Mindful of that sad vision, which in thought m From Chebar's plains the captive prophet brought To see lost Sion's shame. 'Twas morning prime, Seem'd to rejoice in sunshine all her own; The dazzling lines of her majestic roof Cross'd with as free a span the vault of Heaven, As when twelve tribes knelt silently aloof, Ere GOD his answer to their king had given ", Ere yet upon the new-built altar fell The glory of the LORD, the Lord of Israel. All seems the same: but enter in and see What idol shapes are on the wall pourtray'd° : And watch their shameless and unholy glee, Who worship there in Aaron's robes array'd: Hear Judah's maids the dirge to Thanımuz pour P, And mark her chiefs yon orient sun adore 9. m Ezekiel viii. 3. P Ezekiel viii. 14. n Kings viii. 5. • Ezekiel viii. 10. 9 Ezekiel viii. 16. Yet turn thee, Son of man-for worse than these Come learn to tell aright thine own sins' cost,- What if within His world, His church, our LORD Have enter'd thee, as in some temple gate, Where, looking round, each glance might thee afford Some glorious earnest of thine high estate, And thou, false heart and frail, hast turn'd from all To worship pleasure's shadow on the wall. If, when the LORD of Glory was in sight, Thou turn thy back upon that fountain clear, To bow before the "little drop of light," Which dim-eyed men call praise and glory here; What dost thou, but adore the sun, and scorn Him at whose only word both sun and stars were born? If, while around thee gales from Eden breathe, Thou hide thine eyes, to make thy peevish moan Over some broken reed of earth beneath, Some darling of blind fancy dead and gone, As wisely might'st thou in JEHOVAH's fane Turn thee from these, or dare not to enquire Of Him whose name is Jealous, lest in wrath He hear and answer thine unblest desire: Far better we should cross his lightning's path Than be according to our idols heard, And GOD should take us at our own vain word. Thou, who hast deign'd the Christian's heart to call Would in that chosen home of thine instal Belial or Mammon, grant us not the ill We blindly ask; in very love refuse Whate'er thou know'st our weakness would abuse. Or rather help us, LORD, to choose the good, To pray for nought, to seek to none, but Thee, Nor by "our daily bread" mean common food, Nor say, "From this world's evil set us free;" Teach us to love, with CHRIST, our sole true bliss, Else, though in CHRIST's own words, we surely pray amiss. VOL. II. LXVIII. EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face: like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel xx. 35, 36. IT is so-ope thine eyes, and see What view'st thou all around? A desert, where iniquity And knowledge both abound. In the waste howling wilderness The Church is wandering still, Back to the world we faithless turn'd, And far along the wild, Revelations xiii. 14. With labour lost and sorrow earn'd, Our steps have been beguil❜d. Yet full before us, all the while, Yet Heaven is raining angels' bread To be our daily food, And fresh, as when it first was shed, Springs forth the SAVIOUR's blood. From every region, race, and speech, Till, far as sin and sorrow reach, Till sweetest nature, brightest art, Own Thee their God and King. All own; but few, alas! will love ; |