Sufficient to contain the human race;

And yet, if poffible, more rich than great.
Its wall, is jasper, and its floor is gold;
Its gates, fo wide and high, are feveral pearls ;
Its grand foundations are of precious stones.
God and the Lamb its glory, temple, light,
The city fhines with pure celestial rays;
As jafper precious, and as crystal clear:
The nations of the fav'd fhall walk therein.

Then wiil I fing, if God fhall give me leave,

Thofe glorious periods, far remote from view;
Thofe ages of the Mediator's reign,

Which shall not end till all things are fubdu❜d,
Redeem'd, reheaded, reconcil'd, reftor'd;
And not one enemy to God is found
Through all the regions of the universe :

For every knee shall bow, and tongue fhall fwear.
Sin, forrow, pain and death fhall be destroy'd ;
And ev'ry creature through God's wide domain,
Shall own the glorious JESUS, Lord and King. 120
Then Chrift, as Mediator, will refign

The kingdom up; and God be ALL IN ALL.
As God, his kingdom cannot have an end,
But must endure to all eternity;

Yet when his vast designs are all fulfill'd,
For which he acts the Mediator's part,
And when rebellion fhall no more exist,
That character no longer he'll fuftain.

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Thefe are the grandeft fcenes that can be fung; But O what mortal dares attempt the task?

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Shall I, who never gain'd Parnassian heights,
Nor bath'd in Helicon's harmonious spring,
On whom the stars propitious never fmil'd,
And whom the mufes never deign'd to blefs
With their poetic fire-fhall I attempt
A theme fo lofty, and a song fò grand ? ́
But help me God of nature, God of grace,
Or here I stop; and can no farther go.
The pow'r is thine, and if thou wilt employ
My weak unletter'd pen, and grant fuccefs
To my endeavors, and enable me
To write in such a manner as may please
Not men alone; but thee, the judge of all;
Then this production, howfoever weak,
Shall ftand a witnefs of thy love to man,
And of my love to thee, my Savior dear..
Be this my happiness, infpir'd by thee,
Thy Process, and thy glorious Reign to fing.
My truft is in thy name, thy Spirit's aid
Is all I afk, thefe wonders to unfold.

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First we begin with our Immanuel's birth; The Son of God comes down to dwell with men ; He, by whofe pow'rful hands all worlds were made, And all fupported by his mighty word;

He laid his glory and his riches by,

And left the lofty heav'ns of his abode :
And taking flesh, became a tenant here.
This mystery fo great demands our fong.

Ye angels, principalities and pow'rs,

155

Say, how ye wonder'd when ye faw him born, 160

A helpless babe! fruit of the virgin's womb!
And fruit of ancient promife, long foretold!
Seed of the woman! born to bruife the head.
Of him, who ruin'd all the human race.

The virgin's child, Immanuel, God with us, 165 Born in a ftable, in a manger laid,

Our flesh affuming in its meaneft state

Of fcorn'd poverty, and fervitude.

But oh the tidings to the fhepherds told, Who watch'd their flock's by night on Bethlehem's Is worthy of remembrance evermore! [plains, 170 Fear not, O fhepherds, joyful news I bring;

Glad tidings of great joy, to all mankind;

Το

you is born, this day, in David's town,

A Savior, Chrift, both David's Son and Lord! 175.

Go to the stable, there this infant view;

*

Adore your God, though in a manger laid,

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And meanly wrapp'd in coarfeft fwaddling clothes.
Searce had the angel told the joyful news,
(Surrounded with the glory of the Lord)
Than fuddenly appeared a radiant band,
Compos'd of Heav'ns Celeftial chorifters,
Who praife the great JEHOVAH night and day,
And loud refponfive found his awful name.
Thefe, all inflam'd with pure feraphic fire,
Broke forth in raptures, thus expreffing praise :

185

Glory to God, in highest ftrains be paid,

Peace be on earth, good will from leav'n to men.
The thepherds heard, and wond ring came, to pay
Their homage at the loyal Stranger's feet.

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They faw the Mother, with the heav'nly Babe,
The Lord of Angel's, in a woman's arms.
Hail, highly favor'd Virgin-mother, hail !
O happy thou, to bear the promis'd feed!
Thy name, O Woman, through long ages curs'd 195
And oft derided as the fource of ill,

Shall now be blefs'd a thousand ages hence,
Since Prince. IMMANUEL was of woman made.
Oh, how is human nature magnify'd

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By this stupendous act of boundless love!
This theme might long employ the noblest muse,
But I muft haften; much remains to fing.
When eight days were accomplish'd, Jefus felt
The circumcifing knife, and shed his blood.
Soon he began to fuffer in the flesh!
How dear it coft him to redeem mankind!
His name was called JESUS; glorious name!
Above all names fhall this diftinguish'd ftand;
And ev'ry knee fhall bow therein at laft.
The word a Mighty SAVIOR fignifies :
And he shall fave his people from their fins
So Gabriel fpake; and Jesus shall fulfil,
By price and pow'r; he's mighty to perform.
When forty days had pass'd, a moving scene-
Took place within the Temple's facred walls; 215
Which, ere I farther pass, I must relate..
Jefus was carry'd in his mother's arms,
To be presented to the Lord of Hosts,
According to the Law by Mofes giv'n,

210

That every firft-born male fhould be devote 220

As holy to the Lord; to offer there

Two turtle doves, or harmless pigeons young;
For fhe was poor and could not bring a lamb.
Long had Old Simeon, just, devout, and good,
Been waiting for this day, with longing heart: 225
For by the Holy Ghoft it was reveal'd,

That Death should never close his longing eyes,
Until he should behold the Chrift of God.
Methinks I fee the aged, pious man,

Take in his wither'd arms the heav'nly Babe, 230.
Whi e tears of joy run down his furrow'd cheeks.
Come, hear his dying fong, and learn to feel
The rapt'rous language of his heart and lips.
Lord, now thy word's fulfill'd, let me depart;
go in peace; my foul is fatisfy'd;
Because mine eyes have thy falvation seen,
Which thou before all people haft prepar'd;
To be a light to Gentiles blinded long,
And glory to thy fervant Ifrael's race.

I

O grant dear Savior, that our longing eyes
May see thee come to reign, before we fleep :
But if our flesh must drop into the dust,
Before our Jefus fhall return to reign;
One favor, Lord, we moft earnestly beg:
In this, we muft not-cannot be deny'd ;
O never let our eyes be clos'd in death,
'Till we are made acquainted with our God,
And have, by faith, beheld the bleeding Lamb,
And are, by grace, deliver'd from our firs.

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Like Simeon, may our fouls depart in peace! 250

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