The Walk to Emmaus.

And they said one to another, "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures ?"-ST. LUKE XXIV. 32.

ABIDE with us-the evening shades
Begin already to prevail;
And as the ling'ring twilight fades,
Dark clouds along th' horizon sail.

Abide with us-the night is chill;
And damp and cheerless is the air;
Be our companion, Stranger, still,
And thy repose shall be our care.

Abide with us-thy converse sweet
Has well beguiled the tedious way;
With such a friend we joy to meet,
We supplicate thy longer stay.

Abide with us-for well we know

Thy skill to cheer the gloomy hour,
Like balm thy honied accents flow,-

Our wounded spirits feel their power.

224

THE WALK TO EMMAUS.

Abide with us-and still unfold

Thy sacred, thy prophetic lore;
What wondrous things of Jesus told!
Stranger, we thirst, we pant for more.

Abide with us-and still converse
Of Him who late on Calv'ry died;
Of Him the prophecies rehearse;
He was our friend they crucified.

Abide with us—our hearts are cold,

We thought that Israel he'd restore; But sweet the truths thy lips have told, And, Stranger, we complain no more.

Abide with us-we feel the charm,

That binds us to our unknown friend: Here pass the night secure from harm, Here, Stranger, let thy wand'rings end.

Abide with us:-to their request

The Stranger bows, with smiles divine; Then round the board the unknown guest And weary travelers recline.

Abide with us-amazed they cry,

As suddenly, whilst breaking bread,
Their own lost Jesus meets their eye,

With radiant glory on his head.

THE WALK TO EMMAUS.

Abide with us-thou heavenly Friend,
Leave not thy followers thus alone:
The sweet communion here must end,-
The heavenly visitant is gone!

Thomas Raffles.

15

225

Meeting of the Disciples.

"ARE the gates sure?-is every bolt made fast ?—
No dangerous whisper wandering through?
Dare we breathe calm, and, unalarmed, forecast
Our calls to suffer or to do?"

O ye of little faith! twelve hours ago,

He whom ye mourn, by power unbound The bonds ye fear; nor sealed stone below Barred Him, nor mailed guards around.

The Lord is risen indeed! His own have seen,
They who denied, have seen His face
Weeping and spared. Shall loyal hearts not lean
Upon his outstretched arm of grace?

Shine in your orbs, ye stars of God's new Heaven,
Or gathered or apart, shine clear!

Far, far beneath the opposing mists are driven,

The Invisible is waiting near.

Williams.

The Incredulity of Thomas.

But he said unto them, "Except I shall see in his hands the prints of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."-ST. JOHN XX. 25.

STILL doth that spirit linger upon earth;
Still the vain doubt has in delusion birth.
We hesitate, we cavil, we deny,

And ask, though all things answer in reply;
All nature echoes with one mighty Yes,
And only man will not his God confess.
Yet read him in his works, yon radiant sea,
Glassing the heaven's blue tranquillity ;
Noon on the waters, noon within the skies,
No cloud to shadow, and no wave to rise.
Now is thy triumph, man, unroll the sail,
Like the white meteor, glancing on the gale;
Go ride the billows, sweep before the wind,
And say, this is the mastery of the mind:
I gave those planks their shape to cut the seas,
I taught that canvass how to catch the breeze,
I guide the helm which tracks the pathless brine,
The work of my own hands the ship is mine.