FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.

St. Matthew vi. 28.

SWEET nurslings of the vernal skies,
Bath'd in soft airs, and fed with dew,
What more than magic in you lies,

To fill the heart's fond view?
In childhood's sports, companions gay,
In sorrow, on Life's downward way,
How soothing! in our last decay
Memorials prompt and true.

Relics ye are of Eden's bowers,

As pure, as fragrant, and as fair,
As when ye crown'd the sunshine hours
Of happy wanderers there.

Fall'n all beside-the world of life,

How is it stain'd with fear and strife!
In Reason's world what storms are rife,
What passions range and glare !

But cheerful and unchang'd the while
Your first and perfect form ye show,
The same that won Eve's matron smile
In the world's opening glow.

The stars of heaven a course are taught
Too high above our human thought;
be found if ye are sought,

Ye

may

And as we gaze, we know.

Ye dwell beside our paths and homes,
Our paths of sin, our homes of sorrow,
And guilty man, where'er he roams,
Your innocent mirth may borrow.
The birds of air before us fleet,

They cannot brook our shame to meet—
But we may taste your solace sweet
And come again to-morrow.

Ye fearless in your nests abide

Nor may we scorn, too proudly wise,

Your silent lessons, undescried

By all but lowly eyes:

For ye could draw th' admiring gaze
Of Him who worlds and hearts surveys:
Your order wild, your fragrant maze,
He taught us how to prize.

Ye felt your Maker's smile that hour,

As when He paus'd and own'd ycu good;

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

His blessing on earth's primal bower,
Ye felt it all renew'd.

What care ye now, if winter's storm
Sweep ruthless o'er each silken form?
Christ's blessing at your heart is warm,
Ye fear no vexing mood.

Alas! of thousand bosoms kind,
That daily court you and caress,
How few the happy secret find
Of your calm loveliness!
"Live for to-day! to-morrow's light
"To-morrow's cares shall bring to sight,
"Go sleep like closing flowers at night,
"And Heaven thy morn will bless."

215

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Ephesians iii. 13.

WISH not, dear friends, my pain away-
Wish me a wise and thankful heart,
With God, in all my griefs, to stay,
Nor from His lov'd correction start.

The dearest offering He can crave
His portion in our souls to prove,
What is it to the gift He gave,
The only Son of His dear love?

But we, like vex'd unquiet sprights,
Will still be hovering o'er the tomb,
Where buried lie our vain delights,
Nor sweetly take a sinner's doom.

In Life's long sickness evermore

Our thoughts are tossing to and fro: We change our posture o'er and o'er,

But cannot rest, nor cheat our woc.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

217

Were it not better to lie still,

Let Him strike home and bless the rod, Never so safe as when our will

Yields undiscern'd by all but God?

Thy precious things, whate'er they be
That haunt and vex thee, heart and brain,
Look to the Cross, and thou shalt see

How thou mayst turn them all to gain.

Lovest thou praise? the Cross is shame:
Or ease? the Cross is bitter grief:
More pangs than tongue or heart can frame
Were suffer'd there without relief.

We of that Altar would partake,

But cannot quit the cost-no throne Is ours, to leave for Thy dear sakeWe cannot do as Thou hast done.

We cannot part with Heaven for Thee—
Yet guide us in Thy track of love :
Let us gaze on where light should be,
Though not a beam the clouds remove.

So wanderers ever fond and true

Look homeward through the evening sky, Without a streak of heaven's soft blue

To aid Affection's dreaming eye.

Ff