A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations / Consisting of Choice Passages from the Sacred Poetry of All Ages and Countries, Classified and Arranged, for Facility of Reference, Under Subject Headings; Illustrated by Striking Passages from Scripture, and Forming Altogether a Complete Book of Devotional Poetry.

by Unknown

MESSAGE.

I have a message from God unto thee.—Judges, iii. 20.

The priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.—Malachi, ii. 7.

Behold I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.—Malachi, iii. 1.

This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.—I. John, iii. 11.

Gently hast thou told

Thy message, which might else in telling wound,

And in performing end us.

Milton.

O for a message from above

To bear my spirit up!

Some pledge of my Creator’s love

To calm my terrors and support my hope!

Let waves and thunders mix and roar;

Be thou my God, and the whole world is mine:

While thou art Sovereign, I’m secure;

I shall be rich till Thou art poor;

For all I fear, and all I wish, Heaven, Earth, and Hell, are thine.

Watts.

Oh, there are messengers of wrath,

And messengers of love;

And each one goeth on his path,

Commissioned from above.

Eternal justice sends the one,

Mercy the other guides;

Their ways at times so nearly run,

That scarce a line divides.

Which, oh my soul! shall come to thee,

When my last hour is near?

What shall the awful message be,

That thou shalt trembling hear?

Momentous question! yet, alas!

But little heed I pay,

Although I see the messengers

Speed by me every day.

Egone.