66 Looking for death as his release, "No stately structure of decay, "No cold fair form of lifeless clay, "A living Temple, holy shrine, "The image of the Lord divine, "This is the man, yes, this is he "Who keeps alive Christ's memory." GOOD FRUITS. "Their works do follow them." Naked as when we left our mother's womb Yet not for that is life of little gain ; Our holy deeds remain : For as in Autumn-time, When fruits are in their prime, An aged tree, set in an orchard fair, Can scarce unpropped its load of fruitage bear, Then comes a storm, and, smitten by the blast, It holds no longer but succumbs at last, Yet even in its fall it has not lost The mighty load of fruit which is its boast; They bear with them below a glorious load M LIFE FROM THE DEAD. "The shadow of heavenly things." These outward things-how much they show Of things above to men below! They live, they die, they rise again— Lesson of hope to mortal men: Planted in this God's earthly bower, Till, in the world's great Springtide, we SEED-TIME AND HARVEST. “Look down from thy holy habitation, and bless thy people Israel." Unfruitful though I be, Be found in me, thy field, And precious golden store From me be gathered in to Heaven's great garner floor, For which to thee will be the praise and glory, Lord, for evermore. THE TARES. "Whence hath it tares ?" Thou wicked weed, Who dropped thy seed Into the earth To cause a dearth, Aping so vain The goodly grain ? Some damned wight, The child of Night, Or goblin foul, Or loathsome fowl, Or hell-born breath Laden with death: Thou shalt not stay To mock the day, Thou shalt not curse The ground thy nurse, Thou shalt not spoil The reaper's toil; |