The more the pow'r of Jefus is display'd
In the recovery of fuch from death.
Why then, fince Satan always was allow'd
To be the greatest finner, and the most
Degenerate and harden'd rebel known,
Why was it thought that Christ must be depriv'd
Of fuch an opportunity to fhew his pow'r,
And all his highest charms of love display`?
When our Redeemer firit came down to earth,
During his refidence with finful worms,
He made his grace, his pow'r, and mercy known, In many bright and glorious inftances.
But one above the reft, a ftriking proof
That Jefus could redeem and fave the loft,.
And that no miracle could be too hard
For the display of his almighty pow'r,
Was his deliv'rance of the man poffefs'd.
And this may be confider'd as at pe
Of what the heav'nly hosts this day beheld,
The change apparent in proud Lucifer.
This poor and miferable man, poffefs'd
Of many devils, dwelt among the tombs ;
No man could bind him with the ftrongest chains,
With chains and fetters he had often been bound,
The chains he pluck'd afunder, fetters broke ;
No man could tame him, nor could safely pass
Near the doleful place of his abode.
And always night and day he fiercely rov'd
Among the mountains, and the doleful tombs,
Crying and mad, cutting himself with ftones.
But Jefus took a voyage to fave his foul,.
And foon he drave the evil fpirits out,
And calm'd this mad demoniac with his words;
Cloth'd him, and gave him reason, fill'd his mind
With true religion, love, joy, peace, truth, grace.
Then willingly he fat at the dear feet
Of him who had redeem'd him from such woe, 815
Such complicated woe, and made him bleft,
Fill'd him with happiness and peace of mind.
Thus Lucifer was by the angels found,
As far from what he was, as heav'n from earth.
And they addrefs'd him in such words as these. 829
O Lucifer, thou once a fon of light,
Fell from that bleft eftate, and long didft war,
Against the rightful Sov'reign, and didst dare
To rouze the great Omnipotent to arms.
Whofe pow'rful hand hath now thy pride fubdu'd,
And brought thee to acknowledge him thy Lord.
He hath attended to thy plaintive cry,
And now by us doth his permission send,
That thou may'ft to the city gates repair,
And make thy full fubmiflion to his face.
This meffage we deliver with fuch joy
As we have never known nor felt before.
Rife therefore, follow us, we lead the way:
Nor doubt his mercy, which is infinite.
To which the humbled tyrant thus reply'd :
O lead me to the feet of Christ the Lord,
That I may humbly first his pardon ask,
And in the daft his worthy name adore :
Then will make confeffion of my faults,
Before the num'rous hofts of heav'n and earth, 84
And ask forgiveness of the universe,
Of God, of angels, and of all mankind,
For fuch another rebel never liv'd,
Such a blafphemer, haughty, cruel, proud!
And therefore fuch a penitent l'll be,
As never fell at Jefu's feet before.
For if his grace to me extends itself,
Twill be the greater instance ever known.
And more his pow'r and glory will difplay
Than any other inftance ever did.
Now had the guards their willing pris'ner brought
Unto the city gate, where fat the Lord.
Upon a glorious throne, in all his robes,
More fplendid than the radiant fource of day.
Ten hundred thoufand million faw this fcene, 855
The grandeft far that ever was beheld.
For univerfal notice had been giv'n ‣
To all intelligences, that this day
Should be the most triumphant ever known.
No wonder then that all fhould wish to fee
The triumph of their Lord and King compleat.
Behold the Monarchs met in fuch a fort,
As once could not have been at all believ'd
Had it been told us; but we fee with joy
The full and free fubitiffion of the Prince,
Once call'd fair Lucifer, the fon of light,
Then Satan, prince of darknefs, foe to man;
But now fubdu'd and humbled, fee him fall
Before the feet of Jefus, and confefs
Him to be Lord of all, as 'twas foretold,
By bleft Ifaiah, and beloved Paul.
Hear his unfeign'd confeffion. Thus he spoke :
Infinite is thy goodness, mighty Lord,
Or thou would't never fuffer me to speak
Before thy prefence, after what I've done
Against thy glorious crown and dignity;
And all the num'rous mischiefs I have wrought
Against my fellow creatures, whom thou hast
Deliver'd long ago from all the fnares
Wherein I drew them; but my crime's no less 88.
For the abundance of thy faving grace,
Which hath so triumph'd over my designs.
This day I fall, with deepest shame and grief,
Before thy face, and own that thou art just
In all thy righteous dealings towards me.
I now refign myself into thine hands,
To do as thou fhalt please; vile as I am,
I was at first the handy work of God,
And in his glorious image brightly fhone.
But foon I fell through vanity and pride,
And all my legions by deceit feduc'd.
Mankind I ruin'd, and thy works destroy'd.
Yea, fought against thee with my greatest pow'r.
But now I yield to thee, the palm is thine.
Humbly I lie in dust before thy feet,
And if thou flayeft me, I'll thee adore.
I have deferv'd whatever I've receiv'd;
And if thou canst receive me as thy flave,
I'll think myself moft happy, for I wish
To be the lowest, humbleft, least of all.
My pride is cur'd, nor would my heart afpire
To be again in dignity and pow'r,
O let me be a footstool unto thee.
I have by far the greateft finner been,
And fain would be the greatest penitent.
And if thou canst forgive my num'rous crimes,
I'm fure I never can forgive myself..
It fhall be my employment still to weep;
And humbly ask forgiveness of my God,
Of thee, my Lord, of all the heav'nly,hofts,...
Of all that I feduc'd, and led astray,
And of the human race whom I deceiv'd.
And can all these forgive me? Can they look
With eyes of love, or piety upon me?
Can they forget my vile and barb'rous deeds? 915 The foul diforders which I introduc'd
Into the univerfe, though now remov'd,
Yet can they ever be forgotten quite ?
Can men forgive me? Can the angels join
In fuch an act of kindness towards me?
But O, above them all canft thou forgive ?
O can't thou own me for a fubject true,
Who have fo vile and fo rebellious been!
And can thy Father ever me behold
With looks of piety and benevolence !
But as I am I now myfelf refign,
To thee I bow that knee fo flubborn once,
Thee now I own my Conquer'r and my Lord.
Then was the golden fceptre reached forth,
And Lucifer, just rising from the dest
Drew near with shame and blufhing, bath'd in tears, And meekly touch'd the fame, and then obtain'd
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