A Book of Christian Sonnets. william Allen
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. (notes)
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. (notes)
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. (notes)
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. (notes)
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!