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SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine: and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now. St. John ii. 10.
The heart of childhood is all mirth: We frolic to and fro As free and blithe, as if on earth Were no such thing as woe. |
But if indeed with reckless faith We trust the flattering voice, Which whispers, “Take thy fill ere death, Indulge thee and rejoice;” |
Too surely, every setting day, Some lost delight we mourn; The flowers all die along our way Till we, too, die forlorn. |
Such is the world’s gay garish feast, In her first charming bowl Infusing all that fires the breast, And cheats the unstable soul. |
And still, as loud the revel swells, The fever’d pulse beats higher, Till the sear’d taste from foulest wells Is fain to slake its fire. |
Unlike the feast of heavenly love Spread at the Saviour’s word For souls that hear His call, and prove Meet for His bridal board. |
Why should we fear, youth’s draught of joy If pure would sparkle less? Why should the cup the sooner cloy, Which God hath deign’d to bless? |
For, is it Hope, that thrills so keen Along each bounding vein, Still whispering glorious things unseen? — Faith makes the vision plain. |
The world would kill her soon: but Faith Her daring dreams will cherish, Speeding her gaze o’er time and death To realms where nought can perish. |
Or is it Love, the dear delight Of hearts that know no guile, That all around see all things bright With their own magic smile? |
The silent joy that sinks so deep, Of confidence and rest, Lull’d in a father’s arms to sleep, Clasp’d to a mother’s breast? |
Who, but a Christian, through all life That blessing may prolong? Who, through the world’s sad day of strife, Still chant his morning song? |
Fathers may hate us or forsake, God’s foundlings then are we: Mother on child no pity take,2121Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Isaiah xlix. 15. But we shall still have Thee. |
We may look home, and seek in vain A fond fraternal heart, But Christ hath given His promise plain To do a Brother’s part. |
Nor shall dull age, as worldlings say, The heavenward flame annoy: The Saviour cannot pass away, And with Him lives our joy. |
Ever the richest, tenderest glow Sets round the autumnal sun — But there sight fails: no heart may know The bliss when life is done. |
Such is Thy banquet, dearest Lord; O give us grace, to cast Our lot with Thine, to trust Thy word, And keep our best till last. |
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