Zacchæus ran before, And climbed to see him up a sycomore, Would notice, as mid thousands He passed by; That Jesus by a word his works could do, Within a Gentile soldier's humble home : Salvation's gracious word. It was the Saviour's boast That he had come to seek and save the lost, He showed to all his love and sympathy, That Jesus ministered to sinful men ; Take note of every tear, of every sigh: Is he in whom we trust. STRANGE CHILDREN. Though Israel believe not, yet will I be glorified." That voice of power and love, That heaven-sent voice which hearts of stone could move, Once heard on Zion's hill, Is silent now and still. What, Israel, hast thou done, That the beloved one from thee has gone? To thee in love he came Hast thou despised his name? Worse still-thou didst betray Thy Lord and King to Gentile hands to slay; Thou brought'st him to the grave ! Thought'st thou the grave could hold Him who created all in time of old? Thought'st thou the pains of death Let the earth, which trembled, say, Where now his body, in its tomb which lay; His soul-it went below; Lies it in Hades now? A high and glorious throne Above the Heavens has now the Eternal Son; His name abroad is spread, The Firstborn from the dead. Why should the nations grope Longer in darkness, unillumed by hope? The reign of Death is o'er, Christ reigns for evermore. Great Quickener of the dead, Once more thy living power on Israel shed, And Death itself is dead : Then, thy great work complete, Thou with thy Father take that glorious seat, Where, ere the worlds were made, Thou sat'st and wast obeyed. 104 THE SPIRIT AND THE MUSE. THE BLOOD OF THE ATONEMENT. “The blood of Jesus that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” When Cain had spilt his brother's blood, Earth, which drank up the purple flood, With awful curse that wicked man. The blood of Jesus, who was slain By his own brethren, worse than Cain, And let the guilty sinners live. O precious stream! mysterious blood Which from the side of Jesus flowed ! Thou, Lord, art ours, and we are thine. |