 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
178
SIGNS IN THE SKY.
[_]
We take the paragraph, one of the most suggestive and one of the saddest we ever read, from the leading columns of the New York Tribune:—“Signs in the sky. A religious paper publishes a curious appeal in the following words. It is asked of all newspapers desiring the spread of truth and the destruction of error, that they publish this request and prayer to Almighty Power, that on the three first Sunday nights in October, 1871, there shall appear in the heavens a distinct light in the shape of a great cross.”— Spectator, quoted in the Rock, Aug. 25, 1871.
Alas! does such a cry
In this late age appeal to Power Divine,
“Let a great cross illume the evening sky,
Show us, O Lord, a sign!”
In this late age appeal to Power Divine,
“Let a great cross illume the evening sky,
Show us, O Lord, a sign!”
“For Thine own truth's sake, hear;
Thrice in the hush of autumn's twilight calm,
Oh, let a cross distinct in heaven appear,
After the Sabbath psalm.”
Thrice in the hush of autumn's twilight calm,
Oh, let a cross distinct in heaven appear,
After the Sabbath psalm.”
179
O vain and sinful prayer,
Powerless to wing its flight to the high stars,
Or pierce the clouds which in this lower air
Extend their fleecy bars.
Powerless to wing its flight to the high stars,
Or pierce the clouds which in this lower air
Extend their fleecy bars.
“Deeply” of old “He sighed,”
When doubters asked Him for a sign from heaven;
A shadow dimmed His brow as He replied,
“There shall no sign be given.”
When doubters asked Him for a sign from heaven;
A shadow dimmed His brow as He replied,
“There shall no sign be given.”
Lord, we do not require
A miracle inscribed upon the sky,
On the blue silent heavens a cross of fire,
A wonder hung on high.
A miracle inscribed upon the sky,
On the blue silent heavens a cross of fire,
A wonder hung on high.
Enough that on the face
Of ancient records we may clearly see
Thy cross of wood “without the gate,” and trace
The saving mystery.
Of ancient records we may clearly see
Thy cross of wood “without the gate,” and trace
The saving mystery.
180
Enough that we may know
By solid proofs no unbelief can shake,
That Thou for us didst sleep in death below,
And gloriously awake!
By solid proofs no unbelief can shake,
That Thou for us didst sleep in death below,
And gloriously awake!
Enough that we may feel
Thy resurrection's power within our breast,
The Spirit's comfort and attesting seal
Of endless life and rest.
Thy resurrection's power within our breast,
The Spirit's comfort and attesting seal
Of endless life and rest.
Then let the sky be dark
And rolling vapours shroud each Sabbath eve:
We proffer not vain hands to help God's ark;
We know Whom we believe!
And rolling vapours shroud each Sabbath eve:
We proffer not vain hands to help God's ark;
We know Whom we believe!
| Wood-notes and Church-bells | |