For by his paffing through each fev'ral state,

He made falvation poffible for all,

For the amazing circle fo compleat

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From Heav'n through shades of death and thence again
To the high courts of blifs, doth comprehend,
Encircle, and enclose all things at once.

This procefs gives him pow'r to conquer all;
It gives him right by all to be ador❜d :
All are declar'd to be his due reward,
And he fhall fee the travail of his foul:
And in his times or feafons fhall fubject,
Re-head, restore, and reconcile all things,
Whether in Heav'n, in fpheres unknown to men,
Or in our folar fyftem, or in earth,

Our habitation while we live, or in

The grave, or in the deeps of hell beneath,

O glorious procefs of our conqu'ring King !
The fource of all our hopes and all our joys.
How low our Lord has the foundation laid
Of that amazing kingdom, which fhall rise
Above all kingdoms, and fhall ever stand;
Shall comprehend within its limits, all
That bear the name of agents rational!

How vaft the ftructure! and how firm the state
Of that dominion which our Lord fhall have
In confequence of what he hath perform'd,
Endur'd, and suffer'd, in that process vast,

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Of which in brief I've fung! but O, how short 295
My fong has fallen of the noble theme
Which I attempted! but O blame not,
Ye critics, and ye poets; try yourselves.

Write and exceed me, fet this matter forth
In noblest strains: then will my heart rejoice 300
To fee my work into oblivion fink,

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In confequence of your more noble song.
Willing my taper weak fhould be obfcur'd
By your meridian fun; my little stream
Loft in your larger river: I'll not grudge
To fee your merits shine fuperior far
To what I can pretend. O take the hint,
And write on this fublimeft fubject fo
As quite to fet afide my work perform'd.
What theme fo much deferves the nobleft fong
As this important procefs of our Lord,
And the great empire which he fhall erect ?
No fubject fills my raptur'd foul like these !
ages I could dwell upon fuch themes,
Themes fitter for a feraph's tongue than mine. 315
Lord Jefus, feated on a throne of light,
To thee I would direct my earnest pray'r ;
Forgive my feeble fong, my weak attempt,
To fing thy glorious procefs, and proclaim
The wonders of thy ftrong redeeming love.
If I in any thing have done amifs,

For

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Forgive me, Lord, and teach my willing mind.
Thou knoweft that my fou! fincerely feeks

To glorify thy great and holy name,

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And to difciofe the wonder's thou haft wrought: 325

In which if I've fucceeded, unto thee

Be all the praife, now, and forevermore.

END OF THE SIXTH BOOK.

BOOK VII.

The Defcent of the Holy Ghoft, or, the Wonders of the
Day of Pentecoft.

DEAR object of my faith, my trust, and love!
Jefus, thou bright, immortal, heav'nly fair,
Who freely gave thy life to ransom us,
And pour'd thy blood upon the fhameful cross;
And undertaking to deliver man

Didit not abhor the humble virgin's womb :

When thou hadst conquer'd death, and overcome
Its cruel sharpness, wide didst open Heav'n;
For all believing fouls to enter there.

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O fend the Holy Spirit from above,
That Comforter, instructor, guide divine,
Which thou didst promife to thy faints of old,
And which with greatest joy they did receive
On that bleft day, which my poor feeble muse
Would fain attempt to fing. O Lord affift.
For thou canst make the feeble strong, and raise
The weakest ftrains to harmony divine.
Grant me thy Spirit with its fev'nfold gifts;
My heart infpire while I attempt to fing
The wonders wrought on that renowned day
When God, the Holy Ghoft, came down to dwell
With mortal men, thy glories to proclaim;
And to prepare them for the facred work
Which they were deftin'd to perform on earth

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And also for thy facred courts above
Lord, I would pray for fo divine a boon,
I feel the need of that celeftial flame,
To purify my foul from fin and death;
And to inspire the loftiest fentiments
Of love and joy, while Pentecost I fing.

Ten days the chosen band had spent in pray'r,

In earneft fupplication persever'd,

With one accord they join'd in that employ,
While waiting for the promise of their Lord.
Six fcore moft precious names together spent
That bleffed feafon till the time arriv'd.
Companions are of use in every thing,
Each other they encourage and fupport,
But never more than when they join in pray'r :
And mutual fervent pray'r is doubly blefs'd,
And may the Savior's mighty promise claim:
Where two of you agree on earth to ask
For any thing, it fhall be done for them,
By God, my Father, who in glory dwells,
Yet liftens to the pray'rs and cries of all
Who offer up petitions in my name.

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O that mankind on earth would now unite In faith, by pray'r to fupplicate his throne; What bleffings they might gain which now they mifs! They have not for they afk not, or, in vain They afk, and not receive, for their defign Is to confume the bleffing on their lufts.

Prayer must be made in faith through Jefu's name And be according to the will of God,

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Proceeding from an heart upright, fincere.
These are the needful requifites of pray'r.
So the difciples pray'd with conftancy

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For ten bleft days, till from their Lord they heard.
Now the appointed day was fully come,

The day of Pentecoft, that glorious day,
On which the promise of the Holy Ghost,
In all its gifts of wisdom, love, and pow'r,
Should be accomplish'd to their greatest joy ;
And mankind brought thereby to God again,
As first ripe fruits: fure token that at last
The whole fhall be prepar'd for highest use :
For if the Lord hath fanctify'd a part,
The whole muft fhare in his divine regard,
For if the root be holy, then 'tis plain
That all the branches muft be fo efteem'd.
And if the first ripe fruits are fanctify'd,
The lump, and all the harvest, are the Lord's,
All his righful due, none will he lofe.

The day arofe, the morning fun appear'd,
And found the chofen train together met,
All in one place, and all of one accord,
All waiting for the Holy Spirit's fire.
When fuddenly a rufhing mighty wind,
From heav'n defcending fill'd the happy place :
Fill'd all the room with glory; every heart
With wifdom, love, and pow'r, and grace divine.
In form of cloven tongues of fire appear'd
The holy Spirit, and on each remain'd.
Infpir'd thereby to speak with other tongues,

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