ST. JOHN'S DAY. Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and, what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. St. John xxi. 21, 22. "LORD, and what shall this man do?" Ask'st thou, Christian, for thy friend? If this love for Christ be true, Christ hath told thee of his end: This is he whom God approves, This is he whom Jesus loves. Ask not of him more than this, Leave it in his Saviour's breast, Whether, early call'd to bliss, He in youth shall find his rest, Till his Lord be at the gate: Whether in his lonely course (Lonely, not forlorn) he stay, Or with Love's supporting force Cheat the toil and cheer the way: Leave it all in His high hand, Who doth hearts as streams command ". Gales from Heaven, if so He will, Sweeter melodies can wake On the lonely mountain rill Than the meeting waters make. Who hath the Father and the Son, May be left, but not alone. Sick or healthful, slave or free, Wealthy, or despis'd and poor What is that to him or thee, So his love to Christ endure? When the shore is won at last, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Proverbs xxi. 1. Only, since our souls will shrink At the touch of natural grief, When our earthly lov'd ones sink, Lend us, Lord, thy sure relief; Patient hearts, their pain to see, And thy grace, to follow Thee. THE HOLY INNOCENTS. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Revelations xiv. 4. SAY, ye celestial guards, who wait In Bethlehem, round the Saviour's palace gate, But where their spoils and trophies? where The glorious dint a martyr's shield should bear? How chance no cheek among them wears The deep-worn trace of penitential tears, But all is bright and smiling love, Nor ever had been heirs of dark mortality? Ask, and some angel will reply, "These, like yourselves, were born to sin and die, "But ere the poison root was grown, "God set his seal, and mark'd them for his own. Baptiz'd in blood for Jesus' sake, 66 "Now underneath the Cross their bed they make, "Not to be scar'd from that sure rest By frighten'd mother's shriek, or warrior's waving "crest." Mindful of these, the first-fruits sweet The "innocent brightness" of an infant's face. He bless'd them from the world and all its harms: Then, as each fond unconscious child On th' everlasting Parent sweetly smil’d, (Like infants sporting on the shore, That tremble not at Ocean's boundless roar,) |