218 THE RANUNCULUS. 



flowery shrubs, and fruitful blossoms, of the Lord's 

 garden, they deceive the unsuspecting stranger, 

 who, forgeting that tares will grow with wheat, 

 and weeds with flowers, fears no ill where the 

 Lord is acknowledged as rightful possessor of the 

 soil. The out-stretched hand is met by a stab ; 

 and drawn back in wondering incredulity that, 

 from the fair green foliage, adorned with clustering 

 flowers, and holding its place among the choicest 

 of the parterre, such darts should have been pro- 

 jected, such venom have oozed forth. But the 

 fact is beyond dispute, and the deed proclaims an 

 alien unfit to mingle with the fragrant offspring of 

 an enclosed garden. It seems almost a point of 

 duty to draw the traitor forth, exposed to public 

 reprobation, and banished from the sacred spot ; 

 but the Lord hath spoken : " Avenge not your- 

 selves," " Vengeance is mine ; I will repay." 

 And faith commits her cause to that unerring hand, 

 leaving the enemy unmolested, to seek a balsam 

 for the smart — and singular it is, that where net- 

 tles abound, the spreading dock is never far off. 

 The emissaries of Satan have permission to 

 wound ; but the Healer is always nigh, and needs 

 but to be sought in the hour of suffering. There 

 is that which will soothe the throbbing anguish of 

 a thousand stings ; and cool the fever of a spirit, 

 where fiery darts have exhausted all their burning 

 venom. 



