And is that lost that 's sent to Heav'n before? Had'st thou not rather have thy friends and store, Where thou may'st dwell for ever, in the light Of that long glorious day that fears no night? Flesh. But who can willingly submit to death, Which will bereave us of our life and breath; That lays our flesh to rot in loathsome graves, Where brains and eyes were, leaves but ugly caves? Spirit. So nature breaks and casts away the shell, Where the now beauteous singing bird did dwell: The secundine that once the infant clothed, After the birth, is cast away and loathed; Thus roses drop their sweet leaves under foot; But the spring shews that life was in the root. Souls are the roots of bodies: Christ the head Is root of both, and will revive the dead. Our sun still shineth when with us its night: When he returns, we shall shine in his light. Souls that behold and praise God with the just, Mourn not because their bodies are but dust. Graves are but beds where flesh till morning sleeps: Or chests where God awhile our garments keeps: Our folly thinks he spoils them in the keeping; Which causeth our excessive fears and weeping: But God that doth our rising day foresee. Pities not rotting flesh so much as we. The birth of nature was deform'd by sin: The birth of grace did our repair begin : The birth of glory at the resurrection Finisheth all, and brings both to perfection. Why should not fruit when it is mellow fall? Why would we linger here when God doth call? Flesh. The things and persons in this world I see, But after death I know not what will be. [spoken? Spirit. Know'st thou not that which God himself hath Thou hast his promise which was never broken. Reason proclaims that noble heav'n born souls, Are made for higher things than worms and moles. God hath not made such faculties in vain, Nor made his service a deluding pain. But faith resolves all doubts, and hears the Lord Telling us plainly by his holy word, That unclothed souls shall with their Saviour dwell, Triumphing over sin, and death, and Hell. And by the power of almighty love, Stars shall arise from graves to shine above. Where saints and angels shall make up one choir, Flesh. Reason not with me against sight and sense: I doubt all this is but a vain pretence. Words against nature are not worth a rush; If God will give me Heav'n at last, I'll take it: But for my pleasure here I'll not forsake it. Spirit. And wilt thou keep it? brutish flesh how long Wilt thou not shortly sing another song? When conscience is awaken'd, keep thy mirth! When sickness and death comes, hold fast this earth: And can the Lord that is most just and wise, Get thee behind me, Satan; thou dost savour It is not thou, but I that must discern, And must resolve; it's I that hold the stern: LORD, charge not on me what this rebel says, Let me not stick at honour, wealth, or blood: Let me not trifle out more precious hours; But serve thee now with all my strength and powers: October 29, 1659. A HEBREW MELODY. [HOGG.] ON Carmel's brow the wreathy ving And o'er the vales of Palestine Into that shadowy region sped, He saw the valleys far and wide, Save that a boding voice sung on, By wave and waterfall, As still, in harsh and heavy tone, On Kison's strand and Ephratak Oh! beauteous were the palaces And still they glimmered to the breeze, Where harp and cymbal rung, And there as if in mockery But who had seen that Prophet's eye On Carmel that reclined! It looked not on the times gone by. His grey hair streamed upon the wind, He saw the feast in Bozrah spread 'Who's this,' he cried,' comes by the way Of Edom, all divine, Travelling in splendour, whose array Is red, but not with wine?' Blest be the herald of our King That comes to set us free! The dwellers of the rock shall sing, And blossoms spring on field and tree, The happy child in dragon's way The lamb shall round the leopard play, And all in love unite; The dove on Zion's hill shall light, That all the world must see. 43 |