Our Saviour's Prayers.

PREAMBLE.

HIGH PRIEST for sinners, Jesus Lord!
Whom as a man of griefs I see,

Thy prayers on earth while I record,

If still in heaven thou pray'st for me,
My soul for thy soul's travail claim:
I seek salvation in thy name.

PART I.

Baptized as for the dead he rose,

With prayer, from Jordan's hallow'd flood:

Ere long, by persecuting foes,

To be baptized in his own blood:

The Father's voice proclaimed the Son,

The spirit witnessed ;-these are one.

Early he rose ere dawn of day,

And to a desert place withdrew,

There was he wont to watch and pray,
Until his locks were wet with dew,

And birds below, and beams above,

Had warned him thence to works of love.

OUR SAVIOUR'S PRAYERS.

At evening when his toils were o'er,
He sent the multitudes away,
And on the mountain or the shore,

All night remained alone to pray,
Till o'er his head the stars grew dim:-
When was the hour of rest for him?

In field or city when he taught,

Oft went his spirit forth in sighs:
And when his mightiest deeds were wrought,
To heaven he lifted up his eyes;

He prayed at Lazarus' grave, and shed
Tears, with the word that waked the dead.

When mothers brought their babes, he took
The lambs into his arms, and prayed;
On Tabor, his transfigured look,

While praying, turned the sun to shade,
And forms too pure for human sight,
Grew visible amidst his light.

"O Father! save me from this hour,
Yet for this hour to earth I came:"
He prayed in weakness; then with power
Cried, "Father! glorify thy name.”
"I have," a voice from heaven replied,
“And still it shall be glorified."

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OUR SAVIOUR'S PRAYERS.

PART II.

For Peter, bold in speech and brave
In act, yet in temptation frail

(As once he proved him on the wave),

He pray'd lest his weak faith should fail;
And when by Satan's snare enthrall'd,
His eye the wanderer recall'd.

Amidst his mournful family,

Who soon must see his face no more,
With what divine discourse did he

Strength to their fainting souls restore!
Then pray'd for all his people :—where
Have words recorded such a prayer?

Next, with strong cries and bitter tears,
Thrice hallow'd he that doleful ground,
Where, trembling with mysterious fears,
His sweat like blood-drops fell around,
And being in an agony,

He prayed yet more carnestly.

Here oft in spirit let me kneel,

Share in the speechless griefs I see,
And while he felt what I should feel,
Feel all his power of love to me,
Break my hard heart, and grace supply
For him who died for me to die.

OUR SAVIOUR'S PRAYERS.

Stretched on the ignominious tree

For those whose hands had nail'd him there, Who stood and mock'd his misery,

He offer'd up his latest prayer;

Then with the voice of victory cried,

""Tis finish'd!" bow'd his head, and died.

Then all his prayers were answered ;—all
The fruits of his soul's travail gained;
The cup of wormwood and of gall

Down to the dregs his lips had drain'd;
Accomplish'd was the eternal plan ;
He tasted death for every man.

Now by the throne of GOD he stands,
Aloft the golden censer bears,
And offers with high-priestly hands,

Pure incense with his people's prayers:
Well pleased the Father eyes the Son,
And says to each request, ""Tis done."

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James Montgomery.

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Jerusalem.

The days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee around.-LUKE xix. 43.

SAD thought, that from the lorn funereal mount,
Whereon a victim God thou didst behold,
Once more returnest, with thy downcast front,
Weeping vain tears!-O, whither dost thou hold
Thy wayward course, and, 'midst yon mournful plain.
What scene of grief and terror dost unfold?

Lo! the vast hills their laboring fires unchain, Whilst from afar the ocean's thunders roar;

Lo! the dark heavens above lament in rain

The mortal sin; and, from her inmost core, Earth, tremulous and uncertain, rocks with fear, Lest the abyss her ancient deluge pour.

Ah me!-revealed within my soul I hear
Prophetic throbs, the signs of wrath divine,
Tumultuous as though Nature's end was near

I see the paths of impious Palestine;
I see old Jordan, as each shore he laves,
Turbid and slow, towards the sea decline.