The Easter Gift/The Flight into Egypt
Claude pinx.W. R. Smith sculp. THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. FISHER, SON & CO. LONDON, 1834 |
THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.
"And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
"When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.
"And was there until the death of Herod : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son."Matthew ii. 13—15.
A glorious landscape—clear as faith the sky,
Hath only sunshine, and the few bright clouds
Are turned to golden shadows. Stately trees
Do mock the last year's memory,—so green,
So full of life and summer are their leaves,
That fading seems impossible. The stream
Winds peacefully between its pastoral banks,
Where surely care comes not, and scarcely toil;
An earth so fertile, that the sun and air
Are the sole labourers. Yet how wearily
Those travellers are resting in the shade.
Man's doom is paramount—and even ye,
Thrice blessed and thrice glorious, ye now share
The common lot of all humanity.
But see, with sunshine radiant on his wings,
An angel sent from heaven is ministering;
And with their fears allay'd—their wants supplied,
Lo, they arise refreshed.
Is not this scene the type of sacred faith?
How often on life's rough and weary path
Do we sink fainting, with one only prayer,
"Now help us, or we perish," on our lips.
And never was this uttered earnestly,
But that it has been answered: though no more
His shining messengers walk visible
On this unworthy earth; yet to our call
Doth the Almighty still vouchsafe reply,
And holy hopes arise within the heart;
We feel that we are heard in heaven, and love
Kindles within us like a steadfast thought,
Which knows its own belief; and, comforted,
We go upon our way rejoicing.