THE SHAMROCK. 4f 



They urged those cavils wherewith poor natural 

 reason loves to oppose the revelations of infinite 

 wisdom. 'How, they asked, 'can three be one? 

 how can one be three ?' The missionary stooped 

 to gather a shamrock leaf, which grew at his leet; 

 telling them, that God had carpeted their beautiful 

 island with an illustration of what they considered 

 so incomprehensible : and thenceforth, say the 

 legends, the shamrock was adopted as a symbol of 

 the faith embraced by christianized Ireland. This, 

 I know, that, with a shamrock in my hand, I have 

 gained access to many an Irish heart, while my 

 auditors eagerly listened to whatever I might 

 preach, upon the text of St. Patrick. 



The dumb boy fully understood all this : he 

 frequently alluded to it : and sweet it is to reflect, 

 that he whose tonmie was silent on earth, is sino;- 

 ing a new and glorious song before the throne of 

 that Incomprehensible one, whom he knew and 

 adored — as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanclifier — - 

 while seeing through a glass more dark, perhaps, 

 than that which we are privileged to use : whom 

 he now knows, even as he is known : whom he now 

 adores, with energies set free from the deadening 

 weight of sinful flesh, perfected even into the image 

 of his Saviour's glory. 



Before nineteen years had rolled over him, Jack 

 was summoned to enter into this enjoyment : and 

 I do not hesitate to affirm, the broadest, deepest, 

 4* 



