"LOOKED UPON PETER." 345 "Christ turned and looked upon Peter." I THINK that look of Christ might seem to say— "Thou, Peter! art thou then a common stone, Which I at last must break my heart upon, For all God's charge to his high angels may ELIZABETH B. BROWNING. WHA "Looked upon Peter." HAT might it be that glance could paint? The more than sage-the more than saint- Was it that lightning thought retraced Say, did that face, to memory's eye, Still rest upon that brow divine? That, Lord! might frail as Peter's be! A heart that had denied thee still, E'en now-without a look from thee! SAMUEL M. WARING. PRAYER Prayer. RAYER is the soul's sincere desire, The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burthen of a sigh,— Prayer is the simplest form of speech Prayer the sublimest strains that reach Prayer is the Christian's vital breath- His watchword at the gates of death, Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice While angels on their wings rejoice, The saints in prayer appear as one STRIVE, WAIT, AND PRAY. Nor prayer is made on earth alone,- O Thou, by whom we come to God! JAMES MONTGOMERY. Strive, Wait, and Pray. TRIVE: yet I do not promise ST The prize you dream of to-day Will not fade when you think to grasp it, Wait: yet I do not tell you The hour you long for now Will not come with its radiance vanished, Yet, far through the misty future, With a crown of starry light, An hour of joy you know not Pray though the gift you ask for Yet pray, and with hopeful tears; 347 An answer, not that you long for, ADELAIDE A. PROCTER. Incompleteness. NOTHING resting in its own completeness, Can have worth or beauty: but alone, Because it leads and tends to farther sweetness, Fuller, higher, deeper than its own. Spring's real glory dwells not in the meaning, Gracious though it be, of her blue hours; But is hidden in her tender leaning Toward the summer's richer wealth of flowers Dawn is fair, because her mists fade slowly Life is only bright when it proceedeth Childhood's smiles unconscious graces borrow From strife that in a far-off future lies; And angel glances veiled now by life's sorrow Draw our hearts to some beloved eyes. Learn the mystery of progression duly : Do not call each glorious change decay; But know we only hold our treasures truly, When it seems as if they passed away. THE GIFTS OF GOD. Nor dare to blame God's gifts for incompleteness, Toward some infinite depth of love and sweetness, ADELAIDE A. PROCTER. The Gifts of God. HEN God at first made man, WHE Having a glass of blessings standing by; So strength first made a way; Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honor, pleasure; "For if I should," said he, "Bestow this jewel also on my creature, He would adore my gifts instead of me, And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature; So both should losers be. "Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessness; GEORGE HERBERT. 349 |