By this must all ascend, who wish to rise
And scale the lofty summit of the skies.
Christ is the PASCHAL LAMB, for safety slain, Whose blood secures the soul from mortal pain. Ye who have felt sin's agonizing wound, Know that in him your only help is found: While sighing in the arms of death you lie, On him-THE BRAZEN SERPENT fix your eye. To him, your woes-your ev'ry ill make known, And he shall heal you by a look alone! Christ is the MANNA, coming from above, The fruit of mercy, and of boundless love: Haste to the banquet, and the grace adore, That bids you eat, and never hunger more. Christ is the ALTAR, where, both night and day,' The incense of our pray'rs and praise we laySweet incense, lighted by devotion's fire,
To our Creator, light's immortal sire.
He is the ROSE, that in fair Sharon blooms,.
And fills the pastures with its choice perfumes;
That, by its odour, elevates our hearts,
And to the fainting spirit, life imparts.
He is the BALM OF GILEAD, only found
Of use to close, and heal each dangerous wound.
It cannot fail to cheer the fainting heart,
Or to the patient, ease and rest impart.
In Christ we have a PROPHET, from the sky,
With words and miracles our faith to try:
We hear him speak-the Father's will declare,➡
And lest we hear in vain, should all beware.
In him, behold a PRIEST, whose precious blood,
Was freely offer'd for the church's good.
And Oh! what heart unmov'd could see him bleed,
To save ungrateful man from his misdeed!-
The Shepherd for his flock to danger brought-
The Sov'reign tortur'd for his subject's fault!—
The Master sold to buy a wretched slave!—
The Son condemn'd his Father's foes to save!
This is the ADVOCATE, whose pleading can,
Make up the awful breach 'twixt God and man;
While Satan, our accusing, envious foe,
Would fain effect our total overthrow.
In Christ behold a KING, endu'd with grace,
Who wisely governs his elected race ;—
Who brings their stubborn will and passions down,
That each may win, and wear a heavenly crown,
His hands the keys of death do safely keep,
And those which open Hell's tremendous deep; 12
So that, without his leave, no power beneath
Can send one soul into the shades of death.-
While some to saints and images apply,
And on their impotent support rely;
My steadfast mind in death shall seek for none
To give me aid, but Jesus Christ alone.
He is the PEARL OF PRICE, whose worth is more,
Than all the gold on India's wealthy shore.
Who would not over lands and oceans pass,
And for such treasure part with all he has ?-
Give me, O God, thy well-beloved Son,
The only Rock I build my hopes upon ;
And then, whate'er be taken from my store,
In Him I'm rich, and I shall want no more.
UR father Adam to the fiend of old,
His unborn race for one dear apple sold; 13
Nor can we from his fatal power get free
Until in Christ we gain our liberty.
The Serpent's poison seeks each vital part,—
The heedless soul must shortly feel the smart ;
And if the good Physician be not nigh,
Without his skilful aid, we quickly die!
Mankind are in the way to ruin seen,-
By nature heirs of wrath, and all unclean;
Hence grace must wholly change the carnal mind,
Or they to righteous vengeance be consign'd!
Nor saint, nor angel-power, that dwells above,
Nor aught on earth, can God's fierce wrath remove ;-
Not all the waters pendent in the sky,
Nor those that in the spacious Severn lie;
Nor even the ocean's far more spacious flood,
Can quench the flame-but only Jesus' blood!
Now search the boundless heaven, the earth, the air, The sea, and all that is therein, with care; And every region will confess that none, Except Emanuel, can for sin atone.— The brazen serpent in a moment cur'd Those who the poison in their veins endur'd; And Jesus, by his grace, at once can heal Those who the deadly shafts af Satan feel.— As blood of victims, by God's order slain, From Israel's tents the angel did restrain; So now the purple stream, as Christians find, Preserves in peace the faithful, humble mind. Then why, O why shouldst thou remain bereav'd Of treasures, once from God's own hand receiv'd? 14 How canst thou ever blest and happy be, Until celestial grace enriches thee?
If not anew created by the Lord,
And to obedient love in Christ restor'd,
Thou never canst thy devious ways amend,
Or to a virtuous course in truth attend. 15
The sheep that once has wander'd from the pen,
Must wander on, if not brought back again;
Nor will the sinner, till in merey borne,
To the kind shepherd of his soul return.
None will the leach apply, their flesh to heal,
Until the pain and rankling smart they feel:
So on their Saviour sinners never wait,
Till fully conscious of their dangerous state.
We must our sad condition plainly see,-
Behold our guilt, and native poverty ;—
For past and present sin, be made to grieve,
Or
Or we our need of Christ shall not perceive.
But still salvation must be duly sought,
As by the gospel dying men are taught ;-
In God's own way they must his grace partake,
And live before him for the Saviour's sake.
Each must, by pow'r superior to his own,
Approach in penitence before the throne:
To draw them, see the love of God appear,
As it extends to sinners, far and near;
While he, with kindness, each request receives,
And to the contrite boundless mercy gives.
Yet even when they hear his gracious call,
He must entreat, and court them, after all;
They must be follow'd by persuasions kind,
(So obstinate, and so perverse their mind!)
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