University of Virginia Library

The Beginning and The End

Thou art the First and Last, the End of all
The erring spirit seeks of earth to know;
Thee first it left, a Parent at its fall,
To Thee again thy sinful child must go;
With awe I read the lessons of thy grace,
To all that disobey so freely given;
The child shall see again his Father's face,
And through thy son return to Thee and heaven;

116

Ye spirits that around your Maker stand,
Rejoice! the world is ransomed from its weight of woe;
Thou earth obey your sovereign's wise command,
Wash, 'twas for you he bade his mercy flow;
It is for you Christ's blood descends like rain,
That you through him might rise to life again.
Poem No. 663; late 1838–early 1839