"Those here in Rome that love me I shall trust To speed both you and him with needful aid-- Even as I trust them not to let me lack. Onesimus no doubt will find a way That ye could not, nor I, to carry help To Syrus in his far more wretched case-- Beset with household craft and cruelty. Pray ye for him; and lade Onesimus In seeking Syrus deep with love from me. Christ will not fail him, if he fail not Christ; 'It is but for a moment, all the pain,' Charge it upon Onesimus to say, 'But for eternal ages is the joy!' "Now unto such as can receive it I, Under this present imminence of woe Forerunning the return of Christ the Lord, Give counsel not to marry but abide In undistracted waiting for the Day. Yet for our Stephen and Eunicé here, Already long betrothed and lovers true, My will is as their will is; let them wed. Stephen as husband to Eunicé can In journeying better fend both her and Ruth Her mother; he as well can fend his own, Rachel, the only--sister of my heart!" Paul's voice a little failed him, ending thus; And all took knowledge how his kindred love Broke over him, a wave of tenderness! So Stephen and Eunicé wedded were, Paul each in turn adjuring solemnly: "Thou, O Eunicé, wilt as wife be true, That know I well, to whom thou thus hast wed. Submit thyself to him in loyal love, And as in pledged obedience to the Lord-- Less to his will so yielding than to Christ's. For God ordains it that the husband be Head to the wife, as to the church is Christ. But thou, O Stephen, judge what sanction so Is on the husband laid, to be how pure, Above self-will and selfishness how high, How full of ministration and of help, How ready ever to self-sacrifice For the wife's sake, how gentle and how kind! Thou, therefore, Stephen, love thy wife, even so As the Lord Jesus loved the church, His bride, And for her gave Himself. Be happy, ye, Belovéd, in a love so sanctified." Paul blessed them, and they felt that they were blessed. When soon from Rome they took their homeward way-- Ruth, Rachel, and the newly-wedded pair-- They wept that they had looked their last on Paul; Wept with rejoicing that, a little while, And the Lord coming would make all things glad.