ST. PHILIP AND ST. JAMES. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low. St. James i. 9, 10. DEAR is the morning gale of spring, But few delights can summer bring Her bowers are mute, her fountains dry, Speeds from beneath her cloudless sky, Sweet is the infant's waking smile, And sweet the old man's rest But middle age by no fond wile, Still in the world's hot restless gleam She plies her weary task, While vainly for some pleasant dream Her wandering glances ask. O shame upon thee, listless heart, As if thy SAVIOUR had no part In thoughts, that make thee grieve. As if along His lonesome way He had not borne for thee Sad languors through the summer day, Storms on the wintry sea. Youth's lightning flash of joy secure Pass'd seldom o'er His spright,A well of serious thought and pure, Too deep for earthly light. No spring was His-no fairy gleam- How cold and bare what mortals dream, Then grudge not thou the anguish keen And learn to quit with eye serene Thy treasur'd hopes and raptures highUnmurmuring let them go, Nor grieve the bliss should quickly fly Which CHRIST disdain'd to know. Thou shalt have joy in sadness soon; The pure, calm hope be thine, Which brightens, like the eastern moon, As days wild lights decline. Thus souls, by nature pitch'd too high, To practise there the soothing lay Thankful for all God takes away, Humbled by all He gives. ST. BARNABAS. The Son of consolation, a Levite. Acts iv. 36. THE world's a room of sickness, where each heart Whom by the softest step and gentlest tone And love to raise the languid eye, When, like an angel's wing, they feel him fleeting by: Feel only-for in silence gently gliding "Twixt Prayer and watchful Love his heart dividing, A nursing father day and night. Such were the tender arms, where cradled lay, In her sweet natal day, The Church of JESUS; such the love He to his chosen taught for His dear widow'd Dove, U Warm'd underneath the Comforter's safe wing Here loving hearts, that daily know The heavenly consolations they on you bestow. Sweet thoughts are theirs, that breathe serenest calms, Of holy offerings timely paida, Of fire from Heaven to bless their votive alms And passions on GOD's altar laid. The world to them is clos'd, and now they shine With rays of love divine, Through darkest nooks of this dull earth Pouring, in showery times, their glow of "quiet "mirth." New hearts before their Saviour's feet to lay, a Acts iv. 37. Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet, |