CLASSICAL MODERN POETRY. 



Pray'r is the contrite sinner's voice, 



Returning from his ways ; 

 While angels in their songs rejoice 



And say, " Behold he prays !" 

 The saints in pray'r appear as one, 



In word, and deed, and mind, 

 When with the Father and the Son 



Their fellowship they find. 

 No prayer is made on earth alone 



The Holy Spirit pleads ; 

 And Jesns on th' eternal throne 



For sinners intercedes. 

 O Thou ! by whom we come to God, 



The Life, the Truth, the Way ; 

 The path of pray'r thyself hast trod : 



Lord, teach us how to pray. 



MONTGOMERY. 



RELIGIOUS HEROISM. 

 " Go, Lictor, lead the Bishop forth, 



Let all the assembly stay, 

 For he must openly abjure, 



His Christian faith to-day." 

 The Praetor spake : the Lictor went, 



And Polycarp appeared; 

 And totter' d, leaning on his staff, 



To where the pile was reared. 

 His silver hair, his look benign, 



Which spake his heavenly lot, 

 Moved into tears both youth and age, 



But moved the Praetor not. 

 The Heathen spake: " Renounce aloud, 



Thy Christian heresy." 

 "Hope all things else," the old man cried, 



" Yet hope not this from me !" 

 " But if thy stubborn heart refuse 



Thy Saviour to deny, 

 Thy age shall not avert my wrath, 



Thy doom shall be to die !" 

 I 5 



