Page:The Christian Year 1887.djvu/32

 When the shore is won at last, Who will count the billows past?

Only, since our souls will shrink At the touch of natural grief, When our earthly loved ones sink, Lend us, Lord, Thy sure relief; Patient hearts, their pain to see, And Thy grace, to follow Thee.


 * These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Rev. xiv. 4.

Say, ye celestial guards, who wait In Bethlehem, round the Saviour's palace gate, Say, who are these on golden wings, That hover o'er the new-born King of kings, Their palms and garlands telling plain That they are of the glorious martyr-train, Next to yourselves ordained to praise His Name, and brighten as on Him they gaze?

But where their spoils and trophies? where The glorious dint a martyr's shield should bear? How chance no cheek among them wears The deep-worn trace of penitential tears, But all is bright and smiling love, As if, fresh-borne from Eden's happy grove, They had flown here, their King to see, Nor ever had been heirs of dark mortality?

Ask, and some angel will reply, "These, like yourselves, were born to sin and die,  But ere the poison root was grown, God set His seal, and marked them for His own.   Baptised its blood for Jesus' sake, Now underneath the Cross their bed they make,   Not to be scared from that sure rest By frightened mother's shriek, or warrior's waving crest."