University of Virginia Library


172

THE CHRISTIAN ISRAEL.

Thus far on Life's perplexing path,
Thus far the Lord our steps hath led;
Safe from the world's pursuing wrath,
Unharm'd through floods hung o'er our head;
Here then we pause, look back, adore,
Like ransom'd Israel from the shore.
Strangers and pilgrims here below,
As all our fathers in their day,
We to a Land of Promise go,
Lord! by thine own appointed way;
Still guide, illumine, cheer our flight,
In cloud by day, in fire by night.

173

Protect us through this wilderness
From serpent plague, and hostile rage;
With bread from heaven our table bless,
With living streams our thirst assuage;
Nor let our rebel-hearts repine,
Or follow any voice but Thine.
Thy righteous laws to us proclaim,
But not from Sinai's top alone;
Hid in the rock-clift, be thy name,
Thy power, and all thy goodness shewn;
And may we never bow the knee
To any other gods but Thee.
Thy presence with us move or rest;
—And as the eagle, o'er her brood,
Flutters her pinions, stirs the nest,
Covers, defends, provides them food,
Bears on her wings, instructs to fly;
—Thus, thus prepare us for the sky.

174

When we have number'd all our years,
And stand at length on Jordan's brink,
Though the flesh fail with human fears,
Oh! let not then the spirit shrink,
But strong in faith, and hope, and love,
Plunge through the stream,—to rise above.

175

THE VISIBLE CREATION.

The God of Nature and of Grace
In all his works appears;
His goodness through the earth we trace,
His grandeur in the spheres.
Behold this fair and fertile globe,
By Him in wisdom plann'd;
'Twas He, who girded, like a robe,
The ocean round the land.
Lift to the firmament your eye;
Thither his path pursue;
His glory, boundless as the sky,
O'erwhelms the wondering view.

182

CHRIST'S PASSION.

The morning dawns upon the place,
Where Jesus spent the night in prayer;
Through brightening glooms behold his face,
No form nor comeliness is there.
Last eve, by those He call'd his own,
Betray'd, forsaken, or denied,
He met his enemies alone,
In all their malice, rage, and pride.
Brought forth to judgement now he stands,
Arraign'd, condemn'd, at Pilate's bar;
Here spurn'd by fierce Prætorian bands,
There mock'd by Herod's men of war:
He bears their buffetting and scorn,
Feign'd homage of the lip, the knee,
The purple robe, the crown of thorn,
The scourge, the nail, the' accursed tree.

183

No guile within his mouth is found,
He neither threatens nor complains;
Meek as a lamb for slaughter bound,
Dumb midst his murderers He remains:
But hark! He prays;—'tis for his foes;
He speaks;—'tis comfort to his friends;
Answers;—and Paradise bestows;
“'Tis finish'd!”—here the conflict ends.
He dies; the veil is rent in twain;
Darkness o'er all the land is spread,
High, without tempest, rolls the main,
Earth trembles, graves give up their dead:
“Truly this was the Son of God!”
—Though in a servant's mean disguise,
And bruised beneath the Father's rod,
Not for Himself,—for Man He dies.

184

CHRIST'S TRIUMPH.

Hark! the song of Jubilee,
Loud as mighty thunders roar,
Or the fulness of the sea,
When it breaks upon the shore:—
Hallelujah! for the Lord,
God Omnipotent, shall reign;
Hallelujah!—let the word
Echo round the earth and main.
Hallelujah!—hark! the sound,
From the' abysses to the skies,
Wakes above, beneath, around,
All Creation's harmonies:
See Jehovah's banner furl'd,
Sheathed his sword:—He speaks,—'tis done;
And the kingdoms of this world
Are the kingdoms of his Son.

185

He shall reign from pole to pole,
With illimitable sway;
He shall reign, when, like a scroll,
Yonder heavens have pass'd away:
Then the end:—beneath his rod,
Man's last enemy shall fall;
Hallelujah! Christ in God,
God in Christ, is All in All.

186

SAINTS IN HEAVEN.

What are these in bright array?
This innumerable throng,
Round the altar, night and day,
Tuning their triumphant song?
—“Worthy is the Lamb once slain,
Blessing, honour, glory, power,
Wisdom, riches, to obtain;
New dominion, every hour.”
These through fiery trials trod;
These from great affliction came;
Now before the throne of God,
Seal'd with his eternal name;

187

Clad in raiment pure and white,
Victor-palms in every hand,
Through their great Redeemer's might,
More than conquerors they stand.
Hunger, thirst, disease, unknown,
On immortal fruits they feed;
Them the Lamb, amidst the throne,
Shall to living fountains lead;
Joy and gladness banish sighs,
Perfect love dispels their fears,
And for ever from their eyes
God shall wipe away all tears.