"OH THAT I HAD WINGS LIKE A DOVE!" My soul, amid this stormy world, Is like some flutter'd dove; And fain would be as swift of wing, To flee to Him I love. The cords that bound my heart to earth Are broken by His hand: Before His cross I found myself, A stranger in the land. That visage marr'd, those sorrows deep, The vinegar and gall, Were Jesus' golden chains of love His captive to enthral! My heart is with Him on His throne, And ill can brook delay; Each moment list'ning for the voice,— Rise up, and come away." With hope deferr'd, oft sick and faint, 66 'Why tarries He?" I cry ; And should my Saviour chide my haste Sure I could make reply. May not an exile, Lord, desire, A child, when far away, may long I would, my Lord and Saviour, know, CHRIST OUR PASSOVER IS SACRIFICED FOR US." WHY did the paschal beast Of old for Israel bleed? To be their safe-guard and their feast, To sprinkle and to feed. Dwell not, my searching soul, On ritual shadows now; Christ is the Lamb all pure and whole, The ransom'd first-born thou. Now get thy house within, Slay, eat, anoint thy door; He looks and calls from high, He hears the posts and lintels cry I hear the accuser roar Of ills that I have done; I know them well, and thousands more, Jehovah findeth none. Sin, Satan, death, press near, Let but my Advocate appear, Before, behind, around, They set their fierce array, To fight and force me from my ground, Along Emmanuel's way. I meet them face to face, Through Jesus' conquest blest; March in the triumph of His grace, Right onward to my rest. There in His book I bear, A more than conqueror's name, A soldier, son, and fellow-heir, His be the victor's name, Who fought our fight alone; Triumphant saints no honour claim, Their conquest was His own. By weakness and defeat, He won the meed and crown; Trod all our foes beneath His feet, He, hell, in hell laid low; Made sin, He sin o'erthrew ; Bowed to the grave, destroyed it so, And death, by dying, slew. Bless, bless the conqueror slain! Who lived, who died, who lives again For thee, His church, for thee! |