Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

Yet I may love thee: this is thy command-
Thy kind command, and kindly now made known;
My pow'r and passions too are in thy hard-
Lord, mould and form them for thy use alone!

This worthless heart to thee I would resign;
Poor as it is, thy sovereign hand can raise
A monument to thee-enrich, refine,

And there inscribe thy mercies and thy praise.

Thy wondrous praise not all creation's tongues,
In one harmonious concert can display;
Not the celestial choir's enraptur'd songs,
Through vast eternity's unbounded day.

And shall a reptile of the earth aspire

To join with angels in their high employ?
Lord, at thy feet I lay my trembling lyre
In silent awe, yet mix'd with humble joy.
Yet if thou bid me try the heav'nly theme,
And bless me with thy smile, my lyre again
On ev'ry string shall sound thy glorious name,
Thy smile shall animate the feeble frame.

If thou accept and aid my wish to praise,
Then shall my heart with glad devotion sing;
But ah, how mean the gift! her sweetest lays
To thee, my gracious God, my glorious King!
All I enjoy, and all I hope, is thine-

Unworthiness alone belongs to me:

Inspire me, O my God, with love divine,

And make my life a hymn of praise to thee.

PRAISE TO THE CREATOR.

[MRS. ROWE.]

'HOU didst, O mighty God, exist
Ere time began its race;
Before the ample elements
Fill'd up the void of space.

Before the ponderous earthly globe
In fluid air was stay'd;
Before the ocean's mighty springs
Their liquid stores display'd,-

Ere through the gloom of ancient nigt.
The streaks of light appear'd;

Before the grand celestial arch,
Or starry poles, were rear'd,-

Before the loud melodious spheres
Their tuneful round begun;
Before the shining roads of heaven
Were measur❜d by the sun,-

Ere, through the empyrean courts,
One hallelujah rung;

Or to their harps the sons of light
Ecstatic anthems sung,-

Ere men ador'd, or angels knew,
Or prais'd thy wondrous name,
Thy bliss, O sacred Spring of Life!
Thy glory was the same.

And when the pillars of the world

With sudden ruin break,

And all this vast and goodly frame
Sinks in the mighty wreck,-

When from her orb the moon shall start,
Th' astonish'd sun roll back,
And all the trembling starry lamps

Their ancient course forsake,—

For ever permanent and fix'd,
From agitation free,

Unchang'd in everlasting years,
Shall thy existence be.

THRENODIA.

[SMEDLEY.]

WEEP for thine offspring, childless Israel, weep;
Slain on their mountains, strength and beauty lie:
Fallen are the mighty, to her native steep
As turns the wounded antelope to die.

Oh, let not Ascalon our grief proclaim,
Nor Gath the burden of our sorrow know;
Lest their proud daughters glory in our shame,
And misbelieving triumph mock our woe.

No sheaves of offering in thy valleys swell,
No dews, Gilboa, fertilize thy field!
Parch'd be thy summit, where the mighty fell,

Where hands anointed cast away their shield!

From Saul how keenly flash'd the lifted blade!

How strong the bow from Jonathan recoil'd!
Their arms the warrior's boldest breast dismay'd,
The proud discomfited, the wealthy spoil'd.

One in their lives where fame and friendship led,
One undivided couch in death they find.
Foil'd by their prowess, cowering lions fled,

And toil-worn eagles flagg'd their speed behind. Weep ye for Saul, whose bounteous hand, and brave, On beauty lavish'd spoils which valour gain'd. Daughters of Israel, weep for him who gave

Gold wrought with jewels, vests with purple stain’d!
Fall'n are the mighty! War has rear'd their tomb;
On his own mountains Jonathan is slain:
What pangs, my brother, waken at thy doom!
Thine heart, how loving, how beloved again!

For me thy friendship burn'd with purer flame,
Than glows the bridal bosom for her lord!-
Fallen are the mighty! Israel mourn thy shame;
War's spear is shatter'd-blunted is his sword!

A PSALM OF PRAISE TO OUR REDEEMER; ESPECIALLY FOR THE LORD'S DAY.

[BAXTER,]

THE FIRST PART.

BLESS thou the living Lord, my soul;
His glorious praise proclaim:
Let all my inward powers extol,
And bless his holy name.

Forget not all his benefits;
But bless the Lord, my soul.
Who all thy trespasses remits,

And makes thee sound and whole.

Who did redeem and set thee free,
From death's infernal place!
With loving kindness crowneth thee,
And with his tender grace.
As far as is the sun's uprise
In distance from its fall;
So far our great iniquities
He sep'rates from us all.

Behold what wondrous love on us
The Father hath bestow'd!
That we should be advanced thus,
And call'd the sons of God.
Because thy loving-kindness is
Better than length of days,
And preciouser than life itself;
My lips shall speak thy praise.

Thus will I bless thee all my days,
And celebrate thy fame;

My hands I will devoutly raise

In thy most holy name.

With marrow and sweet fatness fill'd,

My thankful sonl shall be;

My mouth shall join with joyful lips In giving praise to thee.

For whom have I in Heaven but thee?

Nor is there any one

In all the world desir'd of me

Besides thyself alone;

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »