Belshazzar thus, profanely bold,

The Lord of hosts defied;

But vengeance soon his boasts controll'd, And humbled all his pride.

He saw a hand upon the wall

(And trembled on his throne), Which wrote his sudden, dreadful fall, In characters unknown.

Why should he tremble at the view
Of what he could not read?
Foreboding conscience quickly knew
His ruin was decreed.

See him o'erwhelm'd with deep distress!
His eyes with anguish roll;

His looks and loosen'd joints express
The terrors of his soul.

His pomp and music, guests and wine,
No more delight afford;

O sinner, ere this case be thine,
Begin to seek the Lord.

The law like this handwriting stands,
And speaks the wrath of God ;*
But Jesus answers its demands,
And cancels it with blood.

* Colos. ii. 14.

JONAH.

75. THE GOURD. Chap. iv. 6-8.

As once for Jonah, so the Lord,

To soothe and cheer my mournful hours, Prepared for me a pleasing gourd;

Cool was its shade, and sweet its flowers.

To prize the gift was surely right;
But, through the folly of my heart,
It hid the Giver from my sight,

And soon my joy was changed to smart. While I admired its beauteous form,

Its pleasant shade, and grateful fruit; The Lord, displeased, sent forth a worm, Unseen to prey upon the root.

I trembled when I saw it fade,

But guilt restrain'd the murmuring word; My folly I confess'd, and pray'd, 'Forgive my sin, and spare my gourd!'

His wondrous love can ne'er be told,
He heard me, and relieved my pain;
His word the threatening worm controll'd,
And bid my gourd revive again.

Now, Lord, my gourd is mine no more;
'Tis Thine, who only couldst it raise;
The idol of my heart before,

Henceforth shall flourish to Thy praise.

See Hymn on Habak. iii. 17, Although the

fig tree, etc. page 449.

ZECHARIAH.

76. THE LORD'S PRESENCE.

Chap. ii. 10.

SON of God! Thy people shield!

Must we still Thine absence mourn?

Let Thy promise be fulfill'd,

Thou hast said, 'I will return!'

Gracious Leader, now appear,

Shine upon us with Thy light!
Like the spring, when Thou art near,
Days and suns are doubly bright.

As a mother counts the days,
Till her absent son she see,
Longs and watches, weeps and prays,
So our spirits long for Thee.

Come and let us feel Thee nigh,

Then Thy sheep shall feed in peace;
Plenty bless us from on high,
Evil from amongst us cease.

With Thy love, and voice, and aid,
Thou canst every care assuage;
Then we shall not be afraid,

Though the world and Satan rage.
Thus each day for Thee we'll spend,
While our callings we pursue;
And the thoughts of such a Friend
Shall each night our joy renew.

Let Thy light be ne'er withdrawn,
Golden days afford us long!
Thus we pray at early dawn,-

This shall be our evening song.

77. A BRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE FIRE. Chap. iii. 1-5.

WITH Satan, my accuser, near,
My spirit trembled when I saw
The Lord in majesty appear,

And heard the language of His law.

In vain I wish'd and strove to hide
The tatter'd filthy rags I wore;
While my fierce foe, insulting, cried,
'See what you trusted in before!'
Struck dumb, and left without a plea,
I heard my gracious Saviour say,
'Know, Satan, I this sinner free,
I died to take his sins away.
This is a brand which I, in love,
To save from wrath and sin design;
In vain thy accusations prove;

I answer all, and claim him Mine.'

At this rebuke the tempter fled ;

Then He removed my filthy dress; 'Poor sinner, take this robe,' He said, 'It is thy Saviour's righteousness.

'And see, a crown of life prepared!
That I might thus thy head adorn;
I thought no shame of suffering hard,
But wore for thee a crown of thorn.'

O, how I heard these gracious words!
They broke and heal'd my heart at once;
Constrain'd me to become the Lord's,
And all my idol gods renounce.

Now, Satan, thou hast lost thy aim;
Against this brand thy threats are vain;
Jesus has pluck'd it from the flame,
And who shall put it in again?

78. ON ONE STONE SHALL BE SEVEN EYES.
Chap. iii. 9.

JESUS CHRIST, the Lord's anointed,
Who His blood for sinners spilt,
Is the Stone by God appointed,

And the Church is on Him built :
He delivers all who trust Him from their guilt.

Many eyes at once are fixed

On a Person so divine;

Love with awful justice mixed,

In His great redemption shine:

Mighty Jesus! give me leave to call Thee

mine!