368

DIVINE LOVE.

What called from Heaven that flame divine
Which streams in glory from above:
And bid it o'er earth's bosom shine,

And bless us with its brightness? Love!

Who bade the glorious sun arrest

His course, and o'er heaven's concave move

In tears the saddest, loneliest

Of the celestial orbs? 'Twas love!

Who raised the human race so high,
E'en to the starry seats above,
That, for our mortal progeny,

A man became a God? 'Twas love!

Who humbled from the seats of light
Their Lord, all human woes to prove;
Led the great source of day to night,

And made of God a man? 'Twas love!

Yes! love has wrought, and love alone,
The victories all, beneath, above;
And heaven and earth shall shout, as one,
The all-triumphing song of love.

The song through all heaven's arches ran,
And told the wondrous tales aloud:

DIVINE LOVE.

The trembling fire that looked so wan,-
The weeping sun behind a cloud,—
A God-a God-became a man?

A mortal man became a God!

369

Christ Our Redeemer.

Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.—Acтs iv. 12.

Он Israel, oh household of the Lord,

Oh Abraham's sons,-oh brood of blessed seed,—
Oh chosen sheep, that fear the Lord indeed,—
Oh hungry hearts, feed still upon his word,
And put your trust in him with one accord!
For he hath mercy evermore at hand;
His fountains flow, his springs do never stand;
And plenteously he loveth to redeem
Such sinners all

As on him call,

And faithfully his mercies most esteem.

He will redeem our deadly, drooping state;
He will bring home the sheep that go astray;
He will help them that hope in him alway:
He will appease our discord and debate;
He will soon save, though we repent us late ;—

CHRIST OUR REDEEMER.

He will be ours if we continue his;

He will bring bale to joy and perfect bliss;
He will reedeem the flock of his elect

From all that is,

Or was, amiss,

Since Abraham's heirs did first his laws reject.

**Died 1577.

371

!

The Lord my Shepherd.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep.-ST. JOHN X. 11.

GOD, who doth all nature hold
In his fold,

Is my shepherd kind and heedful;
Is my shepherd, and doth keep
Me, his sheep,

Still supplied with all things needful.

He feeds me in fields, which been
Fresh and green,

Mottled with springs's flowery painting;

Through which creep, with murmuring crooks,
Crystal brooks,

To refresh my spirit fainting.

When my soul, from heaven's way,

Went astray,

With earth's vanities seduced,

For his name's sake kindly He

Wandering me

To his holy fold reduced.