ARY! How the tones of Jesus softly, delicately fell On the ears of Magdalenè, sweeter than a silver bell ! That the Speaker was her Saviour and her Master and her All. Lighting up her face with sunshine, bidding her lone heart rejoice. Mary! Oh! the mystic music on the Stranger's sacred tongue, What a chain of recollections on that one sweet “Mary' hung! Mary! Then it was no fiction that her Lord should rise again, And the watch of Roman soldiers had for once been made in vain. Mary! How the sound melodious quickly dried her weeping eyes, As of old they calmed the tumult of her penitential cries. Happy now thy mind reflecting on the sadness of the past. On the weary head of Jesus, her beloved and loving Master : Mary! Oh! the burning rapture! Ah! the long, luxuriant tresses, O'er the feet so hot and toil-worn bathed in tears and love's caresses ! III. Mary! Since that Easter morning eighteen hundred years have passed ! But the tones have not yet faded, nor shall fade while time shall last. Mary! Pride and superstition, strife, contention, battle-din Eighteen hundred years of suffering, eighteen hundred years of sin ! Still we feel the air vibrating as the ripple draweth nigh : Fall they in the nineteenth century on His true disciples' ears- They with Jesus Christ's most precious words and promises abound. IV. “ Mary! Frail and sin-encumbered, lone, bewildered, and distressed, Come to me all ye that labour, I will give you heavenly rest ; Mary! Thine is all the mercy, I have borne the guilt and shame, Thou art Mine for I have called thee I have called thee by thy name ; " Mary! Oh the matchless odours, fragrant, lasting, pare and sweet, That to all who love the Master in that one word “Mary" meet! “RABBONI." “ She turned herself, and saith unto Him, Rabboni ; which is to say, Master.”—John xx. 16. Rabboni ! While coming, I mused and reflected “Now, who shall remove us the stone from the door ? " But lo! it was gone, and an angel protected The sepulchre, filling the keepers with awe. Rabboni ! Thy head I'd have fondly anointed, Thy body enriched with sweet spice that I brought; To find not the Master so lovingly sought. Rabboni ! The tones of Thy voice are far sweeter Than warble at even of love-making bird ; For Mary the Magdalen one single word. Rabboni! Thy tones and Thine accents I'll cherish, As long as Thou wilt that on earth I abide; On wings of affection I'll haste to Thy side. And when I emerge from the sepulchre's portal, As Thou hast emerged, the First-fruits from the dead, “Rabboni, Rabboni! my Master and Head!” Rabboni, on all who like Mary, have waited, So near to their Lord, yet their backs to His face, Yet failing in Jesus, their Master to trace: Oh! speak as no tongue that is human e'er speaketh, And speak with soul stirring, omnipotent tone; “Rabboni, my Master! my Saviour, my Own!” BENDING THE KNEE 60 Jesus.* “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.". . . . . . . . Phil. ii. 9-11. VEFORE the name of Jesus shall every knee bow down, And all men own before the Throne, His sceptre and His crown; Then sing the name of Jesus ! Extol the name of Jesus ! II. Strong in the name of Jesus have myriad fights been fought; Then sing the name of Jesus ! Loud ring the name of Jesus ! Extol the name of Jesus ! Ye slain upon the battle-field rise from your gory graves ! And ye who deep in ocean sleep rise from the heaving waves ! And sing that name of Jesus ! Loud ring that name of Jesus ! Extol the name of Jesus ! • See note G, page 84. BENDING THE KNEE TO JESUS. To bow before King Jesus comes on the mighty host From ocean's coral islets and land's remotest coast; Then sing the name of Jesus ! Loud ring the name of Jesus ! Extol the name of Jesus! VI. Who love the name of Jesus desire that glorious day, Yearn for its speedy advent, sigh o'er its long delay; Impatient cry to Jesus in psalm, or prayer, or song, “Why linger yet Thy chariot wheels : how long, O Lord, how long?" Then sing the name of Jesus ! Loud ring the name of Jesus ! Extol the name of Jesus ! VII. Before the throne of Jesus shall sinners, too, bend down, And at His feet shall abject meet His unrelenting frown; Those who have turned a heedless ear to mercy's ceaseless call Shall quail before their Sovereign Judge and own Him Lord of all : Then sing the name of Jesus ! Loud ring the name of Jesus ! Extol the name of Jesus ! VIII. And on the head of Jesus shall many a crown be worn : And heaven's surpassing splendours King Jesus sball adorn; And angels and archangels King Jesus shall adore. All things shall humbly worship Him in earth and air and sea; But all His saints with waving palms to Him their Lord Most High, Shall raise their Hallelujah psalms and shout their glorious cry “We sing the name of Jesus ! Sweet anthems bring to Jesus ! To Thee whose blood our ransom pays; Extol THY name, 0 Jesus ! |