THE PEACE COMING ON THE EARTH. THE groans of nature in this nether world, Before a calm, that rocks itself to rest. For He, whose car the winds are, and the clouds The dust that waits upon His sultry march, When sin hath moved Him, and His wrath is hot, Propitious, in His chariot paved with love, Sweet is the harp of prophecy; too sweet Though poor in skill to rear them, lights at last THE PEACE COMING ON THE EARTH. That not t' attempt it, arduous as he deems Oh scenes surpassing fable, and yet true, Scenes of accomplish'd bliss! which who can see, Though but in distant prospect, and not feel His soul refresh'd with foretaste of the joy? Rivers of gladness water all the earth, And clothe all climes with beauty; the reproach Of barrenness is past. The fruitful field Laughs with abundance; and the land once lean, Exults to see its thistly curse repeal'd. And that one season an eternal spring, The garden fears no blight, and needs no fence, For there is none to covet, all are full. The lion and the libbard and the bear Graze with the fearless flocks. All bask at noon Of the same grove, and drink one common stream. All creatures worship man, and all mankind One Lord, one Father. Error has no place; That creeping pestilence is driven away, The breath of heav'n has chased it. In the heart No passion touches a discordant string, But all is harmony and love. Disease Is not. The pure and uncontaminate blood Holds its due course, nor fears the frost of age. One song employs all nations; and all cry, Worthy the Lamb, for He was slain for us!" THE PEACE COMING ON THE EARTH. The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks Saw never, such as heaven stoops down to see. Thus heavenward all things tend. For all were once Perfect, and all must be at length restored. So God has greatly purposed; who would else In His dishonour'd works Himself endure Dishonour, and be wrong'd without redress. Haste then, and wheel away a shatter'd world, Ye slow-revolving seasons! We would see (A sight to which our eyes are strangers yet) A world that does not dread and hate His laws, And suffer for its crime: would learn how fair The creature is that God pronounces good, THE PEACE COMING ON THE EARTII. How pleasant in itself what pleases Him. Here ev'ry drop of honey hides a sting; As this is gross and selfish! over which More than the perquisite: where law shall speak Come then, and added to Thy many crowns Receive yet one, the crown of all the earth, Thou who alone art worthy! it was Thine By ancient covenant ere nature's birth, And Thou hast made it Thine by purchase since, And overpaid its value with Thy blood. Thy saints proclaim Thee King; and in their hearts. Thy title is engraven with a pen, Dipt in the fountain of eternal love. William Couper. THE Curfew tolls the Knell of parting Day, Now fades the glimm'ring Landscape on the Sight, |