THE

SACRIFICE,

&c.

A Voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter Weeping: Rachel, weeping for her Children, refused to be comforted for her Children, because they were not.

JEREMIAH, Chap. xxxi. V. 15.

RISE from your Orient Thrones, ye Angels, rife! And spread refulgent Radiance through the Skies: Your golden Harps for Strains feraphic ftring,

The Wrongs of injur'd Innocence to fing.

Sweet Innocence attracts the heav'nly Throngs;
For guileless Purity to them belongs.

And,

12

THE SACRIFICE,

And, while our humble Voices rise below,

Your sparkling Crowns on Heav'n's bright Pavement throw;
With equal Ardour join the glorious Theme,

And fing the Praises of the Great Supreme.
Spirit Divine! thine Awe inspire,

While here we join the warbling Choir.

Indulgent Heav'n with Pity faw From Adam's Fall the fad Effects arise,

Mankind immers'd in Sin and Woe,

Yet ftill withheld the dreadful Blow

Justice demanded and offended Law,

And view'd their Weakness with benignant Eyes.
Revolving Time the Æra brought,

When Choirs cœleftial Man's Salvation fung,
And loud Hofannahs flow'd from ev'ry Tongue!

When, far tranfcending human Thought,

Down from his blissful Seat,

Eternal Goodness to compleat,

Man's

Man's kind Redeemer left the heav'nly Plain

(Where Joy perpetual holds her festive Reign) : With boundlefs Love he fought Man's low Abode, From fainting Nature took the Load,

Averted Heav'n's avenging Blow,

And in Man's Stead fuftain'd the weighty Woe.

In humble Flesh conceal'd the Godhead lies,
The Sov'reign Ruler of the Earth and Skies!

Choral Angels! fwell the mighty Song;
Aftonif, join the mortal Throng.

Divine Effulgence blazes o'er the Plains,

Descending fee the heav'nly Trains !

Miriads of Angels fan ambrofial Air,

The great, the joyful Tidings bear;

While humble Shepherds, loft in ftrange Amaze,
With proftrate Knees admiring gaze;

Caught with Rapture, hear the Sound
Through the smiling Skies rebound—

14

THE SACRIFICE.

"A Saviour's born!" the winged Seraphs cry;

"A Saviour's born!" the joyful Hills reply.
Responsive Notes employ angelic Tongues:
Glory to God in Heav'n belongs!

"Fair Peace on Earth in Triumph reigns;
"God's tender Favour Man obtains."

All Nature join'd to celebrate his Praise,
And testify to Earth the coming Joy:
A glitt'ring Star fhot forth propitious Rays,
And, like a Herald in his bright Employ,
Taught Eaftern Sages, with enquiring Eyes,
To fearch the Depth of ancient Prophecies.
With Joy they view the Meffenger divine,

Glitt'ring from his radiant Shrine,
Foretel to their enlighten'd Eyeskeu
Bleffings defcended from th'aufpicious Skies;
Benighted Nature's rifen Sun!

Endless Glory just begun!

Led

Led by that directing Ray,

To fam'd Judea's Coasts they bend their eager Way.
Succefs their zealous Labours end;

Before MESSIAH fee they proftrate bend!
Their grateful Off'rings at his Feet they lay,
And to the mystic Wonder humblest Homage pay.

Delighted Nature fmil'd around!

Creation, through her ample Bound,

Deck'd with replenish'd Beauties shone.

Fair Peace her feftive Garlands wove,

Filling Men's Hearts with Harmony and Love :

Only proud Herod fcorn'd her Joys to own,
And, like a Serpent wreath'd on Beds of Flowers,
To Poifon turned their balmy Powers.

A King of Ifrael born, whose potent Sway
Judea's Sons were deftin'd to obey,

Destroys his Hopes, alarms his Fear,

Stamps on his harrow'd Vifage fell Despair.

Prou