If blessed Paul had stayed
In cot or learned shade,

With the priest's white attire,

And the saint's tuneful choir,

Men had not gnashed their teeth, nor risen to slay, But thou hadst been a heathen in thy day.

LXXIII.

TIME was, I shrank from what was right,
From fear of what was wrong;
I would not brave the sacred fight,
Because the foe was strong.

But now I cast that finer sense
And sorer shame aside;

Such dread of sin was indolence,
Such aim at heaven was pride.

So, when my Saviour calls, I rise,
And calmly do my best;

Leaving to Him, with silent eyes

Of hope and fear, the rest.

8.

I step, I mount where He has led ;
Men count my haltings o'er ;-

I know them; yet, though self I dread,
I love His precept more.

d.

LXXIV.

ΠΑΥΛΟΥ ΜΙΜΗΤΗΣ.

O LORD! when sin's close marshalled line
Urges thy witness on his way,
How should he raise Thy glorious Sign,
And how Thy will display?

Thy holy Paul, with soul of flame,

Rose on Mars'-hill, a soldier lone;

Shall I thus speak the Atoning Name,
Though with a heart of stone?

"Not so," He said :—" hush thee, and seek,

With thoughts in prayer and watchful eyes, My seasons sent for thee to speak,

And use them as they rise."

d.

LXXV.

THE SAINT AND THE HERO.

O AGED Saint! far off I heard

The praises of thy name;

Thy deed of power, thy skilful word,
Thy zeal's triumphant flame.

I came and saw; and, having seen,
Weak heart, I drew offence

From thy prompt smile, thy simple mien,
Thy lowly diligence.

The Saint's is not the Hero's praise ;

This have I found, and learn

Nor to profane Heaven's humblest ways,

Nor its least boon to spurn.

EASE.

LXXVI.

THE WATCH BY NIGHT.

"And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink?... As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing."

THE Ark of God is in the field,

Like clouds around the alien armies sweep;
Each by his spear, beneath his shield,
In cold and dew the anointed warriors sleep.

And can it be thou liest awake,

Sworn watchman, tossing on thy couch of down?
And doth thy recreant heart not ache

To hear the sentries round the leaguered town?

Oh dream no more of quiet life;

Care finds the careless out: more wise to vow

So

Thine heart entire to faith's pure strife;

peace will come, thou knowest not when or how.

LXXVII.

γι

JONAH.

"But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish, from the presence of the Lord."

DEEP in his meditative bower,
The tranquil seer reclined;
Numbering the creepers of an hour,

The gourds which o'er him twined.

To note each plant, to rear each fruit
Which soothes the languid sense,
He deemed a safe refined pursuit,—
His LORD, an indolence.

The sudden voice was heard at length,

"Lift thou the prophet's rod!"

But sloth had sapped the prophet's strength,
He feared, and fled from GOD.