And who nor love, nor Me for friend desire,
As wither'd vines I must give to the fire.
Religious comfort is a joy sublime,
To worldly minds that's totally unknown;
And bless'd serenity none can enjoy,
Who to obtain it no attention pay.
The soul, buoy'd up by earthly plenitude,
Ne'er feels the Christian's calm beatitude,
But, as the wave's by turb'lent impulse driv'n
To break in agitation, in a groan
She quits her clay whene'er she's bid begone.
My life eternal is the source of yours;
Here it consoles, and heaven at last secures :
By loving Me you have foundation sure,
That you have made My Father's love secure.
Not only you, My specially elect,
But all who love Me I will safe protect;
All My disciples, as I find them fit,
The same rich bounty from My hands shall reap.
To reach perfection, see, you earnest strive; You ev'ry hour may nearer it arrive;
The faithful christian can his life amend,
Till earthly toil to heavenly rest be turn'd,
Until that great, and wondrous change transpires, When mortal an immortal life acquires.
Be not surpris'd'to see the world return
For all your kindness but contempt and scorn;
You see how I'm detested and revil'd,
Be you, as I'm, to meet it reconcil'd.
Mind not its hatred, do but persevere,
My conq'ring arms are given you to wear;
And though for Me you here may lose
your lives,
I do assure you that your conquest proves.
O'er man the powers of hell can't so prevail,
As make their torments reach the faithful soul;
Though forc'd to quit a lifeless body here,
She surely shall to happiness repair,
At future day again her partner greet
Releas'd from prison, hasting her to meet,
And joyful join her ;-from her part no more
But live as one with Me in heaven secure.
O Father! now the time is nearly come,
When I to Thee triumphant shall return,
When 'twill be plainly seen, My Gracious God,
We have each other fully glorifi'd ;*
When so great work confided unto Me,
Almighty Lord, most graciously by Thee,
As to confer on lost and fallen man,
A life that's new, release him from the pain
Of death eternal, clearly let him see
That heav'n's his own by faith in Thee and Me,
Will be complete; and shall eternal stand,
Through My obedience to Thy just command.
Who will desire of truth to be possess'd,
To them by Me 'tis now made manifest;
From hence My flight is near, My flock to leave,
Let them, O Father, Thy protection have,
Preserve them in My faith, Thy fear and love,
Until they're call'd to rest with Us above:
Not these My choice selected friends alone
But all hereafter who sincere incline
To fix their faith upon their Saviour's name,
Grant, I and They, may in Thy presence meet,
And, never, never more, to separate !
And may they all, while here, so loving join
As to give proof to unbelieving men,
That they are Mine; yea, may they always shew
They are My friends by love and piety.
Now, Lord, receive Me to Thy realms again, In Glory there eternal to remain,
Not only Me, but let My faithful flock
Of heavenly bliss, and happy rest partake!
They to a cross each yielding foot and hand
Nail, then in air the Prince of Peace suspend.
Each zephyr mourns as forc'd the tree to pass,
Amaz'd angelic harps their concords cease,
Earth trembling veils her weeping eyes for shame,
While men with fiends to scoff Him still combine,
Say "If He be God's dear beloved Son,
"The Great Messiah, Who from heaven is come
"To conquer earth; if this be God's intent,
"Let Him now free His Son from punishment;
66 Why not now take Him under special care?
"Will'nt God protect the faithful sufferer ?
"Or, Who to others gave such great relief,
Why cannot He, from death, relieve Himself? "Ha! Thou, Who wouldst our glorious temple raze, "And it rebuild within three passing days, "Come, leave the cross, Thy punishment now flee, "And we'll believe, yea, will Thy servants be." But man, behold, the Prince of righteousness In pain from sin a lost world to release! See, how to martyrdom our Lord submits, And perfectly the glorious act completes Of thy redemption, buying with His blood A rest for us eternal with. His God!
Time's faithful herald told the hour of nine,
Ere fiends the final tragic work began ;
At twelve the heavens the awful scene declar'd,
A gloomy darkness day's refulgence hid.
The weeping sun withdrew his cheering light,
Ashamed he to view the horrid sight,
And earth at noon was veil'd by pitchy night :
"Most surely," says a Roman standing by,
"Is suffering here a heavenly deity."
The murd'rers then His raiment chose to part,
And for His vesture cast the chancing lot:
He, His great Father thus address'd, at three-
My God! My God! hast Thou forsaken Me ?" Then His unspotted soul from torture fled,
The Lord of life was number'd with the dead ;
Obedience yielding to death's piercing stroke,
In love to all wing'd hence the vital spark.
Earth's pond'rous mass stood trembling at th' event,
The parting veil was at the moment rent
In two; and death, triumphant at the time,
Appear'd to boast the victory so won,
Unconscious of the near approaching hour
When He should rise to life and die no more.
The law fulfill'd, for sin atonement made,
The King of kings within the grave was laid;
A massy stone became the closing door,
A guard was set to keep the place secure :
But lo, how vain the weak designs of men,
When adverse to the will of God supreme!
For, ere the third day's sun in brilliance shone,
All earthly power insipient became.
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