MESSIAH stands confess'd-transfigur'd now, And all the Father's glories deck his brow ;Shine forth resplendent o'er that beauteous face, Which e'er beam'd kindly on man's erring race :With pity for their failings and their sin
Since the first fall, when evil did begin.
Th' elect to Sion's lovely hill he brings,
Loaded with spoils of nations and their kings.
The scatter'd Jews then straight, a numerous band,
From ev'ry quarter seek the holy land:
Their hearts subdued, with humble looks they view,
And with contrition bend to him they slew.
Sincere repentance purifies each one,
And gratefully they own the wonders done
For Abraham's cherish'd seed, by Israel's God,
Who had, in mercy, used the chastening rod :
They Israel's Lord sincerely now approve,
Fall down and praise him as the God of Love.
"Had'st thou for ever thus," Messiah cried, "Thy heavenly Father worshipp'd—glorified, "What numerous ills had 'scaped mine Israel's seed, "For whom I deigned to breathe, to live, to bleed. "For you and for mankind my blood was shed: "The last act fell on Israel's guilty head.
Blindly you slew him who alone could save, "Consign'd his body to the silent grave;
"But, the grave's master could the grave confine— "Could the seal'd tomb hold that which was divine? "Could Death claim victory o'er the Almighty's
"Cherish'd, belov'd, ere shone the glorious sun, "Ere light existed, chaos came to birth,
"And from incongruous mass produced the earth? "But let not this your minds with fear dismay, "Your penitence sincere is owned this day "By him who reigns high Lord in heav'n above, "Who has declared, from hence you no more move. "Quick then, Jerusalem's walls with care erect, "And let them be with ornament bedeck'd: "Of splendours yet unseen be wanting none, "For here I raise my everlasting throne.” (10)
The Jews rejoicing hasten to obey,
And palaces soon meet the face of day;
Temples, superb in grandeur, quickly rise,
With spires or turrets pointing to the skies:
Of polish'd marble different orders stand,
In workmanship which shews a master's hand;
So exquisitely wrought, by taste refin'd,
Sure sign that genius had with art combin'd
To raise each structure that adorns the streets,
Where symmetry in one grand union meets.
The lofty spires, with tracery cover'd o'er,
Adorn each square, and wonders are no more.
Whatever Babylon of old could boast-
(Though all her glories now have long been lost)Whate'er in later Rome there might appear― Paris or London now can boast-is here;
Is here, so far excelled, outshone as far
As the sun's rays compar'd with twinkling star.
Such is the future mistress of the world,
With glorious banners to the winds unfurl'd;
Banners on which, emblaz'd in gems and gold,
The Lamb, the Cross triumphant, we behold.
Through all Judea other cities rise,
The abode of such as form the good and wise.
Delightful villas o'er her plains are spread,
And there the lofty cedar rears its head.
There shrubs and fragrant flow'rs the vales adorn,
And sloping hills are rich with yellow corn.
Her vines the clustering grape, luxuriant, bear,
And every fruit tree cheers the varying year,
Yielding delicious store-to glad the taste
Of man by evil now no more debas'd.
No weeds, or noxious plants are seen to grow,
That can offend the sight-engender woe :—
For at Messiah's word, they're wither'd all,
And spring no more-on this terraqueous ball :-
As erst his word the fig-tree barren, dry,
Pronounc'd accurs'd-was doom'd at once to die.
The fertile fields their fruitful crops display,
And fleecy sheep in verdant pastures play.
The lowing herds disport in flow'ry meads ;-
And there, with flowing manes, are generous steeds,
With swelling crests eager to bear the weight
Of gentle masters-such their great delight.
There lovely birds-with warblings soft-rejoice,
Their tuneful notes so sweet as if their choice
Were meetly to give praise to him, who made
The glorious orb of day-gave light or shade :-
Th'Almighty's praise a theme for Angels meet,
Or Saints who worship at Jehovah's feet.
Then-in the place of owls which scream affright,
Sweet philomel is heard the livelong night.
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