 | Poems on several subjects |  |
287
Hymn for a Fellowship Meeting.
Say, brethren, wherefore are we met?
What is our errand here?
Is it some stories to relate,
To gratify the ear?
What is our errand here?
Is it some stories to relate,
To gratify the ear?
Yes; 'tis to talk of stories true,
Of what was done of old,
What sacred records to us shew,
And us our teachers told.
Of what was done of old,
What sacred records to us shew,
And us our teachers told.
Here is a story wond'rous strange,
And yet it is most true,
That one should happiness exchange
For mis'ries to ensue:
And yet it is most true,
That one should happiness exchange
For mis'ries to ensue:
Yet this exactly was the case
Of God's eternal son;
He put himself in sinner's place,
And left his glorious throne,
Of God's eternal son;
He put himself in sinner's place,
And left his glorious throne,
Rather than sinners perish'd all,
As they behov'd to do;
In consequence of Adam's fall,
Hell-torments were their due.
As they behov'd to do;
In consequence of Adam's fall,
Hell-torments were their due.
He condescended to come down,
Our nature did assume,
To pacify his Father's frown;
He suff'red in our room.
Our nature did assume,
To pacify his Father's frown;
He suff'red in our room.
No friend like to a friend in need;
And such a friend was he,
That for our sins spilt his heart's blood
Upon the cursed tree.
And such a friend was he,
That for our sins spilt his heart's blood
Upon the cursed tree.
Our griefs and sorrows he did bear,
And by his stripes we're heal'd:
Yet we not friends, but en'mies were,
That 'gainst his laws rebell'd.
And by his stripes we're heal'd:
Yet we not friends, but en'mies were,
That 'gainst his laws rebell'd.
288
To us the name of Jesus shews
(When mis'ry we were in)
The greatest and the best of news,
Salvation for our sin:
(When mis'ry we were in)
The greatest and the best of news,
Salvation for our sin:
Not only from the pow'r and guilt
Of sin he makes us free;
But us he highly doth exalt
To heav'n with him to be.
Of sin he makes us free;
But us he highly doth exalt
To heav'n with him to be.
O could we feel the influence,
Of this transcendent love!
'Twould conquer self, make us intense
For things that are above.
Of this transcendent love!
'Twould conquer self, make us intense
For things that are above.
| Poems on several subjects | |