Page images
PDF
EPUB

Him ev'ry heav'nly virtue did adorn,
Mild as the splendor of the rising morn,

135

Yet firm and fearless in defence of right,
Unwon by flatt'ry, as unaw'd by might.

[blocks in formation]

No timid paltry prudence could controul,
The fix'd and noble vigor of his soul.

'Gainst vice with gen'rous indignation mov'd,
In his heart's ardent language he reprov'd
The supercilious smooth hypocrisy,

Of the proud scribe, and treach'rous Pharisee.

145

As the great Censor scourges virtue's foes,

150

What an exalted dignity he shews!

What nervous words! what manly eloquence!

What keen severity! what.finish'd sense!

Nor he his satire pour'd on these alone,

But lash'd the haughty tyrant on the throne. 1.55

And now his sacred embassy to close,

To heav'n-allied Jerusalem he goes.

And when the city he beheld he said.

(And for its fate a tender tear he shed)

"O had'st thou known from whence thy blessings.

rise!

But now 'tis hid for ever on thine

eyes.

For as thou did'st not thy Messiah know,
Lo the day comes when thy relentless foe,

160

Line 155. "Depart hence; för Herod will kill thee, And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox." Luke, xiii. 31 and 32. Some commen-. tators admire the propriety of calling Herod, who was a subtle, bloody, and relentless oppressor, a fox. We are taught, however, in the New Testament that good kings deserve respect. St. Peter Submit to the king as supreme." says, "Fear God, honor the king." First Epistle of Peter, chap. ii. verses 13 and 17. St. Paul tells us to "pray for kings, and for all that are in authority.". Timethy, ii. and 2.

Shall keep thee in by trenches round thee thrown;
Thee and thy children in thee shall cast down; 165
Shall make thy fabrics level to the ground,
And not one stone upon another found."
With extacy unfelt before, the crowd
Burst with one voice in acclamation loud;
At once, on ev'ry side, hosannah's ring,

10

To David's Son, to Israel's potent King.

And some, inspir'd with active zeal, the road, With garments, and the palm's fair branches strew'd.

When this illustrious king his scepter sway'd,

And his divine authority display'd,

He gave not honors, titles, pow'r nor wealth,
But happiness, and sight, and speech, and health.
And to the sacred temple as he went,

With mercy big, and cn salvation bent,

175

Line 178, &c. It is well known that the most intemperate enemies to Christianity, such as Celfus and Julian, acknowledged that our Saviour healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, &c. (which is also acknowledged

The dumb the skies with loud hosannahs tore, 180 And the lame ran exultingly before;

acknowledged by the authors of the Jewish Talmud) but they attributed his miracles to magic. Grotius, upon the truth of the Chrisian Religion," fays, Hebræi vero in Thalmudicis Libris aperté fateantur. "The Jews openly confess them in the Talmud." See Grotius de Veritate, lib. ii. cap. 3. Tertullian and Eufebius also mention that Pilate wrote an account to Tiberius of our Saviour's mira-. cles. It is to be observed, that our Saviour expreffed the greatest indignation against some of the Jews for attributing his miracles to magic, or saying. that he "cast out devils through Beelzebub, the prince of the devils;" which was highly reasonable, as such an idea for ever hardened the mind against conviction. He calls it "blasphemy against the Holy Ghost!" and it is the sin which will never. be forgiven, or, perhaps the sin which will be forgiven with the greatest reluctance. This will appear from reading the Evangelist with attention. Our Saviour says "He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: because they said, he hath an unclean spirit." See Mark chap. iii. verses 29 and 30. What they meant by saying "he hath an unclean spirit," is explained by the 22d verse of the third chapter of Mark; "And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem, said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils,"

While in his new-unfolded ear the sound,

The deaf in rapturous amazement found;
And the blind saw with heav'n's refreshing light,

The great immortal Author of all sight.

185

The Saviour cometh, as the seer of old,

Big with the scene of future days, foretold,

[ocr errors]

Daughter of Zion, raise thy chearful voice; "O daughter of Jerusalem, rejoice!

"Lowly and meek, behold thy king appears, "And with him justice and salvation bears;

"No more from Ephraim shall the trumpet clang,. "No more the deathful battle-bow shall twang; "Nor in Jerusalem, in pomp of war,

"The horse and chariot thunder to afar ; "Peace to the heathen also he shall send,

"And his dominion o'er the earth extend."

But those who in Jerusalem bore sway,
With pride and selfish passions led away,

Who wish'd for a Messiah that should throw,

Terror and desolation on each foe;

195

200

« PreviousContinue »