CHAPTER XIV.
PRAYER AND ATONEMENT.
| Lord, what a change within us one short hour |
| Spent in Thy presence will prevail to make — |
| What heavy burdens from our bosoms take, |
| What parched grounds refresh as with a shower! |
| We kneel, and all around us seems to lower; |
| We rise, and all, the distant and the near, |
| Stands forth in sunny outline, brave and clear; |
| We kneel how weak, we rise how full of power! |
| Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong, |
| Or others, that we are not always strong, — |
| That we are ever overborne with care, — |
| That we should ever weak or heartless be, |
| Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer, |
| And joy and strength and courage are with Thee? |
| R. C. Trench. |
| 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. |
| ......... |
| 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 weeping 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. |
| Longfellow, from the Swedish of Tegner. |
THOUGHTS unspoken are not unknown to the Divine
Mind. Desire is prayer; and no loss can occur
from trusting God with our desires, that they may be
