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 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 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 Ye eagle spirits, that build in light divine, Faint warblers of this earth, that would combine Your amarant wreaths were earn'd; and homeward all, Flush'd with victorious might, Ye might have sped to keep high festival, But meeting us, weak worldlings, on our way, Ye turn'd to help us in th' unequal fray, 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 In that first strife, whence Satan in despair Alone He fasted, and alone He fought; Ye to the sacred Hermit duteous brought Ye too, when lowest in th' abyss of woe He plung❜d to save his sheep, Were leaning from your golden thrones to know 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, How didst thou glide on brightening wing elate Of Jesus from the couch of darkness rising! 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 Brighter and brighter streams his glory-robe, Then, when through yonder everlasting arch, Y Pour'd, heralding Messiah's conquering march, 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, To wait around our path in weal or woe, Set thy baptismal seal upon our brow, And waft us heaven-ward with enfolding wing: Grant, Lord, that when around th' expiring world While on her death-bed, ere to ruin hurl'd, She owns thee, all too late, ? |