Divine Epigrams.

"TWO WENT UP INTO THE TEMPLE

TO PRAY."

Two went to pray! O, rather say
One went to brag, th' other to pray;
One stands up close and treads on high,
Where th' other dares not send his eye.
One nearer to God's altar trod,

The other to the altar's God.

GIVE TO CÆSAR-AND TO GOD-
-Mark xii., 17.

All we have is God's, and yet
Cæsar challenges a debt;

Nor hath God a thinner share,
Whatever Cæsar's payments are.
All is God's; and yet 'tis true
All we have is Cæsar's too.
All is Cæsar's: and what odds,

So long as Cæsar's self is God's?

ON THE BLESSED VIRGIN'S BASHFULNESS.

That on her lap she casts her humble eye,

'Tis the sweet pride of her humility.

The fair star is well fix'd, for where, O, where,

Could she have fix'd it on a fairer sphere?

'Tis Heaven, 'tis Heaven she sees, Heaven's God there lies;

She can see Heaven, and ne'er lift up her eyes.

This new guest to her eyes new laws hath given :

'Twas once look up, 'tis now look down to Heaven.

"IT IS BETTER TO GO INTO HEAVEN WITH ONE EYE," ETC.-Mark ix., 47.

One eye? a thousand rather, and a thousand more,

To fix those full-faced glories! O, he's poor

Of eyes that has but Argus' store!

Yet, if thou'lt fill one poor eye with Thy Heaven and Thee,

O grant, sweet Goodness, that one eye may be

All and every whit of me.

ON THE WATER OF OUR LORD'S BAPTISM.

Each blest drop on each blest limb

Is wash'd itself in washing Him:

'Tis a gem while it stays here;

While it falls hence 'tis a tear.

"BUT NOW THEY HAVE SEEN AND HATED." -John xv., 24.

Seen? and yet hated Thee? they did not see,
They saw Thee not, that saw and hated Thee:
No, no, they saw Thee not, O Life, O Love,

Who saw aught in Thee that their hate could move!

"AND HE ANSWERED THEM NOTHING." -Matt. xxvii., 12.

O Mighty Nothing! unto thee,

Nothing, we owe all things that be;

God spake once when He all things made,
He saved all when He Nothing said.

The world was made of Nothing then ;

'Tis made by Nothing now again.

UPON THE ASS THAT BORE OUR SAVIOUR. Hath only Anger an omnipotence

In eloquence?

Within the lips of Love and Joy doth dwell
No miracle?

Why else had Balaam's ass a tongue to chide
His master's pride,

And thou (Heaven-burthen'd beast) hast ne'er a word
To praise thy Lord?

That he should find a tongue and vocal thunder,

Was a great wonder ;

But O, methinks, 'tis a far greater one

That thou find'st none.

"I AM NOT WORTHY THAT THOU
SHOULDEST COME UNDER MY ROOF."
-Matt. viii., 8.

Thy God was making haste into thy roof,
Thy humble faith and fear keeps Him aloof:
He'll be thy guest, because He may not be ;

He'll come

into thy house? No, into thee.

TO OUR LORD, UPON THE WATER MADE

WINE.

Thou water turn'st to wine (fair friend of life);

Thy foe, to cross the sweet acts of Thy reign,

Distils from thence the tears of wrath and strife,

And so turns wine to water back again.

THE BLIND CURED BY THE WORD OF OUR
SAVIOUR.-Matt. x.

Thou spak'st the word (Thy word's a law)
Thou spak'st, and straight the blind man saw.
To speak and make the blind man see,
'Was never man, Lord, spake like Thee.'
To speak thus, was to speak (say I)
Not to his ear, but to his eye.

ON THE MIRACLE OF LOAVES.

Now, Lord, or never, they'll believe on Thee;
Thou to their teeth hast proved Thy Deity.

ON THE MIRACLE OF MULTIPLIED LOAVES.

See here an easy feast that knows no wound,
That under Hunger's teeth will needs be found:

A subtle harvest of unbounded bread;

What would ye more? Here food itself is fed.

THE WIDOW'S MITES.

—Luke xxi., 2, 3.

Two mites, two drops (yet all her house and land)
Fall from a steady heart, though trembling hand:
The other's wanton wealth foams high and brave.
The other cast away; she only gave.

ON THE PRODIGAL.

- Luke xv.

Tell me, bright boy, tell me, my golden lad,
Whither away so frolic? why so glad?

What all thy wealth in council? all thy state?
Are husks so dear? troth, 'tis a mighty rate.

DIVES ASKING A DROP.
Luke xvi., 24.

A drop, one drop, how sweetly one fair drop
Would tremble on my pearl-tipp'd finger's top!
My wealth is gone; O! go it where it will,
Spare this one jewel; I'll be Dives still.

UPON LAZARUS'S TEARS.

Rich Lazarus! richer in those gems, thy tears,

Than Dives in the robes he wears :

He scorns them now, but O! they'll suit full well

With th' purple he must wear in Hell.

ON ST. PETER CASTING AWAY HIS NETS AT

OUR SAVIOUR'S CALL.

Thou hast the art on 't, Peter, and canst tell

To cast thy nets on all occasions well.

When Christ calls, and thy nets would have thee stay,

To cast them well's to cast them quite away.