Will the storm hear the sailor's piteous cry',

Taught to mistrust, too late, the tempting wave, When all around he sees but sea and sky,

A God in anger, a self-chosen grave?

Or will the thorns, that strew intemperance' bed, Turn with a wish to down? will late remorse Recall the shaft the murderer's hand has sped, Or from the guiltless bosom turn its course?

Then may th' unbodied soul in safety fleet

Through the dark curtains of the world above, Fresh from the stain of crime; nor fear to meet The God, whom here she would not learn to love :

Then is there hope for such as die unblest,

That angel wings may waft them to the shore, Nor need th' unready virgin strike her breast, Nor wait desponding round the bridegroom's door.

But where is then the stay of contrite hearts?
Of old they lean'd on thy eternal word,
But with the sinner's fear their hope departs,
Fast link'd as thy great Name to Thee, O Lord:

t Compare Bp. Butler's Analogy, p. 54–64. ed. 1736.

G

That Name, by which thy faithful oath is past,

That we should endless be, for joy or woe :And if the treasures of thy wrath could waste, Thy lovers must their promis'd Heaven forego.

But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour,

When in familiar talk God's voice was heard, When at the Patriarch's call the fiery shower Propitious o'er the turf-built shrine appear'd.

Watch by our father Isaac's pastoral door

The birthright sold, the blessing lost and won, Tell, Heaven has wrath that can relent no more, The Grave, dark deeds that cannot be undone.

We barter life for pottage; sell true bliss

For wealth or power, for pleasure or renown; Thus, Esau-like, our Father's blessing miss,

Then wash with fruitless tears our faded crown.

Our faded crown, despis'd and flung aside,

Shall on some brother's brow immortal bloom, No partial hand the blessing may misguide;

No flattering fancy change our Monarch's doom:

His righteous doom, that meek true-hearted Love

The everlasting birthright should receive, The softest dews drop on her from above", The richest green her mountain garland weave:

Her brethren, mightiest, wisest, eldest born,
Bow to her sway, and move at her behest:
Isaac's fond blessing may not fall on scorn,

Nor Balaam's curse on Love, which God hath blest. "Genesis xxvii. 27, 28.

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT.

When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace; but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. St. Luke xi. 21, 22.

SEE Lucifer like lightning fall
Dash'd from his throne of pride;
While, answering Thy victorious call,
The Saints his spoils divide,

This world of thine, by him usurp'd too long, Now opening all her stores to heal thy servants' wrong.

So when the first-born of thy foes

Dead in the darkness lay,

When thy redeem'd at midnight rose

And cast their bonds away,

The orphan'd realm threw wide her gates, and told

Into freed Israel's lap her jewels and her gold.

And when their wondrous march was o'er,

And they had won their homes,
Where Abraham fed his flock of yore,

Among their fathers' tombs ;

A land that drinks the rain of Heaven at will, Whose waters kiss the feet of many a vine-clad hill

Oft as they watch'd, at thoughtful eve,

A gale from bowers of balm

Sweep o'er the billowy corn, and heave
The tresses of the palm,

;

Just as the lingering Sun had touch'd with gold, Far o'er the cedar shade, some tower of giants old;

It was a fearful joy, I ween,

To trace the Heathen's toil,
The limpid wells, the orchards green

Left ready for the spoil,

The household stores untouch'd, the roses bright Wreath'd o'er the cottage walls in garlands of delight.

And now another Canaan yields
To thine all-conquering ark ;-