impart

The virtue of His midnight agony,

When none was nigh,

Save God and one good angel, to assuage
The tempest's rage.

Mortal! if life smile on thee, and thou find

All to thy mind,

Think, who did once from Heaven to Hell descend
Thee to befriend;

So shalt thou dare forego, at His dear call,
Thy best, thine all.

“O Father! not my will, but thine be done”So spake the Son.

Be this our charm, mellowing Earth's ruder noise
Of griefs and joys;

That we may cling for ever to thy breast
In perfect rest!

THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER.

At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee, for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Daniel ix. 23.

66

"O HOLY mountain of my God,
"How do thy towers in ruin lie,
"How art thou riven and strewn abroad,
"Under the rude and wasteful sky!"

"Twas thus upon his fasting-day

The "Man of Loves" was fain to pray,

His lattice open' toward his darling west, Mourning the ruin'd home he still must love the best.

Oh for a love like Daniel's now,

To wing to Heaven but one strong prayer

f Daniel vi. 10.