Such were the tender arms, where cradled lay In her sweet natal day The Church of JESUS; such the love He to his chosen taught for His dear widow'd Dove. Warm'd underneath the Comforter's safe wing Here loving hearts, that daily know The heavenly consolations they on you bestow. Sweet thoughts are theirs, that breathe serenest calms, Of holy offerings timely paid ", Of fire from Heaven to bless their votive alms And passions on GOD's altar laid. The world to them is clos'd and now they shine With rays of love divine, a Acts iv. 37. Having land, he sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet. Through darkest nooks of this dull earth Pouring, in showery times, their glow of "quiet "mirth." New hearts before their Saviour's feet to lay, This is their first their dearest joy: Their next, from heart to heart to clear the way a For mutual love without alloy : They write some hero-soul, More pleas'd upon his brightening road To wait, than if their own with all his radiance glow'd. O happy spirits, mark'd by God and man Their messages of love to bear,b What though long since in Heaven your brows began The genial amarant wreath to wear, And in th' eternal leisure of calm love Ye banquet there above, Yet in your sympathetic heart We and our earthly griefs may ask and hope a part. a Acts ix. 27. Barnabas took him, and brought him (Saul) to the Apostles. b Acts xi. 22. xiii. 2. Comfort's true sons! amid the thoughts of down Sure 'tis one joy to muse, how ye unknown Where'er the Cross is borne with smiles, Where'er one Levite in the temple keeps Thus saints, that seem to die in earth's rude strife, Only win double life: They have but left our weary ways To live in memory here, in heaven by love and praise. LXXXVI. ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S DAY. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers unto the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Malachi iv. 4, 5. TWICE in her season of decay The fallen Church hath felt Elijah's eye Whose torch afar Shadows and boding night-birds fly. Methinks we need him once again, In vain on Carmel's green and lonely mound: From Sinai soar, On his celestial errands bound. But wafted to her glorious place By harmless fire, among the ethereal thrones, Her likeness true, And trace, in thine, her own deep tones. Deathless himself, he joys with thee To commune how a faithful martyr dies, He would behold thy wounds with envious eyes Who yet unborn c Didst warn us where the Christ should rise. Now resting from your jealous care For sinners, such as Eden cannot know, Ye pour for us your mingled prayer, No anxious fear to damp Affection's glow. Love draws a cloud From you to shroud Rebellion's mystery here below. St. Luke i. 44. The Babe leaped in her womb for joy |