The Life of Our Blessed Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ ::

The Life of Our Blessed Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ

An Heroic Poem: Dedicated to Her Most Sacred Majesty. In Ten Books. Attempted by Samuel Wesley ... Each Book illustrated by necessary Notes, explaining all the more difficult Matters in the whole History: Also a Prefatory Discourse concerning Heroic Poetry. With Sixty Copper-Plates

Wesley, Samuel (1662-1735)

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[dedication]

To Mr. Samuel Wesley on his Divine Poem of the Life of CHRIST.

To the Ingenious Mr. Samuel Wesley on his Poem of the Life of CHRIST.

To my Ingenious Friend Mr. Samuel Wesley, on his Poem the Life of CHRIST.

To his Ingenious Friend Mr. Samuel Wesley, on his Excellent Poem call'd the Life of Christ.

To his Reverend Friend Mr. Samuel Wesley, on his Poem of the Life of CHRIST.

To Mr. Samuel Wesley, on his Poem of the Life of CHRIST.

II.

Simeon's Song, or the Nunc Dimittis.

III.

IV.

Our Saviour's Sermon of the Beatitudes, Matth. V.

Exod. XX. The Ten Commandments.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

BOOK IX. The PASSION.

BOOK X. The RESURRECTION.

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Simeon's Song, or the Nunc Dimittis.

Luke 2. 29.

I

Yes, Now thy Servant dies, he gladly dies!
This Life, dear Lord! prolong no more,
But as you promis'd me before
In peace now close mine Eyes!
Mine Eyes which that dear object now has met
For which so long they gaz'd in vain,
For whose delay so long I did complain:
I've seen the Sun of Righteousness arise;

30.

'Tis time my glimm'ring Lamps forsake the Skies
And in the shades of Death for ever set.

II

The World already hails his welcom birth:

31, 32. Matth. 2. 1. 11.

Already humble Gifts prepare
To meet and bless th' Almighty Heir
The King of Heav'n and Earth:

Him the lost Gentiles shall their Saviour find,
Him Heathen Lands their Lord shall own,
Their Lord and God, him who alone
Not only giveth sight but Eyes toth' blind.

III

34.

Ah stupid Nation! Wilt thou still refuse
Still hate thy Saviour? Ah thrice harden'd Jews!
(Grant Heav'n these boding fears may not be true!)
Rejected by your Prince, as he by you!
But Ah! What cruel Truths I see
In the dark Womb of future days?
To what a cursed Throne will you your Saviour raise?
How will you crown with Thorns and Infamy?

35.

What wounds, what swords, Great Mother, are prepar'd for thee?

IV

But with our sufferings Heav'n's at last inclin'd
For see a glorious Scene behind!
He comes he comes, agen these Eyes shall see,
Agen, dear Saviour, welcom thee!
The Cloud thy Chariot, and thy Wings the Wind,
In Zion shall appear
The great deliverer.
My stubborn Nation then shall strive no more,
But him whom once they peirc'd, adore:

32. 34.

Now Israels Glory, as their shame before.

University of Virginia Library

Simeon's Song, or the Nunc Dimittis.

I

II

III

IV