Part 21 (1/2)

THE SECOND VOICE

The gra.s.s withereth, The flower fadeth: But the word of our G.o.d shall stand for ever.

FOURTH VOICE (still more distant)

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, Get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, Lift up thy voice with strength; Lift it up, be not afraid; Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your G.o.d!

FIFTH VOICE

Behold, the Lord G.o.d will come as a mighty one, And his arm shall rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, And his recompence before him.

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, He shall gather the lambs in his arm, And carry them in his bosom, And shall gently lead those that give suck.

ZION AWAKENED

(Being Vision III of the Rhapsody of 'Zion Redeemed')

Appeals to Zion

JEHOVAH

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye were hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye were digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him, and made him many.

For the LORD hath comforted Zion: he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

(No response)

JEHOVAH

Attend unto me, O my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation; for a law shall go forth from me, and I will make my judgement to rest for a light of the peoples. My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

(No response)

JEHOVAH

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye dismayed at their revilings.

For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation unto all generations.

(No response)

THE CELESTIAL HOSTS

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; Awake, as in the days of old, The generations of ancient times!

Art thou not it that cut Rahab in pieces, That pierced the dragon?

Art thou not it which dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; That made the depths of the sea A way for the redeemed to pa.s.s over?