Beside the springs of Love, that never die;
Among the olives kneel

The chill night-blast to feel,

And watch the Moon that saw thy Master's agony.*

Then rise at dawn of day,
And wind thy thoughtful way,

Where rested once the Temple's stately shade,
With due feet tracing round

The city's northern bound,

To th' other holy garden, where the Lord was laid.†

Who thus alternate see

His death and victory,

Rising and falling as on angel wings,

They, while they seem to roam,

Draw daily nearer home,

Their heart untravell'd still adores the King of kings.‡

Or, if at home they stay,
Yet are they, day by day,

In spirit journeying through the glorious land,
Not for light Fancy's reed,

Nor Honour's purple meed,

Nor gifted Prophet's lore, nor Science' wondrous wand.

*

But more than Prophet, more

Than Angels can adore

[The passover, when our Saviour suffered, was always at the full moon.]

[It is worthy of notice that gardens have been the scenes of the three most stupendous events that have occurred on earththe temptation and fall of man, the agony of the Son of God, and his resurrection from the grave.]

["My heart untravelled still returns to thee."

Goldsmith's Traveller.]

With face unveil'd, is He they go to seek:
Blessed be God, whose grace

Shows him in every place

To homeliest hearts of pilgrims pure and meek.

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT.*

DIMNESS.

The eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall bearken. Isaiah xxxii. 3. [First Lesson in the Evening Service.]

[O Lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us, through the satisfaction of thy Son, our Lord: to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.]

OF the bright things in earth and air
How little can the heart embrace!
Soft shades and gleaming lights are there-
I know it well, but cannot trace.

* [The lines which follow are from the pen of the beloved friend to whom this volume is inscribed. Its pages will afford other evidence of the justice with which his name has been associated with the honoured name of Keble, as "a kindred spirit." Were he aware of the designed association, his gentle and retiring nature would, I know, forbid it. But one who, for nine years, was with him almost daily, and shared his secret thoughts, must claim to know him better than he knows himself; and he does not fear that Keble will not welcome the companionship.

ADVENT.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again, I say, Rejoice. The Lord is at hand." Epistle for the last Sunday in Advent.

Now gird your patient loins again,

Your wasting torches trim!

Mine eye unworthy seems to read
One page "of Nature's beauteous book:
It lies before me, fair outspread-
I only cast a wishful look.

I cannot paint to Memory's eye

The scene, the glance, I dearest love-
Unchang'd themselves, in me they die,
Or faint, or false, their shadows prove.

In vain, with dull and tuneless ear,
I linger by soft Music's cell,
And in my heart of hearts would hear
What to her own she deigns to tell.

The Chief of all the sons of men,
Who will not welcome him?
Rejoice, the hour is near! At length
The Journeyer on his way

Comes in the greatness of his strength,
To keep his holy day.

With cheerful hymns and garlands sweet
Along his wintry road,

Conduct him to his green retreat,

His sheltered safe abode;

Fill all his court with sacred songs,
And from the temple wall

Wave verdure o'er the joyful throngs
That crowd his festival.

And still more greenly in the mind

Store up the hopes sublime

Which then were born for all mankind,

So blessed was the time;

And underneath these hallowed eaves,
A Saviour will be born

In every heart that him receives

On his triumphal morn.

Rev. William Croswell.]

"Tis misty all, both sight and sound-
I only know 'tis fair and sweet-
"Tis wandering on enchanted ground
With dizzy brow and tottering feet.

But patience! there may come a time
When these dull ears shall scan aright
Strains, that outring Earth's drowsy chime,
As Heaven outshines the taper's light.

These eyes, that dazzled now and weak
At glancing motes in sunshine wink,
Shall see the King's* full glory break,

Nor from the blissful vision shrink:

In fearless love and hope uncloy'd
For ever on that ocean bright
Empower'd to gaze; and undestroy'd,
Deeper and deeper plunge in light.

Though scarcely now their laggard glance
Reach to an arrow's flight, that day
They shall behold, and not in trance,
The region very far away

66

99

If Memory sometimes at our spell
Refuse to speak, or speak amiss,
We shall not need her where we dwell
Ever in sight of all our bliss.

Meanwhile, if over sea or sky

Some tender lights unnotic'd fleet,
Or on lov'd features dawn and die,
Unread, to us, their lesson sweet;

*Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off. Isaiah xxxiii. 17.

Yet are there saddening sights around,
Which Heaven, in mercy, spares us too,
And we see far in holy ground,

If duly purg'd our mental view.

The distant landscape draws not nigh
For all our gazing; but the soul,
That upward looks, may still desery
Nearer, each day, the brightening goal.
And thou, too curious ear, that fain
Wouldst thread the maze of Harmony,
Content thee with one simple strain,
The lowlier, sure, the worthier thee;
Till thou art duly trained, and taught
The concord sweet of Love divine:
Then, with that inward Music fraught,
For ever rise, and sing, and shine.

CHRISTMAS DAY.*
[DECEMBER 25.]

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, St. Luke ii. 13. [Second Morning Lesson.]

[Almighty God, who hast given us thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; grant that we, being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.]

WHAT sudden blaze of song

Spreads o'er th' expanse of Heav'n?

In waves of light it thrills along,

Th' angelic signal given—

*[The name given to this festival in the Prayer Book, sufficiently describes its objects,-"The nativity of our Lord, or the birth-day of Christ, commonly called Christmas Day.”]