How the Most Holy did not shrink

From touch of sinner's meat ;

What worldly hearts and hearts impure

Went with him through the rich man's door, That we might learn of Him lost souls to love, And view his least and worst with hope to meet above.

These gracious lines shed Gospel light

On Mammon's gloomiest cells,

As on some city's cheerless night

The tide of sun-rise swells,

Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proud
Are mantled with a golden cloud,

And to wise hearts this certain hope is given;

"No mist that man may raise, shall hide the

"Heaven."

And oh! if even on Babel shine

Such gleams of Paradise,

Should not their peace be peace divine,

Who day by day arise

e St. Matthew ix. 10.

To look on clearer Heavens, and scan
The work of God untouch'd by man?
Shame on us, who about us Babel bear,
And live in Paradise, as if God was not there !

ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Heb. i. 14.

YE stars that round the Sun of righteousness

In glorious order roll,

With harps for ever strung, ready to bless
God for each rescued soul,

Ye eagle spirits, that build in light divine,
Oh think of us to-day,

Faint warblers of this earth, that would combine
Our trembling notes with your accepted lay.

Your amarant wreaths were earn'd; and homeward all, Flush'd with victorious might,

Ye might have sped to keep high festival,
And revel in the light ;

But meeting us, weak worldlings, on our way,
Tired ere the fight begun,

Ye turn'd to help us in th' unequal fray,
Remembering whose we were, how dearly won:

Remembering Bethlehem, and that glorious night When ye, who used to soar

Diverse along all space in fiery flight,

Came thronging to adore

Your God new-born, and made a sinner's child; As if the stars should leave

Their stations in the far ethereal wild,

And round the sun a radiant circle weave.

Nor less your lay of triumph greeted fair
Our Champion and your King,

In that first strife, whence Satan in despair
Sunk down on scathed wing:

Alone He fasted, and alone He fought;
But when his toils were o'er,

Ye to the sacred Hermit duteous brought
Banquet and hymn, your Eden's festal store.

Ye too, when lowest in th' abyss of woe

He plung❜d to save his sheep,

Were leaning from your golden thrones to know
The secrets of that deep :

But clouds were on his sorrow: once alone

His agonizing call

Summon'd from Heaven, to still that bitterest groan, And comfort Him, the Comforter of all.

Oh! highest favour'd of all Spirits create,
(If right of thee we deem)

How didst thou glide on brightening wing elate
To meet th' unclouded beam

Of Jesus from the couch of darkness rising!
How swell'd thine anthem's sound,

With fear and mightier joy weak hearts surprising, "Your God is risen, and may not here be found."

Pass a few days, and this dull darkling globe
Must yield him from her sight ;-

Brighter and brighter streams his glory-robe,
And He is lost in light.

Then, when through yonder everlasting arch,
Ye in innumerous choir

Y

Pour'd, heralding Messiah's conquering march,
Linger'd around his skirts two forms of fire:

With us they staid, high warning to impart ; "The Christ shall come again

"Even as He goes; with the same human heart, "With the same godlike train."

"Oh! jealous God! how could a sinner dare Think on that dreadful day,

But that with all thy wounds Thou wilt be there, And all our angel friends to bring Thee on thy way

Since to thy little ones is given such grace,

That they who nearest stand

Alway to God in Heaven, and see His face,
Go forth at his command,

To wait around our path in weal or woe,
As erst upon our King,

Set thy baptismal seal upon our brow,

And waft us heaven-ward with enfolding wing:

Grant, Lord, that when around th' expiring world
Our Seraph guardians wait,

While on her death-bed, ere to ruin hurl'd,

She owns thee, all too late,

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