Truth he impress'd, and every virtue praised; While infant eyes in wondering circles gazed; The worth of time would day by day unfold, And tell them every hour was made of gold.

Dwight.

2037. INSTRUCTION. Prayer for AND chiefly Thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer Before all temples, the upright heart and pure, Instruct me, for Thou knowest: Thou from the first Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast abyss, And mad'st it pregnant. What in me is dark, Illumine; what is low, raise and support; That to the height of this great argument I may assert eternal Providence,

And justify the ways of God to men.—Milton.

2038. INSTRUCTION. Systematic

And never had an unbelieving doubt.
Beyond his native vale he never look'd;

But thought the visual line, that girt him round,
The world's extreme: and thought the silver moon,
That nightly o'er him led her virgin host,

No broader than his father's shield. He lived-
Lived where his father lived-died where he died-
Lived happy, and died happy, and was saved.
Be not surprised. He loved and served his God.
There was another, large of understanding,
Of memory infinite, of judgment deep :
Who knew all learning, and all science knew,
And all phenomena, in heaven and earth,
Traced to their causes; traced the labyrinths
Of thought, association, passion, will;
And all the subtile, nice affinities

Of matter traced; its virtues, motions, laws;
And most familiarly and deeply talk'd

Of mental, moral, natural, divine.
Leaving the earth at will, he soar'd to heaven,

And to the music of the rolling spheres

2039. INTELLECT. Council of the

BETWEEN the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion, all the interim is
Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream :
The genius and the mortal instruments
Are then in council; and the state of man,
Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
The nature of an insurrection.-Shakespeare.
2040. INTELLECT. Distribution of
BUT strange indeed the distribution seem'd
Of intellect; though fewer here complain'd;
Each with his share, upon the whole, content.
One man there was-and many such you might
Have met-who never had a dozen thoughts
In all his life, and never changed their course;
But told them o'er, each in its 'customed place,
From morn till night, from youth till hoary age.
Little above the ox which grazed the field
His reason rose: so weak his memory,
The name his mother call'd him by, he scarce
Remember'd; and his judgment so untaught,
That what at evening play'd along the swamp,
Fantastic, clad in robe of fiery hue,

He thought the devil in disguise, and fled
With quivering heart and winged footsteps home.
The word philosophy he never heard,
Or science; never heard of liberty,
Necessity, or laws of gravitation;

Into the awful depths of Deity;

Did all that mind assisted most could do;
And yet in misery lived, in misery died,
Because he wanted holiness of heart.

A deeper lesson this to mortals taught,
And nearer cut the branches of their pride;
That not in mental, but in moral worth,
God excellence placed; and only to the good,
To virtue, granted happiness alone. -Pollok.

2041. INTELLECT. Grades of
BUT when the silence and the calm come on,
And the high seal of character is set,
We shall not all be similar. The flow
Of life-time is a graduated scale;
And deeper than the vanities of power,
Or the vain pomp of glory, there is set
A standard measuring our worth for heaven.
The pathway to the grave may be the same,
And the proud man shall tread it, and the low,
With his bow'd head, shall bear him company.
And there will be no precedence of power,
In waking at the coming trump of God!
But in the temper of the invisible mind,
The god-like and undying intellect,
There are distinctions that will live in heaven
When time is a forgotten circumstance !
The elevated brow of kings will lose

The impress of regalia, and the slave
Will wear his immortality as free,
Beside the crystal waters; but the depth
Of glory in the attributes of God

Will measure the capacities of mind;
And as the angels differ, will the ken
Of gifted spirits glorify Him more.

'Tis life's probation task. The soul of man
Createth its own destiny of power;

And, as the trial is intenser here,

His being hath a nobler strength in heaven.-Willis.

2042. INTELLECT. Wealth of

WHAT wealth in intellect, that sovereign power! Which sense and fancy summons to the barInterrogates, approves, or reprehends;

And from the mass those underlings import,
From their materials sifted and refined,
And in truth's balance accurately weigh'd,
Forms art and science, government and law-
The solid basis and the beauteous frame,
The vitals and the grace of civil life!- Young.

2043. INTEMPERANCE. Blight of

ONCE the demon enters,

Stands within the door, Peace, and hope, and gladness

Dwell there never more.-Chellis.

2044. INTEMPERANCE. Curse of

Go, feel what I have felt,

Go, bear what I have borne ; Sink 'neath a blow a father dealt, And the cold, proud world's scorn. Thus struggle on from year to year, Thy sole relief the scalding tear.

Go, weep as I have wept

O'er a loved father's fall;
See every cherish'd promise swept,

Youth's sweetness turn'd to gall; Hope's faded flowers strew'd all the way That led me up to woman's day.

Go, kneel as I have knelt ;

Implore, beseech, and pray,
Strive the besotted heart to melt,

The downward course to stay;

Be cast with bitter curse aside,

Thy prayers burlesqued, thy tears defied.

Go, stand where I have stood,

And see the strong man bow,
With gnashing teeth, lips bathed in blood,
And cold and livid brow;

Go, catch his wandering glance, and see
There mirror'd his soul's misery.

Go, hear what I have heard-
The sobs of sad despair,

As memory's feeling fount hath stirr'd,

And its revealings there

Have told him what he might have been, Had he the drunkard's fate foreseen.

Go to my mother's side,

And her crush'd spirit cheer;
Thine own deep anguish hide,

Wipe from her cheek the tear;
Mark her dimm'd eye, her furrow'd brow,
The grey that streaks her dark hair now,
The toil-worn frame, the trembling limb,
And trace the ruin back to him
Whose plighted faith, in early youth,
Promised eternal love and truth,
But who, forsworn, hath yielded up
This promise to the deadly cup,
And led her down from love and light,
From all that made her pathway bright,
And chain'd her there mid want and strife,
That lowly thing-a drunkard's wife!
And stamp'd on childhood's brow, so mild,
That withering blight-a drunkard's child!

Go, hear, and see, and feel, and know

All that my soul hath felt and known,
Then look within the wine-cup's glow;
See if its brightness can atone;
Think if its flavour you would try,
If all proclaim'd-'Tis drink and die.

Tell me I hate the bowl-
Hate is a feeble word;

I loathe, abhor, my very soul
By strong disgust is stirr'd
Whene'er I see, or hear, or tell,

Of the DARK BEVERAGE OF HELL!

2045. INTEMPERANCE. Effects of

HE that is drunken Is outlaw'd by himself; all kind of ill Did with his liquor slide into his veins. Herbert.

The pleasing poison

The visage quite transforms of him that drinks,
And the inglorious likeness of a beast
Fixes instead, unmoulding reason's mintage
Character'd in the face. -Milton.

Man with raging drink inflamed
Is far more savage and untamed;
Supplies his loss of wit and sense
With barb'rousness and insolence.-Butler.

Intemp'rate youth, by sad experience found,
Ends in an age imperfect and unsound.-Denham.
Nor need we tell what anxious cares attend
The turbulent mirth of wine, nor all the kinds
Of maladies that lead to death's grim cave,
Wrought by intemperance.-Dryden.

Know whate'er

Beyond its natural fervour hurries on

The sanguine tide; whether the frequent bowl,
High-season'd fare, or exercise to toil
Protracted, spurs to its last stage tired life,
And sows the temples with untimely snow.

Armstrong.

Frequent debauch to habitude prevails; Patience of toil and love of virtue fails.-Prior.

2046. INTENTION. Retribution of BIKÁSUR had of penances fulfill'd his task, And promise won of any boon that he might ask. 'Grant, Siva, that on whom I place my hand, He may become a heap of ashes on the land.' The boon is granted. Lo! at once Bikásur strives To place his hand on Siva's head, whom terror drives To fly, as close the steps of his pursuer press. Then Hari, Nand's blue son, saw Siva's deep distress, And went before Bikásur, and demanded why He thus was chasing Siva round the earth and sky. And then he said-when he the whole truth had received

'Bikásur! by some goblin you have been deceived. The mighty boon is all a cheat, a vanity:

Just put your hand upon your own head, and then

see!'

Bikásur, made by Maia's power both blind and drunk, The test applied, and to a heap of ashes sunk! Rejoicing music floated from the heavenly bowers, And all the gods applauded loud, and rain'd down flowers.-Oriental, tr. by W. R. Alger.

2047. INTENTIONS. Value of good

THE intent and not the deed

Is in our power; and therefore who dares greatly, Does greatly.-Brown.

2048. INTERCESSION. Christ's

WHY gaze the cluster'd stars on Hermon's height?
Immensity around-why gaze they there?
On its high top, as farthest up from earth,
Enshrined in darkness and alone, there kneels
The world's great Intercessor. Evening came,
And found Him kneeling there: the rising morn

Linger'd awhile upon His upturn'd brow;
And night pass'd over Him, and still He kneels ;
Till all the air is incense and a prayer,

As He would save the world by prayer alone,
Close clasping the eternal throne,- His voice,
Unheard below, was heard in heaven intent.-Anon.

With blood-but not his own-the Jew drew near

The mercy-seat, and Heaven received his prayer. Yet still his hope was dimm'd by doubt and fear: 'If Thou should'st mark transgression, who might dare

To stand before Thee?' Mercy loves to spare And pardon, but stern Justice has a voice, And cries-Our God is holy, nor can bear Uncleanness in the people of His choice. But now One Offering, ne'er to be renew'd, Hath made our peace for ever. This now gives Free access to the throne of Heavenly Grace, No more base fear and dark disquietude, He who was slain-the Accepted Victim !—lives, And intercedes before the Father's face.

2049. INTERCESSION. Legend of

Conder.

HAVE you read in the Talmud of old, In the Legends the Rabbins have told Of the limitless realms of the air, Have you read it-the marvellous story Of Sandalphon, the Angel of Glory,

Sandalphon, the Angel of Prayer?

How, erect, at the outermost gates
Of the City Celestial he waits,

With his feet on the ladder of light, That, crowded with angels unnumber'd, By Jacob was seen as he slumber'd

Alone in the desert at night?

The Angels of Wind and of Fire
Chant only one hymn, and expire

With the song's irresistible stress; Expire in their rapture and wonder, As harp-strings are broken asunder By music they throb to express.

But serene in the rapturous throng,
Unmoved by the rush of the song,

With eyes unimpassion'd and slow, Among the dead angels, the deathless Sandalphon stands listening breathless

To sounds that ascend from below ;

From the spirits on earth that adore, From the souls that entreat and implore In the fervour and passion of prayer;

LORD, a whole long day of pain

Now at last is o'er !

Ah! how much we can sustain

I have felt once more;

Felt how frail are all our powers,

And how weak our trust;

If Thou help not, these dark hours Crush us to the dust.

Could I face the coming night,

If Thou wert not near?
Nay, without Thy love and might
I must sink with fear.

Round me falls the evening gloom,

Sights and sounds all cease, But within this narrow room Night will bring no peace.

Other weary eyes may close,

All things seek their sleep,
Hither comes no soft repose,

I must wake and weep.
Come then, Jesus, o'er me bend,

Give me strength to cope
With my pains, and gently send
Thoughts of peace and hope.

Draw my weary heart away

From this gloom and strife, And these fever-pains allay With the dew of life.

Thou canst calm the troubled mind,

Thou its dread canst still, Teach me to be all-resign'd To my Father's will.

By improving what was writ before, Invention labours less, but judgment more. Roscommon.

All the inventions that the world contains, Were not by reason first found out, nor brains; But pass for theirs who had the luck to light Upon them by mistake or oversight.—Butler.

Invention is activity of mind, as fire is air in motion; A sharpening of the spiritual sight, to discern hidden aptitudes.-Tupper.

The eye cannot make light, nor the mind spirit; Therefore it is wise in man to name all novelty invention.-Tupper.

2052. INVITATION. Christ's

LORD, what am I, that, with unceasing care,

Thou didst seek after me, that Thou didst wait, Wet with unhealthy dews, before my gate, And pass the gloomy nights of winter there? Oh strange delusion! that I did not greet Thy blest approach, and oh, to heaven how lost, If my ingratitude's unkindly frost Has chill'd the bleeding wounds upon Thy feet. How oft my guardian angel gently cried,

'Soul, from thy casement look, and thou shalt see How He persists to knock and wait for thee!' And, oh! how often to that voice of sorrow, 'To-morrow we will open,' I replied.

And when the morrow came I answer'd still, 'To-morrow.'-Longfellow.

Oh, the bitter shame and sorrow
That a time could ever be,
When I let the Saviour's pity
Plead in vain, and proudly answer'd,

'All of self, and none of Thee!'
Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding, on the accursed tree;
Heard Him pray, 'Forgive them, Father!'
And my wistful heart said faintly,

'Some of self, and some of Thee!' Day by day His tender mercy,

Healing, helping, full, and free, Sweet and strong, and ah! so patient, Brought me lower, while I whisper'd,

'Less of self, and more of Thee! Higher than the highest heavens,

Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last hath conquer'd ;
Grant me now my soul's desire-

'None of self, and all of Thee!'

Theodore Monod.

2053. INVITATION. Death's

RISE, said the Master, come unto the feast:
She heard the call and rose with willing feet;
But thinking it not otherwise than meet
For such a bidding to put on her best,
She has gone from us for a few short hours
Into her bridal closet, there to wait
For the unfolding of the palace gate,
That gives her entrance to the blissful bowers.
We have not seen her yet, though we have been
Full often to her chamber-door, and oft
Have listen'd underneath the postern green,

And laid fresh flowers, and whisper'd short and soft,

But she hath made no answer, and the day
From the clear west is fading fast away.-Alford.

2054. INVITATION. Gracious

SOULS of men! why will ye scatter

Like a crowd of frighten'd sheep?

Foolish hearts! why will ye wander
From a love so true and deep?
Was there ever kindest shepherd
Half so gentle, half so sweet,
As the Saviour who would have us
Come and gather round His feet?

It is God: His love looks mighty,

But is mightier than it seems.
'Tis our Father; and His fondness
Goes far out beyond our dreams.
There's a wideness in God's mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth's sorrows
Are more felt than up in heaven;
There is no place where earth's failings
Have such kindly judgment given.

There is welcome for the sinner,
And more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Saviour;

There is healing in His blood.

There is grace enough for thousands
Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations
In that upper home of bliss.

For the love of God is broader
Than the measures of man's mind;
And the Heart of the Eternal

Is most wonderfully kind.

But we make His love too narrow
By false limits of our own;
And we magnify His strictness
With a zeal He will not own.

There is plentiful redemption

In the blood that has been shed; There is joy for all the members In the sorrows of the Head.

'Tis not all we owe to Jesus:

It is something more than allGreater good because of evil,

Larger mercy through the fall.

Pining souls! come nearer Jesus;

And, oh, come not doubting thus, But with faith that trusts more bravely His huge tenderness for us.

If our love were but more simple,

We should take Him at His word; And our lives would be all sunshine In the sweetness of our Lord.-Faber.

2055. IRRESOLUTION.

OUR doubts are traitors,

And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt.—Shakespeare.

That we would do,

We should do when we would; for this would changes,

And hath abatements and delays as many
As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents;
And then this should is like a spendthrift sigh,
That hurts by easing.-Shakespeare.

Like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin, And both neglect.—Shakespeare.

I am a heavy stone, Roll'd up a hill by a weak child: I move A little up, and tumble back again.-Rider. None sends his arrow to the mark in view, Whose hand is feeble, or his aim untrue. For though, ere yet the shaft is on the wing, Or when it first forsakes the elastic string, It err but little from the intended line, It falls at last far wide of his design : So he who seeks a mansion in the sky, Must watch his purpose with a steadfast eye; That prize belongs to none but the sincere, The least obliquity is fatal here.-Cowper.