“The loving eye that watches thine Close as the air that wraps thee round— Why in thy sorrow should it pine, Since never of thy sin it found? And wherefore should the heathen see What chains of darkness thee enslave, And mocking say, ‘Lo, this is he Who owned a God that could not save’?” Thus oft the mourner’s wayward heart Tempts him to hide his grief and die, Too feeble for Confession’s smart, Too proud to bear a pitying eye; How sweet, in that dark hour, to fall On bosoms waiting to receive Our sighs, and gently whisper all! They love us—will not God forgive? Else let us keep our fast within, Till Heaven and we are quite alone, Then let the grief, the shame, the sin, Before the mercy-seat be thrown. Between the porch and altar weep, Unworthy of the holiest place, Yet hoping near the shrine to keep One lowly cell in sight of grace. Nor fear lest sympathy should fail— Hast thou not seen, in night hours drear, When racking thoughts the heart assail, The glimmering stars by turns appear, And from the eternal house above With silent news of mercy steal? So Angels pause on tasks of love, To look where sorrowing sinners kneel. Or if no Angel pass that way, He who in secret sees, perchance May bid His own heart-warming ray Toward thee stream with kindlier glance, As when upon His drooping head His Father’s light was poured from Heaven, What time, unsheltered and unfed, Far in the wild His steps were driven. High thoughts were with Him in that hour, Untold, unspeakable on earth— And who can stay the soaring power Of spirits weaned from worldly mirth, While far beyond the sound of praise With upward eye they float serene, And learn to bear their Saviour’s blaze When Judgment shall undraw the screen? First Sunday in Lent. Haste thee, escape thither: for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. _Genesis_ xix. 22. “ANGEL of wrath! why linger in mid-air, While the devoted city’s cry Louder and louder swells? and canst thou spare, Thy full-charged vial standing by?” Thus, with stern voice, unsparing Justice pleads: He hears her not—with softened gaze His eye is following where sweet Mercy leads, And till she give the sign, his fury stays. Guided by her, along the mountain road, Far through the twilight of the morn, With hurried footsteps from the accursed abode He sees the holy household borne; Angels, or more, on either hand are nigh, To speed them o’er the tempting plain, Lingering in heart, and with frail sidelong eye Seeking how near they may unharmed remain.