In doubt they wait, but not unblest;
They doubt not of their Master’s rest,
Nor of the gracious will of Heaven —
Who gave His Son, sure all has given —
But in ecstatic awe they muse
What course the genial stream may choose,
And far and wide their fancies rove,
   And to their height of wonder strain,
What secret miracle of love
   Should make their Saviour’s going gain.

The days of hope and prayer are past,
The day of comfort dawns at last,
The everlasting gates again
Roll back, and, lo! a royal train —
From the far depth of light once more
The floods of glory earthward pour: 
They part like shower-drops in mid air,
   But ne’er so soft fell noon-tide shower,
Nor evening rainbow gleamed so fair
   To weary swains in parched bower.

Swiftly and straight each tongue of flame
Through cloud and breeze unwavering came,
And darted to its place of rest
On some meek brow of Jesus blest. 
Nor fades it yet, that living gleam,
And still those lambent lightnings stream;
Where’er the Lord is, there are they;
   In every heart that gives them room,
They light His altar every day,
   Zeal to inflame, and vice consume.

Soft as the plumes of Jesus’ Dove
They nurse the soul to heavenly love;
The struggling spark of good within,
Just smothered in the strife of sin,
They quicken to a timely glow,
The pure flame spreading high and low. 
Said I, that prayer and hope were o’er? 
   Nay, blessed Spirit! but by Thee
The Church’s prayer finds wings to soar,
   The Church’s hope finds eyes to see.

Then, fainting soul, arise and sing;
Mount, but be sober on the wing;
Mount up, for Heaven is won by prayer,
Be sober, for thou art not there;
Till Death the weary spirit free,
Thy God hath said, ’Tis good for thee
To walk by faith and not by sight: 
   Take it on trust a little while;
Soon shalt thou read the mystery right
   In the full sunshine of His smile.

Or if thou yet more knowledge crave,
Ask thine own heart, that willing slave
To all that works thee woe or harm
Shouldst thou not need some mighty charm
To win thee to thy Saviour’s side,
Though He had deigned with thee to bide? 
The Spirit must stir the darkling deep,
   The Dove must settle on the Cross,
Else we should all sin on or sleep
   With Christ in sight, turning our gain to loss.

FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER—­ROGATION SUNDAY

And the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him:  and
I prayed for Aaron also the same time.  Deuteronomy ix. 20.

Now is there solemn pause in earth and heaven;
      The Conqueror now
      His bonds hath riven,
And Angels wonder why He stays below: 
   Yet hath not man his lesson learned,
   How endless love should be returned.