Then as ye turn'd your weary eye

To the green earth and open sky,

Were ye not fain to doubt how Faith could dwell Amid that dreary glare, in this world's citadel ?

But Love's a flower that will not die

For lack of leafy screen,

And Christian Hope can cheer the eye
That ne'er saw vernal green;

Then be ye sure that Love can bless

Even in this crowded loneliness,

Where ever-moving myriads seem to say, Go-thou art nought to us, nor we to thee-away!

There are in this loud stunning tide

Of human care and crime,

With whom the melodies abide

Of th' everlasting chime;
Who carry music in their heart

Through dusky lane and wrangling mart,

Plying their daily task with busier feet, Because their secret souls a holy strain repeat.

How sweet to them, in such brief rest

As thronging cares afford,

In thought to wander, fancy-blest,
To where their gracious Lord,
In vain, to win proud Pharisees,

Spake, and was heard by fell disease -
But not in vain, beside yon breezy lake,

Bade the meek Publican his gainful seat forsake:

At once he rose, and left his gold;

His treasure and his heart
Transferr'd, where he shall safe behold
Earth and her idols part;

While he beside his endless store

Shall sit, and floods unceasing pour

Of Christ's true riches o'er all time and space, First angel of his Church, first steward of his Grace:

Nor can ye not delight to think e

Where He vouchsaf'd to eat,

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,

d It seems from St. Matthew ix. 8, 9, that the calling of Levi took place immediately after the healing of the paralytic in the presence of the Pharisees.

e St. Matth. ix. 10.

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 eye of "Heaven."

And oh! if even on Babel shine

Such gleams of Paradise,

Should not their peace be peace divine,

Who day by day arise

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!

XCI.

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 rescu'd 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 amaranth 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 etherial 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: