The Gospel Miracles :: :: University of Virginia Library

Praise to Him who made the ear!
Praise to Him who form'd the tongue!
Nobler subject who can hear,
How can worthier theme be sung,
Than His praise, whose bounteous pow'r
Gave us in the natal hour,
Senses to enrich, unbind,
All the faculties of mind?

Other lot on him attends,
Whom amid the gazing throng
Onward draw his pitying friends
Thro' Decapolis along.
Sad and gloomy is his lot!
Notes of praise, he hears them not:
Notes of praise, around him sung,
Sound not from his echoing tongue.

His nor song of woodland bird,
Sweeping breeze or rushing sea,
Voice of flock or lowing herd,
Nor the notes of minstrelsy.
Song nor manly eloquence
Soothes his soul, or charms his sense;
Words of truth inspir'd, nor lays
Utter'd to the Inspirer's praise.

'Tis not his the sounds to pour,
Sweet to love, to friendship dear;
Nor to draw from wisdom's store
Speech, may fix the tranced ear.

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Genius prompts not him to wreathe
“Words that burn, and thoughts that breathe:”
Thoughts, that breathe the soul's desire;
Words, that burn with holy fire.

See him to the Saviour brought:
There, as destitute he lies,
How procure the blessing sought?
“Ask of me,” the Saviour cries;
“Ask; and I the boon will give:
Ask; and what ye ask receive.”
Ah! devoid of ear, of speech,
How can he obey, beseech?

See, his friends attendant wait:
Hark, they urge the kind request.
But a mightier advocate
Dwells within the Saviour's breast.
What to him can louder cry,
Than the sight of misery?
What more strong to intercede,
Than the impotence to plead?

He the man has drawn aside
From the multitude among;
To his ears his hand applied,
Spit, and gently touch'd his tongue.
He to heav'n hath cast his eye,
From his bosom heav'd a sigh,
And the potent word hath said,
“Ephphatha—be opened!”

“Ephphatha”—and open lie,
Clos'd of old, the paths of sound:
“Ephphatha”—is loos'd the tie,
Which of speech the organ bound.

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Well he hears, and well he speaks:
Forth his voice in praises breaks;
Praises to the God of heaven,
For his speech, his hearing given.

Wonder-struck, the people hear,
And the shout of praise prolong:
“Blest be he, who made the ear!
Blest be he, who form'd the tongue!
Blest thy Prophet, Israel!
Done by him are all things well:
Speech by him, and hearing come;
Hears the deaf, and speaks the dumb!”

Yes: when he the mandate gives,
“Ephphatha,” the open'd ear,
Tho' by nature deaf, receives
Pow'r the Saviour's voice to hear.
Yes: at his command unstrung,
Tho' by nature dumb, the tongue
Pow'r receives its bond to break,
And the Saviour's praises speak.

Happy, who with godly fear
In the Saviour's gifts rejoice;
Give to him the awaken'd ear,
Lift for him the new-form'd voice!
Who with thought intent his will
Seek to learn and to fulfil:
Who with heart and lip his name
Love to cherish and proclaim!

They are from his volume taught
Sounds unknown to worldly ears;
Sweeter than to poet's thought
Seems the musick of the spheres.

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By his Spirit they are led
Accents of delight to spread;
Such as once thro' Bethlehem's coast
Echoed from the heavenly host.

They, their course of duty run,
From the earth's obstructions freed,
Blest shall hear their Lord's “Well done”
From the emerald throne proceed.
They shall join all nature's hymn,
'Mid the shouts of Cherubim;
“Glory to our God be paid:
For he spake, and we were made!”