Thus if one member fuffer'd, all were griev'd; 535 And fuch its pow'r, and fuch its fure defence. 540 545 The faithful compass was by which the fteer'd; 550 From error free; her worship was devout. In ev'ry part, for ev'ry duty fit.. Taught by the Spirit, ev'ry truth fhe knew, 555 560 566 Thousands and millions heard, believ'd, and own'd The Gospel of our Lord, and were baptiz'd. Liv'd holy lives, and dy'd most happy deaths: Conform'd to Jefus in their time of life, They flept in him, and fhall with him defcend, When he shall come again to reign on earth. 570 Ten thousand preachers of the Gospel rofe, Proclaim'd the word in many diftant lands. 575 Ten thousand times ten thousand own'd its pow'r ; 5851 Thus far my Savior's procefs I have trac'd, And sketch'd föme part of that important plan 580. Which fev'ral years ago, in diftant climes, I drew with pleasure, hoping to compleat. But all my times are in the hands of God, And he can call me in a moment hence, To render up before his awful barA full account of all my words and deeds. And if my Lord and Savior, and my Judge, Shall give his plaudit, and pronounce, Well done! I fhall not fear the num'rous hofts of hell, Nor in the leaft regard what men can say; Whether they praife or blame, 'twill be alike. If God is pleas'd, all Heav'n will fmile on me,. But if he frowns, who can his anger bear? Not me; a worm, a creature of the duft 590 But Lord, I fly to thee, to thee commit My foul and body, and my feeble works, His praife, who gave his precious life for me, And may I dwell with him forevermore, 595 600 605 Where peace, and love, and joy, and glory reign. In notes fublime, and imitate the lays Of feraphs thron'd in light, and Christ himself 610 Will not disdain to liften to my fong END OF THE SEVENTH BOOK BOOK VIII. 5 His second coming, and commencement of the Millenium. HASTEN, O Lord, the long expected day, When Jefus fhall again from Heav'n descend, No more to bleed and fuffer, but to reign! At thought of this my foul is fill'd with joy. My heart is fraught with matter rich and free, And from the facred volume I will draw Divine instruction, knowledge deep and large.. Oft has my feeble mind fresh pleasure felt While ruminating on the joyful scene, The bright appearing of my Savior, God, And his fucceeding reign, which is to last A thousand years, before the day of doom.. This period fhall my present subject be. 10 But little time remains from now till then, The Jews muft to their ancient land return, They like a storm against the land shall come, Forth from the city to captivity, 20 25 Shall think the day and victory their own. This great event the prophets have foretold 30 35 It cannot be prevented. 'Tis decreed 40 That Chrift, our Savior, fhall to earth defcend. And incredulity itfelf's a fign That Jefu's day is nigh, and haftens on. For he hath hinted, that when he fhall come, 45 5.0 And ridicule the old and foolish man! |