Brothers! spare reasoning ;-men have settled long

That ye are out of date, and they are wise;

Use their own weapons; let your words be strong, Your cry be loud, till each scared boaster flies; Thus the Apostles tamed the pagan breast,

They argued not, but preached; and conscience did

the rest.

LXXXII.

ZEAL BEFORE LOVE.

AND wouldst thou reach, rash scholar mine,

Love's high unruffled state?

Awake! thy easy dreams resign:

First learn thee how to hate.

Hatred of sin, and Zeal, and Fear,

Lead up the Holy Hill;

Track them, till Charity appear

A self-denial still.

d.

Feeble and false the brightest flame

By thoughts severe unfed ;

Book-lore ne'er served, when trial came,
Nor gifts, where faith was dead.

LXXXIII.

THE WRATH TO COME.

δ.

WHEN first God stirred me, and the Church's word
Came as a theme of reverent search and fear,
It little cost to own the lustre clear

O'er rule she taught, and rite, and doctrine poured;
For conscience craved, and reason did accord.

Yet one there was that wore a mien austere, And I did doubt, and, troubled, asked to hear Whose mouth had force to edge so sharp a sword. My mother oped her trust, the holy Book; And healed my pang. She pointed, and I found Christ on Himself, considerate Master, took The utterance of that doctrine's fearful sound. The Fount of Love His servants sends to tell Love's deeds; Himself reveals the sinner's hell.

CHRISTIAN CHIVALRY.

LXXXIV.

1.

66

SILENCE, unworthy! how should tones like thine Blend with the warnings of the good and true?

God hath no need of waverers round His shrine:

What hath th' unclean with Heaven's high cause to do?"
Thus in the deep of many a shrinking heart
The murmurings swell and heave of sad remorse;
And dull the soul, that else would keenly dart
Fearless along her heaven-illumined course.
But, wayward doubter, lift one glance on high;
What banner streams along thy destin'd way?

The pardoning Cross,-His Cross who deign'd to die To cleanse th' impure for His own bright array. Wash thee in His dear blood, and trembling wear His holy Sign, and take thy station there.

2.

Wash thee, and watch thine armour; as of old
The champions vow'd of Truth and Purity,
Ere the bright mantle might their limbs enfold,
Or spear of theirs in knightly combat vie,

Three summer nights outwatch'd the stars on high,
And found the time too short for busy dreams,
Pageants of airy prowess dawning nigh,

And Fame far hovering with immortal beams.
And more than prowess theirs, and more than fame;
No dream, but an abiding consciousness

Of an approving God, a righteous aim

An arm outstretch'd to guide them and to bless :
Firm as steel bows for Angels' warfare bent

They went abroad, not knowing where they went.

3.

For why? the sacred Pentecostal eve

Had bath'd them with its own inspiring dew,

And gleams more bright than summer sunsets leave
Lingering well-nigh to meet the morn's fresh hue,
Dwelt on each heart; as erst in memory true
The Spirit's chosen heralds o'er all lands,

Bore the bright tongues of fire. Thus, firm and few,
Now, in our fallen time, might faithful bands
Move on th' eternal way, the goal in sight,
Nor to the left hand swerve for gale or shower,
Nor pleasure win them, wavering to the right.
Alone with Heaven they were that awful hour,
When their oath seal'd them to the war of Faith:

Alone they will be in the hour of death.

Υ.