369.
The Mount of Olives.
1
In the silence of midnight, when all was repose,
The future before him! the Saviour arose;
To the Mountain of Olives, while stars shone on high,
Alone, he retired to converse with the sky.
CHORUS.
Rejoice, heirs of glory! the ransom'd he sought!
Compassion, spontaneous, then reign'd in his thought!
Toward Calvary, near him, he look'd undismay'd,
Where the debt, for redemption, was soon to be paid!
2
In that moment of stillness, no eye to behold,
O'er his spirit, what surges, mysterious, roll'd!
Whilst the blood-drops of sweat, descended as rain,
The angels attend him, his strength to sustain!
CHORUS.
On the ocean of time, still borne to and fro,
O, Immanuel! conduct us, wherever we go!
And when, with life's billows, no longer opprest,
May we find, in thy presence, the haven of rest!
3
Beneath him Gethsemane's garden appear'd!
No pangs, drawing near, no terrors, he fear'd!
On the morrow, regardless of sufferings supreme,
He resolved, by one offering, mankind to redeem!
CHORUS.
How enough shall we thank our unchangeable Friend,
Who loved us so much, and who loved to the end;
Who, alone, trod the wine-press, that we might survey
A path, like the sun, to the regions of day!
4
The scoffer, before him, distinctly he saw;
The gospel arise on the wreck of the law;
The sponge, dipp'd in gall, with the thorns round his head!
The spear, and the nails, and the blood he must shed!
CHORUS.
The conflict is o'er! our salvation is sure!
With the pillars of heaven, our crowns shall endure!
Come, let us ascribe, in the rapturous strain,
Praise, honour, and might, to the Lamb that was slain!
