SONGS OF ZION, TO CHEER AND GUIDE PILGRIMS ON THEIR WAY TO THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM. 1. THE BARREN FIG TREE. Within the vineyard's sunny bound Enjoying sun and showers The boughs were graceful to the view, When round the vintage season came, But though the leaves were broad and green, Because no fruit was there. "For three long years," the Master cried, "Ah! let it stand just one year more," About the massy roots I'll dig, And if it bear, we've gained the fig- How many years hast thou, my heart, Enjoying heavenly dews of grace, How often must the Lord have prayed Learn, O my soul, what God demands But fruit of heavenly hue; By this we prove that Christ we know, Faith works by love, if true. August 14, 1834. 2. JEHOVAH TSIDKENU. "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." I once was a stranger to grace and to God, I oft read with pleasure, to soothe or engage, Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll, When free grace awoke me, by light from on high, My terrors all vanished before the sweet name; Jehovah Tsidkenu! my treasure and boast, Even treading the valley, the shadow of death, This "watchword" shall rally my faltering breath; For while from life's fever my God sets me free, Jehovah Tsidkenu, my death song shall be. November 18, 1834. 3. "THEY SING THE SONG OF MOSES." But when they reached the opposing shore The flower of Pharaoh's chivalry. Then awful gladness filled the mind Thus thy redeem'd ones, Lord, on earth, While passing through this vale of weeping, Mix holy trembling with their mirth, And anxious watching with their sleeping. The night is dark, the storm is loud, Heaven's light upon our path to shed. And oh! when life's dark journey o'er, We plant our foot on yonder shore, And tread yon golden strand at last, Shall we not see with deep amaze, And even on earth, though sore bested, Yet would I lift my downcast eyes That Hope may all my breast inspire. And thus the Lord, my strength, I'll praise, EDINBURGH, 1835. 4. ON MUNGO PARK'S FINDING A TUFT OF GREEN MOSS IN THE AFRICAN DESERT. "Whatever way I turned, nothing appeared but danger and difficulty. I saw my self in the midst of a vast wilderness, in the depth of the rainy season, naked and alone, surrounded by savage animals, and men still more savage. I was five hundred miles from the nearest European settlement. At this moment, painful as my reflections were, the extraordinary beauty of a small moss in fructification irresistibly caught my eye. I mention this to show from what trifling circumstances the mind will sometimes derive consolation; for though the whole plant was not larger than the top of one of my fingers, I could not contemplate the delicate conformation of its roots, leaves, and capsule, without admiration. Can that Being, thought I, who planted, watered, and brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after his own image? Surely not. I started up, and disregarding both hunger and fatigue, travelled forward, assured that relief was at hand, and I was not disappointed."-PARK'S TRAVELS. The sun had reached his mid-day height, No cloudy veil obscured the sky, And the hot breeze that struggled by 4T No mighty rock upreared its head 1979H A In all the weary plain; ustwo bak |