 | Poems on several subjects |  |
The First Chapter of Genesis.
The Spirit of the living God
Mov'd on the mighty deep;
Matter from nothing came abroad,
And into forms did creep:
Mov'd on the mighty deep;
Matter from nothing came abroad,
And into forms did creep:
Void empty space and darkness did
Surround the dark'ned chaos;
When the Almighty spoke, and bid
Light be, then lo it was.
Surround the dark'ned chaos;
When the Almighty spoke, and bid
Light be, then lo it was.
Darkness to separate from light
He will'd, and they obey:
Light Day he call'd, and darkness Night,
And both made the first day.
He will'd, and they obey:
Light Day he call'd, and darkness Night,
And both made the first day.
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At God's command extended was
The spacious firmament,
That's like a molten looking-glass,
Yet strong and permanent.
The spacious firmament,
That's like a molten looking-glass,
Yet strong and permanent.
Waters above it, and below
He sep'rated to stay:
This firmament call'd Heav'n, and so
This made the second day.
He sep'rated to stay:
This firmament call'd Heav'n, and so
This made the second day.
God will'd the waters under heav'n
Together to repair
To where he had appointment giv'n,
That dry-land might appear:
Together to repair
To where he had appointment giv'n,
That dry-land might appear:
The waters he call'd Seas, and land
He called Earth; and they,
The instant that he gave command,
Did willingly obey.
He called Earth; and they,
The instant that he gave command,
Did willingly obey.
Then said th'Almighty, Let the earth
Bring forth grass, herbs and trees,
Whose seeds and fruits prolific birth
Their various kinds supplies:
Bring forth grass, herbs and trees,
Whose seeds and fruits prolific birth
Their various kinds supplies:
At his command the fertile earth
Did instantly obey;
Produc'd her vegetable birth,
Concluding the third day.
Did instantly obey;
Produc'd her vegetable birth,
Concluding the third day.
God said, Let there be lights that may
Divide the day from night,
And rule each season, year and day,
And shine exceeding bright:
Divide the day from night,
And rule each season, year and day,
And shine exceeding bright:
God made the sun, and moon, and set
Them in the firmament;
The stars also in number great
He made for ornament;
Them in the firmament;
The stars also in number great
He made for ornament;
These he appointed to give light
Upon the earth, for they
Were to divide the day from night,
And this made the fourth day.
Upon the earth, for they
Were to divide the day from night,
And this made the fourth day.
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God will'd the waters to bring forth
The moving creatures there;
And fowls to fly above the earth
In open fields of air:
The moving creatures there;
And fowls to fly above the earth
In open fields of air:
Great whales by him created were;
And ev'ry living thing,
That either is in seas or air,
The waters forth did bring:
And ev'ry living thing,
That either is in seas or air,
The waters forth did bring:
To ev'ry thing he gave command
And virtue to increase
Their sev'ral species, that might stand,
Till time itself shall cease.
And virtue to increase
Their sev'ral species, that might stand,
Till time itself shall cease.
Thus God beheld all that he made,
And lo! it was all good;
The morning and the evening shade
The fifth day did conclude.
And lo! it was all good;
The morning and the evening shade
The fifth day did conclude.
And God said, Let the earth bring forth
The living creatures, which
May multiply birth after birth,
The dry land to enrich:
The living creatures, which
May multiply birth after birth,
The dry land to enrich:
God made all beasts and creeping things,
And cattle ev'ry one,
After his kind th'earth forth did bring,
Ev'n by his word alone:
And cattle ev'ry one,
After his kind th'earth forth did bring,
Ev'n by his word alone:
God said, Let Us make man that may
Our image represent,
And o'er all living creatures sway
The pow'r and government:
Our image represent,
And o'er all living creatures sway
The pow'r and government:
So God created man of dust,
And breath'd in him, and he
Became a living Soul that must
Subsist eternally;
And breath'd in him, and he
Became a living Soul that must
Subsist eternally;
Both male and female was he made,
Resembling God; and he
The pow'r and sovereignty had
O'er all in earth and sea:
Resembling God; and he
The pow'r and sovereignty had
O'er all in earth and sea:
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God blessed him, and gave command
To multiply, and gave
Green herbs to beasts for meat, but man
The choicest fruits should have.
To multiply, and gave
Green herbs to beasts for meat, but man
The choicest fruits should have.
So God survey'd the works he made,
And found them very good.
Thus morning and the ev'ning did
The first fix days conclude.
And found them very good.
Thus morning and the ev'ning did
The first fix days conclude.
| Poems on several subjects | |