University of Virginia Library

V. THE SIXTY-FIRST CHAPTER OF ISAIAH.

PART I.

The Spirit of the Lord My God
(Spirit of power, and health, and love)
My Father hath on Me bestow'd,
And sent Me from His throne above.

Prophet, and priest, and king of peace,
Anointed to declare His will,
To minister His pardoning grace,
And govern every soul I heal.

To sinners bruised, and meek, and poor,
Good tidings of great joy to' impart,
Sinners incurable to cure,
And bind up every broken heart.

The royal edict to proclaim,
Redemption for the captives found,
Mercy for all in Jesu's name,
And liberty to spirits bound.

Sinners, obey the heavenly call,
Your prison doors stand open wide;
Go forth, for I have ransom'd all,
For every soul of man have died.

The Lord hath sent His only Son,
To preach His acceptable year,
To make the joyful tidings known
Of vengeance, and deliverance near.

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To' avenge them of their tyrant foe,
From sin, and Satan's power to turn,
The gift of righteousness bestow,
And kindly comfort all that mourn.

To help their grovelling unbelief,
Beauty for ashes to confer,
The oil of joy for abject grief,
Confident joy for sad despair.

'Tis Mine the drooping soul to raise,
To rescue all by sin opprest,
To clothe them in the robes of praise,
And give their weary spirits rest;

To make them trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord below;
Planted in honour of His grace,
They here shall to perfection grow.

They all shall spread the gospel hope,
Soon as My righteousness they have,
Shall raise the guilty sinner up,
And saved themselves their brethren save.

Workers with God, they now shall rear
The church, that long in ruins lay,
Her desolate estate repair,
Her ancient piety's decay.

With zeal, and heavenly wisdom fill'd,
The faithful labourers shall work on,
Build the old wastes, the cities build,
The souls by Satan broken down.

Strangers shall serve at your command,
Beneath your sacred burdens bow,
Labour for you, and till your land,
And gladly hold the gospel plough.

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The Alien's sons your vine shall dress,
And feed your little flock and keep,
Themselves your little flock increase,
And play among your lambs and sheep.

Ye all My glory shall declare,
The chosen people of your God,
Mine image and inscription bear,
When wash'd from all your sins in blood.

A royal race of priests Divine,
Ye all shall minister My grace;
In prayers and free-will offerings join,
And sacrificial songs of praise.

To you the Gentile world shall flow,
Their glory and their wealth resign,
Lords are ye now of all below,
For all is yours, when ye are Mine.

With Me is full redemption found,
Ye more than justified shall be,
Much more than sin shall grace abound,
My people shall be all like Me;

Shall glory in My saving name:
I will remove the foul disgrace,
And swallow up their guilty shame,
And all their sins with blood efface.

Their glory shall their shame exceed,
When saved from all indwelling sin,
Doubly redeem'd, and free indeed,
Their conscience, and their heart is clean.

They now of double grace possest,
Shall all their souls in thanks employ,
Received into My perfect rest,
And crown'd with everlasting joy.

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PART II.

For I the righteous Lord, and true,
Can only righteousness approve;
My people all are creatures new,
And I in them My image love.

I hate the souls that preach a lie,
And stumble the believing race,
My truth and holiness deny,
To' exalt My justifying grace.

That rob Me of My utmost power,
Which would their bosom-sin remove,
And hug it to their latest hour,
In honour of My pardoning love.

But will I not confirm My word,
The purpose of My soul fulfil?
The servant shall be as his lord,
For who can cross My sovereign will?

I will, that they should holy be,
Myself will lead them by the hand,
Into the truth, the liberty,
The glorious rest, the promised land.

Patience its perfect work shall have,
They shall be all entire and whole,
I will to all perfection save,
And fill their body, spirit, soul.

Thus will I make the covenant sure,
From them it never shall depart,
Who feel, while pure as God is pure,
My love, My nature in their heart.

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Their seed by characters Divine
Shall be among the Gentiles known,
And in a land of darkness shine,
When all are perfected in One.

Whoe'er behold their heavenly grace,
Their glory shining from within,
Shall own them the peculiar race,
Whom God hath blest from all their sin.

My soul doth magnify the Lord,
(Then every chosen one shall cry,)
Wash'd by the water and the word,
I triumph in the Lord most High.

My God hath saved me from all sin,
His everlasting righteousness
Into my new-born soul brought in,
And fill'd with heavenly joy and peace.

The righteousness of saints I wear,
Which He the King of saints hath wrought;
Salvation from all guilt, and fear,
From pride, and every evil thought.

Jesus my garments hath put on,
Hath clothed me with the milk-white vest,
And sanctified through faith alone,
And in His glorious image dress'd.

He now mine inmost soul hath turn'd,
And bid me in His nature shine,
With every perfect gift adorn'd,
And all my graces are Divine.

With faith, and every grace beside
He hath endow'd me from above,
My Lamb hath deck'd me like a bride,
And my best jewel is His love.

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For as the plants in gardens grow,
Or cultured lands their product yield,
The Lord His righteousness shall show,
The treasure in the gospel field.

Surely the' incorruptible seed
Shall in our earthly hearts take root,
Spring up in works, its branches spread,
And holiness its golden fruit.

The Lord our God shall give the' increase,
Shall matter for His glory find,
And lo! the perfect righteousness
Springs forth to gladden all mankind.