Classic Poem

HYMN XIV.

When sin had brought death, with a train
Of miseries on the guilry world;
And wretched man was doom'd to be
Into eternal darkness hurl'd;

Where the tormenting worm, that gnaws
The festering conscience, ne'er expires;
Where tort'ring brimstone always feeds
The ne'er-to-be-extinguish'd fires:

When justice wav'd the flaming sword
Of vengeance o'er the sinner's head;
The son of God stept in, and stay'd
The mortal stroke, and thus he said:

Tho all the offerings men can bring
Can't for one single crime atone;
O God, I come to do thy will,
I'll bear their numerous sins alone.

A mortal nature I'll assume,
Human infirmities I'll wear;
Hunger, and thirst, and weariness,
Sorrows and pains I'll freely bear.

Reproaches, tho they'll break my heart,
I am resolv'd to undergo:
I'll suffer all that's on me laid
By God above, or men below.

Tho all th' infernal powers conspire
My great design to overthrow;
Thro showers of fiery darts from hell,
And thro death's horrid vale I'll go.

Thus said, the Father soon reply'd:
Content, I have a ransom found;
Dear son, to save a ruin'd world,
Ev'n thee I with delight shall wound.

Go execute thy brave resolves,
Thy sufferings shall rewarded be;
Many thou shalt redeem, the rest
Shall all at last be judg'd by thee.

How precious are these thoughts of thine,
How glorious, Lord , these acts of love!
For these we sing thy praise below,
For these thou'rt better prais'd above.