 | The conquest of Canäan |  |
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BOOK X.
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Argument.
Vision of futurity. Prospect of the land of Canäan. Prosperous events after the war is finished. Apostacy after the death of Joshua, and consequent judgements. Troubles by Cushan-rishathaim, Hazor, Midian, Ammon, and the Philistines. Samson. Civil War. Philistines' Kings. David's combat with Goliath. War with Ammon, and Syria. Joab. David's glory. Jerusalem. Temple-Dedication. Solomon. Division of the kingdom. Destruction of Israel by Shalmaneser, and of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar. Restoration. Messiah. his Birth Baptism, Miracles, Trial, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles, and succeeding Ministers. Prospect of America. Slavery of the eastern Continent. Glory of the Western Millennium. Calling of the Jews. Signs which forebode the end of the World. Resurrection, Conflagration, General Judgement, and consummation of all things. Prospect of heaven, and a happy immortality. Angel departs, and Joshua returns to the camp.
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The Vision ceas'd. At once the forest fled,
At once an unknown region round them spread,
Like the still sabbath's dawning light serene,
And fair as blissful Eden's living green.
High on a hill they stood, whose cloudy brow
Look'd o'er th' illimitable world below.
In shining verdure eastern realms withdrew,
And hills and plains, immingling, fill'd the view:
From southern forests rose melodious sounds;
Tall northern mountains stretch'd cerulean bounds;
West, all was sea; blue skies, with peaceful reign,
Serene roll'd round th' interminable plain.
Then thus the Power. To thee, bless'd man, 'tis given,
To know the thoughts of all-considering Heaven:
Scenes form'd eternal in th' unmeasur'd Mind,
In yon bright realms, for Abraham's race design'd,
While the great promise stands in heaven secure,
Or earth, or seas, or skies or stars endure.
At once an unknown region round them spread,
Like the still sabbath's dawning light serene,
And fair as blissful Eden's living green.
High on a hill they stood, whose cloudy brow
Look'd o'er th' illimitable world below.
In shining verdure eastern realms withdrew,
And hills and plains, immingling, fill'd the view:
From southern forests rose melodious sounds;
Tall northern mountains stretch'd cerulean bounds;
West, all was sea; blue skies, with peaceful reign,
Serene roll'd round th' interminable plain.
Then thus the Power. To thee, bless'd man, 'tis given,
To know the thoughts of all-considering Heaven:
Scenes form'd eternal in th' unmeasur'd Mind,
In yon bright realms, for Abraham's race design'd,
While the great promise stands in heaven secure,
Or earth, or seas, or skies or stars endure.
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He spoke. At once a spacious land is seen,
Bright with young cornfields, and with pastures green;
Fair shine the rivers; fair the plains extend;
The tall woods wave, and towering hills ascend;
Ten thousand thousand flocks around them spread,
Sport o'er the lawns, and crop the verdant blade;
Bless'd swains with music charm their useful toil,
The cheerful plowmen turn the sable soil;
The vine, glad offspring of the sun, aspires,
And smiles, and purples, in th' indulgent fires;
The vales, with humble pride, gay cots adorn,
And pleasure dances in the beams of morn;
Spring, hand in hand with golden Autumn join'd
Lives in the flowers, and wantons in the wind.
Bright with young cornfields, and with pastures green;
Fair shine the rivers; fair the plains extend;
The tall woods wave, and towering hills ascend;
Ten thousand thousand flocks around them spread,
Sport o'er the lawns, and crop the verdant blade;
Bless'd swains with music charm their useful toil,
The cheerful plowmen turn the sable soil;
The vine, glad offspring of the sun, aspires,
And smiles, and purples, in th' indulgent fires;
The vales, with humble pride, gay cots adorn,
And pleasure dances in the beams of morn;
Spring, hand in hand with golden Autumn join'd
Lives in the flowers, and wantons in the wind.
Then spacious towns exalt their stately spires,
Bend their long walls, and light unnumber'd fires;
Here all the pomp of haughty structures shines,
Youth crowds the dance, and Age in council joins;
There, built by virtue, smoking altars rise,
And clouds of incense fill the morning skies.
When thus the Hero—Say, O Power divine!
What bright and happy scenes before me shine,
Tell, if these regions Israel's bliss display,
And flocks, and fields, and cities own their sway.
Bend their long walls, and light unnumber'd fires;
Here all the pomp of haughty structures shines,
Youth crowds the dance, and Age in council joins;
There, built by virtue, smoking altars rise,
And clouds of incense fill the morning skies.
When thus the Hero—Say, O Power divine!
What bright and happy scenes before me shine,
Tell, if these regions Israel's bliss display,
And flocks, and fields, and cities own their sway.
Just are thy thoughts—the Seraph's voice return'd,
While rosy beauty round his aspect burn'd,
In these fair climes shall Israel fix her seat,
End her long toils, and find a calm retreat,
Then all the blessings, mortals here can know,
From God's good hand, in plenteous streams, shall flow.
In purest beams shall genial suns descend;
And moons, and stars, their softest radiance lend:
The gales waft health: kind showers the plains renew;
Morn yield her fragrance; eve her balmy dew;
With autumn's prime the wintery frost conspire;
With springs mild influence summer's scorching fire;
To nurse the land of virtue's lov'd recess,
And bless the nation, Heaven delights to bless.
While rosy beauty round his aspect burn'd,
In these fair climes shall Israel fix her seat,
End her long toils, and find a calm retreat,
Then all the blessings, mortals here can know,
From God's good hand, in plenteous streams, shall flow.
In purest beams shall genial suns descend;
And moons, and stars, their softest radiance lend:
The gales waft health: kind showers the plains renew;
Morn yield her fragrance; eve her balmy dew;
With autumn's prime the wintery frost conspire;
With springs mild influence summer's scorching fire;
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And bless the nation, Heaven delights to bless.
These scenes of blissful peace shalt thou enjoy,
Nor grief disturb, nor circling foes annoy.
But when death calls thee to divine abodes,
They fly from Heaven, and seek Canäan's gods;
To stocks, to stones, with stupid reverence, bow,
Burst every tie, and perjure every vow.
Then war shall thunder from the realms around;
Then suns malignant parch the sterile ground;
The fields shall waste; the flocks to dust decay,
And fierce diseases sweep their tribes away.
Yet shall his bounty sainted guardians raise,
And shed rich blessings on their peaceful days;
Wak'd to new life, the land forget to mourn,
And fruitful seasons to the plains return.
Nor grief disturb, nor circling foes annoy.
But when death calls thee to divine abodes,
They fly from Heaven, and seek Canäan's gods;
To stocks, to stones, with stupid reverence, bow,
Burst every tie, and perjure every vow.
Then war shall thunder from the realms around;
Then suns malignant parch the sterile ground;
The fields shall waste; the flocks to dust decay,
And fierce diseases sweep their tribes away.
Yet shall his bounty sainted guardians raise,
And shed rich blessings on their peaceful days;
Wak'd to new life, the land forget to mourn,
And fruitful seasons to the plains return.
Behold these scenes expanding to thy soul!
From orient realms what blackening armies roll!
See their proud Monarch, in yon glimmering car,
Leads his strong host, and points the waste of war.
Till, rais'd by Heaven, the youth, whose early bloom,
Gives a fair promise of his worth to come,
That second Irad, Othniel, lifts his hand,
And sweeps the heathens from his wasted land.
From orient realms what blackening armies roll!
See their proud Monarch, in yon glimmering car,
Leads his strong host, and points the waste of war.
Till, rais'd by Heaven, the youth, whose early bloom,
Gives a fair promise of his worth to come,
That second Irad, Othniel, lifts his hand,
And sweeps the heathens from his wasted land.
In awful pomp, see Hazor's bands arise,
Shade the far plains, and lower along the skies!
An unborn Jabin sways those spacious shores,
And on these climes that raging deluge pours.
The little band, thou seest thy nation sends;
Lo, how the host innumerable bends!
Before Jehovah's wrath the millions fly,
Drop their weak arms, and lift a lessening cry.
Shade the far plains, and lower along the skies!
An unborn Jabin sways those spacious shores,
And on these climes that raging deluge pours.
The little band, thou seest thy nation sends;
Lo, how the host innumerable bends!
Before Jehovah's wrath the millions fly,
Drop their weak arms, and lift a lessening cry.
Behold, in southern skies, what clouds appear!
There Midian's sons the bloody standard rear:
Before them, Ruin marks her ravag'd way;
Fire sweeps the plains, and smoke involves the day!
Behold yon Angel, rapt on wings of light,
Flames, like a meteor, down the face of night!
His fearful hand accelerates their doom,
And their own weapons plunge them to the tomb.
There Midian's sons the bloody standard rear:
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Fire sweeps the plains, and smoke involves the day!
Behold yon Angel, rapt on wings of light,
Flames, like a meteor, down the face of night!
His fearful hand accelerates their doom,
And their own weapons plunge them to the tomb.
Beyond fair Jordan, that broad, azure stream,
What moony shields, what throngs of lances, gleam!
In long, dark lines, see Jephthah's spreading host
Benight the heavens, and dusk the shady coast!
Lo, wing'd with fear, the ranks of Ammon yield,
Mount their bright cars, and fly the sanguine field!
What moony shields, what throngs of lances, gleam!
In long, dark lines, see Jephthah's spreading host
Benight the heavens, and dusk the shady coast!
Lo, wing'd with fear, the ranks of Ammon yield,
Mount their bright cars, and fly the sanguine field!
From those dread scenes, now southward turn thine eyes;
Behold, what clouds of Philistines arise!
Ordain'd the terror of Canäan's climes,
The sting of guilt, the scourge of daring crimes;
Illum'd with spears, the gloomy squadrons roll,
Dust shades their path, and darkness hides the pole.
Behold, what clouds of Philistines arise!
Ordain'd the terror of Canäan's climes,
The sting of guilt, the scourge of daring crimes;
Illum'd with spears, the gloomy squadrons roll,
Dust shades their path, and darkness hides the pole.
See Gaza's thousands, rang'd in black array,
Spread their wide volumes on the setting day!
Behold brave Samson sweep the dreadful plain!
Their falchions flame, their spears are hurl'd, in vain;
Swift from his fateful arm their squadrons fly,
And shields behind them glimmer on the sky.
Spread their wide volumes on the setting day!
Behold brave Samson sweep the dreadful plain!
Their falchions flame, their spears are hurl'd, in vain;
Swift from his fateful arm their squadrons fly,
And shields behind them glimmer on the sky.
Now, where yon haughty pile in pomp ascends,
His strong-wrought nerves the eyeless hero bends;
The columns shake, the cloudy temple falls,
And dusty ruin veils the smoking walls,
His strong-wrought nerves the eyeless hero bends;
The columns shake, the cloudy temple falls,
And dusty ruin veils the smoking walls,
See, where proud Gibeah's turrets strike the skies,
On every side embattled armies rise!
There Civil Discord calls her sons to war,
And waves her banner through the troubled air;
Against one tribe the swords of all unite,
Destruction hovering o'er the crimson fight.
On every side embattled armies rise!
There Civil Discord calls her sons to war,
And waves her banner through the troubled air;
Against one tribe the swords of all unite,
Destruction hovering o'er the crimson fight.
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See, like a storm, the Philistines again
Roll o'er yon hills, and crowd the darkening plain!
Lo Israel flees! the haughty heathens dare,
Pollute the ark; nor know th' Almighty's there.
The sacred Prophet lifts his suppliant hands,
And calls down vengeance on the impious bands;
Aghast they hear tremendous thunders rise,
And from the lightenings turn their trembling eyes;
The fields are redden'd with a sanguine die,
The vanquish'd triumph, and the victors fly.
Roll o'er yon hills, and crowd the darkening plain!
Lo Israel flees! the haughty heathens dare,
Pollute the ark; nor know th' Almighty's there.
The sacred Prophet lifts his suppliant hands,
And calls down vengeance on the impious bands;
Aghast they hear tremendous thunders rise,
And from the lightenings turn their trembling eyes;
The fields are redden'd with a sanguine die,
The vanquish'd triumph, and the victors fly.
Thus scenes of varied life thy nation prove,
Restrain their crimes, and fix their wandering love.
At length, impatient of their Maker's hand,
Their tribes, with union'd voice; a king demand.
First chosen to the throne, of truth forlorn,
Blasting the promise of his opening morn,
Saul, impious tyrant, holds the sacred sway,
And Israel's hapless sons his rod obey.
But now the scenes a longer view demand;
Behold what wonders to thine eyes expand!
Restrain their crimes, and fix their wandering love.
At length, impatient of their Maker's hand,
Their tribes, with union'd voice; a king demand.
First chosen to the throne, of truth forlorn,
Blasting the promise of his opening morn,
Saul, impious tyrant, holds the sacred sway,
And Israel's hapless sons his rod obey.
But now the scenes a longer view demand;
Behold what wonders to thine eyes expand!
The hero gaz'd; at once two mountains rose,
O'erspread by squadrons of embattled foes.
Proud, from the southern hill a giant strode,
Dar'd his pale foes, and brav'd the arm of God.
Vast were his limbs, for war and ruin made;
His towering stature cast a long, dark shade;
His eye glar'd fury, and his buckler's gleam,
Flam'd, like a cloud before the setting beam.
A youth, in nature's prime, oppos'd his arm,
To the dire threatenings of the lowering storm:
Soft round his aspect rosy beauty smil'd,
Bold but not rash, and without terror mild.
By his strong hand, like rapid lightening, flung,
Full on the giant's front a pebble sung;
Like some tall oak, the mighty warrior fell,
And with shrill thunders rang his clashing steel.
At once the heathens fled; their foes pursued,
And boundless death the crimson fields bestrew'd.
O'erspread by squadrons of embattled foes.
Proud, from the southern hill a giant strode,
Dar'd his pale foes, and brav'd the arm of God.
Vast were his limbs, for war and ruin made;
His towering stature cast a long, dark shade;
His eye glar'd fury, and his buckler's gleam,
Flam'd, like a cloud before the setting beam.
A youth, in nature's prime, oppos'd his arm,
To the dire threatenings of the lowering storm:
Soft round his aspect rosy beauty smil'd,
Bold but not rash, and without terror mild.
By his strong hand, like rapid lightening, flung,
Full on the giant's front a pebble sung;
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And with shrill thunders rang his clashing steel.
At once the heathens fled; their foes pursued,
And boundless death the crimson fields bestrew'd.
Then thus the Guide—Here David's skilful hand,
Sinks vast Goliath in the bloody sand.
Call'd, from the peace of sylvan shades unknown,
To rule an empire, and to mount a throne,
This beauteous youth shall stretch a prosperous sway,
And bid wide realms, and conquer'd kings, obey;
Where fertile shores the proud Euphrates laves,
Where yon broad ocean rolls its lucid waves,
Beyond the limits of the Syrian reign,
Or where far southward spreads the crimson main.
Sinks vast Goliath in the bloody sand.
Call'd, from the peace of sylvan shades unknown,
To rule an empire, and to mount a throne,
This beauteous youth shall stretch a prosperous sway,
And bid wide realms, and conquer'd kings, obey;
Where fertile shores the proud Euphrates laves,
Where yon broad ocean rolls its lucid waves,
Beyond the limits of the Syrian reign,
Or where far southward spreads the crimson main.
Behold, in dreadful pomp, from northern skies,
What gloomy clouds, what thronging squadrons rise!
Kings in the flaming van exalt their forms,
Borne in swift cars, and wrapp'd in dazzling arms;
Here Ammon's sons unnumber'd crowd the fields;
There Syria's millions wave their glimmering shields.
What gloomy clouds, what thronging squadrons rise!
Kings in the flaming van exalt their forms,
Borne in swift cars, and wrapp'd in dazzling arms;
Here Ammon's sons unnumber'd crowd the fields;
There Syria's millions wave their glimmering shields.
See Israel moves in glory to the fight!
See Joab, circled with a blaze of light!
His lofty port, his firm, undaunted eye,
Shoot terror round, and bid the millions fly.
See Joab, circled with a blaze of light!
His lofty port, his firm, undaunted eye,
Shoot terror round, and bid the millions fly.
Again what crowds the distant plains invade!
How the world darkens in the sable shade!
Aloft in air the dancing banners fly,
And throngs of lances tremble in the sky.
High in the front majestic David stands,
Leads on the conquest, and the fight commands,
Bids death before him sweep the dreadful plain,
And rolls his chariot o'er th unnumber'd slain.
How the world darkens in the sable shade!
Aloft in air the dancing banners fly,
And throngs of lances tremble in the sky.
High in the front majestic David stands,
Leads on the conquest, and the fight commands,
Bids death before him sweep the dreadful plain,
And rolls his chariot o'er th unnumber'd slain.
Nor less shall peace adorn his righteous sway;
The proud shall tremble, and the rich obey;
With equal hand, great Justice hold the scale;
In every council Wisdom's voice prevail;
The fields grow fat, beneath the culturing hand,
And smiling plenty wanton round the land.
Then spacious towns, with wealth and pomp supplied,
Shall bend long walls and lift their spiry pride;
O'er all imperial Salem's splendors rise,
The boast of earth, and emblem of the skies.
The proud shall tremble, and the rich obey;
With equal hand, great Justice hold the scale;
In every council Wisdom's voice prevail;
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And smiling plenty wanton round the land.
Then spacious towns, with wealth and pomp supplied,
Shall bend long walls and lift their spiry pride;
O'er all imperial Salem's splendors rise,
The boast of earth, and emblem of the skies.
He spoke: tall mountains rear their summits high,
Crown'd with fair spires, that vanish in the sky;
Upheave huge walls: imperial arches bend,
And golden turrets to the clouds ascend.
So, when dun night begins in heaven to rise,
A long, dark cloud surrounds the northern skies;
Forth from its spacious womb effulgent stream
Tall spires of glory, columns bright of flame;
There shine gay walls illumin'd towers ascend,
Wave round th' immense, and o'er the concave bend;
Expanding, reddening, the proud pomp aspires,
And stars faint-tremble through the wonderous fires.
Thus wide, thus bright, the splendid scene expands,
Rich with the treasures of surrounding lands;
The long streets wind; the lofty domes ascend;
Fair gardens bloom, and crystal fountains bend;
From flowery millions rich perfumes arise,
Load the sweet gales, and breathe upon the skies.
Crown'd with fair spires, that vanish in the sky;
Upheave huge walls: imperial arches bend,
And golden turrets to the clouds ascend.
So, when dun night begins in heaven to rise,
A long, dark cloud surrounds the northern skies;
Forth from its spacious womb effulgent stream
Tall spires of glory, columns bright of flame;
There shine gay walls illumin'd towers ascend,
Wave round th' immense, and o'er the concave bend;
Expanding, reddening, the proud pomp aspires,
And stars faint-tremble through the wonderous fires.
Thus wide, thus bright, the splendid scene expands,
Rich with the treasures of surrounding lands;
The long streets wind; the lofty domes ascend;
Fair gardens bloom, and crystal fountains bend;
From flowery millions rich perfumes arise,
Load the sweet gales, and breathe upon the skies.
There, crown'd with towers, and wrapp'd in golden pride,
A bursting dome the wondering Chief descried,
On eastern hills its front aerial stood,
Look'd o'er the walls, and distant regions view'd;
There glow'd the beauty of the artists' mind;
There gates, there spires, there columns, he design'd;
There, with strong light, etherial wisdom shone,
There blended glories mock'd the noonday sun,
A bright, celestial grandeur towers display'd;
And verdant courts, expansive, round them spread.
There call'd from circling realms, a gladsome train,
In gayest robes, unnumber'd, hid the plain.
Soft rose their songs; the harp's bewildering sound,
Breath'd mild inchantment through the domes around,
On shining altars gifts of virtue lay,
Rich incense fum'd, and smoke embrown'd the day.
High o'er the rest, a prince majestic stood,
And robes of splendor loosely round him flow'd;
Spread were his hands; his face, to earth declin'd,
Spoke the calm raptures of a pious mind;
His voice, on balmy winds, like incense, driven,
Rose, sweetly fragrant, to approving heaven:
At once, as earthquakes, rumbling, rock the ground,
Slow roll'd a long, deep roar the dome around;
O'er the tall towers a cloud convolving spread,
Bedimm'd the skies, and wrapp'd the world in shade;
Fierce from its womb terrific lightenings came,
The gifts exhaling in the rapid flame;
The train fell prostrate; shook the bright abode,
And trembling earth confess'd the present God.
A bursting dome the wondering Chief descried,
On eastern hills its front aerial stood,
Look'd o'er the walls, and distant regions view'd;
There glow'd the beauty of the artists' mind;
There gates, there spires, there columns, he design'd;
There, with strong light, etherial wisdom shone,
There blended glories mock'd the noonday sun,
A bright, celestial grandeur towers display'd;
And verdant courts, expansive, round them spread.
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In gayest robes, unnumber'd, hid the plain.
Soft rose their songs; the harp's bewildering sound,
Breath'd mild inchantment through the domes around,
On shining altars gifts of virtue lay,
Rich incense fum'd, and smoke embrown'd the day.
High o'er the rest, a prince majestic stood,
And robes of splendor loosely round him flow'd;
Spread were his hands; his face, to earth declin'd,
Spoke the calm raptures of a pious mind;
His voice, on balmy winds, like incense, driven,
Rose, sweetly fragrant, to approving heaven:
At once, as earthquakes, rumbling, rock the ground,
Slow roll'd a long, deep roar the dome around;
O'er the tall towers a cloud convolving spread,
Bedimm'd the skies, and wrapp'd the world in shade;
Fierce from its womb terrific lightenings came,
The gifts exhaling in the rapid flame;
The train fell prostrate; shook the bright abode,
And trembling earth confess'd the present God.
Then thus the Guide—This prince, to David born,
With solemn pomp shall Salem's towers adorn;
To God's great name, this glorious pile shall raise,
Fair type of Heaven, and seat of lasting praise.
With solemn pomp shall Salem's towers adorn;
To God's great name, this glorious pile shall raise,
Fair type of Heaven, and seat of lasting praise.
In his bless'd reign, shall peace extend her sway;
The poor dwell safely, and the proud obey;
Israel, secure, in happy fields recline,
Pluck their own figs, and taste their plenteous wine;
The swain sole monarch of his lands shall reign,
And own the products of the grateful plain.
On fame's light wings, his glory shall be borne,
Where smiles fair eve, or blooms etherial morn;
From distant regions kings enraptur'd throng,
Drink sacred truth, and catch the heavenly song:
To him, her boundless wealth shall Egypt yield;
To him, Sabea ope the spicy field;
In morn's fair islands, sweets celestial blow;
Wide ocean's realms with pearly splendors glow:
The loom its purple, earth its gems, unfold,
And teeming sulphur kindle into gold.
The poor dwell safely, and the proud obey;
Israel, secure, in happy fields recline,
Pluck their own figs, and taste their plenteous wine;
The swain sole monarch of his lands shall reign,
And own the products of the grateful plain.
On fame's light wings, his glory shall be borne,
Where smiles fair eve, or blooms etherial morn;
From distant regions kings enraptur'd throng,
Drink sacred truth, and catch the heavenly song:
To him, her boundless wealth shall Egypt yield;
To him, Sabea ope the spicy field;
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Wide ocean's realms with pearly splendors glow:
The loom its purple, earth its gems, unfold,
And teeming sulphur kindle into gold.
Long shall bright wisdom gild his prosperous day,
Till magic beauty charm his heart astray;
Wisdom, beyond the narrow thoughts of man,
In clouds involv'd, and bounded by a span;
Wisdom, that nature's mysteries shall controul,
And rule the nobler kingdom of the soul.
Till magic beauty charm his heart astray;
Wisdom, beyond the narrow thoughts of man,
In clouds involv'd, and bounded by a span;
Wisdom, that nature's mysteries shall controul,
And rule the nobler kingdom of the soul.
At length, when death his spirit shall demand,
Two guilty kings shall sway Canäan's land,
Both to the fatal love of idols given,
And both rejected by an angry Heaven:
While their mad kingdoms oft in fight contend,
And flames lay waste their fields, and wars their cities rend.
Two guilty kings shall sway Canäan's land,
Both to the fatal love of idols given,
And both rejected by an angry Heaven:
While their mad kingdoms oft in fight contend,
And flames lay waste their fields, and wars their cities rend.
Then shall th' Eternal's awful vengeance rise,
His wheels descend, his chariot shake the skies
Before his breath the sons of Israel fly,
Like chaff when whirlwinds sweep th' autumnal sky,
To realms, whose beauty endless frosts deform,
To heavens that thunder with eternal storm:
Where o'er yon fiery cliffs, that bound the skies,
Dejected suns with feeble influence rise,
At distance hovering round the unbless'd shore,
Where glimmering ice forbids the waves to roar.
His wheels descend, his chariot shake the skies
Before his breath the sons of Israel fly,
Like chaff when whirlwinds sweep th' autumnal sky,
To realms, whose beauty endless frosts deform,
To heavens that thunder with eternal storm:
Where o'er yon fiery cliffs, that bound the skies,
Dejected suns with feeble influence rise,
At distance hovering round the unbless'd shore,
Where glimmering ice forbids the waves to roar.
Yet still, while Judah owns his awful sway,
And pious kings their sacred homage pay,
Safe in the covert of his guardian hand,
Shall happy subjects share a peaceful land;
Till rous'd to wrath by insolence of crimes,
He rolls deep horror o'er Canäan's climes.
And pious kings their sacred homage pay,
Safe in the covert of his guardian hand,
Shall happy subjects share a peaceful land;
Till rous'd to wrath by insolence of crimes,
He rolls deep horror o'er Canäan's climes.
On that dread morn, shall Salem hear from far
The trump's shrill clamour, and the sounding car;
Hosts train'd to blood her shining seats surround,
And all her glories totter to the ground.
Adieu! adieu! thou darling of the skies;
Thy towers begin to shake; thy flames begin to rise.
The trump's shrill clamour, and the sounding car;
Hosts train'd to blood her shining seats surround,
And all her glories totter to the ground.
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Thy towers begin to shake; thy flames begin to rise.
Where once the palace raptur'd eyes descried,
And the tall temple rear'd its splendid pride,
Round mouldering walls the nightly wolf shall howl;
Sad ruins murmur to the wailing owl;
In domes, once golden, creeping moss be found;
The long, rank weed o'erspread the garden's bound;
The wild Idumean cast a mournful eye
On the brown towers, and pass in silence by.
And the tall temple rear'd its splendid pride,
Round mouldering walls the nightly wolf shall howl;
Sad ruins murmur to the wailing owl;
In domes, once golden, creeping moss be found;
The long, rank weed o'erspread the garden's bound;
The wild Idumean cast a mournful eye
On the brown towers, and pass in silence by.
Nor let deep sorrow pain thy pitying eyes;
Lo fairer scenes in quick succession rise!
Soon shall the temple crown the sacred hill,
Bright domes ascend, and fields around them smile;
Thy nation gather; great Messiah shine,
And earth be honour'd with a King divine.
Lo fairer scenes in quick succession rise!
Soon shall the temple crown the sacred hill,
Bright domes ascend, and fields around them smile;
Thy nation gather; great Messiah shine,
And earth be honour'd with a King divine.
From Edom's realms, what mighty form ascends!
How the vale blossoms! how the mountain bends!
How shine his limbs, in heaven's immortal pride!
How beams his vesture in the rainbow died!
'Tis he! 'tis he! who saves a world undone;
The Prince of glory! God's eternal Son!
O'er conscious hills he wins his beauteous way;
The plains are transport, and all nature gay.
How the vale blossoms! how the mountain bends!
How shine his limbs, in heaven's immortal pride!
How beams his vesture in the rainbow died!
'Tis he! 'tis he! who saves a world undone;
The Prince of glory! God's eternal Son!
O'er conscious hills he wins his beauteous way;
The plains are transport, and all nature gay.
O sons of men!—th' indulgent Saviour cries—
My raptur'd voice invites you to the skies.
No more to Jacob's narrow race confin'd,
A bliss unmeasur'd flows for all mankind;
The life, the youth, of climes forever bless'd;
Increasing glory, and seraphic rest.
My raptur'd voice invites you to the skies.
No more to Jacob's narrow race confin'd,
A bliss unmeasur'd flows for all mankind;
The life, the youth, of climes forever bless'd;
Increasing glory, and seraphic rest.
Say, what the gain in pleasure's paths to stray,
Where poison blossoms, and where serpents play.
Ambition's lofty steep with pain to climb,
Where guilt, and anguish, swell with every crime;
To waste, in weary toils, man's little doom,
For treasures, ravish'd by the neighbouring tomb.
Should earth's broad realms beneath your sceptre roll,
Can worlds exchang'd redeem the deathless soul?
Rise then, oh rise, from sin's oblivious sleep!
Lo, wide beneath you gapes th' unfathom'd deep!
Explore, with me, the undeceiving road,
That blooms with virtue, and that leads to God.
Where poison blossoms, and where serpents play.
Ambition's lofty steep with pain to climb,
Where guilt, and anguish, swell with every crime;
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For treasures, ravish'd by the neighbouring tomb.
Should earth's broad realms beneath your sceptre roll,
Can worlds exchang'd redeem the deathless soul?
Rise then, oh rise, from sin's oblivious sleep!
Lo, wide beneath you gapes th' unfathom'd deep!
Explore, with me, the undeceiving road,
That blooms with virtue, and that leads to God.
What though dire pain, and grief, and sad dismay,
And all earth's fury hedge the arduous way;
Those griefs, those pains, my feet before you brave,
The world's fell hatred, and the gloomy grave;
I feel superior wisdom's peace refin'd,
And the fair morning of a guiltless mind;
The toils of faith, rewarding as they rise;
Befriending seraphs, and complacent Skies.
And all earth's fury hedge the arduous way;
Those griefs, those pains, my feet before you brave,
The world's fell hatred, and the gloomy grave;
I feel superior wisdom's peace refin'd,
And the fair morning of a guiltless mind;
The toils of faith, rewarding as they rise;
Befriending seraphs, and complacent Skies.
And O the end! the bright, immortal end!
Heaven's gates unbar, and angel hosts attend.
Each hour more sweet, for you her rivers roll;
A sky, still brightening, arches round her pole;
Fair, and more fair, her sunny mansions glow;
Pure, and more pure, her airs etherial blow;
Her host, in growing youth, serenely shines;
Her glory quickens, and her world refines.
In that fair world, to e'er-beginning joy,
Each hour increasing, ting'd with no alloy,
Rest from each toil, relief from every care,
Conquest of death, and triumph o'er despair,
To your own peers, your lasting home, ascend,
To bliss' fair fountain, virtue's faithful friend,
Those peers heaven's sons, that home the bright abode,
That fount an ocean, and that friend a God.
To these fair realms to lift the contrite mind,
To give bless'd faith, and purchase peace refin'd,
To man's lost soul the stamp of heaven recall,
And build again the ruins of the fall,
From God's high throne he comes to every woe,
The world his dungeon, and mankind his foe,
Heaven's wrath for thankless wretches dares assume,
Ascends the cross, and tries the darksome tomb.
Heaven's gates unbar, and angel hosts attend.
Each hour more sweet, for you her rivers roll;
A sky, still brightening, arches round her pole;
Fair, and more fair, her sunny mansions glow;
Pure, and more pure, her airs etherial blow;
Her host, in growing youth, serenely shines;
Her glory quickens, and her world refines.
In that fair world, to e'er-beginning joy,
Each hour increasing, ting'd with no alloy,
Rest from each toil, relief from every care,
Conquest of death, and triumph o'er despair,
To your own peers, your lasting home, ascend,
To bliss' fair fountain, virtue's faithful friend,
Those peers heaven's sons, that home the bright abode,
That fount an ocean, and that friend a God.
To these fair realms to lift the contrite mind,
To give bless'd faith, and purchase peace refin'd,
To man's lost soul the stamp of heaven recall,
And build again the ruins of the fall,
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The world his dungeon, and mankind his foe,
Heaven's wrath for thankless wretches dares assume,
Ascends the cross, and tries the darksome tomb.
Lo these dread scenes expanding to thine eye!
Behold yon cloudy pomp invest the sky!
What hosts of angels wave their flamy wings!
The world is silent—hark, what music rings!—
All hail, ye happy swains! this sacred morn.
Of David's race, the promis'd Saviour's born;
In Bethlehem's inn, behold the parent maid,
Her heavenly offspring in a manger laid!
See, see, in yon blue track, his star ascend!
Adore ye angels! heaven in homage bend!
From earth one cloud of mingling incense rise!
Peace to the world, and glory to the skies!
Behold yon cloudy pomp invest the sky!
What hosts of angels wave their flamy wings!
The world is silent—hark, what music rings!—
All hail, ye happy swains! this sacred morn.
Of David's race, the promis'd Saviour's born;
In Bethlehem's inn, behold the parent maid,
Her heavenly offspring in a manger laid!
See, see, in yon blue track, his star ascend!
Adore ye angels! heaven in homage bend!
From earth one cloud of mingling incense rise!
Peace to the world, and glory to the skies!
Before the harbinger behold him stand,
And take the sacred sprinkling from his hand;
On wings of flame the etherial dove descend,
And the glad train with reverent homage bend!
Far round th' immense approving thunders roll,
And God's own son belov'd resounds from pole to pole.
And take the sacred sprinkling from his hand;
On wings of flame the etherial dove descend,
And the glad train with reverent homage bend!
Far round th' immense approving thunders roll,
And God's own son belov'd resounds from pole to pole.
See, at his touch, the fainting form respires;
The pale-eyed leper glows with purple fires;
Light as the hart, th' exulting cripple springs,
And the dumb suppliant new-born praises sings;
Unusual sounds the cleaving car surprise,
And light, and prospect, charm expanding eyes;
The dungeon bursts; the prisoner leaps to day,
And life recall'd reanimates the clay!
The pale-eyed leper glows with purple fires;
Light as the hart, th' exulting cripple springs,
And the dumb suppliant new-born praises sings;
Unusual sounds the cleaving car surprise,
And light, and prospect, charm expanding eyes;
The dungeon bursts; the prisoner leaps to day,
And life recall'd reanimates the clay!
At his command, what throngs of demons flee,
To yon far gulf, that blackens o'er the sea!
Lo, in the skirt of yonder fading storm,
Obscurely sailing, many a dreadful form!
From its deep womb, what sullen murmurs rise!
And what pale lightenings feebly sweep the skies!
To yon far gulf, that blackens o'er the sea!
Lo, in the skirt of yonder fading storm,
Obscurely sailing, many a dreadful form!
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And what pale lightenings feebly sweep the skies!
But O! what love the harden'd soul can gain!
Fair truth compels, Messiah charms, in vain.
Untaught, unmov'd, by hate and fury driven,
His nation rise against the heir of heaven,
Before a heathen's bar tumultuous hale;
Nor worth can move, nor innocence avail.
Behold the milder glories round him shine!
What peace serene! what constancy divine!
How silently sublime! how meekly great!
How virtue's splendor shades the glare of state!
Fair truth compels, Messiah charms, in vain.
Untaught, unmov'd, by hate and fury driven,
His nation rise against the heir of heaven,
Before a heathen's bar tumultuous hale;
Nor worth can move, nor innocence avail.
Behold the milder glories round him shine!
What peace serene! what constancy divine!
How silently sublime! how meekly great!
How virtue's splendor shades the glare of state!
By friends denied, by poor vile worms contemn'd,
Judg'd without law, and without guilt condemn'd,
While men, while demons, in fond triumph rise,
The Prince of life, the Lord of angels, dies.
At once dire earthquakes heave the shuddering ground,
Rend the hard rocks; the mountains quake around;
Far o'er the world blank midnight casts her shade,
And trembling rise the nations of the dead:
Pain'd, from the scene the conscious sun retires,
And nature's voice proclaims—A God expires.
Judg'd without law, and without guilt condemn'd,
While men, while demons, in fond triumph rise,
The Prince of life, the Lord of angels, dies.
At once dire earthquakes heave the shuddering ground,
Rend the hard rocks; the mountains quake around;
Far o'er the world blank midnight casts her shade,
And trembling rise the nations of the dead:
Pain'd, from the scene the conscious sun retires,
And nature's voice proclaims—A God expires.
But not the earth his sacred form confines;
The bands dissolve; the grave its trust resigns;
His fair, transforming limbs new life inspires;
Heaven's youth informs, and Godlike beauty fires;
From the dark tomb he wings his lucid way,
Ascends the sky, and glads the climes of day.
As thy bold arm, to Israel's chosen band,
Thy foes extinguish'd, gives the promis'd land;
Call'd by thy name, shall he to realms of gloom
Drive vanquish'd Death, and triumph o'er the tomb,
To that bless'd land, the true Canäan, rise,
And guide his chosen children to the skies.
The bands dissolve; the grave its trust resigns;
His fair, transforming limbs new life inspires;
Heaven's youth informs, and Godlike beauty fires;
From the dark tomb he wings his lucid way,
Ascends the sky, and glads the climes of day.
As thy bold arm, to Israel's chosen band,
Thy foes extinguish'd, gives the promis'd land;
Call'd by thy name, shall he to realms of gloom
Drive vanquish'd Death, and triumph o'er the tomb,
To that bless'd land, the true Canäan, rise,
And guide his chosen children to the skies.
Then o'er his foes shall fearful vengeance break;
Heaven shine in arms; earth's listening regions quake;
The fond, vain triumph unknown woes destroy,
And clouds of ruin blast the transient joy.
Heaven shine in arms; earth's listening regions quake;
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And clouds of ruin blast the transient joy.
Behold, in western skies, the storm ascend,
Its terrors blacken, and its flames extend!
There hide the whirlwinds, soon ordain'd to roll;
There sleep fierce thunders, soon to rock the pole.
But first dread signs the guilty world alarm;
A sanguine horror shades the sun's bright form;
In fields of air, unreal hosts contend;
Shrill arms resound, and cars the concave rend:
From hell's black shores the Pestilence aspires,
Roams the wide earth, and breathes her baleful fires;
Whole regions wither in her sickening flight,
And hosts, and nations, perish in a night:
Far round the shuddering sky pale meteors glare,
And raging Discord sounds the trump of war.
Its terrors blacken, and its flames extend!
There hide the whirlwinds, soon ordain'd to roll;
There sleep fierce thunders, soon to rock the pole.
But first dread signs the guilty world alarm;
A sanguine horror shades the sun's bright form;
In fields of air, unreal hosts contend;
Shrill arms resound, and cars the concave rend:
From hell's black shores the Pestilence aspires,
Roams the wide earth, and breathes her baleful fires;
Whole regions wither in her sickening flight,
And hosts, and nations, perish in a night:
Far round the shuddering sky pale meteors glare,
And raging Discord sounds the trump of war.
Then countless millions seize the bloody shield,
And Death's black ensign glooms the fading field.
Lo, Zion's domes what grimly hosts inclose!
See sun-bright eagles lead her gathering foes!
High o'er her walls, what threatening engines rise!
And hark, what clamours murmuring mount the skies;
With clouds, pursuing clouds, the terrors grow;
More fierce the blaze, more dark th' invading woe.
But why should dismal scenes distress thy sight,
Or grief unnerve thee for th' impending fight?
And Death's black ensign glooms the fading field.
Lo, Zion's domes what grimly hosts inclose!
See sun-bright eagles lead her gathering foes!
High o'er her walls, what threatening engines rise!
And hark, what clamours murmuring mount the skies;
With clouds, pursuing clouds, the terrors grow;
More fierce the blaze, more dark th' invading woe.
But why should dismal scenes distress thy sight,
Or grief unnerve thee for th' impending fight?
Meantime, from land to land with speed convey'd,
Messiah's sons his truth and blessings spread.
On countless realms, to guilt and darkness given,
Aliens from life, and reprobate of Heaven,
The sacred Spirit sheds his healing power,
And skies indulgent heavenly bounty shower.
Low at his name the raptur'd nations bend;
By him perfum'd, unnumber'd prayers ascend;
To heaven his name from earth's great houshold flies,
And one vast cloud of incense cheers the skies.
Messiah's sons his truth and blessings spread.
On countless realms, to guilt and darkness given,
Aliens from life, and reprobate of Heaven,
The sacred Spirit sheds his healing power,
And skies indulgent heavenly bounty shower.
Low at his name the raptur'd nations bend;
By him perfum'd, unnumber'd prayers ascend;
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And one vast cloud of incense cheers the skies.
From Salem's favour'd hills, the bliss shall stray,
Glad every land, and stretch to every sea;
But chief far onward speed its western flight,
And bless the regions of descending light.
Glad every land, and stretch to every sea;
But chief far onward speed its western flight,
And bless the regions of descending light.
Far o'er yon azure main thy view extend,
Where seas, and skies, in blue confusion blend,
Lo, there a mighty realm, by heaven design'd
The last retreat for poor, oppress'd mankind!
Form'd with that pomp, which marks the hand divine,
And clothes yon vault, where worlds unnumber'd shine,
Here spacious plains in solemn grandeur spread;
Here cloudy forests cast eternal shade:
Rich vallies wind; the sky tall mountains brave,
And inland seas for commerce spread the wave;
With nobler floods, the sea-like rivers roll,
And fairer lustre purples round the pole.
Here, warm'd by happy suns, gay mines unfold
The useful iron, and the lasting gold;
Pure, changing gems in silence learn to glow,
And mock the splendors of the covenant bow:
On countless hills, by savage footsteps trod,
That smile to see the future harvest nod,
In glad succession, plants unnumber'd bloom,
And flowers unnumber'd breathe a rich perfume;
Hence life once more a length of days shall claim,
And health, reviving, light her purple flame.
Where seas, and skies, in blue confusion blend,
Lo, there a mighty realm, by heaven design'd
The last retreat for poor, oppress'd mankind!
Form'd with that pomp, which marks the hand divine,
And clothes yon vault, where worlds unnumber'd shine,
Here spacious plains in solemn grandeur spread;
Here cloudy forests cast eternal shade:
Rich vallies wind; the sky tall mountains brave,
And inland seas for commerce spread the wave;
With nobler floods, the sea-like rivers roll,
And fairer lustre purples round the pole.
Here, warm'd by happy suns, gay mines unfold
The useful iron, and the lasting gold;
Pure, changing gems in silence learn to glow,
And mock the splendors of the covenant bow:
On countless hills, by savage footsteps trod,
That smile to see the future harvest nod,
In glad succession, plants unnumber'd bloom,
And flowers unnumber'd breathe a rich perfume;
Hence life once more a length of days shall claim,
And health, reviving, light her purple flame.
Far from all realms this world imperial lies;
Seas roll between, and threatening storms arise;
Alike remov'd beyond Ambition's pale,
And the bold pinions of the venturous sail:
Till circling years the destin'd period bring,
And a new Moses lifts the daring wing,
Through trackless seas, an unknown flight explores,
And hails a new Canäan's promis'd shores.
Seas roll between, and threatening storms arise;
Alike remov'd beyond Ambition's pale,
And the bold pinions of the venturous sail:
Till circling years the destin'd period bring,
And a new Moses lifts the daring wing,
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And hails a new Canäan's promis'd shores.
On yon far strand, behold that little train
Ascending, venturous, o'er th' unmeasur'd main.
No dangers fright: no ills the course delay;
'Tis virtue prompts, and God directs the way.
Speed, speed, ye sons of truth! let Heaven befriend,
Let angels wast you, and let peace attend!
O smile thou sky serene! ye storms retire!
And airs of Eden every sail inspire!
Swift o'er the main, behold the canvas fly,
And fade, and fade, beneath the farthest sky;
See verdant fields the changing waste unfold;
See sudden harvests dress the plains in gold:
In lofty walls the moving rocks ascend,
And dancing woods to spires and temples bend!
Ascending, venturous, o'er th' unmeasur'd main.
No dangers fright: no ills the course delay;
'Tis virtue prompts, and God directs the way.
Speed, speed, ye sons of truth! let Heaven befriend,
Let angels wast you, and let peace attend!
O smile thou sky serene! ye storms retire!
And airs of Eden every sail inspire!
Swift o'er the main, behold the canvas fly,
And fade, and fade, beneath the farthest sky;
See verdant fields the changing waste unfold;
See sudden harvests dress the plains in gold:
In lofty walls the moving rocks ascend,
And dancing woods to spires and temples bend!
Meantime, expanding o'er earth's distant ends,
Lo, Slavery's gloom in sable pomp descends;
Far round each eastern clime her volumes roll,
And pour, deep-shading, to the sadden'd pole.
How the world droops beneath the fearful blast;
The plains all wither'd, and the skies o'ercast!
From realm to realm extends the general groan;
The fainting body stupifies to stone;
Benumb'd, and fix'd, the palsied soul expires,
Blank'd all its views, and quench'd its living fires;
In clouds of boundless shade, the scenes decay;
Land after land departs, and nature fades away.
Lo, Slavery's gloom in sable pomp descends;
Far round each eastern clime her volumes roll,
And pour, deep-shading, to the sadden'd pole.
How the world droops beneath the fearful blast;
The plains all wither'd, and the skies o'ercast!
From realm to realm extends the general groan;
The fainting body stupifies to stone;
Benumb'd, and fix'd, the palsied soul expires,
Blank'd all its views, and quench'd its living fires;
In clouds of boundless shade, the scenes decay;
Land after land departs, and nature fades away.
In that dread hour, beneath auspicious skies,
To nobler bliss yon western world shall rise.
Unlike all former realms, by war that stood,
And saw the guilty throne ascend in blood,
Here union'd Choice shall form a rule divine;
Here countless lands in one great system join;
The sway of Law unbroke, unrivall'd grow,
And bid her blessings every land o'erflow.
To nobler bliss yon western world shall rise.
Unlike all former realms, by war that stood,
And saw the guilty throne ascend in blood,
Here union'd Choice shall form a rule divine;
Here countless lands in one great system join;
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And bid her blessings every land o'erflow.
In fertile plains, behold the tree ascend,
Fair leaves unfold, and spreading branches bend!
The fierce, invading storm secure they brave,
And the strong influence of the creeping wave,
In heavenly gales with endless verdure rise,
Wave o'er broad fields, and fade in friendly skies.
There safe from driving rains, and battering hail,
And the keen fury of the wintry gale,
Fresh spring the plants; the flowery millions bloom,
All ether gladdening with a choice perfume;
Their hastening pinions birds unnumber'd spread,
And dance, and wanton, in th' aerial shade.
Fair leaves unfold, and spreading branches bend!
The fierce, invading storm secure they brave,
And the strong influence of the creeping wave,
In heavenly gales with endless verdure rise,
Wave o'er broad fields, and fade in friendly skies.
There safe from driving rains, and battering hail,
And the keen fury of the wintry gale,
Fresh spring the plants; the flowery millions bloom,
All ether gladdening with a choice perfume;
Their hastening pinions birds unnumber'd spread,
And dance, and wanton, in th' aerial shade.
Here Empire's last, and brightest throne shall rise;
And Peace, and Right, and Freedom, greet the skies:
To morn's far realms her ships commercing sail,
Or lift their canvas to the evening gale;
In wisdom's walks, her sons ambitious soar,
Tread starry fields, and untried scenes explore.
And hark what strange, what solemn-breathing strain
Swells, wildly murmuring, o'er the far, far main!
Down time's long, lessening vale, the notes decay,
And, lost in distant ages, roll away.
And Peace, and Right, and Freedom, greet the skies:
To morn's far realms her ships commercing sail,
Or lift their canvas to the evening gale;
In wisdom's walks, her sons ambitious soar,
Tread starry fields, and untried scenes explore.
And hark what strange, what solemn-breathing strain
Swells, wildly murmuring, o'er the far, far main!
Down time's long, lessening vale, the notes decay,
And, lost in distant ages, roll away.
When earth commenc'd, six morns of labour rose,
Ere the calm Sabbath shed her soft repose.
Thus shall the world's great week direct its way,
And thousand circling suns complete the day.
Past were two days, ere beam'd the law divine;
Two days must roll, ere great Messiah shine;
Two changeful days, the Gospel's light shall rise;
Then sacred quiet hush the stormy skies.
O'er orient regions suns of toil shall roll,
Faint lustre dawn, and clouds obscure the pole:
But o'er yon favourite world, the Sabbath's morn,
Shall pour unbounded day, and with clear splendor burn.
Ere the calm Sabbath shed her soft repose.
Thus shall the world's great week direct its way,
And thousand circling suns complete the day.
Past were two days, ere beam'd the law divine;
Two days must roll, ere great Messiah shine;
Two changeful days, the Gospel's light shall rise;
Then sacred quiet hush the stormy skies.
O'er orient regions suns of toil shall roll,
Faint lustre dawn, and clouds obscure the pole:
256
Shall pour unbounded day, and with clear splendor burn.
Hence, o'er all lands shall sacred influence spread,
Warm frozen climes, and cheer the death-like shade;
To nature's bounds, reviving Freedom reign,
And Truth, and Virtue, light the world again.
Warm frozen climes, and cheer the death-like shade;
To nature's bounds, reviving Freedom reign,
And Truth, and Virtue, light the world again.
No more in arms shall battling nations rise;
Nor war's hoarse thunders heave the earth and skies;
No hungry vulture, from the rock's tall brow,
Eye the red field, and slaughtering host, below;
No famine waste; no tender infant fear;
The meek-eyed virgin drop no painful tear;
Soft to the lyre the trumpet sink refin'd,
And peace' mild music still the stormy mind:
The savage, nurs'd in blood, with wondering eye,
Sees all the horrors of the desert fly:
Dread war, once rapturous, now his soul affrights;
Sweet peace allures, and angel love delights;
His melting thoughts with softer passion glow;
His tears steal gently o'er the plaint of woe;
To virtuous toils his feet instinctive turn;
Or seek the temple in the smiles of morn;
Each stormy purpose truth's mild rays serene,
And spring celestial clothes the waste within.
Nor war's hoarse thunders heave the earth and skies;
No hungry vulture, from the rock's tall brow,
Eye the red field, and slaughtering host, below;
No famine waste; no tender infant fear;
The meek-eyed virgin drop no painful tear;
Soft to the lyre the trumpet sink refin'd,
And peace' mild music still the stormy mind:
The savage, nurs'd in blood, with wondering eye,
Sees all the horrors of the desert fly:
Dread war, once rapturous, now his soul affrights;
Sweet peace allures, and angel love delights;
His melting thoughts with softer passion glow;
His tears steal gently o'er the plaint of woe;
To virtuous toils his feet instinctive turn;
Or seek the temple in the smiles of morn;
Each stormy purpose truth's mild rays serene,
And spring celestial clothes the waste within.
See, round the lonely wild, with glad surprise,
Strange verdure blooms, and flowery wonders rise!
Hark how the sounds of gushing waters roll!
What new Arabias breathe upon the soul!
On russet plains returning Sharon blows;
Her fragrance charms; her living beauty glows;
Each mount a Lebanon in pomp ascends,
And, topp'd with cloudy pride, the cedar bends;
To meads, to sports, with lambs the wolf retires,
Sooth'd his wild rage, and quench'd his gloomy fires,
The viper fierce, the hissing asp, grow mild,
Refuse their prey, and wanton with the child:
New hymns the plumy tribes inraptur'd raise,
And howling forests harmonize to praise.
Strange verdure blooms, and flowery wonders rise!
Hark how the sounds of gushing waters roll!
What new Arabias breathe upon the soul!
On russet plains returning Sharon blows;
Her fragrance charms; her living beauty glows;
Each mount a Lebanon in pomp ascends,
And, topp'd with cloudy pride, the cedar bends;
To meads, to sports, with lambs the wolf retires,
Sooth'd his wild rage, and quench'd his gloomy fires,
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Refuse their prey, and wanton with the child:
New hymns the plumy tribes inraptur'd raise,
And howling forests harmonize to praise.
Shine soft, O sun! ye skies around them smile!
Your showers propitious balmy heavens distil!
In every waste what cheerful domes arise!
What golden temples meet the bending skies,
To yon bright world what clouds of incense roll;
How Virtue's songs breathe sweet from pole to pole!
Your showers propitious balmy heavens distil!
In every waste what cheerful domes arise!
What golden temples meet the bending skies,
To yon bright world what clouds of incense roll;
How Virtue's songs breathe sweet from pole to pole!
Through earth's wide realms let solemn silence flow!
Be hush'd thou main! ye winds forget to blow!
Jehovah speaks—Beneath the farthest skies,
My trump shall sound, my sacred standard rise;
From morn to eve the lucid banner shine,
And saints, ecstatic, hail th' illustrious sign.
Wak'd from the slumbers of the world unknown,
See raptur'd Sion mount the starry throne,
Round her fair gates, her thronging sons behold,
Dress'd in white garments, and adorn'd with gold!
Be hush'd thou main! ye winds forget to blow!
Jehovah speaks—Beneath the farthest skies,
My trump shall sound, my sacred standard rise;
From morn to eve the lucid banner shine,
And saints, ecstatic, hail th' illustrious sign.
Wak'd from the slumbers of the world unknown,
See raptur'd Sion mount the starry throne,
Round her fair gates, her thronging sons behold,
Dress'd in white garments, and adorn'd with gold!
Arise, O child of fostering heaven, arise;
Queen of the world, and favourite of the skies;
In sunny robes, with living splendor, shine;
Be all thy vestments as thyself divine!
Queen of the world, and favourite of the skies;
In sunny robes, with living splendor, shine;
Be all thy vestments as thyself divine!
Seize the loud harp, arouse the breathing string;
Exalt thine eyes, and hymns of transport sing;
Behold thy ruin'd walls again ascend;
Thy towers shoot up; thy spacious arches bend;
Thy gardens brighten; streams reviving roll,
And gales of paradise intrance the soul.
Exalt thine eyes, and hymns of transport sing;
Behold thy ruin'd walls again ascend;
Thy towers shoot up; thy spacious arches bend;
Thy gardens brighten; streams reviving roll,
And gales of paradise intrance the soul.
Where long, long howl'd the solitary blast,
O'er the brown mountain, and the dreary waste;
Where famish'd wolves proclaim'd their nightly roam,
And raging lions found a bloody home;
Again glad suns command thy towers to burn,
And o'er thy splendors bursts the raptur'd morn;
In vales of fragrance hymns of angels ring;
The mountains leap; the conscious forests sing;
To thy fair realms the bloom of Eden given
Transcends the morn, and rivals opening heaven.
O'er the brown mountain, and the dreary waste;
Where famish'd wolves proclaim'd their nightly roam,
And raging lions found a bloody home;
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And o'er thy splendors bursts the raptur'd morn;
In vales of fragrance hymns of angels ring;
The mountains leap; the conscious forests sing;
To thy fair realms the bloom of Eden given
Transcends the morn, and rivals opening heaven.
Lo, from the west, and east, and south, and north,
In countless millions, Gentile throngs break forth!
Their garlands bloom; their golden offerings blaze;
Their harps instinctive tremble to thy praise.
For thee, what prayers from gathering lands ascend!
What suppliant nations at thine altars bend!
With what soft music sounds th' etherial song!
What love, what ecstacy, attunes the tongue!
How gay the heavens! how fair the earth serene!
How joy illumes, how incense charms the scene!
Lo, in each face primæval beauty glows!
In every vein primæval vigour flows;
In every bosom brightens peace refin'd,
And endless sunshine lights th' unclouded mind;
Without one terror, shuts the willing eye
And the soul wafts in slumber to the sky.
See mighty Justice lifts his awful reign!
Behold new Joshuas sway thy realms again!
Again the Prophet lights the earthly gloom;
Heaven's gates disclose, and climes beyond the tomb;
To earth glad angels speed their beauteous flight,
And call their fellows to the domes of light!
In countless millions, Gentile throngs break forth!
Their garlands bloom; their golden offerings blaze;
Their harps instinctive tremble to thy praise.
For thee, what prayers from gathering lands ascend!
What suppliant nations at thine altars bend!
With what soft music sounds th' etherial song!
What love, what ecstacy, attunes the tongue!
How gay the heavens! how fair the earth serene!
How joy illumes, how incense charms the scene!
Lo, in each face primæval beauty glows!
In every vein primæval vigour flows;
In every bosom brightens peace refin'd,
And endless sunshine lights th' unclouded mind;
Without one terror, shuts the willing eye
And the soul wafts in slumber to the sky.
See mighty Justice lifts his awful reign!
Behold new Joshuas sway thy realms again!
Again the Prophet lights the earthly gloom;
Heaven's gates disclose, and climes beyond the tomb;
To earth glad angels speed their beauteous flight,
And call their fellows to the domes of light!
In castern climes, where suns begin to roll,
Or where clear splendors gild the sparkling pole,
Or where, illum'd by nature's fairest ray,
Smile the bless'd regions of descending day,
Unnumber'd ships, like mist the morn exhales,
Stretch their dim canvas to the rushing gales.
Behold, ascending, cloud-like, in the skies,
How their sails whiten! how their masts arise!
The world all moves! the far-extended main
Is lost beneath th' immeasurable train!
Here earth impatient all her treasures yields,
Fruits of gay mines, and sweets of spicy fields:
Fair robes of silken splendor mock the morn,
And sun-bright gems with changing lustre burn.
Or where clear splendors gild the sparkling pole,
Or where, illum'd by nature's fairest ray,
Smile the bless'd regions of descending day,
Unnumber'd ships, like mist the morn exhales,
Stretch their dim canvas to the rushing gales.
Behold, ascending, cloud-like, in the skies,
How their sails whiten! how their masts arise!
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Is lost beneath th' immeasurable train!
Here earth impatient all her treasures yields,
Fruits of gay mines, and sweets of spicy fields:
Fair robes of silken splendor mock the morn,
And sun-bright gems with changing lustre burn.
Exult, O earth! ye heavens with joy survey
Her charms, her glories, hold the lingering day!
Lo, wrapp'd in sparkling gold, thy wide walls burn;
Thy stones to pearls, thy gates to diamonds, turn,
Thy domes to palaces, thy seats to thrones,
To queens thy daughters, and to kings thy sons.
Her charms, her glories, hold the lingering day!
Lo, wrapp'd in sparkling gold, thy wide walls burn;
Thy stones to pearls, thy gates to diamonds, turn,
Thy domes to palaces, thy seats to thrones,
To queens thy daughters, and to kings thy sons.
Awake, awake, ye tenants of the tomb!
Burst your cold chains, and hail your destin'd home!
Lo, the night fades; the sky begins to burn,
And ruddy splendor opes the living morn!
See tombs, instinctive, break the sleepy charm,
And gales divine the dust imprison'd warm;
From finish'd slumbers changing patriarchs rise;
Life crowns their heads, and transport fires their eyes;
Dress'd in the youth of heaven, again are join'd
The form angelic and the sainted mind.
Burst your cold chains, and hail your destin'd home!
Lo, the night fades; the sky begins to burn,
And ruddy splendor opes the living morn!
See tombs, instinctive, break the sleepy charm,
And gales divine the dust imprison'd warm;
From finish'd slumbers changing patriarchs rise;
Life crowns their heads, and transport fires their eyes;
Dress'd in the youth of heaven, again are join'd
The form angelic and the sainted mind.
From bliss to bliss the circling hours shall flow;
With my own smiles the pure expansion glow,
Bright as the moon, the stars invest the pole;
Bright as the sun, the moon sublimely roll;
Unmeasur'd glories round the sun arise,
And every morn light nations to the skies.
With my own smiles the pure expansion glow,
Bright as the moon, the stars invest the pole;
Bright as the sun, the moon sublimely roll;
Unmeasur'd glories round the sun arise,
And every morn light nations to the skies.
Long, long shall these fair scenes the bosom charm,
And light, and love, refining nature warm;
Till earth slow-mouldering hear the great decree,
And time's last waves approach th' unfathom'd sea.
Then o'er wild regions, round the distant pole,
Shall war's tremendous voice begin to roll,
From hell's dark caverns Discord fierce ascend,
Resound her trump, and startled nature rend;
All heaven re-echo to the deep alarms,
And maddening nations swiftly rush to arms.
See, high in air, her banner, wide unfurl'd,
Streams in black terror o'er the trembling world;
From pole to pole the rage of combat flies,
And realms 'gainst realms with ardent vengeance rise!
To scenes of slaughtering Fight the millions pour;
Loud thunders roll, and flashing swords devour;
On delug'd plains unnumber'd corses lie,
And shouts, and groans, immingled, cleave the sky.
To Cities then she steers her dusky way;
The turrets shake, the walls in smoke decay:
O'er the tall domes, and spires in gold array'd,
Where Pomp sate thron'd, and Joy and Friendship play'd,
Fierce drives the nimble flame; the whirlwinds throng,
Howl through the walls, and drive the storm along.
Now to the Fields she wings her rapid force,
The world involving in her wasting course;
Before her car, a fiery tempest flies;
Behind, long hosts interminably rise;
From her pale face th' etherial orbs retire;
Deep heaves the ground; the blackening groves expire;
Horror, and wild dismay, the earth appall,
And one unbounded ruin buries all.
And light, and love, refining nature warm;
Till earth slow-mouldering hear the great decree,
And time's last waves approach th' unfathom'd sea.
Then o'er wild regions, round the distant pole,
Shall war's tremendous voice begin to roll,
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Resound her trump, and startled nature rend;
All heaven re-echo to the deep alarms,
And maddening nations swiftly rush to arms.
See, high in air, her banner, wide unfurl'd,
Streams in black terror o'er the trembling world;
From pole to pole the rage of combat flies,
And realms 'gainst realms with ardent vengeance rise!
To scenes of slaughtering Fight the millions pour;
Loud thunders roll, and flashing swords devour;
On delug'd plains unnumber'd corses lie,
And shouts, and groans, immingled, cleave the sky.
To Cities then she steers her dusky way;
The turrets shake, the walls in smoke decay:
O'er the tall domes, and spires in gold array'd,
Where Pomp sate thron'd, and Joy and Friendship play'd,
Fierce drives the nimble flame; the whirlwinds throng,
Howl through the walls, and drive the storm along.
Now to the Fields she wings her rapid force,
The world involving in her wasting course;
Before her car, a fiery tempest flies;
Behind, long hosts interminably rise;
From her pale face th' etherial orbs retire;
Deep heaves the ground; the blackening groves expire;
Horror, and wild dismay, the earth appall,
And one unbounded ruin buries all.
Mid these dire scenes, more awful scenes shall rise;
Sad nations quake, and trembling seize the skies.
From the dark tomb shall fearful lights ascend;
And sullen sounds the sleeping mansion rend;
Pale ghosts with terror break the dreamer's charm,
And death-like cries the listening world alarm.
Then midnight pangs shall toss the cleaving plains;
Fell Famine wanton o'er unburied trains;
From crumbling mountains baleful flames aspire;
Realms sink in floods, and towns dissolve in fire;
In every blast, the spotted plague be driven,
And angry meteors blaze athwart the heaven.
Clouds of dark blood shall blot the sun's broad light,
Spread round th' immense, and shroud the world in night,
With pale, and dreadful ray, the cold moon gleam;
The dim, lone stars diffuse an anguish'd beam;
Storms rock the skies; afflicted ocean roar,
And sanguine billows die the shuddering shore:
And round earth thunder, from the almighty throne,
The voice irrevocable—It is done.
Sad nations quake, and trembling seize the skies.
From the dark tomb shall fearful lights ascend;
And sullen sounds the sleeping mansion rend;
Pale ghosts with terror break the dreamer's charm,
And death-like cries the listening world alarm.
Then midnight pangs shall toss the cleaving plains;
Fell Famine wanton o'er unburied trains;
From crumbling mountains baleful flames aspire;
Realms sink in floods, and towns dissolve in fire;
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And angry meteors blaze athwart the heaven.
Clouds of dark blood shall blot the sun's broad light,
Spread round th' immense, and shroud the world in night,
With pale, and dreadful ray, the cold moon gleam;
The dim, lone stars diffuse an anguish'd beam;
Storms rock the skies; afflicted ocean roar,
And sanguine billows die the shuddering shore:
And round earth thunder, from the almighty throne,
The voice irrevocable—It is done.
Rous'd on the fearful morn, shall nature hear
The trump's deep terrors rend the troubled air;
From realm to realm the sound tremendous roll,
Cleave the broad main, and shake th' astonish'd pole;
The slumbering bones th' Archangel's call inspire;
Rocks sink in dust, and earth be wrapp'd in fire;
From realms far-distant orbs unnumber'd come,
Sail thro' immensity, and learn their doom:
And all yon changeless stars, that, thron'd on high,
Reign in immortal lustre round the sky,
In solemn silence shroud their living light,
And leave the world to undistinguish'd night.
The trump's deep terrors rend the troubled air;
From realm to realm the sound tremendous roll,
Cleave the broad main, and shake th' astonish'd pole;
The slumbering bones th' Archangel's call inspire;
Rocks sink in dust, and earth be wrapp'd in fire;
From realms far-distant orbs unnumber'd come,
Sail thro' immensity, and learn their doom:
And all yon changeless stars, that, thron'd on high,
Reign in immortal lustre round the sky,
In solemn silence shroud their living light,
And leave the world to undistinguish'd night.
Hark, what dread sounds, descending from the pole,
Wave following wave, in swelling thunders roll!
How the tombs cleave! What awful forms arise!
What crowding nations pain the failing eyes!
From land to land behold the mountains rend;
From shore to shore the final flames ascend,
Round the dark poles with boundless terror reign,
With bend immeasurable sweep the main,
From morn's far kingdoms stretch to realms of even,
And climb, and climb, with solemn roar to heaven.
What smoky ruins wrap the lessening ground!
What firey sheets fail through the vaulted round!
Pour'd in one mass, the lands, and seas, decay;
Inroll'd, the heavens, dissolving, fleet away;
The moon departs; the sun's last beams expire,
And nature's buried in the boundless fire.
Wave following wave, in swelling thunders roll!
How the tombs cleave! What awful forms arise!
What crowding nations pain the failing eyes!
From land to land behold the mountains rend;
From shore to shore the final flames ascend,
Round the dark poles with boundless terror reign,
With bend immeasurable sweep the main,
From morn's far kingdoms stretch to realms of even,
And climb, and climb, with solemn roar to heaven.
What smoky ruins wrap the lessening ground!
What firey sheets fail through the vaulted round!
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Inroll'd, the heavens, dissolving, fleet away;
The moon departs; the sun's last beams expire,
And nature's buried in the boundless fire.
Lo, from the radiance of the bless'd abode,
Messiah comes, in all the pomp of God!
Borne on swift winds, a storm before him flies;
Stars crown his head, and rainbows round him rise;
Beneath his feet, a sun's broad terrors burn.
And cleaving darkness opes a dreadful morn:
Through boundless space careering flames are driven;
Truth's sacred hosts descend, and all the thrones of heaven.
See crowding millions, call'd from earth's far ends,
See hell's dark world, with fearful gloom, ascends,
In throngs incomprehensible! Around
Worlds after worlds, from nature's farthest bound,
Call'd by th' Archangel's voice, from either pole,
Self-mov'd, with all created nations, roll.
From this great train, his eyes the just divide,
Price of his life, and being's fairest pride;
Rob'd by his mighty hand, the starry throngs
From harps of transport call exstatic songs.
Messiah comes, in all the pomp of God!
Borne on swift winds, a storm before him flies;
Stars crown his head, and rainbows round him rise;
Beneath his feet, a sun's broad terrors burn.
And cleaving darkness opes a dreadful morn:
Through boundless space careering flames are driven;
Truth's sacred hosts descend, and all the thrones of heaven.
See crowding millions, call'd from earth's far ends,
See hell's dark world, with fearful gloom, ascends,
In throngs incomprehensible! Around
Worlds after worlds, from nature's farthest bound,
Call'd by th' Archangel's voice, from either pole,
Self-mov'd, with all created nations, roll.
From this great train, his eyes the just divide,
Price of his life, and being's fairest pride;
Rob'd by his mighty hand, the starry throngs
From harps of transport call exstatic songs.
Hail, heirs of endless peace! ordain'd to rove
Round the pure climes of everlasting love.
For you the sun first led the lucid morn;
The world was fashion'd, and Messiah born;
For you high heaven with fond impatience waits,
Pours her fair streams, and opes her golden gates;
Each hour, with purer glory, gayly shines,
Her courts enlarges, and her air refines.
Round the pure climes of everlasting love.
For you the sun first led the lucid morn;
The world was fashion'd, and Messiah born;
For you high heaven with fond impatience waits,
Pours her fair streams, and opes her golden gates;
Each hour, with purer glory, gayly shines,
Her courts enlarges, and her air refines.
But O unhappy race! to woes consign'd,
Lur'd by fond pleasure, and to wisdom blind.
What new Messiah shall the spirit save,
Stay the pent flames, and shut th' eternal grave?
Where sleeps the music of his voice divine?
Where hides the face, that could so sweetly shine?
Now hear that slighted voice to thunder turn!
See that mild face with flames of vengeance burn!
High o'er your heads the storm of ruin roars,
And, round th' immense no friend your fate deplores.
Lur'd by fond pleasure, and to wisdom blind.
What new Messiah shall the spirit save,
Stay the pent flames, and shut th' eternal grave?
Where sleeps the music of his voice divine?
Where hides the face, that could so sweetly shine?
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See that mild face with flames of vengeance burn!
High o'er your heads the storm of ruin roars,
And, round th' immense no friend your fate deplores.
Lo, there to endless woe in throngs are driven,
What once were angels, and bright stars of heaven!
The world's gay pride! the king with splendor crown'd!
The chief resistless, and the sage renown'd!
Down, down, the millions sink; where yon broad main
Heaves her dark waves, and spreads the seats of pain:
Where long, black clouds, emblaz'd with awful fire,
Pour sullen round their heads, and in dread gloom retire.
What once were angels, and bright stars of heaven!
The world's gay pride! the king with splendor crown'd!
The chief resistless, and the sage renown'd!
Down, down, the millions sink; where yon broad main
Heaves her dark waves, and spreads the seats of pain:
Where long, black clouds, emblaz'd with awful fire,
Pour sullen round their heads, and in dread gloom retire.
Then, tumult's hideous din forever o'er,
All foes subdued, and doom'd to rise no more,
Sin forc'd from each fair clime to final flight,
And hell's dark prison lock'd in endless night;
To heaven's extremes diviner peace shall roll,
And spread through countless worlds, beyond each distant pole.
Crown'd with glad triumph, from the toils of war,
On angel's wings, shall sail Messiah's car;
To the great Sire his conquering hand restore
Th' etherial ensigns of unmeasur'd power;
Present his sons, before the palace bright,
And seek the bosom of unborrow'd light.
All foes subdued, and doom'd to rise no more,
Sin forc'd from each fair clime to final flight,
And hell's dark prison lock'd in endless night;
To heaven's extremes diviner peace shall roll,
And spread through countless worlds, beyond each distant pole.
Crown'd with glad triumph, from the toils of war,
On angel's wings, shall sail Messiah's car;
To the great Sire his conquering hand restore
Th' etherial ensigns of unmeasur'd power;
Present his sons, before the palace bright,
And seek the bosom of unborrow'd light.
Then scenes, in heaven before unknown, shall rise,
And a new æra bless th' angelic skies;
Through boundless tracts, a nobler kingdom shine,
Nor Seraphs' minds conceive the pomp divine.
All realms, all worlds above, combin'd in one;
The heaven of heavens the bright, eternal throne;
The subjects saints; the period endless spring;
The realm immensity, and God the king.
And a new æra bless th' angelic skies;
Through boundless tracts, a nobler kingdom shine,
Nor Seraphs' minds conceive the pomp divine.
All realms, all worlds above, combin'd in one;
The heaven of heavens the bright, eternal throne;
The subjects saints; the period endless spring;
The realm immensity, and God the king.
As fix'd, unchang'd, yon central world of fire
Leads on sublime the planetary choir,
Lights all the living lamps, and round the sky,
In midnight splendor calls the moon to fly;
Creates their smiles, instructs their orbs to roll,
Fair eye of nature, and the world's great soul;
So, in the beams of clear perfection shrin'd,
Shall his great Source, the Uncreated Mind,
Through all the Morning Stars that round him glow,
Rove in his smiles, and at his altar bow,
Through countless trains, where worlds unnumber'd rise,
And cloth'd in starry pomp superior skies,
Pure rays of endless peace indulgent shine,
And warm immensity with love divine.
Leads on sublime the planetary choir,
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In midnight splendor calls the moon to fly;
Creates their smiles, instructs their orbs to roll,
Fair eye of nature, and the world's great soul;
So, in the beams of clear perfection shrin'd,
Shall his great Source, the Uncreated Mind,
Through all the Morning Stars that round him glow,
Rove in his smiles, and at his altar bow,
Through countless trains, where worlds unnumber'd rise,
And cloth'd in starry pomp superior skies,
Pure rays of endless peace indulgent shine,
And warm immensity with love divine.
Love's mighty chain shall boundless beings bind,
Join world to world, and mind unite with mind;
O'er the great houshold heaven's eternal pride,
From age to age, th' Almighty Sire preside;
Around his awful throne, with searching eyes,
See fairer sons, and priests, and kings, arise;
Bid his own essence in their hearts revive,
His beauty brighten, and his glory live:
From harps etherial living raptures fall,
Heaven fill th' immense, and God be all in all.
Join world to world, and mind unite with mind;
O'er the great houshold heaven's eternal pride,
From age to age, th' Almighty Sire preside;
Around his awful throne, with searching eyes,
See fairer sons, and priests, and kings, arise;
Bid his own essence in their hearts revive,
His beauty brighten, and his glory live:
From harps etherial living raptures fall,
Heaven fill th' immense, and God be all in all.
In glory wafted down the lucid pole,
See Salem's walls their solemn scenes unroll!
Less beauteous charms the lovely spouse array,
When beams of rapture light the bridal day.
Behold, new skies serenely round her glow;
Pure fragrance breathes, and purple splendors flow:
In pomp ascends the ever-rising morn,
And starry rainbows round her chariot burn!
See Salem's walls their solemn scenes unroll!
Less beauteous charms the lovely spouse array,
When beams of rapture light the bridal day.
Behold, new skies serenely round her glow;
Pure fragrance breathes, and purple splendors flow:
In pomp ascends the ever-rising morn,
And starry rainbows round her chariot burn!
There, from the distant wave, no suns arise;
No moon's pale radiance gleams in evening skies;
Round the broad region, with unsading ray,
Jehovah smiles immeasurable day:
With living lustre, fruits celestial glow,
And streams of life in endless beauty flow.
No moon's pale radiance gleams in evening skies;
Round the broad region, with unsading ray,
Jehovah smiles immeasurable day:
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And streams of life in endless beauty flow.
In robes of angels, see the chosen shine;
Waft on the floods, or walk in light divine;
Or taste the changing tree, whose fruit supplies
The youth of heaven, and beauty of the skies!
Waft on the floods, or walk in light divine;
Or taste the changing tree, whose fruit supplies
The youth of heaven, and beauty of the skies!
There, dress'd in bloom, and young in rosy years,
Th'immortal Father of mankind appears:
In clear effulgence, Israel's Prophet shines,
And no dark veil his eager wish confines:
With smiles of joy serene, the Friend of God
Counts his glad sons, and opes the bless'd abode.
Th'immortal Father of mankind appears:
In clear effulgence, Israel's Prophet shines,
And no dark veil his eager wish confines:
With smiles of joy serene, the Friend of God
Counts his glad sons, and opes the bless'd abode.
To these fair realms thy footsteps shall ascend;
Here crowns await thee, and bright robes attend;
At nature's call, thy guardian seraph come,
And guide his chosen to th' eternal home;
Before the sacred throne, thy thoughts appear,
Thy virtuous toils, thy truth, and love, sincere;
His witness'd favourite, God with smiles approve,
And join to nations of immortal love.
Here crowns await thee, and bright robes attend;
At nature's call, thy guardian seraph come,
And guide his chosen to th' eternal home;
Before the sacred throne, thy thoughts appear,
Thy virtuous toils, thy truth, and love, sincere;
His witness'd favourite, God with smiles approve,
And join to nations of immortal love.
O blissful hour! when, freed from bonds of clay,
Thy path commences to the climes of day;
When from the sun thy wing begins to rise
Through the broad regions of unmeasur'd skies,
When time's dark years behind thy flight shall roll,
And all eternity invade thy soul.
Thy path commences to the climes of day;
When from the sun thy wing begins to rise
Through the broad regions of unmeasur'd skies,
When time's dark years behind thy flight shall roll,
And all eternity invade thy soul.
In that bless'd hour, the sons of light shall come,
And shout thee welcome to thy destin'd home;
With heightening beauty bloom each angel mind,
Glow with pure joy, and yearn with love refin'd;
In strains divine, impassion'd seraphs tell
How with dire treason heavenly nations fell;
What deeds renown'd have grac'd the fair abode;
Truth that endur'd, and zeal that rais'd to God;
How round th' expansion worlds unnumber'd sprung,
And hosts etherial sky-born praises sung;
The peace, the charms, to vernal Eden given,
Conversing angels, and approving Heaven.
In that bless'd hour, shall saints of antient days,
Lights of mankind, and heirs of deathless praise,
Disclose how Adam's sons the world o'erspread,
Borne to far isles, and o'er wide seas convey'd;
How the lone ark the seeds of nations bore,
And boundless ocean toss'd without a shore;
Embattled hosts the patriarch's faith o'ercame,
Nor votive Isaac quench'd the living flame;
Through the long devious desert Israel rov'd;
The angel wrestled, and the brother lov'd.
Rapt in thy bless'd arrival, there shall glow
The faithful partners of thine every woe;
Their hopes, their fears, their toils, with thee run o'er,
Pains far retir'd, and griefs that haunt no more:
His long-lov'd friend unspotted Hezron join,
Add song to song, and mingle bliss with thine;
Irad, divinest flower! to meet thee rise,
And cast rich fragrance round delighted skies.
And shout thee welcome to thy destin'd home;
With heightening beauty bloom each angel mind,
Glow with pure joy, and yearn with love refin'd;
In strains divine, impassion'd seraphs tell
How with dire treason heavenly nations fell;
What deeds renown'd have grac'd the fair abode;
Truth that endur'd, and zeal that rais'd to God;
How round th' expansion worlds unnumber'd sprung,
And hosts etherial sky-born praises sung;
The peace, the charms, to vernal Eden given,
Conversing angels, and approving Heaven.
In that bless'd hour, shall saints of antient days,
Lights of mankind, and heirs of deathless praise,
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Borne to far isles, and o'er wide seas convey'd;
How the lone ark the seeds of nations bore,
And boundless ocean toss'd without a shore;
Embattled hosts the patriarch's faith o'ercame,
Nor votive Isaac quench'd the living flame;
Through the long devious desert Israel rov'd;
The angel wrestled, and the brother lov'd.
Rapt in thy bless'd arrival, there shall glow
The faithful partners of thine every woe;
Their hopes, their fears, their toils, with thee run o'er,
Pains far retir'd, and griefs that haunt no more:
His long-lov'd friend unspotted Hezron join,
Add song to song, and mingle bliss with thine;
Irad, divinest flower! to meet thee rise,
And cast rich fragrance round delighted skies.
With this great concourse lost in joys serene,
No tongue can utter, and no fancy feign,
Dissolv'd in friendship, chain'd to friends, divine,
Whose thoughts, whose converse, every power refine,
Thy unknown ages swift shall glide away,
Lost in th' immense of never-ending day.
Thro' heaven's expanded field thy feet shall rove,
Th' all-beauteous region of ecstatic love;
Her gates of pearl, her towers of gems, behold,
Her streets, her mansions, of pellucid gold.
Where each fair gate cherubic watchmen guard,
And God, approving, showers the vast reward.
No tongue can utter, and no fancy feign,
Dissolv'd in friendship, chain'd to friends, divine,
Whose thoughts, whose converse, every power refine,
Thy unknown ages swift shall glide away,
Lost in th' immense of never-ending day.
Thro' heaven's expanded field thy feet shall rove,
Th' all-beauteous region of ecstatic love;
Her gates of pearl, her towers of gems, behold,
Her streets, her mansions, of pellucid gold.
Where each fair gate cherubic watchmen guard,
And God, approving, showers the vast reward.
There shalt thou feel, when, freed from sin's alloy,
Souls lift their pinions to the climes of joy,
Around all heaven what speechless transports roll,
Blend smile with smile, and mingle soul with soul;
There hail, ecstatic, to the bright abode,
The crowns, the trophies, of Messiah's blood.
Souls lift their pinions to the climes of joy,
Around all heaven what speechless transports roll,
Blend smile with smile, and mingle soul with soul;
There hail, ecstatic, to the bright abode,
The crowns, the trophies, of Messiah's blood.
There God's own hand shall lift the curtain high,
And all earth's wonders open to thine eye:
In time's mysterious reign, thy soul pursue
Power ever glorious, wisdom ever new;
See boundless good, Creation's single end,
And God his own, and being's, faithful friend;
In all, the present God resulgent shine,
And boundless glory fill the work divine.
And all earth's wonders open to thine eye:
In time's mysterious reign, thy soul pursue
Power ever glorious, wisdom ever new;
See boundless good, Creation's single end,
And God his own, and being's, faithful friend;
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And boundless glory fill the work divine.
Fed with perennial springs of bliss refin'd,
Divine effusions of th' All lovely Mind,
With endless ardour shall thy spirit glow,
And love immense from heaven's great fountain flow;
Unbounded grace fill unconfin'd desire,
Warm thy rapt bosom, and thy songs inspire.
Divine effusions of th' All lovely Mind,
With endless ardour shall thy spirit glow,
And love immense from heaven's great fountain flow;
Unbounded grace fill unconfin'd desire,
Warm thy rapt bosom, and thy songs inspire.
Each hour, thy spreading thoughts shall swift improve;
Each hour increase the transports of thy love;
With morning beauty, Youth around thee shine,
Implant new senses, and the old resine;
From height to height thy rising wishes grow,
And, at their birth, the full enjoyment flow;
No care, no want, th' expanding bliss destroy,
But every thought, and sense, and wish, be joy.
Each hour increase the transports of thy love;
With morning beauty, Youth around thee shine,
Implant new senses, and the old resine;
From height to height thy rising wishes grow,
And, at their birth, the full enjoyment flow;
No care, no want, th' expanding bliss destroy,
But every thought, and sense, and wish, be joy.
From these bless'd scenes thy slight shall oft descend,
And, with thy kindred angels, man attend.
What sweet complacence shall thy bosom warm,
To spread fair truth, and every woe to charm;
Guard the lone cot, where faith delights to dwell;
Or wake pure fervors in the secret cell;
Or watch that house, where strong devotions rise;
And prayers as incense cheer the morning skies;
Where sons to saints, to angels daughters, grow,
And peace, and virtue, build a heaven below.
When fear alarms, shalt thou that fear allay;
When grief distresses, smile the pangs away;
When pain torments, the pious eyelids close,
Make soft the bed, and breathe serene repose;
Guide the departing soul to yonder skies,
And teach the young immortal how to rise.
Through scorching sands shalt thou the wanderer bring,
Waft balmy gales, and point the cooling spring;
Or lure declining feet from flowery ways,
Seal the charm'd ear, and turn the fatal gaze;
Or with rude whirlwinds the rough main deform;
Or roll the thunders of the mountain storm;
Or on the sanguine plain sublimely stand,
Direct the triumph, and the flight command;
Or o'er some realm in glorious pomp preside,
To saints a guardian, and to kings a guide.
And, with thy kindred angels, man attend.
What sweet complacence shall thy bosom warm,
To spread fair truth, and every woe to charm;
Guard the lone cot, where faith delights to dwell;
Or wake pure fervors in the secret cell;
Or watch that house, where strong devotions rise;
And prayers as incense cheer the morning skies;
Where sons to saints, to angels daughters, grow,
And peace, and virtue, build a heaven below.
When fear alarms, shalt thou that fear allay;
When grief distresses, smile the pangs away;
When pain torments, the pious eyelids close,
Make soft the bed, and breathe serene repose;
Guide the departing soul to yonder skies,
And teach the young immortal how to rise.
Through scorching sands shalt thou the wanderer bring,
Waft balmy gales, and point the cooling spring;
Or lure declining feet from flowery ways,
Seal the charm'd ear, and turn the fatal gaze;
Or with rude whirlwinds the rough main deform;
Or roll the thunders of the mountain storm;
Or on the sanguine plain sublimely stand,
Direct the triumph, and the flight command;
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To saints a guardian, and to kings a guide.
Nor shall one world thy bounded view confine;
But round all being stretch thy flight divine,
To worlds dispers'd o'er worlds, ambitious rise,
The golden planets of sublimer skies.
But round all being stretch thy flight divine,
To worlds dispers'd o'er worlds, ambitious rise,
The golden planets of sublimer skies.
Far o'er thy little earth, to man's weak eye,
Encircling roll the glories of the sky.
Yet know, bless'd prince though thus apparent all,
The moon moves singly round this darksome ball,
The earth, with those fair fires of wandering light,
That shed soft lustre o'er the darksome night,
All worlds alike, with countless nations crown'd,
In circling course, the sun's bright orb surround.
Still their glad faces to his splendor turn,
Imbibe his beams, and meet the grateful morn.
Encircling roll the glories of the sky.
Yet know, bless'd prince though thus apparent all,
The moon moves singly round this darksome ball,
The earth, with those fair fires of wandering light,
That shed soft lustre o'er the darksome night,
All worlds alike, with countless nations crown'd,
In circling course, the sun's bright orb surround.
Still their glad faces to his splendor turn,
Imbibe his beams, and meet the grateful morn.
This mighty scene thy mind with awe inspires,
With beauty raptures, and with wonder fires.
But O thou man belov'd! yon vault survey,
Where stars in millions blend the midnight ray;
In space' broad fields so far the pomp retires,
Yon sapphire concave scarce their twinkling fires:
Hence vainly deem'd the gems of inborn light,
Ordain'd to tremble through the gloom of night:
In near approach, those stars, with constant rays,
Shoot round th' expansion, noon's excessive blaze,
Confine the empire of surrounding night,
And reign, and glory, in immortal light.
For know, bless'd favourite, suns are those fair flames;
Worlds round them roll, and day perpetual beams:
Those worlds unnumber'd circling moons adorn,
And with long splendors comets mid them burn.
As in the world of minds, with golden chain,
Attractive Love extends her blissful reign,
In one pure realm all sainted beings joins,
God with his sons, his sons with God combines:
The bond to all of pure perfection given,
The life, the beauty, peace, and joy of heaven:
So this stupendous frame, by him alone
Who calls their names, supported, number'd, known,
These countless systems in one system join'd,
Their size, their distance, with nice art design'd,
A great, attracting power, on all impress'd,
Connects, moves, governs, and forbids to rest.
With beauty raptures, and with wonder fires.
But O thou man belov'd! yon vault survey,
Where stars in millions blend the midnight ray;
In space' broad fields so far the pomp retires,
Yon sapphire concave scarce their twinkling fires:
Hence vainly deem'd the gems of inborn light,
Ordain'd to tremble through the gloom of night:
In near approach, those stars, with constant rays,
Shoot round th' expansion, noon's excessive blaze,
Confine the empire of surrounding night,
And reign, and glory, in immortal light.
For know, bless'd favourite, suns are those fair flames;
Worlds round them roll, and day perpetual beams:
Those worlds unnumber'd circling moons adorn,
And with long splendors comets mid them burn.
As in the world of minds, with golden chain,
Attractive Love extends her blissful reign,
In one pure realm all sainted beings joins,
God with his sons, his sons with God combines:
The bond to all of pure perfection given,
The life, the beauty, peace, and joy of heaven:
So this stupendous frame, by him alone
Who calls their names, supported, number'd, known,
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Their size, their distance, with nice art design'd,
A great, attracting power, on all impress'd,
Connects, moves, governs, and forbids to rest.
By this great power, impelling and impell'd,
All worlds move on through space' unmeasur'd field.
Around their planets moons refulgent stray;
Around their suns those planets trace their way;
Around your central heaven all systems roll:
And one great circling motion rules the whole.
O scene divine, on those bright towers to stand,
And mark the wonders of th' Eternal hand;
To see thro' space unnumber'd systems driven,
Worlds round their suns, and suns around the heaven;
To see one ordinance worlds and suns obey;
Their order, peace, and fair, harmonious way;
Their solemn silence: varying pomp divine;
Their fair proportions, and their endless shine!
Some nearer rolling in celestial light;
Some distant glimmering tow'rd the bordering night;
'Till far remov'd from thought the regions lie,
Where angels never wing'd the lonely, verging sky,
All worlds move on through space' unmeasur'd field.
Around their planets moons refulgent stray;
Around their suns those planets trace their way;
Around your central heaven all systems roll:
And one great circling motion rules the whole.
O scene divine, on those bright towers to stand,
And mark the wonders of th' Eternal hand;
To see thro' space unnumber'd systems driven,
Worlds round their suns, and suns around the heaven;
To see one ordinance worlds and suns obey;
Their order, peace, and fair, harmonious way;
Their solemn silence: varying pomp divine;
Their fair proportions, and their endless shine!
Some nearer rolling in celestial light;
Some distant glimmering tow'rd the bordering night;
'Till far remov'd from thought the regions lie,
Where angels never wing'd the lonely, verging sky,
On the clear glass as smiles the beauteous form,
And youth's fair light, and eyes of glory charm;
As lucid streams, with face serene, unfold
Spring's gayest prime, and flowers that bloom in gold;
As boundless ocean's smooth, resplendent plain
Rebeams the skies, and all their wonderous train,
No part, no wave, but feels the sun's broad ray,
And glows, reflective, with surrounding day:
So round th' immense, on fair creation's breast,
In endless pomp the Godhead shines impress'd;
His love, his beauty, o'er all nature burns;
Each sun unfolds it, and each world returns;
Each day, each hour, the glory bright improves,
And God, with ceaseless smile, th' immortal image loves.
And youth's fair light, and eyes of glory charm;
As lucid streams, with face serene, unfold
Spring's gayest prime, and flowers that bloom in gold;
As boundless ocean's smooth, resplendent plain
Rebeams the skies, and all their wonderous train,
No part, no wave, but feels the sun's broad ray,
And glows, reflective, with surrounding day:
So round th' immense, on fair creation's breast,
In endless pomp the Godhead shines impress'd;
His love, his beauty, o'er all nature burns;
Each sun unfolds it, and each world returns;
Each day, each hour, the glory bright improves,
And God, with ceaseless smile, th' immortal image loves.
Wing'd with pure flame thro' space' unmeasur'd rounds,
Thy soul shall visit being's farthest bounds;
When orbs begin, instruct their mass to roll;
For changing seasons fix the steady pole;
Teach eve to purple, golden morn to rise,
And light new suns in solitary skies.
Thy soul shall visit being's farthest bounds;
When orbs begin, instruct their mass to roll;
For changing seasons fix the steady pole;
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And light new suns in solitary skies.
Upborne from world to world, shalt thou behold
How ever-varying wonders God unfold;
In each new realm, with growing bliss pursue
Scenes unimagin'd, nations ever new;
See some through highborn virtues swiftly soar,
Some humbler duties, humbler thoughts explore;
To every race, new thoughts new senses bring;
On every plain, new vegetations spring;
O'er virtue's sons eternal morning bloom;
O'er guilt's vile throngs ascend eternal gloom;
O'er mingled nations mingling seasons roll,
And peace, and tumult, wrap the changing pole.
How ever-varying wonders God unfold;
In each new realm, with growing bliss pursue
Scenes unimagin'd, nations ever new;
See some through highborn virtues swiftly soar,
Some humbler duties, humbler thoughts explore;
To every race, new thoughts new senses bring;
On every plain, new vegetations spring;
O'er virtue's sons eternal morning bloom;
O'er guilt's vile throngs ascend eternal gloom;
O'er mingled nations mingling seasons roll,
And peace, and tumult, wrap the changing pole.
To endless years, thy mind, inspir'd, shall rise
Thro' knowledge, love, and beauty, of the skies;
To heights angelic, archangelic, soar,
'Till man's faint language paint the heights no more:
When borne to glory, wing'd to flights supreme,
Thy soul shall reach creation's first extreme,
Beyond all thought assume her last abode,
And seek the bosom of th' involving God.
Thro' knowledge, love, and beauty, of the skies;
To heights angelic, archangelic, soar,
'Till man's faint language paint the heights no more:
When borne to glory, wing'd to flights supreme,
Thy soul shall reach creation's first extreme,
Beyond all thought assume her last abode,
And seek the bosom of th' involving God.
The Vision ceas'd. At once the scenes decay'd,
His bright form vanish'd and his glories fled:
Swift to the camp th' exulting Chief return'd,
While the glad day-star in the orient burn'd.
His bright form vanish'd and his glories fled:
Swift to the camp th' exulting Chief return'd,
While the glad day-star in the orient burn'd.
| The conquest of Canäan | |