With my melodious breath, I'd tear away the vital chord, A bloody victim to my Lord, And live without that impious string, or show my zeal in death. THE CREATOR AND CREATURES. GOD is a name my soul adores, From thy great Self thy being springs; Made up of uncreated things, And self-sufficience bears them all. Thy voice produc'd the seas and spheres, Through all these spacious works of thine. Still restless nature dies and grows; From change to change the creatures run; And all thy vast designs are one. A glance of thine runs through the globes, Thrones and dominions round thee fall, How shall affrighted mortals dare Who can behold the blazing light? THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST. "SHEPHERDS, rejoice, lift up your eyes, "Jesus, the God whom angels fear, "Comes down to dwell with you; "To-day he makes his entrance here, "But not as monarchs do. "No gold, nor purple swaddling-bands, "Nor royal shining things; "A manger for his cradle stands, "And holds the King of Kings. "Go, shepherds, where the infant lies, "And see his humble throne; "With tears of joy in all your eyes, "Go, shepherds, kiss the Son." Thus Gabriel sang, and straight around "Glory to God, that reigns above, "Let peace surround the earth; "Mortals shall know their Maker's love "At their Redeemer's birth." Lord, and shall angels have their songs, O may we lose these useless tongues Glory to God that reigns above, That pitied us forlorn! We join to sing our Maker's love, For there's a Saviour born. GOD GLORIOUS, AND SINNERS SAVED. FATHER, how wide thy glory shines! Known through the earth by thousand signs, Those mighty orbs proclaim thy power, Their motions speak thy skill; And on the wings of every hour Part of thy name divinely stands They shew the labour of thine hands, But when we view thy strange design Where vengeance and compassion join Our thoughts are lost in reverend awe; We love and we adore; The first archangel never saw So much of God before. Here the whole Deity is known, The justice or the grace. When sinners broke the Father's laws, Oh the dear mysteries of his cross! Now the full glories of the Lamb Sweet cherubs learn Immanuel's name, And try their choicest strains. may I bear some humble part In that immortal song! Wonder and joy shall tune my heart, And love command my tongue. 2 |