Unseen, unfelt their earthly growth, And self-accused of sin and sloth, They live and die; their names decay, Their fragrance passes quite away; Like violets in the freezing blast No vernal steam around they cast.— But they shall flourish from the tomb, The breath of God shall wake them into odorous bloom. Then on the incarnate Saviour’s breast, The fount of sweetness, they shall rest, Their spirits every hour imbued More deeply with His precious blood. But peace—still voice and closèd eye Suit best with hearts beyond the sky, Hearts training in their low abode, Daily to lose themselves in hope to find their God. Septuagesima Sunday. The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made. _Romans_ i. 20. THERE is a book, who runs may read, Which heavenly truth imparts, And all the lore its scholars need, Pure eyes and Christian hearts. The works of God above, below, Within us and around, Are pages in that book, to show How God Himself is found. The glorious sky embracing all Is like the Maker’s love, Wherewith encompassed, great and small In peace and order move. The Moon above, the Church below, A wondrous race they run, But all their radiance, all their glow, Each borrows of its Sun. The Savour lends the light and heat That crowns His holy hill; The saints, like stars, around His seat Perform their courses still. The saints above are stars in heaven— What are the saints on earth? Like tress they stand whom God has given, Our Eden’s happy birth. Faith is their fixed unswerving root, Hope their unfading flower, Fair deeds of charity their fruit, The glory of their bower. The dew of heaven is like Thy grace, It steals in silence down; But where it lights, this favoured place By richest fruits is known. One Name above all glorious names With its ten thousand tongues The everlasting sea proclaims. Echoing angelic songs. The raging Fire, the roaring Wind, Thy boundless power display; But in the gentler breeze we find Thy Spirit’s viewless way. Two worlds are ours: ’tis only Sin Forbids us to descry The mystic heaven and earth within, Plain as the sea and sky. Thou, who hast given me eyes to see And love this sight so fair, Give me a heart to find out Thee, And read Thee everywhere. Sexagesima Sunday. So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. _Genesis_ iii. 24; compare chap. vi.