Now triumph, scribe and Pharisee! Still from his lip no curse has come, Croly. IV. "There was darkness over all the earth."-Luke xxiii. 44. ON Judah's hills a weight of darkness hung, wrung, From the sharp cross th' enlightened spirit fled, O'er the forsaken earth a pall of dread By the great shadow of that death was flung. O Saviour! O Atoner! thou that fain Wouldst make thy temple in each human heart, Leave not such darkness in my soul to reign, Ne'er may thy presence from its depths depart, Chased thence by guilt!-oh! turn not thou away, The bright and morning star, my guide to perfect day! V. Mrs Hemans. "There were also women looking on."- Mark xv. 40. LIKE those pale stars of tempest hours, whose gleam Waves calm and constant on the rocking mast, Such by the Cross doth your bright lingering seem, Daughters of Zion! faithful to the last! Ye, through the darkness o'er the wide earth cast By the death-cloud within the Saviour's eye, O blessed faith; a guiding lamp, that hour, Still hath your act a voice - through fear, through strife, Bidding her bind each tendril of her life To that which her deep soul hath proved of holiest worth. Towering o'er the wrecks of time, All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime. When the woes of life o'ertake me, When the sun of bliss is beaming Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, In the cross of Christ I glory! All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime. J. Bowring. THE RESURRECTION. I. "He is not here, but is risen."— Luke xxiv. 6. LIFT your glad voices in triumph on high, For Jesus hath risen, and man cannot die. Vain were the terrors that gathered around him And short the dominion of death and the grave; He burst from the fetters of darkness that bound him Resplendent in glory, to live and to save. Loud was the chorus of angels on high, 'The Saviour hath risen, and man shall not die.' Glory to God, in full anthems of joy; The being he gave us, death cannot destroy. Sad were the life we must part with tomorrow, If tears were our birthright, and death were our end; But Jesus hath cheered the dark valley of sorrow And bade us, immortal, to heaven ascend. Lift then your voices in triumph on high, For Jesus hath risen, and man shall not die. Henry Ware jun. II. "Go your way, - tell his disciples, and Peter, that He goeth before you into Galilee." - Mark xvi. 7. BUT wherefore Peter? He whose pride Hark! from a risen Saviour's tomb, And neutralize a mass of crime. |