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; That Time, which ow'd to his decree its birth, 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! The pagan pays his worship to a block, A mind less cheer'd by rays of truth divine, 44. ON THE DEATH OF MY DAUGHTER. Poor man, who name of Father dost not know, All this I've seen, and lost to my huge woe! 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 48. SONG OF THE REDEEMED. Rev. 7. Behold, before the Lamb, before God's throne And to the glorious Lamb, whose precious blood For all our deepest sins did once atone! Then fell the angels prostrate, and they saidWhile 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, Thyself to take His praise, "FIRST FAIR, FIRST 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!" |