ble-hearted ones, who shall be found worthy to walk with the Lamb in white?

THE PURIFICATION.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

Bless'd are the pure in heart,
For they shall see our God;
The secret of the Lord is theirs,
Their soul is Christ's abode.

St. Matthew, v. 8.

Might mortal thought presume
To guess an angel's lay,

Such are the notes that echo through
The courts of heaven to-day.
Such the triumphal hymns
On Sion's Prince that wait,
In high procession passing on
Towards His temple-gate.

Give ear, ye kings; bow down,
Ye rulers of the earth;

This, this is He; your Priest by grace,
Your God and King by birth.

No pomp of earthly guards
Attends with sword and spear,
And all-defying, dauntless look
Their monarch's way to clear.

Yet are there more with Him
Than all that are with you-
The armies of the highest heaven,
All righteous, good, and true.

Spotless their robes and pure,
Dipp'd in the sea of light,
That hides the unapproached shrine
From men's and angels' sight.

His throne, thy bosom blest,

O Mother undefil'd!

That throne, if aught beneath the skies,
Beseems the sinless Child.

Lost in high thoughts "whose Son
The wondrous Babe might prove,"
Her guileless husband walks beside,
Bearing the hallow'd dove:

Meet emblem of his vow,
Who on this happy day

His dovelike soul-best sacrifice

Did on God's altar lay.

But who is he, by years
Bow'd, but erect in heart,

Whose prayers are struggling with his tears

66

Lord, let me now depart.

Now hath thy servant seen
Thy saving health, O Lord:
'Tis time that I depart in peace,
According to Thy word."

Yet swells the pomp: one more
Comes forth to bless her God;
Full fourscore years, meek widow, she
Her heavenward way hath trod.

She who to earthly joys

So long had given farewell,

Now sees, unlook'd for, heaven on earth,
Christ in His Israel.

Wide open from that hour

The temple-gates are set,

And still the saints rejoicing there
The holy Child have met.

Now count His train to-day,
And who may meet Him, learn:
Him childlike sires, meek maidens find,
Where pride can nought discern.

Still to the lowly soul

He doth Himself impart,

And for His cradle and His throne
Chooseth the pure in heart.

From "The Christian Year."

PENITENCE AND PURITY, OR THE SNOWDROP.

Darling, from thine inmost heart,
Never may this truth depart;
Meek and lowly, be thou sure,
Are they who in heart are pure,
For no evil thought of pride
Can with purity abide.

Learn it from thy favourite flower
Nestling nigh our leafless bower,
Earliest flow'ret of the year,
Like a full heart's softest tear,
Spotless though its robe of white,
Meekly drooping from our sight.

Be thou thus an undefil'd,
Holy, humble-hearted child,
Taught in penitence to kneel,
Taught thy need of grace to feel,
Contrite, as beseemeth one
From the depths of misery won.

If thy chrisom robe be white,
Spotless in God's searching sight,
Yet in the baptismal flood
It was wash'd in Jesus' blood:
Bow thy head, and bend thy knee,
Precious blood was shed for thee.

IX.

The Epiphany, or Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.

FESTIVAL DAY, SIXTH OF JANUARY.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem,

Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him.

When Herod the king heard these things he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea for thus it is written by the prophet,

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the East, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

St. Matthew ii. 1st to 13th verse.

CHAPTER IX.

The Greek Church commemorates the visit of the wise men from the East on the same day as the Nativity; but it is long since the Western Church appointed the sixth of January for this festival. From the scripture narrative it would seem that they did not reach Bethlehem until after the presentation of our Lord in the temple, as immediately on their departure, the Holy Family were sent down into Egypt. The name Epiphany, given to this festival, is taken from a Greek word signifying the manifestation,' as it is explained in our Prayer-books; because on this day we are reminded of the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The same day is also pointed out by tradition as that on which our blessed Lord was baptised of John in Jordan; and John bare witness of Him, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," not the sin of Israel only, but of the world. The wise men from the East, of whom we read in the Gospel appointed for this day, may be looked upon as the first fruits of the Gentiles; and we, who are of the Gentiles, should, I think, keep this day with peculiar gladness, giving thanks unto Him, who is both "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel."