SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Gen. iii. 24. Compare c. vi. FOE of mankind! too bold thy race: Thou runn'st at such a reckless pace, Thine own dire work thou surely wilt confound: 'Twas but one little drop of sin We saw this morning enter in, And, lo! at eventide the world is drown'd. See here the fruit of wandering eyes, Of Passion dwelling on forbidden sweets : Ruin below and wrath above Are all that now the wildering fancy meets. Lord, when in some deep garden glade, Of Thee and of myself afraid, From thoughts like these among the bowers I hide, Nearest and loudest then of all I seem to hear the Judge's call: : "Where art thou, fallen man? come forth, and be "thou tried." Trembling before Thee as I stand, The sentence is gone forth, the ground is curs'd: Some drops of balm in every bower Steal down like April dews, that softest fall and first. If filial and maternal love k Memorial of our guilt must prove, If sinful babes in sorrow must be born, Yet, to assuage her sharpest throes, The faithful mother surely knows, This was the way Thou cam'st to save the world forlorn. In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children. If blessed wedlock may not bless! Without some tinge of bitterness To dash her cup of joy, since Eden lost, Chaining to earth with strong desire Hearts that would highest else aspire, And o'er the tenderer sex usurping ever most; Yet by the light of Christian lore 'Tis blind Idolatry no more, But a sweet help and pattern of true love, To her immortal Spouse and King, How He should rule, and she with full desire approve. If niggard Earth her treasures hidem, To all but labouring hands denied, Lavish of thorns and worthless weeds alone, The doom is half in mercy given To train us in our way to Heaven, And show our lagging souls how glory must be won. Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. m Cursed is the ground for thy sake. If on the sinner's outward frame God hath impress'd his mark of blame, And even our bodies shrink at touch of light, Yet mercy hath not left us bare: The very weeds we daily wear Are to Faith's eye a pledge of God's forgiving might. And, oh! if yet one arrow more P, Tremble upon Art Thou not by to sooth and save, To lay us gently in the grave, To close the weary eye, and hush the parting breath? Therefore in sight of man bereft That though as yet beyond our reach, n I was afraid, because I was naked. • The Lord God made coats of skins, and clothed them. Thou shalt surely die. QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. Gen. ix. 13. SWEET Dove! the softest, steadiest plume Sweet Leaf! the pledge of peace and mirth, When first it felt the Sun;— Sweet Rainbow! pride of summer days, High set at Heaven's command, Though into drear and dusky haze Thou melt on either hand; |