In amaze, as if waked to new life, thou wilt start, For all things will seem changed to thy fast changing heart; And Solitude then with delight will be sought, Then the laws thou hast broken, most holy and wise, In the mirror of conscience against thee will rise; And doubts may assail thee of vengeance and doom Laid in wait to o'erwhelm thee when pass'd through the tomb! But just in that moment, when full in thy sight Thy sin and God's justice stand awfully bright, And in fear and despondence thou gazest around, Unknowing whence pardon and peace may be found; Oh! then, let His mercy who died in our stead, And bore all the curse of our guilt on his head, The Holy, the Just One, rush clear on thy mind, Till there lurk not a shadow of doubting behind. Thou wilt feel all the depths of thy spirit to move, As thou ponderest the weight of thy Saviour's love, Thy heart will be melted, thy tears will flow free, And the dew of repentance fall gently on thee! Oh happiest moment of all thou hast past! but dust, When heaven is thy home, and Jehovah thy trust! A DROP OF DEW. Andrew Marvell. SEE how the orient dew, Shed from the bosom of the morn Yet careless of its mansion new, For the clear region where 'twas born, And in its little globe's extent Frames, as it can, its native element. How it the purple flower does slight, Scarce touching where it lies! But, gazing back upon the skies, Shines with a mournful light, Like its own tear, Because so long divided from the sphere. Restless it rolls, and insecure, And to the skies exhales it back again. So the soul, that drop, that ray Of the clear fountain of eternal day, Could it within the human flower be seen, Remembering still its former height, Shuns the sweet leaves and blossoms green; And, recollecting its own light, Does, in its pure and circling thoughts, express In how coy a figure wound, It all about does upwards bend. Such did the manna's sacred dew distil, White and entire, although congeal'd and chill; Congeal'd on earth; but does, dissolving, run Into the glories of th' Almighty Sun.. PAGAN DARKNESS. Cotterill. O'ER the realms of pagan darkness, Let the eye of Pity gaze; See the kindreds of the people, Lost in sin's bewild'ring maze : Darkness brooding on the face of all the earth. Light of them who sit in error, Rise and shine; thy blessings bring: Light to lighten all the Gentiles, Rise with healing in thy wing: To thy brightness let all kings and nations come. Let the heathen, now adoring Idol gods of wood and stone, Serve the living God alone: Let thy glory fill the earth, as floods the sea. Thou to whom all power is given, Speak the word; at thy command, Spread thy name from land to land: Lord, be with them always, till time's latest end. ADORING GRATITUDE. OH! sweet employment, sweet indeed For hope inspired, and sin forgiven! Father! we thank thee !-babes in mind, When wondering Reason takes her flight, Sees worlds on worlds, 'mid fields of light, But what art thou ?-Transcendant Love, Yet stooping to an infant's reach! |