Part 23 (1/2)

5 [Once in the circuit of a year With blood, but not his own, Aaron within the veil appears Before the golden throne;

6 But Christ by his own powerful blood Ascends above the skies, And in the presence of our G.o.d Shews his own sacrifice.]

7 Jesus, the King of Glory, reigns On Sion's heavenly hill, Looks like a lamb that has been slain, And wears his priesthood still.

8 He ever lives to intercede Before his Father's face; Give him, my soul, thy cause to plead, Nor doubt the Father's grace.

Hymn 1:146.

Characters of Christ, borrowed from inanimate things, in scripture.

1 Go, wors.h.i.+p at Immanuel's feet, See in his face what wonders meet; Earth is too narrow to express His worth, his glory, or his grace.

2 [The whole creation can afford But some faint shadows of my Lord: Nature to make his beauties known Must mingle colours not her own.]

3 [Is he compar'd to wine or bread?

Dear Lord, our souls would thus be fed; That flesh, that dying blood of thine, Is bread of life, is heavenly wine.]

4 [Is he a tree? The world receives Salvation from his healing leaves; That righteous branch, that fruitful bough, Is David's root and offspring too.]

5 [Is he a rose? Not Sharon yields Such fragrancy in all her fields: Or if the lily he a.s.sume, The vallies bless the rich perfume.]

6 [Is he a vine? His heavenly root Supplies the boughs with life and fruit: O let a lasting union join My soul the branch to Christ the vine:

7 [Is he the head? Each member lives, And owns the vital powers he gives; The saints below, and saints above, Join'd by his Spirit and his love.]

8 [Is he a fountain? There I bathe, And heal the plague of sin and death These waters all my soul renew, And cleanse my spotted garments too.]

9 [Is he a fire? he'll purge my dross, But the true gold sustains no loss; Like a refiner shall he sit, And tread the refuse with his feet.]

10 [Is he a rock? How firm he proves!

The rock of ages never moves; Yet the sweet streams that from him flow Attend us all the desert thro'.]

11 [Is he a way? He leads to G.o.d, The path is drawn in lines of blood; There would I walk with hope and zeal, Till I arrive at Sion's hill.]

12 [Is he a door? I'll enter in Behold the pastures large and green, A paradise divinely fair, None but the sheep have freedom there.]

13 [Is he design'd a corner-stone, For men to build their heaven upon?

I'll make him my foundation too, Nor fear the plots of h.e.l.l below.]

14 [Is he a temple? I adore Th'indwelling majesty and power; And still to this most holy place, Whene'er I pray, I turn my face.]

15 [Is he a star? He breaks the night, Piercing the shades with dawning light; I know his glories from afar, I know the bright, the morning-star.]

16 [Is he a sun? His beams are grace, His course is joy, and righteousness; Nations rejoice when he appears To chase their clouds, and dry their tears.

17 O let me climb those higher skies, Where storms and darkness never rise!

There he displays his powers abroad, And s.h.i.+nes, and reigns th'incarnate G.o.d.]

18 Nor earth, nor seas, nor sun, nor stars, Nor heaven his full resemblance bears; His beauties we can never trace, Till we behold him face to face.