CXXII.

"I have set thee this day over the nations, and over the kingdoms."

"The Lord hath set me o'er the kings of earth,
To fasten and uproot, to build and mar;
Not by mine own fond will: else never war
Had still'd in Anathoth the voice of mirth,

Nor from my native tribe swept bower and hearth:
Ne'er had the light of Judah's royal star

Fail'd in mid heaven, nor trampling steed and car Ceas'd from the courts that saw Josiah's birth. 'Tis not in me to give or take away,

But He who guides the thunder-peals on high,
He tunes my voice, the tones of His deep sway
Faintly to echo in the nether sky.

Therefore I bid earth's glories set or shine,

And it is so my words are sacraments divine."

CXXIII.

"This man is worthy to die: for he hath prophesied against this city."

"No joy of mine to invite the thunder down,
No pride, th' uprising whirlwind to survey,
How gradual from the north, with hideous frown,
It veers in silence round th' horizon grey,
And one by one sweeps the bright isles away,
Where fondly gaz'd the men of worldly peace,

Dreaming fair weather would outlast their day. Now the big storm-drops fall-their dream must

cease

They know it well, and fain their ire would wreak
On the dread Arm that wields the bolt; but He
Is out of reach, therefore on me they turn ;—
that am but voice, fading and weak,

On

me,

A wither'd leaf inscrib'd with heaven's decree, And blown where haply some in fear may learn.”

CXXIV.

"I said, I will not make mention of him...... But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire."

"Sad privilege is mine, to show

What hour, which way, the bitter streams will flow.
Oft have I said, 'enough-no more

To uncharm'd ears th' unearthly strain I pour !'
But the dread word its way would win,
Even as a burning fire my bones within,
And I was forc'd to tell aloud

My tale of warning to the reckless proud.
Awful warning! yet in love

Breath'd on each believing ear,

How Heaven in wrath would seem to move
The landmarks of a thousand year,

And from the tablets of th' eternal sky
The covenant oath erase of God most high.
That hour, full timely was the leaf unrolled,
Which to the man belov'd the years of bondage told,
And till his people's chain should be outworn,
Assign'd him for his lot times past and times unborn."

Y.

CXXV.

"O ye remnant of Judah, go ye not into Egypt."

"O SWEETLY tim'd, as e'er was gentle hand
Of mother prest on weeping infant's brow,
Is every sign that to His fallen land

Th' Almighty sends by prophet mourners now.
The glory from the ark is gone,—

The mystic cuirass gleams no more,
In answer from the Holy One,—

Low lies the temple, wondrous store

Of mercies seal'd with blood each eve and morn;
Yet heaven hath tokens for faith's eye forlorn.

Heaven by my mouth was fain to stay

The pride that in our evil day

Would fain have struggled in Chaldea's chain :
Nay, kiss the rod : th' Avenger needs must reign;
And now, though every shrine is still,
Speaks out by me th' unchanging will:

'Seek not to Egypt; there the curse will come; 'But, till the woe be past, round Canaan roam, 'And meekly 'bide your hour beside your ruin'd

home.'

Y.

PROFANENESS.

CXXVI.

AUTUMN.

Now is the Autumn of the Tree of Life;

Its leaves are shed upon the unthankful earth, Which lets them whirl, a prey to the winds' strife, Heartless to store them for the months of dearth. Men close the door, and dress the cheerful hearth, Self-trusting still; and in his comely gear Of precept and of rite, a household Baal rear.

But I will out amid the sleet, and view

Each shrivelling stalk and silent-falling leaf. Truth after truth, of choicest scent and hue, Fades, and in fading stirs the Angels' grief, Unanswered here; for she, once pattern chief

Of faith, my Country, now gross-hearted grown, Waits but to burn the stem before her idol's throne.

J.

P