He knew not, but there are who know: The Matron, who alone has stood, The Father, who his vigil keeps By the sad couch whence hope has flown, Watching the eye where reason sleeps, Yet in his heart can mercy own, Still sweetly yielding to the rod, Still loving man, still thanking GOD; The Christian Pastor, bow'd to earth With thankless toil, and vile esteem'd, Still travailing in second birth Of souls that will not be redeem'd, Yet stedfast set to do his part, And fearing most his own vain heart;— These know: on these look long and well, Cleansing thy sight by prayer and faith, And thou shalt know what secret spell Preserves them in their living death: Though sevenfold flames thine eye shall see The Saviour walking with his faithful Three. LX. TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. Hear, O ye mountains, the Lord's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth. Micah vi. 7. WHERE is thy favour'd haunt, eternal Voice, Where, undisturb'd by sin and earth, the soul 'Tis on the mountain's summit dark and high, 'Tis 'mid the strong foundations of the earth, Where torrents have their birth. No sounds of worldly toil, ascending there, Lone Nature feels that she may freely breathe, Are heard her sacred tones: the fitful sweep Of winds across the steep, Through wither'd bents-romantic note and clear, Meet for a hermit's ear,— The wheeling kite's wild solitary cry, The dashing waters when the air is still That winds unseen beneath the shaggy fell, Such sounds as make deep silence in the heart 'Tis then we hear the voice of God within, Pleading with care and sin: "Child of my love! how have I wearied thee? 66 Why wilt thou err from me? "Have I not brought thee from the house of slaves, "Parted the drowning waves, "And set my saints before thee in the way, "Lest thou should faint or stray? "What? was the promise made to thee alone? "Art thou th' excepted one? "An heir of glory without grief or pain? "O vision false and vain! "There lies thy cross; beneath it meekly bow; "It fits thy stature now: "Who scornful pass it with averted eye, ""Twill crush them by and by. "Raise thy repining eyes, and take true measure "Of thine eternal treasure; "The Father of thy Lord can grudge thee nought, "The world for thee was bought, "And as this landscape broad-earth, sea, and sky,— "All centers in thine eye, "So all God does, if rightly understood, "Shall work thy final good." |