sake turn not away the presence of Thine Anointed. Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is: brethren, to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, and dwell at Nazareth.That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the that ran down unto the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. Colossians ii. 2. The Magi return to their own country,— They shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon His land. For how great is His Goodness, and how great is His Beauty!-Zechariah ix. 16, 17. and there worship God.They shall come up with acceptance on Mine altar.Isaiah lx. 7. beard even unto Aaron's beard, and went down to the skirts of his clothing. Like as the dew of Hermon which fell upon the hill of Sion. For there the Lord promised His blessing and life for evermore. All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O Lord: for they have heard the words of Thy Mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: that great is the glory of the Lord. I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart even before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee. I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy Name, because of Thy loving-kindness and truth: for thou hast magnified Thy Name, and Thy Word, above all things. When I called upon Thee, Thou heardest me: and enduedst my soul with much strength. GROUNDSEL AND CHICKWEED. Despise not the little ones. ITH the memory of these Holy Innocents, who being saints may yet be called "less than the least of all saints," let us connect two flowers, which equally may be esteemed less than the least of all flowers: and as God Almighty bestowed on those grace and glory, let us in due proportion endeavour to discern in these His bounty and His beauty. Groundsel and Chickweed set forth harmlessness rather than utility: yet both furnish food for birds, whilst Chickweed may even be boiled and eaten as human diet. These twain are the commonest of the common, thriving in all sorts of soils and situations, and blossoming through spring, summer, autumn, winter. Chickweed is of low growth, with a cheerful bright-green leaf, and a minute blossom, which is in truth a perfect star formed of five deeply cleft petals set in a five-leafed calyx. The stalk is but weak; yet when snapped not too roughly, reveals an inner strengthening thread which holds it together. Common as is this puny herb, a mere weed so to say, it yet is furnished with a line of hairs running from joint to joint along its stalk, and changing sides at each joint, which distinguishes it from all other plants with which it might be confounded. Many varieties, moreover, does it exhibit in one specimen the leaves sprout in pairs along the stem, each leaf being mounted on an independent short green stalklet of its own; in another the leaves are more crowded, with little if any private stalk, whilst the main rib of the leaf shows pink and the plant flourishes on pink stems. Groundsel attains a loftier stature and is of a tougher frame. Its main stem is green, frequently varied by brown. Its lower leaves are comparatively simple; its upper, more deeply and curiously cut. Its blossom is a golden boss, set in a green scaly involucrum whereof each scale is tipped with brown or black. Sometimes this herb is quite smooth; at other times slightly hairy, and clothed on the under side of the foliage with fine cottony down. Groundsel bears a winged seed, which the wind carries here or there and deposits far, it may be, from the spot where it ripened; then in a new home it puts on verdure and a golden glory. Who hath despised the day of small things?-Zechariah iv. 10. They scarcely waked before they slept, From Heaven the speechless Infants speak: We bloom among the blooming flowers, |