Messiah A Poem, in Twenty-Eight Books. By Joseph Cottle |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. | BOOK V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
 | Messiah |  |
61
BOOK V.
Adam. Abel. Messiah.
Upon the wings of mercy, down the sky,
Messiah, and the bright arch-angels, fly;
And now, earth's orb clear opens on their sight,
Resplendent in the morn's unfolding light.
With pure spontaneous love to man opprest,
By Gihon's shore, on Eden's fields they rest.
Messiah, and the bright arch-angels, fly;
And now, earth's orb clear opens on their sight,
Resplendent in the morn's unfolding light.
With pure spontaneous love to man opprest,
By Gihon's shore, on Eden's fields they rest.
The flowers arose, but none were there to see!
The birds gave forth their sweetest melody!
The smooth broad river stately wander'd there,
Where many an islet rose in verdure fair,
Shedding its deeper shade on waves below,
That far reflected evening's fervid glow,
Yet, what a change! The Spirit of the place
Hath vanish'd! That which gave the whole a grace
Is gone for ever! Balmy breath, and sweet!
Altho' unprais'd, still haunt the lone retreat!
Ye trees, in clusters gay, luxuriant rise!
Put forth, oh, garden! still, thy loveliest dyes!
Flow on broad river! Birds! in all your pride,
Wheel thro' the air, or o'er the current glide!
And, earth! and heaven! in pomp of beauty drest,
Crown, with all joy, the place, Jehovah blest!
But, oh! your Lord is fled, of hapless name,
Who knew, alone, from whence your glories came!
What are the regions, tho' divine they be,
Where evil reigns, or where no eye doth see?
Here innocence is none, no being true
Who can in Nature's face her Maker view!
They, for whose sake these forms of love were made,
Have forfeited their state, and far have stray'd
Thro' briars, and dreary wastes, and deserts wide,
Without a hope to cheer, without a guide,
Deploring, in their anguish, when too late,
The fruit of disobedience, and their state,
Now, abject as the dust, before, so great.
The birds gave forth their sweetest melody!
The smooth broad river stately wander'd there,
Where many an islet rose in verdure fair,
Shedding its deeper shade on waves below,
62
Yet, what a change! The Spirit of the place
Hath vanish'd! That which gave the whole a grace
Is gone for ever! Balmy breath, and sweet!
Altho' unprais'd, still haunt the lone retreat!
Ye trees, in clusters gay, luxuriant rise!
Put forth, oh, garden! still, thy loveliest dyes!
Flow on broad river! Birds! in all your pride,
Wheel thro' the air, or o'er the current glide!
And, earth! and heaven! in pomp of beauty drest,
Crown, with all joy, the place, Jehovah blest!
But, oh! your Lord is fled, of hapless name,
Who knew, alone, from whence your glories came!
What are the regions, tho' divine they be,
Where evil reigns, or where no eye doth see?
Here innocence is none, no being true
Who can in Nature's face her Maker view!
They, for whose sake these forms of love were made,
Have forfeited their state, and far have stray'd
Thro' briars, and dreary wastes, and deserts wide,
Without a hope to cheer, without a guide,
Deploring, in their anguish, when too late,
The fruit of disobedience, and their state,
Now, abject as the dust, before, so great.
63
This Garden of Content where each desire
Lived, but to know fulfilment and expire;
This lovely spot—fairest beneath the sky!
Must never more refresh a mortal eye!
The Traveller, round the world, shall seek it long,
The raptured Bard shall praise it in his song,
And, turning from a world of storm and guile,
On fancy's airy visions, look and smile.
The dream may clothe its bowers in beauty bright,
But, lo! they vanish with the morning light.
To find this spot, where joys perpetual reign,
The toil-worn child of earth shall wish in vain,
Still hoping for the golden fruit and field,
And, but with life, the fond illusion yield!
Lived, but to know fulfilment and expire;
This lovely spot—fairest beneath the sky!
Must never more refresh a mortal eye!
The Traveller, round the world, shall seek it long,
The raptured Bard shall praise it in his song,
And, turning from a world of storm and guile,
On fancy's airy visions, look and smile.
The dream may clothe its bowers in beauty bright,
But, lo! they vanish with the morning light.
To find this spot, where joys perpetual reign,
The toil-worn child of earth shall wish in vain,
Still hoping for the golden fruit and field,
And, but with life, the fond illusion yield!
Amid this scene that every joy inspires,
Which thus our parents left for thorns and briars;
Messiah rested and matured the plan,
To save from death, the ruin'd sons of man.
With prospects, such as none in thought might see,
Musing he gazed, into futurity.
Again, for man, to win th' unshackled will;
To turn to good what Satan meant for ill;
To mould each incident of time and place,
Pertaining still to earth's remotest race;
To rescue hosts, which angels might in vain
Attempt to count, from sin's enslaving chain;
This temple now, in form august, appear'd;
His mind creative this vast fabric rear'd.
An aspect, less severe, permission gave
For Gabriel thus to speak. “The world to save
“Thou freely hast resolved—wilt thou, this hour,
“Restore frail man to his primeval power?”
Messiah answer made.
Which thus our parents left for thorns and briars;
Messiah rested and matured the plan,
To save from death, the ruin'd sons of man.
With prospects, such as none in thought might see,
Musing he gazed, into futurity.
Again, for man, to win th' unshackled will;
To turn to good what Satan meant for ill;
To mould each incident of time and place,
64
To rescue hosts, which angels might in vain
Attempt to count, from sin's enslaving chain;
This temple now, in form august, appear'd;
His mind creative this vast fabric rear'd.
An aspect, less severe, permission gave
For Gabriel thus to speak. “The world to save
“Thou freely hast resolved—wilt thou, this hour,
“Restore frail man to his primeval power?”
Messiah answer made.
“Thou dost but see,
“The present, I behold what is to be!
“My Father's honor, and my Father's praise,
“These are my aims. Long and tumultuous days—
“Scenes where all evil in succession rise,
“To times, far distant, move before my eyes.
“The road is rough that many a saint must tread,
“Ere yet, serene in death, he rests his head!
“Anguish must reign, to thee not understood,
“And present Ill conduct to fulure Good.
“Almighty power, for ends thou canst not tell,
“Satan permits, the fiend! on earth to dwell;
“But, merciful as great, this dark design,
“At length in wisdom's sun-like robe will shine;
“And all conspire to serve his aim, above,
“Whose end is happiness, whose heart is love!
“Mark, as becomes created form like thee,
“Life's varied scenes unfold and trust in me!
“The present, I behold what is to be!
“My Father's honor, and my Father's praise,
“These are my aims. Long and tumultuous days—
“Scenes where all evil in succession rise,
“To times, far distant, move before my eyes.
“The road is rough that many a saint must tread,
“Ere yet, serene in death, he rests his head!
“Anguish must reign, to thee not understood,
“And present Ill conduct to fulure Good.
“Almighty power, for ends thou canst not tell,
“Satan permits, the fiend! on earth to dwell;
“But, merciful as great, this dark design,
“At length in wisdom's sun-like robe will shine;
65
“Whose end is happiness, whose heart is love!
“Mark, as becomes created form like thee,
“Life's varied scenes unfold and trust in me!
“Not idle gazers, while yon moon endures,
“Commissions of delight shall oft be yours:
“You are my messengers, in their distress,
“Ere long, to cheer the heirs of blessedness;
“To minister of joy, to guide, defend,
“Earth's ransom'd sons, who make their God their friend;
“Even all whose spirits seek the light divine,
“And cheerfully, for heaven, the world resign.
“As earth advances, and her tribes fulfil
“Their march, from realm to realm, encreasing still,
“Seraphic hosts, from yonder thrones on high,
“My voice shall summon. These, their native sky,
“Joyful, will leave, and make, with you, their care,
“All whom I love, and who my image bear.”
“Commissions of delight shall oft be yours:
“You are my messengers, in their distress,
“Ere long, to cheer the heirs of blessedness;
“To minister of joy, to guide, defend,
“Earth's ransom'd sons, who make their God their friend;
“Even all whose spirits seek the light divine,
“And cheerfully, for heaven, the world resign.
“As earth advances, and her tribes fulfil
“Their march, from realm to realm, encreasing still,
“Seraphic hosts, from yonder thrones on high,
“My voice shall summon. These, their native sky,
“Joyful, will leave, and make, with you, their care,
“All whom I love, and who my image bear.”
Time rolls along! A thousand pangs oppress,
The Mother of our race. In bitterness,
A son and sons she bears, whilst Adam, still,
Breaks the rough clod and learns the earth to till.
Toils, lengthening with the day, his spirit bend,
On him, forlorn, the evening mists descend;
And tho in gold the stately sun declines,
No light upon his breast, deserted, shines.
His gaze he fixes on the darkest cloud,
Uttering in anguish, “Woe is me!” aloud:
And as all forms recede from mortal eye,
And silence marks, alike, the earth, the sky,
Amid the solemn hour, in accent slow,
The same sad words declare his weight of woe,
Whose heart, contentment sweet, must never know.
When half refresh'd with night's distemper'd sleep,
The morning sun, calls him to wake and weep:
Past scenes arise in a perpetual train,
The joys of Paradise will haunt his brain,
The image ever green, its fruits and flowers,
The music of its groves, its pleasant bowers,
Its walks, beside the sun-illumin'd stream
With the deep splendors of the evening beam,
To memory fresh, yet freshest in his dream.
Tho' plunged, at every view, in sorrow's wave,
He must contrast the storms that round him rave,
With the repose, abiding, of that place,
All lovely, hill and valley clothed in grace,
Whose mass of beauty, never on the wane,
Lay tangible upon his feverish brain.
But, oh! the poison of the asp to shed!
His intercourse with God! he feels, is fled!
All darkness, in the mind where light abode!
And naught but weeds, strewing his mortal road!
Too late he finds the penalty severe
Which disobedience brings. Aroused to fear,
Trembling, he sees, (instructed from on high,
By visions of the night, all prophecy!)
The miserable road, the dreary way,
Thro' which the homeless pilgrim, Man, must stray;
Whilst, crowding round earth's lazar-house, await
Malice, impetuous rage, tormenting hate,
Pains, wasting maladies—a hideous train,
That he with tears, must mourn, yet mourn in vain!
The Mother of our race. In bitterness,
66
Breaks the rough clod and learns the earth to till.
Toils, lengthening with the day, his spirit bend,
On him, forlorn, the evening mists descend;
And tho in gold the stately sun declines,
No light upon his breast, deserted, shines.
His gaze he fixes on the darkest cloud,
Uttering in anguish, “Woe is me!” aloud:
And as all forms recede from mortal eye,
And silence marks, alike, the earth, the sky,
Amid the solemn hour, in accent slow,
The same sad words declare his weight of woe,
Whose heart, contentment sweet, must never know.
When half refresh'd with night's distemper'd sleep,
The morning sun, calls him to wake and weep:
Past scenes arise in a perpetual train,
The joys of Paradise will haunt his brain,
The image ever green, its fruits and flowers,
The music of its groves, its pleasant bowers,
Its walks, beside the sun-illumin'd stream
With the deep splendors of the evening beam,
To memory fresh, yet freshest in his dream.
Tho' plunged, at every view, in sorrow's wave,
He must contrast the storms that round him rave,
67
All lovely, hill and valley clothed in grace,
Whose mass of beauty, never on the wane,
Lay tangible upon his feverish brain.
But, oh! the poison of the asp to shed!
His intercourse with God! he feels, is fled!
All darkness, in the mind where light abode!
And naught but weeds, strewing his mortal road!
Too late he finds the penalty severe
Which disobedience brings. Aroused to fear,
Trembling, he sees, (instructed from on high,
By visions of the night, all prophecy!)
The miserable road, the dreary way,
Thro' which the homeless pilgrim, Man, must stray;
Whilst, crowding round earth's lazar-house, await
Malice, impetuous rage, tormenting hate,
Pains, wasting maladies—a hideous train,
That he with tears, must mourn, yet mourn in vain!
What sight is that? No beast, of savage race,
Pursuing, lo! a man, in hurrying pace,
Flees, breathless, wild, from where an altar rude,
Dyes blue, with smoke, the leafy solitude.
Upon his garb of skin, the clotted gore
Stands manifest; and now he stops to pore—
Remorse repell'd, revenge upon his brow
Still lingering! Ah! a brother's murderer thou!
Pursuing, lo! a man, in hurrying pace,
Flees, breathless, wild, from where an altar rude,
Dyes blue, with smoke, the leafy solitude.
68
Stands manifest; and now he stops to pore—
Remorse repell'd, revenge upon his brow
Still lingering! Ah! a brother's murderer thou!
Adam before the breathless victim stands,
With tear suspended, and uplifted hands;
Whilst the sad Mother, in her anguish deep,
Conceals her face, and turns aside to weep!
The Father, gazing on the corse below,
Thus, with the burden'd heart, pours forth his woe.
With tear suspended, and uplifted hands;
Whilst the sad Mother, in her anguish deep,
Conceals her face, and turns aside to weep!
The Father, gazing on the corse below,
Thus, with the burden'd heart, pours forth his woe.
“Is this my Son, stretched on his bleeding bed?
“The form is here, but, lo! the soul is fled!
“Thy load, oh, sorrow! and thy growing fears!
“Long have I known, and dew'd my couch with tears,
“But till this hour, familiar with the sigh,
“I knew not the supreme of misery!
“Oh! that my throbbing brain might cease to know,
“Who rais'd the murderous hand, and laid thee low!
“Dear bleeding offspring! whom my hopeful eyes
“Saw, like a stately tree, to manhood rise;
“In whom, such unison of close degree,
“I seem'd to live, another self in thee!
“How shall I learn my anguish to subdue,
“Oh! how repeat, the long, the last adieu!
“Vain shall I wait, as evening's beams retire,
“To hear an Abel greet his weary Sire,
“And in his kind, consoling voice, awhile,
“Sorrow forget, half cheated to a smile!
“And must my limbs, the chain of death confine!
“My head be laid as low, as still as thine!
“Must soon this frame be motionless, and cold!
“These eyes, no more, the cheerful day behold!
“This heart forget to beat, this spirit fly
“To realms, to worlds unknown! Deep agony!
“There dwells the sentence living man must mourn—
“‘Dust as thou art, to dust shalt thou return!’
“Oh! Sin! what evils in thy train attend!
“I have no refuge now, no home! no friend!
“No God! to whom to look, with all my care,
“And offer up, sweet solace, praise and prayer!
“Chill winds, and rude, do on my spirit blow!
“Nor is this pang my utmost depth of woe—
“Earth, for my sake, endures the curse severe!
“There is no virtue in the contrite tear!
“I sink, unpitied, in th' o'erwhelming flood,
“Whilst Man shall mourn my fall, in showers of blood!”
“The form is here, but, lo! the soul is fled!
“Thy load, oh, sorrow! and thy growing fears!
“Long have I known, and dew'd my couch with tears,
“But till this hour, familiar with the sigh,
“I knew not the supreme of misery!
“Oh! that my throbbing brain might cease to know,
“Who rais'd the murderous hand, and laid thee low!
“Dear bleeding offspring! whom my hopeful eyes
“Saw, like a stately tree, to manhood rise;
“In whom, such unison of close degree,
“I seem'd to live, another self in thee!
69
“Oh! how repeat, the long, the last adieu!
“Vain shall I wait, as evening's beams retire,
“To hear an Abel greet his weary Sire,
“And in his kind, consoling voice, awhile,
“Sorrow forget, half cheated to a smile!
“And must my limbs, the chain of death confine!
“My head be laid as low, as still as thine!
“Must soon this frame be motionless, and cold!
“These eyes, no more, the cheerful day behold!
“This heart forget to beat, this spirit fly
“To realms, to worlds unknown! Deep agony!
“There dwells the sentence living man must mourn—
“‘Dust as thou art, to dust shalt thou return!’
“Oh! Sin! what evils in thy train attend!
“I have no refuge now, no home! no friend!
“No God! to whom to look, with all my care,
“And offer up, sweet solace, praise and prayer!
“Chill winds, and rude, do on my spirit blow!
“Nor is this pang my utmost depth of woe—
“Earth, for my sake, endures the curse severe!
“There is no virtue in the contrite tear!
“I sink, unpitied, in th' o'erwhelming flood,
“Whilst Man shall mourn my fall, in showers of blood!”
70
Messiah, as a spirit, from on high,
Arrests the murderer, as he fain would fly!
Solemn! and with o'erwhelming dignity,
To Cain he spake. “Thy Brother, where is he?”
Cain answer'd (eldest born of black renown!)
“Am I my Brother's keeper?” With a frown,
Messiah spake, a look as death severe!
“Lo! from the ground, thy Brother's blood I hear!
“Go forth, a wretched outcast! Toil and woe,
“With scorn, shall like a torrent, o'er thee flow,
“And death, erelong, remorseless, lay thee low!”
Cain turn'd, and, turning, spake, amid despair,
“My curse exceeds what human heart can bear!”
Arrests the murderer, as he fain would fly!
Solemn! and with o'erwhelming dignity,
To Cain he spake. “Thy Brother, where is he?”
Cain answer'd (eldest born of black renown!)
“Am I my Brother's keeper?” With a frown,
Messiah spake, a look as death severe!
“Lo! from the ground, thy Brother's blood I hear!
“Go forth, a wretched outcast! Toil and woe,
“With scorn, shall like a torrent, o'er thee flow,
“And death, erelong, remorseless, lay thee low!”
Cain turn'd, and, turning, spake, amid despair,
“My curse exceeds what human heart can bear!”
To Gabriel (whilst, in awe, he stoop'd to hear,
Michael, the high Arch-Angel, bending near)
Messiah, Son Divine, majestic spake.
“Tho' virtueless, I will not Earth forsake!
“A deed is done, which Satan's rage displays!
“A Brother lifts his hand, a Brother slays!
“This the first fruit of Sin! Man's infamy,
“The evening of his days, distinct I see!
“Ah! now a Soul draws nigh, my tender care!
“Whom Satan, head-long, down to night would bear,
“But he is mine! Th' infernal powers, in vain,
“Stretch out their grasp, and shake the fiery chain.
“This is th' unbodied spirit, first t' explore
“The new and shadowy realm. The earthly shore
“It left reluctant, and awaits, from me,
“Some home! nor shall it want felicity!
“Where is the boast of hell?—his towering head?
“Who enters first the regions of the dead
“Is innocent! is saved! Jehovah's friend!
“The star of hope to man, 'till time shall end!
Michael, the high Arch-Angel, bending near)
Messiah, Son Divine, majestic spake.
“Tho' virtueless, I will not Earth forsake!
“A deed is done, which Satan's rage displays!
“A Brother lifts his hand, a Brother slays!
“This the first fruit of Sin! Man's infamy,
“The evening of his days, distinct I see!
“Ah! now a Soul draws nigh, my tender care!
“Whom Satan, head-long, down to night would bear,
71
“Stretch out their grasp, and shake the fiery chain.
“This is th' unbodied spirit, first t' explore
“The new and shadowy realm. The earthly shore
“It left reluctant, and awaits, from me,
“Some home! nor shall it want felicity!
“Where is the boast of hell?—his towering head?
“Who enters first the regions of the dead
“Is innocent! is saved! Jehovah's friend!
“The star of hope to man, 'till time shall end!
“In countless hosts—dark'ning the mid-day sky,
“I saw the Fallen Angels hither fly,
“Bent to molest, and further lead astray
“Man's sinful race, but I their course will stay!
“Such power supreme my faintest words contain,
“That I might send them back, with high disdain,
“And, o'er their rayless gulf, forever plant,
“Th' impenetrable bar of adamant!
“Yet, 'till the hour arrive, th' appointed day,
“Which shall my purposes of grace display,
“Satan must reign!—with tyranny severe,
“O'er the wide earth, his rebel standard rear!
“Yea, oft the partial victory proclaim,
“Exulting in his strength, his lordly name—
“God of this World! But I will then maintain,
“(When the last moon forlorn shall wax and wane,
“And all the sons of light are gather'd in)
“My power supreme, and hurl the javēlin!
“Resistless, whilst the fiends of darkness fly,
“Scourg'd on by lightnings, down to misery!
“I saw the Fallen Angels hither fly,
“Bent to molest, and further lead astray
“Man's sinful race, but I their course will stay!
“Such power supreme my faintest words contain,
“That I might send them back, with high disdain,
“And, o'er their rayless gulf, forever plant,
“Th' impenetrable bar of adamant!
“Yet, 'till the hour arrive, th' appointed day,
“Which shall my purposes of grace display,
“Satan must reign!—with tyranny severe,
“O'er the wide earth, his rebel standard rear!
72
“Exulting in his strength, his lordly name—
“God of this World! But I will then maintain,
“(When the last moon forlorn shall wax and wane,
“And all the sons of light are gather'd in)
“My power supreme, and hurl the javēlin!
“Resistless, whilst the fiends of darkness fly,
“Scourg'd on by lightnings, down to misery!
“The day shall come, for which all days prepare,
“When each, who ever breath'd this vital air,
“Shall stand before my Throne, and hear from me,
“The sentence—lasting as eternity!
“Till then, for all who float on time's vast tide,
“Two different states, remote, will I provide!
“The plastic thought new-moulds! this earthly frame,
“And what before was nothing, hath a name!
“Beneath this shell of land, and the wide sea,
“A cavern vast, kin to infinity,
“Waits to receive the wicked, as they go
“From mortal scenes, to realms of pain and woe.
“Here, 'mid the central earth is their abode;
“Whilst all who there descend, a heavy load,
“Sorrowing sustain;—the thought of banishment—
“Of unforgiven sins, of time mispent,
“Of talents, verdant once, then nipp'd and brown,
“No harvest-home, no fruit the year to crown,
“No influences, scatter'd, like the dew,
“To fructify, and earth with blessings strew,
“Rising, when they have past from mortal view;
“Remembrance of their evil ways and vile,
“Persisted in, whilst Conscience' voice, the while,
“Clamorous, was drown'd, and God himself arraign'd,
“His law despised, his warning voice disdain'd!
“These with the scorpion's fang upon them prey,
“Alike remote from hope, remote from day.
“Altho' their spirits strive not to deplore,
“Endure they must, and yet expecting more—
“'Till, 'mid confusion and distracting fear,
“Their final doom, “Depart!” they all shall hear.
“When each, who ever breath'd this vital air,
“Shall stand before my Throne, and hear from me,
“The sentence—lasting as eternity!
“Till then, for all who float on time's vast tide,
“Two different states, remote, will I provide!
“The plastic thought new-moulds! this earthly frame,
“And what before was nothing, hath a name!
“Beneath this shell of land, and the wide sea,
“A cavern vast, kin to infinity,
“Waits to receive the wicked, as they go
“From mortal scenes, to realms of pain and woe.
“Here, 'mid the central earth is their abode;
“Whilst all who there descend, a heavy load,
73
“Of unforgiven sins, of time mispent,
“Of talents, verdant once, then nipp'd and brown,
“No harvest-home, no fruit the year to crown,
“No influences, scatter'd, like the dew,
“To fructify, and earth with blessings strew,
“Rising, when they have past from mortal view;
“Remembrance of their evil ways and vile,
“Persisted in, whilst Conscience' voice, the while,
“Clamorous, was drown'd, and God himself arraign'd,
“His law despised, his warning voice disdain'd!
“These with the scorpion's fang upon them prey,
“Alike remote from hope, remote from day.
“Altho' their spirits strive not to deplore,
“Endure they must, and yet expecting more—
“'Till, 'mid confusion and distracting fear,
“Their final doom, “Depart!” they all shall hear.
“Another and a better world on high,
“Have I prepared, with joys that never die,
“To bless the ransom'd; Those who, God, adore,
“In the First Heaven, shall taste of ill no more;
“Where I, the Sun of Righteousness, will shine.
“'Mid streams of bliss, and flowers and fruits divine,
“Perpetual spring, melodious airs, and bowers
“That fling their fragrance to the passing hours,
“The disencumber'd spirits glad shall dwell,
“(Whilst the loud-pealing anthems round them swell)
“In bands of holy friendship, where each knows
“The blessedness which from communion flows.
“There full shall flourish (envy banish'd thence)
“The sweets of intellectual eminence,
“Where souls, for nobler flights, their wings prepare
“With loftiest virtues. Free from toil and care,
“And faintest love of ill, their God their friend,
“Songs, grateful incense! upward shall ascend;
“Whilst, from the Fount of Good, they draw, nor cease,
“Felicities, increas'd but to increase!
“Thus, spotless, holy, in the high career,
“Panting still more their God to love and fear,
“My servants true shall dwell, and happiness,
“In unimagin'd ways, their spirits bless,
“'Till the last trump shall man to judgment call,
“And round the throne, the saint, and seraph fall,
“I and my Father one, God, all in all.
“Have I prepared, with joys that never die,
“To bless the ransom'd; Those who, God, adore,
“In the First Heaven, shall taste of ill no more;
“Where I, the Sun of Righteousness, will shine.
“'Mid streams of bliss, and flowers and fruits divine,
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“That fling their fragrance to the passing hours,
“The disencumber'd spirits glad shall dwell,
“(Whilst the loud-pealing anthems round them swell)
“In bands of holy friendship, where each knows
“The blessedness which from communion flows.
“There full shall flourish (envy banish'd thence)
“The sweets of intellectual eminence,
“Where souls, for nobler flights, their wings prepare
“With loftiest virtues. Free from toil and care,
“And faintest love of ill, their God their friend,
“Songs, grateful incense! upward shall ascend;
“Whilst, from the Fount of Good, they draw, nor cease,
“Felicities, increas'd but to increase!
“Thus, spotless, holy, in the high career,
“Panting still more their God to love and fear,
“My servants true shall dwell, and happiness,
“In unimagin'd ways, their spirits bless,
“'Till the last trump shall man to judgment call,
“And round the throne, the saint, and seraph fall,
“I and my Father one, God, all in all.
“Gabriel! thy willing service I receive!
“This Spirit, for whose sake sad parents grieve,
“Yet in their earthly state, outstripping day,
“To the First Heaven, triumphant bear away!”
“This Spirit, for whose sake sad parents grieve,
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“To the First Heaven, triumphant bear away!”
Gabriel ascends, the Spirit by his side!—
And now the depths of air their presence hide!
And now the depths of air their presence hide!
| Messiah | |