As flowing drops refresh the barren hill,
Produce sweet flowerage, and profusely fill*
The earth with plenty, so her love divine

To cheer the drooping soul shall splendid shine.
O'er hill and dale it luminous shall fly,
Speak peace and joy, instructing righteously,
Display redemption, earnestly invite

The soul to praise, and honor with delight.
The desert tribes the noble sound shall hear,
In ecstacy their holy offerings bear;
The wave-beat isles with reverence discreet
Pour blest effusions at a Saviour's feet.

The prince, the subject, both before Him fall,
Crown'd King of Kings, and Mighty Lord of all ;
Whose rule shall spread, till barren lands possess,
In every clime, the fruit of holiness;

War's curse shall flee, dire persecution cease,
And earth, bright crowned with eternal peace,
Shall see how soon He'll burn the warrior's car,t
Snap the strong bow, and break the piercing spear,
From victory to triumph be unfurl'd

His glorious banners o'er a conquer'd world.

As spreads His sway increase shall pious prayer, And, as sweet incense, up to heaven soar; From souls redeem'd, to greet redeeming love Shall praises flow to join the lyres above.

* See Psalms 65 and 72. + Ibid 147.

Ibid 72.

Though weak appear the seeds of divine grace,
Yet heavenly dews will nourish, give solace,
Till healthful plants luxuriantly shall spring,
As Lebanon's tall cedars, stout and strong;
And all majestic spread, prolific grow,

Till earth's wide range their cheering produce know;
Till peace preside, and holiness prevail,

Converted man obey his Saviour's call.

Lo, Great Messiah's glorious reign shall last, His faithful subjects with delights be blest, His holy government in splendour shine, When worlds are fled, and ceas'd the reign of time. Of Judah's tribe, and my paternal race,* Has the Great God, Omnipotent, made choice From whence Messiah lineally shall spring, The Saviour He, the Bless'd, the Holy One. Thus speaks Jehovah, "To the earth I'll send "A Mighty Prince, Who shall my rights defend ; "Me for His Father He shall rightly own, "And Him I'll claim for My beloved Son: "Earth's potentates I will His subjects make, "He o'er them all the sov'reignty shall take; "Through Him to man be mercy made secure, "His faithful shall both flourish and endure, "With Him my cov'nant be establish'd fast, "His throne supreme eternally shall last."

See Psalm 89.

THE

MESSIAH;

OR THE

REDEMPTION OF MAN.

BOOK X I.

The Argument.

THE Testimony of the Evangelists and Apostles of our Lord's Miracles,

his Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven, as eye-wit nesses to the whole of these wonderful transactions.

THE

MESSIAH;

OR THE

REDEMPTION OF MAN.

BOOK XI.

MATTHEW, THE APOSTLE, AND
EVANGELIST.

UNERRING 'tis my duty to declare

The deeds* perform'd by my great Master's pow'r,
The mighty wonders He on earth display'd
As proofs convincing He's the Son of God.
The Leper touch'd, the foul distemper fled,t
And the long suff'rer's of the nuisance freed.

* The Miracles of our Lord are recorded by all the Evangelists, and those who will take the trouble of examining their accounts will find them confirmed beyond the power of contradiction: and these Miracles fully establish the fact that He was the Messiah the Son of God.

+ See Matthew chap. viii.