Even so, who loves the Lord aright, No soul of man can worthless find; All will be precious in his sight, Since Christ on all hath shin'd· But chiefly Christian souls; for they, Though worn and soil'd with sinful clay, Are yet, to eyes that see them true, All glistening with baptismal dew. Then marvel not, if such as bask If they who hate the trespass most, Yet, when all other love is lost, Love the poor sinner, marvel not; Christ's mark outwears the rankest blot. No distance breaks the tie of blood; Brothers are brothers evermore; Nor wrong, nor wrath of deadliest mood, That magic may o'erpower; Oft, ere the common source be known, The kindred drops will claim their own, And throbbing pulses silently Move heart towards heart by sympathy. So is it with true Christian hearts; Their mutual share in Jesus' blood An everlasting bond imparts Of holiest brotherhood: when Oh! might we all our lineage prove, By soft endearments in kind strife There is much need: for not as yet Are we in shelter or repose, The holy house is still beset With leaguer of stern foes; Wild thoughts within, bad men without, Are banded in unblest device, Then draw we nearer day by day, We must not change our road; Not wondering, though in grief, to find THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. St. Luke xv. 10. O HATEFUL spell of Sin! when friends are nigh, To make stern Memory tell her tale unsought, And raise accusing shades of hours gone by, To come between us and all kindly thought! Chill'd at her touch, the self-reproaching soul In vain the averted cheek in loneliest dell Nor is the dream untrue: for all around The heavens are watching with their thousand eyes, We cannot pass our guardian angel's bound, Resign'd or sullen, he will hear our sighs. He in the mazes of the budding wood Is near; and mourns to see our thankless glance Dwell coldly, where the fresh green earth is strew'd With the first flowers that lead the vernal dance. In wasteful bounty shower'd, they smile unseen; To' adore the Father of all gentle lights?? If such there be; O grief and shame to think Of endless life, yet wrapt in earth's annoy! O turn, and be thou turn'd! the selfish tear, The turbid waters brightening as they run. all Let it flow on; till at thine earthly heart has In penitential drops have ebb'd away; Then fearless turn where Heaven hath set thy part, O lost and found! all gentle souls below Who learn their lesson at the Throne of Love. |