With zeal and passion for thy name, I would not speak, but for my God, nor move, but to his praise. What are my eyes but aids to see Inscrib'd with beams of light On flowers and stars? Lord, I behold The shining azure, green and gold; But when I try to read thy name, a dimness veils my sight. Mine ears are rais'd when Virgil sings And drink the music in ; Why should the trumpet's brazen voice, Or oaten reed awake my joys, And yet my heart so stupid lie, when sacred hymns begin? Change me, O God; my flesh shall be And thou the notes inspire: My tongue shall keep the heavenly chime, And sweet variety of sound shall in thy praise conspire. The dearest nerve about my heart, Should it refuse to bear a part, 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, The Almighty Three, the Eternal One; Nature and grace, with all their Confess the infinite Unknown. powers, 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, Bid the waves roar, and planets shine; 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; 66 THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST. SHEPHERDS, rejoice, lift up your eyes, "And send your fears away; "News from the region of the skies, "Salvation's born to day. "Jesus, the God whom angels fear, "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! How high thy wonders rise! Known through the earth by thousand signs, By thousand through the skies. 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, Or impress of thy feet. But when we view thy strange design Where vengeance and compassion join |