YELLOW GOAT's-BEARD. 61 



And yet a nobler life than that ■whicli clothes 

 The meads with beauty, bids green leaves un- 

 fold 

 From leafless branches, through the wide world 

 flows ; 

 The world of baptized men, one mighty fold. 

 Which the Great Shepherd guards ; though reck- 

 less most 

 Of His surpassing love, who bade them live 

 E'en to his glory, as the heavenly host 



His bidding wait, and do Him homage give : 

 That homage which the ransom'd earth shall yield, 

 When hateful Sin no more her power doth wield. 



That nobler life hath from the Lord, the Giver 



Of life, flow'd down, though oft in weakness seen. 

 From that blest moment, when beside the river, 



Old Jordan's flowing river, one whose mien 

 Betoken'd much of sorrow, converse held 



With a lone man, whose steps the desert trod ; 

 Holding high communings, yet oft beheld 



Speaking to crowds of Him the incarnate God ; 



