University of Virginia Library

Confirm'd in hope our Parents 'rose from pray'r,
And sought in fragrant shades repose from care.
The Sun in ev'ning splendor made retreat
When Adam, Earth's sole Monarch, fix'd his seat
Nor let vain grandeur scorn his simple life,
Alike remote from luxury and strife:
Without his flatterers, or empty forms,
Or artful wranglings base, or state rais'd storms;
Yet first in earthly pow'r, most absolute
O'er kingly lions to the meanest brute,
He knew their properties, their various wills,
And all the knowledge education fills
Spontaneous 'rose in him;—for his great mind
Was fram'd thus high, to benefit Mankind.
Nor were his subjects few, each animal
Fit for his use, was ready at his call.
Thus Adam reign'd,—yet earn'd his daily bread
And was by labour'd cultivation fed,
For what so requisite here to sustain
Existence free from hunger, want, and pain?

Now time who never stops his swift career,
Gave Sons and Daughters to the first made Pair;
From whom the earth was stock'd with nations round
While sin and death their horrid influence found.
Then came the period great Jehovah will'd
To have his wond'rous prophecies fulfill'd;
Those prophecies which spoke that gracious plan
The restoration of degen'rate Man.
That when all hopes of mercy from him fled,
The Woman's seed should bruise the Serpent's head.
The royal sceptre fix'd in Judah's line
Shall not depart,—until that Shiloh shine
Upon this earthly globe, and unto whom
The various people of the earth shall come:—
His shall the gath'ring of the people be
Salvation's rock to all that to him flee;
A Man of griefs, who felt Affliction's rod,
The great sin-off'ring holy to his God,
The Passover, the Lamb without a scar,
The corner stone, and the bright morning star,
The sprinkled blood, and in the wilderness
The Serpent lifted up to heal and bless.
He is the scape-goat, laden with the crimes
Of sin imputed now, and after times;
The covenant, the bow, the mercy seat,
The ephod, holy ark, and the breast plate:
The jubilee, the manna, the perfume,
The great atonement to avert our doom;
Th' extensive ladder which shall mortals raise
To Heav'n by easy steps with pray'r and praise;
The Paschal Lamb, the victim to be slain,
Who bore our griefs, iniquities, and pain;
Afflicted and despis'd, was sore oppress'd,
And sadly bruis'd to make transgressors bless'd.

These were the types the Son of God fulfill'd,
And whereon Man doth his Salvation build;
These were by Israel's tribes well understood
Whose hopes rely'd upon the promis'd good;
By the Almighty's oracles prepar'd,
Which Christ's mysterious birth had well declar'd,
They never strove with subterfuge to wave
The boldest truths, a Virgin shall conceive
And bear a Son, Immanuel his name,
The Father, God of everlasting fame,
Wonderful Counsellor, the Prince of Peace,
And David's throne shall ever find increase.
On him the holy Spirit shall remain
And truth and judgment e'er adorn his reign;
In him malicious rancor shall subside,
And rage and turbulence be thrown aside.
“The lambs with wolves shall graze the verdant mead,
And boys in flow'ry bands the tyger lead;
The steer and lion at one crib shall meet,
And harmless serpents lick the pilgrim's feet;”
With stinging asps shall play the suckling boy,
Nor shall the cockatrice the child destroy;
But with true peace the earth shall then be stor'd,
With goodness and the knowledge of the Lord.
With dignity the sacred truths proceed
To shew the glorious acts by God decreed;—
The deaf shall hear, the lame shall leap for joy,
And to his name the dumb shall songs employ.
O sing, ye Heav'ns! resound with holy mirth,
Shout, shout for joy, ye denizens of earth!
Let ev'ry mountain in the Lord rejoice,
“Ye forests wave in honour of his voice!”
Listen ye isles, ye distant nations hear,
And for the coming of the Lord prepare!
O Zion, put on strength, awake, awake,
And thou Jerus'lem for my mercies sake
Behold thy light is come,—arise and shine,
On him my glory shall appear divine.
'Tis I have call'd, in righteousness will stand;—
'Tis I the great I AM will hold thy hand,
Will guide and keep thee for a cov'nant made
To light the Gentiles from destruction's shade.

Oh deep! oh wonderful supernal love,
How doth God's oracles Man's fears remove;
The great Jehovah condescends so low
T' unfold his works to Man, his greatest foe.
He who hath measur'd out the vast abyss,
And spreads abroad the seat of glorious bliss;
Who fix'd the stars within the great expanse,
And at whose word th' unwieldly planets dance;
Who ascertains the dust of all the earth,
And weigh'd the hills and mountains at their birth,—
'Tis he redeems and saves,—bless'd be his name,
Let Heav'n and Earth with joy his praise proclaim.