"  No  lion  shall  be  there,  nor  any  ravening  beast  go  up  thereon :
it  shall  not  be  found  there."

(For  Quinquagesima.)

OFT  have  I  hid  mine  eyes,
When  lightning  thrill'd  across  the  midnight  skies  :

"When  tempests  howl'd  o'er  land  or  main,
Oft  have  I  thought  upon  the  deluge  rain.
But  now  I  read,  that  never  more
Will  Heaven's  dread  windows  so  give  out  their  awful

store.  t

The  rainbow- sign  is  given, —
His  word  endures  in  Heaven.
Offc  have  I  shrank  for  fear,
When  forms  that  seem'd  of  giant  mould  drew  near,

And  deeply  in  my  childish  heart
I  thrill'd  at  every  rush,  and  bound,  and  start :


148  CHILDREN'S  TROUBLES.
But  now  I  hear  th'  Eternal  Law
That  binds  them  in  His  chain  of  deep  mysterious  awe :
I  fear  no  monster  birth, —
His  word  endures  on  earth.
Even  as  the  bright  calm  bow
Is  safety's  pledge  when  waters  wild  o'erflow,

As  horned  herds  will  turn  and  fly
If  but  a  child  survey  them  with  bold  eye,

So  in  the  storms  we  may  not  see
Thy   Saviour's  rainbow  crown,   0   Faith,   thine   own

may  be :

So,  if  His  Cross  He  raise,
Hell  powers  at  distance  gaze.
There  may  we  calmly  dwell,
Nor  sounding  tempest  dread,  nor  lion  fell.
But,  little  children,  muse  and  mark :
His  blessing  waits  on  inmates  of  His  ark,

On  such  as  in  His  awful  shade
Abide,  and  keep  the  seal  His  Holy  Spirit  made.
Else  will  the  flood  awake,
His  chain  the  Lion  break.
CHILDREN'S  TROUBLES.  149

7.
SEPARATION.
