PSALM XVIII. The earth shook, and was alarmed, PSALM CXXXIX. Whither shall I go from thy spirit ? ISAIAH, CHAPTER XLI. ISAIAH, CHAPTER LII. Awake, awake; be clothed with thy strength, O Sion: Clothe thyself with thy glorious garments, o Jerusalem, thou holy city! Shake thyself from the dust, ascend thy lofty seat, O Jerusalem : Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, 0 captive daughter of Sion ! How beautiful appear on the mountains The feet of the joyful messenger; of him that announceth peace! Of the joyful messenger of good tidings; of him that announceth salvation ! Of him that sayeth unto Sion, Thy God reigneth! All thy watchmen lift up their voice; they shout together : For face to face shall they see, when Jehovah returneth to Sion. Burst forth into joy, shout together, ye ruins of Jerusalem ! For Jehovah hath comforted his people; he hath redeemed Israel. Jehovah hath made bare his holy arm, in the sight of all the nations; All all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. ISAIAH, CHAPTER LV. Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters ! compassion; It shall not return unto me fruitless; ISAIAH, CHAPTER LXIII. With garments deeply dyed from Bozrah? Marching on in the greatness of his strength ? (Messiah.)- I who publish righteousness, and am mighty to save. (Chorus.)-Wherefore is thine apparel red ? And thy garments as of one that treadeth the wine-vat? (Messiah.)- I have trodden the vat alone; And of the peoples there was not a man with me. ON GOD. All space doth occupy-all motion guide; Thou only God: there is no God beside. Whom none can comprehend, and none explore; Embracing all-supporting-ruling o'er- There is no weight or measure; none can mount Though kindled by thy light, in vain would try And thought is lost ere thought can soar so high, Thou, from primeval nothingness did call, First chaos, then existence-Lord, on Thee Eternity had its foundation; all Sprang from Thee; of light, joy, harmony, Thy word created all, and doth create; Thou art, and wert, and shall be ! glorious! great! Light-giving, Life-sustaining, Potentate ! Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround; Ŭpheld by Thee, by Thee inspired with breath ! And beautifully mingled life with death! So suns are born, -50 worlds spring forth from Thee, And as the spangles, in the sunny rays, Shine from the silver snow,—the pageantry Of Heaven's bright army glitters in thy praise. A million torches, lighted by thy hand, Wander unwearied through the blue abyss ; All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss. A glorious company of golden streams ! Suns lighting systems with their joyous beams ! But Thou to these art as the noon to night. Yes! as a drop of water in the sea, All this immensity in Thee is lost:- What am I then? Heaven's unnumbered host, In all the glory of sublimest thought, Is but an atom in the balance weigh'd Against Thy greatness—is a cipher brought Against infinity! What am I then ?-nought! Nought-but the effluence of Thy light divine, Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom too! Yes, in my spirit doth Thy Spirit shine, As shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew.Nought-but I live, and on Hope's pinions fly Eager towards Thy presence: for in Thee Even to the throne of Thy divinity; Thou art! directing, guiding all, Thou art! Direct my understanding then to Thee; Control my spirit, guide my wandering heart; Though but an atom ʼmidst immensity, Still I am something fashioned by Thy hand: I hold a middle rank 'twixt heaven and earth, On the last verge of mortal being stand, Close to the realms where angels have their birth, Just on the boundaries of the spirit land. The chain of being is complete in me; In me is matter's last gradation lost, And the next step is Spirit-Deity! I can command the lightning, and am dust! A monarch—and a slave; a worm,-a god! Whence came I here, and how so marvellously Created and sustain'd? Doubtless this clod Lives ever through some higher energy; For from itself alone it could not be. Creator! Yes—Thy wisdom and Thy word Created me! Thou source of life and good! Thou Spirit of my spirit and my Lord; Thy light, Thy love, in their bright plentitude Fill'd me with an immortal soul, to spring Over the abyss of death, and bade it wear The garments of eternal day, and wing Its heavenly flight beyond this little sphere, Even to its source-to Thee-its author there. O thoughts ineffable! O visions blest ! Though worthless our conceptions all of Thee- And waft its homage to thy Deity. Thus seek Thy presence-being wise and good 'Midst thy vast works, admire, obey, adore ! And when the tongue is eloquent no more, The soul shall speak in tears of gratitude. From the Russian of Derzhavin. |