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

E'en 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:

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.

ST. MATTHEW.

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

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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

Where He vouchsaf'd to eat,

e

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,

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."

e St. Matthew ix. 10.

And oh! if e'en 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!

ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hebrews 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 rescued 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 amarant 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 ethereal 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.

Ye too, when lowest in th' abyss of woe
He plung'd to save His sheep,

Were leaning from your golden thrones to know
The secrets of that deep:

But clouds were on His sorrow: one alone

His agonizing call

Summon'd from Heaven, to still that bitterest groan, And comfort Him, the Comforter of all.