They to their charge may turn, and thankful see

Thy mark upon us still;

Then all together rise, and reign with Thee,
And all their holy joy o'er contrite hearts fulfil!

ST. LUKE.

Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

Colossians iv. 14.

Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world. Only Luke is

TWO clouds before the summer gale

In equal race fleet o'er the sky :
Two flowers, when wintry blasts assail,
Together pine, together die.

But two capricious human hearts—
Nor sage's rod may track their ways,

No

eye pursue their lawless starts

Along their wild self-chosen maze.

He only, by whose sovereign hand

Even sinners for the evil day*

Were made-who rules the world he plann'd,
Turning our worst his own good way;

He only can the cause reveal,

Why, at the same fond bosom fed,
Taught in the self-same lap to kneel

Till the same prayer were duly said,

Brothers in blood and nurture too,
Aliens in heart so oft should prove;
One lose, the other keep, Heaven's clue ;
One dwell in wrath, and one in love.

He only knows, for He can read
The mystery of the wicked heart,—

Why vainly oft our arrows speed

When aim'd with most unerring art;

While from some rude and powerless arm

A random shaft in season sent

a Proverbs xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Shall light upon some lurking harm,
And work some wonder little meant.

Doubt we, how souls so wanton change,
Leaving their own experienc'd rest?
Needs not around the world to range;
One narrow cell may teach us best.

Look in, and see Christ's chosen saint

In triumph wear his Christ-like chain;
No fear lest he should swerve or faint;
"His life is Christ, his death is gain"."

Two converts, watching by his side,
Alike his love and greetings share;
Luke the belov❜d, the sick soul's guide,
And Demas, nam'd in faltering prayer.

Pass a few years-look in once more—
The saint is in his bonds again;

Save that his hopes more boldly soare,
He and his lot unchang'd remain,

b Philip. i. 21.

In the Epistle to the Philippians, "I know that I shall continue with

you all I count not myself to have apprehended.” i. 25. iii. 13.

:

In 2 Tim. "I have finished my course," &c. iv. 7, 8.

But only Luke is with him now :-
Alas! that even the martyr's cell,
Heaven's very gate, should scope allow
For the false world's seducing spell.

'Tis sad-but yet 'tis well, be sure,
We on the sight should muse awhile,

Nor deem our shelter all secure

Even in the Church's holiest aisle.

Vainly before the shrine he bends,

Who knows not the true pilgrim's part :

The martyr's cell no safety lends

To him, who wants the martyr's heart.

But if there be, who follows Paul

As Paul his Lord, in life and death,
Where'er an aching heart may call,
Ready to speed and take no breath;

Whose joy is, to the wandering sheep

To tell of the great Shepherd's love";

d The Gospel of St. Luke abounds most in such passages as the parable the lost sheep, which display God's mercy to penitent sinners.

To learn of mourners while they weep
The music that makes mirth above;

Who makes the Saviour all his theme,

The Gospel all his pride and praise—
Approach for thou canst feel the gleam
That round the martyr's death-bed plays :

Thou hast an ear for angels' songs,
A breath the Gospel trump to fill,
And taught by thee the Church prolongs
Her hymns of high thanksgiving still*.

Ah! dearest mother, since too oft

The world yet wins some Demas frail
Even from thine arms, so kind and soft,
May thy tried comforts never fail?

When faithless ones forsake thy wing,
Be it vouchsaf'd thee still to see
Thy true, fond nursling closer cling,

Cling closer to their Lord and thee.

e The Christian hymns are all in St. Luke: the Magnificat, Benedictus, and Nunc Dimittis.