Be gone for ever, mortal things! Thou mighty molehill, earth, farewell! Angels aspire on lofty wings, And leave the globe for ants to dwell. Come, heaven, and fill my vast desires; My soul pursues the sovereign good; She was all made of heavenly fires, Nor can she live on meaner food. GOD ONLY KNOWN TO HIMSELF STAND, and adore; how glorious he We gaze, and we confound our sight, Plung'd in the abyss of dazzling light. Thou sacred One, almighty Three, What lofty numbers shall we frame Seraphs, the nearest to the throne, Begin, and speak the great Unknown ; Attempt the song, wind up your strings To notes untried, and boundless things. You, whose capacious powers survey Is seen, or known, or thought, by you! How flat your highest praises fall Weak creatures we, that strive in vain Great God, forgive our feeble lays; PARDON AND SANCTIFICATION. My crimes awake, and hideous fear Guilt meets my eyes with horrid glare, Almighty vengeance frowns on high, And flames array the throne; While thunder murmurs round the sky, Impatient to be gone. Where shall I hide this noxious head? Can rocks or mountains save? Or shall I wrap me in the shade Is there no shelter from the eye Those guardian drops my soul secure, And conscience smiles within. I bless that wondrous purple stream Lord, blast his empire with thy breath, Ye flattering plagues, that work my death, SOVEREIGNTY AND GRACE. THE Lord, how fearful is his name, Immortal glory forms his throne, A word of his Almighty breath Adoring angels round him fall, His sovereign eye looks through them all, His bowels, to our worthless race, He clothes his looks with softest grace, Now let the Lord for ever reign, Sick, or in health, in ease, or pain, No more shall peevish passion rise, THE LAW AND GOSPEL. "CURST be the man, for ever curst, "That doth one wilful sin commit; "Death and damnation for the first, "Without relief, and infinite." Thus Sinai roars; and round the earth "Pardon, and grace, and boundless love, "Streaming along a Saviour's blood, "And life, and joys, and crowns above, "Dear-purchas❜d by a bleeding God." |