"And they that went before, and they that followed cried, saying, Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
WHAT day is this of joy and pride!
Throw, Salem, all thy portals wide;
Receive thy Lord, give honour due,
The dust with costliest garments strew.
Thou kingly one! thy head is bare,
No diadem is glittering there;
But on thy brow, and in thine eye
Dwells more than mortal royalty.
A shade is on that brow's expanse,
A dim suffusion in that glance:
Whilst round thee rise hosannas glad,
Say, mighty Leader, art thou sad?
Ah, see! his eye is turning still,
To rest on Calvary's lonely hill ;
And when, o'er Judah's sons it strays,
A moment's shudder marks the gaze!
Few, few the suns shall rise and set,
Ere Calvary with his blood be wet;
His prescience scans that countless train,
Their hands are red, they bear the stain.
Lord! what is man, that thou canst view This orb unscathed, its path pursue? Couldst thou, for faithless race like this, Desert the starry realms of bliss?
Oh! depth of wisdom! here, e'en here,
Love found its noblest theatre!
Thy hour of triumph, pity, came,
'Tis that which saw our deepest shame.
Lord! meekly, silently we bow,
Our trembling hearts allegiance vow;
Oh! let our lives, transformed by thee,
Thy true hosannas, Saviour, be!
As through this calm, this holy dawning
Silent glides my parting breath,
To an everlasting morning,
Gently close my eyes in death.
Blessings, endless, richest blessings,
Pour their streams upon thy heart!
(Though, no language yet possessing,)
Breathes my spirit ere we part.
Yet, to leave thee sorrowing, rends me,
Though again his voice I hear:
Rise! may every grace attend thee,
Rise! and seek to meet me there.
HYMN CXXXIX.
LORD, I hear of showers of blessing,
Thou art scattering, full and free;
Showers, the thirsty land refreshing,
Let some droppings fall on me.
Pass me not, O God our Father !
Sinful though my heart may be;
Thou might'st leave me, but the rather
Let thy mercy light on me!
Pass me not, O gracious Saviour!
Let me live and cling to thee;
For I'm longing for thy favour,
Whilst thou'rt calling, oh! call me.
Pass me not, O mighty Spirit,
Thou canst make the blind to see,
Witnesser of Jesus' merit,
Speak some word of power to me.
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