Of His eventful life, till, lost in thought, I can forgive the worshipper who bows It has to teach the heart. For ever, as I It teacheth me: gaze, I see the LORD In some great scene He mingled in on earth, And, even now, the ages roll away, And I am taken back amid the crowd That hung upon his path in Holy Land. The vision deepens let me write it here: 'Twas evening in Judea. Through the day The Saviour taught the people, and the crowd Still lingered, for the magic of His words And swelled the number of His anxious train: Women were there, for He, whose voice they heard, Was unto them invested with a garb That won their gentle hearts with magic power. All classes had their representatives: The artisan forgot his implements — SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME. 3 The hewers and the drawers left their toil The poor had holiday when He appeared. Thus through the day, untired, the Saviour toiled, And taught the people till the evening closed, And nature bade them seek their homes again. Yet did not all depart: a little group Still lingered, and, with timid steps, approached The Teacher, ere He passed beyond their town. And they were mothers: each had clasped in hers The little hands of children, or their breasts Sustained the infants, yet unused to walk. What sought they of the Saviour, that they bore Who yet rebuked them that they still pursued. He gently turned, rebuking them instead, And then He stood, while, round His sacred feet, With a peculiar holiness and love, He prays, And to His Father doth commend the lambs 66 My Father's kingdom is of such as these." How blest those mothers as from His embrace They took again their children to their own! How blest those children, into whose young hearts The Spirit of their Holy Saviour stole ! And so the Lord passed on, ere long to be The King in mockery as I see Him now. THE TEMPEST STILLED. BY THE REV. I. GILBORNE LYONS, LL. D. THE strong winds burst on Judah's sea, When o'er that bark the loud waves roar'd, As wild herds rest on field and hill, And turning to the startled men How is it that ye have no faith, Or faith so quickly shaken?" Then, then, those doubters saw with dread Their limbs wax'd faint, their boldness fled, And winds and waves obey Him!" |