4. MISTRUST OF ELDERS. "JESUS saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." WHEN holy books, when loving friends, When parents grave and kind Tell of the peace the Almighty sends When they, on whom our souls should lean, The wondrous joy declare, How to God's Altar they have been And found their Saviour there, Alas! too often, worldly wise, We will not see with others' eyes, Thus many a precious day, month, year, It comes at last with saddened cheer, He justly dims His ray. Seven days, we read, a Saint of old Seven days of hope and joy untold And when at last the all-gracious Lord Vouchsafed the awful sign, Made answer to his secret word, And showed the Wounds divine, Even with that light of love there came A soft yet warning cloud, A shade of pity more than blame :— "Behold thy prayer allowed. My glorious Wounds I show to thee, But happier they, who wait to see, Alas, that man his breath should lose Nor his still home in shelter choose Where Thou hast set his place! 5. FINE CLOTHES. "And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way." (For Palm Sunday.) Look westward, pensive little one, Or eastward turn thee, and admire Thou seest it not an envious screen, A veil too near thine eye. One finger's breadth at hand will mar An eyelid hide the sky. And while to clear the view we stay, A twilight haze, all dim and grey, Hath quench'd the living gleam. O shame, O grief, when earth's rude toys, For half a prayer perchance on high We soar, and heaven seems bright and nigh, But ah! too soon frail heart and eye Sink down and earthward rove. The Sunday garment glittering gay The Sunday heart will steal away. Then haste thee, ere the fond glance stray, Thy precious robes unfold, And cast before thy Saviour's feet : His very shrines, this week of woe, Yea, when the funeral days are o'er, In fearless sacrifice. The gorgeous hues by sinners worn, His palace court hath order blest, |