-Bebold, be ftandeth bebind our wall; be lookeb forth at the windows, fhewing † bimfelf through the lattefs. * Come, friends, admire how he renews And in what various forms he fhews His darkest ways will prove him kind; Though we alas! do build up high His feet no reft can elsewhere take, And though, while in this diftant place, Yet diftance alters not his love, Nor ought abates his care, Which force him through the wall to move, And make a window there : That there, as through a window-glafs Through latteffes that light divide, A vail of flesh, a pierced fide, *Or rather, locketb in. + Heb. Flourishing. Verfe 10. My Beloved fpake, and faid unto me; Rife up, my love, my fair one, and come away *. When my beloved Jefus nigh Did to my foul appear, His matchlefs beauty charm'd mine eye, Why, though the fweeteft favours given Yet fureft intercourfe with heav'n I'll therefore fing the words he said, But fpake into my heart. The joyful found my foul reftor'd, I never will forget his word My fair and comely bride. "And fince thou'rt mine by folemn tye, "And I'm fo fond of thee, "It ill becomes thee to be fhy "And carry ftrange to me. "Are mortal pleasures worth thy stay? "Fly from their dying arms; "Hafte to my bofom, come away, "And share immortal charms. Verfe 11. For, lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. See Verse 13. "Come love, faid he, for now thy way "Is pleasant, fafe, and plain: "Behold a fair, inviting day, "And heav'n above ferene. "Tempeftuous wrath and death is past, "Yea, winter of defertion's past, "And rain of trouble o'er, "While by my prefence now thou haft "An antepaft of glore. Verse 12. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of the finging t of birds is come. "Come, come; for now beloved bride, By warming beams of grace, "The youthful fpring with flow'ry pride "Looks fmiling in thy face. * Or, foretafte. The word rendered + Heb. The time of finging is come. "See lapfed nature's curfed earth, Nipt with a winter-fall, "Now bleft with buds of heav'nly birth "See Adam's dry and blasted root, "Lo! heav'n appears upon the ground -And the voice of the turtle is beard in our land. "Lo! now is heard the heav'nly Dove, "Their hearts that could nor joy nor mourn, "A joyful, mournful vent. "As loving friends, long distant, do "Moft joyful meet their wish, "Whofe forrows during abfence, now 66 Diffolving, bleed afresh: By the turtle, fome understand the Spirit, fome the bride. "So wrestling tribes, in chearful mones, "Their Lord approaching wait, "With joyful hearts, yet mournful tones, "As turtles meet their mate. "Sweet founds, alluring all that lift, "Are heard on every hand, "Around the field that I have bleft, "And ftil'd Immanuel's land. Verse 13. The fig-tree putteth forth ber green figs, and the vine with the tender grape give a good Smell. "Now, now is the accepted time, "The figs, though yet unripe for meat, "Young grapes unripe for drink, yet sweet "And fav'ry fcents convey. "With joy the early fprigs I fee, "The young and tender race; "Yea, lo! the well-advanced fpring "The living vine inceffant does ་ To ev'ry branch dispense, "Moft fweet and odorif'rous juice, "From ftreams of hell to fence. "Are ferpents faid to flee the fmell ་ Of vines with fear and dread? "Perfumes of Heav'n's true Vine repell "Th' old ferpent and his feed. -Arife, my love, my fair one, and come away. "Rife, drooping bride, while fpring fo fweet, "In place of winter fnell, "Does thus by various charms invite "Thine eyes, and ears, and fmell. * See Verse 10. |