University of Virginia Library

BIBLE SONNETS.

—MISCELLANEOUS.

AARON'S DEATH ON MOUNT HOR.

In priestly robes, blue, gold, and purple, drest
Up that steep mountain-side his way he wended;
Weeping the people watched as he ascended
With fearless footsteps to his last, long rest.
At length he reached the cloud-enveloped crest,
By son and brother mournfully attended,
Whose hands removed (his priestly duties ended)
The glorious robes and splendour on his breast.
With that rich dress he saw his son invested,
Then—Israel's priest no more—lay down to die,
And in his grave sublime and lonely rested:
Not like that wondrous Priest of ours possessing
“Dyed garments” changeless as his Deity,
For ever living, loving, pleading, blessing.

JOTHAM'S PARABLE.

Once the tall trees of an aspiring wood,
Besought an Olive tree to be their king—
Which answered, On my boughs birds sit and sing,
And fragrant “fatness” fills me, berry and bud;
The Fig-tree next—which said, My fruit is good,
And grateful “sweetness” to mankind I bring;
The Vine spoke last, Leave me to creep and cling,
Content to “cheer” the world with my rich blood.
The useless Bramble only would be crowned,
But soon in flaming ruin wrapped the trees,
And flung even stately Cedars on the ground:
Then let me ne'er forsake the narrow round
Of lowly duties framed to serve and please,
In fruits of love ambitious to abound.

ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL.

On Carmel's top, beneath the cloudless blue,
Behold the mighty prophet meekly kneeling,
While his strong cries and tears of earnest feeling
Moisten the ground with unaccustomed dew.
Stars falter forth, earth takes a duskier hue,
More fervent grows the voice of Faith appealing,
Till from the sea a little cloud comes stealing,
Like a man's hand, and blots the heavens from view.
Lord, I would humbly supplicate Thy face
For some sweet token of approaching showers,
Some soft low murmur of abundant grace
To cheer my thirsty fields and drooping bowers;
Nor would I cease to ask and ask again
Till Thy sure mercy melts in copious rain.

ELISHA'S CHAMBER.

“A little chamber” built “upon the wall”—
With stool and table, candlestick and bed—
Where he might sit, or kneel, or lay his head
At night or sultry noontide: this was all
A Prophet's need: but in that chamber small
What mighty prayers arose, what grace was shed,
What gifts were given—potent to wake the dead,
And from its viewless flight a soul recall.
And still what miracles of grace are wrought
In many a lowly chamber with shut door,
Where God our Father is in secret sought,
And shows Himself in mercy more and more;
Dim upper rooms with Heaven's own glory shine,
And souls are lifted to the life Divine.

GOD'S PLEA FOR NINEVEH.

Gracious and merciful, “shall not I spare
Nineveh, that great city,” vast and grand,
Where “six score thousand” babes, a helpless band,
And multitudes of “cattle” claim my care;—
Dumb creatures, which their Maker's pity share
With infants, all too young to understand
Evil or good, or know one tiny hand
From its wee fellow—innocent as fair
God cares for every beast or bird that roams
The grassy mountains or the azure skies,
Where meadows smile, or where the wild wave foams:
God counts our babes, and He will “not despise
One of these little ones” that cheer our homes,
The light, desire, and comfort of our eyes!