Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-09-03
NUMBER Sss.
CHRIST TAKEN FROM THE CROSS.

REV. JAMES LEVERS.
Look forth from the battlement wst;hman of Zion!
Look forth to yon hill, on whose summit afar,
Meath the deep clouds of terror that round lying
The hosts of the mighty gathered for war:
There waged is that battle, predicted for ages,
All heaven for its witness, all earth for its prize:
Oh say, mid the gloom where that dread conflict RACES,
Docs the ensign Of Jesse still wave to the skies?
Kings princes, and priests from yon heaven bending
over,
Gaze brcathlsssly downward, intent on the fight;
And, poised on bright pinions the cherubim hover,
Mid the gloom that oershadoxs that cross crested
height.
And the tombs bursting ide and temple-vei rending
Proclaim what deep awe is investing the day:
Oh watchman, look forth while his people defending,
How fareth Prince midst the fierce closing tray!
o Zion thy Captain, though bleeding and wounded,
Still bears him mid the press of his foess
And the standard of Jesus, though ercey surrounded
Still floats DER the battle, sublime as it rose!
Hark heard you that shout! See the darkness is
clearing.
And 10 through the fast flying shades they bearing
The t:onqueror down from the cross to the tomb.
No Paans of victory ]ovfully hail him,
As down from the red field he's brcathlcssly borne;
But the race he has ransomed all bindly assal him
With dark frowns Of vengeance, with loud cries o
Pale, pale is his brow, and the wrath of the foeman
Has marked his bright visage with many a scars
Yet the shield Of the Spartan, the of the Roman
Neer bore such victor, mid shouts from the war.
Arise from the dust, captive daughter of Zion!
Go forth with the timbrcls and welcome thy King!
For thy foes yon field are now powerless lying;-
The grave has terror, and death has no sting
For the strong gates of HE'LL in that st he has shaken
Back, back from the prey, and the terrible diven:
And princes and powers in their flight overtaken
By the (ar-faShing bolt and dashed headlong from
heaven.
He the dread cloud DER his people impending.
And swiftly to shield them he came from his throne,
And his yon for their shelter extending,
He made all their grics and their sorrows his own.
Wild burst the dark storm, bat the love that he bore them
Quick challenged the ightnngs to Calvary tree;
And the fierce cloud of WRATH passing har mlessy Ger
them,
Has spent all its thunders, blest Surety on Thee.
'Ts finished ~ Scc Justice, her foregoing,
Retires from the field at that conqucring word
She has the rich blood of the sacrifice flowing,
And cancelled the sentence, and flung down the sword
And %! on the brow of yon heaven fast clearing,
The symbol of safety resplcndantly shown,
Where the angel Of Mercy, in beauty appearing,
Her emerald rainbow filings bright found the throne.
Descend from the field of thy fame, Julah's Lion!
When the standards of earth shall in darkness be frled
Thy name shall inherit the praises of Zion
And the alg filthy triumph shall ocr the world.
Bove the front ranks of faith shall it utter unaunted
Der the brown torrid tracts Ger the white Arctic SHOWS;
And wherever that alconquering hammer is planted,
The glad singing desert shall bloom like the rose.
twill mid the gloom where the prisoner "a signing
And the palc dropping captive shall hound from his
chain
Twill the couch where the weary is dying,
And the dim eye shall brighten mid darkness and pain
Meath its folds shall the gathering nations assemble,
And the darkness shall fec, and the grow paie
And Bel shall bow Prosrate and Nebo shall tremble
Where that conquering flag filings its folds to the gale