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Ruling them all as his household；forgiving in turn and
chastising；
That is of human life a picture； as Scripture has taught us。
Blest are the pure before God！ Upon purity and upon virtue
Resteth the Christian Faith： she herself from on high is
descended。
Strong as a man and pure as a child； is the sum of the doctrine；
Which the Divine One taught； and suffered and died on the cross
for
Oh； as ye wander this day from childhood's sacred asylum
Downward and ever downward； and deeper in Age's chill valley；
Oh； how soon will ye come；too soon！and long to turn
backward
Up to its hill…tops again； to the sun…illumined； where Judgment
Stood like a father before you； and Pardon； clad like a mother；
Gave you her hand to kiss； and the loving heart was for given
Life was a play and your hands grasped after the roses of heaven！
Seventy years have I lived already； the Father eternal
Gave rue gladness and care； but the loveliest hours of
existence；
When I have steadfastly gazed in their eyes； I have instantly
known them；
Known them all again；the were my childhood's acquaintance。
Therefore take from henceforth； as guides in the paths of
existence；
Prayer； with her eyes raised to heaven； and。 Innocence； bride of
man's childhood
Innocence； child beloved； is a guest from the world of the
blessed；
Beautiful； and in her hand a lily； on life's roaring billows
Swings she in safety； she heedeth them not in the ship she is
sleeping。
Calmly she gazes around in the turmoil of men； in the desert
Angels descend and minister unto her； she herself knoweth
Naught of her glorious attendance； but follows faithful and
humble；
Follows so long as she may her friend； oh do not reject her；
For she cometh from God and she holdeth the keys of the heavens。
Prayer is Innocence' friend； and willingly flieth incessant
'Twixt rhe earth and the sky； the carrier…pigeon of heaven；
Son of Eternity； fettered in Time； and an exile； the Spirit
Tugs at his chains evermore； and struggles like flame ever
upward。
Still he recalls with emotion his Father's manifold mansions；
Thinks of the land of his fathers； where blossomed more freshly
the flowerets；
Shone a more beautiful sun； and he played with the wingM angels。
Then grows the earth too narrow； too close； and homesick for
heaven
Longs the wanderer again； and the Spirit's longings are worship；
Worship is called his most beautiful hour； and its tongue is
entreaty。
Aid when the infinite burden of life descendeth upon us；
Crushes to earth our hope； and； under the earth； in the
graveyard；
Then it is good to pray unto God； for his sorrowiug children
Turns he ne'er from his door； but he heals and helps and
consoles them；
Yet is it better to pray when all things are prosperous ti ith
us；
Pray in fortunate days； for life's most beautiful Fortune
Kneels before the Eternal's throne； and with hands interfolded；
Praises thankful and moved the only giver of blessings。
Or do ye know； ye children； one blessing that comes not from
Heaven？
What has mankind forsooth； the poor！ that it has not received？
Therefore； fall in the dust and pray！ The seraphs adoring
Cover with pinions six their face in the glory of him who
Hung his masonry pendent on naught； when the world be created。
Earth declareth his might； and the firmament utters his glory。
Races blossom and die； and stars fall downward from heaven；
Downward like withered leaves； at the last stroke of midnight；
millenniums
Lay themselves down at his feet； and he sees them； but counts
them as nothing
Who shall stand in his presence？ The wrath of the judge is
terrific；
Casting the insolent down at a glance。 When he speaks in his
anger
Hillocks skip like the kid； and mountains leap like the roebuck。
Yet；why are ye afraid； ye children？ This awful avenger；
Ah！ is a merciful God！ God's voice was not in the earthquake；
Not in the fire； nor the storm； but it was in the whispering
breezes。
Love is the root of creation； God's essence； worlds without
number
Lie in his bosom like children； he made them for this purpose
only。
Only to love and to be loved again； he breathed forth his spirit
Into the slumbering dust； and upright standing； it laid its
Hand on its heart； and felt it was warm with a flame out of
heaven。
Quench； oh quench not that flame！ It is the breath of your being。
Love is life； but hatred is death。 Not father； nor mother
Loved you； as God has loved you； for 't was that you may be
happy
Gave he his only Son。 When he bowed down his head in the death…
hour
Solemnized Love its triumph； the sacrifice then was completed。
Lo！ then was rent on a sudden the veil of the temple； dividing
Earth and heaven apart； and the dead from their sepulchres rising
Whispered with pallid lips and low in the ears of each other
Th' answer； but dreamed of before； to creation's enigma；
Atonement！
Depths of Love are Atonement's depths； for Love is Atonement。
Therefore； child of mortality； love thou the merciful Father；
Wish what the Holy One wishes； and not from fear； but affection
Fear is the virtue of slaves ； but the heart that loveth is
willing
Perfect was before God； and perfect is Love； and Love only。
Lovest thou God as thou oughtest； then lovest thou likewise thy
brethren：
One is the sun in heaven； and one； only one； is Love also。
Bears not each human figure the godlike stamp on his forehead
Readest thou not in his face thou origin？ Is he not sailing
Lost like thyself on an ocean unknown； and is he not guided
By the same stars that guide thee？ Why shouldst thou hate then
thy brother？
Hateth he thee； forgive！ For 't is sweet to stammer one letter
Of the Eternal's language；on earth it is called Forgiveness！
Knowest thou Him； who forgave； with the crown of thorns on his
temples？
Earnestly prayed for his foes； for his murderers？ Say； dost thou
know him？
Ah！ thou confessest his name； so follow likewise his example；
Think of thy brother no ill； but throw a veil over his failings；
Guide the erring aright； for the good； the heavenly shepherd
Took the lost lamb in his arms； and bore it back to its mother。
This is the fruit of Love； and it is by its fruits that we know
it。
Love is the creature's welfare； with God； but Love among mortals
Is but an endless sigh！ He longs； and endures； and stands
waiting；
Suffers and yet rejoices； and smiles with tears on his eyelids。
Hope；so is called upon earth； his recompense； Hope； the
befriending；
Does what she can； for she points evermore up to heaven； and
faithful
Plunges her anchor's peak in the depths of the grave； and
beneath it
Paints a more beautiful world； a dim； but a sweet play of
shadows！
Races； better than we； have leaned on her wavering promise；
Having naught else but Hope。 Then praise we our Father in
heaven；
Him； who has given us more； for to us has Hope been
transfigured；
Groping no longer in night； she is Faith； she is living
assurance。
Faith