Not the averted, but the "single" eye, (w) May prove you His-The lukewarm He detests, (x) The coward (y) and the hypocrite (≈) unveils ; But marks the perfect, welcomes the sincere, And with the contrite condescending dwells; (a) Like Nicodemus then- (b) no longer hid And coming secretly, but known, avowed, The followers of Jesus, issue forth
With heartfelt homage to the Prince of Peace! Remember her who linger'd and was lost, Remember him who vainly said, "I go,” (c) And from a world that lies in wickedness, From all its lures, from all its blandishments, With speed (d) uncompromising flee to Christ.
Son of the Highest! Saviour of the world! God over all! and passionless as such, Yet Son of Man, and as a man, to feel Thy sympathizing oneness with our flesh; How didst thou stamp thy kindly brotherhood (e) With man's innate emotions; how evince That one with Deity, thou yet hadst thoughts Peculiar to thy pure humanity,
Thy sinless creatureship; how didst thou show And testify thyself the woman's seed, (ƒ)
(w) Matt. vi. 22, 24. (*) Luke vi. 46. (b) John xix. 39.
Heb. ii, 12-14,
(x) Rev. iii. 16. (a) Isa. Ixvi. 2 (last clause). (c) Matt. xxi. 30. (f) Gen. iii. 15.
By tender yearnings (g) o'er the heart bereaved Of her who gave thee birth in Bethlehem, The mother and the handmaid of her Lord!
Sword-pierced (h) she stands beneath that harrowing cross, And oh, methinks we look into her soul,
Revolving still those often ponder'd words, (i)
He shall be great!—of God, the Lord, receive His father David's throne-o'er Jacob's house Reign always, and his kingdom never end; "And this thy throne, then, O beloved Son! And this thy coronation ?"-Mary !—Yes! True to the letter were those angel-words, And true His own, " In calling me a King, Thou sayest that I am.”—(k)
He wields dominion over universe,
Suspends its laws, (l) and modifies its frame; (m) E'en on the cross of shame and agony
He triumphs over Satan, (n) crushes down power of the serpent and his seed, And seals the everlasting covenant; (0) E'en on the cross dispenses clemency, (p) And opens wide the gates of Paradise
(g) John xix. 26, 27. (k) John xviii. 37. (m) Matt. xxvii. 51, 52. (p) Luke xxiii. 42, 43.
(h) Luke ii. 35. (7) Matt. xxvii. 45, (n) Col. ii. 15.
To all who touch the sceptre of his O daughters of Jerusalem, awake! Behold your King on his espousal day! Behold and ponder on the solemn scene Of ratified betrothment to his Church, Enact' on Calvary !-As Adam slept, When from his open'd side (q) Jehovah took Bone of his bone, his loved and welcomed Eve, So in death-sleep the heav'nly bridegroom lay, (r) While from his wound (s) mysteriously flow'd That washing, this propitiating stream, Efficient both to vivify and cleanse Her, to himself affianced by her God. 'Twas his espousal moment to his Church, When "It is finish'd "issued from his lips! That day acute, of ignominious woe, Was notwithstanding, in a perfect sense,
"The day of his heart's gladness," for the joy (t) That his redeem'd should be brought home at last, (Made ready as in robes of bridal white) (u) Was set before Him vividly,—He look'd ; And for that happiness anticipate, Endurance of all torture, all disgrace,
Seem'd light infliction to his heart of love. (v) O daughters of Jerusalem, arise :
Arise, my soul, to bless Him, and adore, (w)
(q) Gen. ii. 21. (s) John xix. 34; (u) Rev. iii. 5.
(t) Heb. xii. 2. (w) Ps. ciii. 1; cvii. 8.
With every faculty, in every thought! And hasten, hasten, O ye waiting saints, With holy earnestness, (a) that promised hour When the (y) reproach of widowhood shall cease, When the long-absent Bridegroom shall appear; (*) And "Lo, the (a) marriage of the Lamb is come, And they that enter shall no more (b) go out ! "
(x) 2 Pet. iii. 12. (a) Rev. xix. 7.
(y) Isa. liv. 4. (b) Rev. iii. 12.
Macintosh, Printer, Great New-street, London.
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