"Tis Thou shalt Zion splendidly rebuild,
And There as glorious sov'reign Lord be held,*
The willing tribes true adoration pay,
And Thee their God eternally obey,
Like dew refreshing from the morning womb,
True holiness in youthful beauty bloom,†
A world redeem'd shall faithful worship give
All kindreds, nations, Thy blest word receive.
Almighty Lord, earth's whole extent be Thine,
Thou King, Thou God, Thou gracious sovereign!
With blessings shalt Thou bless and mercy shew,
Thy loving kindness all Thy subjects know,
Yea, Egypt shall her fruitful offerings bring,
And Ethiopia fervent praises sing;
The distant isles Thy sov'reign pleasure own,
To their Redeemer raise the choral song;
Thy bless'd dominion shine from sea to sea,
Converted kingdoms truly honor Thee,‡
Prostrated, kings before Thy presence fall,
And on Thy blessed name with rev'rence call.
Enthron'd above, shall from Thy crown alight
On earth, celestial radiance, darting bright
The rays of wisdom pure, instilling joy,
And faith and hope in frail mortality.
See, how the Mystic Dove still gladly flies
To grace the olive branch, to wing supplies
Of love; and pleasing hold supernal rule
Where knowledge, truth, and piety prevail !
Triumphant Her enlighten'd intellect
Awakes to conquest, and the truth protect;
Proud ignorance flies before this conqu❜ring foe
To seek dark refuge in the realms below.
Jerusalem, made happy by Thy reign,
Shall honor give, and bless Thy holy name;
Th' unrighteous heathen too accept Thy power,
And glorify, and faithfully adore.
Go round mount Zion now, see, how display'd
Her beauties!-How in splendour she's array'd !-*
Her King's lov'd daughter is enthron'd within ;—
Ah, how Her charms in lovely lustre shine!—
Now Zion, now thy towers, thy palaces+
All glow with light, and radiance diffuse,
And tell to generations yet unborn
That God's MESSIAH doth for ever reign !
Awake, my soul! again awake! O see The awful wonders more reveal'd to thee!
HE comes again descending from above; On cherubim swift flies the God of love,
Thus we are presented, by the sweet singer of Israel, with a most magnificent account of the rise, progress, and duration of true christianity. First, he tells us that, in laying the foundation of the Redeemer's kingdom, truth, righteousness, and peace have all combined; then describes the church as the Saviour's daughter, who shall reign as queen over his blessed dominions upon earth; afterwards shews that through the care and fidelity of faithful teachers, the gospel shall spread over the universe.
In royalty celestial, grand, sublime,*
And on the wings of mighty winds upborne.
Earth's broad foundations fearful reel and shake.
The strong-built mountains tremble at His look
The heavens bow subservient to His power,
Streams from His mouth the bright consuming fire;
Beneath His feet thick clouds of darkness lie;
Round His pavilion troubled waters flow;
But night departs before His brilliant beams,
And day full glowing the ascendant gains.
Now far outspread beneath th' ethereal plain
His rays, effulgent, dart the radiant flame;
His thunders, rolling, speak His awful voice,
His enemies, with terror struck, disperse;
His lightnings blaze, as deadly arrows fly,
Appal His foes, and their proud reign destroy.
Though furious tempests give His ire to know,
And thunder's roars His awful presence shew,
Yet shall the faithful lasting kindness have,
They sure shall find His mercy and His love;
As softening showers these kindly fall on them,†
In whisp'ring zephyrs usher'd from His throne.
My muse, renew thy strains, His might proclaim,‡
And to the Rock of thy salvation sing!
Before His presence with thanksgiving raise
The sacred anthem swelling to His praise;
Repeat the choral song, sublime, and new,§
His saving power to hymn from day to day!
*See Psalms 18 and 97. + Ibid 65.
O, what majestic honors are His due,
What strength, what beauty, does His grace display !* Then, give Him glory, reverence His word,
His fame eternal loudly tell abroad;
He lives, He reigns, let ev'ry tongue declare!
Redeeming love, O, rev'rence and adore!
Ye woods, ye groves, ye hills, ye verdant plains,
The chorus join, assist my humble strains!
Ye wavy floods, ye finny tribes therein,
From slumb'ring wake, the harmony to join!
Ye elements combine, your voices tune
To spread abroad the Great Redeemer's fame!+
Ye rolling thunders, sound from pole to pole
His mighty deeds, and wondrous love to tell!
Ye youths, ye virgins, make the song aspire,
Accord, ye aged, with enliven'd fire,
To give Messiah glory, honor, power
Until, in heaven, you join an angel's lyre
To swell the note in full perfected strain,
And ever glorify His endless reign!
Stupendous orbs above, the earth and sea,
As transient grandeur, all shall pass away;
The grass shall wither, earthly beauties fade,
And lordly man low in the dust be laid;
But God's blest word eternal stand secure,
When time and worlds are fled and known no more.
Again, my harp, thy warbling tones display,
And echo sweet the still delightful lay
Till pass'd my days; and on thee, O my soul!
To quit this world thy God is pleas'd to call,
To sing in heaven the more exalted theme,
Join saints and angels in eternal song;
There praise Him who doth ever gracious prove ;*
There magnify His mercy, truth, and love,
There raise the full chorus, with thanks, to declare, His mercies are boundless, and ever endure !+
WHAT a grand sublime display
Lord, Thy servant doth portray,
Light's effulgent radiance shines
From the royal poet's strains!
Now we see Thy humble birth,
Then behold Thy cruel death;
Next in rapt'rous song Thy rise,
Grandly towering to the skies.
Then Thy glorious gospel spread,
Pacing earth Thy holy word,
And the Gentiles' gloomy night
Racing from celestial light.
Blinded Israel led to see
The bright path made shine by Thee,
|