, nor seeks to mount in his
opinion. What light there is in him shines the more that he does nothing
to be seen of men. He stands in the mist between the gulf and the glory,
and looks upward. He loves not his own soul, but longs to be clean.

Out of the gulf into the glory,
Father, my soul cries out to be lifted.
Dark is the woof of my dismal story,
Thorough thy sun-warp stormily drifted!--
Out of the gulf into the glory,
Lift me, and save my story.

I have done many things merely shameful;
I am a man ashamed, my father!
My life is ashamed and broken and blameful--
The broken and blameful, oh, cleanse and gather!
Heartily shame me, Lord, of the shameful!
To my judge I flee with my blameful.

Saviour, at peace in thy perfect purity,
Think what it is, not to be pure!
Strong in thy love's essential security,
Think upon those who are never secure.
Full fill my soul with the light of thy purity;
Fold me in love's security.

O Father, O Brother, my heart is sore aching
Help it to ache as much as is needful;
Is it you cleansing me, mending, remaking,
Dear potter-hands, so tender and heedful?
Sick of my past, of my own self aching--
Hurt on, dear hands, with your making.

Proud of the form thou hadst given thy vessel,
Proud of myself, I forgot my donor;
Down in the dust I began to nestle,
Poured thee no wine, and drank deep of dishonour!
Lord, thou hast broken, thou mendest thy vessel!
In the dust of thy glory I nestle.

O Lord, the earnest expectation of thy creature waiteth for the
manifestation of the sons of God.

_THE HOPE OF THE UNIVERSE._

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the
manifestation of the sons of God.--_Romans_ viii. 19.

Let us try, through these words, to get at the idea in St Paul's mind
for which they stand, and have so long stood. It can be no worthless
idea they represent--no mere platitude, which a man, failing to
understand it at once, may without loss leave behind him. The words mean
something which Paul believes vitally associated with the life and death
of his Master. He had seen Jesus with his bodily eyes, I think, but he
had not seen him with those alone; he had seen and saw him with the real
eyes, the eyes that do not see except they understand; and the sight of
him had uplifted his whole nature--first his pure w