Wondrous truths, and manifold as wondrous,
God hath written in those stars above:
But not less in the bright flowrets under us
Stands the revelation of his love.
Bright and glorious is that revelation,
Written all over this great world of ours;
Making evident our own creation,
In these stars of earth,-these golden flowers.
And the Poet, faithful and far-seeing
Sees, alike in stars and flowers, a part
Of the self-same, universal being,
Which is throbbing in his brain and heart.
Gorgeous flowrets in the sunlight shining,
Blossoms flaunting in the eye of day,
Tremulous leaves, with soft and silver lining,
Buds that open only to decay;
Brilliant hopes, all woven in gorgeous tissues,
Flaunting gayly in the golden light;
Large desires, with most uncertain issues,
Tender wishes, blossoming at night!
These in flowers and men are more than seeming,
Workings are they of the self-same powers,
Which the Poet, in no idle dreaming,
Seeth in himself and in the flowers.
Everywhere about us are they glowing,
Some like stars, to tell us Spring is born; Others, their blue eyes with tears o'erflowing, Stand like Ruth amid the golden corn;
Not alone in Spring's armorial bearing,
And in Summer's green-emblazoned field,
But in arms of brave old Autumn's wearing,
In the centre of his brazen shield;
Not alone in meadows and green alleys,
On the mountain-top, and by the brink
Of sequestered pools in woodland valleys,
Where the slaves of Nature stoop to drink;
Not alone in her vast dome of glory,
Not on graves of bird and beast alone,
But in old cathedrals, high and hoary,
On the tombs of heroes, carved in stone;
In the cottage of the rudest peasant,
In ancestral homes, whose crumbling towers, Speaking of the Past unto the Present,
Tell us of the ancient Games of Flowers;
In all places, then, and in all seasons,
Flowers expand their light and soul-like wings,
Teaching us, by most persuasive reasons,
How akin they are to human things.
And with childlike, credulous affection
We behold their tender buds expand;
Emblems of our own great resurrection,
Emblems of the bright and better land.
HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.
Fear not, for I am With Thee.
EVEN as the sun (which every day surrounds
The sublune globe, and pries into the bounds
Of this dark centre,) lets his beams reflect
Upon a mole-hill, with as much respect
As on a mountain-for his glorious beams
Shine always with equivalent extremes,-
Even so the great and powerful Three in One,
That sits upon his all-enlightening throne,
Does not deny to let his mercies crown
The poorest peasant with as much renown
As the most stateliest emperor: though he
Invests his body with more dignity,
Yet he's but earth, and must at last decay;
For prince and peasant go the self-same way;
There's no distinction-one infused breath
Made them alike, and both must live in death
Or everlasting life; both must commence
Divines in heaven; there's no pre-eminence,
But all equality; all must express
With equal joy their equal happiness.
Rouse up, dull man, and let thy wakened soul
Be vigilate! oh, let thy thoughts enrol
The love of God; engrave it in thy breast,
That his resounding tongue may read thee blest!
Oh! let thy sighs like pens, and let thy tears
Like ink, inscribe the love, th' indulgent cares
Of thy Creator; that Himself may find,
Within th' unblotted volume of thy mind,
Himself recorded; so will He embrace
Thy spotless soul, and fill thee with his grace.
Incline thine ears, and let thy heart rejoice
To hear the strains of his harmonious voice.
Hearken, and thou shalt hear his prophets sing
The admired mercies of the glorious King:
Thus saith the great and everlasting One,
That rules the heavens, and governs earth alone;
Thus saith the Lord, that takes delight to dwell
Among his saints, that formed Israel,
Created Jacob, "Let thy sorrows flee
Out of thy breast: I have redeemed thee.
'Twas I that made thy clouded vision shine,
And called thee by my name, for thou wert mine;
I will be with thee: when thy feet shall wade
Through the waters, I will be thy aid:
I'll make thee walk through rivers, and the waves
Shall prove ambitious to become thy slaves;
And when thou walkest through the raging fire,
The unruly flames shall not presume t' aspire,
Or kindle on thy garments. I alone,
The Lord thy God, and Israel's Holy One,
And thy dear Saviour, that was always true,
Gave Egypt, Seba, Ethiopia, too,
To ransom thee; for thou wert my delight,
And always precious in my favouring sight.
Honours were heaped upon thee, and thou wert
The tender love of my affecting heart;
Therefore e'en I, well pleased with thee, will give
People for thy dear sake, that thou mayst live.
Fear not, for I am with thee, and will stand
In thy defence; and my all-grasping hand
Shall bring thy seed from the remotest places,
And fill thee with my satisfying graces.
My tongue shall call unto the north, and say
Unto the south, Give; and they shall obey;
Bring from afar my sons and daughters all,
Hear my loud voice, be active when I call.
I have created them, and I proclaim
They shall be called and honoured by my name.
I'll usher forth the blind, and make them see
The splendent glories of my Majesty:
I'll cure the deaf, and make their hearts rejoice
To hear the echoes of my warbling voice."
Thus hath our God untied the tongues, and
broke
His prophets' lips-thus have his prophets spoke ;
And wilt thou be, O man, so much obdure,
As not to credit Him that will assure
Perpetual happiness? Thou canst not ask
That which He cannot give: do but unmask
Thy shame-faced soul, that so thou mayst descry
Jehovah's mercies with a faithful eye;
Descant upon his promises; advise
With thine own thoughts; let wisdom make thee wise.
Thy thoughts together, and discreetly fall
Into a serious study. Let thy mind
Be absolute and really inclined
To meditation. Contradict the rage
Of thine own passions. Labour to assuage
The fire of lust, that so thou mayst behold,
With more serenity, how manifold
Think what he did endure
Before his wounds had perfected thy cure.
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