g,
Turned him in shame to flee.

But John, of his age forgetful,
Pursued him with all his might.
"Why from thy defenseless father,"
He cried, "dost thou turn in flight?

Fear not; there is hope and a refuge,
And life shall yet be thine.
I will intercede with the Master
And task His love divine."

Subdued by love that is stronger
Than was ever an armed band,
He became once more to the Father
A child to feel for His hand.

Subdued by a love that is stronger
Than a world full of terrors and fears,
He returned to the House of the Father
Athrough the baptism of tears.

Such is the beautiful legend
Come down from ancient days,
Of love that is young forever;
And is he not blind who says

That charity ever faileth,
Or doth for a moment despair,
Or that there is any danger
Too great for her to dare;

When John, the beloved disciple,
With the faith of the Gospel shod,
Went forth in pursuit of the robber,
And brought him back to God?

O Church, whose strength is the doctrine
Of the blessed Evangelist,
This doctrine of love undying
Which the world can not resist!

Put on thy beautiful garments
In this sordid and selfish day,
And be as of old a glory
To turn us from Mammon away;

Until to the prayer of thy children,
The sweetly simple prayer,
That bathed in the light of Heaven
Thy courts may grow more fair,

There comes the eternal answer
Of works that are loving and grand,
To remain for the generations
The praises of God in the land.

O Church, whose strength is the doctrine
Of the blessed Evangelist,
The doctrine of love undying
Which the world can not resist!

Go forth to the highways and hedges
To gather the sheep that are lost,
Conveying the joyful tidings,
Their redemption at infinite cost.

Proclaim there is hope and a refuge
For every wanderer there;
For every sin there is mercy--
Yea, even the sin of despair!

O, then will thy beautiful garments,
As once in the prime of thy youth,
Appear in celestial splendor,
Thou pillar and ground of the Truth!

* * * * *

XLII.

JOHN PLOUGHMAN AGAIN

THE PITH AND MARROW OF CERTAIN OLD PROVERBS.

The Rev. C.H. Spurgeon, of London,