In vain, to win proud Pharisees,

Spake, and was heard by fell disease*-
But not in vain, beside yon breezy lake,†
Bade the meek Publican his gainful seat forsake:

At once he rose, and left his gold;
His treasure and his heart
Transferr'd, where he shall safe behold
Earth and her idols part;

While he beside his endless store

Shall sit, and floods unceasing pour

Of Christ's true riches o'er all time and space, First angel of his Church, first steward of his grace;‡

Nor can ye not delight to think§

Where he vouchsaf'd to eat,

How the Most Holy did not shrink
From touch of sinner's meat;

What worldly hearts and hearts impure

Went with him through the rich man's door,
That we might learn of Him lost souls to love,
And view his least and worst with hope to meet above.

These gracious lines shed Gospel light
On Mammon's gloomiest cells,
As on some city's cheerless night
The tide of sun-rise swells,

* It seems from St. Matthew ix. 8, 9, that the calling of Levi took place immediately after the healing of the paralytic in the presence of the Pharisees.

[The lake of Gennesaret, by the side of which the custom house stood, in which Matthew exercised his vocation.]

[Angel-Messenger, Apostle.]

§ [St. Matthew ix. 10. And Levi (Matthew) made him a great feast in his own house." Luke v. 29. Matthew, though he mentions the feast, omits, with becoming modesty, to say who gave it.]

Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proud
Are mantled with a golden cloud,

And to wise hearts this certain hope is given;

"No mist that man may raise, shall hide the eye of Heaven."

And oh! if even on Babel shine

Such gleams of Paradise,

Should not their peace be peace divine,

Who day by day arise

To look on clearer heavens, and scan The work of God untouch'd by man? Shame on us, who about us Babel bear, And live in Paradise, as if God was not there!

ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.*

[SEPTEMBER 29.]

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Hebrews i. 14.

[O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of angels and men in a wonderful order; mercifully grant, that as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven; so, by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.]

YE stars that round the Sun of righteousness
In glorious order roll,

With harps for ever strung, ready to bless
God for each rescued soul,

*[The Church, on this festival, commemorates the services of that order of celestial beings, who are appointed to minister to such as shall be heirs of salvation. Michael is named in the Scripture as the archangel.]

Ye eagle spirits, that build in light divine,

Oh think of us to-day,

Faint warblers of this earth, that would combine
Our trembling notes with your accepted lay.

Your amaranth wreaths were earn'd; and homeward all,
Flush'd with victorious might,

Ye might have sped to keep high festival,
And revel in the light;

But meeting us, weak worldlings, on our way,
Tired ere the fight begun,

Ye turn'd to help us in the unequal fray,
Remembering whose we were, how dearly won:

Remembering Bethlehem, and that glorious night
When ye, who used to soar

Diverse along all space in fiery flight,
Came thronging to adore

Your God new-born, and made a sinner's child;
As if the stars should leave

Their stations in the far ethereal wild,
And round the sun a radiant circle weave.

Nor less your lay of triumph greeted fair
Our Champion and your King,

In that first strife, whence Satan in despair
Sunk down on scathed wing:

Alone He fasted, and alone He fought;
But when his toils were o'er

Ye to the sacred Hermit duteous brought
Banquet and hymn, your Eden's festal store.

Ye too, when lowest in th' abyss of wo
He plung'd to save his sheep,

Were leaning from your golden thrones to know
The secrets of that deep:

But clouds were on his sorrow: one alone

His agonizing call

Summon'd from heaven, to still that bitterest groan, And comfort Him, the Comforter of all.

Oh! highest favour'd of all spirits create,
(If right of thee we deem)

How didst thou glide on brightening wing elate
To meet th' unclouded beam

Of Jesus from the couch of darkness rising!
How swell'd thine anthem's sound,

With fear and mightier joy weak hearts surprising, "Your God is risen, and may not here be found."

Pass a few days, and this dull darkling globe
Must yield him from her sight;-

Brighter and brighter streams his glory-robe,
And He is lost in light.

Then, when through yonder everlasting arch,
Ye in innumerous choir

Pour'd, heralding Messiah's conquering march,
Linger'd around his skirts two forms of fire;

With us they staid, high warning to impart;
"The Christ shall come again

Even as He goes; with the same human heart,
With the same godlike train."-

Oh! jealous God! how could a sinner dare
Think on that dreadful day,

But that with all thy wounds Thou wilt be there,
And all our angel friends to bring Thee on thy way?

Since to thy little ones is given such grace,,
That they who nearest stand

Alway to God in heaven, and see His face,
Go forth at His command,

To wait around our path in weal or wo,
As erst upon our King,

Set thy baptismal seal upon our brow,

And waft us heaven-ward with enfolding wing:

Grant, Lord, that when around th' expiring world
Our seraph guardians wait,

While on her death-bed, ere to ruin hurl'd,
She owns Thee, all too late,

They to their charge may turn, and thankful see
Thy mark upon us still;

Then altogether rise, and reign with Thee,
And all their holy joy o'er contrite hearts fulfil!

ST. LUKE.*

[OCTOBER 18.]

Luke the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

Colossians iv. 14.

Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world. Only Luke is with me. 2 Tim. iv. 10, 11. [Epistle for the Day.]

[Almighty God, who calledst Luke the Physician, whose praise is in the Gospel, to be an Evangelist and Physician of the soul; may it please thee, that by the wholesome medicines of the doctrine delivered by him, all the diseases of our souls may be healed, through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.]

*

TWO clouds before the summer gale

In equal race fleet o'er the sky:
Two flowers, when wintry blasts assail,
Together pine, together die.

[St. Luke is said to have been born at Antioch. He was a physician; and after his conversion, accompanied St. Paul. He wrote a Gospel, and the Acts of the Apostles.]