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THE IMMORTALITY OF LOVE.

W

E must not doubt, or fear, or dread, that love for life is only given,

And that the calm and sainted dead will

meet estranged and cold in heaven :—

Oh, Love were poor and vain indeed, based on so harsh and stern a creed.

True that this earth must pass away, with all the starry worlds of light,

With all the glory of the day, and calmer tenderness of night;

For, in that radiant home can shine alone the immortal and divine.

Earth's lower things her pride, her fame, her science, learning, wealth, and power

THE IMMORTALITY OF LOVE.

217

Slow growths that through long ages came, or fruits

of some convulsive hour,

Whose very memory must decay-Heaven is too pure for such as they.

They are complete their work is done. So let them sleep in endless rest.

Love's life is only here begun, nor is, nor can be, fully blest;

It has no room to spread its wings, amid this crowd of meaner things.

Just for the very shadow thrown upon its sweetness here below,

The cross that it must bear alone, and bloody baptism of woe,

Crowned and completed through its pain, we know that it shall rise again.

If in my heart I now could fear that, risen again, we should not know

What was our Life of Life when here-the hearts

we loved so much below

I would arise this very day, and cast so poor a

thing away.

218

THE IMMORTALITY OF LOVE.

But love is no such soulless clod: living, perfected, it shall rise

Transfigured in the light of God, and giving glory to the skies:

And that which makes this life so sweet, shall render heaven's joy complete.

MISS PROCTER.

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NE adequate support

For the calamities of mortal life

Exists, one only, an assured belief
That the procession of our fate, howe'er
Sad or disturbed, is ordered by a Being
Of infinite benevolence and power,
Whose everlasting purposes embrace
All accidents, converting them to good.
-The darts of anguish fix not where the seat
Of suffering hath been thoroughly fortified
By acquiescence in the will supreme
For time and for eternity; by faith,
Faith absolute in God, including hope,

And the defence that lies in boundless love
Of His perfections; with habitual dread

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DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

Of aught unworthily conceived, endured
Impatiently; ill-done, or left undone,
To the dishonour of His holy name.

Soul of our souls, and safeguard of the world!
Sustain, Thou only canst, the sick of heart;
Restore their languid spirits, and recall

Their lost affections unto Thee, and Thine!

WORDSWORTH.

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