THE blessed Name to contrite hearts most dear,
When wakened conscience echoes Sinai’s voice;
It speaks of peace; it dries the rising tear,
And bids the weary, mourning one rejoice.
Type of the world, whose sudden doom we see
Foreshadowed in her dire catastrophe.
He spake instead of God; no words of fear,
Or racking terror pained the listener’s ear.
He called upon the Lord, and not in vain:
The Lord replied with thunderstorm and rain.
The latter of the two, who heard him tell
Of four small things, in wisdom which excel.
O’er that fair city rose the sun so bright,
But blackened ashes marked the spot at night.
Sweet name of peace! Here God His dwelling makes,
Here He the bow, the shield, and battle breaks.
Jehovah’s foe, concerning whom He swore,
His host should henceforth wage a ceaseless war.
In Persia’s law her name forever stands,
Warning to wives to heed their lords’ commands.
“The glory is departed!” thus she cried,
Who gave him birth, called him that name, and died.
Once trodden in His hour of deepest woe,
Once trodden in His hour of deepest woe,
From it shall yet His brightest glory glow.
What wore he on his heart before the Lord,
That for God’s people he might learn His Word?
Ah! how he loved her! and each laggard year
Seemed but a day, so strong his love for her.