THE CHRISTIAN THRONES. 107 THE CHRISTIAN THRONES. W. P. LUNT. "Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." - Matthew xix. 27, 28. "O NOT in vain, my chosen band, In triumph through the earth, shall bow. "Thrones shall be yours, not earthly thrones, The crumbling seats of human pride, The King of kings shall give you crowns, And raise you honored to my side. Where'er Messiah's glory spreads, Reflected light shall grace your heads." It was no chief in war-array, Whose battle-share had ploughed the soil Of many a realm, thus gave away The harvest of his bloody toil. These words of hope by Him were said Though humble was his earthly state From whom the cheering promise came, And mean as was their seeming fate Who heard announced their future fame, The advancing ages yet beheld The wondrous prophecy fulfilled. Saviour! awhile to death submit; Let frantic foes above thee rave; Hell and the world in vain unite,Thy gate of triumph is the grave. The worm thy fellow once, but now Heaven's diadem adorns thy brow. And ye who stood around the tree, Should have redeemed lost Israel. Your hopes revive; but not at once The cup is drained; in many a land Your scattered limbs dishonored lie; THE CHRISTIAN THRONES. And mustering fast at Heaven's command, The blood-stained cross they bear on high, What shriek is that which rends the air? Utters imploringly her cry, And looks for safety to the skies. Too late, alas! she seeks her good; Her garments are defiled with blood. God's holy prophets she hath slain, From God's own Son she turned away; The Roman Cæsars rule the world; The eagle cowers to the dove,- The Northern whirlwind sweeps in vain O'er the fair fields of Italy, These thrones untouched by Goth remain, 109 Christ and his holy twelve command Europe awhile, struck with dismay, It only decks the brow of night. To unknown shores, truth's guiding star The ocean islands catch the light Which on their gloom in glory breaks; And superstition, with affright, Through all her vast dominions quakes. The regions that have felt her rod Must be surrendered back to God. It comes, the long predicted day, When all mankind, with one accord, Shall fling their idol gods away, Ånd pay due homage to the Lord! While earthly states to ruin tend, The Christian Thrones shall know no end. PART IV. MEDITATION, PRAYER, AND PRAISE. HOLY BAPTISM. J. KEBLE. CHRISTIAN YEAR. WHERE is it mothers learn their love? What sparkles in that lucid flood Out of a dear Friend's side. A few calm words of faith and prayer, Earth's charmers never knew. |