A BOOK OF CHRISTIAN SONNETS. 1. ON WASHINGTON. Great WASHINGTON! Mount Vernon's shade were naught, Except as close allied to thine own name; And what but noblest virtues without blame Have all the lustre of thy glory wrought? Our country's chief in freedom's battle fought, Thy sword laid down in triumph's loud acclaim; Then “First in peace," our nation's good thine aim, To Rulers many a lesson thou hast taught. The model patriot thou, thy life unstain'd; A rev'rent worshipper of God, we see Thine end was peace; one noble act remain'd,— Thy dying voice said to thy slaves, "Be Free !"— With no dear son, each Freeman is thy Son, And thou his Father lov'd, Great WASHINGTON! 2. THE STARS. In the sweet silence of a cloudless night O, for an angel's wings to fly away From this low world of sin, and woe, and care, And gain those orbs of purity and love! Wish not for angel's wings: thy God obey, And soon his grace thy ransom'd soul will bear Up to his own more glorious throne above! 3. LAST WISH OF WM. H. PRESCOTT. Still beautiful in this thy rest so deep, Of the swift blow, which calls thy friends to weep. 66 What would he teach us, living, by this scene?— Books! books! are earth's invaluable lights; Treasures of truth, the richest gifts terrene, Left by fled spirits in their upward flights! And what does man demand, in age and youth, But heav'n-descended,heav'nward-guiding TRUTH? 4. ON WAR. "Thou shalt not kill,”—the Almighty God hath said. 5. TRUTH'S TESTIMONY OF CHRIST. Truth to the earth came down from heav'n above, Cloth'd in celestial beauty to the eye, Willing to see; man's guide to God on high. Her voice is voice of sweetness and of love, Of pow'r all feelings of the soul to move. When she but speaks, all wild'ring phantoms fly, Each cheat, and fraud, and vile, illusive lie, Which in our murky air around thick rove. She speaks of Him, who ere the earth was made. Was God's own Son in heav'nly glory bright; Yet dwelt with man in mortal flesh array'd, Redeemer blest! of this dark world the light;— Whose death by cruel nails our life has won, Whose cross for us a bright, immortal crown. I've seen the morning sweet, serene, and bright, But soon the splendor chang'd to dismal night. And outrag'd conscience shakes a glist'ning dart. Poor Youth! Would'st thou the marred scene repair, The sway of holy laws must guide thy soul, Heard ye the anguish of that broken sigh, Bursting from wretched sinner's smitten heart? Or did ye mark the contrite tears, which start In pearly drops from that uplifted eye? Blest is that groan; 'tis heard by him on high, Whose grace from prostrate soul will ne'er depart, Whose tender love will soothe the mental smart, And to Himself bring humble aliens nigh. Blest are those tears;—with brighter ray they shine, Than costliest gem, which tyrant's crown adorns, When beaming on the gaze of subject throngs. The grief of penitence wakes bliss divine Before His throne, who bore the crown of thorns, And Angels' harps resound with rapt'rous songs! 8. GOD'S OMNIPRESENCE. Psalm 139. O, whither from thy Spirit shall I go? And with the speed of light I pierce the air And find the shores, which India's billows wear,— Ev'n there thy presence will around me flow.— If I should say,-" night's veil will me conceal ;" Yet in thy view the darkness shall be light, And deepest gloom will shine like flood of day.— Thy presence, Lord, then let me ever feel Each budding, sinful aim and thought to blight, And urge to deeds of holy, blest array. 9. THE PROMETHEUS CHAINED OF AESCHYLUS. 'Tis piteous tale, in Grecian numbers told,— Prometheus chain'd by Vulcan to a rock; Expos'd aloft to ev'ry tempest's shock, To burning sun, and winter's shiv'ring cold: And all his woe, as minstrel doth unfold, From love to man, whom other gods would mock. Would shame our empty, soulless minstrelsy, |