DEBORAH'S HYMN OF TRIUMPH.

Then stamped the clattering hoofs of prancing horses
At the flight, at the flight of the mighty.

Curse ye Meroz, saith the angel of the Lord,
Curse, a twofold curse upon her dastard sons;
For they came not to the succour of Jehovah,
To the succour of Jehovah 'gainst the mighty.

Above all women blest be Jael,

Heber the Kenite's wife,

Over all the women blest, that dwell in tents.

Water he asked-she gave him milk,
The curded milk, in her costliest bowl.
Her left hand to the nail she set,

Her right hand to the workman's hammer-
Then Sisera she smote-she clave his head;
She bruised-she pierced his temples.
At her feet he bow'd; he fell; he lay;

At her feet he bow'd; he fell;

Where he bow'd, there he fell dead.

From the window she looked forth, she cried,
The mother of Sisera, through the lattice:
Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why tarry the wheels of his chariot ?"
Her prudent women answer'd her-

Yea, she herself gave answer to herself—
"Have they not seized, not shared the spoil?
One damsel, or two damsels to each chief?

To Sisera a many-coloured robe,

203

A many-coloured robe and richly broider'd,
Many-coloured and border'd round the neck."

Thus perish all thine enemies, Jehovah!

And those who love thee, like the sun shine forth, The sun in all his glory.

THE VOICE OF GOD.

EMILY TAYLOR.

And the Lord came, and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel, Samuel." Samuel answered, "Speak; for thy servant heareth."-1 SAMUEL iii. 10.

"SPEAK, Lord!" the youthful prophet humbly cried;

And instant, hark! the Voice Divine replies,

Its will declares,—

No other ear in all that temple's round
Receives the deep, impressive, solemn sound;
The sacred tribe, the aged priest passed by,
God stands revealed to youthful piety.

He comes no more to rouse the outward ear

At dead of night;

No fearful dream his purposed act makes clear,
To mortal sight:-

But wheresoe'er man seeks to meet him, still

A voice is near him whispering of his will,

Then

And ever as he calls on God to "speak,"

That inward voice will nature's silence break.

Yes, Christian, He whose voice then spoke on earth, Still speaks to thee;

Whether in sweetest music warbling forth

From every tree,

Or in the stillness of the evening hour,
Or when the tempest gathers all its power,
Or when the sea its awful voice uprears,

Be thine to answer, "Speak, thy servant hears."

In all thy varying portion in the strife
Twixt earth and heaven,

Or when sweet gleamings of a better life
To thee are given,

When hard the conflict, dim the distant end,
No light to cheer thee, at thy side no friend,
Yet hark! e'en now, in answer to thy prayer,
The voice, the voice of Love Divine is there!

Or when the page of truth, before thee spreads
Its chastened light,

And some reviving promise round thee sheds
Hopes clear and bright,

There speaks the Gospel Author: to that word,
Favoured disciple of a pitying Lord,

Bend, meekly bend, a still, attentive ear:

'Tis his to speak; with reverence thine to hear.

THE VOICE OF GOD.

Thankful for this, thy destined path pursue,
Or dark, or bright;

Till faith, while glory bursts upon the view,
Is lost in sight:

Till then, with ever-wakeful care abide

By the least whispers of thy heavenly Guide;
For still, when followed most, that Voice shall be
Strength, comfort, peace, and blessedness to thee.

207