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THE TOMB OF JESUS.

"Twas there the Ancient of Eternal Day,

123

The Son of God, slept in the borrowed grave;
He whose right arm, clothed with almighty sway,
To countless worlds their form and being gave,
When chaos reigned and shoreless was the wave.
'Tis hallowed ground-proclaim it not!—for there
Is crime-Calvary's polluted by the Islam slave.
A scathing curse for him will wrath prepare,
And bolts in heaven for those who the base traffic
share.

O soon may Shiloh bless that fated land!
The mocking crescent there be seen no more;
The lawless wanderer and Arabia's band
Forsake their prophet and the cross adore,
While songs of joy resound on Jordan's shore.
Soon may the banner of Immanuel wave
On every height, and where the minarets soar,
Nations confess that He who died to save,
The blessed Messiah, lives and reigns for evermore.

1818.

124

RELIGION AND RUM.

RELIGION AND RUM.

An old Turk, learning that we were Americans, inquired if it was true that we sent out Missionaries to convert the Mohammedans, in ships laden with wine and spirits?-De Kay's Sketches of Turkey.

THE Christian flouts the turbaned Turk;
Why mocketh he at us?

He sendeth hither proud ships with

A blessing and a curse.

His spangled flag flings out its stars

Most bravely on our seas:

And we beneath those stripes may pray,

Or traffic-as we please.

Can the same wells of Araby

Yield sweet and bitter too?

These dumb dogs, laugh they at our beards?
Great Allah! but they do.

"Ho! come, and win the gems of Heaven!"
Their dark-robed Mollahs cry;

Then shout their fellows-" We have Rum,
And Brandies; will ye buy?"

A TIME TO WEEP, A TIME TO REJOICE. 125

"Kneel to Messiah! yours are crowns; Reject-naught's left but hell;"

"Here's fourth proof-real New England, sirs; Try, for we want to sell !"

Prophet! how would these muftis smile,

Should we to Christ incline;

Not less their joy if we exchange
Good sequins for their wine.

Houris! be ours the precepts which

Content the faithful Turk,

Rather than creeds in which base gold
Is ever found to lurk.

A TIME TO WEEP-A TIME TO REJOICE.

THERE is a time to weep,

When dreams of earthly pleasure

Are added to the heap

Of faded, fruitless treasure:

There is a time-how holy!

When weeping at Christ's door,

The sick soul's melancholy

He heals with Sin no more!

126

A TIME TO WEEP, A TIME TO REJOICE.

A time when for distress

His comfortings are given;

And for its nakedness,

The garniture of heaven.

There is a time of grief,

When memory weeps in sorrow;
The heart, to find relief,

Oblivion's draught would borrow:
There is a time of sweetness,

The soul, drawn out alone,
Reviews its own unmeetness,
And sighs before the throne:
There is a time of love,

The raptured heart ne'er feigneth,
When, strengthened from above,
It knows its Saviour reigneth.

There is a time to mourn,

When all is wild commotion;
And man discerns the bourne

Of death's returnless ocean:

There is a time of peace,

What though the lamp then wasteth!

The spirit seeks release,

And new-born vigour tasteth:

There is a time of joy,

When the pale visage alters,

THE DEPARTED WIFE.

When songs the lips employ,

While yet the accent falters.

There is a time of sadness,
When nature doth decay
Yet to the soul 'tis gladness,
That longs to be away :
There is a time when years

The sand no longer numbers,
When dewed with farewell tears
The body coldly slumbers:
There is a time of glory,

When ransomed spirits sing,
O Grave! where is thy victory?—
O Death! where is thy sting?

127

THE DEPARTED WIFE.

AND thou hast fled, fair spirit!-True, the boon
Of thy perfections was too rich for earth :-
Ye we lament that worth so rare, thus soon,
Thus suddenly, is blighted.-Yes, the birth,
So promising, of thy mild graces, proves
For heaven.-The tomb conceals our fondest hope.

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