Classic Poem

My ravish'd soul extols His Name
Who rules the world's admired frame:
My spirit, with exalted voice,
In God my Saviour shall rejoice:
Who hath His glorious beams display'd
Upon a poor and humble maid.
Me all succeeding ages shall
The Blessed Virgin-Mother call.
The Great great things for me hath wrought;
His sanctity past human thought.
His mercy still reflects on those
Who in His truth their trust repose.
He with His arm hath wonders shown,
The proud in their own pride o'erthrown,
The mighty from their thrones dejects,
The lowly from the dust erects.
The hungry are His welcome guests,
The rich excluded from His feasts.
He, mindful of His promise, hath
Maintain'd and crowned Israel's faith,
To Abraham promis'd, and decreed
For ever to his holy seed.

LUKE I.

O PRAISE the Lord, His wonders tell,
Whose mercy shines in Israel,
At length redeem'd from sin and hell.

The Crown of our salvation,
Deriv'd from David's royal throne,
He now hath to His people shown.

This to His prophets did unfold,
By all successively foretold,
Until the infant world grew old.

That He our wrongs would vindicate,
Save from our foes' inveterate hate,
And raise our long depress'd estate.

To ratify His ancient deed,
His promis'd grace, by oath decreed,
To Abraham and his faithful seed.

That we might our Preserver praise,
Walk purely in His perfect ways,
And fearless serve Him all our days.

His path Thou shalt prepare, sweet Child,
And run before the Undefil'd,
The Prophet of th' Almighty styl'd.

Our knowledge to inform, from whence
Salvation springs: from penitence,
And pardon of each foul offence.

Through mercy, O how infinite!
Of our Great God, Who clears our sight,
And from the orient sheds His light.

A leading Star t' enlighten those
Whom night and shades of death inclose,
Which that high track to glory shows.