Friend and scholar, lover of the right, mine equal kind companion,-- I prize indeed thy favour, and these sympathies are dear: Still, if thy heart be little with me, wot thou well, my brother, I canvass not the smiles of praise, nor dread the frowns of censure. Through many themes in many thoughts, have we held sweet converse; But God alone be praised for mind! He only is sufficient, And every thought in every theme by prayer had been established: Who then should fear the face of man, when God hath answered prayer?-- I speak it not in arrogance of heart, but humbly as of justice, I think it not in vanity of soul, but tenderly, for gratitude,-- God hath blest my mind, and taught it many truths: And I have echoed some to thee, in weakness, yet sincerely: Yea, though ignorance and error shall have marred those lessons of His teaching, I stand in mine own Master's praise, or fall to His reproof. If thou lovest, help me with thy blessing; if otherwise, mine shall be for thee; If thou approvest, heed my words; if otherwise, in kindness be my teacher. Many mingled thoughts for self have warped my better aim; Many motives tempted still, to toil for pride or praise: Alas, I have loved pride and praise, like others worse or worthier; But hate and fear them now, as snakes that fastened on my hand: Scævola burnt both hand and crime; but Paul flung the viper on the fire: He shook it off, and felt no harm: so be it! I renounce them. Rebuke then, if thou wilt rebuke,--but neither hastily nor harshly; Or, if thou wilt commend, be it honestly, of right: I work for God and good. [Illustration: The End of the Second Series] BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. * * * * * * Transcriber's note: Apparent typographical errors have been corrected. Hyphenation has been made consistent.