ODE TO PEACE

Come, dove-eyed peace-offspring of heaven, descend; Thy calm, sweet influence do thou me lend; Dispel the gloom that broods upon my mind; Bid melancholy flee; make me resigned To bear with patience and submission due The will of G.o.d; and still my mind imbue With reverential awe and just regard For all his ways, as taught in his blest word.

Yes, thou sweet Peace, whom, when the Savior great Had nearly closed sojourn in earthly state, He gave as his last legacy to those His dearest friends, who from mankind he chose, In those dear words, "Peace now I leave with you, My peace I give; you soon shall prove it true.

Not as the world its boasted treasure gives, 'Tis of my grace to each one who believes.

Let not your hearts be troubled, then, nor fear, The Comforter--the Holy Ghost--is near.

And, when I shall to yonder heaven ascend, Him, with His vast, rich blessings, I will send."

Not only these this gracious boon enjoyed, But Saints before that time, pure, unalloyed, And blissful peace within their b.r.e.a.s.t.s possessed, Both in dread dangers and when much oppressed.

Adam, our great progenitor, received With Eve, his wife, this gift, which much relieved Their guilty minds. It was the promise great Made to them while in their most abject state, "That their ill.u.s.trious Seed should bruise the head Of the Arch Tempter, in their room and stead,"

Which wrought the change produced in their sad minds, And soon bid flee that slavish fear which blinds The eyes of mortals; gave them soon to see, "Though the offense was great the gift was free,"

And would extend unto their progeny.

O blissful change! from dark foreboding fear, A wounded conscience, and h.e.l.l's prospects drear, To joy unspeakable and purest peace, Which once received were never more to cease.

A prophet said--the prophet was a man Who did enjoy that peace which only can Flow from one source--G.o.d's own redemption plan-- "Mark well the perfect man; behold the upright, Whose death so precious is in Jesus' sight; His end is peace." He goes down to the shade Of death's dark valley, and is not afraid To come within the precincts of the grave, Well knowing Christ is ever near to save.

Deluded Balaam also sweetly sung, In words of solemn grandeur, bold and strong, The happiness which Israel through his tribes Enjoyed beneath G.o.d's care. Not Balak's bribes Nor vain enchantments, with their altars reared, Nor bleeding victims sacrificed, appeared To move their G.o.d from blessing them to curse His chosen people, oft to G.o.d averse.

Well Balaam knew that if he were to die "Their G.o.d was not a man that he should lie."

He bated Truth, but was constrained to sing Of their blest state beneath G.o.d's fostering wing.

And when he sang the latter end of such His harp gave tones as though from Seraph's touch He sang aloud their bliss, not did he cease Till all the hills re-echoed sweetly "Peace."

Nor could refrain from envy when he viewed Jehovah's covenant of Peace renewed; But breaking forth in rapture loud did cry "O let me die the death the Righteous die!

Let my last end be only like to his Whom G.o.d dost bless with thee, delightful Peace!"

Even I, who write this simple Ode to thee, Have felt thy thrice bless'd influence on me; And feeling fresh the vigor thou dost give, Would gladly trace thy merits while I live; Would fain enumerate the mighty host Of those who've had pure peace of mind to boast; But ah, how great the sum! even time would fail Or if to gain its aid I could prevail, My powers of mind would fail to set them forth As they appear in Scripture; yet 'tis worth The little time which I can freely spare To choose a few from many that are there.

The pleasure it affords would well repay The labor needed, if I spent the day.

Behold that holy man who, strong in faith, Lends an obedient ear to what G.o.d saith.

See, when the Lord his strength of faith would test, How quickly he obeys the high behest.

The task indeed was great, but he, possessed Of peace of mind, was always quite at rest.

Yes, though his Isaac dear was doomed to die, No murmuring escaped his lips, and why?

He knew that G.o.d had promised him to bless With numerous progeny, and nothing less.

He felt a.s.sured that from this very seed-- His darling son--ere long was to proceed So vast a host that if the stars but could By man be numbered, then his offspring would.

And forth from them was Christ the Lord to come, The Refuge of his Saints, to lead them home.

And Abraham knowing this ne'er sought release From G.o.d's sweet service, and his end was peace.

Now mark his son. He in the shining track His father trode, sincerely walked; no lack Had he of the great blessings which from thee Flow in such rich profusion, but did see By eye of Inspiration what G.o.d said Was soon to be fulfilled. Then he was laid Beside his father, and his end was peace.

Jacob, his youngest son, Supplanter named, Parent of Patriarchs so greatly famed, Found too that peace of mind was always sweet When he sojourned with Laban in retreat.

What was it, I would ask, which made him bear The heat by day and midnight's frosty air?

The loss of cattle stolen from his hands?

Such churlish conduct, and such harsh commands?

With loss of sleep, and wages changed ten times, And twenty rigorous years in wasting climes?

What was it then, I ask, but peace of mind Arising from the thought that G.o.d was kind And ever faithful, and would soon fulfill His promise made, to be his Guardian still!

He had sore trials, yet with great avail He wrestled with his G.o.d and did prevail.

Joseph, his son, beloved above the rest, Felt soothing peace within his youthful breast.

His is an history that as a child I loved to ponder, and to mark how mild And affable his conduct, yet how great.

The bitterest envy joined, with fiercest hate, The brethren hare toward the G.o.dly youth Who trode the path of rect.i.tude and truth, That they in spite of his prophetic dreams, Disposed of him, and, as they thought, the themes His soul dwelt much upon, by banishment.

Straitway to distant Egypt he was sent, While they, with strange feigned tale, now homeward came, And vainly thought to clear themselves from blame By falsehood foul and black hypocricy Before their unsuspecting father. He Their lies believed and mourned his much-loved son In tears of anguish, whom he though undone.

Meanwhile the youth, directed by his G.o.d, In journey with the Ishmaelites did plod His weary way to Egypt. He arrived Possessed of peace of mind, nor could be bribed To part with this, his only treasure left Save sweet reflection, when he was bereft By his hard brethren of the sweets of home, And banished forth a wanderer to roam.

Say now, O Muse, what was the cause why he Enjoyed a state of mind completely free From all the sad effects which freely flow In tasting long acc.u.mulated woe?

'Twas having peace, that best of all reward To those--and none beside--who Truth regard.

And long as Joseph did in Egypt live, The record of his life this truth did give.

Behold him when in his first master's house, Who placed beneath his care all but his spouse, How n.o.bly he withstood temptation great, How suitable his conduct to his state.

Behold him when his mistress tried so hard To tempt him into sin. Did he regard Her strong entreaties or her flowing tears?

_Those_ fell like emptiness upon his ears, And _these_ but more impressed his tender mind With wish to better serve his master kind.

He gave this answer: "Oh, how can I do This wickedness so great and sin with you Against that G.o.d who hath my feet preserved In holy paths from which I never swerved?"

But oh, what poor return did he receive!

A dungeon followed next, nor did he grieve, But cheerfully endured the heavy cross, And found his gain where others saw but loss.

And he who was his trust did not forsake His much loved child when Truth seemed all at stake, But brought him through these trials manifold, And, still preserved that peace of mind which gold Could ne'er have purchased, and much less secured; But having which, he patiently endured.

Now mark the steps by which he did ascend To that high pitch of honor, when did bend The knees of Egypt's sons at King's command As he went forth in state to view the land.

It was not flatt'ry, nor vain compromise With Egypt's many G.o.ds no, he was wise With wisdom from above, and well he knew That the predictions he had given were true, And that ere long both heaven and earth would see His youthful dreams fulfilled were sure to be.

Even so they were. His brethren did bow down Their faces to the earth 'fore him unknown, When they were sent by Jacob to obtain For him and his the necessary grain.

It was a time of famine, and the dearth Had then extended over all the earth But Joseph was raised up by gracious heaven, And unto him for this was wisdom given.

Now when his feelings he could not restrain, He formed a scheme by which he might detain The brethren, who a second time had come To purchase food, for those they left at home.

The scheme was tried and it succeeded well; But O, how Joseph burned to break the spell Which hitherto had bound them! He made known That he was Joseph to whom they had shown Such cruel usage, but their deed forgave, And told how G.o.d had raised him up to save Them with their offspring and great Pharoah's land.

The news now reached the King, who gave command, "Joseph, let all thy relatives appear Before my face; they nothing have to fear.

Lade all their beasts and bid them haste away; Take wagons from my hand, make no delay.

Inform your father and let him come down; The best of my dominions is his own.

Bring all your progeny, not once regard Your household goods, if they your speed r.e.t.a.r.d."

I'll now take leave of all that pa.s.sed between, And come at once to that affecting scene-- The meeting of the father with the son.

Poor Jacob saw what glory he had won By perseverance in the "narrow path,"

And having seen it, wished to meet his death.

Mark now the truth of what I wish to sing, This interview to Jacob peace did bring.

He said: "In bitterness I will descend Into my grave and meet my latter end."

But G.o.d in mercy and rich love decreed That he should see both Joseph and his seed.

Ere long the time arrived when Jacob's age Gave proof he too must soon leave this world's stage.

Therefore he gathered round him, near his bed, His twelve dear children, unto whom he said, "List now, ye sons of Jacob, hearken well To Israel your father. I foretell What shall befall you in your latter days.

O then, my sons, take heed unto your ways."

He ended not till all received the share Which G.o.d allotted them, when with due care The Prophet drew his feet into the bed, And in sweet Peace his spirit softly fled.

Now, when the last sad rites had been performed O'er Israel's corse, the brethren, now reformed By G.o.d's just dealings, soon began to fear That Joseph would their enemy appear; So sent a message, fell before his face, Confessed their sin, and wished he would erase Out from his mind remembrance of their deed.

He gave soft answers, hence they all were freed From ills expected, and were now agreed.

A few short years saw each of them removed By peaceful death, and so my point is proved.

STANZAS.

SUGGESTED BY A FUNERAL, ON SEEING ONE Pa.s.s WITH MANY ATTENDANTS, WHEN JUST RECOVERING FROM A LONG SICKNESS, 1841.

For me there'll be no great display, No turning out of people, When I do quit my house of clay, Nor tolling from the steeple

Of yon tower with its tin capped dome, Whose bell the time is telling, When some lone wanderer reaches home-- His narrow churchyard dwelling.