Your homage has been paid me much too long, Withheld from him, who made me fair and good, His image to reflect from earth and flood, And wake for him the Bard's sublimest song.―― No eagle, mounting on his pinions strong, Nor sweetly-warbling Nightingale in wood, No humble flow'r with tint of sky or blood, Nor scaly fish, nor murm'ring insect throng; No shaggy beast beneath the forest wide, No crystal gleaming in its rocky bed, Nor glossy shell beneath the em'rald sea; No rippling brook, nor stream of swollen pride, No golden cloud, nor star in silence led, FATHER OF ALL! but speaks aloud of Thee! 54. THE CROSS AND CROWN. Bright symbols, which a daughter's hand hath wove, What more significant before mine eyes Or showing forth sublimer mysteries,―― The color'd Cross the suff'ring Savior's love, The Crown of green his Father's gift above?―― Why bear these autumn leaves such crimson dyes, Save to express his death, his agonies, Whose hand outspread each decorated grove? If all be, then, the purchase of his blood,―― All who repent, and love, believe, obey, Who, now redeem'd, walk in the upward way, Cheer'd with the hope of heav'n's eternal good,―― Let me not boast of all within my thought, Save in Christ's CROSS, by which my CROWN was bought. 55. DYING I AM BLEST. Great kings must leave their thrones and rule unjust, Philosophers forget their idle schemes, Beauty her form, and poets too their dreams, And rich men mingle with the worthless dust. Alas, what is the earth to poor man's trust? How fleeting all earth's joys, like rushing streams! Yet 'tis not dark to me: I see bright gleams, Which from my God on high on me outburst,―― Visions of good eternal in the skies:―― My sins effac'd by blood,――redeeming love,―― God's Son, once on the cross, enthroned above,―― My long-lost ones again before my eyes, With all the good.――I cry, "Death brings me rest; Through thee, O Jesus, DYING I AM BLEST!" 56. COMPACT ON BOARD THE MAYFLOWER. The wondrous "Mayflow'r," floating on the sea, Wafting the noble Pilgrims to the west, As yet had found no circling shore for rest, Though land was near; 'tis now her Company To guard against disorders, which might be, And firm foundation lay for empire blest, Their "Solemn Compact" made, that none might wrest, Each pledg'd the Rule to follow cheerfully. Freedom and Law are bound in union sweet; For all have equal pow'r till common vote Authority confer, to which all bow, Its exercise restrain'd, as is most meet, To Public Good. No acts of their's denote A thought their Chief could private int'rest know. 57. TO JESUS CHRIST, GOD'S SON.