O, Virgin Nature! with wild flowers bedeck'd,
Cease the emotion of this young breeze-sigh,
For he shall kiss full soon

The dew tears from thine eye.

Hark! 'tis the bridal song-' We worship Thee,
O GOD, the FATHER, with full hymns of praise,
Who fillest with food the frame,

The soul with heavenly grace.

'Thee we adore, O JESU! Thee, the SON,
Only begotten, Who once deignedst to come
In that pure maid, within

The closet of the womb.

'Led to the cross, a victim Thou wast made,
Unto the GOD, Whose wrath so fiercely burned;
Through Thee, sole SAVIOUR, Thee,
Life's hope to us return'd.

'And Thee, Eternal SPIRIT, by Whose breath
The Infant-GOD that Virgin Mother bore;
To Thee the hymn of joy

We raise for evermore.

'O, Triune GOD! most blessed Power! Who work'd
Poor man's salvation from bad spirits strong;

This wondrous mystery

We sing with triumph's song.'

The rites are done. And Thou, O SPIRIT Blest,
Hearing the triumph note wilt not condemn,

That we have raised to Heaven

Praise for Thy requiem!"

Other poets have been inspired by the circumstances we have described. Professor Wilson of Edinburgh, once a member of the College, and the authors of the "Baptistery," and "Nature, a Parable, are among them. We must content ourselves with one of the most beautiful.

Ring on, ring on, ye solemn chimes,

And let us wander still,

Still wander in the blissful dream of happy olden times!

Hail, hallow'd visions on our way attending
With dews of morn again, and singing voices blending,
Where yearly in that vernal hour

The sacred City is in shades reclining,

With gilded turrets in the sunrise shining :-
From sainted Magdalene's aërial tower

Sounds far aloof that ancient chant are singing,

And round the heart again those solemn memories bringing.

What wonder if that matin hymn

Sounds like the song of Seraphim?

The present all unreal seems, from Heaven
Such power is to the past and awful future given.
Things long ago come floating back again
With all their cloud-borne airy train;
From those bright clouds an Angel seems to lean,
And thence to speak of the Unseen,
Of better things that once have been,
Better than all that doth remain ;

As if to bring protection round,

On that fair town with holy turrets crown'd,
Their bright assemblage far disclosing,

In morning's mantle green all freshly now reposing.

WILLIAMS' BAPTISTERY, p. iv. 96.

There are other observances practised in the choir of Magdalen College, at Christmas and other festive periods, which we may, perhaps, notice in their proper seasons.

J. E. M.

SHORT ESSAYS ON CHRISTIAN DUTY.

"He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart receive the blessing from the LORD."

No. VI.

PRAYER is a duty commanded to Christian men, and both directly and indirectly are we, in Holy Scripture, assured of its efficacy. Too numerous to be here cited are the promises that our FATHER Which is in heaven, will hear the cry of His children; while the parables, and deeds of Him, in Whom dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, alike declare to us this consolatory truth. He did not

when weary and heavy laden with maladies of mind, soul, and body, they thronged to His gracious presence, Whose hands, as well as lips, dropped blessings upon the poor and miserable. He healed their diseases and forgave all their sin. And yet that so many of the prayers of GOD's Church and people now remain unanswered, notwithstanding these declarations of His will concerning us, is a circumstance that fills our minds with perplexity, and ought to lead us to serious consideration to "try out our ways," lest anything in ourselves may be the barrier that even His grace and love Who created and redeemed us,

cannot pass over. Continually is the Church pouring out her supplications for all her members, in the varied circumstances in which religious, civil, and social obligations may place them. Nor for them only, but for all men; for the ignorant, the deceived, for those who are gone astray from the right way; and, like her Master, for her enemies. And our hearts die within us at the offences against society, against truth, against GOD, daily committed by those who have passed through the laver of regeneration; while so few of them that are without are brought to its healing waters.

"Has GOD forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?" Nay, is it not our own infirmity, or haply sin, which deprives us of those things promised to them that ask? It must be our care, in expecting an answer to our prayers, that they are offered up aright. David says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear me;" and the Pharisees themselves could teach us that "GOD heareth not sinners." Sin must be renounced both in will and deed, before we have any claim on God's promises vouchsafed to faithful prayer. Nor will a slight examination of our hearts and lives, of our motives, principles, thoughts, words, and actions, suffice for this. It must be sought out. "Let us search, and try our ways, and return to the LORD our GOD." There are many hiding-places in which our enemy will lurk, whence he may secretly influence, though he may not rule us; turning to his own purposes, and into weapons against our peace, every thought which has not been brought into subjection to the law of CHRIST. He will skilfully turn to account those small things which we think unworthy of notice. The insignificant circumstances of our daily life, our peculiarities both of mind and body will be used against us, unless, with Christian circumspection, we constantly, by prayer, watching thereunto with all perseverance, seek to have even these rendered subservient to the great purpose of our life; instead of being, as they too often are, to the sincere but thoughtless heart, an "occasion of falling.' My people do not consider," was the complaint brought against GOD's Church of old. And how may it not be reiterated of us? It is because we do not consider the obligations laid upon us by our baptism, which pervade our whole life, that our religion is of so low a tone, and our prayers so fruitless. Hence we see such anomalies as Christian men disloyal, or at least utterly indifferent to the command which bids us "honour the king;" others giving their sanction to social schemes, which not only do not acknowledge GOD, but which are in direct opposition to His truth, proclaiming that man's well-being depends not upon obedience to his Maker, but upon political arrangements. And sin,

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in the breaking of those ordinances of man to which we are commanded to submit, for the LORD's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or unto governors as unto them that are sent by йim for the punishment of evil doers, is their first step to happiness. We need not refer to the open vice of too many upon whom the obligation and grace of baptism have been conferred-the grace rejected, but the obligation resting with more fearful weight for that despite; to explain how it is that our prayers are hindered." The faults, the short-comings, the sins of those of stricter life, unnerve our supplications. We are not good subjects, good citizens, good members of social and domestic life; our piety, in these relations, is not an active principle; in them we do not fulfil our duties "heartily, as to the LORD." Our submission to lawful rule is often a dull, unprincipled submission; or, alas, that it should ever be said of Christian men, we break or evade the law if it presses unpleasantly upon us, and it is in our power to do so! We fancy other classes more lightly burdened than ourselves, and then we are discontented and envious, and cherish against them ill-will in our hearts, if we do not actually speak evil of them. The rich and the poor alike forget that they are "members one of another," and that they have each a duty to the other. In our families we do not dwell as "heirs together of the grace of life." There is "eye-service on the one hand, and on the other no recognition of the truth that our Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with Him."

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Let us be wise in time. Let us pray more faithfully that "the continual pity of our GOD may cleanse and defend His Church," and that our prayers may be effectual. Let David's resolution be ours: "I will wash my hands in innocency, O LORD; and so will I go to Thine altar."

THE ANGEL OF LIFE.
CHAP. VII.

"Do not despond, dearest sister; we must hope ever, and be patient; if not to-day, perhaps he will come to-morrow: we must bear up, and not give way to disappointment. If it is his will-"

"Is all well?" asked a deep voice.

Ernest turned, but saw nobody. "Did you hear some one speak, Rosalie? Was it you?"

"No, brother, I heard nothing, nor did I speak."

"It was I who spoke to you," said the stranger, with a dark frown. "It was I who asked you if all was well. You answer

me not, and with good reason: what gratitude and obedience have you shown for the kindness and patience lavished upon you? Well may you tremble and weep, foolish creatures : what avail such things? Will they make amends for selfishness and sin? Will grief without repentance obtain forgiveness for your folly, or lead you in the paths of peace? Will tears restore time and opportunities for ever lost? Look at yon bird, how she teareth her feathers, and flieth distractedly through the sky; she hath lost her young, carried off, wandering from her sheltering nest, by the devouring eagle, while she went in search of food. Disobeying her commands, they are lost; they had no time for consideration; their disobedience bath brought instant destruction. So might it have been with you, careless ones; a little longer time is still yours, endeavour to improve it, so that it may prove a blessing and not a curse. Had you not gone astray and sinned, the immortal lily had been yours to-day; that beauteous flower which never fadeth, whose fragrance is ever enduring.'

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Pray, do pray teach us, kind stranger, how we ought to behave; how we may make amends for our ingratitude and folly. We do not know how to begin aright."

"You have that with you and within you, which will fit you for the right performance of your duty, if you seek it in a proper spirit. I am come only to warn and encourage: to those only am I sent who are greatly beloved. All things necessary for you to know are in your book; if you studied it more with prayer and humility, you would become happier and better; everything would increase in brightness, and you would be at peace with yourselves, and with all men. Another task is now allotted you; a narrow path must be made to conduct you home through this forest of desolation; a wall on either side to protect and defend you. Such an undertaking is difficult for such young people, but all things are possible to those who do their best; those heavy stones you brought from the mountain side, are to be the building materials: work diligently, for as soon as it is accomplished, if you are faithful, you shall return home."

He then placed in their hands a small trowel, and an axe to cut down the briars and branches that intercept the path. "It must not be above two feet in width, so you may touch it on either side as you go along. Come, and I will show you the line of road, as well as the manner of building required."

Ernest and Rosalie followed their guide into a trackless waste of wilderness; they could not at first see the least vestige of a road, though on stooping down and observing very attentively the direction of his staff, something like a tiny line, amongst the rank vegetation and prickly shrubs, was discernible; beneath