Or, if before thee in the race, Urge him with thine advancing tread, Till, like twin stars, with even pace, Each lucid course be duly sped. No fading frail memorial give To sooth his soul when thou art gone, But wreaths of hope for aye to live, And thoughts of good together done. That so, before the judgment-seat, ST. THOMAS' DAY. Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. St. John xx. 29. WE were not by when Jesus camea, But round us, far and near, We see His trophies, and His name In a fair ground our lot is cast, As in the solemn week that past, While some might doubt, but all ador'd b, Ere the whole widow'd Church had seen her risen Lord. Slowly, as then, His bounteous hand The golden chain unwinds, a St. John xx. 24. Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymas, was not with them when Jesus came. St. Matt. xxviii. 17. When they saw Him, they worshipped Ili: but some doubted. Drawing to Heaven with gentlest band Love sought him first—at dawn of morn c She sought to weep with Thee alone, And saw thine open grave, and knew that Thou wert gone. Reason and Faith at once set out d Till Reason enter in, and trace Christ's relics round the holy place "Here lay His limbs, and here His sacred head, "And who was by, to make His new-forsaken bed?" Both wonder, one believes-but while They muse on all at home, No thought can tender Love beguile St. Mary Magdalen's visit to the sepulchre. Weeping she stays till He appear— Her witness first the Church must hear All joy to souls that can rejoice With her at earliest call of His dear gracious voice. Joy too to those, who love to talk In secret how He died, Though with seal'd eyes awhile they walk, Nor see Him at their side; Most like the faithful pair are they, Half darkling, till their Master shed His glory on their souls, made known in breaking bread. Thus, ever brighter and more bright, On those He came to save Dawn'd gradual from the grave: Till pass'd th' enquiring daylight hour, The Church in anxious musing sate, As one who for redemption still had long to wait. Then, gliding through th' unopening door, "Peace to your souls," He said—no more They own Him, kneeling round. Eye, ear, and hand, and loving heart, Body and soul in every part, Successive made His witnesses that hour, Cease not in all the world to shew His saving power. Is there, on earth, a spirit frail, To think he sees the Lord? With eyes too tremblingly awake To bear with dimness for His sake? Read and confess the hand divine That drew thy likeness here so true in every line. For all thy rankling doubts so sore, Love thou thy Saviour still, Him for thy Lord and God adore, And ever do His will. Though vexing thoughts may seem to last, Let not thy soul be quite o'ercast ; |