THE CROSS. Look with Faith unclouded, Dost thou fear that strictest trial? Tremblest thou at Christ's denial? Clasp thine arms about it,— Diabolic legions press thee? Thoughts and works of sin distress thee? It shall right all error,— Draw'st thou nigh to Jordan's river? No, if on it dying, On the Cross! Say, then, "Master, while I cherish For the Cross!" ST. METHODIUS. 159 Он, blest were the accents of early creation, When the Word of Jehovah came down from above, In the clods of the earth to infuse animation, And wake their cold atoms to life and to love! GOD'S WORD. 161 And mighty the tones which the firmament rended, And sweet was the voice of the First-Born of Heaven (Though poor His apparel, though earthly His form), Who said to the mourner, "Thy sins are forgiven !" "Be whole!" to the sick, and "Be still!" to the storm. O Judge of the world, when, arrayed in Thy glory, Thy summons again shall be heard from on high, While nature stands trembling and naked before Thee, And waits on Thy sentence to live or to die; When the Heaven shall fly fast from the sound of Thy thunder, And the sun in Thy lightnings grow languid and pale, And the sea yield her dead, and the Tomb cleave asunder, In the hour of Thy terrors, let mercy prevail! HEBER. 41 HAST thou a charm to stay the morning star |