Hence love and adoration-never could The contrite spirit at His footstool fall If power, and power alone, its feelings did appal! If then divinest power be truly so, Because its object is to bless; It follows that all power which man can know, Unless it seek the happiness of man, And glory of the Highest :—nothing less Than such a use of power one moment can Make its possessor great, on wisdom's Godlike plan. GOD LOVES THEE BEST. MARY ANN BROWN. Who loves me best? My mother sweet, Who then shall shield me from earthly ill? Who loves me best ?-My father dear, He whom I fly each eve to meet, Oh! he is dear as my mother to me- Who loves me best ?-My sister fair, With her laughing eyes and clustering hair! Who loves me best?-My brother young, Who showeth me where the hazel-nuts grow, And where the fairest field-flowers blow; Yet perhaps he loves me no more than the restHow shall I find who loves me best! My mother loves me-but she must die; Yes, fair child, there is One above, He would protect thee through every ill, DIVINE AFFECTION UNCHANGABLE. ISAIAH. * Sing aloud, O ye heavens; and rejoice, O Earth ; For Jehovah hath comforted his people, And will have compassion on his afflicted. But Zion sayeth: Jehovah hath forsaken me; And my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking infant, That she should have no tenderness for the son of her womb ? Even these may forget, but I will not forget thee. Behold, on the palms of my hands have I delineated thee, They, that destroyed thee, shall soon become thy build ers; And they, that laid thee waste, shall become thine off spring. Lift up thine eyes around, and see; All these are gathered together, they come to thee. As I live saith Jehovah, Surely thou shalt clothe thyself with them all as with a rich dress, And bind them about thee as a bride her jewels. *Lowth's translation. HE WILL REST IN HIS LOVE. ZEPHANIAH. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will joy over thee with singing. LOVE ENTERTAINING THE PRODIGAL. GEORGE HERBERT. Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back, But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning "A guest," I answered, "worthy to be here"Love said "You shall be he." "I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah! my dear, I can not look on thee." Love took my hand; and, smiling did reply, "Who made the eyes, but I ?" "Truth, Love, but I have marred them : let my shame Go where it doth deserve.' "And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?" My dear then I will serve." 66 "You must sit down." savs Love," and taste my meat," So I did sit and eat. He would protect thee through every ill, DIVINE AFFECTION UNCHANGABLE. ISAIAH. Sing aloud, O ye heavens; and rejoice, O Earth; For Jehovah hath comforted his people, And will have compassion on his afflicted. But Zion sayeth: Jehovah hath forsaken me; And my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking infant, That she should have no tenderness for the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget thee. Behold, on the palms of my hands have I delineated thee, Thy walls are forever in my sight. They, that destroyed thee, shall soon become thy build ers; And they, that laid thee waste, shall become thine off spring. Lift up thine eyes around, and see; All these are gathered together, they come to thee. As I live saith Jehovah, Surely thou shalt clothe thyself with them all as with a rich dress, And bind them about thee as a bride her jewels. *Lowth's translation. |