Ask not of him more than this;
Leave it in his Saviour's breast,
Whether, early called to bliss,

He in youth shall find his rest,
Or armed in his station wait
Till his Lord be at the gate;

Whether in his lonely course,

(Lonely, not forlorn) he stay,
Or with love's supporting force
Cheat the toil and cheer the way;
Leave it all in his high hand,
Who doth hearts as streams command.*

Gales from heaven, if so He will,
Sweeter melodies can wake
On the lonely mountain rill,

Than the meeting waters make.
Who hath the Father and the Son,
May be left but not alone.

Sick or healthful, slave or free,
Wealthy, or despised and poor-
What is that to him or thee,

So his love to Christ endure?
When the shore is won at last,
Who will count the billows past?

The king's heart is in the hand of the water; he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Lord as the rivers of
Prov. xxi. 1.

Only, since our souls will shrink
At the touch of natural grief,
When our earthly loved ones sink,
Lend us, Lord, thy sure relief;
Patient hearts, their pain to see,
And thy grace, to follow thee.

SAINT MATTHIAS'S DAY.

FEBRUARY 24.

COLLECT. O Almighty God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve apostles; grant that thy church, being alway preserved from false apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN.

Who is God's chosen priest?

He who on Christ stands waiting day and night, Who traced his holy steps, nor ever ceased,

From Jordan banks to Bethphage height ;

Who hath learned lowliness

From his Lord's cradle, patience from his cross; Whom poor men's eyes and hearts consent to

bless;

To whom, for Christ, the world is loss;

Who both in agony

Hath seen him, and in glory; and in both
Owned him divine, and yielded, nothing loth,
Body and soul, to live and die,

In witness of his Lord,

In humble following of his Saviour dear.
This is the man to wield the unearthly sword,
Warring unharmed with sin and fear.

But who can e'er suffice

What mortal· for this more than angel's task, Winning or losing souls, Thy life-blood's price? The gift were too divine to ask,

But Thou hast made it sure

By thy dear promise to thy Church and Bride, That Thou, on earth, wouldst aye with her endure, Till earth to heaven be purified.

A GOOD PRIEST.

KEBLE.

Give me the Priest these graces shall possess;
Of an ambassador the just address;

A father's tenderness; a shepherd's care;
A leader's courage, which the cross can bear;
A ruler's awe; a watchman's wakeful eye ;
A pilot's skill, the helm in storms to ply;

A fisher's patience; and a laborer's toil;
A guide's dexterity to disembroil;

A prophet's inspiration from above;

A teacher's knowledge—and a Saviour's love.

BP. KENN.

SAINT PHILIP AND SAINT JAMES'S* DAY.

MAY 1.

COLLECT. O Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life; grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that following the steps of thy holy apostles Saint Philip and Saint James, we may steadfastly walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN.

Holy Jesus, Saviour blest,
As, by passion strong possest,
Through this world of sin we stray,
Thou to guide us art the way.

Holy Jesus, when the night
Of error blinds our clouded sight,
Round the cheering day to throw,
Saviour, then the TRUTH art thou,

* James the Less.