Messiah A Poem, in Twenty-Eight Books. By Joseph Cottle |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. | BOOK XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
 | Messiah |  |
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BOOK XXVII.
David resigns the Crown to Solomon. Addresses his Captains and Princes. His contrition and humiliation. Makes preparation to build the Temple. His Death.
Day follows night, the night succeeds the day,
Moons wax and wane, with time, that will not stay,
And sorrow for a Son hath past away!
David now sees, how vain is all below,
A stream of doubtful joy, oft dash'd with woe.
He feels how poor is wealth, how mean is praise,
How vain, to solace, glory's proudest blaze.
O'ershadow'd by the Spirit from on high,
He looks, half-longing, to his native sky.
“There is my home!” he said. “The things of earth,
“Fade whilst I think upon my heavenly birth.
“One Son is mine, whose name shall long endure,
“On whom Jehovah sheds his influence pure,
“E'en Solomon!” And now the favour'd Child,
Kneeling, receives his Father's accents mild.
Moons wax and wane, with time, that will not stay,
And sorrow for a Son hath past away!
David now sees, how vain is all below,
A stream of doubtful joy, oft dash'd with woe.
He feels how poor is wealth, how mean is praise,
How vain, to solace, glory's proudest blaze.
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He looks, half-longing, to his native sky.
“There is my home!” he said. “The things of earth,
“Fade whilst I think upon my heavenly birth.
“One Son is mine, whose name shall long endure,
“On whom Jehovah sheds his influence pure,
“E'en Solomon!” And now the favour'd Child,
Kneeling, receives his Father's accents mild.
“Oh! Son,” the Monarch spake, “the Lord adore!
“I go the way of all the earth! No more
“The harp, and timbrel cheer. Their power is o'er!
“Cold flows my blood, and dimly beams my eye,
“And all is dreary, but—Eternity!
“Hear me, my Son! A duteous Child art thou.
“Early, thy knee, to Heaven, thou learn'dst to bow,
“And God, who knows the heart, and tries the rein,
“Shall bless thee, keep thee, and thy house sustain.
“The Vision, from on high, on me doth light!
“Futurity hangs cloudless in my sight!
“From Jesse's root, a towering tree shall rise!
“God shall provide one Spotless Sacrifice,
“His Son!—by generation, who shall name?
“Continuous fire! Commingled flame with flame!
“From the pure Fount of Light, Heaven's jasper throne,
“He shall descend our fallen race to own.
“The human form he bears that he might know
“How most to succour, best relieve our woe.
“A human form is his, that we might hear
“Man's language, nor the flaming seraph fear.
“In him, our righteousness, shall men confide!
“In him, (a tower! where wanderers lost may hide.)
“He shall unfold Heaven's portals, grand and fair,
“And bid the pure in spirit enter there!
“The time draws on, tho' seen by one alone;
“The day is certain, tho' the hour unknown.
“Oh! glorious dawn! Praise God who sees the end,
“From thee that blessing shall to man descend!
“The Hope of Nations, Earth's triumphant King,
“Mysterious ordinance! from thee shall spring!
“Whose reign shall spread, from isle—from sea to sea,
“Till the whole Earth to him shall bend the knee!”
“I go the way of all the earth! No more
“The harp, and timbrel cheer. Their power is o'er!
“Cold flows my blood, and dimly beams my eye,
“And all is dreary, but—Eternity!
“Hear me, my Son! A duteous Child art thou.
“Early, thy knee, to Heaven, thou learn'dst to bow,
“And God, who knows the heart, and tries the rein,
“Shall bless thee, keep thee, and thy house sustain.
“The Vision, from on high, on me doth light!
“Futurity hangs cloudless in my sight!
“From Jesse's root, a towering tree shall rise!
“God shall provide one Spotless Sacrifice,
“His Son!—by generation, who shall name?
“Continuous fire! Commingled flame with flame!
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“He shall descend our fallen race to own.
“The human form he bears that he might know
“How most to succour, best relieve our woe.
“A human form is his, that we might hear
“Man's language, nor the flaming seraph fear.
“In him, our righteousness, shall men confide!
“In him, (a tower! where wanderers lost may hide.)
“He shall unfold Heaven's portals, grand and fair,
“And bid the pure in spirit enter there!
“The time draws on, tho' seen by one alone;
“The day is certain, tho' the hour unknown.
“Oh! glorious dawn! Praise God who sees the end,
“From thee that blessing shall to man descend!
“The Hope of Nations, Earth's triumphant King,
“Mysterious ordinance! from thee shall spring!
“Whose reign shall spread, from isle—from sea to sea,
“Till the whole Earth to him shall bend the knee!”
Rejoicing, Solomon, the tidings heard.
Pressing his heart, but uttering not the word.
David again. “I see with eye sedate,
“The gulf, the confines of this mortal state!
“Why should the things of earth around me twine?
“Its cares, its pomp, its glory I resign!
“No more the rod my trembling hand shall wield,
“And I, Oh! Son, to thee my power will yield.
“Hear me, once more. My heart (ere life retired)
“To build a House to God hath long desired.
“But, lo! that holy pile I might not raise,
“My hands were bloody and impure my ways!
“Mine was the wish, but thine shall be the praise.
“Oh, Son! An aged Father's mandate hear,
“Thou shalt a Temple to Jehovah rear!”
Pressing his heart, but uttering not the word.
David again. “I see with eye sedate,
“The gulf, the confines of this mortal state!
“Why should the things of earth around me twine?
“Its cares, its pomp, its glory I resign!
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“And I, Oh! Son, to thee my power will yield.
“Hear me, once more. My heart (ere life retired)
“To build a House to God hath long desired.
“But, lo! that holy pile I might not raise,
“My hands were bloody and impure my ways!
“Mine was the wish, but thine shall be the praise.
“Oh, Son! An aged Father's mandate hear,
“Thou shalt a Temple to Jehovah rear!”
With tears, fast falling, Solomon arose;
Clasping his Father's knees. His joys, his woes,
He told alone, by silence, and the scene
Was sweet to look upon, as ocean, green,
Wheresun-beams play, with Earth and Heaven serene!
At length the Monarch spake. “Rise, duteous Son.
“Swift to their destin'd goal my moments run.
“Call forth my Captains. Let the men of might,
“My Lords, my Princes, stand before my sight.”
Clasping his Father's knees. His joys, his woes,
He told alone, by silence, and the scene
Was sweet to look upon, as ocean, green,
Wheresun-beams play, with Earth and Heaven serene!
At length the Monarch spake. “Rise, duteous Son.
“Swift to their destin'd goal my moments run.
“Call forth my Captains. Let the men of might,
“My Lords, my Princes, stand before my sight.”
The heads of all the tribes now gather near.
Crowds press on crowds, their aged King to hear.
Slow he advances, (Solomon beside,)
And thus, with trembling voice, to Israel cried.
Crowds press on crowds, their aged King to hear.
Slow he advances, (Solomon beside,)
And thus, with trembling voice, to Israel cried.
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“Weary of vanities, this spear, this shield,
“This crown, this sceptre, to my son I yield.
“Earth hath no more for me. Time's rapid stream,
“Backward beholding, seems an airy dream.
“Each human cup is drain'd, each spring is dry,
“Yet glorious prospects fill my distant sky.
“No more, around, shall David's voice be heard.
“For the last time attend your Monarch's word.
“This crown, this sceptre, to my son I yield.
“Earth hath no more for me. Time's rapid stream,
“Backward beholding, seems an airy dream.
“Each human cup is drain'd, each spring is dry,
“Yet glorious prospects fill my distant sky.
“No more, around, shall David's voice be heard.
“For the last time attend your Monarch's word.
“The deep confusion covers me this day!
“My many sins, me scare, in long array!
“Heaven rais'd me to a crown, from station mean,
“And gave me wealth, but I have faithless been!
“No great example hath your Monarch shewn
“Rising, with power, such as became a throne;
“And here, with weeping eye, my crimes I own!
“Briefly forgetting all my hopes and fears,
“In one dark season of my earlier years,
“From ill to ill, I march'd, with giant stride,
“Till, with Uriah's blood, my spear was dyed!
“When most I felt secure the tempter came,
“And, from proud height, cast me to abject shame!
“Oh! I have wept aloud, when none was near,
“Save Him who doth not scorn the contrite tear;
“And till I reach the bed where all must lie,
“Groans shall succeed the spirit's deepest sigh!
“Is there one glimpse of hope, one solace sweet?
“Can such a culprit dare his judge to meet?
“I see his day who cheer'd our Abraham old!
“I see his day, of Moses long foretold!
“That sight alone doth now my heart uphold!
“Pardon! I tremble at the fearful sound,
“Stupendous goodness! Pardon I have found!
“But tho' the future wears no awful frown,
“Sins, long forgiven, weigh my spirit down!
“Altho' my house is not as it should be,
“Joy still is mine. A brighter hour I see!
“With me hath God, whose purpose shall endure,
“E'en made the covenant, ordain'd and sure,
“And for His sake (my Lord! the Righteous One!
“The day-star from on high, when time hath run
“Her intervening course, to frustrate hell
“And rescue myriads who, in Adam, fell!)
“E'en for His sake alone, at this dread hour,
“When earth recedes, a blank, its pomp, its power!
“I venture to look up, to banish fear,
“And know that my redemption draweth near.
“One cloud remains, amid my evening sky,
“One thick, portentous cloud of deepest dye!
“The foes of Heaven (secure in evil deem'd)
“Have thought on me and God the Lord blasphemed!
“My dark example they have look'd upon,
“And in the road to death securely gone!
“Witness, Oh! Righteous Father, if these fears
“Have not my pillow oft dedew'd with tears,
“And thro' a life, fast verging to its end,
“Been the one care that scorn'd the voice of friend!
“Are there, around, some whom I taught to stray,
“Gaze on my pangs, and shun my evil way!
“If such, amid this concourse vast, there be,
“Censure the man, but let the cause be free!”
“My many sins, me scare, in long array!
“Heaven rais'd me to a crown, from station mean,
“And gave me wealth, but I have faithless been!
“No great example hath your Monarch shewn
“Rising, with power, such as became a throne;
“And here, with weeping eye, my crimes I own!
“Briefly forgetting all my hopes and fears,
“In one dark season of my earlier years,
“From ill to ill, I march'd, with giant stride,
“Till, with Uriah's blood, my spear was dyed!
“When most I felt secure the tempter came,
“And, from proud height, cast me to abject shame!
“Oh! I have wept aloud, when none was near,
“Save Him who doth not scorn the contrite tear;
479
“Groans shall succeed the spirit's deepest sigh!
“Is there one glimpse of hope, one solace sweet?
“Can such a culprit dare his judge to meet?
“I see his day who cheer'd our Abraham old!
“I see his day, of Moses long foretold!
“That sight alone doth now my heart uphold!
“Pardon! I tremble at the fearful sound,
“Stupendous goodness! Pardon I have found!
“But tho' the future wears no awful frown,
“Sins, long forgiven, weigh my spirit down!
“Altho' my house is not as it should be,
“Joy still is mine. A brighter hour I see!
“With me hath God, whose purpose shall endure,
“E'en made the covenant, ordain'd and sure,
“And for His sake (my Lord! the Righteous One!
“The day-star from on high, when time hath run
“Her intervening course, to frustrate hell
“And rescue myriads who, in Adam, fell!)
“E'en for His sake alone, at this dread hour,
“When earth recedes, a blank, its pomp, its power!
“I venture to look up, to banish fear,
“And know that my redemption draweth near.
“One cloud remains, amid my evening sky,
“One thick, portentous cloud of deepest dye!
480
“Have thought on me and God the Lord blasphemed!
“My dark example they have look'd upon,
“And in the road to death securely gone!
“Witness, Oh! Righteous Father, if these fears
“Have not my pillow oft dedew'd with tears,
“And thro' a life, fast verging to its end,
“Been the one care that scorn'd the voice of friend!
“Are there, around, some whom I taught to stray,
“Gaze on my pangs, and shun my evil way!
“If such, amid this concourse vast, there be,
“Censure the man, but let the cause be free!”
He ceased, when down his cheek, unbidden, stole
The tear that told the anguish of his soul.
All eyes beheld him, whilst a silence round
Mark'd the wide air, and every spirit bound;
Nor was there there one heart obdurate found.
The tear that told the anguish of his soul.
All eyes beheld him, whilst a silence round
Mark'd the wide air, and every spirit bound;
Nor was there there one heart obdurate found.
David again. “Long hath the wish been mine
“To rear a fabric fair, a House Divine,
“To Him whose presence fills the farthest lands,
“Yet dwells not in the temple made with hands!
“This was my fervent, longing, last desire,
“And but with life, fast closing, will expire.
“On Solomon that honour high shall rest!
“And shall my sun sink cheerless in the west?
“Tho' I must not on that proud temple gaze,
“I will prepare the glorious house to raise,
“Where all our tribes shall shout Jehovah's praise!
“Hear me! and let your hearts expanded rise
“To offer now the willing sacrifice.
“What can we give to Him, the Heaven who fills?
“Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills?
“All that we have is his, and of his own
“A part we give, and his the praise alone!
“Throw wide your stores! I offer, with delight
“Toward the great work, which soon shall cheer your sight,
“The thousands that my spacious treasures swell,
“Prepared to build this house, where God may dwell,
“And, thro' the generations yet to rise,
“A Bethel be! the portal of the skies?
“Your hand advance not, while your heart reviles,
“God, on the cheerful giver, looks and smiles!”
“To rear a fabric fair, a House Divine,
“To Him whose presence fills the farthest lands,
“Yet dwells not in the temple made with hands!
“This was my fervent, longing, last desire,
“And but with life, fast closing, will expire.
481
“And shall my sun sink cheerless in the west?
“Tho' I must not on that proud temple gaze,
“I will prepare the glorious house to raise,
“Where all our tribes shall shout Jehovah's praise!
“Hear me! and let your hearts expanded rise
“To offer now the willing sacrifice.
“What can we give to Him, the Heaven who fills?
“Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills?
“All that we have is his, and of his own
“A part we give, and his the praise alone!
“Throw wide your stores! I offer, with delight
“Toward the great work, which soon shall cheer your sight,
“The thousands that my spacious treasures swell,
“Prepared to build this house, where God may dwell,
“And, thro' the generations yet to rise,
“A Bethel be! the portal of the skies?
“Your hand advance not, while your heart reviles,
“God, on the cheerful giver, looks and smiles!”
It was an hour of gladness, to behold
Hosts press on hosts to pour their gems and gold;
Each striving to exceed, in holy zeal,
Where all alike the generous impulse feel.
And now the up-piled wealth is shining there,
To build a House to God! the House of Prayer!
Hosts press on hosts to pour their gems and gold;
482
Where all alike the generous impulse feel.
And now the up-piled wealth is shining there,
To build a House to God! the House of Prayer!
Sweet singer, Israel's Bard, to death draws nigh!
He joys not now in pomp and royalty,
Vain shadows! to the hope beyond the grave
He turns, and welcomes death's advancing wave!
His Sons, around his couch, in silence hang,
Weeping, to mark their Father's parting pang,
And feeling, in that lonely hour of pain,
How weak is love, and sympathy how vain!
Darkness retires! A flood of light divine,
Bursts on his mind, as earth and time decline.
The dews of death hang heavy on his brow,
But pain hath lost its sting, and sorrow now!
His foes o'ercome, and closing fast his race,
Each feature wears a more than mortal grace!
So calm, so sweet, his end, his ransom near,
Heaven seems begun, while yet he lingers here!
Brief pause! Impatient angels wait around
To bid their harps, wake with exulting sound
Over a precious Brother, soon to be
Their loved companion thro' eternity!
Dust! take thy charge! The spirit bursts its way
Upborne triumphant from its clog of clay;
In nobler worlds, th' immortal strain to hymn
With the full choir of Saint and Seraphim!
He joys not now in pomp and royalty,
Vain shadows! to the hope beyond the grave
He turns, and welcomes death's advancing wave!
His Sons, around his couch, in silence hang,
Weeping, to mark their Father's parting pang,
And feeling, in that lonely hour of pain,
How weak is love, and sympathy how vain!
Darkness retires! A flood of light divine,
Bursts on his mind, as earth and time decline.
The dews of death hang heavy on his brow,
But pain hath lost its sting, and sorrow now!
His foes o'ercome, and closing fast his race,
Each feature wears a more than mortal grace!
So calm, so sweet, his end, his ransom near,
Heaven seems begun, while yet he lingers here!
Brief pause! Impatient angels wait around
To bid their harps, wake with exulting sound
483
Their loved companion thro' eternity!
Dust! take thy charge! The spirit bursts its way
Upborne triumphant from its clog of clay;
In nobler worlds, th' immortal strain to hymn
With the full choir of Saint and Seraphim!
| Messiah | |