In His courts the great question was ask’d,
Who would rescue lost man from the grave?
I, my love and omnipotence task’d,
That the ruined and lost I might save!
Then stern Justice demanded his due,
And I looked for help but found none;
So my life I have laid down for you,
And have trodden the wine press alone.
“Look on me,” He said with a smile,
“’Twas for you I was bruised as ye see;
There was none for this wonderful toil,
And the burden fell all upon me!”
Then He lifted us up from the ground,
And He broke our tyrannical chain;
While His blood stream’d afresh from each wound,
And whoever it touch’d was made clean!
“The ransom, though mighty, is paid,
Therefore open your hearts to receive;
You need be no longer afraid
If you truly repent and believe!”
While sweet comfort thus flow’d from his tongue,
His visage though marr’d grew more fair;
With swift wings and angelical song,
He ascended on high in the air!
A bright cloud took Him out of our sight,
And our eyes could behold him no more;
He arose to the regions of light,
And left us to believe and adore!
REFLECTIONS ON ABSENT FRIENDS, GONE TO AMERICA.
The sun had gone down o’er yon lofty mountain,
The last golden streamer had left the tall tree;
The dwelling below seemed forsaken and gloomy,
Its inmates were tossing upon the wide sea.