Of heav'nly Fruit he fpreads a Feaft,
To feed my Eyes, and please my Tafte
[4 Kindly he brought me to the Place
Where ftands the Banquet of his Grace;
He faw me faint, and o'er my Head
The Banner of his Love he fpread.
5 With living Bread and gen'rous Wine,
He cheers this finking Heart of mine;
And op'ning his own Heart to me,
He fhews his Thoughts how kind they bé.] 6 O never let my LORD depart;
Lie down and reft upon my Heart.
I charge my Sins not once to move,
Nor ftir, nor wake, nor grieve my Love.
LXIX. CHRIST appearing to his Church, and feeking her Company, Cant. ii. 8-13.
HE Voice of my Beloved founds
Over the Rocks and rifing Grounds;
O'er Hills of Guilt, and Seas of Grief,
He leaps; he flies to my Relief.
2 Now, thro' the Vail of Elefh I fee
With Eyes of Love he looks at me;
Now in the Gofpel's cleareft Glafs
Fe fhews the Beauties of his Face.
3 Gently he draws my Heart along,
Both with his Beauties and his Tongue;
Rife, faith my LORD, make hafte away
"No mortal-Joys are worth thy Stay..
4 "The Jewish wintry State is gone, "The Mifts are fled, the Spring comes on; The facred Turtle-Dove we hear
"Proclaim the new, the joyful Year.
"Th' immortal Vine of heav'nly Root, "Bloffoms and buds, and gives her Fruit." Lo, we are come to taste the Wine; Our Souls rejoice and bless the Vine: 6 And when we hear our Jesus fay, "Rife up my Love, make hafte away!" Our Hearts would fain out-fly the Wind, And leave all earthly Loves behind.
LXX. CHRIST inviting, and the Church anfwering the Invitation, Cant. ii. 14, 16, 17.
HARKI, the Redeemer from on high
Sweetly invites his Fav rites nigh;
From Caves of Darkness and of Doubt,
He gently fpeaks and calls us out:
2 "My Dove, who hideft in the Rock,
"Thine Heart almoft with Sorrow broke,
"Lift up thy Face, forget thy Fear,
"And let thy Voice delight mine Ear..
3 Thy Voice to me founds ever sweet ;
"My Graces in thy Count'nance meets
Tho' the vain World thy Face defpife, "'Tis bright and comely in mine Eyes." 4 Dear LORD, our thankful Heart receives The Hope thine Invitation gives
To thee our joyful Lips fhall raise
The Voice of Prayer and of Praife.]
[5 I am my Love's and He is mine;
Our Hearts, our Hopes, our Paffions join;
Nor let a Motion, nor a Word,
Nor Thought arife, to grieve my LORD.
6 My Soul to Paftures fair He leads,
Amongst the Lilies where He feeds;
Amongst the Saints (whofe Robes are white
Wash'd in his Blood) is his Delight.
7 Till the day break, and Shadows flee,
Till the fweet dawning Light I fee,
Thine Eyes to me-ward often turn,
Nor let my Soul in Darkness mourn.
8 Be like a Hart on Mountains green,
Leap o'er the Hills of fear and Sin;
Nor Guilt, nor Unbelief, divide
My Love, my Saviour, from my Side.].
LXXI. CHRIST found in the Street, and brought to the Church, Cant. iii. 1—5.
Ften I feek: my. LORD by Night:
JESUS, my Love, my Soul's Delight;
With warm Defire and restless Thought
I feek him oft, but find him not,
2 Then I arise and search the Street,
Till I my LORD, my SAVIOUR meet;
I afk the Watchmen of the Night,
"Where did you fee my Soul's Delight?"
3 Sometimes I find him in my Way, Directed by a heav'nly Ray;
I leap for Joy to fee his Face,
And hold him faft in mine Embrace.
[4 I bring him to my Mother's Home;
Nor does my LORD refufe to come
To Sion's facred Chambers, where
My Soul firft drew the vital Air.
5 He gives me there his bleeding Heart,
Pierc'd for my Sake, with deadly Smart;
I give my Soul to him, and there
Our Loves their mutual Tokens fhare.]
6 I charge you all, ye earthly Toys,
Approach not to disturb my Joys;
Nor Sin nor Hell come near my Heart,
Nor caufe my Saviour to depart. *-
LXXII. The Coronation of CHRIST, and
Efpoufals of the Church, Cant. iii. 11.:
Aughters of Sion, come, behold
The Crown of Honour and of Gold,
Whichtheglad Church, with Joys unknown,
Plac'd on the Head of Solomon.sha”
2 JESUS, thou everlasting King iad cM →
Accept the Tribute which we bring p
Accept the well-deferv'd Renown,ora
And wear our Praifes as thy Crown.
3 Let ev'ry Act of Worship be
Like our Efpoufals, LORD, to Thee;
Like the dear Hour when from above
We first receiy'd thy Pledge of Love.
4 The Gladness of that happy Day!
Our Heart would with it long to stay;
Nor let our Faith forfake its Hold,
Nor Comfort fink, nor Love grow, cold.
5 Each following Minute as it flies,
Increase thy Praife, improve our Joys;"
Till we are rais'd to fing thy Name,
At the great Supper of the Lamb.
6 O that the Months would roll away,
And bring that Coronation-Day!
The King of Grace fhall fill the Throne,
With all his Father's Glories on.
LXXIII. The Church's Beauty in the Eyes of CHRIST. Cant. iv. 1, 10, 11, 7, 9, 8.
K Ind is the, Speech of CHRIST Our LORD,
Affection founds in ev'ry Word;
"Ló, thou art Fair, my Love! He cries; A "Not the young Doves have fweeter Eyes. [2 "Sweet are thy Lips, thy pleafing Voice "Salutes mine Ear with fecret Joys; "No Spice fo much delights the Smell, " Nor Milk nor Honey taste so well.] "Thou art all Fair, my Bride, to me; "I will behold no Spot in thee." What mighty Wonders Love performs; And puts a Comelinefs on Worms!
|