But they this faying could not comprehend.
Then he with them return'd to Nazareth,
And yielded strict obedience to their will.
O, what a bright example Chrift did set !
How happy they who follow him in this!- 405
Honor thy father, and thy mother love,
Obey their precepts, and thy days prolong.
He faith, who can his promises perform.
We hear no more o f Chrift for eighteen years. Here ftop, and make a folemn, awful paufe 410 Oh, what humility! that he, the Lord,
Who had created heav'n, and form'd the earth,
And with his glory fill'd them; hould refide •
Near thirty years on earth, almoft unknown!
Nay, with his bleffed hands fhould labor hard, 415
To gain a fcanty livelihood; who might
Have fummon'd all the treafures of the globe
To minister to his ncceffities!
But now events of greateft magnitude
Claim our attention, and exalt my theme."
And first I speak of that important day,
When Jefus on the bank of Jordan stood;
Was there beheld by his forerunner John;
Who feem'd unwilling to baptife his Lord,
Because he held himfelf inferior, far,
To him who honor'd baptifm's myftic rite.
When by the hands of John, our Lord and King
Was plung' beneath the wave; forthwith he rofe!
When lo, furprifing prodigy! the heav'ns
Were open'd, and the Father's voice was heard; 430
Thou art my Son, my well-beloved Son;
In thee I'm pleas'd; in thee I am well pleas'd.
Defcending from the heav'ns, the Holy Ghost,
Dove-like, alights upon his facred head.
He, doubly thus baptiz'd, is drawn away
Into the lonely, howling wilderness;
Where forty days of fore temptation, proves
- Him more than conquer'r : Thus exceeding, far, The most renown'd of all the human race.
He under ev'ry difadvantage stood,
And fairly drove the Tempter from the field.
Tho' hungry, thirsty, weary, and alone,
Temptations preffing him on ev'ry fide,
And tho' the mighty Prince of darkness came,
Arm'd with his utmost fubtlety and rage,
And try'd the greatest feats that hell could boast;
The Savior foil'd him, to his deep difgrace.
Oh, what a fcene was here! Come, tempted foul,
Come, view thy Savior, in this conflict dire
He is thy pattern, fhield, and great reward.- 450
If thou'rt the Son of God, the Tempter faid.
(O, what an impious IF was there propos'd!)
Command these ftones to change, and bread become.
To which the Savior inftantly reply'd—
'Tis wrote, Man fhall not live by bread alone; 455
But by the pow'rful words Jehovah speaks.
Then Satan, foil'd, another method tries.
He brings the Savior to Jerufalem;
(The lamb was carry'd in the lion's paws!
Amazing thought! was Jefus thus convey'd ?) 460
Upon the Temple's walls, their highest spire,
He places him; and thus the arch fiend spake -
If thou'rt the Son of God-now try the point-
Caft down thyself, and truft angelic aid:
'Tis written, They fhall bear thee in their hands, 465
Left thou fhould dafh thy foot against a stone.
Thus Satan ufes Scripture--and by halves,
Because the whole fubferves not his designs.
But now the Mafter of Affemblies fpeaks;
(His words fhall make thy daring courage cool :) 47• 'Tis wrote, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Why then expofe ourselves to needlefs ills?
Can we expect to be preserv'd, unhurt,
Who madly rush, uncall'd to danger's brink ?——
The Devil, baffled, and confounded, tries
His laft device to shake Salvation's Rock;
But finds the ftone of Ifrael fix'd too firm,
To be uprooted by his flatt'ring breath.
Oh, that our fouls fo firm could always ftand!
Then fiends might tempt, and hell affault in vain, 480 ̈
He takes the Savior to a mountain's top,
From whence he fhew'd him all this lower world,
And all the glorious things below the moon;
Then, with an impudence as black as hell,
He proudly faid--All this is giv'n to me :
'Tis mine: I can bestow it where I please. If thou wilt own me as thy lord and king,
And worship at my feet, all shall be thine.
O impious; O profoundly base, and bold :
How durft thou thus attack the Son of God? 490
What! tempt the Lord of Life, to worship thee! O rebel! traitor! foul apoftate! say--*
What could induce thee thus to mock the Lamb?
Could'st thou expect that he whom angels fear'd,
To whom they rev'rence and obedience ow'd; 495
Nay, thy Creator, and Preferver too;
And whom thou waft commanded to adore;
Who claims thy worship as his native right;
Should, all at once forget his high defcent,
And meanly fawn upon and worship thee?
Or waft thou ignorant? Didft thou not know
The Lord of Glory, in his deep disguise ?
Or was thy mind in doubt? and for this caufe,
Waft thou refolv'd the fecret to unfold ?
I dare engage thou had'ft no cause to boast
To thy companions of thy great fuccefs.
Methinks, I fee a holy, just disdain,
Glow in the count'nance of my deareft Lord,
When thus he turn'd, and glanc'd severe rebuke
To the great Adverfary of mankind :
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Get thee behind me, Satan; hence, depart :
Remember, God hath giv'n his high command,
To all his creatures, and declar'd his right
To be ador'd and only he alone.
Thus fpeaks his awful mandate, Thou shalt ferve 515 The Lord thy God, and worship none but him. This fore repulfe, made Satan leave the ground; Determin'd ftill to mufter all his hofts,
And watch a fitter opportunity,
To vex, if not o'ercome the Prince of Heav'n. 520
For 'tis his nature, if he's foil'd to day,
To-morrow to return, and charge again.
If timely you refift him, he will flee-
But, Watch; for he intends to try afresh.
Tho' Chrift hath always vanquifh'd him in fight, 525
Still he's unconquer'd, and maintains the war :
And though fome fay, he's flain, and has no pow'r ;
And others fay, he's bound, and quite confin'd;
Chrift's foldiers find him pow'rful, roving, fierce,
And, like a roaring lion, feeking prey.
Not flesh and blood alone, muft they withstand;
But, thrones, high principalities, and pow'rs,
And rulers of the darkness of this age;
And wicked spirits, domineering, proud,
And ever on the watch :--Such foes we have. 535
Satan is crafty, full of vengeance, fpite :
His time on earth is fhort: and this he knows;
And therefore rages, with redoubled force.
Great need have we of prov'd, victorious arms,
To aid us in the more than mortal fight:
Arm us with all the panoply of God;
That we may ftand, and conquer all our foes!
O, dear Redeemer, through thy pow'rful name,
And through thy precious blood, fo freely shed,
And by the testimony which we hold.
What wonders have the heav'nly arms atchiev'd!
Salvation's helmet, and the fhield of faith;
The Spirit's fword, the pow'rful word of God;
The mighty engine of prevailing pray'r;
Have gain'd the greatest victories on earth.
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