Redemption A divine poem, In Six Books. The three first demonstrate the Truth of the Christian Religion, The three last the Deity of Christ. To which is added, A Hymn to Christ the Redeemer. By Sir Richard Blackmore |
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A HYMN TO CHRIST the Redeemer. |
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A HYMN TO CHRIST the Redeemer.
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Hail, Lord Redeemer, God for ever blest,
Of pow'r and goodness unconfin'd possest!
Vital effulgence, emanation bright,
Pure and immortal, from the source of light!
A coessential uncreated beam
Of self-existent glory, filial stream,
That necessary flows, not caus'd, from thee
O Blissful Fountain of the Deity!
Who thee in might and majesty excells,
In whom the fulness of the God-head dwells
Unspeakable, thou image full of grace,
And clear expression of the Father's face?
Of pow'r and goodness unconfin'd possest!
Vital effulgence, emanation bright,
Pure and immortal, from the source of light!
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Of self-existent glory, filial stream,
That necessary flows, not caus'd, from thee
O Blissful Fountain of the Deity!
Who thee in might and majesty excells,
In whom the fulness of the God-head dwells
Unspeakable, thou image full of grace,
And clear expression of the Father's face?
The vacant regions of th' unbounded deep,
Where worlds did yet in non-existence sleep,
And the dark walks of solitary night,
Pregnant became by thy creative might.
Matter yet formless, crude and unrefin'd,
And the primæval seeds of various kind,
Did from the gulphs unfathomable hear
Thy voice, and rising from the void appear.
Thou didst th' etherial azure chambers build;
Thy hands the skies with orbs illustrious fill'd,
And push'd them on with such impulsive force,
As gave them their unerring endless course.
As thou didst heav'ns unmeasur'd fields extend,
Thou didst the pond'rous earth in air suspend:
At thy command the mountains rear'd their heads;
And confluent waters sought their central beds.
Thou spak'st, and up the groves embattled stood,
And thro' the meadow ran the mazy flood;
Thou badst dark vapours rise and spread the sky,
And gav'st to winds their breath and wings to fly:
Thy hands the flats and airy downs display'd;
Thou the vast world, and all things there hast made:
Seraphick pow'rs and potentates divine,
And chiefs, that clad in robes immortal shine,
Thrones and dominions, being to thee owe;
From thee their bliss and high perfections flow:
They thee their author, thee their sov'reign own,
And low adoring bow before thy throne.
These glorious beings, who in heav'n abide,
Or guardians o'er terrestial realms preside,
Bright envoys wing'd with flame, at thy command,
Fly swift from heav'n to earth, from land to land,
To drive malignant demons of the air,
Protect thy people their peculiar care,
And guard each sacred house of praise and pray'r.
Where worlds did yet in non-existence sleep,
And the dark walks of solitary night,
Pregnant became by thy creative might.
Matter yet formless, crude and unrefin'd,
And the primæval seeds of various kind,
Did from the gulphs unfathomable hear
Thy voice, and rising from the void appear.
353
Thy hands the skies with orbs illustrious fill'd,
And push'd them on with such impulsive force,
As gave them their unerring endless course.
As thou didst heav'ns unmeasur'd fields extend,
Thou didst the pond'rous earth in air suspend:
At thy command the mountains rear'd their heads;
And confluent waters sought their central beds.
Thou spak'st, and up the groves embattled stood,
And thro' the meadow ran the mazy flood;
Thou badst dark vapours rise and spread the sky,
And gav'st to winds their breath and wings to fly:
Thy hands the flats and airy downs display'd;
Thou the vast world, and all things there hast made:
Seraphick pow'rs and potentates divine,
And chiefs, that clad in robes immortal shine,
Thrones and dominions, being to thee owe;
From thee their bliss and high perfections flow:
354
And low adoring bow before thy throne.
These glorious beings, who in heav'n abide,
Or guardians o'er terrestial realms preside,
Bright envoys wing'd with flame, at thy command,
Fly swift from heav'n to earth, from land to land,
To drive malignant demons of the air,
Protect thy people their peculiar care,
And guard each sacred house of praise and pray'r.
In the beginning, from all ages past,
E'er ambient skies the finish'd world embrac'd,
E'er yet the lucid orbs did roll sublime,
Or to aerial heights the mountains climb,
Before thro' heav'ns unfolded gates the Sun
Sprung like a mighty giant forth, to run
His destin'd race, or new-born time display'd
His untry'd wings, and his first flight essay'd,
Thou wast with God, and thou thy self wast God;
And in his bosom hadst thy blest abode.
E'er ambient skies the finish'd world embrac'd,
E'er yet the lucid orbs did roll sublime,
Or to aerial heights the mountains climb,
Before thro' heav'ns unfolded gates the Sun
Sprung like a mighty giant forth, to run
His destin'd race, or new-born time display'd
His untry'd wings, and his first flight essay'd,
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And in his bosom hadst thy blest abode.
When man seduc'd by Satan's guileful art
Did disobedient from the rule depart
Prescrib'd by heav'n, and by that bold offence
Fell from his blissful state of innocence,
And did by guilt omnipotence provoke,
Thou, from his head to turn the threaten'd stroke,
Didst gracious interpose, resolv'd to pay
His ransom, and uplifted vengeance stay,
Thou, to effect thy merciful decree,
Didst condescend to veil thy majesty,
And quit thy robes, that to an angel's sight
Display'd thro' heav'n unsufferable light.
Thou didst from marks of dignity refrain,
Fold up thy bright unmeasurable train
Of uncreated glory, and decline
Immortal pomp and equipage divine.
Thou, whom the heav'n of heav'ns could not contain,
Who didst for ever unmolested reign,
Enthron'd on tow'rs sublime of convex sky,
Wast in the glorious form of God most high,
And didst no robb'ry, no presumption see,
In owning with him thy equality;
Yet gracious, for a hardy rebel's sake,
Thou didst the form of man a servant take,
And humbly didst submit to bear the loss,
Of life, extended on a shameful cross:
Amazing instance of benevolence!
Unfathomable depths and heights immense
Of goodness! mercy ignorant of bounds!
And condescension, which all thought confounds!
Well might blest seraphs congregated shine
In long array on heav'ns high frontier-line,
And stoop with eager eyes, to see, and trace
This mystic scheme, this miracle of grace.
Did disobedient from the rule depart
Prescrib'd by heav'n, and by that bold offence
Fell from his blissful state of innocence,
And did by guilt omnipotence provoke,
Thou, from his head to turn the threaten'd stroke,
Didst gracious interpose, resolv'd to pay
His ransom, and uplifted vengeance stay,
Thou, to effect thy merciful decree,
Didst condescend to veil thy majesty,
And quit thy robes, that to an angel's sight
Display'd thro' heav'n unsufferable light.
Thou didst from marks of dignity refrain,
Fold up thy bright unmeasurable train
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Immortal pomp and equipage divine.
Thou, whom the heav'n of heav'ns could not contain,
Who didst for ever unmolested reign,
Enthron'd on tow'rs sublime of convex sky,
Wast in the glorious form of God most high,
And didst no robb'ry, no presumption see,
In owning with him thy equality;
Yet gracious, for a hardy rebel's sake,
Thou didst the form of man a servant take,
And humbly didst submit to bear the loss,
Of life, extended on a shameful cross:
Amazing instance of benevolence!
Unfathomable depths and heights immense
Of goodness! mercy ignorant of bounds!
And condescension, which all thought confounds!
357
In long array on heav'ns high frontier-line,
And stoop with eager eyes, to see, and trace
This mystic scheme, this miracle of grace.
Thou by a vital tie ineffable
With human nature didst embodied dwell:
The dumb, by thee grown vocal, grateful prais'd
Thy mighty pow'r; and creeping cripples rais'd
In joyful dances loud extoll'd thy name,
And men, when thou hadst quench'd their fever's flame,
Now burn'd with zeal to propagate thy fame.
The blind, by thee freed from coeval night,
Thee the first object saw, thou Lord of light;
The slumb'ring dead heard and obey'd thy call,
While death's unweildy chains asunder fall.
With human nature didst embodied dwell:
The dumb, by thee grown vocal, grateful prais'd
Thy mighty pow'r; and creeping cripples rais'd
In joyful dances loud extoll'd thy name,
And men, when thou hadst quench'd their fever's flame,
Now burn'd with zeal to propagate thy fame.
The blind, by thee freed from coeval night,
Thee the first object saw, thou Lord of light;
The slumb'ring dead heard and obey'd thy call,
While death's unweildy chains asunder fall.
358
Thou glorious sun of righteousness didst rise,
And with thy orb adorn Judea's skies,
Whence by thy lustre, heat and influence,
Thou didst ten thousand benefits dispense.
The land around, from thy prolifick beams
Receiving life, with blest productions teems,
A godlike offspring from celestial feed,
Which genial dews from heav'n descending feed.
Thy conqu'ring rays put gloomy shades to flight,
And o'er the realms diffus'd reviving light,
Which issuing from a burst of glory, blest
The lands, from pole to pole, from east to west.
The nations, long with darkness overspread,
Saw truth immortal rear her starry head,
And now by thee inlightned glad embrac'd
Her heavenly precepts, in their minds defac'd.
Thee on thy progress kings submissive meet,
And cast their crowns and scepters at thy feet:
The judges of the earth thy aid implore,
And laurel'd victors vanquish'd thee adore:
The purple pow'rs, that Rome's proud scepter sway'd,
And who their chains on captive princes laid,
Receive thy milder yoke, revere thy throne,
And, to encrease thy empire, add their own:
An empire, which thy armies did not gain,
Not purchas'd by the blood of thousands slain,
But by thy own; an empire o'er the mind
Erected, and for heavenly ends design'd.
Thus thou thy royal portion didst possess,
And with just laws thy willing people bless;
Thou gracious didst advance to dignity
Sublime thy vo'tries from their low degree,
And mad'st them kings and priests to God most high,
Who firm on thy unerring word rely,
That soon an endless kingdom shall be theirs,
Of thy salvation uncontested heirs.
And with thy orb adorn Judea's skies,
Whence by thy lustre, heat and influence,
Thou didst ten thousand benefits dispense.
The land around, from thy prolifick beams
Receiving life, with blest productions teems,
A godlike offspring from celestial feed,
Which genial dews from heav'n descending feed.
Thy conqu'ring rays put gloomy shades to flight,
And o'er the realms diffus'd reviving light,
Which issuing from a burst of glory, blest
The lands, from pole to pole, from east to west.
The nations, long with darkness overspread,
Saw truth immortal rear her starry head,
And now by thee inlightned glad embrac'd
Her heavenly precepts, in their minds defac'd.
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And cast their crowns and scepters at thy feet:
The judges of the earth thy aid implore,
And laurel'd victors vanquish'd thee adore:
The purple pow'rs, that Rome's proud scepter sway'd,
And who their chains on captive princes laid,
Receive thy milder yoke, revere thy throne,
And, to encrease thy empire, add their own:
An empire, which thy armies did not gain,
Not purchas'd by the blood of thousands slain,
But by thy own; an empire o'er the mind
Erected, and for heavenly ends design'd.
Thus thou thy royal portion didst possess,
And with just laws thy willing people bless;
Thou gracious didst advance to dignity
Sublime thy vo'tries from their low degree,
360
Who firm on thy unerring word rely,
That soon an endless kingdom shall be theirs,
Of thy salvation uncontested heirs.
That thou mightst raise to heav'n man's sinful race,
Thou here on earth thy glory didst debase;
That he restor'd might God's lost smiles regain,
Thou didst his frowns and dreadful wrath sustain;
And life eternal for him to procure,
Didst ignominious painful death endure.
Thou, wondrous! didst become a man of woe
And care, and didst with grief familiar grow,
That he might joy and endless pleasure know.
Thou wast insulted and expos'd to scorn,
Spit on and scourg'd, and with a crown of thorn
Wounded and mock'd, and by the world refus'd;
That midst celestial angels introduc'd
Men honours might enjoy that never end,
Triumph in bliss, and regal thrones ascend.
Thou here on earth thy glory didst debase;
That he restor'd might God's lost smiles regain,
Thou didst his frowns and dreadful wrath sustain;
And life eternal for him to procure,
Didst ignominious painful death endure.
Thou, wondrous! didst become a man of woe
And care, and didst with grief familiar grow,
That he might joy and endless pleasure know.
Thou wast insulted and expos'd to scorn,
Spit on and scourg'd, and with a crown of thorn
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That midst celestial angels introduc'd
Men honours might enjoy that never end,
Triumph in bliss, and regal thrones ascend.
Death and the grave confess'd thy pow'r divine,
That forc'd by strength immortal did resign
Their three days tenant, which event renown'd
Thy miracles and all thy wonders crown'd;
Did of thy doctrine full belief create,
Of resurrection and the future state:
Then thou, great conqueror, thro' the steepy skies
Didst to the court of heav'n triumphant rise,
With Satan's spoils in glorious combat gain'd,
And sin and death reluctant captives chain'd;
Then guarded by a bright seraphick band,
Sat'st down enthron'd sublime on God's right hand,
Where thou for thine dost pow'rfull interceed,
And, to ascertain their salvation, plead
The meritorious labours of thy life,
Thy suff'rings on the cross, and dying strife;
Nor to the throne of God dost thou forbear
To offer up the incense of their pray'r.
That forc'd by strength immortal did resign
Their three days tenant, which event renown'd
Thy miracles and all thy wonders crown'd;
Did of thy doctrine full belief create,
Of resurrection and the future state:
Then thou, great conqueror, thro' the steepy skies
Didst to the court of heav'n triumphant rise,
With Satan's spoils in glorious combat gain'd,
And sin and death reluctant captives chain'd;
Then guarded by a bright seraphick band,
Sat'st down enthron'd sublime on God's right hand,
362
And, to ascertain their salvation, plead
The meritorious labours of thy life,
Thy suff'rings on the cross, and dying strife;
Nor to the throne of God dost thou forbear
To offer up the incense of their pray'r.
Now since the Saviour has such wonders wrought,
Such suff'rings felt, and such redemption brought,
Let the whole world combin'd extoll his name,
And in loud anthems celebrate his fame.
Ye rivers, that refresh the meads, rejoice,
Ye cataracts and floods, lift up your voice,
In concert all your various sounds employ,
And praise the Saviour with confederate Joy.
Ye wide spread seas, with all your noisy waves,
Repell'd from rocks to rocks, from caves to caves,
Proclaim his praise for ever, nor to sleep
In silence to the creeks and havens creep.
Praise him, ye winds, that ventilate the air,
Shove floating rafts of clouds, and vig'rous bear
Black furnaces, where vengeance ripening lies,
The terror of the earth and labour of the skies.
Praise him each vapour, that to heav'n aspires,
Praise him, ye shooting stars and lambent fires:
Ye storms of thunder, with your awful sound
Make his loud praises ring in peals around.
Such suff'rings felt, and such redemption brought,
Let the whole world combin'd extoll his name,
And in loud anthems celebrate his fame.
Ye rivers, that refresh the meads, rejoice,
Ye cataracts and floods, lift up your voice,
In concert all your various sounds employ,
And praise the Saviour with confederate Joy.
Ye wide spread seas, with all your noisy waves,
Repell'd from rocks to rocks, from caves to caves,
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In silence to the creeks and havens creep.
Praise him, ye winds, that ventilate the air,
Shove floating rafts of clouds, and vig'rous bear
Black furnaces, where vengeance ripening lies,
The terror of the earth and labour of the skies.
Praise him each vapour, that to heav'n aspires,
Praise him, ye shooting stars and lambent fires:
Ye storms of thunder, with your awful sound
Make his loud praises ring in peals around.
Ye soaring eagles, who the earth despise,
Bold to the blazing sun undaunted rise,
And face his glory with undazled eyes.
Ye princes of the feather'd nations, raise
To heav'n, as you ascend, the Saviour's praise;
And all ye num'rous flying brotherhoods,
That roust in rocks and hills, or seek the floods,
That with your musick from the dewy grove
Salute the rising sun, and you that rove
From clime to clime, that high uplifted sing,
Or sweep the ouzy shore with easy wing,
Joyn'd with your chiefs, that dwell sublime in air,
Of praising Christ, the Lord, the honour share.
Bold to the blazing sun undaunted rise,
And face his glory with undazled eyes.
Ye princes of the feather'd nations, raise
To heav'n, as you ascend, the Saviour's praise;
And all ye num'rous flying brotherhoods,
That roust in rocks and hills, or seek the floods,
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Salute the rising sun, and you that rove
From clime to clime, that high uplifted sing,
Or sweep the ouzy shore with easy wing,
Joyn'd with your chiefs, that dwell sublime in air,
Of praising Christ, the Lord, the honour share.
Ye whales, sea-giants vast, who, when you move,
Embroil the deep, and tides before you shove,
Lords of the wat'ry world, who lawless reign
O'er all the scaly clans, that range the main,
Let from your heads your native engines play,
Elastick spout whole seas up, and convey
To Christ your praises, and your tribute pay.
And you mute people, who your dwelling make
The running river or the standing lake,
With all the ocean's finny tribes combin'd,
For this great concert vocal organs find.
Embroil the deep, and tides before you shove,
Lords of the wat'ry world, who lawless reign
O'er all the scaly clans, that range the main,
Let from your heads your native engines play,
Elastick spout whole seas up, and convey
To Christ your praises, and your tribute pay.
And you mute people, who your dwelling make
The running river or the standing lake,
With all the ocean's finny tribes combin'd,
For this great concert vocal organs find.
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Ye golden groves, with generous fruits and flowers
At once adorn'd, ye complicated bowers
Of myrtle smelling sweet, ye trees renown'd,
That weep pure tears, or with rich sweat abound,
And spicy woods, to him your odours bring,
And all your incense offer to your King;
Ye cedars, which to heights aerial climb,
To him adoring bow your heads sublime.
At once adorn'd, ye complicated bowers
Of myrtle smelling sweet, ye trees renown'd,
That weep pure tears, or with rich sweat abound,
And spicy woods, to him your odours bring,
And all your incense offer to your King;
Ye cedars, which to heights aerial climb,
To him adoring bow your heads sublime.
Let all the savage monsters, that by day
Sleep in their dens, and hunt by night their prey,
The Saviour Lord with roaring voice confess,
And with loud praises shake the wilderness.
Sleep in their dens, and hunt by night their prey,
The Saviour Lord with roaring voice confess,
And with loud praises shake the wilderness.
Ye elephants, that formidable bear
On castled backs whole hosts encamp'd in air,
To honour him, who did the nations save,
Flourish your iv'ry arms, and trunks prodigious wave:
And you proud lords of the swift-footed kind,
Who rapid leave the labouring storm behind,
When o'er the plains you fly, adoring low,
Your lofty groves of arboring antlets bow.
Ye wooly flocks, that cloath the mountain's side,
Ye fair-horn'd herds, the verdant vally's pride,
Ye various inmates of the shady woods,
All ye, that now the fields and now the floods
Amphibious seek; and thou vast crocodile,
Prince of this doubtful race, that dost the Nile
And land by turns frequent, your voices raise,
To celebrate the great Redeemer's praise.
On castled backs whole hosts encamp'd in air,
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Flourish your iv'ry arms, and trunks prodigious wave:
And you proud lords of the swift-footed kind,
Who rapid leave the labouring storm behind,
When o'er the plains you fly, adoring low,
Your lofty groves of arboring antlets bow.
Ye wooly flocks, that cloath the mountain's side,
Ye fair-horn'd herds, the verdant vally's pride,
Ye various inmates of the shady woods,
All ye, that now the fields and now the floods
Amphibious seek; and thou vast crocodile,
Prince of this doubtful race, that dost the Nile
And land by turns frequent, your voices raise,
To celebrate the great Redeemer's praise.
Ye angels, sons of God, with glory crown'd,
Who lead his armies, or his throne surround,
Who to the chrystal frontier of the sky,
To see the Saviour born, did eager fly,
All subjects of his spreading empire, sing
Loud hallelujahs, and extol your King:
And let all nature, which did sickning pine
At Adam's fall, in joyful praises join,
To bless her Lord, who ready and unsought,
Plenteous redemption to his offspring brought.
Who lead his armies, or his throne surround,
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To see the Saviour born, did eager fly,
All subjects of his spreading empire, sing
Loud hallelujahs, and extol your King:
And let all nature, which did sickning pine
At Adam's fall, in joyful praises join,
To bless her Lord, who ready and unsought,
Plenteous redemption to his offspring brought.
But chiefly men with gratitude inspir'd,
Who such salvation wondrous have acquir'd,
Salvation undeserv'd, and not desir'd,
Should in extatick strains of praise combine,
And rival heav'n's blest choir in songs divine.
Ye various pow'rs, who call upon his name,
Advance his glory, and divulge his fame;
And by his people thro' the earth dispers'd,
With confluent voices be his praise rehears'd.
Let all the congregations spread around,
Where guardian angels are attendants found,
In this blest work their pious ardor spend,
And to their Saviour hallow'd anthems send;
Let their loud songs the sacred temples fill,
Ring thro' the vale, and eccho thro' the hill;
Let their united acclamations rise,
While these extatick accents reach the skies:
Salvation, empire, majesty and might,
Thanksgiving, pow'r and glory infinite,
To him, who sits high on his throne in heav'n,
And to the Lamb of God, be ever giv'n.
Who such salvation wondrous have acquir'd,
Salvation undeserv'd, and not desir'd,
Should in extatick strains of praise combine,
And rival heav'n's blest choir in songs divine.
Ye various pow'rs, who call upon his name,
Advance his glory, and divulge his fame;
And by his people thro' the earth dispers'd,
With confluent voices be his praise rehears'd.
368
Where guardian angels are attendants found,
In this blest work their pious ardor spend,
And to their Saviour hallow'd anthems send;
Let their loud songs the sacred temples fill,
Ring thro' the vale, and eccho thro' the hill;
Let their united acclamations rise,
While these extatick accents reach the skies:
Salvation, empire, majesty and might,
Thanksgiving, pow'r and glory infinite,
To him, who sits high on his throne in heav'n,
And to the Lamb of God, be ever giv'n.
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