 | Poems by Miss H. F. Gould |  |
201
THE MOUNT OF SACRIFICE.
“And he said, Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt-offering?”—
Gen. xxii. 1.
“Is this our weary journey's end,
That rose from far to sight?”
“Yea; and together we'll ascend
To worship on the height.
That rose from far to sight?”
“Yea; and together we'll ascend
To worship on the height.
“Abide, my servants, at the foot
Of this rude mountain wild:
Unload the beast; for I must put
His burden on my child.”
Of this rude mountain wild:
Unload the beast; for I must put
His burden on my child.”
“Ay, father, I the wood will bear;
And thou the knife, and fire
To light the altar-pile; but where—
Oh! where 's the lamb, my sire?”
And thou the knife, and fire
To light the altar-pile; but where—
Oh! where 's the lamb, my sire?”
“Our God himself a lamb will find
For sacrifice, my son.
And, Lord, this bursting bosom bind,
Till thy command be done!”
For sacrifice, my son.
And, Lord, this bursting bosom bind,
Till thy command be done!”
“My father, thou art old; and long
And steep, and hard to thee,
The way; but I am young and strong—
Support thyself by me.”
And steep, and hard to thee,
The way; but I am young and strong—
Support thyself by me.”
202
“O righteous God! thy servant spare;
Nor yet another dart
Of filial tenderness prepare
To quiver in my heart.
Nor yet another dart
Of filial tenderness prepare
To quiver in my heart.
“My lips in holy silence keep—
Mine eyes from sorrow free;
But let my soul bow down and weep
Her tears of blood to thee!”
Mine eyes from sorrow free;
But let my soul bow down and weep
Her tears of blood to thee!”
Together now, are sire and son
On that dread mountain's peak;
And brought so near the Holy One,
Frail nature must not speak.
On that dread mountain's peak;
And brought so near the Holy One,
Frail nature must not speak.
A solemn stillness wraps the scene;
The fearful altar 's made;
The tender boy lies bound, between
The wood and glittering blade.
The fearful altar 's made;
The tender boy lies bound, between
The wood and glittering blade.
The trusting child is calm and dumb;
Prepared to yield his life,
Because where'er the blow shall come,
His father holds the knife!
Prepared to yield his life,
Because where'er the blow shall come,
His father holds the knife!
But, hark! a voice! 't is sweet and clear:
An angel from above
Is pouring in the patriarch's ear
The sounds of peace and love.
An angel from above
Is pouring in the patriarch's ear
The sounds of peace and love.
203
By him Jehovah from his throne
Speaks through the opening skies:
“Hold, Abraham! thine obedience shown
Shall let thy son arise.
Speaks through the opening skies:
“Hold, Abraham! thine obedience shown
Shall let thy son arise.
“Unbind the cord—the lad release;
And, in the thicket, see
The offering, with his snowy fleece,
That shall be slain for me.
And, in the thicket, see
The offering, with his snowy fleece,
That shall be slain for me.
“Because thou didst not here withhold
Thy child, thine only one,
Thy faith shall to the world be told,
And what thy God hath done.
Thy child, thine only one,
Thy faith shall to the world be told,
And what thy God hath done.
“The nations I will bless in thee—
Thy children multiply—
To count as sands around the sea—
To shine, as stars, on high!”
Thy children multiply—
To count as sands around the sea—
To shine, as stars, on high!”
Then rise, ye future saints, and live
With Abraham's holy trust;
Believe, whate'er he bids you give,
Your God still kind and just.
With Abraham's holy trust;
Believe, whate'er he bids you give,
Your God still kind and just.
The soul that heaven in mercy tries,
As gold, from earth's alloy,
Shall find the Mount of Sacrifice
Become the Mount of Joy.
As gold, from earth's alloy,
Shall find the Mount of Sacrifice
Become the Mount of Joy.
| Poems by Miss H. F. Gould | |