He sees them all ; and earth's dull bounds

Are melting fast away.

He sees them all-no other view
Could stamp the Saviour's likeness true,
Or with his love so deep embrue

Man's sullen heart and gross“ Jesu, do Thou my soul receive : “ Jesu, do Thou my foes forgive :" He who would learn that prayer, must live

Under the holy Cross.

He, though he seem on earth to move,
Must glide in air like gentle dove,
From yon unclouded depths above

Must draw his purer breath ;
Till men behold his angel face
All radiant with celestial grace",
Martyr all o'er, and meet to trace

: ST. JOHN'S DAY.

Peter seeing hiin, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. St. John xxi. 21, 22.

“ LORD, and what shall this man do?"

Ask'st thou, Christian, for thy friend ?
If his love for Christ be true,

Christ hath told thee of his end :
This is he whom God approves,
This is he whom Jesus loves.

Ask not of him more than this,

Leave it in his Saviour's breast, Whether, early call’d to bliss,

He in youth shall find his rest, Or armed in his station wait * Till his Lord be at the gate :

Whether in his lonely course

(Lonely, not forlorn) he stay, Or with Love's supporting force

1

Cheat the toil and cheer the

way : Leave it all in His high hand, Who doth hearts as streams command".

Gales from heaven, if so He will,

Sweeter melodies can wake On the lonely mountain rill

Than the meeting waters make. Who hath the Father and the Son, May be left, but not alone.

Sick or healthful, slave or free,

Wealthy, or despis’d and poorWhat is that to him or thee,

So his love to Christ endure ? When the shore is won at last, Who will count the billows past ?

Only, since our souls will shrink

At the touch of natural grief, When our earthly lov'd ones sink,

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water : he turneth it whithersoever he will. Proverbs xxi. 1.

Lend us, Lord, thy sure relief; Patient hearts, their pain to see, And thy grace, to follow Thee.

THE HOLY INNOCENTS.

These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. Revelations xiv. 4.

SAY, ye celestial guards, who wait
In Bethlehem, round the Saviour's palace gate,

Say, who are these on golden wings,
That hover o'er the new-born King of kings,

Their palms and garlands telling plain
That they are of the glorious martyr train,

Next to yourselves ordain'd to praise
His name, and brighten as on Him they gaze? ?

But where their spoils and trophies ? where The glorious dint a martyr's shield should bear ? How chance no cheek

them wears The deep-worn trace of penitential tears,

But all is bright and smiling love,
As if, fresh-borne from Eden's happy grove,

They had flown here, their King to see,
Nor ever had been heirs of dark mortality ?

Ask, and some angel will reply, “ These, like yourselves, were born to sin and die,

“ But ere the poison root was grown, - God set his seal, and mark'd them for his own.

Baptiz’d in blood for Jesus' sake, “ Now underneath the cross their bed they make,

“ Not to be scar'd from that sure rest By frighten'd mother's shriek, or warrior's waving

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66 crest."

Mindful of these, the first-fruits sweet
Borne by the suffering Church her Lord to greet ;

Bless'd Jesus ever lov'd to trace
The “innocent brightness" of an infant's face.

He rais'd them in his holy arms,
He bless'd them from the world and all its harms:

Heirs though they were of sin and shame, He bless'd them in his own and in his Father's name.