Part 2

I've struck the milk-white quartz with gentle blow, And split with hammer fragment from the rock, When lo, unquarried by the shiv'ring shock, The precious Em'rald's crystal beauties glow! Thus from the mine of thought, obscure and low, Does force of argument the gem unlock, Whose charms the beams of star-born diamond mock;―― That gem is _Truth_――the truth, which angels know! Delve patient; make the stubborn barriers fly; Though long the toil, let hope assuage thy care; Each blow the glad and glist'ning beams may wake. With zeal contend; the inquisition ply; Yet in debate this needful caution bear―― Be gentle, or the crystal thou mayst break!

24. THE SABBATH.

Sweet is the dawn of tranquil holy day, Hallow'd, e'en from the birth of time, to rest, To purest joys, and contemplations blest;―― The cares of this vain world put far away. God said, "Let there be light:" and straight the play Of varied hues all nature did invest: Creation ended,――this was God's behest;―― "Let Sabbath peace return, while earth shall stay." Once more, near thrice the hundred thousandth time, The blessed light upon the world is spread, And wakes an heav'nly flame in many an eye:―― Just emblem of that Sabbath day sublime, Whose beams in heav'n on ransom'd souls are shed In glorious brightness through eternity!

25. THE WIDOW'S SON RAISED.

No company of revellers is here, But sad procession solemn moves and slow, While sobs are heard, and tears of anguish flow;―― A widow's only son is on the bier. But now the mighty Son of God comes near, And stops the moving spectacle of woe, And says――"Young man, I tell thee, rise!" When lo The dead man lives, and speaks in accents clear! O, what a tide of ecstasy was thine, Blest widow, kissing that son's face once more, Then falling at _His_ feet, who wak'd the dead! So, at another day, that voice divine Shall reach all caverns of the grave with power, And rapture through innum'rous hearts shall spread.

26. THANKSGIVING-DAY, 1859.

Thanks be to God on this Thanksgiving-Day For all his wondrous goodness to our Land; To mine, and me. Ah, who can understand The myst'ries of his love? To Him I pray, With millions whom his truth and spirit sway, That all our people may discern his hand In their rich blessings and in one great band Serve Him, whom all the hosts of heav'n obey.―― Yet what is now our pride is but our shame―― "Our Country's FREEDOM!" 'Tis not known by all, Though loud we cry, 'tis man's most rightful claim. Methinks I hear in thunder tones heav'n's call,―― "Ye glorying States, that boast of LIBERTY, Look on four million SLAVES and make them FREE!"

27. THE LORD MY SHEPHERD.

The Lord my Shepherd is――the Psalmist said―― In pastures green he gives me soft repose, And leads where living water gently flows; Thus ev'ry want is by his bounty fed. When from his paths I err, by pride misled, My soul his kind restoring mercy knows; He brings me joy, and saves from direful woes; Then let my tongue his praises ever spread. Yea, though I walk through death's most dreary vale, Where unshap'd shadows glide and bring affright, Since thou art with me naught shall wake my fear. The path, tho' dark and fill'd with mis'ry's wail, Guides to yon distant, growing, glorious light, Gleaming from throne of God in heav'ns most clear.

28. CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.

Welcome, O Day, in dazzling glory bright, Emblem of yet another day most blest, When all Christ's friends with him in heav'n shall rest; For on this day, in his recover'd might, The sleeper wak'd to see this morning's light;―― "The Son of God!" glad angel-hosts attest: So, when alive, most fully shown, confest, For on this day he took his heav'n-ward flight. When therefore our glad eyes this morning's sun See rising on the earth, we'll lift our thought To Him, who by his death our life hath bought, And victor-king for us a crown hath won. It e'er shall be a day of sweetest joy, Till we shall see our Lord in yonder sky!

29. DARKNESS UNTIL HEAVENLY LIGHT.

Dark is the soul of man all hist'ry shows, Until outshines God's pure and heav'nly light; Till then delusions play upon his sight―― Misleading ev'ry step, as on he goes, Each vile imposture working him great woes, Each cheat and lie, sprung up in murky night, Withstanding ever what is true and right, And love of gain all honesty o'erthrows.―― Reason, a flick'ring taper, is but dim, While pride and ev'ry passion keep their sway. Where then can help be found except in Him, Who spake at first, and night was turn'd to day?―― God's only Son! Shine thou on us in love; Then shall we dwell with thee in light above!

30. MARIA MALLEVILLE ALLEN.

My MALLEVILLE! mature like fruitful vine About my house, while flourishing most fair Thou'rt smitten to the ground. Sighs fill the air, And here no longer can I call thee mine. But how can I against God's will repine? He will restore thee, and my loss repair, Sweet, growing, endless joys with thee to share, And with the holy who in glory shine! E'en now thy spirit lives, and joins the song, Which breaks like torrent from the harps of gold Resounding through heav'n's arches by the throng Of ransom'd sinners and with joys untold,―― "Let Wisdom, Honor, Pow'r in highest strain To thee, O LAMB, be paid, for Thou wast slain!"

31. PRAYER FOR MERCY.

I dare not, Lord, claim aught of good from thee As in reward of virtue my just right; Up to thy throne on high, all-glorious, bright, I dare not lift my eyes. Humility Befits the child of sin and misery: Repenting tears may well bedim his sight. Yes, Savior, on my guilty breast I smite, And "Mercy! Mercy!" this is all my cry. 'Twas mercy, in thy vast, amazing love, Awaking wonder in th' angelic throng, That brought thee down from God's right hand above, Upon the cross to die, t' atone for wrong. Then wilt thou not my sad petition hear, And give me peace and hope, instead of fear?

32. THE LOST CHILD.

Two days had pass'd; the anxious search was vain The wilder'd child in forest wide to find; But pity call'd once more the neighbors kind Each darksome nook t' explore with care and pain. In far-stretch'd rank, like fleet upon the main, Well rang'd by wisdom are their toils combin'd,―― With law――"If dead, a single horn shall wind:―― Alive, let gun and horn ring merry strain!"―― "Hark!"――as the Father lay with ear to ground, He cried;――"Alas, my wife, the single horn!―― Oh no! Gun, horn, and shout the forest shake!"―― So, when the wilder'd, sinning man is found, By grace recover'd and to goodness born, From angel hosts the shouts of joy outbreak.

33. MEXICAN IDOL.

Of giant height, carv'd from basaltic block, Two snakes the monster bears for arms and hands; On either side a vulture's wing expands; The noble face of man its features mock. Beneath, the fangs of Rattlesnake unlock; On Tiger's claws the fearful idol stands; Men's hearts and skull do make his necklace bands;―― Meet ornaments, that ev'ry gazer shock! Here is the form of true idolatry! Worship of serpent――vulture――tiger god,―― Curst Lucifer, the rebel flung to hell! Can Christians to such idol bow the knee? The idol WAR is such; thus cloth'd, thus shod, Inwreath'd with skulls, hissing with malice fell!

34. GOD OUR SAFETY. Psalm 91.

Who in the Most High's secret place doth dwell, Beneath th' Almighty's shadow shall abide. God is my refuge, where I safe may hide,―― My fortress strong and inaccessible. From thee the noisome plague he will repel, And safe from fowler's snare, with skill applied; Although a thousand fall down at thy side, No evil shall approach thy house or cell. His kind, protecting wings o'er thee shall spread; His truth shall be to thee a brazen shield, His promise stronger than a tow'r on high; Of nightly terror be not then afraid, Nor of the day's swift arrow: 'tis reveal'd, Thy God, thy trust, shall lift thee to the sky!

35. THE BELIEVER ENCOURAGED.

Pilgrim! do thickest clouds of grief and woe Shut from thine eye that sweet and heav'nly light, So lately spread upon thy pathway bright? Is a dark wing outstretch'd o'er all below? Fear not: more glorious beams shall surely flow From fount perennial on thy gladden'd sight. Thy God is faithful. In his love and might Thou'rt safe; and naught thy bliss can overthrow. Gaze now upon the wondrous cross. There hung,―― Victim for sins, which claim'd avenging hell,―― God's own beloved Son in agony: Then hear the strains in heav'nly arches sung. Can He, who gave the gift unspeakable, Deny thee strength, and hope, and light, and joy?

36. ON REV. DR. JOHN CODMAN.

CODMAN, in early paths of life my friend, When we together walk'd the flow'ry way Of science, nor from virtue went astray, Where Charles's stream by Harvard's walls doth wend; Then woven were the ties, no force can rend―― The ties of Christian love; from day to day Our constant aim, our constant, firm essay, God's Truth first known, its dictates to attend.―― Through many a year and many a changing scene Our early bond unbroken, when at last, As all thy earthly prospects were o'ercast, I bid farewell to thee with anguish keen, Then did'st thou say,――"We meet again above―― This faith I have――where sits ETERNAL LOVE!"

37. NORTHAMPTON GRAVE-YARD.

Thick are the branches of o'ershad'wing trees, Of deep, unfading green: does this proclaim, That many a sleeper here hath deathless name, Immortal glory by God's just decrees? These monumental stones no eye that sees―― Of whitest marble as for purest fame, Recording deeds of high and holy aim―― But must their forms approve. Each passing breeze Bears richest odors from these graves, where rest The fathers and their children; men of prayer, Of faith, and love, and ev'ry virtue blest.―― For the great rising day be it our care To be ourselves companions of the wise; With them to meet our Savior in the skies.

38. THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Our heav'nly Father, whom we fear and love, Hallow'd by all thy children be thy name; Thy kingdom come――an empire without blame; Let men obey thee, like the blest above. Give us this day our daily bread; remove Our guilt, as we forgive a brother's shame; Let not temptation urge its mighty claim, Nor web of evil be around us wove; For thine the kingdom is, and thine the praise; And thine the pow'r, which no resistance knows: To thee, O God, be endless glory given.―― Thus will I pray, while heart within me plays, Or tongue is free my feelings to disclose, Till I shall join the choral song in heaven.

39. PRAISE TO GOD. Psalm 148.

Praise ye the Lord. Ye Angels, give him praise And all his hosts throughout the heav'ns on high; Both sun and moon, and stars that fill the sky, For his command made all your lights to blaze. Let all earth's hosts their voices loud upraise; Ye mountains proud that human feet defy, And dragons which in ocean-deeps do lie; Fire, hail, and vapors, tempests that amaze The seaman in his barque; the drifting snow; All lofty cedars and each fruitful tree; The fowl that fly, and beasts that creep below; All kings and people, old and young, come ye, And praise God's name, all glorious, good, and great,―― God's name, in majesty o'er all elate!

40. ON MY FATHER, REV. T. ALLEN.

I give thee thanks and praise, Great God above! That though one half a hundred years be fled Since my dear earthly father join'd the dead, He lives within my heart. His faith, his love, His zeal for right, the thoughts that him did move The foes of truth t' encounter without dread,―― All foes of Him who on the cross once bled,―― Such things for him a web of honor wove. My years are more than his: O, could I say, My virtues are but equal; and that, when I reach the closing hour of my life's day, My God would give me his strong faith; for then, As told he could not live, he made reply―― "I'm going to _live_ forever in the sky!"

41. TIME'S END. Rev. 10.

Cloth'd with a cloud an angel-form I see; A beaming rainbow decks his glorious brow; Like dazzling noon-tide sun his features glow; One blazing foot is planted in the sea, The other on the earth, like burning tree; He cried aloud, as lion, roaring slow; Seven angry thunders mutter'd their echo; His red right arm he lifted high and free; Then with an oath, that shook heav'ns mighty arch, He sware by Him, that made the sea and earth, And scattered far abroad the worlds of light,―― Whose years proceed in never-ending march, That Time, which ow'd to his decree its birth, Should cease fore'er to wing its rapid flight.

42. WRITTEN IN A THUNDER-STORM.

In that loud voice, that shakes the earth and skies, The ancient pagan heard Jove's angry tone, Speaking to mortals from the clouds, his throne; In that keen light, which rapid bursts and flies, And darts to earth, and dazzles mortal eyes, The pagan saw Jove's vengeful jav'lin thrown, To check man's pride, and cast presumption down, And vindicate the god as strong and wise. But now, since Franklin drew a spark from cloud, And prov'd it merely electricity,―― Though, God! thou speak in thunders e'er so loud, Our empty science makes us deaf to Thee; And though thy lightnings glare, yet we are proud, And blind to Thy most glorious majesty!

43. IMPIETY.

The pagan pays his worship to a block, Or lifts his homage to the glorious sun, Who, like a giant, in his race doth run;―― Such folly well our thinking sense may shock. But what if Christian nam'd his God should mock, Or wrapp'd in web, by atheist's fingers spun, All nature's brightness seem obscure and dun, Not deem'd His work, who guides the starry flock? Is there not here a guilt of deeper dye, A mind less cheer'd by rays of truth divine, A heart more cold, enchain'd by Greenland frost? Ah! can the wretch e'er dwell in purest sky, Where God's perfections all in glory shine? Is he not blinded, cheated, wilder'd, lost?

44. ON THE DEATH OF MY DAUGHTER.

Poor man, who name of Father dost not know, Nor e'er hast felt that bond of sweetest might, Which binds thee to thy child; on whose glad sight That fairest image on the earth below,―― In beauty like heav'n's various-tinted bow,―― Her Mother's picture, lovely daughter bright Ne'er shone;――thou hast not seen joy's earthly height!―― All this I've seen, and lost to my huge woe! And yet I do not need thy pity, friend; For though the flow'r of seventeen summers' bloom Was smitten, still it blossoms without end In garden, where ne'er falls a blighting doom. A ransom'd sinner did my Daughter die, In Christian hope, with glory in her eye!

45. THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR.

This day another year of life is fled, With ev'ry change; its gloom and beaming light, Its woes and joys all vanish'd from the sight: Yet deeds of good and evil are not dead. If ill, their record we shall see with dread O'erwhelming to our sight and wild affright, Unless through Christ our conscience is set right And his atoning blood our peace hath bred. If good our deeds, and Christ through faith our friend, Then gladly may we hail life's final day,―― The heirs of glory we when time shall end.―― In the new year be our's the bliss to say, Each truly,――"Lord, in thee my hope is strong Of thee, the Lamb, to sing heav'n's ceaseless song!"

46. TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST.

Nature's idolater the mount ascends To gaze around: Jesus went up to pray; And as he pray'd, there beam'd a tenfold day, And brightness, that all earthly light transcends. What company is this, that Him attends? Celestial forms appear in pure array, And speak of suff'rings at a future day, His certain death, which shame and anguish blends. But soon the light recedes; there comes a cloud, Dark and terrific in th' apostles' eyes, And spreads its curtains round, beneath, above; And from that gloom a voice is heard most loud―― "This is my Son, who came from upper skies, My Son beloved, hear ye Him and love!"

47. SLEEPERS IN THE GRAVE-YARD.

In this fair grove of thick-branch'd evergreen How many sleepers wide are scatter'd round, Having their quiet rest beneath the ground, On ev'ry side their marble tablets seen? Their sleep, now quiet, will not be, I ween, When the archangel's trumpet loud shall sound: Not one of all will then be heedless found But all will spring to life; a mingled scene Of grief, despair, and sweet and high delight. I speak not of the bad; but sure a throng Of loving friends will meet the judge's sight, Skill'd in the notes of ransom'd sinners' song.―― Shall we be with these sleepers as they rise? Say, shall we join them in yon blessed skies?

48. SONG OF THE REDEEMED. Rev. 7.

Behold, before the Lamb, before God's throne In robes of white a countless multitude, All bearing palms, in glorious order stood, From ev'ry tribe and tongue by goodness won; Their voices high are join'd, as if but one; All cry aloud――Salvation to our God, And to the glorious Lamb, whose precious blood For all our deepest sins did once atone! Then fell the angels prostrate, and they said―― While with enraptur'd hearts they God adore, And to the Lamb of sacrifice they bend―― "Let honor, glory, blessing, thanks be paid, All might, and wisdom, majesty, and power Unto our God for ages without end!"

49. NATURE REPROVED.

For ages worshipp'd by the Minstrel throng, By rippling brook, in air, and field, and wood, On mountain top, and ridge of billowy flood, Nature! thou dost thy Maker mighty wrong. Hast thou no speech to check the erring song? Glows not thy beauteous cheek with mantling blood Thyself to take His praise, "FIRST FAIR, FIRST GOOD?" Wilt thou this wild delusion still prolong? Vain Idol! this thy folly thou shalt rue: A voice is swelling on the mountain breeze, And echoes loud from yonder azure sky―― "Thy beauty's light shall turn to deadly hue; On all thy charms the kindling flames shall seize, And worshipper and god in ashes lie!"

50. REMOVAL OF SEVERE ILLNESS.

Short seem'd the step down to the awful grave, Where ev'ry vig'rous limb all stiffen'd lies, And greedy worms in us hold revelries, While weeds and grasses o'er my bed shall wave. This world of ours, built up so beauteous, brave, Must it be faded ever from my eyes? Shall my dull ear hear no sweet symphonies? And from this dreaded doom can naught me save? Naught sav'd me but thy pow'r, O God of love! I live again: to Thee be all the praise; And let me live with heart on things above, As one, in all things whom thy Spirit sways; So serving Christ, as sure to me 'tis given To see him in a brighter world――in heaven!

51. GOD MAN'S ALL-SUFFICIENT GOOD.

Although no blossom'd fig tree deck the field, Nor fruit hangs clust'ring on the joyful vine, To give, when press'd, the spirit-cheering wine, Nor cultur'd ground the needful food doth yield; Although the flocks the fold no longer shield, Nor sheep and goats from rav'nous wolves confine; Although no grazing herds, as once, are mine, And all my gold to robbers is reveal'd; Yet in Jehovah will my soul rejoice, The God of my salvation; songs shall rise To him, whose favor is my treasur'd gold. His bounty forces on my better choice The ever-gladd'ning fruits of paradise, And heav'n's unmeasur'd good, and joys untold.

52. THE DEATH OF REV. DR. I. NICHOLS.

In boyhood's prime our four years' course being done In band of numbers unsurpass'd before, All said,――as richest gems we counted o'er,―― "The highest rank Thou, youngest, yet hast won." Again, when now brief interval was run, Our toils renew'd as long a time once more In Harvard's walls, t' acquire the honey'd store.―― Since then just fifty years our lives have spun.―― A few days past I hail'd my birth-day light; Alas, it was thy day of death, my friend, When thy keen eyes were clos'd in deepest night: Yet 'twas thy birth to life without an end! Thy trust be mine――is now my sick-bed pray'r―― In God's own Son, who came our sins to bear.

53. THE VOICE OF NATURE TO POETS.

Your homage has been paid me much too long, Withheld from him, who made me fair and good, His image to reflect from earth and flood, And wake for him the Bard's sublimest song.―― No eagle, mounting on his pinions strong, Nor sweetly-warbling Nightingale in wood, No humble flow'r with tint of sky or blood, Nor scaly fish, nor murm'ring insect throng; No shaggy beast beneath the forest wide, No crystal gleaming in its rocky bed, Nor glossy shell beneath the em'rald sea; No rippling brook, nor stream of swollen pride, No golden cloud, nor star in silence led, FATHER OF ALL! but speaks aloud of Thee!

54. THE CROSS AND CROWN.

Bright symbols, which a daughter's hand hath wove, What more significant before mine eyes Or showing forth sublimer mysteries,―― The color'd Cross the suff'ring Savior's love, The Crown of green his Father's gift above?―― Why bear these autumn leaves such crimson dyes, Save to express his death, his agonies, Whose hand outspread each decorated grove? If all be, then, the purchase of his blood,―― All who repent, and love, believe, obey, Who, now redeem'd, walk in the upward way, Cheer'd with the hope of heav'n's eternal good,―― Let me not boast of all within my thought, Save in Christ's CROSS, by which my CROWN was bought.

55. DYING I AM BLEST.

Great kings must leave their thrones and rule unjust, Philosophers forget their idle schemes, Beauty her form, and poets too their dreams, And rich men mingle with the worthless dust. Alas, what is the earth to poor man's trust? How fleeting all earth's joys, like rushing streams! Yet 'tis not dark to me: I see bright gleams, Which from my God on high on me outburst,―― Visions of good eternal in the skies:―― My sins effac'd by blood,――redeeming love,―― God's Son, once on the cross, enthroned above,―― My long-lost ones again before my eyes, With all the good.――I cry, "Death brings me rest; Through thee, O Jesus, DYING I AM BLEST!"

56. COMPACT ON BOARD THE MAYFLOWER.

The wondrous "Mayflow'r," floating on the sea, Wafting the noble Pilgrims to the west, As yet had found no circling shore for rest, Though land was near; 'tis now her Company To guard against disorders, which might be, And firm foundation lay for empire blest, Their "Solemn Compact" made, that none might wrest, Each pledg'd the Rule to follow cheerfully. Freedom and Law are bound in union sweet; For all have equal pow'r till common vote Authority confer, to which all bow, Its exercise restrain'd, as is most meet, To Public Good. No acts of their's denote A thought their Chief could private int'rest know.

57. TO JESUS CHRIST, GOD'S SON.