The tide of creatures ebbs and flows, Measuring their changes by the moon: No ebb his sea of glory knows; His age is one eternal noon. Then fly, my song, an endless round, JESUS THE ONLY SAVIOUR. ADAM, our father and our head, Call a bright counsel in the skies; Seraphs the mighty and the wise, Say, what expedient can you give, That sin be damn'd, and sinners live? 'Speak, are you strong to bear the load, In vain we ask for all around Stands silence through the heavenly ground: There's not a glorious mind above Has half the strength, or half the love. But, O unutterable grace! The' eternal Son takes Adam's place: Justice was pleas'd to bruise the God, And pay its wrongs with heavenly blood; What unknown racks and pangs he bore! Then rose:-The law could ask no more. Amazing work! look down, ye skies, Wonder and gaze with all your eyes; Ye heavenly thrones, stoop from above, And bow to this mysterious love. See, how they bend! See, how they look! Now they are struck with deep amaze, Each with his wings conceals his face; Now clap their sounding plumes, and cry, 'The wisdom of a Deity!' Low they adore the' incarnate Son, Triumph and reign, victorious Lord, Lo! from afar the promis'd day Send down a chariot from above, LOOKING UPWARD. THE heavens invite mine eye, My warmer spirits move, Beyond those crystal vaults, And all their sparkling balls; They're but the porches to thy courts, And paintings on thy walls. Vain world, farewell to you; I feel my powers releas'd From their old fleshy clod; Fair guardian, bear me up in haste, And set me near my God. CHRIST DYING, RISING, AND REIGNING. HE dies! the heavenly Lover dies! The tidings strike a doleful sound Come, saints, and drop a tear or two Here's love and grief beyond degree, The rising God forsakes the tomb, Break off your tears, ye saints, and tell And led the monster Death in chains. Say, live for ever, wondrous King! Born to redeem, and strong to save! Then ask the monster, Where's his sting? And where's thy victory, boasting Grave? THE GOD OF THUNDER. O THE immense, the' amazing height, He speaks; and lo, all nature shakes, Well, let the nations start and fly At the blue lightning's horrid glare, Atheists and emperors shrink and die, When flame and noise torment the air. Let noise and flame confound the skies, And drown the spacious realms below, Yet will we sing the Thunderer's praise, And send our loud hosannas through. Celestial king, thy blazing power |