Part 3
O, blessed, first-born Son of God most high, By whom the sun and all the worlds of light Were summon'd from the gloom of deepest night, While this low earth was shap'd before thine eye,―― Didst Thou earth's ills in human form defy, Leaving thy glorious, heav'nly mansion bright, To save lost man, and vindicate God's right, And on the cross, nail'd hands and feet, didst die?―― O, wondrous truth, beyond all truths we know! With love our trembling lips pronounce thy name; With speechless gratitude our hearts o'erflow! But Thou didst rise from thy sad doom of shame, And, while angelic hosts hail Thee and greet, At God's right hand didst find thine ancient seat.
58. TO DR. THOMSON, MISSIONARY.
Old WARRIOR, two decades of years and more Have sped, since thou didst arm thee for the fight, Since thou didst wield thy sword with hero's might, Warring just where apostles fought of yore. 'Twas Charity, which o'er two oceans bore Thee and thy fellows from this land of light To seek God's ancient mount in error's night And Zion's long-lost glory to restore. Thy warfare is to last while thou hast breath; Sure is the vict'ry which to Christ is given; Earth shall yet bear the sun-light stamp of heaven. And when at last thine eye shall close in death, Thy life, we know, through Christ's atoning blood, Shall be where God outbeams light's endless flood.
59. HAPPY OLD AGE.
'Tis good our destin'd course in life to run, New forms of beauty bursting on the sight, The clouds soon gone, that bring a feeble night, Still holding on our way, like glorious sun. What noble prize has sluggishness e'er won? 'Tis toil of day, that brings sweet rest at night, And mingled joys make e'en our sorrows light: The bliss we taste is bliss but just begun. From height of age we gaze on years gone by; The fruits of many a deed of good appear, From which new plants are waving to the eye. Forward we look; no terrors we descry, But all is light, and peace, and pleasures dear: One step will gain the glories of the sky!
60. PILGRIMS ON PLYMOUTH ROCK.
The "Mayflow'r"'s anchor'd in the wintry bay; And now the crowded boat with busy oar Glides onward to the solitary shore, Where, just emerging from the wave, there lay A Rock, which trusting feet would not betray. On this the Pilgrims land, to float no more On angry billows, as they ceaseless roar;―― But here to fix their dwelling-place for aye.―― This scene may well the future good unfold, Which o'er th' Atlantic wave their feet had sought―― THE LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE, prize untold, Each shackle broke which bigotry had wrought―― Symbol, which sure our eyes do not bemock, Of FREEDOM'S Empire, founded on a Rock!
61. NO SORROW IN DEATH.
As now, methinks, my fated hour draws nigh, With all its scenes before my vision clear, Why must I take my flight without a tear To dim the lustre of my heav'n-lift eye? Why leave I sweetest joys without a sigh, As though to my blest soul not rich and dear? Is all my love to lov'd ones insincere, That I am calm while other spirits cry? Oh no! I love them; but love others more―― Our common SAVIOR, victim on the tree―― Their Mother and their Sister gone before To heav'n, there ready now to welcome me. Harvests of glorious Good about to reap,―― Dying to enter LIFE,――how can I weep?
62. ON JOHN ROBINSON.
I see thee, outcast from thy native shore, Exile from England lov'd, to toil and die; And ne'er didst thou behold our western sky;―― Yet in both lands what name is honor'd more Than thine, O ROBINSON? We hence adore That Providence, which thus uplifts on high The worthy from their deep humility, And makes them stars to shine forevermore. The Truth thou didst discern and didst maintain―― Freedom to worship God――with courage bold, Unaw'd by foes in pow'r and pride arrayed. This claim the world will ne'er forget again, Nor thee forget, its champion of old, But breathe thy noble spirit undismayed.
63. SUDDEN SICKNESS. 1845.
As city, near volcanic mountain's brow, When heav'd by earthquake in its strongest wall, Trembles, and seems just tott'ring to its fall; Such seem'd my frame of clay beneath the blow. 'Twas Wisdom's way to make the suff'rer know The lesson oft forgot, needful for all, That fleeting life soon flies beyond recall,―― That heav'nly bliss is nigh or endless woe. One day death's gloom seem'd settling on my head; The next I joyful felt God's arm of might, And rose as one recover'd from the dead. To whom then now belongs my life of right? Thee, Lord, I praise, whose mercies overflow; Thee will I serve with angel's zeal below!
64. ON TRUTH.
Of intellectual worlds Truth is the sun, Outpouring on the mind heav'n's purest light, Before which quickly fly all shades of night. And as his daily course the Truth doth run, He sheds a vivifying heat. This done, Each plant of virtue grows up in our sight; But ev'ry vile imposture feels a blight.―― With thee has truth, God's truth, the vict'ry won? Alas! by ev'ry cheat and wicked lie Man is misled, deluded to his woe; And o'er him Satan holds dominion high, Reigning o'er all the wretched race below, Till God doth interpose in wondrous love, On man his Spirit pouring from above.
65. TWO VIEWS OF DEATH.
O death, how dreadful is thy certain doom, The beautiful all hidden from my eye In the dark pit, where their stiff bodies lie! And must I join them in the loathsome tomb? Yet sure the spring-flow'r does not fail to bloom, When wintry frosts give way to genial sky. For body's happy change we need not sigh; Nor for the spirit's flight from all earth's gloom. Then, Death, thy presence brings me no affright, But wakes my loud, exulting voice through grace, A shout of glorious victor in the fight, Or of the winner in the struggling race. Death is quick transfer of the soul to heaven, A boon to all Christ's friends in mercy given.
66. GOD'S MARVELLOUS WORKS. Ps. 104.
'Tis God, who made and heav'n and earth sustains: We render homage due.――When floods arose, The Lord did quell them to a quick repose.―― He made all springs for mountains and for plains. T' enrich the earth he gives his plenteous rains; The herb for man and grass for cattle grows.―― The moon for seasons made, the sun too knows His going down, when thickest darkness reigns; Then forest beasts creep forth, who shun the light. To God young lions for their meat do cry; The sun ariseth,――down in their dens they lie: But man unto his work goes out till night.―― Thy works, O Lord, how manifold and great! In searchless wisdom didst thou all create!
67. THE LAST WORDS OF A MINISTER.
CHRIST and redeeming mercy,――these alone His themes, as soon his life would cease to move; Then hear as if his voice still with you strove:―― "My Friends! whom I would meet before Christ's throne, And welcome where all ransom'd souls are one, The Son of God from his high throne above Came down to this low world in boundless love By anguish of the cross our guilt t' atone, Immortal life by rising bring to light, For the deprav'd God's Spirit to procure, For weakest Christian all his promis'd might, And thus the failing hope to re-assure:―― Compar'd with Christ count all things then but loss, Nor glory save in Christ and in his cross!"
68. PLYMOUTH MONUMENT LAID 1859.
This upbuilt monument, though broad and high As tow'ring pyramid on Egypt's plain, Our Pilgrim-Fathers' rarest worth in vain Attempts to show forth to the kindled eye. They said――"We'll seek a land of Liberty; No child of ours shall wear a galling chain!"―― Such purpose bore them o'er the stormy main: Here was their home, and here their bodies lie. We'll build their noble virtues in our hearts,―― The love of Truth, the love of Good and Right, The Faith which sees beyond our earthly sight, The Zeal which love to God and man imparts:―― SUCH MONUMENT we will not fail to raise, When rock-built piles shall fall to bear their praise!
69. EFFECT OF DEATH ON MAN.
How vast the change by death in man's estate? How silent now the orator's proud tongue, On which so many thousands often hung? How fled the concord of sweet sounds, which late Drew to the songstress admiration great? How heedless now the monarch to the throng Of worshippers? Alas, to whom doth now belong The rich man's gold, which yielding to his fate He leaves behind?――Whate'er on earth ye love Ye soon must lose; then seek with earnest heart The proffer'd blessings near Christ's throne above: Once gain'd, there's naught can them and you dispart While you shall live; nor shall one joy be gone While endless centuries of bliss roll on!
70. CHRISTMAS.
This is the day of all earth's days the best;―― This is the bright, and wondrous, glorious morn, On which the Son of God from heav'n was born, First offer'd to his mother's vision blest. Think not the harps of angel-hosts could rest, Louder than warring notes of trump and horn; The universe was glad at that day's dawn, For Mercy beam'd on sinners lost, unblest. Christ dwelt as man upon this globe he built, And, having taught the world Truth pure and bright, Died as a sacrifice for man's great guilt, But rose again to fill all heav'n with light! We hail the glad return of this glad day; Sing, O ye heav'ns; in joy sing on for aye!
71. NEW YEAR'S DAY, 1859.
Hail to the day I am allow'd to see, Though helpless on the bed of sickness laid,―― Another year's return! All undismay'd, I've daily thought, to me it might not be. It has not been to millions now set free, And this year millions more, to death betray'd, Will reach their doom. For them I've earnest pray'd, "Lord, give them faith in thy salvation free!" Three quarter-centuries of years my own Will end their flight this day in winter's cold: Praise to my God for joys and hopes not flown! Hasten, O Lord, the year by thee foretold, When thou wilt all the fallen nations raise, And earth shall be one temple to thy praise!
72. DONATI'S COMET, 1858.
Strange Comet, with thy long, curv'd tail so bright, Hast thou before e'er visited our sphere? From what dark depths of space dost thou draw near? What is thy aim thus blazing on our sight? Hast thou a charge with pestilence to smite? Full many an eye now looks on thee with fear; But unknown good may spring from thy career And nigh approach to the great fount of light. From guiding hand of God, enthron'd above, Thou art not free; thou comest at his will, Either to work the counsels of his love, Or judgment on the wicked to fulfil. Perchance on thee some, doom'd to woe, may dwell,―― Some demon-spirits, whose abode is hell!
73. EXECUTION FOR MURDER, 1630.
Alas, among the Pilgrims came there one Not of their church nor of their heart and mind, Who ne'er unruly passions knew to bind, Nor ever learn'd a heav'nly race to run. At last a brother's blood he shed, and won A retribution just; nor could he find A charity misguided, and so blind, As not to see fit doom for deed he'd done. Instructed from above, by reason led, The Pilgrim Company disclos'd their plan:―― Intent to give to life security Without revenge, with purpose stern they said―― As law had said e'er since the world began―― "Whoso shall shed man's blood, by man shall die!"
74. ONENESS WITH GOD. John 17.
Friends of the Son of God! How blest are ye, That when his fated hour he saw was near, This prayer he lifted to his Father dear,―― "O let them all be one, as thou in me And I in thee, so give them unity."―― He meant a Oneness in the Truth, 'tis clear, For as God's Word he low descended here To teach the truth to all; to me and thee;―― Next, oneness of design and holy love, Oneness of soul, of spirit, and of mind;―― For thus his friends will dwell with him above, While never-ending ages shall unwind. Lord! on our souls each grace and virtue trace, So shall we see God's glory in thy face!
75. ON MY BIRTH-DAY. Written Jan. 2, 1859.
While fourscore years wanting but five have fled, The author of my frame hath it sustain'd. This morning's light my waiting vision gain'd With thankful joy. What multitudes are dead,―― The earth twice emptied,――since on infant's bed My blood began to run in circuits train'd?―― Destroying angel who but God restrain'd? The past how doom'd hereafter will be read: I pray the Lord from heav'n, for me who died, Me to assist the future so to spend Becoming one to Him by faith allied;―― So when, as He shall order, life shall end, A new and glorious life will then begin With God in heav'n, eternal, without sin!
76. GOD AND HIS SON.
There is a God the universe doth show, By whom were form'd the countless stars on high, Which glitter in the wide, o'erarching sky; All angel forms above and men below. There is a God, who reigns supreme, we know; Yet is he not alone; his presence nigh, In glory streaming on th' uplifted eye, Sits one, to whom all holy angels bow. Lo, near God's heav'nly throne, at his right hand His only Son,――God's image true and bright,―― With various gifts divine endow'd, doth stand To execute his Father's will with might. By him God made and rules all worlds above; By him unfolds to man his wondrous love.
77. ON MARTYRS.
There's no man great like him, who dares to die; Die for the truth, reveal'd from God's own throne. Weak is the soul of man, when left alone, Unaided by the Spirit from on high; But when the God of grace and pow'r is nigh, Weakness is strength and at the stake, alone, Taunted by madden'd foes, yet not a groan, When kindling flames wrap him in agony, Breaks from the lips of martyr, as he died. John Huss, and Jerome, and a noble host A vict'ry gain'd.――Not in the hero's pride, But in such men,――of God sustain'd,――we boast. Ye Bigots! When the martyrs take their crown, Shall ye not meet with God's terrific frown?
78. TO REV. DR. SPRING, NEW YORK.
Old Soldier of the Son of God, the Lord! For half a cent'ry hast thou kept the field, And never didst thou to the foe yet yield; Thine arms divine, the Spirit and the Word; Truth, faith, and pray'r, these all in sweet accord. Nor have thy wondrous vict'ries been conceal'd; Some to thy Master's glory are reveal'd, E'en now th' achievements of his flaming sword. Be thou, my friend, yet faithful unto death; Then, when the blood-stain'd heroes too must die, And proudest despots yield their fleeting breath, And all shall meet before the throne on high, While justice drives the lost ones down to hell, Thine endless song will just begin to swell!
79. PERSEVERANCE IN CHRIST'S SERVICE.
My friends, be firm and faithful to the last, That ye in Christian peace and hope may die, Redeem'd by Him who died in agony. Then as ye hear the trumpet's awful blast, Ye will not with the wicked be downcast Into unfathom'd depths of misery, There in despair, beyond all hope to lie, While ages never counted shall be past; But ye shall see your great Redeemer blest, Array'd in form most gladd'ning to your sight, And he shall say, in majesty most bright, "Come, my disciples, enter into rest!" Then shall the Savior, whom ye serve and love, Transport you to his throne, near God's, above!
80. GLORYING IN THE CROSS.
Let it not be, that e'er my soul in aught Should glory touching on delight or pride, Save in the wondrous cross of HIM, who died A sacrifice of worth beyond all thought, With inf'nite blessings to the guilty fraught. Give me faith's vision――let who will deride―― O blessed JESUS! of thy pierced side: I boast of thee and what thy love has wrought. Beauty, and wealth, fame, dignity, and might, A victor army dress'd in splendid show, A throne and rev'rent crowds around that bow,―― Say, what is all that dazzles human sight, Compar'd with glories, which in thee, God's Son, My eyes shall see while endless years roll on?
81. MAN WITHOUT REVELATION.
Poor man without God's heav'nly glorious light By ev'ry lie is cheated to his woe,―― As hist'ry of the world doth fully show,―― His reason shrouded in the thickest night. But when the Truth beams on his purged sight, Instant are fled all wild'ring shapes below, Whose terrors waken'd all his spirit's throe: Thus chang'd the scene where shines the Gospel bright. Alas, my brother, art thou then so wise, Thou know'st the Gospel false? And dost thou choose To put to hazard yon, blue, blessed skies, And all, that God can give, wilt madly lose? Keen voice from one, now lost among the dead, I hear,――"Ah! whither has thy Reason fled?"
82. GOD IS ONE.
That God is One by all his works is shown, Which unity of kind design display. Behold the distant, glorious orb of day; Behold the moon, and stars so thickly strown; God's goodness by their harmony is known: One Mind, most wise and good, bears boundless sway. Yet man deprav'd refuses to obey, Nor gains without electing love the crown. Thanks be to God for his redeeming love, Announc'd by Him, who hung upon the tree,―― His Son, who left his glorious seat above Our guilt t' atone; but who from death set free Lives on his throne. Then let us all adore The Father and the Lamb forevermore!
83. WHAT IS IT TO DIE?
The when and how we know not, but to die Is but one fix'd and common, mortal lot; Yet death is wondrous to our human thought! We quit this earth and far away we fly―― But whither? Is it to the Sun on high, Our central light, that our freed soul is brought, If worthy of such place, without a blot; Or to more distant orb in yon blue sky, To some scarce-seen but faintly-twinkling star, Whose rays have travell'd journeys to our sight, Unmeasur'd by our leagues, they come so far? Yet sure at last to dwell in heav'n's own light,―― Our bodies rais'd from dust by Christ, our friend, In his own likeness,――ages without end!
84. CHURCHES OF PIEDMONT, 1851.
Long since it was th' unrivall'd poet's prayer, That God, who governs all things here below, The ashes of his slaughter'd saints would sow O'er all the fields of Italy, so fair To sight, but desolate of truth and bare.―― But centuries with God may onward flow, Ere man his ripen'd purposes can know: We see the op'ning bud: the Alpine air Not now is fill'd with moans but praise of God; And peaceful churches meet in open day, Where once the vallies were all red with blood. With hopeful faith we will not cease to pray, That from its Alpine fount truth's mighty stream May flow, o'er all th' Italian fields to gleam!
85. THE LORD'S SUPPER.
"This do," said CHRIST, "in memory of me." Yes: I will drink the wine and eat the bread, The heav'nly gift, which vivifies the dead; Mindful of thine unequall'd charity. No thrall, who drops his chain, and walks forth free, From dungeon to his home and fireside led, E'er felt through all his frame such rapture spread, As I do feel, O CHRIST, redeem'd by thee! And thou wilt yet still greater bliss bestow, When from the prison――barriers of the grave My captive dust in heav'nly form shall rise. Then shall I taste the joys, which angels know, In regions calm, where tempests never rave, Nor clouds e'er float across the crystal skies.
86. THE INDIAN PREACHER.
Mohegan OCCOM!――not a chieftain's son,―― Yet chieftain's soul hadst thou, for thou didst say, Thy God should have thy toil from day to day, Till heav'nly life and glory thou hadst won. So in thy youth thou didst begin to run The race of Christian goodness, and to pray In humble faith and love to God alway, Utt'ring, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done."―― To preach the gospel to thy Brethren dear And guide their wand'ring steps to heav'n above Was e'er thy soul's delight――though work of fear―― For close to their's thy heart was knit in love. O blessed sight, if thou at last shalt see The ransom'd ones the Lord hath giv'n to thee!
87. SERMON IN MY NATIVE PLACE. 1851.
Of swift-wing'd years how rapid is the flight? For half a hundred, on this day, save three Have fled since God in his great love to me Allow'd me to put on the armor bright, By him supplied to fit me for the fight, The ceaseless contest for true liberty;―― For truth alone can set the sinner free, And bring the blind from darkness into light. Alas, how chang'd the scene? For then were here Full many a form of loveliness now fled,―― Father and Mother, Brothers, Sisters dear, And many friends,――all sleeping with the dead. What were I now, did not God's truth divine With bright-hued hopes upon my vision shine?
88. NATIONAL CONVULSIONS, 1849.
The tempest rages through the earth around, Tossing the ocean into mountain waves: Thrones shake and totter, as the storm-wind raves, And mightiest empires tremble at the sound: Man has no structure on the solid ground, Which bides the tumult, or its fury braves: The sev'n-hill'd City, which the Tiber laves, Though call'd eternal, shakes and is astound: E'en its proud chief and priest, in sad affright, Flees for his safety to a distant shore, Lest falling temples on his head alight: What is there stable 'mid this wild uproar?―― The CHURCH heeds not the angry billows' shock;―― THY CHURCH, O LORD, is founded on a rock!
89. PSALM VIII.
In all the earth, O Lord, thy name how great, How glorious in the heavens doth it shine! Sun, moon, and stars, which thou hast made, are thine, And o'er all worlds, in majesty elate, Thou reignest king. Then what is man's estate, How low,――in which through pride he doth repine? Yet thou didst give him rank almost divine, When him with pow'r to rule thou didst create―― (Only a step beneath the angels high――) O'er oxen, sheep, and beasts wild roving wide, O'er all the fowl that in the air do fly, And fish, that in the ocean-depths do glide. O, God! who dost all praise and glory claim, In all the earth how excellent thy name!
90. TO MY NATIVE TOWN.
PITTSFIELD, my native town, how chang'd art thou, Since first, in childhood's years, thy streets I trod, And in thy single temple worshipp'd God, My father then thine only teacher!――Now On ev'ry side the rival temples grow, As though upspringing from prolific sod, With tow'r, or spire high-tap'ring to a rod; And num'rous teachers now heav'n's pathway show: But Truth is one, unchang'd, always the same,―― Its sempiternal source with God on high, Whence God's own Son in wondrous mercy came, Pure light to pour on man's dark, wild'ring eye. May all thy pastors guide their flocks aright, And lead them to the heav'nly pastures bright.
91. TO SARAH ANNA HOPKINS.