The prophet marks, far o'er the lofty hill, Fresh crowds advance, impatient, all, to know 85 Of that New Kingdom, Hell might not o'erthrow. In vale remote upon a crag he stood, Here mountains hoary, there the frowning wood, No feathery cloud, heaven's azure vault display'd; No zephyr murmur'd through the sylvan shade: In gentle flow, the Infant River, clear, Fresh from his source, meandering, sparkled near; Now lost, where, dressed in the funereal green, Trees, reft by tempests, dimm'd the savage scene; Whilst sheltering caves, and rocks, with ivy strew'd, Display'd the vast, and wondering multitude. Here, in these wilds, where man irruption made On Nature, by the stars alone survey'd, In sympathy, with camel's hair array'd, Stately as is the cedar, all around, Attention, "palpable!" the hush profound! 90 100 John, burden'd with the spirit, waved his hand, "Men! Brethren! lo! to warn you, I am sent! "Turn from your ways! I lift the voice-Repent!' "You are the favour'd race, to whom, alone, "The Law, from smoking Sinai, was made known, "While God inspired you, (merciful as great !) With hopes beyond this transitory state: "Behold! the morn now trembles in its birth, "Which gives salvation to this lower earth! "There standeth one amongst you, yet unknown, "Th' Eternal's Son, and partner of his throne! 110 "Before the world was fashioned into form, 115 120 "While Eden's richest fragrance fills the skies! "And, at the last, creation's work complete! "(His home, a temple grand! prepared, and meet!) "Man lifts his head, nor rival, nor compeer, "And sways the sceptre o'er this lower sphere. "Dread thought! our father in obedience fail'd, "In evil hour his subtile foe prevail'd ! "Dark! yet eternity a beam will throw, "O'er this mysterious source of human woe! "It now befits us, humbly to confess, "That God is good, and clothed in righteousness : 125 130 135 140 "Fair is this world, in garb august array'd; "Where all, in silence, points to Him who made ; "Yet, with ten thousand monitors around, “Insensate man, debased, in dust is found! "Wit may prescribe, the sage, his precepts give, "Yet none, by wisdom, turn to God, and live! "O'er realms, where Nature's beauties charm the sight, "The Pagan orgies shed disastrous night! 145 "The race of man, satanic fetters bind! 'Baal, and Ashtaroth, on every hill! "Gods of the groves, usurping homage still! "Father Omnipotent! haste on the hour, "When earth shall laud thy sceptre! own thy power! "Stocks, stones; the sanguine rite; the idol vain, "Vanish! and TRUTH, in cloudless lustre, reign! "Thy tardy chariot wheels are drawing near! "Their flames I see! Their thundering sounds, I hear! "Ah! no! they reach the heart, concealed from view; "A still small voice, that moulds, and forms anew. "Though Israel, (call'd from all the nations round) "Her cords has burst, while other lands are bound, "Symbol, and shadowy type, have still prevail'd; "Our tribes have long their ritual chain bewail'd: 165 "Long has the soul in darkness pined away, "With here, and there, a solitary ray, "But soon the sun of righteousness shall rise, "And floods of glory burst upon your eyes! "Heirs of the faithful! an illustrious train! Kings have aspired, this day, to see in vain! "Your ancient prophets, rich in faith, have told "What unborn ages, hastening, should unfold ; · "This is that age, bèhold fruition nigh! "Let every heart rejoice, and tear be dry! "Men, as High Heaven inspired, successive rose, "And saw, enwrapt, futurity disclose 170 175 “Forms fairer far than morning's gorgeous wing, "A peaceful haven, an abiding spring! "But now, confined no longer to a few, "Each thirsty shrub shall drink the heavenly dew; "Of whom I speak, soon shall you see him near; "No flaming God, to rouse his creatures fear: (Strange to our nature, and its sacred ties,) "No angel, bright, commissioned from the skies: "No potent chief, victorious arms to guide, "Born to control, and nursed in royal pride; "But, in the promised seed, with accent mild, "Your eyes shall greet the spirit of a child. "Heaven opens! lo! ascending from the stream, (His visage kindling with supernal beam !) "Upon the hope of earth, the sinner's friend, "I see the spirit, as a dove, descend! "The Flowers that still on Nature's waste may "Whate'er of excellence is found below, "Our pure desires, our heaven-directed sighs, 180 185 190 195 blow ; "From God, the fount of Goodness, take their rise. "He must increase, and for awhile sustain "The contumely of sinners; want, and pain! " (Visions the dim mysterious image give) "Upon the CRoss expire, that man might live! "To usher in this long-expected day, 205 "Forms the bright cloud that wafts my soul away! 210 'He must increase, and bear earth's uproar rude, 215 220 225 "While peals of harmony Heaven's concave rend, Angels rejoice that man hath found a friend! "The Spirit of the Highest darts a ray "Which guides benighted souls to endless day. "Hell, at his tottering empire, shakes his chains "In horrid dissonance, whilst through his veins "Blood-boiling rancour flows, and fiercer hate, "That but his sins, and torments, consummate ! "Vain conflict! God with sovereign might is crown'd, "And Hell in adamantine fetters bound. "Tear from your hearts each lingering thought that springs 230 "From courts, and camps, and sceptres; crowns, and kings! "Not to display the laurels of the great, "Your Saviour comes, to blaze in regal state; "Peasants, unwrong'd, inspire with ardour dread, 235 "To rob some distant peasants of their bread, "But through the world, to stem ambition's sway; "To warn mankind, on man, no more to prey; "To teach humility, bid discord cease, "And plant the seeds of UNIVERSAL PEACE! 240 |