What teacher of Israel shuns the broad light,
The first feeble dawnings of faith to conceal,
And, fearful of men, seeks the Saviour by night,
To hear the blest truths which he had to reveal ?
Who hid the Lord's prophets in caves of the earth,
When Jezebel sought them with murd'rous intent;
And daily sustained them in spite of the dearth,
Which (distressing the country) in judgment was sent ?
What fair Persian queen by her lord was divorc'd,
Refusing the royal command to obey,
Which he by his messengers would have enforc'd,
That she before others her charms should display ?
When Paul was confin'd as a prisoner at Rome,
Who join'd him from Phrygia, to comfort and cheer ?
A preacher of Christ--Colosse his home,
Where he forfeited life by a sentence severe.
Who, chosen by lot with fasting and pray'r
To Judas Iscariot in office succeeds ?
What beggar, on hearing that Jesus was near,
For sight and assistance importunate pleads ?
What female of piety Timothy taught,
His mem'ry to store with the Scriptures of Truth ?
And who from the country of Haran was brought,
For Isaac selected--the wife of his youth ?
Think over these characters: bear them in mind,
And again I am sure there initials alone
(If but the right station to each be assign'd)
Will all that you want without trouble make known.
'Tis a month during which we seek wholly in vain
For the rich golden tint and the fine glowing sky,
To gild with their beauties the mountain and plain,
For gloomy and turbulent winter is nigh.
The first feeble dawnings of faith to conceal,
And, fearful of men, seeks the Saviour by night,
To hear the blest truths which he had to reveal ?
Who hid the Lord's prophets in caves of the earth,
When Jezebel sought them with murd'rous intent;
And daily sustained them in spite of the dearth,
Which (distressing the country) in judgment was sent ?
What fair Persian queen by her lord was divorc'd,
Refusing the royal command to obey,
Which he by his messengers would have enforc'd,
That she before others her charms should display ?
When Paul was confin'd as a prisoner at Rome,
Who join'd him from Phrygia, to comfort and cheer ?
A preacher of Christ--Colosse his home,
Where he forfeited life by a sentence severe.
Who, chosen by lot with fasting and pray'r
To Judas Iscariot in office succeeds ?
What beggar, on hearing that Jesus was near,
For sight and assistance importunate pleads ?
What female of piety Timothy taught,
His mem'ry to store with the Scriptures of Truth ?
And who from the country of Haran was brought,
For Isaac selected--the wife of his youth ?
Think over these characters: bear them in mind,
And again I am sure there initials alone
(If but the right station to each be assign'd)
Will all that you want without trouble make known.
'Tis a month during which we seek wholly in vain
For the rich golden tint and the fine glowing sky,
To gild with their beauties the mountain and plain,
For gloomy and turbulent winter is nigh.
