SOBRIETY.

LXIV.

Him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu, shall Elisha slay.

Christ bade His followers take the sword,

And yet He chid the deed,

When hasty Peter seized His word

And made a foe to bleed.

The gospel Creed, a sword of strife,

Meek hands alone may rear:

And ever Zeal begins its life

In silent thought and fear.

Ye, who would weed the Vineyard's soil,
Treasure the lesson given;

Lest in the judgment-books ye toil

For Satan, not for heaven.

d.

LXV.

"Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD."

Thou to wax fierce

In the cause of the LORD.

To threat and to pierce

With the heavenly sword!

Anger and Zeal,

And the Joy of the brave,
Who bade thee to feel,
Sin's slave.

The Altar's pure flame
Consumes as it soars;

Faith meetly may blame,
For it serves and adores.
Thou warnest and smitest!
Yet CHRIST must atone

For a soul that thou slightest-
Thine own.

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LXVI.

Thy words are good, and freely given,
As though thou felt them true;

Friend, think thee well, to hell and heaven
A serious heart is due.

It pains thee sore, man's will should swerve
In his true path divine;

And yet thou venturest nought to serve
Thy neighbour's weal nor thine.

Beware! such words may once be said,
Where shame and fear unite;
But, spoken twice, they mark instead

A sin against the light.

LXVII.

DEEDS NOT WORDS.

Prune thou thy words, the thoughts control
That o'er thee swell and throng;

They will condense within thy soul,

And change to purpose strong.

But he, who lets his feelings run

In soft luxurious flow,

Shrinks when hard service must be done,

And faints at every woe.

Faith's meanest deed more favor bears,
Where hearts and wills are weighed,
Than brightest transports, choicest prayers,

Which bloom their hour and fade.

LXVIII.

I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?

How didst thou start, Thou Holy Baptist, bid
To pour repentance on the Sinless Brow!
Then all thy meekness, from thy hearers hid,

Beneath the Ascetic's port, and Preacher's fire, Flowed forth, and with a pang thou didst desire HE might be chief, not thou.

And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim

Chief powers we fear, or dare some forward part; Nor must we shrink as cravens from the blame

Of pride, in common eyes, or purpose deep; But with pure thoughts look up to God, and keep

Our secret in our heart.