THAT YE, THROUGH HIS POVERTY, MIGHT BE RICH." Low in the dim and sultry west But he, with thirst and hunger spent, And from the humble well he drinks. The gloom of twilight gathers fast, And o'er the waters drearily Sweeps the bleak evening blast. The weary bird hath left the air, The wandering beast hath sought his lair, Still, near the lake, with weary tread, Why seeks not he a home of rest? Why seeks not he the pillow'd bed? Beasts have their dens, the bird its nest;— Such was the lot he freely chose, To bless, to save the human race; DEATH OF A CHRISTIAN. THOU art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee; Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb, The Savior has pass'd through its portals before thee, And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom. Thou art gone to the grave,- -we no longer behold thee, Nor tread the rough path of the world by thy side; But the wide arms of mercy are spread to infold thee, And sinners may hope, since the sinless has died. Thou art gone to the grave,—and its mansion forsaking, Perhaps thy tried spirit in doubt linger'd long; But the sunshine of heaven beam'd bright on thy waking, And the song which thou heardst was the seraph im's song. Thou art gone to the grave,-but 't were wrong to deplore thee, When God was thy ransom, thy guardian, thy guide; He gave thee, and took thee, and soon will restore thee, Where death hath no sting, since the Savior hath died. THE THUNDER-STORM. Ir thunders! sons of dust, in reverence bow! I hear thy awful voice-alarm'd—afraid— Lord! what is man? up to the sun he flies- Beneath the storm-clouds, on life's raging sea, In a frail bark—the sport of destiny, He sleeps and dashes on the rocky coast. Thou breathest; and the obedient storm is still : Sourceless and endless God! compared with Thee, Life is a shadowy momentary dream ; And time, when view'd through Thy eternity, Less than the mote of morning's golden beam. THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT SINAI. I SEEK the mountain cleft: alone I seem in this sequester'd place :— My heart perceives his presence nigh, LOVE is that name-for "God is Love." I worship.-Lord, though I am dust Be thou my strength;-in thee I trust,- Hither, of old, the Almighty came: Clouds were his car, his steeds the wind; Before him went devouring flame, And thunder roll'd behind. At his approach the mountains reel'd, Earth, heaving like a sea, reveal'd Borne through the wilderness in wrath, He smote the rock, and, as he pass'd, ETERNAL UNION OF FRIENDS. If high that world, which lies beyond The eye the same, except in tears— It must be so: 't is not for self That we so tremble on the brink; And striving to o'erleap the gulf, Yet cling to Being's severing link. Oh! in that future let us think To hold each heart the heart that shares, With them the immortal waters drink, And soul in soul grow deathless theirs. |