They laughed my words to scorn, They jested at my tears; 'Tis good that I were born, For wine hath vanquished fears: Pour out libations, then! Who cannot ills endure That flesh is heir to, when He hath a friend thus sure? Fill ye the goblet high! I said, and on my sense Passed by my troubled soul; In prayer-God's holy SonFather! thy blessed will Alone, not mine be done! What said I to my glass At such an hour as this? I saw the tempter pass Away-transporting bliss Poured its full tide along My bosom, and I said, Or softly murmured, Thou! Who heard'st me here repine, PALESTINE. LONG hath the crescent's glittering sign, The tents of Midian tribes unblest But Shiloh comes to bless the land, Lo, Edom with Assyria's band, Fair Lebanon shall hear his voice, No more shall Zion's daughter mourn, JEHOVAH shall her walls adorn, THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. STAR of the East! the Shepherd's Star! It told of mercy from afar, And beamed Salvation down to men: The mystery, surpassing ken Of angel-powers, revealedst thou; Celestial were thy glories then That burst and streamed on Midnight's brow: As bright thou burn'st in yon blue field, Of real bliss can give no ray; Her fairest flowers have secret stings, Star of the East? no gems that burn Thou peerless one! can vie with thee: But thou, bright Star! Redemption's own! Star of the East! the tempest-tost, To guide and guard our weeping way, E 2 CLOSE OF THE WEEK. WHILE the solemn note of Time Warns me of his hasty tread; While the silent march of days Tells "another week hath fled;" While the hum of busy toil, Works of care, and labour cease; While the six days' weary strife Yields to holy, welcome peace, Let me all the past review, Much hath heaven bestowed on me, Much have I to folly given; God! what have I done for thee? Nearer to my final hour, Am I sealed with Jesus' blood? Nearer to eternity, Am I nearer to my God? |