PART THE SIXTH.

THE PREACHING.

"In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."

ISAIAH liv. 8-10.

XVII.

THE HOLY OF HOLIES.

MORIAH! holy hill! ascend by thee
The pure of heart, the clean of hand-before
Thy "Beautiful Gate," a sainted Company.

Michael the sacred ramparts hovers o'er,
The Angel of God's presence. Thus he cries,
Thus hails the Myriads, friends of God of yore;

"Zion! that comes with tidings good, arise! Now get thee up into the mountain high; Jerusalem! lift up thy voice, thine eyes;

Lift up thy voice with strength, and fearlessly-
'Behold
God!'-say
your
to the Isles around."
-Thus from above those Hosts are welcomed by

God's Angel; and beneath perceive, as bound
For distant bourn, four Cherub heralds wait,
And question of them, what? and whence? propound.

-They, of whom thus was asked, before the gate Of the blest City stood. Four Chariots they, Vision whereof doth Iddo's Son relate,

With Steeds, red, black and white, grisled and bay ; The Angel of God's presence spake again;

"These are the Spirits four who stand alway

Before the Lord, and from between the twain
Of brazen mountains, firm as his decrees,
(Swift Powers of Heaven,) like rushing Winds, amain,
Go forth to do His pleasure. Such are these.
Behold! yon two wend toward the South, and call
Her people forth; that seeks the North to appease
His Spirit there, constrained in wonderous thrall :
But to the Earth these Bay have sought to go;
Get hence, pervade the Earth." So vanish all.

-And now the assembled Hosts advance, and glow
Into a hymn as they ascend the Hill,

In numbers without number, singing so.

"Glad was I when they said to me, We will
Go up into the Temple of the Lord;
Lo, we shall dwell in Salem."-Thus, until

They reached the sacred gates, did they record
Their raptures in no mortal verse; then strain
Of higher mood they raised and bolder word-

66

Attired with majesty, the Lord doth reign, And girt with strength. The World immoveably Is stablished, and His Throne shall aye remain !

Thou art for ever!

The Floods have lifted high, O Lord! the Floods have lifted high their voice, The Floods lift up their billows mightily

The Lord on high is mightier than the noise
Of many waters, stronger than the seas—
Thy Word is sure-let all the Earth rejoice!"
-Now those innumerable Companies
Of the Diluvian and the After-time,
According to their orders and degrees,

Enter the cloistered space. Men of each clime,
Of every creed, the righteous and the good,
Have entered now the nine-fold Gates sublime.

There in one Court that great Assembly stood,
Inner as outer, for the Wall was not,
That made distinction of belief and blood,

Partition obsolete—a catholick spot!
Advancing thence, they pass the Portico,
A priestly band, and by one spirit taught,
Wherewith inspired and guided on they go,
Nor pause 'till they the Halidom have hailed-
And lo! the Glory of the Holiest ! Lo!

The Glory of the Holiest is unveiled!

The Veil, the Veil, by earthquake rent and riven,
To publick view the Holiest is detailed!

Holiest of Sanctuaries, Shadow of Heaven,
Where God is seen in beatifick Vision;
And that on earth of this, whereof was given