Though thy hopes be faint and dim, If the sovereign Lord of all, Mark the sparrows when they fall, Shall He leave without a guide, Cast him helpless on the sea Can a mortal give thee peace, Bid thy fears, thy doubtings cease, Clear the path that seems to thee Who but He that formed the soul Can its noble powers control? Break the heavy chains that press thee, Quell the doubts that sore distress thee? At the fountain-head of light, Seek to clear thy shrouded sight. As the first faint streak of dawn Gilds the sky in opening morn; THE SAVIOUR. "He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him."-Isa. liii. 2. How oft does the conquering hero's praise, And the brilliant sparkle of beauty's eye But, alas; no comeliness is seen In the form of the lowly Nazarene: And the thoughtless worldling, passing by, Of Thy purchased ones, in whose raptured view, More glorious far than the sun's bright glow, To the glorious land of eternal day." STEPHEN. "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, "And said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.' "Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, "And cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep."-Acts vii. 55— 60. WHAT means yon furious crowd-whose angry brows Speak of dark passions, while their savage cry Appals the startled ear, and tells of hearts Boiling with fearful rage? they gnash their teeth, And breath deep curses on that patient man, Who, as a lamb 'midst howling wolves, unmov'd Hears alll their fury with a peaceful brow, Fierce grow the savage multitude, and stop They drag him forth to stone him; he kneels down And, with a holy faith and calm submission, Receives the murderous shower; but his bright eye |