University of Virginia Library

CHAP. VI.

The Friends of the Messiah much amaz'd
To see him rise, still on the Heavens gaz'd;
And did with reverential awe receive
The gracious Benediction which he gave.
They saw how the Angelic Host ador'd,
And homage paid to Christ th' ascending Lord.
Such wond'rous scenes were ne'er display'd before,
Nor shall again, 'till time shall be no more.
The whole expanse appear'd exceeding bright,
And far surpass'd the Sun's meridian light;
The sacred path in Jacob's vision known,
Where the Angelic Host in glory shone,
Was now again with heav'nly Spirits lin'd,
Who to their harps celestial voices join'd.
Th' harmonious strains were with such raptures sung,
As struck with silence ev'ry human tongue;
When to the throng two Angels were display'd,
Who in celestial splendor were array'd,
And to the Wonderers spake—
Ye Men of Galilee, why stand ye here,
Your Lord ascends from this sublunar sphere,
To those bright regions of eternal day,
To fix the seal of Man's redemptive plea;
He now assumes the sceptre of the world,
And sin and guilt are into chaos hurl'd;
He is the King of Kings, his eye surveys
The infinite expanse. Oh! can you raise
Your thoughts, to trace his wonderful decrees,—
'Tis he who calms the raging of the seas:
His pow'r gives life and breath to ev'ry soul,
Th' eternal King illuminates the whole.
And now that long expected great event
Is finish'd by Omnipotent consent:
This is that stay which hope to Man has giv'n,
And which with bliss has fill'd the highest Heav'n,
Transcending all description, much too great
For the weak limits of your mortal state—
To comprehend it—we have always strove
The theme employ'd our wonder, praise, and love—
It has employ'd the whole Angelic throng,
And joyful strains have flow'd from ev'ry tongue,
E'er since this wond'rous Covenant began,
When great Jehovah it decree'd for Man,
And fix'd his restoration—
Thus Angels gloried in the lovely theme
Of Man restor'd to happiness supreme,
They then proceeded—
The subject of Creation shews what store
Of goodness reigns with God for evermore;
It proves his pow'r and wisdom infinite,
And all are fill'd with wondering delight;
Yet in Redemption further we explore,
Man's lost condition nothing could restore,
But an atonement, equal to the fall,—
No other way could raise him from his thrall.
Then Truth and Justice arm'd with sov'reign might,
With Wisdom, Love, and Mercy did unite
In perfect reconcilement,—'tis this theme
Which Angels and Archangels now proclaim.
But now the joyful time is nigh at hand,
The Holy Ghost will make you understand,
When ev'ry tongue inspir'd with truth divine,
Shall tell the world how God's great mercies shine.
Shall mortals teach that penitence and prayer
For the last Judgment must their Souls prepare.
When this fix'd earth shall agitated heave,
And flinty rocks their harden'd substance leave;
When this vast globe shall be by fire consum'd,
And then the Dead by Life shall be illum'd,
The mighty ocean which so long has roll'd
Within unfathom'd depths, shall then unfold
Those gloomy caverns,—from his oozy bed
Shall rise whole myriads of awaken'd dead,
All summon'd by th' Archangels solemn call,
Nor shall a single hair unnumber'd fall.
In that great day, high arm'd with pow'r and might,
The Christ Messiah will assume his right
Of conquest, which his gracious love alone
O'er Death, o'er Hell and Sin for mortals won.
This said—the Angels join'd the heavenly train,
Nor could the wond'ring croud from thanks refrain;
But with loud praise proclaim'd what real joys
Inspire the mind which gratitude employs.
Th' Apostles gladden'd by the promis'd grace
Of heav'nly comfort, left this sacred place,
And in bright Salem met in fervent pray'r,
To supplicate Jehovah's watchful care.
With them abundance of the brethren join'd,
Glowing with sentiments of love refin'd;
Each day they pass'd in breaking holy bread,
And on the Bread of Life they daily fed.
The day of Pentecost was now at hand,
When met by one consent, the holy band
To praise and pray—when on a sudden came
A sound like wind, join'd by an heav'nly flame.
Then was fulfill'd our Saviour's words I go,
Yet tho' I leave you,—grief you shall not know;
The Comforter shall come, his heav'nly rays
Will you instruct, and teach you how to praise.
Oh wond'rous pow'r! miraculous the sign,
When God the Holy Ghost appear'd divine
To be their guide, while they with knowledge fill'd,
Began t' expound and preach as tho' long skill'd
In all the languages, both new and old,
And to each tongue God's wonders they unfold.
The poor illiterate Fisherman is seen
With noble courage and with mind serene,
Discoursing, and confounding all that strove
By calumny the wonder to remove.
Mean time his untaught brother prophecies,
And tells the secrets of th' ethereal skies;
Another faith maintains,—while others heal—
Others interpret,—none in knowledge fail.
Where is the Scribe? where are the mighty wise?
Those great disputers, dare ye claim the prize?
Alas! the means to gain it ye neglect,
With God your wisdom is of none effect;
Redemption is compleat, these will maintain
That holy myst'ry which you strive t' arraign.—
Your plea is reason, can weak reason frame,
The Attributes of your Creator's name?
Or can you fathom what for Man is done,
And Truth oppose which says these Three are One?
Why does this wond'rous work appear so odd?—
Th' acknowledg'd sign and token of a God
Is knowing all our thoughts,—this potent sign
In all his works prov'd Jesus was divine.
Your Saviour says, (will not you him believe,
Or will your doubt the Holy Spirit grieve?)
The Comforter shall come,—then further told,
And when He's come, He will all things unfold.
All things unfold, can cavillers destroy
Man's best, his dearest hope, of future joy?
Who can unfold all things but very God,
Whose mercy let's Man 'scape his scourging rod.
And shall his wonders, boundless in extent,
Be question'd by a worm, as tho' th' event
Would follow at his call—untoward Man
Jehovah's counsels thou canst never scan,
In self rais'd fallacies engage no more,
Go search the Scriptures, and thy God adore.
The glorious Wonder being spread abroad
Great numbers came, suspecting 'twas a fraud—
T' expose the cheats,—but how were they amaz'd,
When in all accents the Disciples rais'd
Their praising voices, preaching th' holy word,
How God to happiness had Man restor'd;
Shewing that Jesus Christ of blessed name,
Justice to satisfy, from Heav'n came,
Our nature took to suffer on the Cross,
To rescue Man condemn'd for Adam's loss.
This said as with one heart they instant raise
Their voice to God, in worship, love, and praise.—
Oh holy Triune God! the Father, Son,
And Holy Ghost, thou glorious Three in One,
We thee, with wonder, love, and praise adore,
Who was, and is, and shall be evermore!