One presses on, and welcomes death :
One calmly yields his willing breath,
Nor slow, nor hurrying, but in faith
Content to die or live:

And some, the darlings of their Lord,
Play smiling with the flame and sword,
And, ere they speak, to his sure word
Unconscious witness give.

Foremost and nearest to his throne,
By perfect robes of triumph known,
And likest Him in look and tone,

The holy Stephen kneels,
With stedfast gaze, as when the sky
Flew open to his fainting eye,

Which, like a fading lamp flash'd high,

Seeing what death conceals.

Well might you guess what vision bright
Was present to his raptur'd sight,
Even as reflected streams of light

Their solar source betray

The glory which our God surrounds, The Son of Man, th' atoning wounds—

He sees them all; and earth's dull bounds

Are melting fast away.

He sees them all-no other view

Could stamp the Saviour's likeness true,

Or with his love so deep embrue

Man's sullen heart and gross

"Jesu, do Thou my soul receive:
"Jesu, do Thou my foes forgive:"
He who would learn that prayer, must live
Under the holy Cross.

He, though he seem on earth to move,
Must glide in air like gentle dove,

From yon unclouded depths above
Must draw his purer breath;

Till men behold his angel face
All radiant with celestial grace",
Martyr all o'er, and meet to trace
The lines of Jesus' death.

m And all that were in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his

face as it had been the face of an angel. Acts vi. 15.

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 his 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,

Or armed in his station wait

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,
Who will count the billows past?

n 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 first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. Revelations xiv. 4.

SAY, ye celestial guards, who wait

In Bethlehem, round the Saviour's palace gate,
Say, who are these on golden wings,
That hover o'er the new-born King of kings,
Their palms and garlands telling plain
That they are of the glorious martyr train,
Next to yourselves ordain'd to praise

His name, and brighten as on Him they gaze?

D