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transfigured；
Groping no longer in night； she is Faith； she is living
assurance。
Faith is enlightened Hope； she is light； is the eye of
affection；
Dreams of the longing interprets； and carves their visions in
marble。
Faith is the sun of life ； and her countenance shines like the
Hebrew's；
For she has looked upon God； the heaven on its stable foundation
Draws she with chains down to earth； and the New Jerusalem
sinketh
Splendid with portals twelve in golden vapors descending。
There enraptured she wanders。 and looks at the figures majestic；
Fears not the winged crowd； in the midst of them all is her
homestead。
Therefore love and believe； for works will follow spontaneous
Even as day does the sun； the Right from the Good is an
offspring；
Love in a bodily shape； and Christian works are no more than
Animate Love and faith； as flowers are the animate Springtide。
Works do follow us all unto God； there stand and bear witness
Not what they seemed；but what they were only。 Blessed is he
who
Hears their confession secure； they are mute upon earth until
death's hand
Opens the mouth of the silent。 Ye children； does Death e'er
alarm you？
Death is the brother of Love； twin…brother is he； and is only
More austere to behold。 With a kiss upon lips that are fading
Takes he the soul and departs； and； rocked in the arms of
affection；
Places the ransomed child； new born； 'fore the face of its
father。
Sounds of his coming already I hear；see dimly his pinions；
Swart as the night； but with stars strewn upon them！ I fear not
before him。
Death is only release； and in mercy is mute。 On his bosom
Freer breathes； in its coolness； my breast； and face to face
standing
Look I on God as he is； a sun unpolluted by vapors；
Look on the light of the ages I loved； the spirits majestic；
Nobler； better than I； they stand by the throne all
transfigured；
Vested in white； and with harps of gold； and are singing an
anthem；
Writ in the climate of heaven； in the language spoken by
angels。
You； in like manner； ye children beloved； he one day shall
gather；
Never forgets he the weary；then welcome； ye loved ones；
hereafter！
Meanwhile forget not the keeping of vows； forget not the
promise；
Wander from holiness onward to holiness； earth shall ye heed
not
Earth is but dust and heaven is light； I have pledged you to
heaven。
God of the universe； hear me！ thou fountain of Love
everlasting；
Hark to the voice of thy servant！ I send up my prayer to thy
heaven！
Let me hereafter not miss at thy throne one spirit of all
these；
Whom thou hast given me here！ I have loved them all like a
father。
May they bear witness for me； that I taught them the way of
salvation；
Faithful； so far as I knew； of thy word； again may they know
me；
Fall on their Teacher's breast； and before thy face may I place
them；
Pure as they now are； but only more tried； and exclaiming with
gladness；
Father； lo！ I am here； and the children； whom thou hast given
me！〃
Weeping he spake in these words； and now at the beck of the
old man
Knee against knee they knitted a wreath round the altar's
enclosure。
Kneeling he read then the prayers of the consecration； and
softly
With him the children read； at the close； with tremulous
accents；
Asked he the peace of Heaven； a benediction upon them。
Now should have ended his task for the day； the following
Sunday
Was for the young appointed to eat of the Lord's holy Supper。
Sudden； as struck from the clouds； stood the Teacher silent and
laid his
Hand on his forehead； and cast his looks upward； while thoughts
high and holy；
Flew through the midst of his soul； and his eyes glanced with
wonderful brightness。
〃On the next Sunday； who knows！ perhaps I shall rest in the
graveyard！
Some one perhaps of yourselves； a lily broken untimely；
Bow down his head to the earth； why delay I？ the hour is
accomplished；
Warm is the heart；I will！ for to…day grows the harvest of
heaven。
What I began accomplish I now； what failing therein is
I； the old man； will answer to God and the reverend father。
Say to me only； ye children； ye denizens new…come in heaven；
Are ye ready this day to eat of the bread of Atonement？
What it denoteth； that know ye full well； I have told it you
often。
Of the new covenant symbol it is； of Atonement a token；
Stablished between earth and heaven。 Man by his sins and
transgressions
Far has wandered from God； from his essence。 'T was in the
beginning
Fast by the Tree of Knowledge he fell； and it hangs its crown
o'er the
Fall to this day； in the Thought is the Fall； in the Heart the
Atonement。
Infinite is the fall；the Atonement infinite likewise。
See！ behind me； as far as the old man remembers； and forward；
Far as Hope in her flight can reach with her wearied pinions；
Sin and Atonement incessant go through the lifetime of mortals。
Sin is brought forth full…grown； but Atonement sleeps in our
bosoms
Still as the cradled babe； and dreams of heaven and of angels；
Cannot awake to sensation； is like the tones in the harp's
strings；
Spirits imprisoned； that wait evermore the deliverer's finger。
Therefore； ye children beloved； descended the Prince of
Atonement；
Woke the slumberer from sleep； and she stands now with eyes all
resplendent。
Bright as the vault of the sky； and battles with Sin and
o'ercomes her。
Downward to earth he came and； transfigured； thence reascended；
Not from the heart in like wise； for there he still lives in
the Spirit；
Loves and atones evermore。 So long as Time is； is Atonement。
Therefore with reverence take this day her visible token。
Tokens are dead if the things live not。 The light everlasting
Unto the blind is not； but is born of the eye that has vision。
Neither in bread nor in wine； but in the heart that is hallowed
Lieth forgiveness enshrined； the intention alone of amendment
Fruits of the earth ennobles to heavenly things； and removes
all
Sin and the guerdon of sin。 Only Love with his arms wide
extended；
Penitence wee ping and praying； the Will that is tried； and
whose gold flows
Purified forth from the flames； in a word； mankind by Atonement
Breaketh Atonement's bread； and drinketh Atonement's wine…cup。
But he who cometh up hither； unworthy； with hate in his bosom；
Scoffing at men and at God； is guilty of Christ's blessed body；
And the Redeemer's blood！ To himself he eateth and drinketh
Death and doom ！ And from this； preserve us； thou heavenly
Father！
Are ye ready； ye children； to eat of the bread of Atonement？
Thus with emotion he asked； and together answered the children；
〃Yes！〃 with deep sobs interrupted。 Then read he the due
supplications；
Read the Form of Communion； and in chimed the organ and anthem：
〃O Holy Lamb of God； who takest away our transgressions；
Hear us！ give us thy peace！ have mercy； have mercy upon us！〃
Th' old man； with trembling hand； and heavenly pearls on his