St. Stephen's Day.

If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.

ST. MATT. xvi. 24, 25.

THE Son of God goes forth to war,
A Kingly Crown to gain;

His blood-red banner streams afar-
Who follows in His train ?

Who best can drink his cup of woe

Triumphant over pain ;

Who patient bears his cross below,
He follows in His train.

The martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on Him to save.

Like him, with pardon on his tongue
In midst of mortal pain,

He prayed for them that did the wrong—

Who follows in his train?

A glorious band, the chosen few

On whom the Spirit came;

Twelve valiant Saints, their hopes they knew, And mocked the cross and flame.

They met the tyrant's brandished steel,

The lion's gory mane;

They bow'd their necks the death to feel-
Who follows in their train ?

A noble army-men and boys,
The matron and the maid,

Around their Saviour's throne rejoice,
In robes of light array'd.

They climbed the steep ascent of Heaven, Through peril, toil, and pain;

O God! to us may grace be given

To follow in their train!

These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.

REV. vii. 14.

St. John the Evangelist's Day.

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven Churches.

REV. i. 9-11.

JOHN, by a tyrant's stern command,

Is exil'd on a sea-girt strand;

But his free spirit takes her flight
Into the regions of the light.

And there, his awe-struck soul before,
He stands who lives for evermore ;
Who as a Lamb gave up His breath,
And as a Lion vanquished death.

And now, before his ravished eyes,
He brings His kingdom's mysteries;
The faith sown by His martyrs' blood,
Covering the nations like a flood.

Our power Baptismal, Lord, revive,
With Thee to die, with Thee to live;
To tread on earthly things, and love
The better things that are above!

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

1 JOHN V. 21.

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