Christian Songs, Song XIII

When this great world was fram'd of God, And earth carv'd out for our abode; When all these orbs their course began, And in harmonious order ran;

2 When God had laid the corner-stone, And rested in his works now done; The morning-stars together sang, The heav'ns with tuneful echoes rang.

3 The sons of God a shout did raise, To see the fabric speak his praise; The pow'rs of fire, of light, and air, Express'd his godhead ev'ry where.

4 But chiefly in the corner-stone, In man, his image brightest shone: A creature, fit to take delight With him in all his works of might.

5 But, ah! this harmony e'er long Stopt short.—Sin enter'd—marr'd the song: Infected first the corner-head, Then quick thro' all the building spread.

6 No human skill could e'er avail This freting leprosy to heal; No creature's blood, no mortal priest, Could purge away the noxious pest;

7 Dread ruin, louring from on high, With all her bolts of wrath, drew nigh; Till that bless'd day, decreed of heav'n, When from the dead to us was given,

8 The Lord in human likeness, made More fit the works of God to head, Then any being could be found In all the wide creation round.

9 This glorious Immanuel With wretched man vouchsaf'd to dwell, Took on himself our leprosy, And felt its worst malignity:

10 Shut out from God, and Isr'el's camp, His spirit felt a fearful damp: With our plagues fill'd, a loathsome cup Was giv'n to him;—he drank it up.

11 This draught, invenom'd with the curse, Soon left him breathless on the cross; The blood gush'd from his peirced side, And first himself it purify'd.

12 Then having sprinkled ev'ry stone, He, as head-corner was laid on: Thus, of God's temple ev'ry whit, Speaks forth his praise, in Christ compleat.

13 Two guiltless birds were captive led To paint this truth; the one was bled; One dipt in blood, to heav'n let loose: That blood restor'd th' unhallow'd house.

14 The whole creation evermore Stands now more glorious than before, Knit by a corner-stone, through which No evil can the building touch.

15 Ye morning-stars renew your notes, Triumphing o'er all Satan's plots, In concert with the church of God, Who shew the worth of Jesus' blood.

16 Sin's but a pause put in your song, To make the following notes more strong; The Just, the Saviour, shines more bright Than in the fire, the air, the light.