Though oft my fainting spirit sinks In trial's stormy sea, Thy loving-kindness never fails To send relief to me. I am thy child, my Father thou- The bond that links my heart to thee, Is love's resistless claim. What moved thee, Lord, to look with love Upon a wretch like me, And send Thy well-beloved Son To die upon the tree? To pass a weary, painful life Without a look of sympathy In all His bitter woe? Stronger than death Thy matchless love, Enshrined in flesh the Godhead came To rescue fallen Man. Lord, fill my soul with love divine, The Spirit's unction give; That I may spend my life for Thee, ESTHER. "Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house; and the king sat upon his royal throne, in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. "And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. "Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? It shall be even given thee, to the half of the kingdom." Esther v. 1-3. SAD is her youthful brow, and shaded o'er With anxious care, for early grief has press'd Her bright young head, and bow'd its stateli ness. The orphan daughter of an outcast race, Over her early years a blight has pass'd, Though her rare charms have rais'd her to a throne. The bright tears gather in her anxious eyes, And glisten through the long dark fringe that shades Her marble cheek; the trembling lips betray Her inward feeling, and her beating heart Flutters beneath the rich and costly robe That covers it. What brings that timid girl Uncall'd, unask'd for, to the palace gate? How dare she stand before the haughty band Sweet Esther! thou hast conquer'd, and the despot, The proud, stern despot yields to thy gentle pleading : "Ask what thou wilt, it shall not be denied, E'en to the half of all my vast dominions." Sinner! thou also hast a suit to plead Before the King of kings. A fearful doom Fear not; thou hast a mighty Advocate, Whose pure blood, sprinkled on the mercyseat, Pleads a full pardon; while the gracious hand That leads thee, bears a mark which tells of sin Pardon'd and cancell'd-justice satisfied. That pierced hand can ne'er be rais'd in vain, |