Occasional verse, moral and sacred Published for the instruction and amusement of the Candidly Serious and Religious [by Edward Perronet] |
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ON THE NATIVITY.
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 | Occasional verse, moral and sacred |  |
ON THE NATIVITY.
Thoughts on 1 Tim. iii. 16.
Was he then born, whom all creation owns
Her parent head, and fountain of her being?
And was he made, who was Himself, of all
That can be made, the maker and sole heir!
By whom, and for, all beings that have been,
Or are, or shall, must or exist or die?
Her parent head, and fountain of her being?
And was he made, who was Himself, of all
That can be made, the maker and sole heir!
By whom, and for, all beings that have been,
Or are, or shall, must or exist or die?
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And was he seen, who, in the only place
Where spirits see, could not be visible,
But as he pleas'd to cover or unveil?
Where spirits see, could not be visible,
But as he pleas'd to cover or unveil?
And did he walk, whose Deity had rode
On cherub's wings, that swift out fly the light?
On cherub's wings, that swift out fly the light?
Did he too labour as an hir'd man
Who wrought for bread, whose hands without fatigue
Created worlds, and sported with the toil?
Who wrought for bread, whose hands without fatigue
Created worlds, and sported with the toil?
And did he sue for water to allay
His own desire, when weariness and thirst
Compell'd the Fountain, whence all springs are fill'd,
And filling flow, to ask an humble draught
From hands that ought to've wash'd his feet with tears?
His own desire, when weariness and thirst
Compell'd the Fountain, whence all springs are fill'd,
And filling flow, to ask an humble draught
From hands that ought to've wash'd his feet with tears?
And did he pray, to whom all prayer is made,
And praying agonize, as if in fear,
Or fearful doubt, his suit should be denied?
And praying agonize, as if in fear,
Or fearful doubt, his suit should be denied?
And was he scourg'd, whose hands with lenient cords
Had lash'd the conscience of his base revilers?
And naked nail'd, whose arm had cloath'd the skies
With bright enamel, and the earth with green,
To Calvary's cross? O draw the nail! yet not!
For on it hangs the hope of worlds unborn!
And thine who read'st, if reading thou can'st see.
But, hark! he's gone! and with him all that can;
Man's loss or gain, eternal as complete!
Had lash'd the conscience of his base revilers?
And naked nail'd, whose arm had cloath'd the skies
With bright enamel, and the earth with green,
To Calvary's cross? O draw the nail! yet not!
For on it hangs the hope of worlds unborn!
And thine who read'st, if reading thou can'st see.
But, hark! he's gone! and with him all that can;
Man's loss or gain, eternal as complete!
All Nature sighs! Hell heard the expiring groan,
And central shudders at the dreadful echo!
But Heaven exults! and so do thou, my soul,
For whom the whole, here register'd, was done!
And central shudders at the dreadful echo!
But Heaven exults! and so do thou, my soul,
For whom the whole, here register'd, was done!
| Occasional verse, moral and sacred | |