Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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NEHEMIAH'S MIDNIGHT SURVEY. |
 | Devotional Verses |  |
68
NEHEMIAH'S MIDNIGHT SURVEY.
“And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before
the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of
Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were
consumed by fire.”
—Nehemiah, ii. 13.
The world may call the Conq'ror great,
Who enters with triumphal state
Some captur'd city's walls;
Who wins by prowess of his own
Some rival monarch's envied throne,
And revels in his halls.
Who enters with triumphal state
Some captur'd city's walls;
Who wins by prowess of his own
Some rival monarch's envied throne,
And revels in his halls.
Greater and nobler far wert thou,
Though pensive thought might cloud thy brow,
Thus wand'ring forth by night
On Salem's ruin'd walls to gaze,
While memory of her brighter days
Rose with that mournful sight.
Though pensive thought might cloud thy brow,
Thus wand'ring forth by night
On Salem's ruin'd walls to gaze,
While memory of her brighter days
Rose with that mournful sight.
The faithful patriot's fond desire,
The prophet's zeal—could hope inspire
E'en in that mournful mood;
Thine was a faith which knew no fears,
A glory sullied not by tears,
A greatness truly good.
The prophet's zeal—could hope inspire
E'en in that mournful mood;
Thine was a faith which knew no fears,
A glory sullied not by tears,
A greatness truly good.
69
Head of the church! to thee we pray,
Oh! raise up in this latter day
Spirits of kindred zeal:—
Spirits that love, in lonely hours,
To count our yet remaining towers,
And watch o'er Zion's weal.
Oh! raise up in this latter day
Spirits of kindred zeal:—
Spirits that love, in lonely hours,
To count our yet remaining towers,
And watch o'er Zion's weal.
Oh! be to such by thee displayed
The devastations sin has made,
And while they mourn the view,
Show them thy gift of grace, through prayer
And faith, can every breach repair
And build our walls anew.
The devastations sin has made,
And while they mourn the view,
Show them thy gift of grace, through prayer
And faith, can every breach repair
And build our walls anew.
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