"LOOKED UPON PETER." 345 66 'Christ turned and looked upon Peter." I THINK that look of Christ might seem to say 66 Thou, Peter! art thou then a common stone, ELIZABETH B. BROWNING. "Looked upon Peter." WHAT 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? I know not;--but I know a will 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 is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed; 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 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 347 An answer, not that you long for, ADELAIDE A. PROCTER. N Incompleteness. OTHING 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, 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 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, ADELAIDE A. PROCTER. The Gifts of God. WHEN 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 |