When what is taught agrees with Nature's To lift the latch, and force the way; laws. Then for the style, majestic and divine; It speaks no less than God in every line: Commanding words: whose force is still the same As the first fiat that produced our frame. All faiths beside, or did by arms ascend; Or sense indulged has made mankind their friend : This only doctrine does our lusts oppose: Unfed by nature's soil, in which it grows; Cross to our interests, curbing sense and sin; Oppress'd without, and undermined within, It thrives through pain; its own tormentors tires; And with a stubborn patience still aspires. To what can reason such effects assign Transcending nature, but to laws divine; Which in that sacred volume are contain'd; Sufficient, clear, and for that use ordain'd? POLLOK. THIS book, this holy book, on every line Marked with the seal of high divinity, But better had they ne'er been born, Who read to doubt, or read to scorn. THE BIBLE A LIGHT TO THE CHRISTIAN'S FEET. MONTGOMERY. WHAT is the world?—a wildering maze, All broad, and winding, and aslope, Millions of pilgrims throng these roads, Bearing their baubles or their loads Down to eternal night; One only path that never bends, Narrow, and rough, and steep, ascends From darkness into light. Is there no guide to show that path? The Bible!-He alone who hath The Bible need not stray; But he who hath, and will not give That light of life to all that live, Himself shall lose the way. REDEMPTION. THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION. WATTS. THE mighty frame of glorious grace, That brightest monument of praise, That e'er the God of love design'd, Employs and fills my labouring mind. Begin my soul the heav'nly song,- Proclaim inimitable love!- He that distributes crowns and thrones Hangs on a tree, and bleeds and groans! The Prince of Life resigns his breath; The King of Glory bows to death! But see the wonders of his power,- Thus were the hosts of death subdued, Who shall fulfil this boundless song! MILTON. MAN with his whole posterity must die, Die he or Justice must; unless for him Some other able, and as willing, pay The rigid satisfaction, death for death. Say heav'nly powers! where shall we find such love? Which of you will be mortal to redeem Man's mortal crime, and just the unjust to save ? Dwells in all Heaven Charity so dear? He ask'd, but all the heav'nly quire stood mute, And silence was in Heav'n: on Man's behalf By doom severe, had not the Son of God, Father! thy word is passed, Man shall find grace; And shall Grace not find means, that finds her way, The speediest of thy winged messengers, His prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul Far more than labour-it was death in and stoop Inglorious of his mortal sting disarm'd. I thro' the ample air in triumph high Shall lead Hell captive, maugre Hell, and show The powers of darkness bound.--Thou at the sight Pleas'd out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, While by thee rais'd I ruin all my foes; Then with the multitude of my redeem'à WONDERS OF REDEMPTION. YOUNG. FIRST-BORN of Ether! high in fields of View man, to see the glory of your God! A truth so strange, 'twere bold to think it true, YOUNG. THOU most indulgent, most tremendous Still more tremendous for THY wondrous That arms, with awe more awful, thy com- And foul transgression dips in sev❜nfold night. Didst stain the cross; and work of wonders The greatest, that thy dearest far might bleed; Bold thought!-shall I dare speak it, or repress? Should man more execrate, or boast, the guilt Which roused such vengeance? which such love inflam'd? O'er guilt (how mountainous) with out- Stern justice, and soft smiling love embrace, Yet still gods unredeem'd (there triumphs Or that, or man, inevitably lost: man, Tempted to weigh the dust against the skies) They less would feel, though more adorn my theme. They sang creation (for in that they shared :) How rose in melody, that child of Love! Creation's great superior, man! is thine! Thine is redemption; they just gave the key; 'Tis thine to raise and eternise the song: Though human, yet divine; for should not this Raise man o'er man, and kindle seraphs here? What, but the fathomless of thought divine, YOUNG. AND what is this? Survey the wondrous cure: Redemption! 'twas creation more sublime; Pardon for infinite offence! and pardon Through means which speak its value infinite! A pardon bought with blood, with blood DIVINE! With blood divine of Him I made my foe! Persisted to provoke! though woo'd and aw'd; Bless'd and chastis'd, a flagrant rebel still! A rebel 'midst the thunders of his throne! Nor I alone! a rebel universe! Bound every heart! and every bosom burn! O what a scale of miracles is here? My species up in arms !-Not one exempt! Praise ardent, cordial, constant, to high Yet for the foulest of the foul HE dies,Most joy'd for the redeem'd from deepest guilt! As if our race were held of highest rank, And Godhead dearer as more kind to man! heaven More fragrant than Arabia sacrificed, And all her spicy mountains in a flame. THE MESSIAH. POPE. JESUS CHRIST. YE nymphs of Solyma! begin the song: Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend, And white-robed Innocence from heaven descend. Swift fly the years, and rise the expected morn! To heavenly themes sublimer strains belong. The dreams of Pindus and the Aonian maids, Delight no more-O Thou my voice inspire Who touch'd Isaiah's hallow'd lips with fire! Rapt into future times, the bard begun : A virgin shall conceive, a virgin bear a Son! From Jesse's root behold a branch arise, Whose sacred flower with fragrance fills the skies: The ethereal spirit o'er its leaves shall move, And on its top descends the mystic Dove. Ye heavens from high the dewy nectar pour, And in soft silence shed the kindly shower! The sick and weak the healing plant shall aid, From storm a shelter, and from heat a shade. All crimes shall cease, and ancient frauds shall fail; Returning Justice lift aloft her scale; born! See, Nature hastes her earliest wreaths to bring, With all the incense of the breathing spring: Hark! a glad voice the lonely desert cheers; skies! Sink down, ye mountains; and ye valleys, rise; With heads declined, ye cedars, homage pay, Be smooth, ye rocks; ye rapid floods, give way. The Saviour comes! by ancient bards foretold; Hear him, ye deaf; and all ye blind, behold! He from thick films shall purge the visual ray, And on the sightless eye-ball pour the day: 'Tis He the obstructed paths of sound shall clear, And bid new music charm the unfolding ear: The dumb shall sing, the lame his crutch forego, And leap exulting, like the bounding roe. No sigh, no murmur, the wide world shall hear; From every face He wipes off every tear. In adamantine chains shall death be bound, And hell's grim tyrant feel the eternal wound. As the good shepherd tends his fleecy care, Seeks freshest pasture, and the purest air; Explores the lost, the wandering sheep directs, By day o'ersees them, and by night protects; The tender lambs he raises in his arms, Feeds from his hand, and in his bosom warms: Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage, Nor fields with gleaming steel be cover'd o'er, The brazen trumpets kindle rage no more; But useless lances into scythes shall bend, And the broad falchion in a plough-share end. Then palaces shall rise; the joyful son Shall finish what his short-lived sire begun; Their vines a shadow to their race shall yield, And the same hand that sow'd, shall reap the field. The swain in barren deserts with surprise Sees lilies spring, and sudden verdure rise; And starts, amidst the thirsty wilds to hear New falls of water murm'ring in his ear. On rifted rocks, the dragon's late abodes, The green reed trembles, and the bulrush nods. Waste sandy valleys, once perplex'd with thorn, The spiry fir and shapely box adorn : To leafless shrubs the flowery palms succeed, And odorous myrtle to the noisome weed. The lambs with wolves shall graze the verdant mead, And boys in flowery bands the tiger lead. The steer and lion at one crib shall meet, And harmless serpents lick the pilgrim's feet. The smiling infant in his hand shall take The crested basilisk and speckled snake, Pleased, the green lustre of the scales survey, And with their forky tongue shall innocently play. Rise, crown'd with light, imperial Salem rise! Exalt thy towery head, and lift thy eyes! And heap'd with products of Sabean springs : Reveal'd, and God's eternal day be thine! decay, Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away! But fix'd his word, his saving power remains; Thy realm for ever lasts, thy own Messiah reigns! PREDICTED ADVENT OF THE MESSIAH. SOTHEBY. REJOICE! Rejoice! (the son of Jess' exclaim'd,) 'Tis present. Lo! the luminous vision clear ! N |