"O holy mountain of my God,
"How do thy towers in ruin lie,
"How art thou riven and strewn abroad,
"Under the rude and wasteful sky!"
Twas thus upon his fasting-day
The "Man of Loves" was fain to pray,
His lattice open toward the western breeze,
Mourning the home that still his yearning fancy sees.
Oh for a love like Daniels now,
To wing to Heaven but one strong prayer
For GODS new Israel, sunk as low,
Yet flourishing to sight as fair,
As Sion in her height of pride,
With queens for handmaids at her side,
With kings her nursing-fathers, throned high,
And compassd with the worlds too tempting blazonry.
Tis true, nor winter stays thy growth,
Nor torrid summers sickly smile;
The flashing billows of the south
Break not upon so lone an isle,
But thou, rich vine, art grafted there,
The fruit of death or life to bear,
Yielding a surer witness every day,
To thine Almighty Author and his steadfast way.
Oh grief to think, that grapes of gall
Should cluster round thine healthiest shoot
Gods herald prove a heartless thrall,
Who, if he dard, would fain be mute!
Even such is this bad world we see,
Which, self-condemnd in owning Thee,
Yet dares not open farewell of Thee take,
For very pride, and her high-boasted Reasons sake.
What do we the? if far and wide
Men kneel to CHRIST, the pure and meek,
Yet rage with passion, swell with pride,
Have we not sill our faith to seek?
Naybut in steadfast humbleness
Kneel on to Him, who loves to bless
The prayer that waits for Him; and trembling strive
To keep the lingering flame in thine own breast alive
Dark frownd the future even on him,
The loving and beloved Seer,
What time he saw, through shadows dim,
The boundary of th eternal year;
He only of the sons of men
Namd to be heir of glory then.
Else had it bruisd too sore his tender heart
To see GODS ransomd world in wrath and flame depart.
Then look no more: or closer watch
Thy course in Earths bewildering ways,
For every glimpse thine eye can catch
Of what shall be in those dread days:
So when thArchangels word is spoken,
And Deaths deep trance for ever broken,
In mercy thou mayst feel the heavenly hand,
And in thy lot unharmd before thy Saviour stand.