Classic Poem

O PURITY , thou test
Of love amongst the blest,
How excellent thou art,
The Lord Jehovah's heart,
Whose sweet attributes embrace,
Every virtue, praise and grace.

Thou fair and good dispos'd,
'Midst glories undisclos'd,
Inspire the notes to play
Upon the virgin's day;
High above all females nam'd,
And by Gabriel's voice proclaim'd.

Glad herald, ever sent
Upon some blest event,
But never sped to men
On such a charge till then—
When his Saviour's feet he kiss'd,
To promulge his birth dismiss'd.

Hail mystery! thou source
Of nature's plainest course,
How much this work transcends
Thine usual means and ends—
Wherefore call'd, we shall not spare
Louder praise, and oft'ner pray'r.

But if the work be new,
So shou'd the song be too,
By every thought that's born
In freshness of the morn;
Every flight of active wings,
Every shift upon the strings.

To praise the mighty hand
By which the world was mann'd,
Which dealt to great and small
Their talents clear of all;
Kind to kind by likeness linkt,
Various all, and all distinct.

Praise him seraphic tone
Of instruments unknown,
High strains on golden wire,
Work'd by etherial fire;
Blowing on unceasing chords,
‘King of kings, and lord of lords.’

Praise Hannah, of the three,
That sang in Mary's key;
With her that made her psalm
Beneath the bow'ring palm;
With the dame—Bethulia's boast,
Honour'd o'er th' Assyrian host.

Praise him faith, hope, and love
That tend Jehovah's dove;
By men from lust repriev'd
As females best conceiv'd;
To remount the man and muse
Far above all earthly views.