January 16

Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him.

I SAW Eternity the other night, Like a great Ring of pure and endless light, All calm, as it was bright; And round beneath it Time, in hours, days, years, Driven by the spheres, Like a vast shadow moved, in which the world And all her train were hurled.

Yet some, who all this while did weep and sing, And sing and weep, soared up into the Ring; But most would use no wing. O fools, said I, thus to prefer dark night Before true light!

To live in grots and caves, and hate the day Because it shows the way, The way, which from this dead and dark abode Leads up to God,

A way where you might tread the Sun and be More bright than he!

But, as I did their madnes so discusse, One whispered thus,

"This Ring the Bridegroome did for none provide, But for his Bride."

HENRY VAUGHAN

C

DIVINE SYMPATHY