No 10.

Persecution for Christ's Sake.

St. Matt. x. 16-22.

BEHOLD that prisoner calm and meek Before his judges stand;

His foes around their vengeance wreak, A fierce and cruel band.

The torture hath its work fulfilled
Upon his feeble frame;

All that stern cruelty ere willed,
With scourge, or sword, or flame.

He stands alone, for none is near
His righteous cause to plead;
No friendly eye or voice to cheer
In this his utmost need.

He stands alone, yet not alone,
For One unseen is there,
Who gives a courage not his own

That saves him from despair.

And what his crime? He bears the cross
Upon his conscious brow;

For Christ he bears this pain and loss,
And to none else will bow.

A single word would set him free
And give him back to life;

But, oh! from Christ he may not flee,
For parents, children, wife.

The dearest ones on earth with Heaven
And Christ may not compete ;
But if to Christ might these be given,
His bliss were then complete.

Yet these, alas! though loved still,
Injuriously depart;

For, captive bound at Satan's will,

No grace has touched their heart.

Theirs is the loss, but his the gain,
They choose the dross of earth;
For him a crown of glory waits,
New born of heavenly birth.

Oh! blessed Lord, with thee to live,
With thee to die is gain;

If thou be mine, all else I give,

All earthly wealth disdain.

No. 11.

Warning of Tyre and Sidon.

St. Matt. xi. 20-24.

On! why, as slowly sails his boat along,
Does Syrian mariner lean o'er his prow;
And as he softly chaunts his evening song,
Gaze at the ruined walls that lie below?

The bright wave curls where once thy turrets stood, O Tyre, regardless of thy threatened woe;

Thy palaces are whelmed beneath the flood

O'er which thy broidered sails in pride did go.

And why does eastern traveller draw near
And gaze upon yon briny lake with dread;
As if its sight brought back some tale of fear,
And called up spectres of the ancient dead?

Because 'tis good to see where's God's right hand His vengeance against sinners has displayed; That wholesome fear might make us strong to stand,

And flee to Him who sin for us was made.

Yet greater e'en than Sodom's dreadful doom, Weightier than that of Sidon and of Tyre; When the great judgment day at length shall

come

To whelm the ungodly in eternal fire;

Shall be their doom the Gospel sound who hear,
And know its miracles of grace and power;
Yet mock at sin, and vengeance never fear,
Nor think that e'er shall come their judgment
hour.

No. 12.

Requiring a Sign.

St. Matt. xii. 39, 40.

OH! surely yet do Christian men, (It may not be denied,)

Some further sign from Heaven require That Christ for sinners died.

For where is now that lively faith
Which by its fruits is known;
That fear of God, and love for man,
Which seeketh not its own?

Like some fair flower in hidden dell,
By secret fountains fed;

So from the world's rude gaze retired,
Faith hides its lowly head.

And still an unbelieving world
Shall have no other sign,

Than Jonas from the deep restored
By grace and power divine.