Canaan was theirs, and in it all The proudest hope of kings dare claim ; Fire from Jehovah came. Yet monarchs walk'd as pilgrims still In their own land, earth's pride and grace; And seers would mourn on Sion's hill Their Lord's averted face. Vainly they tried the deeps to sound But He their aching gaze repress'd Which sought behind the veil to see, For not without us fully bless'd" Or perfect might they be. The rays of the Almighty's face No sinner's eye might then receive; n Hebrews xi. 40. That they without us should not be made perfect. Only the meekest man found grace° But we as in a glass espy The glory of His countenance, Not in a whirlwind hurrying by The too presumptuous glance, But with mild radiance every hour, Sprinkled with His atoning blood Bless'd eyes, which see the things we see! Beheld, and not belov'd. • Exod. xxxiii. 20-23. So like an angel's is our bliss (Oh! thought to comfort and appall) FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. St. Luke xvii. 17, 18. TEN cleans'd, and only one remain ! Who would have thought our nature's strain Even He who reads the heart,— Yet 'twas not wonder, but His love That heaven-ward seem so free to move When earth can yield no more: Then from afar on God we cry; Faster than those false drops and few Pour'd idly over some dark page A woe for future years? Spirits, that round the sick man's bed Watch'd, noting down each prayer he made, Were your unerring roll display'd, His pride of health to' abase ; Or, when soft showers in season fall Answering a famish'd nation's call, Should unseen fingers on the wall Our vows forgotten trace; How should we gaze in trance of fear! Than by Thy placid voice and brow, With healing first, with comfort now, Turn'd upon him, who hastes to bow Before thee, heart and knee; "Oh! thou, who only would'st be blest, "On thee alone my blessing rest! "Rise, go thy way in peace, possess'd "For evermore of me." |