5.

SIGN OF THE CROSS.

(See the First Prayer Book of Edward VI.-" Receyve the signe of the Holy Crosse, both in thy forehead and in thy breste.")

WHERE is the mark to Jesus known,
Whereby He seals His own?

Slaves wore of old on brow and breast
Their master's name impress'd,

And Christian babes on heart and brow
Wear Jesu's token now.

His holy Priest that token gave

With finger dipt in the life-giving wave.

When soldiers take their Sovereign's fee,

And swear His own to be,

The royal badge on forehead bold
They show to young and old.
Nor may we hide for fear or shame

The persecuted Name.

Only with downcast eyes we go

At thought of sin that God and angels know.

If the dread mark, though dim, be there,

The watchers will not bear

From spirits unblest or reckless man
Unpitying word or ban.

"Mine own anointed touch ye not,

Nor mine handwriting blot.

Where'er my soldiers cross thy path, Honour my royal Sign, or fear my wrath."

The Shepherd signs his lambs in haste,

Ere on the mountain waste

He loose them, far and wide to stray,
And whoso mars their way,

Or scorns the awful Name they show,

That Shepherd counts him foe.

Fresh from his arms are these, and sure

We read His token here undimm'd and pure.

Fresh from th' eternal arms are these

Or sporting on our knees,

Or set on earth with earnest eye

And tottering feet, to try

Their daily walk, or newly taught
Grave prayer and quiet thought.

The fragrant breath of their new birth
Is round them yet: avaunt, ill airs of earth.

Ye elder brethren, think on this!

Think on the mighty bliss,

Should He, the Friend of babes, one day,

66

The words of blessing say :

My seal upon My lambs ye knew,

And I will honour you :".

And think upon the eternal loss

If on their foreheads ye deface the glorious Cross.

6.

DEATH OF THE NEW-BAPTIZED.

WHAT purer brighter sight on earth, than when
The Sun looks down upon a drop of dew,

Hid in some nook from all but Angels' ken,

And with his radiance bathes it through and through, Then into realms too clear for our frail view Exhales and draws it with absorbing love?

And what if Heaven therein give token true Of grace that new-born dying infants prove,

Just touched with Jesus' light, then lost in joys above?

II. Cradle Songs.

1.

THE FIRST SMILE.*

"Post et ridere cæpi; dormiens primo, deinde vigilans."-August. Confess. 1. 8.

TEARS from the birth the doom must be
Of the sin-born-but wait awhile
Young mother, and thine eye shall see
The dawning of the first soft smile.

It comes in slumber, gently steals

O'er the fair cheek, as light on dew; Some inward joy that smile reveals;

Sit by and muse; such dreams are true.

*For this Poem the Author is indebted to a dear friend.