Though all around Mount Sinai bow'd, Yet far beyond that earlier scene And though sublime that trumpet's peal, What bosom would not rather The import of those accents feel Which said, "FORGIVE THEM--FATHER!" THE ALTAR'S SIMPLICITY. "And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it; thou hast polluted it."-- Exodus, xx. 25. LORD! may the precept still impart Such when the cloud has veil'd from sight Their ark within, awhile must rest, And wait the dawning of that Light Whose guidance heretofore has blest. But when the fire with brightness burns, THE BRAZEN SERPENT. "And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live."-Numbers, xxi. 8. TYPE of that holier tree, Hadst thou such healing power On those who look'd to thee for aid divine, Their inward faith confirm'd thy outward sign? Or will His death suffice, Who died upon the cross that we might live, His grace vouchsafe not unto us to give. But with that peerless boon The cross of Christ as far exceeds thy power, The shadowy splendours of the twilight hour. For thine could do no more TURNING IN TRIBULATION. "When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shall be obedient unto his voice; he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee."-Deuteronomy, iv. 30, 31. WAKEN'D sinner, whelm'd in grief, Seeking, praying for relief, Hear the promise of thy God, Bow beneath his chast'ning rod. Have his judgments fallen on thee? Thou may'st yet his mercy see :~ Hast thou fallen on "latter days?" In them thou may'st sing his praise. Only turn thee to the Lord, Not by sorrow of thine own By his "WELL-BELOVED SON" That atonement hath been won, And through faith in him, alone, Can that power by thee be known. Be this living faith thy prayer, Then may'st thou his Spirit share, Know thy sins within thee slain, And in Him be born again. THE CURSE OF DISOBEDIENCE. "And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron."- Deuteronomy, xxviii. 23. APPALLING doom! yet hearts there are Have known a heaven where sun nor star A heaven of brass, from whose stern cope Whereon the rainbow, arch of hope, An earth of iron, whose barren breast Oh! such a heaven, and such an earth, To which wild phantasy gives birth, Howe'er the worldling deem. |