Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

Though oft my fainting spirit sinks

In trial's stormy sea,

Thy loving-kindness never fails

To send relief to me.

I am thy child, my Father thou-
Oh, sweet and tender name!

The bond that links my heart to thee,

Is love's resistless claim.

What moved thee, Lord, to look with love

Upon a wretch like me,

And send Thy well-beloved Son

To die upon the tree?

To pass a weary, painful life
Of sorrow here below;

Without a look of sympathy

In all His bitter woe?

Stronger than death Thy matchless love,
Conceived the wondrous plan;

Enshrined in flesh the Godhead came

To rescue fallen Man.

Lord, fill my soul with love divine,

The Spirit's unction give;

That I may spend my life for Thee,
And to Thy glory live.

ESTHER.

"Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house; and the king sat upon his royal throne, in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

"And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

"Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? It shall be even given thee, to the half of the kingdom."

Esther v. 1-3.

SAD is her youthful brow, and shaded o'er With anxious care, for early grief has press'd

Her bright young head, and bow'd its stateli

ness.

The orphan daughter of an outcast race,

Over her early years a blight has pass'd,

Though her rare charms have rais'd her to a

throne.

The bright tears gather in her anxious eyes, And glisten through the long dark fringe that shades

Her marble cheek; the trembling lips betray Her inward feeling, and her beating heart Flutters beneath the rich and costly robe That covers it. What brings that timid girl Uncall'd, unask'd for, to the palace gate?

How dare she stand before the haughty band
Of courtiers, and their prouder king, alone
And unsupported? Well may she tremble now
And her full heart upheave with deep emotion.
A nation's doom hangs on th' uncertain issue
Of her petition. And as a shy gazelle,
She stands before the dense and gazing crowd
Of Persia's highest nobles'; while the king,
Like a bright sun, sits on his royal throne,
Holding the golden sceptre; but the smile
On his proud lip revives her fainting hopes,
As she draws near to touch the regal ensign,-
Faintly her falt'ring voice breathes her peti-
tion.

Sweet Esther! thou hast conquer'd, and the despot,

The proud, stern despot yields to thy gentle pleading :

"Ask what thou wilt, it shall not be denied,

E'en to the half of all my vast dominions."

Sinner! thou also hast a suit to plead

Before the King of kings. A fearful doom
Hangs over thee, of awful, endless woe.

Fear not; thou hast a mighty Advocate, Whose pure blood, sprinkled on the mercyseat,

Pleads a full pardon; while the gracious hand That leads thee, bears a mark which tells of

sin

Pardon'd and cancell'd-justice satisfied.

That pierced hand can ne'er be rais'd in vain,
A Father's yearning heart will not refuse
His only Son, His well-beloved One !-
Thy suit is heard, for Jesus must prevail.

« AnteriorContinuar »