There they plunge, the light declining All may hear, but none may see. Hardly will they fleet aloof; So they live in modest ways, Trust entire, and ceaseless praise. SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, and when men have well drunk then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. St. John ii. 10. THE heart of childhood is all mirth : We frolic to and fro As free and blithe, as if on earth Were no such thing as woe. But if indeed with reckless faith We trust the flattering voice, Which whispers, "Take thy fill ere death, Too surely, every setting day, Some lost delight we mourn, The flowers all die along our way, Till we, too, die forlorn. Such is the world's gay garish feast, And still, as loud the revel swells, Unlike the feast of heavenly love For souls that hear his call, and prove Why should we fear, youth's draught of joy, If pure, would sparkle less? Why should the cup the sooner cloy, Which God hath deign'd to bless ? For, is it Hope, that thrills so keen Along each bounding vein, Still whispering glorious things unseen?— Faith makes the vision plain. The world would kill her soon: but Faith Or is it Love, the dear delight Of hearts that know no guile, That all around see all things bright The silent joy, that sinks so deep, Clasp'd to a Mother's breast? Who, but a Christian, through all life Who, through the world's sad day of strife, Fathers may hate us or forsake, God's foundlings then are we: But we shall still have Thee. We may look home, and seek in vain But Christ hath given his promise plain Nor shall dull age, as worldlings say, The Saviour cannot pass away, And with him lives our joy. Ever the richest tenderest glow Sets round th' autumnal sun— But there sight fails: no heart may know u Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Isaiah xlix. 15. .. 4 Such is thy banquet, dearest Lord; O give us grace, to cast THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel. St. Matthew viii. 10. I MARK'D a rainbow in the north, It was a gleam to Memory dear, And as I walk and muse apart, When all seems faithless round and drear, I would revive it in my heart, |